Hands-On Horse Care: The Complete Book of Equine First-Aid

This book would be useful to anyone who handles horses regularly. I will be getting it out any time I wonder, "Should I call the vet?" Anyone with horses knows that happens frequently. But this book will see a lot more use than that. In addition to basic wound care and evaluating vital signs, the book covers skills which have become less common in modern barns such as making and using poultices, wraps, and hoof boots. It gives clear instructions, usually with photos, for many necessary horsekeeping skills like giving shots, keeping a first-aid kit, and determining which leg is lame. Common toxic plants are charted with their locations, symptoms, and treatments. While I like to have more details and usually pick my vet's brain for hours, the glossary gives basic descriptions of many conditions that can get the curious started on researching more in depth explanations. The book is not a veterinary manual though; it is a reference for what horseowners can do without needing the knowledge that veterinarians go to school for years to get. The first 192 pages are about determining, through yes-or-no question flowcharts, whether a symptom warrants calling the vet or using a home treatment. The home treatments are described clearly with your safety and your horses needs in mind.

I really loved this book!! It gave me a lot of information about what was wrong and what to do and even though I don't own a horse yet, it gives me a feel on what to expect when I start working with them to that extent. I do wish it was spiral bounded but other than that it was an awesome book.

This book will pay for itself with the money you will save from unnecessary emergency vet visits. Using clear yes/no questions, the book takes the guesswork out of knowing whether you need to call the vet or if it is something that you can treat yourself. The book is alphabetized by sign, so if your horse has a bump, you look up "bump." It tells you exactly how to deal with the just about any problem and, if you need to call the vet, what you can do while you're waiting. In addition, it is a handy reference guide with vaccination and deworming schedules, how to check a horse's condition, how-to give injections or wrap and has a photographic index of plants that are toxic to horses. In my opinion, EVERY barn and horse owner should have a copy of this on hand.

This book is a life-saver. It's easy to follow instructions make it a must. I especially like the sections that list symptoms and if it says to call your vet immediately, it tells you what to do while you're waiting. The only drawbacks to this book is that the cover doesn't hold up well, and it would be better with color pictures for the toxic plants. I strongly recommend this book if you have horses.

This book is a life-saver. It's easy to follow instructions make it a must. I especially like the sections that list symptoms and if it says to call your vet immediately, it tells you what to do while you're waiting. The only drawbacks to this book are that the cover doesn't hold up well, and it would be better with color pictures of the toxic plants. I strongly recommend this book if you have horses.