Horse trailer packed. Check. Tack cleaned. Check. Show clothes ready to go. Check.

You’re eager to hit the road for the next horse show, but do you know what could be waiting for you when you get there?

With a lot to think about for show preparation, checking for equine disease outbreaks can often fall off the to-do list. While vaccinations are an important part of maintaining equine health and helping show season go smoothly, it’s best to avoid a run-in with an infectious disease altogether.

One of the biggest threat is rabies. With more than 400 cases of rabies reported in various animals around the country, it is a danger that horse owners must protect against. Thus far, Texas has the highest number of reported rabies cases at 194 and counting, most of those cases being diagnosed in bats