Aspen Equine

Aspen Equine Horse care instruction by Pony Club "A" graduate and upper level event rider Christie McKitrick.

Bits: simple mechanical tools to help a rider communicate with their horse under saddle. Types of bits are as many and v...
07/17/2025

Bits: simple mechanical tools to help a rider communicate with their horse under saddle. Types of bits are as many and varied as the human mind can create, and the efficacy depends on the rider’s skill and feel, as well as the horse’s mouth feel.

For the level of importance we place on bits, I feel there is not enough knowledge out there. No bit is a silver bullet solution, but the right bit can go a long way toward enhancing your communication with your horse.

Pictured below is just a smattering of options. How many bits can you identify? More importantly, do you know what kind of bit YOU use, and the reason why you use it?

Knowing you have the right tools will help you stay calm in the face of almost any equine health emergency. Preparation ...
07/04/2025

Knowing you have the right tools will help you stay calm in the face of almost any equine health emergency. Preparation is key! Do you know what’s in your Equine First Aid Kit? Do you know how and when to use it?

Here’s my suggested checklist for building your Equine First Aid kit.

☐ Triple antibiotic ointment (don’t use the pain-relief version before FEI events!
☐ Gauze pads (non-sterile and sterile)
☐ Thermometer (re**al)
☐ Vaseline
☐ Vetrap
☐ Elastikon
☐ Absorbent cotton roll
☐ Rolled gauze
☐ Betadine/Iodine Scrub
☐ Isopropyl alcohol
☐ Rubber gloves

Personally, I like to keep SWAT, SSD cream, diaper rash ointment, and baby oil gel within easy reach at all times. These may not all be “first aid,” but I may use any of those items weekly for treating my horse’s various superficial scrapes and rubs
Plus powdered bute if I need it, and Banamine in the fridge.

What else do you like to keep on hand for your horse’s next inevitable minor wound?

Pictured: equine first aid kit materials, including bandages and ointments.

On Saturday I hosted a horse management clinic on Equine First Aid and General Wound Care. We had an excellent conversat...
06/22/2025

On Saturday I hosted a horse management clinic on Equine First Aid and General Wound Care. We had an excellent conversation on —
🩹 Caring for minor wounds and injuries
🚨 Identifying emergencies and applying emergency first aid until the vet arrives
📝 Building your equine first aid kit

We ended with a discussion on diagnosing and treating abscesses, including a foot-wrapping demonstration.

I’m looking forward to teaching more lessons on horse management! What horse care topics do you want to learn? Any skills you’d like to practice?

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