Equi-First Aid Middle Ga

12/20/2025

Safe treating for seniors (and winter!!)

Hard treats can chip teeth. Choose soaked pellets, sliced fruit, or soft cookies instead. My older guy is a huge fan of little debbie cakes, particularly the oatmeal creme pies!

Warm mashes, more turnout and fleece cooler help older horses stay mobile and comfortable. Remember as the humidity drops, their joints will feel a little more stiff than usual so you can apply some kinesiology tape or red lights to warm them and loosen them up.

12/18/2025

Do you know how to take your horse's vitals?
Do you know what the vitals are supposed to be? Do you know your horse's baseline?

Practice BEFORE you need it.
Normal vital signs are:
Temp: 99.5-101.5
Pulse: 28-44bpm
Resp: 10-24

Remember when you take temperatures, the thermometer must touch the colon wall; otherwise you are measuring the temperature of the air inside the body. (I push the tail to the right, and turn the thermometer to the left). You can take the heartrate traditionally or at the jawline, and to count the respiration you can watch the belly rise and fall. (If you would like a video for clarity, I can post one for you over the holidays)

How do we know our horse's baseline, or normal levels for them? I highly recommend taking vitals every day for seven days. Make sure you take them at the same time of day, not during the peak hot or cold times, and remember don't take them right after exercise. Take those seven vitals and average them for your baseline numbers.

My older mare was historically 101.5; if I hadn't known her baseline everyone would have assumed she might be running a fever. My EPM horse has always had a lower body temperature. Just like people, they will vary and if you don't know what's normal for them, then you will not know what's abnormal for them.

www.toplineanimalservices.com
404.877.8571

12/16/2025

On the 9th day of Christmas, Sara gave to me...

A free First Aid supply list! Enjoy

12/15/2025

Emergency Preparedness and Cold Weather Trailering Mini Guide

Do you have:
*A back up water source
*Your vet's address pre-loaded in your GPS
*An extra halter or lead in the truck
*A 3 day feed supply
*Solar Chargers for your phones
*A small toolkit to include wire cutters (for the fence)
*A mini first aid kit

When you trailer in the winter, do you
*Warm the trailer before you load the horses
*Remove the ice from the mats
*Check brake lights (cold weather kills your fuses(
*Keep a spare halter, blanket, and salt

If you have already created these habits, you are miles ahead of others in being prepared for emergencies. If you haven't please use these suggestions to your advantage.

For more helpful hints, tips, and tricks you are welcome to attend the Disaster Planning and Emergency Preparedness and the Safe Trailering Practices class, hosted at Topline Animal Services and Rehab in Newnan. The class list and registration is listed here:
https://toplineanimalservices.com/clinic%2Fclass-registration

And the class and clinic roster is listed in the picture below.

12/13/2025

Pain Indicators Owners Often Miss and Winter Colic Prevention Tips

Some common signs of pain that we often overlook, because they often appear to be behavioral:
*Inconsistent chewing
*Tail swishing with no bugs
*Not wanting to turn
*Random spookiness
If your horse is exhibiting any of these symptoms, you definitely want to take a closer look.

Winter colic Prevention tips:
Add warm marsh, walk them daily, and avoid sudden hay or grain changes.

Simple routines prevent major emergencies. We cover the SULIS method in our Equine Health and Emergency First Aid class, which does help to identify pain and teaches some basic stretches.
ww.toplineanimalservices.com

12/11/2025

Winter Safety checks!
Walk your aisle tonight and check for:
*Frayed cords
*Loose metal
*Low hanging hooks
*Ice risk

Trailer safety in winter:
Salt and ice make for some slick loading ramps! Add shavings for traction, keep tires at winter PSI, and triple check your breakaway battery.

To learn more about preventing emergencies and safe trailering, consider attending our Disaster Planning and Emergency Prevention and/or our Safe Trailering classes.
www.toplineanimalservices.com

12/09/2025

Winter skin care tips!
Rain rot loves damp winter backs! Curry every few days, use breathable blankets, and keep the skin dry. Prevention is better than treating a secondary infection.

!GIVEAWAY!
First Aid stocking stuffer pack!
Comment your horse's name and a winter emoji.
One winner gets a thermometer, emergency card, digital wound care sheet, and a vitals card.

www.toplineanimalservices.com
404.877.8571

12/08/2025

With 18 days left until Christmas, it's time to wind down the year with some daily first aid tips.

This has definitely been an odd year, both for the weather and in general, so while we wind down and I catch up on paperwork and compliance I thought I could finish out the year with some consistency!

I've completed our 2026 class calendar and will post that closer to the first of the year, but for today:

Winter Hydration, a myth buster, and when to call the vet

Did you know that horses drink 15% less water when the temperatures drop? Start strong and add warm water, a splash of electrolytes, or soaked hay. Hydration is the number one colic prevention tool this month.

MYTH: "if it's bleeding, pour hydrogen peroxide on it."
TRUTH: Peroxide damages new tissue! Rinse with warm water, apply pressure, and bandage until your vet arrives.

When to call the vet:
If you see any of these, don't wait:
*Rolling and pawing that doesn't stop
*Purple gums
*A cut with edges you cannot pinch together
*Fever above 101.5

Early action saves lives. From effective hydration to knowing your basics you will be ahead of the game.

www.toplineanimalservices.com
404.877.8571

11/25/2025

Registration closes for this class on the 6th. If you are planning on coming, you have to register so we have time to get the materials together.

Let's help Amanda and her family out for Christmas and learn some important things. Amanda has been told it will be another 6 months before she can return to normal function and we want to help her feel better at Christmas.

Feel free to share, and for questions or to register, contact me.
404.877.8571
www.toplineanimalservices.com

Helping a friend for Christmas-Equine First Aid Christmas Fundraiser for Amanda Morgan

December 13, 2025: Junior Instructor and I will be hosting a special edition Equine First Aid training day at Topline Animal Services and Rehab with 50% of all registration fees going directly to Amanda Morgan of Morgan Dairy Performance Horses who was recently injured in a hunting accident.

Amanda is one of the most giving and selfless people we know, and right now, she deserves to be on the receiving end of some kindness. Addy and I want to ease her worries a bit before Christmas so she can focus on healing and enjoying time with her family.

Location:
Classroom: 287 Country Lane, Newnan
Hands on Component next door @ Topline Animal Services and Rehab

Schedule and pricing: (registration is required prior to attendance due to the materials needed per person)
9-12 First Aid Fundamentals: This half day fast paced mini clinic covers the fundamentals of first aid. (Indoor Class and outdoor hands on components) $99
1-4pm: A Condensed version of our wilderness first aid, this mini course helps you plan, prepare, and react or emergencies in the backcountry. $99

Take both classes for $180 (fundamentals required for Backcountry)

We will also have a donation box available, and if you feel moved to bring a small gift for Amanda's kids you are more than welcome to do so.

Let's come together as a community: learn valuable equine first aid skills and help ease the load for someone who's always given so freely of herself to others.

Spots are limited-message me or book on the website!
(booking link will be live november 13)
www.toplineanimalservices.com
404.877.8571

11/24/2025

Don't forget there are still openings in the Dec 13 benefit classes, so please be sure a register to be sure your spot is secured and materials have been ordered.

🦃🍂 Happy Thanksgiving Week from Equi-First Aid Middle GA! 🍂🦃

As we head into the holiday hustle, we want to pause and say how thankful we are for the incredible horse owners, barns, and communities who make equine safety a priority all year long.
Your dedication to learning, preparing, and being your horse’s first line of defense is what keeps them safe in every season. 💛

👉 Holiday tip: With weather swings, travel, and busy schedules this week, make sure to check those water buckets, monitor hay intake, and keep a close eye on your seniors and metabolic horses.

Wishing you a safe, cozy, and joyful Thanksgiving weekend with the horses you love.
— Equi-First Aid Middle GA 🐴💛

11/16/2025

Now Booking Host Sites for 2026 Equine First Aid Classes!

It’s that time again — we’re opening the calendar for 2026 host sites, and if you’re a barn, riding school, summer camp, homeschool group, or equestrian club, this is your reminder to plan ahead and snag your preferred dates before they’re gone.

With the ongoing veterinary shortage and emergency-care delays, equine owners and caregivers must be more prepared than ever. These classes give your riders, clients, and staff practical, hands-on skills that can make all the difference when minutes matter.

👉Half-Day Classes Available (Perfect for Camps & Kids’ Programs!)
Taught by our Jr. Instructor, Addy, who has several weekends open:
-First Aid Fundamentals – Fast-paced and essential basics
-Backcountry First Aid – Safety and preparedness when help is far away
-“I Can Help!” Kids Class – Confidence-building, fun, and hands-on

These are excellent additions for:
✓ Summer riding camps
✓ Homeschool groups
✓ Pony clubs
✓Lesson programs looking to add educational activities
✓Youth organizations needing meaningful, horse-centered curriculum

Riding camps are already starting to plan their 2026 activities — secure a class now and give your campers a skill they’ll carry for life.

👉Full-Day Classes for Adult Riders, Boarders & Professionals (Instruction by Equi-First Aid Middle Georgia/Equi-First Aid USA's advisory board member, Sara Carter, and Jr instructor Addy)

These are a great way to level up your barn community’s confidence and safety:
-Equine Health & Emergency First Aid
-Advanced First Aid
-Wilderness First Aid
-Safe Trailering Practices
-Mare & Foal Care
-Disaster Planning & Emergency Preparedness
-Livestock Handling & Emergencies for First Responders

👉These classes are ideal for barns that want to build a more capable, self-reliant community — something we desperately need during this vet crisis when emergency response times can be hours, not minutes.

🐎🐎Why Host a Class?
Hosting is simple, impactful, and benefits your entire facility:
✓Bring essential education directly to your riders and boarders
✓Strengthen your barn’s emergency preparedness
✓Build confidence, reduce panic, and improve outcomes when injuries occur
✓Create a safer, more knowledgeable equestrian community
✓Free spot(s) for the host depending on class size
✓Great public exposure for your facility

???Ready to Host???

If you want your barn, program, or camp on the 2026 schedule, now is the time.
Weekends fill quickly, especially in spring and summer.

Send me a message with your location and the classes you’re interested in, and I’ll help you get everything set up.

Let’s make 2026 the year your community becomes confident, capable, and prepared.

Www.toplineanimalservices.com
404.877.8571