Essentials to Keep in Your Tack Room
First aid kit for horses. Here is a list of essentials that I suggest you:
- buy and put together
- and keep in a drawer or box in your tack room or home.
These will enable you to easily treat everyday incidents if and when they occur.
With all the items below, if you are not familiar with how best to use them, there is information on how to use all these items on the Horse Ailments page.
First Aid Kit for Horses
Cotton Gamgee
Cotton Gamgee – This comes in a large roll. It is used as a wadding over wounds and injuries.
It is so useful and seems to come into it’s own, for all manner of things. It is a bit like cotton wadding.
VetRap
Scissors – Clean sharp ones suitable for cutting the gamgee.
VetRap (Vet Wrap) – (Horse Bandages) Have quite a number in stock. They are so good and so easy to use. When you use them they stick to themselves, so there is no need for any pins.
If for any reason you think they will not stay secure, you can in addition use duc tape to secure the bandage.
Honey – A thick top quality Manuka Honey for use on cuts and wounds. For further details on how to use this go to the Horse Ailments page.
Essential oil of Lavender – Use on cuts and wounds. It is an antiseptic and pain reliever. Good on cuts, minor injuries, burns, insect bits. Can use mixed with manuka honey on cuts and injuries, see Horse Ailments.
Homeopathic Traumeel Gel – The most effective all in one homeopathic gel that I have ever come across – buy it.
Gel Homeopathic Traumeel Tablets – As above but it comes in tablets or a liquid form. The dosage for a horse is between 5-6 tablets 3 times a day.
Arnica Tablets – If you have Traumeel Tablets you won’t need these. But if no traumeel tablets always have these in the yard. They are the “number one” homeopathic remedy to use for any first aid injuries.
Eliminator – a mild anti-bacterial, anti-fungal liquid. Safe to use on eyes, cuts, grazed and the soft tissues of the mouth. This is just such a good all in one liquid to have. It has so many uses. Buy It.
Surgical Spirit – Use this on any skin area that gets rubbed and needs a bit of toughenig up as it will help toughen the skin and surrounding area
Apple Cider Vinegar – this has so many uses. e.g. thrushy feet, abscesses, skin lesions, cuts and any inflamed areas. Also good to use where nail holes have been on the hoof walls.
Animalintex
AnimaLintex (Poultice Dressing) -Animalintex is an impregnated multi-layered poultice and wound dressing. It is for used for treating horse wounds.
It can be used as a hot poultice or cold poultice to reduce inflammation and helps draw out any infection. Or it can be used as a dry dressing to stop bleeding and absorb fluids. Once applied you can then use gamgee and vet wrap over it to keep it in place.
We now find we never need to use this and are able to use the other alternatives that are recommended on this site.
Barrier Heel To Hoof
However in the past it has really helped us and I would always recommend you have it in stock as part of your first aid kit for horses in case of emergencies.
Barrier Heel to Hoof. – One of the best products we have found for healing and solving any mud fever problems.
For more details on how to use it go to Mud Fever treatment.
Weleda WCS Dusting Powder – An arnica/homeopathic powder, a bit like talcum powder. It is very good on open wounds which need help in drying up.
Thermometer – There are many types on the market. The most effective way to use is via the anus. A horse’s temperature should be between 99-101F.Take care not to loose the thermometer in the anus; many people suggest tying a piece of string to it.
When taking it,ideally you should leave it in for 3 minutes. There are some new ones on the market which will bleep when the time is up.
A Nit Comb or Flea Comb – for the removal of Bot Fly eggs and Mud fever Scabs – a simple tool to add to your first aid kit for horses, but so effective. This tip was given to me by someone who has worked with horses all her life.
Enamel Tray – for soaking a Hot Poultice in hot water before applying it.
First Aid Kit for Horses Conclusion
If you put together the above first aid kit for horses, this will ennable you to treat and manage virtually any straight foward first aid incidences that may occur, very easily.