Equine First-Aid International

03/07/2026

I woke up this morning to find my heart horse gone in the pasture. He would have been 21 in July. It was much much too soon.

He seemed perfectly fine last night when I put him back with the herd after dinner and grazing in the yard.

He gets separated from the herd at meal times to ensure he eats all his food. He's lost 7 teeth over the last 9 years after breaking a tooth. We had a few incidents of choke before ensuring all his meals went in a ground feeder. We had a few ulcer flareups before discovering he had food allergies. We've had issues lately because he doesn't like his food mushy.

I'll never know what happened in the early morning hours to cause his sudden death, but I am grateful for all the things this horse taught me in the last 17 years. I am profoundly grateful for the passion he rekindled in me for teaching the next generation of horsemen and horsewomen how to be more than just a rider, how to be a partner to these amazing creatures we get to care for.

03/04/2026

If you're in the Florida Panhandle, Little Patch of Heaven Stables will be hosting a Level 1 Clinic on April 12th! Message me to reserve a spot!

04/09/2025

In light of the recent tragic loss of 21 horses in Ocala, I wanted to share this wonderful free resource with you. You can never learn to much when it comes to preventing barn fires.

About the speaker:Dr. Rebecca Husted is a volunteer Firefighter, Public Information Officer and Fire Prevention Instructor for the City of Gray, GA. Dr. Hust...

04/09/2025

This is heartbreaking. No one wants to think it can happen to them, but if it can happen to the owners of the World Equestrian Center, it can happen to me too. This is why I do what I do. To help owners do everything they can to prevent incidents like this and to be prepared if the worst happens. No one wants to wake up to all their horses gone. Work with your local fire department to make sure your building is up to code. Have an evacuation plan and practice it.

03/04/2025

BOOKING NOW! Equine First-Aid International LEVEL 1-2-3
CHECK EVENTS FOR UPCOMING DATES for Zoom Virtual Classroom.

You can train via ZOOM classroom or IN PERSON. $159 per each level. Each level is 4 hours with a LIVE with instructor.

Receive a reference manual and achieve a certificate of completion for passing :

Level 1: (4 hours)
Learn to follow an emergency first-aid protocol for an injured or ill horse. How to take the vital signs and find pain. What to do while you wait for the veterinarian. Prevention/reaction for colic, founder(laminitis), choke and all about common nutrition/feeding mistakes. Review of safety on the ground around the stable with the horses. How to clean a wound, bandages for legs, body and hooves. Treat thrush, mud fever, hoof abscess, stone bruising and much more

Level 2 : (4 hours)
Review best practices for safety on the ground and equipment use during an extreme emergency with horses. Recognize and react to shock, heat stroke and hypothermia. Advance to learn bandages for eyes and larger fatal wounds. Rescue scenarios : what NOT to do, who to call and what to bring for a cast or stuck horse. Advance to learn first-aid for a fractured leg, emergency bandages for larger fatal wounds, foreign body and more.

Level 3 : (4 hours)
Make a DISASTER PLAN for the horses at the facility. Practice to EVACUATE a herd of horses from the stable in 8 minutes in case of a fire or roof collapse. How to evacuate the herd from the property in 1 hour in case of forest-fire, flooding and other natural disasters. Planning and fire prevention for any equestrian facility, farm, barn, and stable. Important course for anyone who lives/works with horses. How to prepare for disaster as a client, boarder, rider, student. Plus, how to introduce and desensitize your horses to the fire fighters and responders.

REGISTER FOR ALL 3 COURSES AND RECEIVE 50$ DISCOUNT!

Equine First-Aid International
HOST A CLINIC AT YOUR OWN FACILITY?
TRAIN TO BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR?

01/23/2025

We've had historic snow accumulation and low temps here in the Florida panhandle. To keep the horses drinking water, we've been soaking meals in warm water (10 gallons for 4 horses and 2 donkeys). We've also been hauling hot water to the troughs three times a day to warm up the water and keep it from freezing. They have plenty of free choice hay too. So far, everyone is doing great!

01/06/2025

As temperatures drop below freezing in the southeast US, here are a few tips to keep your horses drinking water!

1. Add extra water to your feed buckets. Dinner time is a great way to get extra water in their diet.

2. Add salt to your feed buckets. Just a handful will help stimulate water consumption.

3. Add a candy cane or a couple of peppermints to your water troughs (or a piece to a water bucket) as your filling or warming them up. A little sweetness with the warm water works every time!