General Horse Information
Emergency Kit For Horses
Be Prepared for an Emergency
Injuries, illness or a bad accident never seems to occur at a “convenient” time when you are involved with horses. Everyone should have a small first aid kit with them on the trail, a more complete first aid kit in the trailer and a well stocked first aid kit at the barn. Having basic supplies available can make all the difference, for both horses and humans.
You should be able and ready to render temporary first aid until your veterinarian arrives. Common sense and basic supplies should allow anyone to stop serious bleeding, cover a wound to keep out dirt and remove a foreign object when further damage could occur if left in place. Often a vet or vet tech at your clinic can advise on simple procedures to follow while awaiting help.
Here are some helpful hints with respect to advance preparation and a list of contents for a good first aid kit—something all horse owners should have available at all times.
Have a plan:
- Keep your veterinarian’s phone number handy and by each phone, especially how he or she can be reached after hours. Include the same phone numbers inside each first aid kit when anyone can find them.
- Talk with your regular veterinarian about a “back-up” or referring veterinarian should your veterinarian not be available or out of town.
- Know the route to an equine surgery center, should you need to transport your horse there.
- Have names and numbers of friends or neighbors who can help out in an emergency.
- Have a first aid kit with you at home and on the road.
Contents for a good first aid kit:
- Cotton roll (sterile)
- Contact bandage (sterile)
- Cling wrap such as Vetrap
- Gauze pads, assorted sizes (sterile)
- Gauze wrap (sterile)
- Adhesive wrap and adhesive tape
- Leg wraps
- Sharp scissors
- Sharp knife
- Hemostats
- Steel cup or container
- Rectal thermometer (with string and clip attached)
- Surgical scrub and antiseptic solution
- Latex gloves
- Long handled Q-tips
- Flashlight and spare batteries
- Clean towels
- Permanent marker pen
- Pliers (to pull nails)
- Towlettes or alcohol wipes
- 6 inch diameter PVC tubing, cut in half the long way (like a gutter) into lengths 1.5 to 2 feet (for emergency splinting and tourniquets)
- A basic equine first aid book
Store these materials neatly in a sturdy container that resists dirt. A new plastic tool box works well. These are available at all hardware stores, are very durable, come in an assortment of sizes and are competitively priced.
Many clinics will provide a good first aid kit at a very reasonable price. As always, if you have questions about what to do in an emergency or how to put together a good first aid kit for your horse—talk to your veterinarian. He or she will be happy to help prepare you for that unforeseen accident or emergency—should it ever occur.
There are also pre-assembled first aid kits available for reasonable prices online, ranging from basic kits to those complete enough for large operations with many horses.
Click here for a List of State veterinarians
