How to Apply Polo Wraps

How to Apply Polo Wraps Polo wraps can be used for many tasks and disciplines: they protect against minor scrapes and bruises and help prevent irritation from sand or arena footing. Usually, polos are used without any padding underneath. Some common activities polo wraps are used in include:

• Polo wraps warm the poorly insulated muscles, tendons, and ligaments of your performance horse's lower leg. Once these structures are warmed up, they become limber, and better able to relax and stretch without injury during workouts.
• Riding. Polos may also be used while riding, most commonly on dressage horses or while schooling show hunters or show jumpers. The jumpers and equitation divisions permit the use of polos in competition, however, most riders opt for boots, as they provide better protection.
• Longeing. Polos are also commonly used during longeing.
• Turnout. Some people turn their horses out in polos, although they must take care that the horse is not turned out in a wet pasture and that the polos are well secured.
• Shipping. Horses are sometimes shipped in polos for protection. However, shipping bandages or shipping boots provide much better protection, and are therefore preferable.

You Will Need

• 4 Polo Wraps

Step 1 Properly roll the bandages Before beginning to apply the bandage, you must first ensure that it is correctly rolled. Begin by rolling the bandage onto the tapes or Velcro fastening, so that they are inside the roll. Then continue to roll it up firmly and straight. Step 2 Make sure Leg is Clean Check that the leg is very clean, make sure that there is nothing that will cause friction or sores, before applying the bandage. Step 3 Start in the Top for Front Legs and the Middle of the Cannon Bone for Back Legs and Spiral down and up again Start at the middle of your horse's cannon bone (shin), and spiral downward, overlapping each round by 50 percent, until you've covered his fetlock joint (ankle) and hooked the ergot (bony growth) at the back. You should always wrap from the outside in. Pay attention to every full wrap, smoothing the material as you go. If a wrinkle appears, eliminate it before you continue. CAUTION: Be very careful to always apply even, constant, pressure, when rolling. If the tension is too tight, it will damage the tendons. NOTE: On the left legs wraps should be applied counter clockwise and on the right legs wraps should be applied clockwise. Step 4. Spiral up one you have reached the fetlock joint Now wrap upward to the top of your horse's cannon bone, just below where his leg begins to widen at his carpus (knee) in his forelegs; hock in his hind legs. NEVER cover the horses knee with the bandage. Step 5. Secure the wrap. Secure the wrap with the Velcro ends. If you are going to leave the wrap on for extended periods of time you should tape the wrap with an eight-inch spiral of duct or adhesive tape. (The self-hook-and-loop fastener won't securely hold the wrap.) Step 6. Repeat on your horse's other three legs.