Please note new updated vaccination requirements for animals starting their primary vaccinations as of January 2024.
All horses and ponies will be inspected prior to entry to the showground. Any horse or pony without a certificate that complies with the regulations set out below will be refused entry to the showground. The Vaccination Requirements are applicable to every horse or pony at Horse of the Year Show.
PLEASE NOTE: International Show Jumping horses must be vaccinated under the rules and regulations of the FEI.
This rule applies in respect of any horse, apart from any foal less than 6 months old whose dam was vaccinated in accordance with this rule before foaling.
A DEFRA acceptable passport must be produced for every horse entering the showground. It is understood that some horses whose primary vaccinations pre date the official passport may still have these entered on a separate document; this document must also have the identification of the horse or pony completed.
The horse must have been vaccinated against equine influenza by a veterinary surgeon in accordance with the regulations below, the horse must have received two primary vaccinations as a minimum.
Animals vaccinated prior to January 2024:
| Equine Influenza Vaccination Requirements for horses receiving a Primary Course prior to January 2024 | ||
| Vaccination | Protocol | Eligibility to Enter Venue |
| Primary Course | V1 (initial vaccination): Day 0 | Horses that have only received V1 of the primary course are not allowed to compete. |
| V2 (second vaccination): Day 21-92 | Horses that have received the primary course can compete provided that V2 has not been given within 7 days of arriving at an event venue. | |
| First Booster | V3 (first booster): Day 150 – 215 | Horses must have been vaccinated to comply with the requirements for the Primary Course |
| Horses cannot compete if they have been vaccinated within 7 days of arriving at an event venue. | ||
| Subsequent Boosters | Within 12 months of previous booster vaccination. | Horses must have been vaccinated to comply with the requirements for the Primary Course, First Booster and all subsequent boosters. |
| None of these injections must have been given within the preceding 7 (seven) days including the day of the competition or of entry into the competition stables. | ||
Please note new rules below for animals who have started their primary vaccinations as of January 2024:
| Equine Influenza Vaccination Requirements for horses receiving a new Primary Course as of 1 January 2024 | ||
| Vaccination | Protocol | Eligibility to Enter Venue |
| Primary Course | V1 (initial vaccination): Day 0 | Horses that have only received V1 of the primary course are not allowed to compete or enter the FEI stables. |
| V2 (second vaccination): Day 21-60 | Horses that have received the primary course can compete provided that V2 has not been given within 7 days of arriving at an event venue. | |
| First Booster | V3 (first booster): Within 6 months and 21 days of V2 | Horses must have been vaccinated to comply with the requirements for the Primary Course |
| Horses cannot compete if they have been vaccinated within 7 days of arriving at an event venue. | ||
| Subsequent Boosters | Within 12 months of previous booster vaccination. | Horses must have been vaccinated to comply with the requirements for the Primary Course, First Booster and all subsequent boosters. |
| There is no requirement for horses that have received their primary course and first booster before 1 January 2024, to be re-vaccinated provided that they have been vaccinated in compliance with the 2023 Veterinary Regulations. | ||
| None of these injections must have been given within the preceding 7 (seven) days including the day of the competition or of entry into the competition stables. | ||
For the avoidance of doubt:
Scenario 1
If the horse received V1 in December 2023 and is due to receive V2 in January 2024 or later then V2 should be given between 21-92 days of V1.
Scenario 2
The horse received V1 and V2 in 2023 and is due to receive V3 in January 2024 or later then V3 should be given within 6 months and 21 days V2 to comply with the new vaccination rules
ENDS
For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2024, please contact Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd. Tel: 02476 858205. Email: press@hoys.co.uk
