Equimins specialises in producing natural horse supplies, products and supplements for the major areas associated with caring for a horse. All products are proudly made in the UK and excellent specification quality products are of paramount importance. Using this blog we want to share some of the knowledge we have gained through nearly 30 years of experience. 
Be first for first aid
No one likes to think of their horse getting injured, but it’s a sad fact that sometimes horses do hurt themselves. The only thing that horse owners can do is to make sure they’re prepared for such occasions and ensure the horse’s field and stable environment is as safe as possible. Wrapping horses in cotton wool and bubble wrap isn’t an option…but having a well stocked first aid kit is very do-able! Here are some of our first aid kit must haves…
- The name and number of your vet and farrier. Make up a card and put this information in your first aid kit. The chances are that you’ll have your phone
with you, but if you’ve left it at home/it has no battery or someone else is dealing with your horse for you, it’s important to have it to hand. - A clean bowl – very useful for cleaning wounds as needed.
- Cotton wool – get a good sized roll as if you’re cleaning a wound, you want to be able to wipe and dispose of it rather than reusing the same piece over and over again!
- Scissors – for cutting bandages, trimming hair and cutting gamgee as needed.
- Bandages – cohesive bandages are really handy as they grip to themselves…very useful if you’re bandaging a wound on your own. Stable bandages and non cohesive bandages are also handy.
- Gamgee – can be put over dressings and bandaged over for support or put underneath a poultice to help keep everything in place.
- Poultice – very handy for hooves and other areas.
- Tape – good strong tape, like duct tape, can be worth its weight in gold. Ideal for make-do poultice boots.
- Wound dressings – various sizes are a good idea, but if in doubt get a large one
that you can cut down if needed. - Torch – poor light and an injured horse is not a great combination.
- Hoof pick – if your horse has come in hopping lame, you can guarantee that’s the time all the hoof picks have vanished! It might not be hoof related, but it’s a good place to start!
- Wound Powder – ideal for drying and dressing minor wounds
- Total Wound Care Gel – to help prevent infection and hasten recovery of minor wounds.
- Wound disinfectant/Purple Spray – cleaning a wound with a skin safe disinfectant can help to prevent infection and speed up healing.
- Thermometer
Don’t forget that there are some wounds that require immediate veterinary attention. Your first aid kit might still be useful until the vet arrives, but it’s essential to take prompt action and call the vet if you’re concerned.
We asked our Facebook fans what was in their first aid kit too…
Jay Ward said that she carried gin and brandy in her first aid kit in addition to Arnica Gel and a number of our must-haves.
Vanessa Wooton added nappies, duct tape and MSM cream.
To see our full first aid range, just visit the website.
