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How to Wrap; I need help...
Topic Started: Jun 14 2010, 07:24 AM (458 Views)
Twiceshy
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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So large red horse has decided to expand my knowledge of horses by developing a small/mild lower supsensory tear. The vet has directed that he be iced, sweated and wrapped. Got it.

Except I don't. :duh:

DD (who has extensive experience with this) has shown me at least three times. Trainer has shown me twice. I am a visual learner - see one, do one, teach one; they've been patient with me doing the wrapping while they stand over my shoulder and supervise.

I went this morning for my first unsupervised wrap (both DD and Trainer unavailable). I think I wrapped and re-wrapped 5 times before I finally broke out in tears of frustration. I am convinced I am going to damage my buddy further because I'm just too thick in the head to get it. He's wrapped but I've left messages for four people to please go check on him because I'm paranoid. I'm thinking of re-scheduling my 3:00 meeting so I can drive 45 minutes to go check on him. :oops:

Do you have any tricks to help me remember? Any words of wisdom for me? Or should I just accept the fact that I have no business being around a horse's legs? :point: Or should I just chill?
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SnackPack
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I feel your pain. When I was younger, I never learned to wrap anything. Not bandages, not standing wraps, not even polos. I didn't ever ride anything that needed to be wrapped so there was no opportunity to learn.

Then I bought Show....and had to learn to wrap, but only when absolutely necessary as he pulls on anything I put on his legs. :censored: I've had Show for 7 years and I still like having a second opinion on wraps and am never super comfortable doing them. Starting in the beginning of April, Elf has had to be wrapped everyday (He is now wearing combo wraps that dont' provide support, but do cover his healing sores). I did bandage bow him once, but it was minor and was better within a day or two.

Here's my tips and tricks (other than Two most important rules: even tension and pull across the front):

Never use brand new pillows. They are too puffy and will slip. Washing them first is key to a good wrap.

You don't want super stretchy standing wraps, the stretch will get you into trouble. A good wrap is about even tension and with really stretchy wraps it is much harder to stay even.

We've all spent a lot of time learning to wrap going back along the outside of the leg (outside - in), but there really is no difference. If you wrap better inside out, it's fine. Just keep even tension and don't pull across the tendon. We all wrap one leg better than the other...sometimes doing the bad leg the "wrong" direction is enough to get a better wrap on it.

The shorter the pillow, the easier the wrap. Use the appropriate size for the job. A 12" is just right for most wraps in front. I had to use 16" on Elf and it was a pain. It's more like an old skool shipping bandage and is a lot harder to get on right.

Overlap your standing by 2/3 or so...and less and you will get gaps as you go around the leg because the angle will be too sharp.

Practice makes perfect...or at least better.

If you don't like how the wrap looks, start over. It's better to start over than hurt your horse.

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Twiceshy
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Thanks Snacky. I'm incredibly frustrated (at myself) that I can't seem to get it. :brickwall: I must have switched hands (inside? outside? ) visualizing where the 'tail' on the standing wrap was going to end up... I'm sure you get the picture. Gino (large red horse) is a freaking saint. He kept looking down at me as if to say 'no, you were right the first time - outside in'. :cloud9: Thank God he's patient - he could have taken me out a number of times as I stumbled my way through it this morning. Oy.

Like you I never had to bandage/wrap anything. They say baptism by fire is a great way to learn, but the stakes just seem way too high, frankly. We did end up with a minor bandage bow the first day (on the non-injured leg - doh!), but like yours it resolved in a day or so with no apparent ill effect. I have to stop relying on others to do it for me and get over it.

I'm on wrap duty again Tuesday morning - hopefully it will go better... sigh.
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SnackPack
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When rolling your standing wrap, always roll over/towards the velcro so that it's on the inside. I'll get it wrong still sometimes, but mostly because I'm moving to fast.

Also the quality of the wrap can be effected by how well you rolled the standing. You want a nice, tight, even roll for best results.

I personally like the Triple Crown pillows the best out of what I've tried. No-bows are easy, but too thin, IMO...and aren't really no-bows (ask Show about that one. If they pull on them, they will get a twisty bow). Equine Textiles are TOO thick. OMG, can't use them at all. I bought some in a pinch and I'm thinking of giving them to the cat for a little bed or something.
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onwego
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I recommend flannel wraps over the regular standing ones. They are good because they aren't stretchy at all. Also very traditional looking ;) ;)


Other than that, it's practice, practice, practice
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Kikki
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If you aren't VERY sure of your wrapping skill, flannels are the way to go. You are much less likely to harm them that way. And I agree, practice practice practice. It just takes time to learn - and the best part is that you are SUPER concerned about it so you will do a good job. Too many people take putting wraps on too casually - not good!
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Twiceshy
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Kiki, that's kind of what I'm hoping - that my paranoia will somehow translate into better horsemanship :luck:

DD was kind enough to go to the farm for me mid-day yesterday to check on my wrapping and assuaging my fears. I passed HER test, and later I passed the trainer's scrutiny. :cheer: :cheer: I admit I was having nightmare scenarios at work, Gino stumbling around the invalid paddock with no feeling in his legs.

This morning I managed to get both legs done in only 2 tries each, so I guess there's hope.

Thank you all - I am grateful for your advice! :rose: :rose:
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Indy
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I agree with the recommendations for using flannels instead of stretchier standing bandages. Plus I like the way they look better.
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TarynJ
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Practice Practice Practice...

I have some no bows that I bought up here at Greenhawk. SUPER easy to work with. I use a standard non-stretchy standing wrap... don't think I've seen flannel wraps since I was a kid! Knit track bandages work as well.
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