Bits often cause pain to the horse, especially if used by rough hands. Bits that are incorrectly fitted or the wrong size for the horse can also cause discomfort and pain. Is a curb bit harsh? While a lot depends on the rider and how the horse bit is being Read more…
A common mistake is to pull the bandage tighter over the area where the injury is to “give it that little bit more help,” however, this uneven pressure can also cause a bow. Remember we want firm, even, pressure with no lumps, bumps or creases. How tight should vet wrap? Read more…
Steps for Wrapping Horse Bandages Remove dirt, debris, soap residue or moisture to prevent skin irritation and dermatitis. Start with clean, dry legs and bandages. (Avoid wrapping wet legs.) Can you bandage wet legs on horses? If bandaging, it’s important to put pads underneath to prevent over tightening, make sure Read more…
Carefully applied bandages are often beneficial for wounds at or below the knees or hocks. Leave shallow wounds unbandaged; keep “full-thickness” wounds covered. Once they’re thoroughly cleaned, superficial scrapes and abrasions are left open to the air, as they form strong scabs almost immediately. Should I wrap a horse leg Read more…
The standard guidance in the absence of radiographs is to use the live sole plane in the heel triangle as a guide, and trim the heels to about 1/8″ inch above the sole plane. What should a barefoot horse hoof look like? Strong, thick hoof walls – with the inner Read more…
Most horses experience some degree of back pain either from a saddle that doesn’t fit perfectly, a rider who isn’t completely balanced or just sore muscles from exercise. This back pain reduction taping strategy is a very easy way to decrease your horse’s pain and support the muscles along his Read more…
It’s unusual for a healthy horse to rest his forelimb. If your horse is doing this, it could point to pain in the leg or hoof. ‘A horse that bends a foreleg at the knee and rests on his toe could be feeling discomfort in the soft tissue structures, such Read more…
Conclusion. More often than not when a horse stands resting a back leg, this shows a relaxed or tired stance which is quite normal and you don’t have anything to worry about. Why does my horse rest its back leg? The most common reason for a horse resting a hind Read more…
Leg wraps or boots are used for the protection of the lower legs of horses during training, shipping, and exercise, as well as for therapeutic and medical purposes to provide support or cover for injuries. Variations include: Bell boots. Polo wraps, sometimes called track bandages when used in horse racing. Read more…
Try to trot the horse on a circle. Does the horse look more off or about the same? If trotting makes the horse much worse or causes significant head-bobbing then he is lame. If the horse looks about the same, I generally recommend working the horse lightly from the ground. Read more…