Equine First Aid – Spring ’25
Accidents and injuries can happen at any time anywhere, for any number of reasons. This makes it essential that everyone involved with horses – grooms, trainers, riders, drivers, coaches – learn how to administer first aid and how to do so safely. When minutes count, we need to know how to make the most of every second. This course covers an overview of first aid procedure and include a focus on many common horse health conditions horse caregivers may encounter on a day-to-day basis. A goal of this course is to give caregivers the peace of mind knowing that we can step in and help our horse when needed until a professional arrives.
Never taken an online course before? No worries! This course takes a common sense, practical and flexible approach to training – no prior online learning experience required. Log in anytime – 24/7. Join in on conversations with instructors, guest experts and your peers in our Discussion Forum – a truly unique community approach in online learning.
To receive your Equine Emergency Preparedness Certificate:
- Register and complete two short online courses on The Horse Portal: Equine First Aid, and Fire & Emergency Preparedness
- Once you have completed both courses, send an email to us at [email protected] and we will prepare your certificate!
- Note: Already completed one of these short courses before? No worries – your prior course completion will count towards your Certificate. Complete the course you are missing, and then send an email to [email protected] to receive your Certificate!
- Special offer this Fall! SAVE $50 by registering for both courses at once. Choose the ‘Emergency Preparedness Certificate’ registration option below. You will then receive an email from Equine Guelph, which will confirm your registration in Fire & Emergency Preparedness Fall ’24. NOTE: No additional discounts can be applied to this special offer. Please allow 2-3 days to receive your confirmation email.
- Note: Already completed one of these short courses before? No worries – your prior course completion will count towards your Certificate. Complete the course you are missing, and then send an email to [email protected] to receive your Certificate!
This course may be of interest for:
- All horse owners to learn more about implementing best practices
- All coaches, stable managers and instructors to learn best practices
- Those involved in horse associations or education programs to learn standards and best management practices
- First responders and pre-service
- Employers (e.g., trainers, owners) with an interest to invest in their business through furthering the knowledge of employees caring for their horses; to purchase an online course for an employee, please contact Equine Guelph at horseportal@uoguelph
Course Curriculum:
- Introduction Principles of Triage
- What to do to “be prepared”
- Principles of “Triage”
- C.T. (Assess the situation, Call for help, Treat the horse)
- The ‘do’s and don’ts’ of first aid
- Travel and trail
- Horse Assessment
- How to perform the Horse Health Check
- Common and severe injuries/sickness
- Wound Management
- Wound first aid
- Bandaging and bandage materials
- Healing
- The First Aid Kit
- About kits
- Inventory checklist
- Responding to Eye Issues
Time Commitment:
- Guest expert/facilitator-led course over a 1-week period
- 3 weeks extended course access to allow extra time to complete learning activities
- Required activities are approximately 5-10 hours with opportunities for additional learning activities
- No set times to be online throughout the course
- Recommended you visit the course site once or more each day
- Course is entirely online, so travel to the University of Guelph is NOT required
Materials
- All materials are provided online within course site
Prerequisites
- 16 years of age or older
For more information, please contact Susan Raymond Phone: 519 824-4120, ext. 54230 Email: [email protected]
Certificate of Completion
Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion from Equine Guelph – the horse owner’s Centre at the University of Guelph.
Equine Emergency Preparedness Certificate
This course counts towards 1 of 2 credits towards the Equine Emergency Preparedness Certificate from Equine Guelph. Complete Fire and Emergency Preparedness as well to earn your Certificate!
Continuing Education Credits/Professional Development:
- Equestrian Canada recognizes Equine Guelph short-training online courses as qualifying for points on the NCCP Coach/Instructor Professional Development Activities Updating hours (3 points)
- The Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians recognizes this short online course as qualifying for five credits within Category 3.
Thank you to our Partners:
This course is made possible through a grant from the Grand River Agricultural Society.
“This course was amazing. I learned so many new things as well as refreshed what I already knew about equine first aid. The instructors are so thorough and really drive the information home with you so it sticks. As much as I don’t want to be in a situation where I have to use what I learned in this course, I feel that I could use what I learned and be confident doing so.”
Paige Kreutzwiser, Owner (Wingham ON)
Student – Equine First Aid
“I feel that the course Equine First Aid has given me the necessary skills and confidence that are required when applying basic first aid when faced with an equine health emergency.”
Sue Kristiansen, Stable Owner/Manager (Stall Hornborga – Vedum, Sweden)
Student – Equine First Aid
“Another exceptionally well done course! The First Aid techniques are laid out methodically, the videos are detail-rich & all of the professionals who contribute to the course are well versed in specific fields. It’s an informational buffet! Equine Guelph is without a doubt the best online source of equine related education!”
Kevan Garecki, Commercial Transport
Abbotsford, BC
Student – Equine First Aid
“This course is very interesting and I think every horse owner should follow it. I have learned new things even though I have many years of experiences with and around horses… Thank you very much to everyone involved in creating and organizing these short courses!”
Lucie Goyette, Groom/Coach/Owner (Sherbrooke, QC)
Student – Equine First Aid
“I’ve never taken an online course, and didn’t expect to learn much. I was amazed at the thoroughness of the Equine First Aid course – nose to tail, all presented in easy to digest sections, with plenty of additional resources to explore. I’m searching for my next course now!”
Kelly Benedetti, Owner (Compass Point Farm, Middleton NH, USA)
Student – Equine First Aid
“As a Veterinary Technician who is keenly interested in learning more about equine and large animal care, this course has me feeling a lot more prepared to work with horses with more confidence. Great course and fantastic instructors. I highly recommend!”
Charlene Coakley, Registered Veterinary Technician
(Rockwood, ON)
Student – Equine First Aid
“Whether you are new to horses or an experienced horse owner, this course will help you make sound decisions about recognizing when to call your veterinarian and what to do while you’re waiting for them to arrive. Knowing what to do in an emergency increases the likelihood of a good outcome for your horse. It’s worth your time!”
Jennifer Derksen, Rider/Biomechanics Coach
(The Rider Mechanic – Carleton Place, ON)
Student – Equine First Aid
“I really enjoyed taking the online Equine First Aid course. The material was pertinent to anyone working with horses. The presenters easily kept my attention. I feel that my knowledge of the subject has clearly increased and I am better prepared than I was to deal with an Equine First Aid situation. “
Kerstin Essmann (Ontario)
Student – Equine First Aid
Dr. Laura Frost, Halton Equine Veterinary Services – Dr. Laura Frost, partner Halton Equine Veterinary Services, is a graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College class of 1999 and is certified in Equine Chiropractic. Dr. Frost was born and raised in the Burlington area and has competed locally in a variety of equestrian disciplines. She is a past Dental Committee member for the American Association of Equine Practitioners and Dr. Frost was previously on the Advisory Committee for the Ontario Veterinary College and Secretary for the Ontario Association of Equine Practitioners. Laura is also the past Vice President of the Sunrise Therapeutic Riding and Learning Centre and can be seen at many fundraisers for this organization. Her interests include, but are not limited to: lameness, diagnostic imaging, reproduction and dentistry. Dr. Frost can be seen at the local horse shows with her two children.
These individuals have provided their expertise and assistance in developing course videos and other content:
Dr. Laura Frost, Halton Equine Veterinary Services Dr. Laura Frost, partner Halton Equine Veterinary Services, is a graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College class of 1999 and is certified in Equine Chiropractic. Dr. Frost was born and raised in the Burlington area and has competed locally in a variety of equestrian disciplines. She is a past Dental Committee member for the American Association of Equine Practitioners and Dr. Frost was previously on the Advisory Committee for the Ontario Veterinary College and Secretary for the Ontario Association of Equine Practitioners. Laura is also the past Vice President of the Sunrise Therapeutic Riding and Learning Centre and can be seen at many fundraisers for this organization. Her interests include, but are not limited to: lameness, diagnostic imaging, reproduction and dentistry. Dr. Frost can be seen at the local horse shows with her two children.
Dr. Janet Beeler-Marfisi, Ontario Veterinary College.
Janet Beeler-Marfisi, works at the Ontario Veterinary College where she teaches vet students, does research on equine lung disease with generous funding from Equine Guelph, and is a Clinical Pathologist. Beeler-Marfisi has always had an interest in horse health, having grown up around her father’s Standardbreds and having married a Standardbred racehorse trainer. During vet school and after stitching up some very strange wounds in horses, she has a keen interest in equine first aid and wound repair.
Dr. Kristen Frederick, Oakville Animal Clinic
Kristen grew up in Kingston, Ontario. She earned a B.Sc in biological anthropology from the University of Toronto in 2008, and a DVM from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2017. Kristen completed a 12-month internship in equine surgery & anesthesia at Milton Equine Hospital before joining Hagersville Veterinary Services as a small animal practitioner in June, 2018. Kristen is currently working at the Oakville and Southdown Animal Clinics. Kristen’s professional interests include anesthesia, diagnostic imaging, emergency medicine and preventive healthcare. She enjoys horseback riding, particularly eventing, and working with young horses.
Eligible Partner Discounts:
Course discounts available to members of the following equine organizations: (Note: Discounts cannot be applied to the Emergency Preparedness Certificate promotional offer.)
- Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association
- Central Ontario Standardbred Association
- Equine Connection
- Horse Racing Alberta
- Ontario Racing
- Standardbred Canada
- Saddle Up Safely (US)