How to prepare for an emergency

By Katy Islip

30 November 2011 09:32

In an emergency time is of the essence, so a bit of forethought will stand you in good stead, says equine vet Charlie Briggs, of Hale Veterinary Group in Wiltshire.

Here are her top tips for preparing for emergency situations ahead of time, so if and when things go wrong you can swing into action quickly and confidently.

1) Put a name tag or phone number on your horse’s rug, so if they escape you can be contacted easily.

2) List your name, your horse’s name, and who to call in an emergency, including your vet’s details and out-of-hours number, and keep it by your stable door or next to your tack. Include back-up numbers in case you can’t be reached.

3) Plan how you’d direct someone to your yard, and know your postcode for sat navs. If your place is hard to find, consider posting someone to look out for help arriving. Give written directions to your vet to keep on file.

4) Make sure your horse’s tetanus vaccination is up to date, as it can take hold within 24 hours.

5) Prepare a first aid kit, asking your own vet for advice on the contents. See if they’d consider running a first aid demo for you and fellow owners.

6) Carry out a dry run to practice what you would do in a real emergency.