Emergency Ready

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Emergency Ready

Emergency Ready™ provides owner-level guidance for equine emergencies through practical, self-paced, online resources and in-person workshops.

Focused on observation, judgment, and appropriate response.

08/21/2026

A first for me today…

I removed sutures from my own horse.

I’ve watched sutures being removed before, but I’d never actually done it myself. After 18 days, Fancy’s sutures were ready to come out, and after checking in with my veterinarian, she gave me the go-ahead to remove them myself.

There’s something very different about seeing something done and actually putting your own hands on it.

I took my time, removed them one by one, and left one that was particularly tight rather than forcing it. I’ll reassess that one tomorrow.

Another skill I hope I don’t need often, but one I’m glad to have a little firsthand experience with now.

Fancy was a very good patient. ❤️🐴

08/03/2026

A happy update!

My veterinarian was able to repair the wound, and I’m very thankful for the outcome.

Today reinforced something I teach in every Emergency Ready workshop: having a plan helps keep panic from taking over.

I stayed calm, sent photos to my veterinarian, followed her instructions, and improvised a protective bandage for the trip to see her. She actually called the bandage “impressive,” which made me smile. 😊

It’s one more reminder that you don’t rise to the occasion… you fall back on what you’ve practiced.

08/02/2026

You never know what you're going to find at morning feed time.

This was waiting for me today.

Moments like this are exactly why I teach the 5 R's of Readiness.

When you have a plan, panic has less room to take over.

Regulate: I stayed calm.

Review: I assessed the injury and sent photos to my veterinarian.

Respond: Based on her recommendation, I kept the exposed tissue moist with Vaseline. I then improvised a protective bandage to help keep the area clean and protected during transport. My veterinarian gave the improvised bandage a thumbs-up.

Respect Safety: I worked carefully around Fancy and avoided causing additional trauma or getting kicked.

Reach Out: I contacted my veterinarian immediately, followed her guidance, and got my horse on the trailer.

First-aid isn't about replacing your veterinarian.

It's about having a plan so you can think clearly, act appropriately, and give your horse the best possible chance until your veterinarian can take over.

Horse owners... what's the most challenging location for a wound you've ever had to deal with?

I'll share an update after my veterinarian has examined and treated this later today.

07/27/2026

One of the best things you can know in an emergency has nothing to do with first aid.

It’s knowing what’s NORMAL for your horse.

How he stands.
How much he drinks.
How he eats.
How he moves.
What his manure normally looks like.
Even how he usually greets you.

Because sometimes the first sign that something is wrong is:

“That’s not like him.”

What’s one thing about your horse that you’d notice immediately if it changed?

🐴

07/22/2026

Well… today I got an unexpected opportunity to practice what I teach.

At first glance, that’s a LOT of blood.

But one of the most important things I’ve learned through equine first aid, and now teach other horse owners, is not to let the appearance of an injury determine your response.

Assess the horse. Assess the wound. Control the bleeding. Clean it up. Then decide what needs to happen next.

Once I got everything cleaned up, the actual wound was surprisingly small.

I sent photos to my veterinarian, who wasn’t concerned and suggested wrapping it primarily to keep dirt and flies out.

This is exactly why I believe horse owners should have basic equine first-aid skills.

It’s not about replacing your veterinarian or knowing how to handle every possible emergency.

It’s about being prepared to assess what’s in front of you, take appropriate first steps, communicate with your vet when needed, and make good decisions for your horse.

Because sometimes something that looks pretty alarming at first turns out to be very manageable.

Would you have guessed such a small wound caused all that blood?

😮❗🐴

07/19/2026

This photo was taken a while back when my horse, Kahlua, had a reaction to an antibiotic prescribed by her veterinarian.

I knew right away this wasn't her normal face.

Sometimes recognizing that something is wrong with your horse is as simple as knowing what *normal* looks like for them.

What do you notice when you look at this photo?

🐴

07/15/2026

One of the simplest emergency-ready skills is knowing your horse's normal vital signs.

Temperature
Heart rate
Respiratory rate

When something goes wrong, these are often some of the first questions your veterinarian will ask.

Having those answers can help your veterinarian understand what is happening and how urgently your horse needs to be seen.

The best time to learn your horse's normal is before you need it.

Do you know your horse's normal vital signs?

Go here ---> www.ShellyAllen.com and grab the free "Your Horse's Normal" resource.

07/04/2026

Happy 4th of July!

06/30/2026

Please share this and help bring Hamish home.

Yes, I know the owners. This is legit!

06/14/2026

Yep, that’s me. You’re probably wondering why a horse emergency instructor is bent over a hoof with a rasp in her hand.

No, I’m not suggesting every horse owner needs to learn to trim hooves.

What I am suggesting is that every horse owner should learn enough to understand hoof health, recognize potential problems, and ask good questions.

The same applies to first aid, nutrition, training, and overall horse care.

Education isn’t about replacing professionals.

It’s about becoming your horse’s advocate.

The more you understand, the better equipped you are to make informed decisions and recognize when something isn’t right.

Because at the end of the day, your horse can’t ask questions.

That’s your job.

Address

Vernon, AZ
85940

Telephone

+19287060163

Website

http://www.HorseEmergencySkills.com/

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