First Aid Boxes for Equine Emergencies

A happy horse is a healthy horse! However, when owning horses it is inevitable that your horse will get injured or ill at some stage. Horses squabble in the paddock, get caught on twigs and fences or scrape themselves on gates or walls. They seem to sometimes injure themselves on fresh air! This article is a quick first aid info guide for every horse owner and yard staff to have as a guideline so that you are prepared for an emergency and avoid unnecessary panic.

It is very easy to panic when you see blood trickling down their leg from a cut, but keeping calm will help you assess whether you have an emergency situation, or a situation you can deal with yourself. Most often these minor cut, nicks, bruises and scrapes heal quickly with no further problem. It is important to know the difference between a minor wound, and one that needs the vet.

Below we will give you a list of basics that we like to keep in our box at RideJozi. With this first aid box, you will be able to treat most minor injuries yourself. Quick attention is what makes all the difference in the outcome. The sooner a wound is cleaned, the better the prognosis. Cold therapy is also most effective when applied immediately.

By monitoring your horse daily and knowing what is normal for them, you will easily notice when there are any signs of illness or injury. As an owner, you need to know what to look for, and not only rely on the horse grooms or yard staff. Everyone needs to understand that the daily tasks of checking vitals and grooming is done for a reason; to make sure there are no injuries, bruises, swellings, areas of heat, and that all vitals are in average range.

At our yard, we require all liveries to have their own first aid box, this is in addition to the yard’s general box. The reason being that a lot of owners prefer certain treatments to others, so in an emergency they can easily grab their own box containing the medicines the owner is happy to use.

With this list, you will be able to treat any minor injury on your own. The best part is this box is not overly expensive! This includes every basic necessity which you can buy yourself. RideJozi offers these boxes for sale for those that would prefer to buy a prepared first aid box. P.S. Make your vet’s name and number is on the first aid box! Your box should have:

  • Thermometer
  • Duct tape x2
  • Nappies x4
  • Penstrep x2
  • Gauze
  • Cotton roll
  • Vetwrap x2
  • Elastoplast
  • F10 wound spray
  • Neem oil
  • Acrisulph
  • Milking cream
  • Purple spray
  • Glycerine & Icthammol
  • Vaseline
  • 200cc Syringe
  • Electrolytes
  • Epsom Salts

In the case of an emergency, you need to contact a vet and not take matters into your own hands. These are a few of the main injuries where a vet is essential.

When Do I Call the Vet?

  • Any eye injury whatsoever. Eye injuries can escalate rapidly even if you think it looks ok!
  • Any penetrating wound to chest or abdomen. You must leave the object for the vet to remove. Do not remove anything that is inside the horse, even if it’s a nail in the sole of the hoof.
  • If bone or tendon is sticking out.
  • If a wound is pulsing blood.
  • If mucous membranes are pale.
  • Any large wide or deep wounds.
  • A fever of over 38.8
  • If a horse goes off his feed.
  • If a wound that you have been treating shows signs of infection.
  • Straining to urinate.

If you need to call the vet for a wound, note to only clean the would with warm water and f10 spray. Do not apply anything else to the wound until the vet can treat your horse.

When the time comes and your horse gets sick or has a scrape, breathe and don’t panic, hose the area down so you can assess the situation, and then either call the vet or immediately start treating.

RideJozi does offer first aid courses, which are essential for any horse owner and yard staff.

Please contact here for more info on our courses or to buy a first aid box.