How to Wrap the Equine Rear Leg

Wrapping a horse's rear leg can be done in the event of injury or to protect the leg while exercising or shipping the horse. Leg wraps can protect tendons and ligaments from injury and can help prevent or reduce swelling in the limb. It is important to know how to wrap your horse's rear legs properly or you can do more damage with the leg wrap than good due to cutting off circulation or constricting tendons and other leg tissues.

Things You'll Need

  • Leg wrap or bandage
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clean your horse's legs thoroughly by washing or brushing away all dirt and debris. Dirt and debris trapped between your horse's legs and the bandage or wrap can cause uncomfortable rubbing and sores to develop on your horse's skin. Your horse's legs should be clean and dry before you start wrapping them. Clean and treat any wounds on the legs as prescribed by your veterinarian. Place soft padding over wounds, if necessary.

    • 2

      Start your wrap on the inside of your horse's leg, just above the joint. Don't wrap joints themselves unless absolutely necessary due to injury. Wrap the leg by bringing the bandage from the front of the leg to the back in a spiral pattern.

    • 3

      Wrap the bandage up and down the leg, with each layer of the wrap covering approximately 50 percent of the previous layer. Make sure that the wrap stays smooth without wrinkles or ridges underneath it. The wrap should be tight enough to stay in place without restricting blood flow. You should be able to get one to two fingers in between the wrap and the horse's leg.

    • 4

      Secure the bandage in place. A veterinary wrap bandage will usually stick to itself; otherwise, the leg wrap will have velcro on the ends that you can use to fasten the ends down. You can also secure the bandage with a specially made bandage adhesive tape. Make sure that the bandage is secure and won't come loose when the horse moves. Leave the bandage or wrap in place for no more than two days before removing the bandage and reapplying a fresh one.