A stable bandage, or standing bandage/wrap, is a type of wrap used on the lower legs of a horse. A stable bandage runs from just below the knee or hock, to the bottom of the

fetlock Fetlock is the common name in horses, large animals, and sometimes dogs for the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints (MCPJ and MTPJ). Although it somewhat resembles the human ankle in appearance, the joint is homologous to the ba ...

joint, and protects the

cannon A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...

bone, tendons of the lower leg, and fetlock joint.

Uses of the stable bandage

*Protection: the stable bandage offers some protection against minor cuts and bruises in a stall or

horse trailer A horse trailer or horse van (also called a horse float in Australia and New Zealand or horsebox in the British Isles) is used to transport horses. There are many different designs, ranging in size from small units capable of holding two or thre ...

. *Securing a poultice/dressing: stable bandages are often used to hold a

poultice A poultice, also called a cataplasm, is a soft moist mass, often heated and medicated, that is spread on cloth and placed over the skin to treat an aching, inflamed, or painful part of the body. It can be used on wounds, such as cuts. 'Poultice' ...

on the lower legs, or to hold on a wound dressing on an injury. *To keep an injury clean: if a horse cuts his lower leg, a stable bandage can help keep the area from being contaminated by stall bedding or dirt. However, it may slow the healing process. *Reduce or prevent "filling": after hard work, or if a horse is kept in a stall for long periods of time, the lower legs of the animal may "fill" or "stock up" with fluid, causing

filled legs Good conformation in the limbs leads to improved movement and decreased likelihood of injuries. Large differences in bone structure and size can be found in horses used for different activities, but correct conformation remains relatively simil ...

. A stable bandage can help prevent this. *As a base: stable bandages are used as a "base" for bandages higher up on the leg (such as a knee or hock bandage). This prevents the swelling of the injury higher up from traveling down the leg. *When bandaging in pairs: when a horse injures a leg, it often places more weight, and thus excess stress, on the uninjured leg. To prevent the uninjured leg from swelling, it should also be bandaged. So both front legs, both hind legs, or all four legs should be bandaged. *Traveling: stable bandages are often used when shipping a horse, instead of using shipping bandages (which are more time-consuming to apply), or shipping boots (which may not offer as much protection). When used for shipping, it is best to also use

bell boots Bell boots, or overreach boots, are a type of protective boot worn by a horse. They encircle the horse's ankle, and protect the back of the pastern and the heels of the animal. Uses of bell boots Bell boots are usually worn to prevent overreachi ...

on the front legs, as the heels and pasterns are not protected by a stable bandage.

Dangers of the stable bandage

An incorrectly applied stable bandage may do more harm than good. Therefore, it is important to learn from an experienced horse owner, and to practice bandaging before keeping bandages on for long periods of time. Considerations to be aware of when bandaging include: *Tightness of the wrapping: If the wrapping is not tight enough, the bandage may slip down and possibly trip the horse. If it is too tight, or uneven, it may cut off circulation to the lower leg or cause "cording" or bandage bows. *Padding above and below the wrap: if too much padding is left above or below the bandage material, it may catch on something, and dislodge the bandage or frighten the caught horse. *Ending the bandage: The closures of bandage materials may catch on each other, or on the bandage of the opposite leg, if the bandage closures end on the inside of the leg. This could dislodge or open the bandage. Therefore, bandages should always end on the outside of the horse's leg.

Using a bandage with a poultice or leg dressing

Bandages should typically be changed every 12 hours. When a

is used, it is best to clean the leg with soap and water after removal, before re-applying a clean bandage. Before a wound dressing is applied, the injury should be cleaned, and it should be cleaned again between bandage cycles. The wrapping of the padding and bandage should be in the direction that best supports the closure of the wound.

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should be used between the padding and the leg injury.

Uses of the stable bandage

Dangers of the stable bandage

Using a bandage with a poultice or leg dressing

See also