Horse First Aid Kit

[bren]

Does everyone have a first aid kit handy? What do you have in it? What about when you are trail riding or just hacking about? Do you carry something with you?

[olympicprincess]

In Pony Club, we had to have a first aid kit. I still keep pretty much the same things in it. There's vetwrap, scissors, adhesive tape, cotton, liniments, safety pins, leg quilts and bandages, thermometer, rubbing alcohol, stethoscope, small knife, furazone... that's all I can think of right now. I always take my kit with my to competitions. As for trail rides- I hardly ever do, but was always told to where a belt either to replace a broken stirrup leather or as a tournoquet(sp?) to stop serious bleeding.

[summer]

Hi there
Your best bet for advice on first aid kits is to ask your vet. There's a lot of preparations, fancy bandages, etc., which are very expensive and sometimes difficult to use. Your vet will advise on what you are likely to need, and as for basic bandages, you can get lots of stuff from your local pharmacy for less than a tack shop. On trail rides, I carry a washcloth, a bit of vet wrap, a hoof pick, a swiss army knife, and the most important thing: a mobile phone! There's not a lot you can do when out on a trail, and for anything serious for either you or the horse, you'll need to call for help. For this reason, carry your phone on your person, in case you become separated from your horse. It's not much good if you fall off and your horse gallops off with the phone in your saddle bag! The most valuable item of first aid equipment is your brain, so read up, ask advice, and be prepared, and don't forget to have fun!