Trail riding can be fun and relaxing, but it can also leave horses exposed to disease, especially if they are traveling to a new area or haven’t been given the proper vaccinations to help protect them from local disease threats.

“Horses that travel only once or twice a year are not out of the woods when it comes to equine diseases,” said April Knudson, DVM, manager, Veterinary Services, Merial. “A complete vaccination program developed and monitored by a veterinarian can help keep horses healthy and safe year-round.”

While on the trail, there is a possibility horses will come in contact with animals potentially infected with rabies. This is a serious encounter because an infected horse could possibly expose its owners and handlers to the disease. Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals–including common wildlife seen on the trail like skunks, raccoons, foxes, and bats–and the disease is 100% fatal for horses and almost always fatal for humans.

“While there are no documented cases of horse-to-human transmission, vaccination is the best way to keep horses and owners safe and healthy,” Knudson recommended