This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » First Aid » Bandaging Horses »
  Discussion on Bandaging both front legs
Author Message

Posted on Friday, Jun 14, 2002 - 1:45 pm:

I just had somebody at my barn tell me something that I have heard before but have always dismissed as an "old wives' tale". After watching me bandage my horse's one front leg because of a slight injury she said "aren't you going to bandage the other front leg (totally healthy) as well?" She said she had heard that you need to "balance" the legs.

On a different, though similar topic, I have heard that when using polo wraps during exercise you should use the exact matching pair, it is bad if you use two that don't match (not color, but thickness, elasticity, etc).

I've always thought both of these theories were rubbish but after hearing them from several different people I thought I would throw it out there and see what opinions you guys had.

Thanks!

Posted on Saturday, Jun 15, 2002 - 2:23 am:

I never did it for cuts or injuries that needed to be covered for cleanliness. But when I've had a bad leg injury, like a bowed tendon or something that was going to cause the horse to shift his weight to the good leg for an extended period of time, then I do both legs.

Posted on Sunday, Jun 16, 2002 - 8:00 pm:

As many wives tales do, I suspect this one has some basis in fact. Many horses when left standing in the stall will stock up in the good leg leading some to believe the lack of balance is a problem but horses that do not have this problem will be fine with "one on and one off".

Elizabeths comments are interesting but we need to dig a bit deeper. Studies have shown that standard support and/or pressure bandanges really do not offer the kind of support likely to do much good other than possibly keeping fluid accumulation down. Pro-Choice says that it has proof that some of its support raps do decrease the strain on the weight bearing structures but I remain unconvinced for anything but perhaps a short time.

Now....keeping fluid accumulation out is a noble objective but to do a really good job on swelling in the cannons takes poltices. For more on this see, Equine Diseases: First Aid: Pressure Wraps, Poultices, Cold and Heat Therapy for Swelling in Horse Legs.

Let me comment about the use of bandages from a unique perspective, my own. Early last month a 4 month old warm blood came down on the outside of my ankle while I had just tennis shoes on. Through the pants and socks this guy managed to scrape a large wound on my ankle and more important really bruise the tendons and bones. By the time I got back to the house it was as big as a grapefruit. Over the next 3 weeks I found that with good pressure bandaging with Vet Wrap (and a lot of NASID's) I could keep the swelling under control and remain pretty comfortable and get my work done. Without good bandaging it would get big again and I was unable to stand on the leg no matter what drugs I consumed. I believe it made a huge difference in recovery time, the quality of the healing, and comfort until well. I will never underestimate the importance of pressure bandaging a swollen leg again.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jun 17, 2002 - 11:00 am:

Thanks for your comments!

Dr O, it's so funny that you mention your own personal experience!

The reason I was poulticing my horse's leg was because he had fallen while my husband was riding (just a case of extreme clumsiness - along with feet being too long). Both ended up with a swollen leg. My husband was more lame then the horse but both were getting their leg wrapped.

I will definitely pass your message on to Keith and tell him that he is doing the right thing by bandaging his ankle and knee.

Dr O, thanks for this website - I read it every day!

Dawn

Posted on Thursday, Jul 18, 2002 - 5:41 pm:

i have a question regarding the correct direction the wrap should go when bandaging the legs. i have heard many different theories but nothing very scientific/ some people say you should always go back to front with the wrap/others say that the wrap should go counter clockwise for the left legs and clockwise for the right legs etc/ i am sure that the direction in which the wrap is applied has an effect on circulation and so i feel that some clarification is needed. thanks.
jamie

Posted on Friday, Jul 19, 2002 - 9:16 am:

It is traditional, at least on the TB racetracks, to wrap in such a way the flexor tendons, the tendons in the back, are pulled to the inside of the leg but there is no evidence that it makes any difference which way you wrap and many feel it really doesn't.
DrO
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC