vaccination | Horse Racing Free Tips

Too Much Of A Good Thing: Can A Horse Be Vaccinated Too Often?

When preparing for vaccinations, it's helpful to know what a horse has been vaccinated for in the past. If a horse's vaccination history is unknown, it's best to assume that he has not received any vaccinations at all and use the protocols designed for unvaccinated horses, which might include boosters of some vaccinations. Additional doses of most vaccinations will not harm a horse, reports EQUUS magazine.

The strangles vaccine is the one exception: it should not be given if a horse's vaccination history is unknown. In rare cases, horses that have had strangles before and those that have been repeatedly vaccinated for the disease may have a serious complication called purpura hemorrhagica if they are vaccinated again, according to Dr. David Horohov of the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center in Lexington, Ky.

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Purpura hemorrhagica is an immune reaction that causes the blood vessels in the head, legs, and abdomen to swell. This condition is painful for the horse as circulation is impaired. Horses with purpura hemorrhagica can be very depressed and it can take a long time for the swelling to abate. Purpura hemorrhagica can be fatal if it isn't treated effectively or in a timely manner.

Though the risk of purpura hemorrhagica is small, it's best to pull a strangles titer on a horse with an unknown history. The titer will show if a horse carries antibodies to Streptococcus equi. If he does show titers, he doesn't need to be vaccinated again.

Oaklawn Offers Pay Raises for Fully Vaccinated Workers

Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, one of the largest employers in Garland County, Arkansas, is offering all active and future fully vaccinated team members a vaccine incentive.

Beginning Oct. 10, wages for all current and future fully-vaccinated non-tipped, hourly team members will be raised to a minimum of $16 per hour. Tipped hourly team members will be raised to a minimum of $8.50 per hour and salaried team members will receive a 3% increase. Oaklawn's new starting annual salary for fully-vaccinated salaried team members will be $40,000 per year. Current team members are eligible for the vaccine incentive through Dec. 31.

“We live in challenging times right now,” said Oaklawn President Louis Cella. “We are struggling to fill open positions and COVID is still hanging on. With the vaccine incentive, we are looking to change the financial health of our current and future team members. Most importantly, Oaklawn believes in protecting the health of our team members, their families and our community. The vaccine incentive, coming on the heels of the FDA approving the Pfizer vaccine, should move those unvaccinated to become vaccinated.”

New and seasonal Oaklawn team members after January 1, 2022 will be eligible for the vaccine incentive by providing a valid vaccination card.

In addition to the vaccine incentive, Oaklawn will continue its COVID cash incentive drawings, which began Aug. 1. In total, Oaklawn is giving away $45,000 to Team Members who have provided documentation showing they have been fully vaccinated.

Team members are required to wear masks while at work and Oaklawn continues to provide and encourage its team members to get a free vaccine.

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COVID-19 Outbreak At Woodbine Closes One Barn, Increases Monitoring In Others

With the start of the 2021 race meet delayed by a provincial stay-at-home order, Woodbine has been dealt another blow this week as a COVID-19 outbreak forced the closure of Barn 33. According to the Daily Racing Form, the horses in that barn have been shipped out temporarily, and all the personnel are in quarantine.

Several workers in other barns have shown positive tests for COVID-19 as well, and CEO Jim Lawson said increased monitoring will be taking place in those barns. Other measures include medical mask mandates and a push for vaccination of backstretch workers.

“We're going into a critical period here for the next few weeks, until we can get [everybody] vaccinated,” Lawson told the DRF. “We've taken every measure that we can, and we'll get through this.”

No date has been officially named for the start of Woodbine's 2021 season. The current stay-at-home order is scheduled to be lifted on May 20, but there is no guarantee the order won't be extended.

Dispelling Myths About Strangles

One of the more common equine respiratory diseases is strangles, a contagious bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus equi. Most horses recover from strangles with no complications, though the disease can make some horses very sick.

Affected horses may have a fever, get a snotty nose and feel poorly. Horses with strangles develop swollen, sore lymph nodes, particularly under their jaw. These abscesses eventually open and drain pus, Antibiotics are not necessary in most cases.

Horse Illustrated reports that there is a lot of misinformation surrounding the common and highly transmissible illness.

Some of the most common misconceptions about strangles include misunderstandings about how the disease spreads and how protect against it. Strangles is not spread through respiratory droplets in the air, but rather contact between horses or fomites — contaminated objects like buckets or halters. It also doesn't survive well in an outdoor environment or in soil. While there are vaccinations available for strangles, they may not be effective. Owners should consult a veterinarian for vaccine guidance.