Basic Equi-Taping™ Tips

Preparing Your Horse for a Longer Lasting Equi-Tape© Application:

To ensure the best chance of tape sticking; please note the following;

1. Use a shammy or microfibre cloth on the coat before application. Be sure to rub both with and against lie of the hair to ensure the coat is free of debris. A slightly damp cloth may be used but make sure the coat is completely dry before applying the tape. Any dirt, lotion, spray or grooming product will adversely affect the adhesiveness of the tape.
2. You can also prep the surface with a light alcohol rub or use some baby powder to absorb oils in the coat. Make sure you brush and shammy to remove the loose powder.
3. Technique is critical to a successful application. Because you will be applying the tape over a coat of hair, here are a few tips you can use to encourage a good adhesive:
   • When applying the tape in the direction of the lie of the hair, without adding stretch, remove all slack from the primary (first) end, then, while holding the end down, apply the remainder of the tape by sliding your hand along the tape while pressing it into place. Be sure you lay down the secondary end with absolutely no stretch- you can even “back up” the very tip of the secondary end so that it lays flat and does not pull up on the hair.
   • When the chosen application calls for applying the tape in a direction opposite the lie of the hair, lay down the primary end with absolutely no stretch so that it lays flat and does not pull up on the hair (again, you can “back up” the very tip). Then, while pressing firmly on the primary end to keep it from lifting, stretch the remainder of the tape the appropriate amount and lay it down. As you apply the secondary end with no tension, remove all slack so the tape will “pull” along the lie of the hair to help keep it from lifting.
   • Over stretching the tape interferes with the adhesiveness of an application.
   • Over stretching a muscle before an application will interfere with the adhesiveness of an application.
   • If you find the tape difficult to stick to the horse’s coat, try applying an anchor first, as tape will always stick to itself. Anchors are strips of tape used to keep tape from lifting and can be used before or after applications. Anchors can be placed around ankles, legs, etc. Equi-Taping™ Method includes the use of these anchors for difficult taping applications.

***Note: Remove all slack from the tape end which is applied along lie of the hair, and press to “back up” the tip from the tape end which is applied opposite the lie of the hair.