Creating A Horse First Aid Kit - What Goes In It?

Every pet deserves its own first aid kit, and horses are no exception. But what exactly should you put in your horse first aid kit? The key is to put one together right now, in the unfortunate case that your horse should suffer a near-fatal accident or injury. Wherever you go with your horse, you should make certain to take a first aid kit along. Putting together a first aid kit for a horse isn't as difficult as you think it might be. If you are not sure what to include in your horse first-aid kit, here are some of the staples and essentials that you should include.

The first thing you will need is a container in which to house all of your first aid supplies. Some viable options may include a five-gallon pail with a lid. Another option that can work is a small travel suitcase. Make sure to mark it clearly as your horse first aid kit. Easy recognition is key in the event of an emergency.

Here are some basic items that should be a part of your horse first aid kit:

A good first aid book for horses, preferable with good visuals.

Antiseptic ointment preferably suited for large animals.

A thermometer

Scissors

Several pairs of latex exam gloves

Alcohol prep pads

Paper towels

Iodine

Saline (pharmacy grade)

10cc Syringes

Hydrogen Peroxide

Sterile Gauze Pads

4x8 or larger cold packs

Polo Wraps

4" vetrap

A tourniquet

Plan to spend at least around thirty dollars to purchase and set up with your first horse first aid kit. Another good idea is to keep your veterinarian contact information inside of the horse first aid kit in order to be able to get in touch with your veterinarian in case of an emergency.

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Of course, you should feel free to mix and match your horse first aid kit according to the specific needs of your own horse. It can often be challenging to decide what goes into your horse first aid kit. Everyone has differing opinions on what you should put in a first aid kit. What you put in your first aid kit will depend on what you think you will need. For instance, you can plan ahead and add anything you might need for a horse show or event. Imagine that you are at an event where a horse has lost its shoe. It would be very handy to have an Easy Boot. Or perhaps one of your horses gets colic, but no one has Banamine on hand. Or perhaps you see a horse that has torn off his shoe going around the ring. This can often lead to a chunk of hoof wall being ripped away from the horses hoof. Wouldn't you like to be the soul who has a rasp to file the rough edge and thus prevent him from injuring himself on his own hoof? Make sure you think ahead and include all those accessories that are necessary for treatment. A cold pack won't do you any good if you don't have a way to keep it secured to your horse's injured leg. Simply include some duct or electrical tape and that should do the trick. These are some materials that will help bandages stay in place. What else should you include in your horse first aid kit? Flashlights are absolutely necessary in order to see what may be stuck in your horse's hoof at night. Even in the light of day, you may need that extra light to look under his belly. When it comes to putting together the ideal horse first aid kit, you will find that it is better to be overindulgent rather than not keeping it fully stocked.

Putting together a horse first aid kit is a great project to get kids involved with your horse care. You can even pay a visit to your local 4-H club and pose the same question to them. You may want to ask what should go in a first aid kit. This can lead to a lot of fun discussion as well as educational time for everyone. You can even have fun with it, such as making the discussion a scavenger hunt. You can hide the goods, and as they find them, have them describe the items and their use.

When it comes to putting together a good horse first aid kit, remember that what goes in it could be as important as what you don't include in it. Remember that if you have the gauze pads to cover a wound with nothing to hold them onto the area, then the gauze simply won't do you much good. You can use tape, bandages or vetrap. Make sure to think as far ahead as you can when putting together your horse first aid kit.

Consult your vet if you still have questions about what to include in a good first aid kit. Your vet will probably even help you get hold of the best quality supplies that you can get for your first aid kit.