When it comes to horses, we as owners know how important it is to have a well-stocked first aid kit.  Whether you are a new horse owner or have been involved with horses your entire life, knowing basic equine first aid is a “must know”.  If you’ve ever seen me speak about this subject, you’ve heard me say that all first aid kits are actually trauma kits designed to “get you from where you are to where you need to be”; what do I mean by that?  A trail riding kit should be supplied with items that you may need to get you from the trail back to your trailer where you should have a larger kit for larger trauma injuries.  Your trailer kit should get you from where ever you are back to your barn where you should have a larger kit available with more supplies.  You get the picture?

Having a relationship with your veterinarian is also extremely important so that when you need them, you can count on them as well to be available.

EquestriSafe has carried several “Pre-Packaged” first aid kits over the years and the provider did a great job with the variety of kits available.   The Pre-packaged kits were convenient in several ways from being able to store first aid items well, keeping liquid bottles upright, being able to hang from a tree, trailer or pole.  Pre-packaged kits can be costly; however, they do come well stocked and ready to use as trauma kits.  You will still need to add a few items to some lower cost kits, so be sure to read what they include and order accordingly.

Sometimes, convenience outweighs price when you think of the time trying to put the items together yourself.

Below you will find a list of items that can and should be in your home/barn or trailer first aid kit.

• Thermometer
• Stethoscope (cheap is ok)
• Examination gloves
• Instant ice/hot pack
• Bandage material
  • *Non-stick gauze pads
• Roll gauze
• Sheet cotton, cotton quilts or equivalent
  • *Standing bandages
  • *Vet wrap
  • *Bandana
• Scissors (blunt-tipped bandage scissors are best) or other item to cut bandages
• Saline Solution
• Antibiotic ointment
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Antiseptic wipes (Betadine solution, Nolvasan solutions, etc.)
• Veterinarian’s information
• Vital signs information
• Stud chain & twitch
• Easy Boot or other hoof boot
• Bucket or low wall tub for soaking hooves
• Ichthammol ointment
• Epsom salts
• Nitrofurazone, Numotizine or other poultice
• Electrolyte paste:
• Prescription medications (used at the direction of your vet)
  • Phenylbutazone(bute)
  • Banamine (flunixin meglumine)

Here’s another very long list by Equine Guelph: https://www.equineguelph.ca/pdf/infosheets/First-Aid%20Kit-Contents-infosheet.pdf

EquestriSafe also has a Quick Reference Guide to help you as well.  It is pocket size and convenient to use.  Use to record vital signs for your veterinarian until they arrive.  They are small enough to carry in your saddle bags and in each of your First Aid Kits.

With all this information my next questions is “Do you know your equines standard vital signs?”

If not, here is an article for your review:  https://extension.psu.edu/how-to-take-your-horses-vital-signs

We hope that from the list above you can start building your own at home Barn First aid kit.  You can also use this list to build your own trauma kits for trail riding and your horse trailer.

For example, a trail kit should include the following:

* Small antibiotic ointment packs (2-3)

* Vetwrap – small roll and a roll of medical tape (adhesive and non-adhesive)

* Non-stick gauze pads (sterile and non-sterile)

* 3-4 different types of small bandages for cut

* Tampon for puncture wounds

* Feminine pad for larger cuts & bleeds

* Long cotton swabs

* Plastic examination gloves

* Small dressings

* Wood applicators

* Tourniquet

* Saline wipes

* Iodine wipes

* Alcohol pads

* Ibuprofen & aspirin

All these items can be carried in a 1-gallon plastic bag in your saddle bag.  This basic type of a mini first aid kit is handy for both people and animals.

This is how you start building your First Aid kits.  It’s not difficult, but is time consuming.  Starting is the hardest part, because some of the items you may want to add to your own kit may be difficult to find or come in larger quantities then you will need.

Your first aid kits should be stored in a moisture proof container and your larger Trailer and Barn kits can be stored in things such as this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-22-in-4-in-1-Cantilever-Mobile-Tool-Box-020800R/202262088

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-26-in-Connect-Rolling-Tool-Box-Black-228224/300862598

Smaller kits can be stored in anything small:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sterilite-18-Qt-Latch-Storage-Box-19848606/204724980

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sterilite-70-Qt-Ultra-Storage-Box-19888604/204606576

 

Ask your veterinarian if you have any questions, they may know or include other items that we have not listed.  Having an over prepared well stocked first aid kit is better than not having one at all.  Also having them conveniently located in your barn, trailer, truck and on a trail ride is also important.

For further information or to order a first aid kit, please visit us at EquestriSafe.com