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• First Aid Kit for the Barn
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By MaryKay Ruble

As every horse owner knows, we are not engaged in a low-cost hobby or business.  Over the lifetime of a horse, you will spend many times over what you originally paid in purchase price.  I have perfected a polite smile, and head nod when a seller has tried to show me a “really cheap” horse, while in my mind I’m multiplying monthly upkeep, veterinarian care and farrier services.  I know that any “cheap” horse won’t be that way for long.  If you’ve owned a horse for any length of time, you soon learn that successful management of your horse and equipment is the easiest way to assure that you have a healthy, sound horse to ride and enjoy. 

 But no matter what management techniques you have in place, no matter how careful you are in dealing with every aspect of your horse’s daily life, accidents do happen.  Accidents can happen simply because we can not have absolute control over our horses’ every move, thought or action.

 So now, horror of horrors, your beloved horse has had an accident, tangled in a fence, tangled with a pasture-mate, or just plain tangled its own stable blanket.  It is at that moment that you will wish you had been more prepared for an equine emergency.  No matter what your horse-keeping situation is, whether you board at a public or private facility, or whether you keep a horse or two in your own backyard, the best thing you can do for your horse is to keep an equine first aid kit handy.  Yes, even if you keep your horse on your own property and think that you can just run into the house for whatever wrap or paste you might need, having it all together in kit form will make your run that much quicker.  I don’t want to be searching, and losing precious time, for an ointment that could be in either of two medicine cabinets, or in one of three tack boxes.  Having your first aid supplies and emergency phone numbers in a well-marked rubber or plastic box with a lid, tucked handily in the barn, and trailer, makes a whole lot more sense.   

 At the end of this article, I will include a list of some items that should be in every equine first aid kit.  However, in an emergency situation, when you are waiting for the vet’s arrival, please keep a couple of things in mind.  While waiting for the vet, you may want to withhold anti-inflammatory drugs and/or painkillers.  Both of these drugs may mask any underlying problems.  During your initial call to the vet, ask before administering these drugs.  In the case of an open wound or laceration, while waiting for the vet, the wound can be rinsed well with water; do not introduce anything except water or KY Jelly into the wound.  If the wound requires stitching, it must be clean of ointment and any foreign substance.  Some substances can also be very irritating or hard to clean off.  Refrain from using iodine, including betadine, hydrogen peroxide and oily ointments until the injury is seen by the vet.

 Prior to your call to the vet, in the case of an illness, you may want to take your horse’s temperature.  Even if your vet does not ask for your horse’s temperature, you can certainly volunteer the information.  More times than not, though, this will be a question that the vet will use to begin his/her evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of your horse’s condition. 

 Use a good thermometer, and if possible, practice taking your horse’s temperature rectally when he or she is feeling well.  You can learn on the fly, but remember that anxieties, both yours and the horse’s, will be high in the midst of an emergency.  You will feel surer of yourself with practice, and that feeling will transfer to your horse.

 A bit of KY Jelly can be used on the tip of the thermometer for easier use.  Have someone hold the horse’s halter or lead, as you move to the rear and stand to the side, out of the line of a kick.  Reach over, grasp and move the tail slightly to the far side, and insert the thermometer, while keeping a grasp on it.  If using a digital thermometer, you can watch until the highest reading is reached.  Remove the thermometer and clean well before and after each use.  It is not recommended that you use a glass and mercury thermometer.

 A horse’s normal temperature (rectally) should be 99 - 100.8 degrees.  Listlessness, depression, heavy breathing with nostrils flaring, and refusing feed can also be signs of fever in a horse.

 Let’s have a look at a few of the other items that should be in our equine first aid kit. 

 Digital Thermometer

KY Jelly -not Vaseline, as it contains petroleum oils which should not be       introduced into wounds.

Scissors or Wrap Cutter –for removal of dressings, bandages

Stethoscope –useful when the heart rate needs to be monitored, to listen for gut sounds.

Duct Tape

Epsom Salts

 For cleaning wounds and abrasions:

 Small sponges -for use with soap to cleanse wounds.  Dispose of each sponge as it is used.

Chlorhexidine Scrub –an antibacterial soap for wounds, or

Betadine Scrub or

Betadine Solution

 For treating and bandaging wounds which do not require stitches:

 Neosporin –for superficial wounds or abrasions

Nolvasan Ointment or

Chlorhexidine Ointment

Bandaging materials  - sterile and non-sterile 4”x4” gauze pads, leg cotton, vet wrap, roll of cotton

 For wounds that cannot, because of location, be wrapped:

 Furacin Spray or

Aluspray

 Medications you might want to have “on hand”:

 Eye Wash

Triple Antibiotic Ointment for Eye or

Ophthalmic Polysporin

Phenylbutazone Paste or

Phenylbutazone Tablets

Flunixin Meglumine Paste

 In most states, these meds must be prescribed by your veterinarian.  Ask if you can obtain an amount to keep for emergency use.  Ask also for a prescribed dosage, and how each medication should be used.  Learn and know how to administer these drugs for their intended usages.

 None of the information above is intended to take the place of routine or emergency veterinary care, or without supervision by a licensed vet.  If you are not comfortable with the use of the above items, or in their administration, please contact and wait for a veterinarian.

 For more reading, try these books:

 Emergency -The Active Horseman’s Book of Emergency Care by Karen Hayes  

First Aid for Horses - The essential reference guide by Tim Hawcroft 
Horse & Rider's Hands-On Horse Care : The Complete Book of  Equine First-Aid  by Karen Hayes, D.V..M.

Current Saddles on Clearance

Our saddle makers are always introducing new models and making changes to old models of saddles.  This causes us to have inventory problems which is a very good thing for our customers.  Here is our current list of NEW but old model saddles.  We've knocked the price as low as we could to make room for the newer models..  Act soon because these saddles have a limited availability.

16" Crates High Back Trail Saddle 206 - Clearance

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16" Reinsman All Around Saddle 4100 -CLEARANCE

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16" Circle Y Cordura High Back Saddle 3581

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Fabtron Endurance Saddle QHB 7320 CLEARANCE

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15 1/2" Tex Tan Cochise Full Quarter Horse Bars Trail Saddle 08-1466p55

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16" Tex Tan Hereford Old Timer Roping Saddle 08-1380s

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Have you visited our informational site DailyEquine.com?  We have a forum that is dedicated to spreading the knowledge of the equine enthusiasts.  We have a very knowledgeable group of Moderators and Members that provide help on many topics.  Visit them and see what it is all about.

Recent Topics (click to view the conversations):

draft horses anyone? 

Bahavior Problems Caused by Teeth 

Cleaning Horse when it's chilly or cold 

Problems with lesson horse or with me? 

I am So Excited About Buying My First Horse 

Help! Gaited saddles don't fit gaited horse 

At HorseSaddleShop.com we strive to provide the best service, product and price.  We ship all saddles in the 48 Contiguous United States for free and offer an additional savings for every order.  Whether you are ordering on-line, over the phone or at our store you can use the coupon code ts2p for a checkout discount.  Happy shopping!

Please send your responses to specials@dailyequine.com. We look forward to hearing from you!