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 Knowledge of first aid principles is important for anyone handling horses.
The general principles of first aid are to catch and calm the horse, assess the extent of the injury or illness, administer appropriate first aid to make the horse comfortable and prevent a worsening of the situation, and then to seek veterinary advice and treatment if required.
Keeping calm and avoiding panic is very important in emergency situations.
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First Aid Kits
Having a basic first aid kit close at hand when an injury occurs is the first step to providing assistance to your horse.
Keep a kit in the stables and take a first aid kit with you when travelling with horses, as this is a common time for injuries to occur.
Pack the kit in a moisture-proof box, such as a plastic or metal toolbox or Styrofoam esky.
The following list of contents is recommended in a first aid kit or cupboard:
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- 2 x rolls 10cm bandaging tape e.g. Vetrap
- 2 x rolls 7.5cm adhesive bandaging e.g. Elastoplast or Flowrap
- 1 x roll cotton wool 30cm x 375gm
- 1 x roll 7.5cm cotton gauze or crepe bandage
- 1 x poultice dressing e.g. Animalintex
- 1x bottle wound antiseptic e.g. Cetrigen Spray
- 1 x jar petroleum jelly
- 1 x digital thermometer
- 1 x 60ml syringe or an old, but clean worming syringe for flushing wounds
- 1 x container of a soothing, cooling liniment eg. Rapigel or Cooling Gel
- 1 x container of a soothing, antiseptic cream e.g. Septicide or Old Timer’s White Salve
- 1 x small pack of salt for making salt solutions to cleanse wound
- 1 x pack gauze swabs
- 1 x pair curved scissors
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In your stable fridge keep a syringe of Tetanus Antitoxin and a Tetanus Toxoid booster. Ensure that you keep them refrigerated and replace them if they pass their expiry date.
Also keep frozen cooling packs, ice cubes and several Styrofoam cups filled with water and then frozen. These are excellent for applying cold therapy to areas where an ice pack can’t be bandaged. Simply peel away the rim of the cup and massage the injured area with the ice block.
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Article courtesy of Dr John Kohnke from ‘Health Care and problems of Horses, 9th edition’ published by Virbac-Vetsearch.
Dr John Kohnke has over 20 years of experience in the health care and management of horses. He is well known for his ability to give sound, practical and up-to-date advice, which is sought by trainers and horse owners worldwide. As Technical Director of Vetsearch for 20 years, John had an opportunity to pursue research in equine nutrition, parasite control, lameness and respiratory problems.
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