To bandage a hoof properly you need the following supplies:

• Betadine, if you need to medicate a wound.
• A roll of long fiber cotton at least 6 inches wide or a small disposable diaper will substitute. You will need a small Betadine soaked piece for the wound and tear off a large square big enough to cover the bottom of the hoof and wrap up an inch or so around the edges of the hoof.
• A roll of brown (read that as inexpensive) cotton gauze preferably around 6 inches wide (though I have used 3 inch)
• A roll of duct tape from which you tear off five or six 6 inch strips and one 14 inch strip; Stretchy self adherent tape like Vetwrap or Elastikon will substitute if necessary but will triple the cost of the bandage and not be as strong as the duct tape

It is best if you have all you materials laid out and ready to go within easy reach of where you will be working. If you put it all in a little plastic caddy, it makes everything go smoother. Place the duct tape so they are easy to reach. I will some times stick them lightly on the side of the horse within reach of where I will be working or on the wall if I can reach it. You will also need to learn to pick the foot up like the farrier does so that both hands are free and you can work on the bottom. This is something every horseman needs to learn to do. If you have trouble doing this have your farrier or vet show you how.

If a hole has been pared into the foot consider is it clean and odor free? If not flush with a hose or a 50/50 mixture of betadine and water in a syringe. Place a piece of 100% Betadine soaked cotton in the hole so that it is firmly in place and just comes up level with the edge of the hole. Put the piece of cotton or disposable diaper on the sole so that it overlaps all the way around but most importantly at the toe. The cotton gauze is then rolled on firmly as follows:

As you read, these instructions visualize that you are holding the foot in your lap. You are looking at the bottom of the foot: the sole. Remember to start the gauze on the foot in such a manner that it smoothly and quickly rolls off onto the foot, not unroll a bit, lay it down, and then unroll it again. If you find yourself doing this turn the gauze over. Start in the middle of the sole holding the end of the gauze in place with your thumb, roll it over the outside heel, down over the front of the hoof wall to the opposite inside quarter then back up to where you started. Do this twice more ending at the outside heel. You now have gauze circling the foot diagonally held in place by a heel and its opposite quarter. Now roll it over the outside heel and instead on running to the quarter as you have been, run it across the front of the foot just at the level of the coronet and over the inside heel, then to the opposite outside quarter and go around twice. Switch directions in this manner every two or three circles and vary the overlays a little to completely cover the foot.

With the leg picked up so the sole is faced upward and you have both hands free, place a 6-inch strip right down the middle of the foot starting at the toe and finishing at the heel making sure there is some sticking over at each end. Place the second piece parallel to and on top of the first piece overlapping it by 1/2. With the third piece do the same thing on the other side of first piece. Continue overlapping the outer most piece of tape with 1/2 the width of the new piece of tape until the whole sole is covered and you have tape sticking out all the way around. Almost all adult hooves require five pieces to completely cover the bottom. Foals three, and drafts may require seven pieces. Now mold this around the edge of the bottom of the foot and up unto the wall until it smoothly goes around the edge and conforms to the sole and hoof. Now take your long piece and encircle the foot at the junction of the wall and sole approximately 1/2 the width of the tape above this junction and 1/2 below. Take this piece and conforming it to the shape of the foot, press it down sticking it to the strips on the sole and wall.

Place the hoof back down on the ground. It helps at this point to run another 8-inch piece of duct tape across the wall at the toe catching the edge of the duct tape and taping them down to the left and right heel/quarter region.

Some conditions will require daily changing of the bandage to medicate the wound. If healing has progressed to the point that only mechanical protection is required, a foot bandage can be left on for three days if it remains clean and dry and the horse is stalled. The toe has to be watched for signs of wearing through particularly if this is the part of the foot that need protecting. It can be touched up with duct tape if not allowed to wear all the way through. If the horse is being turned out daily a new bandage will probably be required daily after the horse comes back in.