5 Things to Never Be Caught Without When Traveling With Horses

Horses and the rodeo road are unpredictable, to say the least. Having a list of items to keep in case of an emergency can save you a world of headaches in the future. Here's a list of five essentials to keep on hand at all times when traveling with horses.

Kaitlyn Woodman for SI Rodeo

There's nothing like the pit in your stomach when you realize you don't have the specific medication your horse is in need of or you are lacking the supplies to give them the proper care they need until you can get them to a professional.

Having a list to refer to on what you may need or what you might be missing could be helpful in the long run if you end up in a tough position. We're here to make your life easier with our list of essential items we won't leave the house without when traveling with horses!

1. Banamine, Needles, Syringes and Alcohol Swabs

Kaitlyn Woodman for SI Rodeo

This one is fairly self explanatory if you know anything about the general health and well being of horses. Traveling is not only stressful on a horse's body but the change in climate can also play a huge factor in their health if you're traveling throughout multiple regions, ensuring that you have this medication and the proper supplies to administer it on hand is absolutely necessary. Not to mention, you'll almost always run into someone who doesn't have any, and needs it in a pinch.

2. Wound Care, Thermometer and a Stethoscope

Kaitlyn Woodman for SI Rodeo

Considering the unpredictability of horses and their love for getting their selves into things they aren't meant to, a variety of wound care products will never go to waste. Proper wound cleaning, dressing, and topical treatment can drastically reduce the risk of infection and long-term scarring. Knowing how to take your horse's vitals is also extremely important in recognizing signs of illness and can help you better communicate with your vet to assess your horse's needs. Having the proper tools, such as a stethoscope and thermometer, and knowing how to use them will make life much easier.

3. Horse Hydrator

Kaitlyn Woodman for SI Rodeo

This one could be up for debate, but definitely one that could make your life much easier, especially if you have a picky horse. Some horses have a hard time drinking away from home simply because the water is different, and in some places, they just downright will not drink. Not drinking can turn into a disaster of its own, but if you have some kind of filter like this one on hand, you can get almost anything to drink from it, which saves you from a ton of trouble.

4. Poultice and Hoof Packing (and maybe some gloves, this one gets messy)

Kaitlyn Woodman for SI Rodeo

Soreness is inevitable when traveling up and down the road and competing back to back. These two products are simple and effective ways to decrease soreness and inflammation, although slightly messy they are worth it in the long run. Not to mention, it's way more budget-friendly than letting the soreness turn into a vet bill. Keeping your horses feeling good will only reward you in the end, you'll never regret being good to your horses!

5. Hay Nets (specifically Hay Chix)

Kaitlyn Woodman for SI Rodeo

These hay nets make feeding time a breeze, not to mention the drastic decrease in waste you'll notice when you use a net like this versus your traditional net or hay bag. Any way to save money while on the road is a good one. Not only are they great for your wallet in saving on waste, but they've also been proven to slow horses down to a natural consumption rate, which is proven to be better for gut health, and horses are overall happier when they are able to "graze" 24/7. The convenience of being able to clip them anywhere or hang them from the rope makes for an easy setup no matter where you are, and they come with different-sized holes for your faster eaters.