How Much Is a Horse First Aid Kit?

Horses look like big, graceful animals, but they can be quite clumsy. When nicks, cuts and bumps happen, it's essential to have a good first aid kit on hand. Knowing what it to put in it and how much it will cost to make and maintain will help you be prepared for those minor injuries at the barn or out on the riding trails.

Consider the type of riding that you normally do. This will help you decide on the exact contents, which will affect the cost. Do you ride out on the trails, or do you confine most of your riding to the area around the barn? If you're often out in the woods or forests, miles away from help, you'll need a more robust kit that you'd need if you tend to stay close to home.

The basic items you should have in a horse first aid kids are antiseptic wound scrubs to clean out cuts and other wounds, an antiseptic ointment or wound cream to apply after scrubbing, zinc oxide cream for minor burns or cuts, self-sticking wrap bandages to cover wounds and injuries, scissors to cut the wrap and absorbent cloths or baby diapers to stop blood flow or clean things up. Hot and cold packs are another useful item in case of a bump or fall. You should also carry an equine thermometer so you can check your horse's temperature. If it's elevated, that can be a sign that the horse is in distress. Include a good equine first aid book will tell you how and when to use all of these items. If you ride on the trails, you may want to add things like wire cutters in case the horse's leg gets trapped in something and a hoof pick to remove rocks or other debris.

Purchase the basic items, and any desired extras, separately or you can purchase a pre-made horse first aid kit. The cost of a pre-made kit is usually between $40 and $50, and these kits usually contain a variety of wound cleaning and treatment items, scissors, a thermometer and a first aid book. They may also contain extras such as rubber or vinyl gloves, syringes and tourniquets. You may be able to reduce this cost by purchasing the items on your own at a discount veterinary supplier. However, the convenience of a pre-made kit may outweigh the time and effort it would take to assemble one yourself.

A horse first aid kid doesn't have to be big to be effective. You can keep the cost reasonable by sticking to the basics. As long as you have items to clean and dress wounds, you will have the majority of mishaps covered. The most common injuries to horses involve cuts, scratches and scrapes.

The initial cost of a horse first aid kit is the highest outlay. However, there will be ongoing expenses since you will need to replace the items as they are used or expire. Even if you never use anything in the kit, you will need to replace the creams and ointments once they reach their expiration date. Check the kit's contents each month and throw away expired items. If you use them, they may no longer be effective.