At some point, pretty much every horse owner will have to learn bandaging basics for his or her horse. Bandages need to apply the correct amount of pressure without being too tight. But they also must be snug enough to stay put.

We have compiled these tips to help make the job a little easier.

The Right Materials

First, you need to have the proper materials at hand. Your first aid kit should include the following:

• A non-stick pad (Telfa), preferably sterile, to apply directly over the cleansed wound.
• Cotton (sheet or roll type) or Combine padding to wrap around the area to cushion against uneven bandage pressure. In a pinch, you can use a sanitary pad or clean leg quilt.
• Roll gauze to hold the padding in place.
• Elastic, self-stick bandaging material such as Elastikon or Elastoplast.

Applying the Bandage

The first step in bandaging is to place the non-stick pad over the wound. Next apply a thin layer of cotton, Combine pad, or other cushioning material to encircle the leg area you are bandaging. If you don’t have anyone to help, use the roll gauze to hold the padding in place. This gauze material doesn’t stretch, so be careful to wrap it snugly, but not too tightly.

The best material to use for the final outer layer when bandaging is a stretchy, self-stick bandaging product such as Elastikon. It doesn’t tend to bind down tightly like non-stretch materials tend to do (such as Coban, VetWrap, or similar materials). Elastikon is more forgiving than most other wrapping materials and is less likely to restrict blood circulation if put on a tad too tight.

On each roll of the self-sticking tape (Elastikon), you’ll see a red line in the middle of the roll. The line is a guide. If you just barely cover this red line with the next wrap around the leg, you’ll avoid gaps in the layers and the bandage isn’t likely to slip apart.

Spiral the bandage up the leg as you wrap so you apply it at a very slight oblique angle. This further helps to prevent slippage.

One of the best tips to avoid constricting your horse’s circulation or tendons is to pull the material over the front of the leg as you unroll it. then lay the material across the back of the limb. Many people pre-stretch the Elastikon and re-roll that section on the bandage roll so that it won’t be too tight when you apply it to a limb.

It never hurts to consult with your vet for advice and instruction so you can get bandaging right. A poor bandaging job (too tight or too loose) can cause injury to your horse.

Further Reading

Equine First-Aid Kit. MySeniorHorse.com