Polo Wraps: Why You Don’t Need Them

Often times we see riders working horses in some sort of leg wrap or boot. Some things we should all ask ourselves before putting a piece of equipment on our horse: is it necessary, could it be harmful, is it applied correctly, and does it fit?

When it comes to polo wraps, I’ll always say it’s best to skip. Why?

Polo wraps have been found to actually cause more harm than good. They don’t provide any support (no boots truly do), can cause damage if wrapped incorrectly (they often are), heat tendons to a damaging temperature, and reduce extension of the joints. When in work, horses are already extending tendons to just below the tissue damage threshold. This means that the tendons are already susceptible to damage and injury. If we add heat from the wraps into the mix, we tip the tendons over that threshold easily, and cause damage.

*It is important to note that tendons and ligaments do not return to pre-injury health. They become restricted by scar tissue. This is why reinjury of tendons and ligaments is so common with horses.*

Another factor in polo wraps is the ability to apply them correctly. While many of us may think we’ve done a good wrap job, you won’t know otherwise until it’s too late and you’ve caused damage. Incorrectly wrapped polos can apply too much or uneven pressure along the tendon causing bowed tendons. Polo wraps also affect range of motion by restricting the fetlock joint. Added pressure to the fetlock - even at “appropriate” levels through competent wrapping - reduces the extension achieved by the fetlock joint. This means that the range of motion of the limb is being restricted by the wraps. When this happens, movement is affected, tendons are affected, and you are again increasing risk of lower limb injury. We have seen some great marketing over the years, and been taught by many trainers that polos or boots are “providing support” to the horse’s legs. However, no boots or wraps have been proven to provide any sort of support to the limbs in terms of adding stability. In fact, the opposite has been shown many times - that your horse is more susceptible to injury when using boots and wraps during exercise.

What is leg “protection” actually good for during exercise? Protecting your horse from interference or rubbing themselves on jumps. When it comes to these situations, it’s important to consider your horse. If they’re knocking rails constantly, are boots the solution, or is reevaluating their ability the solution? If your horse is constantly interfering and knocking themselves with their own legs? Evaluation and work with their wellness team may help.

Finally, while I recommend using polos for something else rather than wrapping your horse’s legs (who can afford to just toss things out in this economy) if you DO need to use boots on your horse, what can you do to help prevent damage to the legs?

Choose boots that are most breathable. Climate, workload, and their job are all factors here. Be sure to learn about the materials and design of the boots before purchasing - LOOK PAST all the cool marketing. Help the legs recover properly after exercise. While many skip out on post-ride leg care, you simply can’t when you’re using boots on your horse. Their tendons need help recovering to a baseline temperature after work, even in the most breathable boots. Continuous hosing with cool water is the simplest and safest way to cool the tendons back down after work in boots.

The main takeaway here: polo wraps are dangerous and more trouble than they’re worth, and if your horse TRULY needs to wear boots for protection, do your due diligence and research best materials and design, AND employ proper post-exercise leg care.