Bandaging This presentation has been produced by Ausintec Academy (OnlineHorseCollege.com) for purpose of Educational Training. It is not for sale and may not be used or reproduced without prior written permission from the Director of Ausintec Academy

Stable Bandage Bandaging is used to hold dressings in place, keep the area clean and provide protection and support. It is recommended that you practices bandaging before the horse really needs it as it can take some practicing to get the bandage the right tension so that it doesn’t slip or shift position or restrict movement or circulation. How to apply a Stable Bandage:- Wrap the padding around the leg, keeping it flat to avoid pressure points. Starting at the top, just below the knee do a couple of turns to anchor the padding in place Then gently spiral the bandage down the horses’ leg overlapping about two-thirds of the previous layer Progress carefully over the fetlock as the bandage may want to bunch up and down the pastern Then start to gently spiral upwards The bandage should be kept the same tension all the way through Try to finish the bandage off where you started If applied correctly you should end up with a small, upside-down ‘V’ in the bandage formed on the pastern, from the last downwards spiral layer of bandage and the first upwards spiral layer of bandage. How to apply a Hock Bandage:-  Very simular in structure to that of the knee bandage, apply the padding making sure it lies flat. Secure the padding with 2-3 turns around the leg, above the hock Then bring the bandage down diagonally across the point of the hock Make a complete turn around the leg below the hock And take the bandage back up again diagonally across the point of hock so it forms a cross Keep working this way until you reach the end of the bandage roll If need be, the end of the bandage can be secured with a strip of electrical tape to keep the end from lifting away. As for the knee bandage, it will keep the dressing in place and still allow hock movement.

Hock Bandage

Hock Bandaging Video

Knee Bandage How to apply a Knee Bandage:- Apply the padding, making sure it is flat and using the bandage anchor it above the knee with 2-3 turns. Bring the bandage down across the front of the knee diagonally and make a complete turn around the padding below the knee Now take the bandage back up across the front of the knee diagonally so that it forms a cross. Bandage around the top again then come back down diagonally as for #2. Try to overlap about half of the previous layer of bandage. Keep working this way until you reach the end of the bandage roll If you have applied it with vet wrap or elastoplast the end should grip to itself and you can apply a strip of electrical tape to help keep the end from lifting away. This type of figure 8 with the bandage will help to keep the dressing in place whilst still allowing the knee to bend. How to apply a Hoof Bandage:- Apply the poultice, padding or gamgee to the sole. It will be easier to keep the dressing in place if it overlaps the hoof wall a little Start bandaging around the hoof wall, this will secure the dressing. Make 2-3 turns around the hoof Then bring the bandage across the sole and make a complete turn around the hoof Cross over the sole again in the opposite direction to form a cross with the previous layer Repeat this until you reach the end of the bandage and secure the end Bandages will tend to wear very quickly on the hoof. If for whatever reason the dressing needs to be applied around the coronet, then start bandaging from that point to ensure it doesn’t shift.

Knee Bandaging Video

Hoof Bandage

Hoof Bandaging Video

Robert Jones or Immobilisation Bandage There is one more type of bandage, used to immobilise the horses’ leg if broken or fractured bones are suspected, it is known as an immobilisation or Robert Jones bandage.   How to Apply:- You will need at least 4 rolls of gamgee and a few rolls of bandage Use two layers of gamgee wrapped around the leg and secure with a bandage in the same spiral fashion used for previous bandages. Then apply 2 more layers of gamgee and repeat the process To be effective the bandage should extend from the top of the leg right down to the hoof and once applied the horse shouldn’t be able to move its leg. Apply this bandage with caution as if broken bones and fractures are suspected its likely the horse is in some pain. You will also need to be careful that more damage isn’t done from applying it than good.

For more information see the course workbook.

For more information see the course workbook.

For more information see the course workbook.