How to Wrap Your Horse’s Leg

Wraps are used on horses for many different reasons: protection, support and wound recovery. There are many different theories about wrapping a horse’s leg, such as the type wraps and the direction to wrap. Both are just what you are comfortable with. The most important thing is to always keep a firm, steady pressure over the entire leg. Never let the wraps bunch or pull the wraps too tight. It’s all about effectiveness and comfort for the animal.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Wraps
• Quilts

1. Find wraps that you are comfortable using. The thicker the quilt used underneath, the less likely you are to hurt the horse’s leg. The less elastic the actual wrap has the less likely you are to want to pull and tighten in a detrimental fashion.
2. Squat to the outside of the leg you want to wrap.
3. Apply any type of liniment that you want to use as a brace. Make sure the liniment will not burn the horse’s leg. Mild substances such as alcohol can be very effective but liniments are not an essential.
4. Place the quilt on the inside of the leg and hold it in place with one hand, while using the other hand to bring the quilt snuggly around the leg. The quilt should cover from under the knee to down and around the ankle.
5. Hold the quilt in place and start with the wrap. If you are wrapping a front leg start halfway down the cannon bone and if you are wrapping the hind legs start wrapping three-quarters of the way down the leg.
6. Make two to three wraps around the leg to get to the ankle. The strokes should not be harsh, tugged or uneven. Instead there should be an even pressure snuggly securing the wrap around the quilt to keep the quilt properly placed on the horse’s leg.
7. Wrap down and around the ankle to help support the leg and then continue wrapping back up the leg to have the wrap finish and fasten under the knee.
8. Evaluate your wrapping job. Make sure the wrap is even by sight and feel.