Wie oft sollte ich die Stallapotheke kontrollieren und Verfallsdaten prüfen?

Einen kompletten Check der Stallapotheke plane ich einmal im Monat fest ein, dazu einen kurzen Blick nach jedem Einsatz, weil dann meist etwas nachgefüllt werden muss. Diese Bestandskontrolle der Apotheke steht unabhängig neben den täglichen Handgriffen am Pferd wie Hufe auskratzen oder Beine abtasten, die ohnehin jeden Tag anfallen. Beim monatlichen Check prüfe ich Verfallsdaten auf Salben, Desinfektionsmitteln und sterilen Kompressen, da abgelaufene Produkte ihre Wirkung verlieren oder die Haut reizen können. Nach dem Winter lohnt sich zusätzlich ein Blick, ob Kälte Flaschen oder Tuben beschädigt hat.

Brauche ich für jedes Pferd eine eigene Stallapotheke oder reicht eine gemeinsame für den ganzen Stall?

Für einen Privatstall mit wenigen Pferden reicht in der Regel eine gemeinsame Stallapotheke für alle Tiere, solange sie zentral und für jeden im Stall erreichbar ist. Bei mehr als drei oder vier Pferden lohnt sich eine zweite, kleinere Ausstattung als Reserve, damit nicht jedes Verbandmaterial aus einem einzigen Behälter stammt. Steht ein Pferd dagegen räumlich getrennt, etwa auf einer Weide mit Unterstand, braucht es dort eine eigene kleine Grundausstattung, weil der Weg zur Hauptapotheke im Ernstfall zu lange dauert.

Was gehört zusätzlich in eine Reiseapotheke für Turniere und Transporte?

Eine Reiseapotheke für Turniere und Transporte braucht dieselbe Wundversorgung wie die Stallapotheke, dazu aber ein Beinschutz-Set für den Transport, ein Warndreieck oder eine Warnweste für Pannen am Hänger und eine Kopie des Impfpasses. Für viele Turniere ist außerdem eine gültige Gesundheitsbescheinigung vorgeschrieben, die griffbereit mitgeführt werden sollte. Ich packe zusätzlich eine kleine Menge des gewohnten Futters ein, damit ein Futterwechsel unterwegs nicht zu Verdauungsproblemen führt.

Welches Thermometer eignet sich für Pferde und wie oft sollte ich Fieber messen?

Ein digitales Fieberthermometer mit flexibler Spitze eignet sich für Pferde am besten, weil es schneller misst als ein Glasthermometer und beim Handling weniger Stress verursacht. Ich messe nicht routinemäßig jeden Tag, sondern gezielt bei Auffälligkeiten wie Mattheit, Fressunlust oder Schwitzen ohne Anstrengung. Bei bekannten Risikofällen, etwa nach einem Eingriff oder bei einer laufenden Behandlung, messe ich zwei- bis dreimal täglich zur selben Uhrzeit, damit die Werte vergleichbar bleiben.

Wie lagere ich Medikamente und Verbandmaterial richtig, damit sie nicht verderben?

Medikamente und Verbandmaterial halten sich am längsten an einem dunklen, trockenen und frostfreien Ort, da Licht und Feuchtigkeit viele Wirkstoffe schneller abbauen. Angebrochene Salben und Lösungen verschließe ich sofort wieder fest, weil Luftkontakt sie austrocknen oder verunreinigen kann. Verschreibungspflichtige Mittel bewahre ich getrennt von frei verkäuflichen Produkten auf und beschrifte sie mit Datum und Verwendungszweck, damit im Ernstfall keine Verwechslung passiert.

What Belongs in a Farm First-Aid Kit? The Complete Checklist

Rick, MHS Pferdesport

Published September 4, 2026 • 11 min read

Quick answer

A complete stable first-aid kit for horses contains wound disinfectant, sterile compresses, cotton padding, an elastic bandage roll, rounded-tip scissors, a digital thermometer, disposable gloves, and a tick remover. At MHS Pferdesport, we store all the supplies in a dry, dust-protected place in the stable, so that every minute counts in an emergency.

Premiere bandage roll

A horse steps on a nail, injures its leg in the pasture, or suddenly develops a fever overnight. In moments like these, every minute counts, and that is when it becomes clear whether the stable first-aid kit has really been thoughtfully assembled or consists only of a few assorted leftovers.

Many horse owners do not buy bandaging materials until something happens, then find themselves with a bleeding wound and an empty drawer. A well-stocked stable first-aid kit requires little effort, but in an emergency it saves valuable time and prevents a small injury from becoming a bigger problem due to improper or inadequate care.

I explain which basic supplies really belong in every stable first-aid kit, how to store them properly, and which daily routines help ensure it is needed as rarely as possible. I also cover how to best organize feeding and stall hygiene during a horse's recovery, and where the limit lies at which only a veterinarian can help.

A properly functioning stable first-aid kit is kept separately from feed but close to the stalls, in a lockable, frost-free container with an inventory list on the lid.
Daily tasks such as picking out hooves and feeling the legs often catch problems before the stable first-aid kit is even needed.
During recovery, feeding hygiene and more frequent mucking out also help determine whether a wound heals cleanly.
Some signs, such as colic, a fever above 38.5 degrees, or a wound on a joint, always require a veterinarian and should not be treated independently.
A stable first-aid kit bridges the time until veterinary care is available, but it never replaces diagnosis and treatment.

What belongs in a stable first-aid kit? An overview of the basic supplies

The basic supplies for a stable first-aid kit are divided into four areas: wound care, bandaging materials, monitoring vital signs, and emergency accessories for use in the dark. The core is wound care, with disinfectant, sterile compresses, cotton padding, and rounded-tip scissors for carefully trimming hair around a wound without injuring the skin.

For bandages and pressure dressings, you need an elastic roll that can be wrapped tightly and without creases. The Premiere bandage roll can be neatly rolled up again after use and reused several times, making it a practical choice for your basic supplies.

A digital thermometer should always be included, as the Merck Veterinary Manual states that a horse’s normal body temperature is between 37.5 and 38.5 degrees. Only a reliable measurement can determine whether a horse actually has a fever or is merely excited.

Disposable gloves protect against germs during wound cleaning, tick tweezers remove ticks completely, including the head, and a small flashlight ensures that every injury remains clearly visible even in the dark stable in the evening.

How should I store the stable first-aid kit properly?

A lockable, sturdy container determines whether bandaging materials are still usable in an emergency. The 80 L feed bin with lid and closure keeps compresses and rolls of bandage dry and protects them from dust, mice, and moisture in the stable.

I deliberately keep the first-aid kit separate from the feed, but still in the immediate vicinity of the stalls. This prevents time from being lost through long distances in an emergency and eliminates the risk of feed remnants or dust getting into open packages.

A label with a complete list of contents on the lid saves time whenever someone else at the stable needs to find something quickly, for example when I am not there myself. This way, a substitute can immediately find what is needed without having to rummage through the entire container.

Frost-free storage is also important. Some ointments, solutions, and disinfectants change consistency in cold temperatures or lose their effectiveness, so the stable first-aid kit should never be kept in an unheated outdoor shed, but rather in a place that stays above freezing even in winter.

Which daily checks are part of preventive care before an emergency occurs?

Daily checks of the hooves, legs, and vital signs are the real preventive care that often makes a stable first-aid kit unnecessary. I pick out every horse’s hooves daily, preferably with a sturdy black plastic hoof pick that can easily be hung on the grooming box thanks to its hole and never ends up lying around the stable.

When picking out the hooves, stones, thrush, or a foul odor are immediately noticeable, long before they lead to lameness. Anyone who performs this task every day catches problems at the very earliest stage, when a few minutes of attention are still enough to resolve them.

I also feel the legs and tendons daily to notice heat or swelling early. It only takes a few seconds per leg but provides a reliable sense of how the horse normally feels.

Anyone who knows their horse's normal values—its pulse, breathing and temperature at rest—will recognise deviations much more quickly in an emergency. Without this personal reference value, it is difficult to assess whether a measured value is genuinely concerning.

Daily, weekly and monthly checks in the stable

Check	Frequency	What to look out for
pick out the hooves with the black plastic hoof pick	daily	stones, odour, rot
feel the legs and tendons	daily	heat, swelling, tenderness
take the temperature	if illness is suspected	Readings above 38.5 degrees
check the stock in the stable first-aid kit	weekly	missing or nearly empty items
check expiry dates	monthly	expired ointments, solutions and dressing materials

Futterschaufel Plus Transparent

How do I care for a sick or injured horse when feeding and watering it?

A Futternapf 15 l mit Wasserstopp is worthwhile during stall rest or isolation because it retains water even if the horse is restless or lies down repeatedly. A normal bucket can easily tip over in this situation, leaving the horse without water for hours.

I measure electrolytes or oral products prescribed by the vet with the Futterschaufel Plus Transparent, because the scale on the inside shows the amount directly. Every gram counts with medication, and estimating by eye is not an option here.

Sick horses often eat smaller portions, but more frequently throughout the day. A separate, clearly visible bowl instead of the usual trough makes it easier to keep track: How much has been eaten, how much is still left, and should I add more or reduce the amount?

Access to water remains essential throughout the entire recovery period, even if the horse is drinking noticeably little. The need for fluids increases particularly with a fever or after a procedure, while the urge to drink often decreases, so I check the bowl several times a day rather than only at feeding time.

How do I keep the stall hygienic during recovery?

Stall hygiene can determine during recovery whether a wound heals cleanly or becomes inflamed. When the horse is on stall rest, I muck out more often than usual, and a Black Manure Fork with Handle with an aluminium shaft makes several cleanouts a day manageable without quickly tiring the arms.

Fresh, dry bedding significantly reduces the risk of infection with open wounds or after an operation, because germs multiply much faster in damp, dirty bedding. I therefore pay particular attention to the corners of the stall, where moisture tends to collect.

I only change bandages with clean hands and on a clean surface, never directly over the bedding, so that no shavings or dust get into the open area. A clean towel or washable mat is perfectly sufficient for this.

I remove wet or soiled areas immediately as soon as I see them instead of waiting until the next scheduled mucking-out. Especially for horses on box rest that spend a great deal of time in the stall, this small extra effort ultimately makes the difference between a wound healing cleanly and one that becomes inflamed again.

When is the stable first-aid kit no longer sufficient and does the veterinarian need to come?

Symptoms of colic, a fever above 38.5 degrees, deep or heavily bleeding wounds, and sudden lameness always require veterinary attention, not self-treatment. These signs may indicate serious, sometimes life-threatening problems in which time determines the outcome.

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, any injury that completely penetrates the skin or could involve a joint is fundamentally a case for the veterinarian, even if it appears harmless at first glance. Such injuries carry a high risk of infection that cannot be reliably managed with wound care from the stable first-aid kit alone.

The AAEP resources for horse owners advise calling sooner rather than later if in doubt. A brief phone call to the veterinary practice costs little, whereas waiting too long in the case of colic or a deep wound can have serious consequences.

A well-equipped stable first-aid kit bridges exactly the time until veterinary care is available; it stabilizes, cools, disinfects, and protects the wound. However, it never replaces veterinary diagnosis and treatment, and that is precisely where the boundary of self-care in the stable lies.

Stable first-aid kit: basic supplies by area of use

Area	Typical contents	When needed
Wound care	Disinfectant, sterile compresses, cotton wool pads	For abrasions, cuts, and scratches
Dressing materials	Elastic roll, adhesive tape	For pressure dressings and protection after cleaning
Vital signs	Digital thermometer, stethoscope, or watch for checking the pulse	If fever, colic, or malaise is suspected
Storage	Lockable, dust-protected container	For dry storage of all materials, kept in a frost-free location
Hygiene during recovery	Separate feed bowl, more frequent mucking out, fresh bedding	During box rest or after surgery

Buy a basic supply kit or just add to it?

Anyone who keeps their own horse in their own stable should now put together a basic supply kit and store it ready for use in a lockable, dust-protected container. If, on the other hand, the horse is kept in a stable with a shared stable first-aid kit and staff permanently on site, a smaller personal supplement with the items one commonly needs oneself is often sufficient, such as dressing materials and a personal thermometer.

If the situation changes, for example because of a change of stables, a new horse, or an upcoming recovery period, it is worth doing a quick check: Is the equipment you have still complete, or is the one item needed in an emergency currently missing?

The easiest place to start is wound care: disinfectant, gauze pads, and scissors are quickly obtained and already cover most everyday situations. The rest can be added gradually once it has a permanent place in the stable.

Before your next visit to the stable, you can go through this list in just a few minutes:

Have disinfectant, sterile gauze pads, and cotton padding ready for wound care
Plan for an elastic bandage roll such as the Premiere bandage roll for pressure dressings
Note down a digital thermometer and your own horse's normal vital signs
Don't forget disposable gloves, scissors, and tick tweezers
Store everything dry and protected from dust in a sealable container such as the 80 l feed bin
Black plastic hoof pick Hang it on the grooming box so it stays within reach
15 L feed bowl with water stopper and Plus Transparent feed scoop keep on hand for feeding during illness
Black manure fork with handle plan for additional hygiene during box rest

How often should I check the stable first-aid kit and inspect expiry dates?

I schedule a complete check of the stable first-aid kit once a month, plus a quick check after each use, as something usually needs to be replenished then. This inventory check is separate from the daily tasks involving the horse, such as picking out hooves or feeling the legs, which are carried out every day anyway. During the monthly check, I inspect the expiry dates on ointments, disinfectants, and sterile compresses, as expired products may lose their effectiveness or irritate the skin. After winter, it is also worth checking whether the cold has damaged any bottles or tubes.

Do I need a separate first-aid kit for each horse, or is one shared kit for the whole stable sufficient?

For a private stable with a few horses, one shared first-aid kit for all the animals is generally sufficient, as long as it is centrally located and accessible to everyone in the stable. With more than three or four horses, it is worth having a second, smaller kit as a backup, so that all bandaging materials do not come from a single container. If a horse is kept separately, for example in a pasture with a shelter, it needs its own basic kit there, because getting to the main first-aid kit would take too long in an emergency.

What else should be included in a travel first-aid kit for competitions and transport?

A travel first-aid kit for competitions and transport needs the same wound-care supplies as the stable first-aid kit, along with a set of leg protection for transport, a warning triangle or high-visibility vest for breakdowns involving the trailer, and a copy of the vaccination certificate. A valid health certificate is also required for many competitions and should be kept readily accessible. I additionally pack a small amount of the horse’s usual feed so that a change of feed during travel does not lead to digestive problems.

Which thermometer is suitable for horses, and how often should I take their temperature?

A digital thermometer with a flexible tip is best for horses because it measures faster than a glass thermometer and causes less stress when handling the horse. I do not take the temperature routinely every day, but specifically when there are signs such as lethargy, loss of appetite, or sweating without exertion. In known risk cases, such as after a procedure or during ongoing treatment, I take the temperature two or three times a day at the same time so the readings remain comparable.

How should I store medications and dressings properly so they do not spoil?

Medications and dressings keep longest in a dark, dry, frost-free place, as light and moisture cause many active ingredients to break down more quickly. I immediately reseal opened ointments and solutions tightly, as contact with air can cause them to dry out or become contaminated. I store prescription medications separately from over-the-counter products and label them with the date and purpose of use, so there is no confusion in an emergency.

Written by

Rick

Rick is the owner of MHS Equestrian. Through MiniHorseShop, he helps riders and horse owners find the right equipment for miniature horses, Shetland ponies, and large horses. In his articles, he shares practical tips on horse care, equestrian products, and choosing the right equipment for horse and rider.