Queen Essays

Techniques of Bandaging and Wrapping

MARSH AND RADFORD EQUINE SCIENCE

LYNN HOGAN

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Andrea Fuller

Table of Contents Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….2

Physiology of the Horse Leg………………………………………………………………………………………………………….3

Muscle System………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3

Purposes of Bandages…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4

Shipping…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5

Exercise and Competition…………………………………………………………………………………………………………5

Treatment………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………6

Types of Bandages and Wraps………………………………………………………………………………………………………8

General Purpose Wraps……………………………………………………………………………………………………………9

Special-Purpose Wraps…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….10

Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..11

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TECHNIQUES OF BANDAGING AND WRAPPING

Marsh and Radford Equine Science

Introduction

Among the most important things you can do to maintain the health of your horse is to

take care of the legs and hooves. Proper leg care and protection is essential to maintaining

overall health and keeping a horse sound, willing, and able to do his work. A veterinarian is often

called upon when legs present problems; however, you can prevent many of those problems by

properly bandaging, or wrapping, legs when a horse is being shipped or shown in competition. In

addition, some types of stabling are best managed when legs are wrapped. If a horse has suffered

injury to a leg, wrapping is often necessary to prevent swelling or to maintain a clean healing

environment.

While bandaging can be helpful when done correctly, using improper bandaging

techniques can cause harm to a horse. As a caring and informed horse owner, you must learn

when bandaging is necessary, what type of bandage to use, and how to correctly apply a

bandage. As you work with your horse, you will have plenty of opportunity to practice wrapping

legs. In fact, the best way to learn is to get busy, gaining confidence along the way. While it is

not possible to become an expert by reading a paper, such as this one, you will gain a new

vocabulary and you will be presented with options from which you can choose when the time

comes. Above all, remember that it is better not to bandage at all than to bandage incorrectly. So,

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get informed, get hands-on instruction from an expert, and put in some practice. You will be an

expert in no time.

Physiology of the Horse Leg

The leg must carry a lot of weight, as the average horse weighs 1000 pounds.1 All that

weight, supported by four rather spindly structures, makes it obvious that leg health is incredibly

important to the responsible horse owner. This report primarily focuses on the lower leg, as it is

the part that provides support, absorbs shock, dampens vibration, and provides a rebound effect

that aids each foot in leaving the ground with minimal effort.

Muscle System

Known as the “stay apparatus,” the system of muscles, tendons, and ligaments at the front

and back of each leg enables the horse to lock his legs and remain upright even while

sleeping[ CITATION Str16 l 1033 ]. The lower leg is primarily composed of bones, ligaments,

tendons, and specialized features of the foot. The upper leg muscles are connected to the tendons

of the lower leg so that the entire leg is coordinated in effort.

The system of muscles in the lower leg that supports the fetlock joint is called the

“suspensory apparatus.” It carries most of the weight of the horse, especially at some phases of

the stride. The support system of muscles and ligaments prevent the fetlock from overextending

or sinking too far toward the ground, absorbing much of the shock. The suspensory apparatus is

the same in the front and hind legs.

1 The average weight is drawn from statistics that span various breeds of horses. Some breeds are much lower weight, while some far exceed the average.

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Purposes of Bandages

As you consider the complexity of a horse’s leg and understand the intricate and

interconnected nature of muscles, tendons, and ligaments, you are very aware of the need to

preserve that apparatus as well as possible. Bandages are often used as part of an overall plan for

leg health. They serve the purpose of easing the rigor of traveling in close quarters, exercising,

and competing, and aiding in treatment for various leg conditions.

If you notice any of the following, you should consider checking with your veterinarian

or farrier. Often, a properly applied bandage can keep a problem from getting worse.

 Cuts, scrapes, or skin irritations.

Interference marks: Cuts, bruises, or scuffed hair on the inside of the fetlock joint may indicate

that the horse is striking one leg with another.

 Heat: A part of the leg that is abnormally hot may be inflamed or injured, especially if it

is also puffy and tender.

 Swelling: A hot, tender swelling indicates a strain, sprain, bruise, infection, or other

injury.

 Filling: A swelling that “fills in” the grooves that normally show around tendons and

ligaments may be an early sign of stress or injury to tendons.

 Stocking up: A swelling of all four legs or both hind legs is often caused by poor

circulation and/or lack of exercise. Stocking up is common in older horses and in horses kept in

stalls.

 Lameness, stiffness, or favoring one leg: A horse normally rests on one leg, but pointing a

front leg is usually a sign of a foot or leg problem.

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Bandaging is not a cure-all but is often a first step in keeping a problem from getting

worse before seeing a veterinarian. Actually, bandaging serves several purposes, both

preventative and reactive. They can provide protection against injuries, especially when

transporting a horse or during activities such as jumping. Of course, they are also used to protect

a wound or to treat sprains, strains, or swelling.

Shipping

A shipping bandage protects the lower leg, or coronary band, as well as the heels. A horse

in transport might step on his own feet, hit his legs, or scramble during movement, loading, or

unloading. A properly applied bandage keeps those activities from causing injury. It also

provides relief from road vibration that could lead to swelling and general discomfort.

The bandage should extend from the ground to the base of the knee, covering the pastern,

fetlock joint, and tendons. A shipping bandage should be well padded and comfortably tight.

Even so, you should be able to slip two fingers under the bandage with ease. It is important to

fasten a shipping bandage securely, as a bandage that is too loose or applied incorrectly can trip a

horse or slip down off the leg. Be sure to fasten a bandage on the outside of the leg so that a

horse cannot pull the bandage loose with the other leg in transit. Until you are skilled with the

placement of shipping bandages, you might consider using shipping boots instead.

Exercise and Competition

A horse at work uses his legs extensively. Exercise bandages protect the lower legs,

especially the flexor tendons and suspensory ligaments. Some activities, such as lateral work,

jumping, galloping, or polo, require extra protection protected by bandages, or “wraps.” Exercise

bandages are more important for protection than support, as research has shown that they do not

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actually support the leg as much as previously thought[CITATION Gil15 l 1033 ]. Be aware that

an incorrectly applied exercise bandage may do great harm, so use them only with great care.

An exercise bandage extends from just below the knee to the fetlock joint. Before

working with a bandage, be sure that it does not restrict the movement of the fetlock joint. You

will always use exercise bandages in pairs (both front legs and/or both hind legs).

Treatment

Treatment bandages are available in various sizes and for various purposes, although all

are used to treat and protect wounds, sprains, strains, and other injuries. In addition, they can be

used to prevent swelling caused by a recent injury. Always follow your veterinarian’s instructions

on the type of bandage to use and how often to change treatment bandages.

It goes without saying that a wound should first be cleaned and treated before a non-stick

dressing is applied. A stable bandage with wound dressing is the most common type of treatment

bandage, available from veterinarians and farm supply centers. When applying a dressing and

stable bandage, the leg pad and bandage should be placed in the direction that best supports

closure of the wound.

Giles describes a pressure bandage as one that is used to stop bleeding, to prevent

swelling, or to inhibit the formation of proud flesh[CITATION Gil15 p 19-24 l 1033 ]. As the

bandage is applied, the padding should be sufficient to create a uniform counter-pressure. The

bandage should be wrapped in the direction that best supports closure of the wound.

You can create your own pressure bandage with a few materials that you should keep on

hand:

 Bandage and leg padding

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 6 x 6-inch gauze pad (unfolders), or gauze material

 Brown paper bag or newspaper

 Plastic food wrap

Procedure:

1. Prepare the poultice according to the manufacturer’s directions. For a hot poultice, mix

poultice powder with warm water and heat in a double boiler, or place poultice on brown paper

and heat in a microwave oven. The poultice must be warm, not hot, as it will hold heat for a

considerable length of time and can burn the leg if it is too hot.

2. Cut paper to the size of the padding. Apply the poultice to the paper with a spatula or

with your hands and form it to the size and shape of the area to be covered, ¼-inch thick. Wetting

your hands makes it easier to spread the poultice without it sticking to you. To make removal

easier, cover the poultice with gauze material.

3. Clean the horse’s leg and place the nylon stocking over the foot. Then apply the entire

pack (gauze side to the horse) to the area to be poultice. Cover with plastic wrap to keep in the

moisture and heat. Pull up the nylon hose, which will help keep the poultice in place as you

bandage.

4. Place padding over the wrap and bandage.

5. Leave on for 12 to 24 hours. When the poultice is removed, any remaining poultice

material should be washed off the leg with soap and water.

Considered a type of treatment bandage, a sweat bandage is used to reduce swelling by

increasing blood circulation through heat. If a swelling is less than 48 hours old, a sweat bandage

will probably be beneficial. The bandage is left on for 8 hours (usually overnight) and then

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removed. Repeat the wrapping if necessary. You should not apply a sweat bandage over

liniments, blistering agents, or leg paints, as they may cause blistering of the skin.

 A sweat bandage is easy to prepare if you have the following on hand:

 Sweat medication

 Plastic food wrap

 Bandage and leg padding

Procedure:

1. Wash the leg and allow it to dry.

2. Apply Nitrofurazone ointment or sweat medication, rubbing it in as directed.

3. Cover the area lightly with plastic wrap, newspaper, brown paper, or disposable diaper

with plastic toward the horse. Do not pull tight.

4. Place padding over the leg, and bandage.

Types of Bandages and Wraps

Regardless of purpose, whether for treatment, exercise, or competition, leg wraps come in

various sizes and materials. The purpose determines the type of leg wrap; however, it is safe to

say that there are basically two categories of leg wraps: general purpose and special purpose.

General Purpose Wraps

General purpose leg wraps are available in two basic material types—flannel and knit. A

flannel wrap is made of heavy double-sided flannel napped on one or both

sides. Flannel bandages are strong, easy to launder, and inexpensive.

Because it does not stretch, flannel material conforms easily to the shape

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of the leg. Before using a flannel wrap for the first time, you should wash and hang it to dry

smoothly. Otherwise, a wrap can be stiff and unwieldy to use.

A knit wrap is made of cotton knit, or occasionally in polyester double-knit. Available in

widths of 4 to 6 inches, knit wraps have Velcro fasteners sewn onto one end. Because they are so

short and narrow, knit wraps should not be used for shipping. They do not provide adequate

cushioning and protection. A polo wrap (described in Figure 1) is a type of knit wrap pictured at

the left.

Special-Purpose Wraps

Some bandages are made for special purposes, such as treatment bandages or exercise

wraps. Do your homework before selecting a wrap for a particular situation or activity, as certain

materials make it easy to cause damage to a horse’s tendons if not used properly. The following

chart illustrates special purpose wraps, describing usage.

Polo wraps

Made of stretchable polyester fleece

Used in place of exercise boots.

Saratoga® bandages

Elastic woven into material, with rubbersized backing Used for exercise, with padding underneath

Ace® bandages

Very stretchy; take care not to pull too tightly Works well with ice pack

Conforming gauze

Comes in various widths, slightly strecthy Conforms gently to hard- to-bandage areas

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Conclusion

Bandaging is a skill that requires practice, experience, and attention to detail. Do not try

to apply a bandage until you have had hands-on experience and instruction from someone who is

experienced in bandaging correctly. Certain special purpose bandages, such as an immobilizing

bandage, should be applied under the supervision of a veterinarian. Always follow your

veterinarian’s guidance regarding bandaging. Your horse will thank you for it.

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References

Bibliography Giles, M. (,2015, Auguest 21). Bandaging for Good Health. United States Eqestrian Guide, 2(8), pp. 18-24.

Strayer, B. (2016). A Guide to Horse Care. Boston: Cleary Publishing.

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1. Date Field 1:

MOS22_WD_PROJ1_Horse.docx

Techniques of Bandaging and Wrapping

Marsh and Radford Equine Science