Always have the horse trailer safety checklist with you whenever your travel.

Store these items in the trailer so you always have them on board!

• Spare Tire/Jack/Tire Iron
• Three emergency triangles/flares
• Chocks
• Flashlight with spare batteries
• Electrical tape and duct tape
• Knife for cutting ropes in emergency
• Water - 5 - 20 gallons. Enough for drinking, cooling the horse if overheated, or washing of wounds in the event of injury.
• Buckets/sponge
• Spare halter and lead rope
• Spare bulbs
• Spare fuses if applicable
• Fire extinguisher
• WD-40 or other lubricant
• Broom, shovel, fork, manure disposal bags
• Insect spray (Bee and wasps)

During winter months:

• Shovel
• Sand
• Red flag (for your antenna if stranded)
• Horse blankets
• Human blankets
• Candle, matches, or lighter
• Tire chains

For the Tow Vehicle

• Hawkins Guide: Horse Trailering on the Road
• Hawkins Guide: Equine Emergencies on the Road
• Registration for the vehicle and trailer and proof of insurance
• Jumper cables
• Spare tire/jack/tire iron
• Tool kit
• Spare belts and hoses
• Tow chain
• Cellular phone or CB radio (CB may be more helpful in remote areas where cellular phones may not work)
• Replacement fuses
• Road Atlas
• Work gloves
• Portable air compressor
• Extra cash/credit card
• For crossing state lines and visiting places where other horses are gathered - Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) and proof of negative Coggins (Equine Infectious Anemia)

If you are in an accident and have been injured yourself, the EMS personnel and police will most likely not be capable of taking care of your horses. Prepare for this situation by keeping some sort of emergency directions in a very visible place. Write the name of someone you know who can be called to help or to advise what to do with the horses if you are incapacitated - a knowledgeable friend, your veterinarian, or someone else who is familiar with your horses and all current telephone numbers.

Equine First aid kit with splint - Know how to use the items in the kit and do not use tranquilizers or other drugs unless you have been instructed by a veterinarian when and how they may be used. Use of tranquilizers in the wrong situation can cause death to your horse.

Emergency First Aid Kit
As recommended by James Hamilton, DVM

The following items assembled into an emergency kit will help you handle most situations. These items are not only for use on the trailer, but are good to have around the barn. Discuss this list with your own veterinarian, he may have other suggestions that are appropriate for you and your situation.

• ROLL COTTON - 2 rolls
• ROLL GAUZE - 4 rolls ( 4" or 6")
• GAUZE SQUARES
• CLEAN STANDING BANDAGES - 2 quilt or fleece with outer wraps
• ADHESIVE TAPE
• 24" SECTION OF 6" PVC PIPE which has been split in half lengthwise - for splinting; check that diameter of pipe fits your horse.
• COHESIVE FLEXIBLE BANDAGE - 2 - 4" (Vetrap or Co-flex)
• STICKY ROLL BANDAGE - Elastikon
• THERMOMETER
• STETHOSCOPE
• MOSQUITO FORCEPS
• SCISSORS
• TWITCH
• ANTISEPTIC SOAP - Betadine etc.
• HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
• ANTIBACTERIAL OINTMENT - Nitrofurozone Dressing or Triple Antibiotic
• ANTIBACTERIAL SPRAY POWDER - Furox Spray
• OPTHALMIC OINTMENT AND SALINE EYE WASH - Without cortizone or steriods
• BUTAZOLIDIN PASTE (bute)
• BANAMINE GRANULES OR PASTE
• BUCKET
• WATER - 10 gallons or more

[See also BAEN's trailer first aid kit suggestions submitted by our visitors]

All medications should be given on the advice of your own veterinarian or the veterinarian treating the condition. IMPROPER USE OF TRANQUILIZERS AND OTHER MEDICATION CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF YOUR HORSE.

Know normal vital signs and how to take them. More detailed information about first aid treatment, preventing stress and injury, and pre-trip preparation can be found in Hawkins Guide: Equine Emergencies on the Road by James Hamilton, DVM, available through EquiSpirit Trailer Company call 910-692-1771 or toll free 877-575-1771.  

About the authors:

Neva Kittrell Scheve, along with her husband Tom, are the authors of the nationally recognized textbook The Complete Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Servicing a Horse Trailer. Neva also has two other horse trailer books to her credit including Equine Emergencies On The Road with Jim Hamilton DVM. Besides being authors, clinicians, and writers of numerous published articles on horse trailer safety, both Tom and Neva have designed and developed the EquiSpirit and EquiBreeze line of horse trailers in Southern Pines, NC. For more info, contact Tom: 1-877-575-1771, tom@equispirit.com or visit them on line at equispirit.com.