On September 28, 2025, the equine community is joining the global movement to prevent rabies by taking action—together. The 2025 theme, “Act Now: You, Me, Community,” announced by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), highlights the power of individual and collective responsibility in preventing this deadly disease.
According to Zoetis, horses are much more likely than dogs to contract rabies.
Rabies can occur any time of the year, but cases tend to increase in late summer and early fall, due to increased interaction between horses and carriers of the virus, such as bats, skunks, and raccoons.
© 2018 by Zoetis New window.
“World Rabies Day serves as a powerful reminder that we cannot be complacent in our fight against rabies,” says Bryant Craig, DVM, associate director of scientific sales affairs and equine professional services lead for Merck Animal Health.
Back on September 27, 2024 – Merck Animal Health announced the “Knockout Rabies” campaign. Timed to coincide with the 18th annual World Rabies Day, this initiative aims to raise awareness among equine veterinarians and horse owners about the critical need for rabies vaccination, highlighting the often-overlooked risk this deadly disease poses to horses and people.
“Vaccinating horses is not just about protecting them—it’s about protecting the people who care for them as well. The ‘Knockout Rabies’ campaign is our way of reinforcing the vital role vaccination plays as such a simple and economical solution in preventing this deadly disease.”
Rabies is one of the deadliest viral diseases, with an almost 100% fatality rate once symptoms appear, yet it remains 100% preventable through vaccination. As a zoonotic disease, rabies can be transmitted from animals to humans, posing a significant threat to public safety.
Each year, over 59,000 people worldwide lose their lives to rabies, with 29 million more requiring lifesaving treatment. Vaccinating horses is essential not only to protect equine health but also to reduce the risk of transmission and safeguard public health. This is why the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) recommends rabies vaccination for every horse, every year.
While rabies can occur any time of the year, cases in horses tend to increase in late summer and early fall, likely due to increased interaction between horses and wildlife reservoirs of the rabies virus, such as bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes, which are more active during these times.
Horses are curious creatures, and a nip on the muzzle or limb could be disastrous. Many exposures go unnoticed, making vaccination not just a precaution but a necessity.
Since wildlife may enter barns (especially at night), both stalled horses and horses on pasture have the potential to be exposed. This campaign by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control encourages veterinarians and horse owners to take immediate action to vaccinate horses against rabies—it’s not too late.