Although it is the most basic form of health care, horse owners should be aware that horses need first aid care just as much as people do, if not more. There are many situations that a horse owner might run into, such as soft tissue injuries like lacerations and puncture wounds, ophthalmic injuries, strains, sprains, other acute lameness issues, colic, fever, depression, and dystocia or foaling difficulties.

Horse owners should be able to have the basic skills required to take care of a horse during an emergency situation until a veterinarian is available.

“Probably the minimum competency skill level is comfort with applying a bandage in case of a hemorrhaging lower extremity,” said Glennon Mays, DVM, clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, “or understanding how to encourage a painful, recumbent horse to stop rolling and get up off the ground and walk around in a circle while waiting for the veterinarian’s arrival in the case of colic.”

Cooperativeness on the part of the animal to accomplish routine acts can actually be practiced under non-emergency situations in order to succeed in time of crisis