Horse Insights

This article describes some items you may want to keep in your horse’s first aid kit and how to consider the weather’s impact on first aid.

In the dead of winter, Kristi’s horse injured herself in the paddock. With blood all over the horse’s leg and face, Kristi had to find a way to clean the horse up in 17 degree temperatures and see just how bad the injury was. The horse’s leg was swollen, but the water pipes were frozen, so she couldn’t cold hose the leg.

The horse had not had an injury since the summer, so Kristi had not checked her first aid kit since more temperate weather. What she found was that antiseptic ointments had frozen in their tubes and they wouldn’t work out at all. Luckily for Kristi, fellow horsemen at the barn had several items for her to use.

For winter first aid, you need to ensure that your kit is well stocked with items that will work in the winter season.

Gauze

Vetwrap

Epsom salt

Wound dressing powder

Drawing salves like icthamol (in the tub, not the tube)

Hydrogen peroxide

Alcohol
Poultice which may freeze may need to be warmed on a portable heater or in a bucket of warm water.

Animalintex poultice pads, which can be used warm to draw out infections or cold as a poultice.

Betadine to treat skin infections or wounds.

Antibiotic ointment that will not freeze or that is easily removed from its container. (Have several types available in case one freezes. Such as bacitracin, nolvasan.)

Ice boot to cold treat swellings. A useful ice boot is the one that has crystals that get cold when wet. Unfortunately, they typically do not last longer than a year, so you will likely have to replace them. In addition, you can buy any human first aid disposable cold compress treatment bags from most pharmacies. The ice boot is better because it wraps and stays put on the leg. Ice boots are a necessity in the winter when pipes can be frozen.

Easy boot for hoof injuries or hoof abscesses

Brown poultice wrap

Standing wraps or poultice-all-in-one bandages.

Disposable diapersabsorbant bandages or useful for hoof abscesses

Bucket water heater to warm water for cleaning wounds.

Scissors

Rectal thermometer (digital) and alcohol pads or bottle to sterilize thermometer

Petroleum jelly

Saline solution

Eye wash

Tourniquet

Syringes

Stethoscope

Self-sticking (sticky back) tape

Clean bucket strictly for injuries

Clean towels

Tupper ware or other large coverable plastic container to keep most items in

Medications to consider adding: phenylbutazone, acepromazine, banamine (from veterinarian); might consider Rescue Remedy, homeopathic remedy for stress and anxiety; electrolytes if horse is dehydrated (diarrhea)

Wire cutters

Hoof pick

Tweezers

Twitch

Surgical gloves

A card with phone numbers for your veterinarian and farrier

Vital signs card noting normal temperature, pulse, respiration

For summer: swat and fly spray; epinephrine (if horse is allergic to bee stings), zinc oxide for sunburn

Check your kit at the start of each season at the very least. Replace anything you have used immediately or you may forget. If you have a well-stocked kit, you’ll be better able to help your horse during an emergency.

Fantastic Equine Forum Looking for more great advice? Wondering what to do with that stubborn horse?

Equine First Aid Kit Complete, convenient set for immediate treatment of injuries and accidents for the horse