# Vaccination Status of Horses in Poland Based on an Internet Survey of the Horse Owners

## TL;DR

A survey in Poland shows that sport and leisure horses are well-vaccinated, but slaughter horses have very low vaccination rates, highlighting the need for better disease prevention across all horse populations.

## Contribution

This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of vaccination practices among Polish horses, revealing disparities based on horse use.

## Key findings

- Over 90% of sport and leisure horses were vaccinated against key diseases like influenza and tetanus.
- Only 2.4% of slaughter horses were vaccinated against common diseases.
- Cold-blooded horses were underrepresented in the survey but made up most of the slaughterhouse sample.

## Abstract

Infectious diseases in horses can be prevented by breaking the chain of infection, and vaccination plays a key role in this process. In Poland, where there are over 273,000 horses, vaccination is voluntary, except for sport horses, which must be vaccinated against influenza. This study assessed the vaccination status of horses in Poland through a survey of 980 horse owners and an analysis of horse passports at a slaughterhouse. Most survey respondents owned warm-blooded horses, with many participating in equestrian competitions. The survey revealed high vaccination rates among sport and leisure horses but much lower rates among slaughter horses, where only 2.4% were vaccinated against common diseases like influenza and tetanus. In contrast, over 90% of sport horses were appropriately vaccinated. This study highlights a disparity in disease prevention, which, in the case of sport horses, is primarily driven by mandatory vaccination requirements set by sport governing bodies. These findings emphasize the need for better education and outreach to encourage vaccination across all horse populations, reducing the risk of disease outbreaks and improving overall equine health in Poland.

Preventing the spread of infectious diseases in horses requires breaking the chain of infection through appropriate prophylaxis. In Poland, where the horse population reached 273,006 in 2023, vaccinations are voluntary and primarily the responsibility of horse owners, with mandatory influenza vaccinations limited to sport horses. This study aimed to evaluate the vaccination status of Polish horses against infectious diseases through a survey of 980 horse owners and an analysis of 123 horse passports from slaughterhouses. Survey participants represented all provinces, predominantly owning warmblood horses (86%), but also 10% coldblood and 4% ponies or unidentified. Nearly half engaged in equestrian competitions. While over 90% of sport and pleasure horses were vaccinated against key diseases such as equine influenza and tetanus, only 2.4% of slaughter horses had similar prophylaxis. Cold-blooded horses were underrepresented in the survey (10.4%) but made up 68.3% of the analyzed slaughterhouse sample. The findings highlight a significant disparity in vaccination practices, primarily influenced by the horse’s intended use, with sport and leisure horses receiving better preventive care than slaughter horses. These results underscore the need for targeted educational efforts and policy interventions to improve the epizootiological status of Poland’s horse population and ensure a more uniform approach to disease prevention. A limitation of this study is the accuracy of vaccination records in horse passports, as some owners may not have them during vaccination, leading to discrepancies.