What to Include in Your Horse First Aid Kit

Anyone who has a horse knows how prone they can be to accidents or health crises, to the detriment of their owner’s bank accounts, of course. Jokes about padded stalls, bubble wrap, and multiple horses tag teaming a single owner are abound at the barn. Sometimes we wonder how such seemingly fragile creatures survived on their own for thousands of years!

Considering horses’ accident-prone natures, it’s a good idea to have a horse first aid kit assembled at the barn, plus two for travel. This puts everything you might need in an emergency right at your fingertips, in a single case or tote.

So what should you include in such a kit? The answer is a little different depending on whether we’re talking about the barn, the trail, or your trailer. Here are suggestions for what to include in each.

Barn First Aid Kit

At the barn, your horse first aid kit should be an all-in-one kit you can grab in case of an emergency. There are numerous types of equine emergencies, from wounds to colic. Here is a basic list of everything you should have.

  • Digital thermometer — a normal rectal temperature should be between 99 and 101 degrees.
  • Vaseline for lubricating the thermometer
  • Stethoscope for taking heart rate and rate of respiration
  • Tweezers for removal of ticks
  • Tourniquet in case of poisonous snakebite
  • Betadine for cleaning wounds and giving anti-fungal baths
  • Antiseptic wound cream
  • Spray-on wound treatment
  • Gauze and self-sticking bandages such as Vetrap and Elastikon for wrapping wounds
  • Bandage scissors
  • Hoof pick
  • Epsom salts for soaking abscessed hooves
  • Bute for pain relief
  • Banamine for colic relief
  • Electrolytes for combating dehydration
  • Towels and rags
  • Card with emergency phone numbers such as vet and farrier

Trail First Aid Kit

Obviously you won’t be able to carry a bulky, comprehensive horse first aid kit on the trail, so you’ll need to pare it down to the bare necessities. Here are the things you should bring with you on the trail, at the bare minimum. A small trail first aid kit should fit in a fanny pack you can wear, or a small saddle bag.

  • Hoof pick for removing rocks
  • Tourniquet in case of snakebite
  • Gauze and self-sticking bandages for your horse
  • Bandaids for you
  • Small pair of sharp scissors
  • Card with emergency contacts for both you and your horse

Travel Kit

The horse first aid kit you keep in your truck or trailer needs to be nearly as meaty as the one at the barn, if not more so, since you won’t have access to the conveniences of home. Here’s everything you’ll want to keep on hand.

  • Digital thermometer and Vaseline
  • Stethoscope
  • Tweezers
  • Tourniquet
  • Betadine
  • Wound cream and spray
  • Gauze and self-sticking bandages
  • Bandage scissors
  • Hoof pick
  • Epsom salts
  • Bute and Banamine
  • Towels and rags
  • Bucket
  • 5 to 10 gallons of water
  • Electrolytes
  • Card with emergency phone numbers such as vet and farrier

Keeping Your Horse Safe and Healthy

Keeping a horse first aid kit on hand anywhere you go is a good idea for dealing with emergencies, but everyday care is important too. Remember to regularly walk your horse’s stall, paddock, and pasture to look for potential safety hazards, and ensure your horse gets adequate water and nutrition to support his needs. For more information about how our pelleted feeds keep your horse happy and healthy, call Sacate Pellet Mills today.