Polo Wraps

Most of my posts are usually interesting and exciting, but this week it is about polo wraps. Simple, boring polo wraps, but my aim of today is to introduce each and every one of you to the magic of polo wraps. What they are, how they work, and why are they better or worse than jumping boots. I'm hoping this will be pretty informative, but never fear, I won't forget to include my personal opinion.

Polo wraps are long, thin strips of polarfleece with velcro at one end. When you buy them, they come rolled up and in a fancy bag. When you use them, they become tangled and frustrating, but what are they for? There is a big debate about whether polo wraps provide sufficient support to the horses' leg or not. The main reason people don't think they provide enough support is because the fabric they are made from is thin, flimsy and stretchy. One thing most people do agree polo wraps are good for though is protecting the legs from arena sand, dust, nicks or cuts and the fetlock hitting the ground while galloping. Oh, and we can't forget the fashion statements!

(These are two sets of polo wraps that I made for the business I mentioned in a previous post.)

Polo wraps work like bandages. They are wrapped around the horse's leg and the velcroed closed. There are many different ways to put them on, and everyone has their own preference but one thing absolutely everyone will hopefully agree on it that there should not be any lumps, bumps or creases in the polo wraps as they will put pressure points on the horse's leg and could potentially ruin the tendons and ligaments.

Time to compare polo wraps to jumping boots. If a horse has a cut on their leg, jumping boots could potentially rub the cut and make it worse whereas polo wraps will keep it protected and cushioned. Jumping boots don't provide protection to the bottom of the fetlocks if they hit the ground while the horse is galloping, but polo wraps possibly don't provide adequate protection for some people's needs. Another useful thing about polo wraps is they will mold to any horse's leg, despite any swelling or scars on their legs unlike jumping boots, which just wouldn't fit. There are pros and cons to both jumping boots and polo wraps, but at the end of the day, people just need to choose the product that meets their requirements.

My personal opinion on polo wraps is that they are very funky and can make some very awesome fashion statements, but they are time consuming to put on and they are definitely not for beginners! I think if you ever wanted to try them out, then definitely buy a cheap pair or borrow a pair but keep in mind, there are some risks to using them so boots may be the way to go.

Polo wraps are polarfleece bandages that protect and theoretically support your horse's leg. They come in cool colours and patterns, but they are to be used with caution, and certainly not for beginners. Polo wraps can just as easily damage your horse's leg as they can protect them, but don't let this deter you! Jumping boots may sometimes be more suitable than polo wraps so it just depends on your personal preference and what you are planning on doing with your horse. Good luck and happy riding!

Until next time,
-KaimanawaKim