All horse owners should have an equine first aid kit & know how to use all of the supplies. At least twice yearly, examine & replenish outdated supplies. Store your first aid kit in your home or temperature controlled space. Leaving it in a trailer or uninsulated tack room will quickly degrade the supplies. Talk to your veterinarian about customizing your first-aid kit for your horse’s particular needs.
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FUNDAMENTALS
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Thermometer, Mercury or Digital
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Stethoscope (good quality)
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Headlight (good quality)
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Proper Fitting Halter & Lead Rope
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Latex Gloves (12)
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Watch or Timepiece with Second Hand
BASIC EQUIPMENT
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Bandage Scissors
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Suture Scissors
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Tweezers or Forceps (smooth jaws)
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Non-Sterile Gauze – 4″x4″ Squares (1 package)
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Conform® or Kling® Gauze 4″ (2 rolls)
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Elastic Adhesive Bandage (Elasticon®) 3″ (2 rolls)
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Cohesive Bandage (Vetrap®) 4″ (2 rolls)
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Non-Adhesive Wound Dressing (Telfa® pads) 3″x4″ (2) & 3″x8″ (2)
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Povidone Iodine (Betadine®) Solution (4 oz)
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Antiseptic Scrub, Chlorhexidine or Povidone Iodine (Betadine®) Scrub (4 oz)
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Sugardine
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Small Plastic Containers for Mixing or Storage (2)
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Wound Lavage or Cleaning Bottle, Saline (250 ml)
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Tongue Depressors (6)
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Alcohol Wipes (10)
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Spray Bottle for Water (1)
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Paper Towels (1 roll)
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Multi-Purpose Tool, Leatherman® or Equivalent
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Cotton Lead Rope (3/4″ – 1″ in diameter)
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Electrolytes (paste or powder)
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Fly Repellent Ointment (1)
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Heavy Plastic Bags (2 – gallon & 2 – pint size)
SECONDARY EQUIPMENT
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Cotton, Rolled Sheets, Leg Cottons (2)
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Standing Wrap & Quilt or Shipping Boots
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Easy Boot or Equivalent in Appropriate Size
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Baby Diapers (2) (size 4 to 6 depending on hoof size)
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Triple Antibiotic Ointment (1 tube)
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Extra Halter & Lead Rope
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Lariat
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Syringe 35 cc (1)
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Syringe 12cc (3)
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Syringe 3 cc (3)
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Syringe 3cc with 20gauge needle (3)
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Syringe – 60 cc cath tip (2)
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Needles – 18gauge – x 1.5″ (4)
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Needles – 20 gauge – x1.5″ (4)
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Eye Wash, Saline (1 bottle)
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Opthalmic Ointment or Drops (1 bottle or tube)
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Magnesium Sulfate, Epsom Salts (1 package)
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Duct Tape (1 roll)
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Clippers with #40 Blade (good quality)
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Shoe Puller
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Crease Nail Puller
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Hoof Pick
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Hoof Knife
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Hoof File, Rasp
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Clinch Cutters
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Farrier’s Driving Hammer
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Collapsible Water Bucket
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Ice Wraps
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Twitch
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See our blog post Bute & Banamine: Commonly Used & Misused in Horses for more information about these powerful drugs.
Talk to your veterinarian about dispensing a few medicines that you may use in an emergency. In most, if not all states, a veterinarian cannot legally dispense prescription items without a valid Veterinary Client Patient Relationship (VCPR). See AVMA VCPR.
In my practice, I often dispense prescription items to my clients under the condition that they call me first to discuss the situation, before they medicate their horse. Likewise, these medicines are only of value if you understand their benefits and limitations, and you are able to competently give them to your horse – orally or im (intramuscular injection).
• Flunixin Meglumine (Banamine®) (injectable or paste)
• Phenylbutazone, Bute Paste (1)
• Trimethoprim-Sulfa Tablets SMZ-TMP in small container (75#)
