Bandages are used to protect legs, support tendons and ligaments, and as a therapeutic wrap over medication. In Thoroughbreds, bandages come in two major categories: racing bandages and stable wraps.

Racing bandages are commonly used to hold run-down patches in place. Many Thoroughbreds dig deeply into the track surface when they run at high speed, causing the skin over their fetlocks to abrade with every stride. Depending on the individual horse's way of going, run-down bandages may be worn on the front legs, the back legs, or both.

Run-down patches come in two varieties: thick, pressed cotton pads that are fitted directly over the fetlock and held in place by elastic bandaging tape, commonly called Vetrap, and self-adhering, lightweight Teflon or polyethylene patches that are applied to the outside of the elastic bandaging tape as a protective top layer over the underlying cotton patch.

Racing bandages are also worn to support ligaments and tendons during strenuous exercise, much in the same way a tennis player may wrap a wrist or an ankle.

During daily training, when speed work is not scheduled, horses may wear fleece polo wraps to protect their legs from superficial injuries and their fetlocks from abrasion.

Stable bandages

Stable bandages are used to cover medication, protect wounds, apply pressure, cover a drawing poultice (sweat wrap), or reduce swelling and edema (ice bandage). They are also used to protect legs during shipping. Types of stable bandages include:

Standing wraps-Just as a human athlete may use a soothing balm to ease muscle aches from strenuous exercise, the equine athlete's legs are often treated with a soothing brace to enhance blood flow and avoid discomfort. Properly done, the groom will rub the liniment into the horse's legs while delivering a deep massage. (This is one reason grooms often refer to their occupation as "rubbing horses.") A thick layer of sheet cotton, leg quilts, or other padding is wrapped over the horse's leg, held in place by roll bandage, cotton flannel wraps, or fleece polo wraps. Standing wraps are also used for shipping.

Pressure bandage-As its name suggests, pressure is applied to a serious leg injury to control bleeding and swelling until the veterinarian arrives. The bandage needs to extend four to six inches above the injury site, and all the way to the knee for a lower leg injury.

Proper application is tricky, since enough pressure should be exerted to be effective yet not restrict normal blood flow. Pressure bandages can be dangerous. If swelling occurs above the bandage or if lameness increases, the bandage may be cutting off circulation. A rule of thumb-or pinky-is to be able to slip your little finger between the bandage and the horse's leg. Monitor and evaluate the horse frequently while waiting for the veterinarian to arrive.

Sweat wrap-Strains, sprains, or even standing idle in a stall can cause your horse's legs to become hot and swollen. The purpose of the sweat wrap is to generate heat to dilate blood vessels and increase circulation, which, in turn, will carry away fluids and reduce inflammation.

A drawing poultice or sweating preparation is applied to the horse's leg then is covered with plastic wrap, padding, and a stable bandage. A sweat wrap is left in place for 12 hours. If swelling persists, the leg should be allowed to remain open for 12 hours, then the sweat wrap should be reapplied for another 12 hours.

Sweat wraps are not recommended for recent injuries or those containing open wounds. In these situations, seek recommendations from your veterinarian.

Ice bandages-Frequently, the first line of defense against a soft-tissue injury is to apply ice to reduce inflammation and swelling, thereby reducing tissue damage and enhancing healing. Applying ice decreases blood flow to the damaged area and slows the metabolism of surrounding tissues to protect them.

If you do not have available a commercial ice pack designed to fit the area of the horse that has been injured (leg, knee, ankle, hock), make an ice pack using a resealable plastic bag and crushed ice. Crushed ice more easily conforms to the horse's anatomy. Place a layer of sheet cotton or a damp towel between the horse's skin and the ice pack, then cover with a roll bandage to hold in place. Pantyhose pulled over the horse's leg and then filled with ice also works well depending on the location of the injury.

Ice should be applied for five minutes at a time, with 15-minute intervals between icing, until heat and swelling are reduced. Repeat ice treatment every four to six hours during the first day of treatment. If swelling and inflammation are not significantly reduced after one day, seek veterinary care.

Knees and hocks

Wrapping knees and hocks is a challenge. When wrapping a joint, the most important thing to remember is that the joint must be free to bend, especially if the horse should lie down. A bandage that binds the accessory carpal bone, the little bone that sticks out the back of the knee, can cause extreme lameness or even a slab fracture should the horse fold its leg under itself when it lies down.

Therefore, when wrapping knees and hocks, a figure-eight technique is used.

Here is how:

• Begin with a standing wrap on the lower leg to keep the hock or knee bandage from slipping down.
• Paint the joint with the appropriate medication for the injury, then place a spider bandage (oval bandage with four ties on each side) over the medication. A disposable diaper also works well for this purpose.
• Using a roll bandage, wrap around the leg above the joint, then use a figure-eight design to wrap the bandage across the joint and around the leg below the joint.
• Wrap in a figure eight around the point of the hock or the accessory carpal bone (behind the knee) so tension is not applied to these two areas.
• Continue wrapping in a figure-eight fashion, then secure the bandage above the joint with a Velcro closure, plastic adhesive tape, or safety pin.
• When bandaging a knee, make a hole in the padding to expose the accessory carpal bone when you are done.

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  Denise Steffanus is a contributing editor of Thoroughbred Times who writes frequently on veterinary and farm management topics.