bandaging

[WoodysMum]

Im a bit of newbie when it comes to bandaging! I may have to bandage my boy's left hind (as there could possibly be some tendon damage

), which I presume means I have to bandage the right left hind too to keep it even?

I have cotton stable bandages, gamgee, vetwrap, and tubi-grip. how do i go about bandaging for support for swelling and possible injury?


thanks in advance

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Is there not someone experienced at your yard who can show you?

 

[WoodysMum]

not really, our yard is a strange place!

 

[star]

bandaging is an art and you really need to get someone to show you - it's not something that can be described - getting the right tension is absolutely essential. bad bandaging is worse than no bandaging. presumbaly if your horse has damaged its tendon then you will have a vet coming out at some stage - you need to ask them to show you how to bandage correctly. you will need big pieces of fybagee and stable bandages. you can use gamgee instead of fybagee but it falls apart very quickly and isn't really suitable for re-using, hence it gets very expensive.

 

[RachelB]

I agree entirely with star (well I can't exactly contradict a vet can I?!

)
I am experienced with stable bandaging and it took me literally about 100 goes with someone even more experienced telling me I was doing it at a suitable tension to be confident enough to do it alone. I often re-do a bandage if I check it and it feels too tight. All because it is far too easy to damage things more with over-tight bandages. If there is really no-one to do it for you, get your vet to show you - but don't just watch, then take it off and have a go yourself until your vet agrees that you have the right tension. Then you will know what to "feel for".
The stable bandages and gamgee will do, and yes it is often advised to bandage the contralateral limb but your vet should be able to tell you if that is necessary

TBPH you can't support the horse's leg with a bandage anyway, but that is a whole other thread in itself... I'll just agree that it may help keep the swelling at bay and leave it there

 

[kerilli]

totally agree with this, bandaging can only be taught hands-on by someone experienced at it. it is totally essential that the tension is correct. i was on a yard one day when a 4* eventer was brought out of the stable in the morning with too-tight bandages on (done by a groom the night before)... wrecked legs.

even vets aren't always the best bandagers imho... they are often in a hurry and rely on lots and lots of gamgee to make up for folds and creases in the bandages.

if you really really can't find someone to show you, i'd just use the tubigrip tbh, on its own. put a thick plastic bag over the hoof so you can get the tubigrip on without snagging it, and do 1 or 2 smooth layers of it, depending on how much support is required. it's fab stuff, and totally uniform in its tension.
best of luck.