How to Wrap a Horse's Legs

• Start with tightly rolled wraps and bandages. This will make it easier to wrap neatly.
• Never kneel down — crouching allows you to move quickly should your horse move unexpectedly.
• If wrapping a wound, make sure it is cleansed and your sterile dressing is big enough to cover the entire wound, then secure in place.
• Start the stable cotton on the side of the leg, not on the tendon. It should measure from just below the knee to just below the fetlock joint.
• Always wrap tendons clockwise on the right side of your horse, counter-clockwise on the left side.
• Cover the cotton with your wrap starting above the fetlock joint. Work your way down in a spiral pattern with each wrap covering 50 percent of the wrap above.
• Work with even tension making sure no lumps or ridges form while you are wrapping.
• Leave a quarter inch of cotton showing below the fetlock joint and work your way back up the leg in the same spiral pattern, neither too tight nor too loose.
• Leave a quarter inch of cotton showing at the top and secure the Velcro® on the outside of the leg (Velcro® can be brushed open if it ends on the inside).
• If you add tape to secure your Velcro® closed it should not be applied tighter than the wrap.

Unwrapping

• Check legs daily.
• Remove Velcro®.
• Unwrap swiftly from hand to hand. Never try to reroll a wrap on your horse’s leg.
• Give the leg a quick rub to increase circulation.
• Assess if rewrapping is required. If so, use clean bandages and wraps.
• Sanitize wraps so they are ready for their next use.

Other Guidelines and Tips:

• Wrapping too tight can cause pressure points and injury.
• Wraps should be free of wrinkles and have a stove pipe appearance.
• If you wrap one leg, wrap the opposite leg for support.
• To ensure even tension, the same person should wrap both legs.
• Do not begin or end a wrap over a joint — movement will tend to loosen the bandage and can endanger the horse if it becomes unwrapped.
• If wrapping to protect a wound on a joint use a figure-8 or spider bandage to allow movement. A stable wrap can be used below these first aid bandages to stabilize it.
• Shipping bandages should completely cover and protect the coronary band and bulbs of the heel.
• If unfamiliar with the horse, make sure the horse becomes accustomed to moving in the bandages before leaving him alone or loading him in a trailer.
• Practice makes perfect — if you are new to wrapping have a professional check your work.
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