EQ – Lesson 3 – Introduction and Assigned Reading

Common Emergencies Involving Horses

Read pages 20-52  in your reference guide.

An emergency can be anything from a small wound to something as urgent as an animal that is in a life threatening state. This section will cover a number of common medical emergencies that can occur with horses and what type of first aid you can administer to the animal.

Remember the primary rules of equine first aid:

• Keep calm. Proceed in a slow, calm manner so as not to panic anyone else or the horse
• Assess the horse’s attitude- see if you can safely approach and work on the horse
• Soothe the animal. Get the horse to quiet, familiar surroundings;always moving quietly and slowly
• Assess the injury
• Seek veterinary advice