Tough Questions July 2010 - Should Vaccinations be Mandatory for Shows and Events?

Horses are more likely to get certain diseases, such as equine influenza and strangles, when at places where a large number of animals intermix, such as at horse shows and racetracks. These locations are also more likely to have outbreaks of the same diseases due to the virulent nature of these diseases and close proximity of horses. For this reason, some competitions and show grounds have made vaccinations mandatory for horses at events.
While many people view this as a good idea, others think it is unfair and prevents some people from showing due to the cost of vaccines.

What do you think?

Should vaccinations be mandatory for shows or events, or should it be left up to the discretion of the horse owner?

Send your comments to news@horsejournals.com or comment below.