How to Bandage an Equine Knee

The horse's delicate knee joint carries its entire weight plus that of its rider on the tendons, ligaments and bones contained in the lower leg. Because there are no muscles below the knee, this joint damages easily and injuries may require bandaging prior to a veterinary consultation. By applying separate dressing material to both the lower leg and the joint, you can provide proper support for the animal's fragile connective tissue while allowing the knee to bend and the horse to walk.

Things You'll Need

  • Halter and lead rope
  • Running water
  • Antibiotic Betadine or chlorhexidine solution
  • 4-inch by 4-inch sterile gauze bandages
  • 2 rolls of cotton batting
  • 2 rolls 4-inch stretch track bandage
  • 1 roll bandage tape
  • Antibiotic ointment
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Instructions

    • 1

      Halter your horse and tie the lead rope to a fixed fence post or secure the animal in crossties.

    • 2

      Wash any open wounds under running water to clear away any dirt or debris. Clean the injury with Betadine or chlorhexidine antibiotic solution drizzled on soft, sterile 4-inch by 4-inch bandages. Rinse the wound thoroughly with clean water and dry completely with more of the sterile bandages.

    • 3

      Wrap one roll of cotton batting around the lower limb of the affected leg, covering the cannon bone below the knee to just over the fetlock joint. Begin at the inside of the leg and wrap the left leg in a counterclockwise direction and the right leg in a clockwise direction. Secure the batting in place with elastic bandage tape.

    • 4

      Position one roll of the 4-inch stretch track bandage over the cotton batting on the lower leg by wrapping in the same direction and overlapping each layer by one-half the width of the lower layer. Fix the stretch bandage in place with the bandage tape.

    • 5

      Place an appropriate amount of antibiotic ointment on one of the 4-inch by 4-inch bandages and position it over the injury. The dressing will cause the bandage to stay in place.

    • 6

      Apply the second roll of cotton batting over the knee, wrapping the batting in the same direction that you wrapped the horse's lower leg. Allow this roll of batting to overlap the lower leg bandage about 1 inch.

    • 7

      Take the end of the second roll of the stretch track bandage and place it under the end of the cotton batting in the middle of the knee. Make one wrap around the knee to secure the leading edge of the wrap.

    • 8

      Spiral the track bandage down the knee to the bottom of the batting, overlapping half the previous wrap in progression. Once you reach the bottom of the knee batting, spiral the track bandage back up to the top of the cotton and secure with bandage tape. You should be able to fit two fingers under the dressing to ensure that it's loose enough for the horse to be able to bend its knee.