A Survey of Horse Owner's Compliance with the Finnish Vaccination Program

Finnish Trotting and Breeding Association's electronic database (IT register) in Finland does not include vaccination entries of all horses. Especially, vaccination status of horses outside sport arenas is unclear. Objectives were to investigate vaccination practices of horse owners in Finland, to look for reasons associated with nonvaccination, and to evaluate the accuracy of the other statistics in Finland. The questionnaire study was executed. Horse owners (n = 1,198) told their vaccination practices, vaccinations used, and reasons for nonvaccination. Horses were mainly (85%–95%) vaccinated depending on the number of horses per horse owner. Equine influenza vaccine was mainly favored (94%). One reason for nonvaccination is that the horse is inactive in equine sport arenas (43%). Other reasons (53%) were age, horse does not take part in competitions but stay at home, and the owner decides that the horse does not need vaccination. Differences between age groups (young and old), competition types, and regions were not found by one-variable analysis, but vaccination status of horses outside equine sport arenas differed from horses active in competitions. By logistic regression analysis, it was indicated that purpose of use had influence on vaccination status. Reasons for nonvaccination surveyed in UK were confirmed. The control of the competition rules and possible sanctions exercised in competition venue are better explanatory factors than age, type of competition, and geographic home area. However, the risk to meet a nonvaccinated horse increases when going to the northern part of Finland.