Bandages & Leg Wraps

What are bandages for horses suitable for?

Contrary to earlier assumptions, bandages do not have any supporting or protective function. They can only prevent minor injuries caused by the grazing of the hooves. If you want to adequately protect the horse's leg from knocks and blows, you should go for boots and fetlock boots with a hard outer shell. Bandages also look good and can, for example, enhance the look of a dressage outfit. Keep in mind, however, that leg protection is not permitted in the test itself. The reason for this is that the judges can better judge the horse's natural gait without leg protection.
Nevertheless, bandages can be a useful piece of equipment, especially in training. If they are wrapped correctly, the tendons and ligaments underneath are kept warm and the warm-up phase is supported. They are not a substitute for a warm-up! Bandages can also be helpful for older horses that suffer from arthrosis, for example, and thus have joints that are sensitive to cold.
However, bandages can also be useful for horses with, for instance, splints. In this case, boots can rub because they always slip slightly back and forth on the skin. Bandages hold the horse in place, move with the horse and can be adapted to any horse.
Whether you are bandaging the horse for riding or to cover a wound, never forget the padding in the form of a soft leg wraps! It is important to absorb and distribute any pressure peaks from the bandage. Keep the bandages on the horse's leg only as long as you need them. Especially during rest, when the horse's leg swells up again, the bandage can only yield to a certain degree and otherwise restrict the lymph flow. Also, the heating under the bandage can make the underlying structures hypersensitive, which makes the tendons and ligaments less resilient.

Which bandages are suitable for which purpose?

Most bandages for horses are made of fleece, which is slightly stretchy. Fleece bandages follow the horse's movements and yield when the horse's leg swells and shrinks. This prevents the leg from constricting or the bandage from coming off by itself. A leg wrap is used underneath without exception! Due to their good material properties and easy handling, you can buy fleece bandages in various colours and designs in our online shop. You can match the colours of the current collections to the saddle pad and fly veil.
Elastic bandages should be avoided when riding. There is a risk that they will be wound too tightly. If they are used, they should only be used by professionals and experienced riders who can judge how tightly they can wrap the elastic bandage.
Self-adhesive bandages can be used when applying a support or protective bandage. A cotton wool or fleece bandage should be wrapped underneath.

Why should I bandage with leg wraps?

Leg wraps prevent dangerous pressure peaks from developing through the bandage and causing localised damage to the horse's leg. They distribute the pressure of the bandage better and also provide space for the horse's leg to swell or shrink. Leg wraps are made of a soft material that is moisture-absorbent on the inside. The leg wraps also improves thermoregulation to prevent overheating.
In our online shop you can find leg wraps made of different materials, such as cotton or polyester. Some leg wrap styles are lined with moisture-absorbing terry cloth on the inside. For easy handling, you can also buy leg wraps with Velcro fasteners, which makes it much easier to put them on.
For therapeutic purposes, we also offer leg wraps with integrated ceramic fibres. These reflect the horse's body heat at the infrared level so that the heat can penetrate into the deep structures. Such leg wraps are part of our Felix Bühler Ceramic Rehab range.

How big should the leg wraps be?

The size of the leg wraps depends on the length of the cannon bone. The leg wrap should reach around the head of the fetlock and end at the top just below the knee or hock. A little tip: The hind cannon bones are usually longer than the forelegs. So buy larger wraps for the back. The bandage should then be wrapped so that it ends just below the leg wrap and does not extend beyond it. Otherwise there will be unpleasant pressure points.
Oversized leg wraps that cover the entire fetlock joint can protect the joint better. It is important to make sure that the leg wrap is not too long or too low, so that the horse does not step on it and avoidable accidents occur.

How thick should the leg wraps be?

Regarding the thickness of the leg wraps, the thicker they are, the better they distribute the pressure. Very thin leg wraps should be avoided, as they do not adequately compensate for pressure points. Leg wraps with foam, teddy fleece or sheepskin or spacer fabric are the most suitable for a correct approach to bandaging.

What are long leg wraps suitable for?

Long leg wraps can be used during transport, for example, if the entire fetlock head is to be protected. This prevents the horse from kicking itself when balancing in the trailer. However, when bandaging, make sure that the wrap is not too low and that the horse can possibly step on it.