There is a plethora of commercially available protective shipping gear for equine legs– everything from a simple fabric-fastening wrap for the cannon bone area to a full-length leg cover that is molded to go over the hock or knee. The individual horse’s needs should be taken into account before choosing which type to use.
Commercial “pillow” or “quilted” wraps that are the appropriate length for the leg and provide thick padding are most commonly used for shipping. The material should extend from just below the knee or hock to over the coronary band by 1 inch. If bandaging material is to be used, the best choice is commercially available flannel that is 6 inches wide and 10 to 14 feet long. Make sure the bandage material is applied smoothly with overlapping layers and extends down to protect the coronary band.
Learn more about bandages.
- Wrap or Bandage a Hock
- Wrap or Bandage a Knee
- Wrap or Bandage the Forearm
- Wrap a leg below the knee or hock
- Standing Bandages
- Shipping Bandages
Craig Wood, University of Kentucky
