HORSE SENSE: Step-by-step guide to stable bandaging 06 May 2016 Premium

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06 May 2016

Leanne O'Sullivan on 06 May 2016

HORSE SENSE: Step-by-step guide to stable bandaging

This week we look at why stable bandages are used and how to apply them correctly

Leanne O'Sullivan

6 May 2016

Ill-fitted bandages can cause untold damage to the horse

The is the correct way to start rolling a bandage, the tapes or fastenings of a bandage should be rolled in toward the position which they are stitched and the bandage rolled tightly around the fastenings

Rolling the bandage this way is incorrect. The tapes or fastenings of a bandage should be rolled in toward the position which they are stitched

A neat and correctly rolled bandage

A bandage which is not rolled tight and neat will be difficult for the handler to apply correctly

Under-bandage padding should be applied anti-clockwise on the near-side and should be applied only as firmly as is necessary to keep it in place and stop it from slipping

An incorrectly fitted leg wrap

If a bandage is too short, start just above the fetlock, applying the bandage down the leg, and then back up the leg to the knee or hock

Incorrect: The groom in this picture has made the mistake of applying the bandage upside down which means she will be putting extra tension on the back of the tendon, possibly causing damage

This image shows 10cm of the bandage at an angle above the first round

After the first round the flap should be folded down so that the rest of the rounds help to secure it

The bandage should be wrapped straight across the leg until you reach beloe the fetlock where you would slightly alter the angle of the bandage upward to creat an inverted 'v' shape to help ease of flexion at the fetlock

The inverted 'v' at the front of the fetlock helps with flexion of the joint

The off-fore bandage is correctly and neatly fitted, on the near-fore you can see wrinkles in the bandage and the bandage is not wrapped straight accross the leg

THERE are a range of different types of bandages available to horse owners including: exercise bandages, tail bandages and surgical bandages. Each type of bandage serves its own purpose and it is essential that they be applied correctly.