It is useful to put together a first aid kit to keep on the yard. A basic first aid kit should contain the items most likely to be needed to treat an injury or ailment, along with contact numbers for your vet, insurance company and transporters (if relevant). The essential items you should include are listed below:

  • A clean bowl

  • A small pair of battery clippers for trimming hair from around wounds

  • Hibiscrub

  • Scissors

  • Cotton wool

  • Melolin or other non-stick dressing in a variety of sizes

  • Soffban (roll of non-adhesive bandage used to provide some padding within a dressing)

  • Knitfix or other conforming bandage

  • Vetrap or other self adhesive, elastic bandage

  • E-band or other tough, adhesive dressing to secure bandage

  • Durable bandage tape (eg Hy bandage tape)

  • Set of stable bandages

  • Animalintex or other poultice material

  • Silver duct tape

  • Intrasite gel (maintains a moist and protected environment for wounds)

  • Flamazine (prescription required) or other antibacterial cream

  • Sterile saline (useful for cleaning wounds if no access to clean water)

  • Syringe for flushing wounds

  • Thermometer

  • Head torch

  • Prescribed medicines- if your horse has a recurrent problem that can need urgent treatment your vet may leave or prescribe enough medication to start treatment whilst a visit is arranged.

If you have any first aid tips or advice of your own, please comment below and share with our other readers!

Written by: Dr. Sophie Meers BVSc MRCVS