Sometimes Boots Can Be Better
Polos are handy, but they're a relatively lightweight solution and there are situations where boots would really be better:
• Wet/muddy conditions.
Tendon boots or support boots as the problem dictates. If the horse doesn't really have any problems and the polos are used only for light protection "just in case," choose a lightweight tendon boot. Buckles are more secure under these conditions.
• For turnout.
Boots are safer than polos for turnout, because if a boot comes off, chances are the horse can't get tangled in it.
• Work at speed with tight turns (e.g. reining, barrels) and horse hits himself hard.
Boots usually have reinforcement at main areas of contact.
• Horse runs down despite wearing polos.
Specially designed rundown boots may be a better option for these horses.
• Chronic tendon/ligament injury, horse performing at high speed or over uneven terrain, sharp turns or for long periods of time, the horse can benefit from added support.
Sport boots with strap under the fetlock for support.
Application
Improperly applied polo wraps can be a problem. If they're too loose, they'll slide down the leg. They can also come undone. Even when properly applied, if they become wet or heavily coated with mud, the weight can drive them down. If applied too tight, you risk constricting blood flow and causing a "bandage bow."
Basically, polo wraps for exercise are applied similarly to cotton or nylon wraps applied on top of stall cottons. Most people apply polos without any cotton underneath, but a thin layer of sheet cotton may also be used. The sheet cotton can actually complicate things because you have to be as careful of wrinkles in the underlying cotton as you do in the polos.
Polos must be applied tight enough to stay up but not tight enough to compromise blood supply. Always begin the wrap with the end against the cannon bone, not over the suspensory or the tendons, wrapping toward the outside when crossing the front of the leg. Keep some tension on the wrap during application but use less forceful pull on the wrap when crossing the tendons than you do when crossing the cannon bone. The key to safe and effective application is even pressure.
Start the wrap at about halfway down the cannon bone. The precise point will depend on the horse and the wrap you're using, so you'll have to experiment. You want the wrap to finish with a layer just under the knee. Wrap down toward the ankle, encircle the ankle, the work your way up to the knee. Overlap the previous layer by about half of its width.
Check to make sure the wrap is lying smoothly, with absolutely no wrinkles or gaps. It should be tight enough to rest right against the skin but not tight enough to indent the skin. After completing the wrap, a piece of tape can be used over the Velcro closure for added security.
Bottom Line
There's a tremendous difference between brands in the amount of support/compression the polo wrap supplies. Wraps made of nylon only aren't much different from stretchy stall wraps. Other materials improve the "hold" of the wrap. Watch for our upcoming reviews of standing bandages and polo wraps.
In order of strength of support, from least to most, it's Lycra, neoprene, rubber. Wraps billed as "brace bandages" rather than polos tend to provide more support and hold, but you'll have to check to be sure.
