Wrapping a Horse Leg with Vet Wrap

There are many types of leg wraps, but today we’re focusing on when you would use vet wrap when wrapping your horse’s legs.

Why Use Vet Wrap for Horses?

The main reason to use vet wrap is to ensure that the bandages stay in place. This is especially important if your horse has an injury, cuts, or an abscess in a foot.

Because vet wrap sticks to itself but not your horse, it is far less likely to fall off. And if your horse loves to chew on bandages or blankets, using vet wrap will keep any bandages securely in place.

Why Would I Need to Wrap My Horse’s Leg?

The primary reason to wrap a horse’s leg is for protection. That can be preventive or to protect a cut or injury from infection and contamination.

A rundown bandage is a good example of a preventive type of protection. Rundown bandages are typically used on the lower legs to prevent friction abrasions.

The most likely reason you would use a leg wrap would be for treating an injury. In that case, you would be protecting a cut with a leg bandage.

Key Takeways

Read below to discover:

1. The Step-by-step process for correctly wrapping a horse’s leg including a video.
2. A detailed list of what supplies are used to wrap horses’ legs.
3. The answers to every frequently asked question related to leg bandages on horses.

Should My Veterinarian Be Involved?

Many experienced horse people know how to tell whether a veterinarian needs to evaluate a minor injury or not.

But minor injuries can sometimes seem horrific and major injuries are not always obvious. So when in doubt, it is always best to have any injury checked by your vet first.

They may apply bandages and ask you to change them at a particular frequency. Be sure to watch and listen carefully so you know what to do. It is best to get them to provide instructions in writing.

Do All Horse Leg Wounds Need to Be Wrapped?

Generally, injuries above the knee are most often not wrapped while deep injuries below the knee typically are.

Shallow injuries may not require wrapping. If you know how to apply bandages correctly, bandaging won’t hurt. So if you’re not sure or the decision is borderline, you could go ahead and use bandages.

For more specifics about when wounds need to be wrapped, read Equus’ magazine’s Horse Wounds: To Bandage or Not to Bandage?

How Do You Wrap an Injured Horse’s Leg?

A great way to review the specifics on wrapping legs if that isn’t something you do regularly is by watching a good video.

This short video explains the materials you’ll want to have on hand and how to apply a bandage for a wound using vet wrap:

It isn’t as detailed as you may need, but is great for review. They use cast padding, but 12” roll cotton is a better choice for that step.

Use the step-by-step directions and list of materials you’ll need before you start. Both are included below.

First, review the proper direction for applying bandages. Always start in the center of the inside of the leg and wrap around the front.

Tighten across the cannon bone on the front side only. Do not pull hard when going around the tendon in the back of the leg.

You want to start just under the knee, wrap down to below the ankle, then back to the top and end in the center. (If you end nearer the top, that will fine.)

Some people start just above the center, wrap up to the top, and end in the center. Either method can be used.

What Supplies are Needed to Bandage Legs on a Horse?

While there are different methods for protecting leg injuries, these are the typical supplies you’ll need to gather before starting, plus some alternates:

• Sterile gauze pads

• Medicines or ointments

Use whatever your veterinarian recommends.

• Brown gauze roll

• 12” tall cotton roll (or substitute 4” cast padding)

• Vet wrap

• Electrical tape (optional) – this is ordinary electric tape you can get anywhere. Horse people tend to buy it in colors to complement their vet wrap.

• Elastikon (optional) – 4” is a good size

• Bandage scissors - any length (3.5”-8” are common; see image further below)

In the video, they use cast padding, probably 4”. Personally, I prefer roll cotton because you only have to go around once and you will have more padding evenly distributed.

It is faster and easier to use roll cotton, especially for horse owners who are less experienced at wrapping legs.

If you have a horse that is harder to keep bandages on, you can use electrical tape to wrap once or twice a little below the top and above the bottom of the vet wrap.

You could wrap Elastikon over the top of the vet wrap. However, this is less commonly done and not really necessary.

Remember that you’re going to need to regularly change the bandages. So buy sufficient supplies of what you need.

Bandage scissors make it easier to remove bandages. Some people do remove them the same way they put them on. But I find it faster to cut them off. 

Which Direction Do You Wrap a Horse’s Leg?

Always start on the inside, pull snug across the front of the leg, then go around the back of the leg. In other words, counterclockwise on the left leg and clockwise on the right leg when viewed from behind.

The reason for this is to not make the bandage too tight around the tendon. Bandage bows can be caused by bandages being applied too tightly, uneven pressure, or slipping bandages.

While usually less serious than a bowed tendon, they can cause long-lasting effects. So you want to use adequate padding, even pressure, and follow best practices to avoid bandage bows.

If you’re concerned, you could enlist the assistance of your veterinarian or other person with more experience applying bandages. 

How to Wrap an Injured Horse’s Leg with Vet Wrap

Here are the steps so that you can print them out if needed:

1. Ensure that your horse’s leg is clean and dry. Have everything you will need handy because once you start, you can’t stop during some parts of the process.
2. Apply any medication you’ll be using either directly to the horse using gloves or onto the gauze pad. These pads come in many sizes, so choose one large enough to completely cover the wound.
   
   It is good to keep an assortment on hand. They should be readily available at any pharmacy or from your veterinarian.
3. While holding the gauze pad in place, wrap the length of the leg (as shown in the video) with brown gauze. Always start on the inside of the leg and wrap around the front.
   
   Use a full roll or enough to secure the gauze pad. The gauze will stay in place pretty well by itself long enough to apply the roll cotton (or optionally, cast padding).
4. Next, take your roll of cotton. Starting on the inside, roll it around the front first and then all the way around the leg. Overlap it by a few inches.
   This thick cotton helps protect the tendons from bandages being too tight. You can hold it in place by hand while starting the vet wrap or tape it in place if you find that too challenging.
5. Start your vet wrap on the inside and wrap around the front about an inch from the top. Keep it snug, pulling when wrapping around the front of the cannon bone, but not pulling less when wrapping about the back of the leg over the tendon.
   
   Wrap up to the top of the cotton, but below the knee and then down all the way to the bottom, then back up to the center, ending it when the roll is used up or you feel coverage is sufficient.
   
   You may have a little vet wrap left, but probably not much. Vet wrap sticks to itself so it will stay in place.
   
   If you used the entire roll, you can slide the empty roll up and down over the vet wrap to press it into itself so it sticks better.
6. For maximum longevity, you can use narrow electrical tape, often in a complimentary color if you prefer, and tape the top and bottom of the vet wrap in place.
   
   Place these wraps about 1” from the top and bottom edges. Some people will put two rows about 1” apart on the top and the bottom.
7. Pull off any cotton that extends above or below the vet wrap.

What are the Challenges of Wrapping Your Horse’s Leg?

It takes practice to be able to skillfully wrap a horse’s leg, especially if they aren’t used to it. Your largest challenge will be keeping the horse and each leg still while you do the wrapping.

You are likely to find it tricky to hold all the pieces in place while you wrap. That is especially true if you haven’t done it recently or ever.

If your horse isn’t used to having their legs handled, get assistance from a second person to hold and sooth the horse so you can focus on each leg.

Be patient and prepared to start over if necessary. Follow the horse’s leg if they move and you may be able to continue when they set it back down.

How Often Should Bandages on Horses’ Legs Be Changed?

Your veterinarian may direct you on how often to change a bandage. Generally, if the wound is open and draining, you would change it daily.

But if the wound is clean and has been sutured, it is typical to change the bandage every 3-4 days. Your veterinarian will likely wrap the leg the first time, so pay close attention so you can replace it later.

Check the bandage daily. If it slips or gets excessively wet or muddy, change it early. Also replace the bandage if the amount of swelling changes substantially. Keep it neither loose nor too tight.

With many injuries, you may change it daily at first and then need to change it less often later.

Why You Should Wrap Both Front Legs

Veterinarians recommend wrapping both front legs even though only one is injured. The reason for that is to provide balanced support and prevent compensation.

It is important to keep the horse using both front legs whenever possible. If only the injured leg is wrapped, the horse might use it less.

Thanks to equine biomechanics research, we know that 58% of a horse’s weight is on their front legs. So it is a best practice to support both front legs if you need to bandage one.

Wrapping both hind legs is not considered necessary unless the uninjured leg stocks up (gets swelling in it).

Dangers of Unsafe Leg Bandaging in Horses

You may have noticed that we strongly recommend using roll cotton. This is insurance against the bandage being too tight.

Even if you’ve applied the bandages correctly, do check regularly to ensure they haven’t slipped or been damaged by your horse.

Besides always wrapping in the correct direction, focus on keeping the pressure even. Only tighten when pulling across the front of the horse’s cannon bone.

Do not pull when wrapping around the tendon to avoid bandage bows. Bandaging too loose can cause bandages to slip which could also cause bandage bows.

What to Do if Your Horse Destroys Bandages?

Some horses are not fans of having their legs bandaged. Fortunately, there are ways to get them to leave the bandages alone.

On the racetrack, it is common to mix Tide dry laundry powder and cayenne pepper with water to make a paste. Use a pastry brush to paint the mixture onto the entire bandage.

Horses dislike the taste very much so even the worst of them will leave the bandages alone. If a small amount didn’t stop your horse, use a thick coating all the way around.

Another option is to buy a commercial spray that discourages horses from chewing. Some options are:

• NaturVet Bitter Yuck! No Chew Spray: Water-based, non-sting formula with a bitter taste to deter chewing.
• Farnam No Chew Spray: Clear, non-staining formula that dries quickly and remains effective even in wet conditions.
• Chew Stop Aerosol: Hot cinnamon-flavored spray that can be applied to various surfaces, including blankets and bandages.
• EQyss Crib-Guard Spray: Long-lasting anti-chew spray safe for all surfaces, including wood, plastic, metal, and fabrics.

Use these properly by reading the directions on the specific product before applying. 

Does Vet Wrap Stick to the Wound?

If you applied vet wrap directly to an open wound, yes, it could stick. That is the reason you should always use a gauze pad under the vet wrap for open wounds.

In an emergency, you could use a clean piece of cloth cut into a square or rectangle under the vet wrap. Ideally, you should use a minimum of a gauze pad, roll cotton for padding, and vetwrap.

The main purpose of the roll padding is so that the bandage won’t be too tight across the tendon. The cotton also absorbs any excess medicines you put on the wound or oozing from the wound itself.

Can Vet Wrap Go Directly on the Skin?

While you might use vet wrap directly over a hoof, you don’t want to use it directly on the skin. Refer to the section on whether vet wrap sticks to the wound (just above) for why.

Can You Use Vet Wrap Without Padding?

In an emergency, you could use vet wrap without padding IF you are very cautious about how tight you get it across the back of the tendon.

• However, it would be better to obtain something clean to use as padding. Then, as soon as possible, replace the bandage using roll cotton or ample cast padding.

How to Remove Bandages from a Horse’s Leg

The safest and most efficient method for removing vet wrap and bandaging from a horse’s leg is by using quality bandage scissors.

Bandage scissors have safety built in. The bottom edge is smooth with a blunt end to insert under the bandage. They are angled specifically for this purpose.

Any veterinarian supply, pharmacy, or medical supply store should have various types of bandage scissors in stock. You can order them online from a vet supply or Amazon or buy them locally. 

Carefully insert the blunt end of the scissors behind the bandage and against the horse’s leg. Cut steadily from top to bottom.

Then gently pull the entire bandage from the leg. The gauze pad may be stuck to the wound. You have to pull it loose gently.

As long as the leg has stayed clean under the bandages, you should not have to clean the wound. Simply repeat the entire wrapping process, applying new medicine on a fresh gauze pad.

Be Prepared with Vet Wrap for Horses

You will always want to have at least the four inch vet wrap on hand because you never know when you may need it!

While you may go months or even years not needing to wrap a horse’s legs, remember that when you do you’ll be changing the bandages regularly.

So, you will need more than one roll of vet wrap and the other supplies on hand. Have at least enough to get you by until you can order more.

Take advantage of our great selection and low prices by getting your own vet wrap at vetwraps.com.

This post was written by Gail Gardner.

Gail Gardner hasn't been without multiple horses since she bought her first horse in 1978. On one time, she bred AQHA horses and later Thoroughbred racehorses. Gail has held racing commission licenses as both a groom and an owner (in multiple states). She learned how to apply bandages correctly from both veterinarians and by volunteering in the barn of a leading racehorse trainer. She still has horses today. Gail has been doing freelance writing since the early 2000s, writing for major small business websites, and republished on even larger sites including Forbes, MSN Money, Yahoo! Small Business and many others.