Information Sheets – My Equine Virtual Farm

04: Emergency Preparedness

Action Point: Purchase or assemble a first-aid kit for the barn, as well as a copy of The Complete Equine Emergency Bible by Karen Coumbe, and ensure emergency contact information is up to date and easy to find. See 01: Horse Information Sheets.

Rationale: Having pertinent details, such as the horse’s medical information, normal vital signs, and the veterinarian’s phone number is essential when an emergency occurs. One must be able to clearly and calmly assess the situation, calm the distressed horse, and implement any emergency measures (i.e. stop excessive bleeding) and determine whether or not an immediate call to the vet is necessary. If it is, the call should be made as soon as possible to relay vital information, all while keeping the horse calm and administering any first-aid interventions the vet advises.

02: Equine Body Condition Score Poster

Action Point: Purchase an Equine Body Condition Score poster from TheHorse.com to display alongside the Horse Health Check poster.

A horse weight tape will also be an essential tool. This should be available at a local tack shop or can be ordered through Amazon.ca.

Rationale: Effectively monitoring the BCS of one’s horse(s) is an important tool in ensuring your horse is in optimal health and receiving proper nutrition. Ensuring your horse maintains a healthy BCS based on its breed, age, and workload will also play a role in detecting and preventing disease.

01: Health Resources

Action Point: Create a binder containing the series of Equine Guelph Information Sheets, including the Horse Health Check info sheet. Purchase a Horse Health Check poster to display in a prominent place for quick reference.

Rationale: In striving to do what is always in the best interest of the horses, it is helpful to have accurate and current information available on a range of topics related to equine health, welfare, and management.

Having the Horse Health Check poster placed in the tack room or feed room will remind everyone a) to perform a health check on every animal regularly, and b) of the steps involved to accurately monitor and detect any changes in health.