An easy to follow, practical course designed for the horse owner or handler to learn essential emergency first aid skills. Despite the best efforts to keep horses in safe environments or how well they are cared for, sickness and injuries can happen. This emergency equine first aid course will equip horse owners and handlers with the knowledge of how to deal with different situations promptly, safely, and effectively. The horse owner or handler who is prepared with emergency first aid skills will give the horse suffering with a serious injury or illness a head starts for recovery ahead of the veterinarian.
Students will learn how to recognize emergency injuries and illness and the immediate action to take including how to stay safe, what to look for, how to carry out simple procedures such as taking a horse’s vital signs, wound cleaning, wound dressing, bandaging and how to manage a distressed horse in pain until the veterinary surgeon arrives.
Students will learn about the most common injuries, illnesses, and medical emergencies, how to recognize the signs and symptoms and the first aid treatment to administer. In addition, students will gain an excellent understanding of what constitutes a comprehensive first aid kit; essential first aid kit items and their correct effective use in all first aid situations.
All horses should be checked thoroughly for signs of injury as part of the daily care routine, to ensure injuries are identified and professional veterinary care received a simple first aid kit, kept in the tack room or stable yard, is a necessity for every horse keeper. A few essential items stored safely in a clean, dry box, can save a lot of panic if an equine emergency occurs. The box should be labelled clearly and should include contact numbers for your veterinary surgeons. Any used or expired items should be replaced immediately.
An equine first aid kit should also be part of the equipment that is taken to shows or whilst traveling. Carrying a separate human first aid kit is also advantageous First aid action the aim of first aid is to take immediate action when an injury is discovered, to prevent the condition getting worse while awaiting veterinary assistance.
- Prevent further injury by taking charge of the horse and guiding it to a place of safety.
- Briefly assess any injury and be ready to relay details to the veterinary surgeon.
- Call the veterinary surgeon and act on the advice received from them.
- Identify the cause of the injury and take measures to prevent it happening again.
- If in doubt, always call the vet.
A call to the veterinary surgeon might not necessarily result in a visit. Advice given over the telephone can provide reassurance to the keeper and ensure that correct first aid treatment is given. Calling the veterinary surgeon early is essential.
Assessing wounds
Cuts and grazes are the most common injuries that are likely to need attention – to stop bleeding and to prevent infection. The type and location of a wound, and the manner in which it was caused, can affect its severity and treatment.
We will be using a variety of learning from classroom based to practical with a focus on learning through understanding. This course combines classroom and practical sessions as the very best learning comes through hands on, the feel of the horse and how they communicate.
The course also covers legislation around emergency first aid provision and who can administer emergency first aid, focusing on countries where students live. Emergency classification of injuries or illness is clarified along with highly infectious diseases and the code of conduct surrounding them.
The course is 60% theory 40% practical and is taught by an experienced equine therapist, first aid trainer and teacher with over 20 years teaching experience. The teaching will include subject presentations and a variety of teaching methods to help consolidate learning and understanding. The course will offer a supportive, inclusive learning environment embracing equality and diversity. A course workbook to keep for reference will be given to each student and there will be plenty of opportunity for practical learning and practice of first aid treatment. By the end of the course, students will have good understanding, knowledge, and skills to deal with equine first aid emergencies.
A certificate of attendance will be issued to each student. After the course all students will have ongoing access to further help should they need it via email, telephone or zoom.
Certification by the American University in the Emirates, Ryada Training Center, CIM at the French Hospital, Dubai Racing Club, Dubai Equestrian Club and the International Association for Complementary Medicine (CMA) located in London - UK, making it easier for graduates to work all over the world.
Syllabus |
|
Lecture 1 | Course introduction. Information myself & students. Teaching and Learning methods, course expectations. What is First Aid and why is it an important skill? Understanding when and why FA is needed. What is Emergency First Aid and who is allowed to do it? Recognizing an emergency. Legislation around Emergency First Aid. Review Legislation in the UK and other countries. Highly Infectious Diseases and illnesses. Recognizing and learning about codes of practice, how to find out about these in a home country and internationally. Role of the Equine First Aider. Personal qualities and skills to be effective, safe & prompt. Solo work, group work. |
Lecture 2 | First Aid Kit contents and use. Introduction to contents in the FA kit and explanation on what they are used for. Being prepared in an emergency. Best practice for being prepared: What to have in place before an emergency happens to ensure effective, safe, and prompt action. Lecturer demonstration of Primary Assessment of a horse: considering & ensuring safety for horse and First Aider, observing the horse, taking vital signs: e.g., temperature, respiration rate. Recording information to share with the veterinarian. Students practice doing the Primary Assessment, Observations and taking vital signs on all horses. Solo work, group work, practice. |
Lecture 3 | Students practice doing the Primary Assessment, Observations and taking and noting vital signs on all horses. Students feedback and compare with the group their observation records. Recognizing and understanding emergencies categorizing into life threatening, emergency & minor emergencies. Colic and digestive issues. Examples of causes of colic and different types of colic. Recognizing colic signs and symptoms. First aid treatment protocols. Soft tissue injuries. Examples of causes of soft tissue injuries. Identifying signs and symptoms of soft tissue injuries and wounds - first aid treatment protocols. Blood loss and Shock. Understanding blood loss amounts and its effects. Recognizing signs & symptoms of Shock. Solo work, group work, practice. |
Lecture 4 | Lameness. Review causes of lameness. Assessing and recognizing signs and symptoms of Front and hind leg lameness. Recognizing signs and Symptoms of body lameness - First aid treatment protocols. Hoof injuries and Foot problems. Reviewing examples of causes of common hoof injuries and foot problems. E.g. Hoof abscess. Recognizing signs and symptoms - First aid protocol. Lecturer demonstration of assessing for lameness, wound cleaning, wound dressing, bandaging, hoof abscess cleaning/dressing. Students practice. Choke and respiratory issues. Examples of causes of common respiratory issues. Recognizing signs & symptoms of respiratory issues - First aid protocols. Lower Leg injuries and bone problems. Learning common causes of tendon /ligament injuries. Learning common bone problems. Recognizing signs and symptoms - First Aid protocols. Solo work, group work, practice. |
Lecture 5 | Neurological disorders. Learning common causes. Recognizing signs & symptoms - First Aid protocol. Head, eye and ear injuries. Learning common causes. Recognizing signs & symptoms - First Aid protocol. Foaling and Foal emergencies. Learning common emergency scenarios. Recognizing signs & symptoms of Foal /mare in distress - First Aid protocol. Lecturer demonstration of First Aid treatment for lower leg injuries. Biosecurity & Zoonotic diseases. Learning best practice for biosecurity. Understanding what Zoonotic diseases are and how to stay safe.
Transporting an injured horse to the hospital. Learning the safest and best practice for transporting an injured horse. Recovery after an emergency. Understanding the importance of monitoring and keeping records. Review example of how to keep records. Nursing care for the sick/injured horse. Recap Emergency First Aid illnesses and diseases. Recap First Aid treatment protocols. Solo work, group work, practice. |