Emergencies, especially with horses, often occur unexpectedly and at the most inconvenient times, making it essential for barn owners to keep an equine first-aid kit well-stocked and ready. Knowing what to include and how and when to use it can help you improve outcomes in critical situations.

The Importance and Use of Equine First-Aid Kits

“If you own a horse, then you should always have an emergency first-aid kit,” says Tim Gaskell, professional groom at OakVale Ventures LLC, in Holly, Michigan, and owner of TAG Equine Services LLC, in Naples, Florida. “Evaluate your level of horsemanship and be honest about what you are comfortable doing in a first-aid situation. You should always consult with your veterinarian to make sure that you have what you need for your first-aid kit that’s unique to your horse’s specific health needs.”

Gaskell says he’s been in several situations where an equine first-aid kit was crucial for stabilizing a horse until the veterinarian arrived. “I’ve had instances in my life where I had a colic or tie-up on the road (and I needed to administer medications my veterinarian had prescribed), or other instances where I needed to wrap a leg with a cut.” A first-aid kit can also be useful if your horse pulls a shoe, and you need to wrap the foot until the farrier can see him.

Equine First-Aid Kit Necessities

A medium-to-large toolbox with a top caddy from your local hardware store makes for an easy, inexpensive way to store your first-aid items.

Every first-aid kit should include a thermometer, triple antibiotic ointment, antiseptic scrub, gauze wrap or pads, Vetrap (or other adhesive bandage) and Elastikon (elastic tape), and aluminum spray to cover abrasions. Scissors—preferably medical scissors with rounded ends—can also be useful for cutting some of these materials. A roll of durable tape and gauze pads (or diapers) can be useful for wrapping hooves in the event of a lost shoe or for packing a foot in the case of a suspected subsolar abscess.

“Medications to consider would be ones that you are comfortable giving if needed,” says Gaskell. “Again, always consult with your veterinarian before giving any medications.” Some medications come in an oral paste form which he says is ideal for most owners.

Work with your veterinarian to determine whether it is appropriate and necessary to keep medications such as antibiotics or tranquilizers in your first-aid kit for emergency situations. If your veterinarian deems it necessary, keep 10mL syringes and 18-gauge needles for injectable medications. “Don’t forget a 60-cc dosing syringe to dissolve pills or to help rinse a wound,” says Gaskell.

Take-Home Message

Always having a well-stocked equine first-aid kit on hand can help you be prepared to handle emergency situations. Evaluate your comfort level with managing common wounds and illnesses before they occur. Always check with your veterinarian when evaluating what to have in your horse’s first-aid kit and before giving medications.