Many if not all of us horse/equine owners live in areas where our horse’s respiratory functions can be a concern. Weather, allergies, insects and snakes are usually the root cause of these concerns. And if you don’t live in an area that might contain these risks, then maybe you
are traveling or camping in areas where you are not aware of them.

Veterinarians recommend these items for your first aid kits whether in the barn, your trailer or even on the trail to carry a kit that can help you to get “from where you are to where you need to be”.

From where you are can be your farm/ranch to a veterinary hospital, from the trail back to your trailer, or from your trailer or camping trip back home or if it’s a serious situation, then to a veterinary hospital.

Whatever the situation, a first aid kit is handy to have always. It should contain some basic bandages for both animals and humans, antibiotic ointments, cleaning solutions, water, vet wrap rolls, a thermometer, blunt scissors, a tourniquet, aspirin, vital signs information, Easy boot or other hoof boot (if not, then duct tape to make a boot), ice/hot pack. These are at minimum.

For a more extensive first aid kit, we’ve got a larger list below.  What else might I add to this list you might ask? I’d add things like tampons, sanitary napkins and even disposable diapers. Along with this list I’d add an airway kit.

What is an airway kit? It is a set of tubes that can be easily used in the event that your horse’s’ breathing is impacted by another influence. That might be a swarm of bees or wasps stinging them in the face and nose/mouth area, a snake bite on the face or an allergic reaction to some plant or feed.

This is where the “garden hose” ideas came from. As a horse owner you should be aware that equines can not breath through their mouth like us or other mammals. They can only breath through their noses. Thus, when their nostril passages swell to extent of cutting off their air
they will suffocate. If and when this happens, you want the “hose” to be strong enough to withstand the pressure of the swelling. You also want a “hose” that will not cause additional bleeding or damage to the nostrils and airways.

Unfortunately, if you can stand on your “garden hose” with the heel of your foot and it collapses, then it is of no use for this situation. Or if your garden hose is lined with a steel wire to avoid collapsing, then again that steel wire will cause damage far greater in the sensitive airways, than is wanted or needed and could add to additional issues.  This is when having a proper airway kit can be helpful. For if/when swelling begins, this kit will keep the airways open until you can obtain veterinary care and treatment, reach your veterinarian for advice, or “get from where you are to where you need to be” if you are out on the trail.

What do the Equine Airway kits offer that EquestriSafe has available? Our supplier VetMed trail paks has put together an easy to carry, handy kit with veterinarian instructions and size requirements of the tubing from the smallest equines to the largest draft horses. They contain 2 color coded tubes, instructions on how to use them (from a veterinarian) and lubricant for
ease of inserting.  The tubing for each size is thick enough to resist and hold the airway from the pressures of
swelling, has a beveled end to help avoid cutting the horse’s sensitive nostrils and airways and has been identified not only in size but with color tape.

These kits are very useful and popular because of the information they not only provide, but
because of how handy they are to carry on a trail ride, keep in your first aid kit at the barn and
in your trailer. They come contained in a clear package, easily identifiable if you have more
than 1 size available and are reusable.
We offer them available each individual size and also as a pack of 3 in our barn kits.

Get yours today and be mindful that you are helping your equine partner to stay alive if
they are ever impacted with airway swelling.

Here is the more extensive list of items for your first aid kits:
 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
o *Standing bandages
o *Vet wrap
o *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 another 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)
o Phenylbutazone(bute)
o Banamine (flunixin meglumine)

Be safe, be trail and travel aware and have a great year of exploring trails, enjoying horse shows
or just being part of this beautiful equine ownership club.

Happy Trails