You know, we’ve used the words "understanding" and "influenza" quite a bit together over the years, and I’m still not sure we as horse owners understand influenza!

I get my flu shot every year, and still people I know get the flu because the strains have changed or for some reason we aren’t completely protected by the vaccination (although we don’t get the flu as badly as our unvaccinated friends!).

The reason I mention this now is that one of my friends who works closely in influenza research has suggested all horse owners in the United States booster their horses against influenza this year—Don’t skip that vaccination!

Is there some specific reason? Not really. Just the statistical probability that a strain of flu that is different from what is in our current vaccines MIGHT surface or be imported