Your Barn Needs A Supply Of Vetrap

Support for Working Legs
Nothing can take all the strain off a leg, but tendon/ankle wraps do provide some protection against overflexion or injuries caused by twisting, slipping and landing unevenly. When the horse has had a prior injury, support wraps are especially important and provide comfort to the horse just like a wrist or ankle brace does when we wear it.

A self-adherent wrap is lightweight and interferes the least with the horse's natural gaits and adding minimally, if at all, to his workload.

We found the most rigid support with PowerFlex. However, since it only stretches in one direction, care must be used to properly form a sling for the fetlock support. We found this wrap difficult to apply smoothly in this area.

The Equisport wrap seemed to have more strength and support than regular Vetrap and conforms extremely well to all areas. For horses that need less support, we think Co-Flex or Vetrap will do.

Feet, Hooves and Hoof Packs
When you need to poultice a foot or provide protection for an injury or pared-out abscess, these wraps are easy to apply and stay in place extremely well on feet. The only problem is longevity. We found PowerFlex lasts the longest, followed by the EquiSport.

Bottom Line
Price is not a big issue here. Vetrap and Co-Flex range from $1.30 to $2 per roll. Flexus Plus and Power Flex run 30¢ to 50¢ more per roll. We found EquiSport was the most expensive, from $2.50 to over $3 per roll.

Our first pick for a product to have in hand for multiple possible uses would be Vetrap. Although Co-Flex is close in its characteristics and strength, we found Vetrap applies more easily, making it less prone to wrinkles, and tears more easily when you need it to. For the best support for working horses, with enough flexibility to conform well at the ankle, we'll go with the Equisport bandage.

For maximum compression and heavy-duty jobs like hoof wraps and grips for stirrup irons, Power Flex is our first choice.