How to Wrap Polos on a Horse

Polo wraps are used to protect horses' legs. Polo wraps are used during exercise or competition to keep a horse's lower legs limber and warm. Polo wraps support the tendons and ligaments of the leg, which helps prevent injury. Polo wraps also can be used to support and cover a minor leg wound. Polo wraps are useful during shipping, longeing or other situation necessitating a lower level of leg protection. Their name aside, most polo riders do not use polo wraps; they use boots, which offer a higher degree of protection. Polo wraps should be applied in a specific way to provide maximum support and comfort.

Things You'll Need

  • 4 fleece polo wraps
  • Gauze bandages (only if covering a wound)
  • Medical tape (only if covering a wound)
  • Cotton leg wrap (only if covering a wound)
  • Scissors
  • Duct tape or elastic tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Groom your horse's legs well; they should be clean and dry. Dirt or debris wrapped under a polo wrap can cause unsightly rubbing or injury.

    • 2

      Dress your horse's wound if you are using the polo wrap to cover a minor injury. Clean the wound, and place any medication you are using onto a gauze bandage. Cover the wound with the bandage, medical tape and a cotton leg wrap. The polo wrap will cover the bandages to help keep the wound clean and dry.

    • 3

      Roll the clean polo wraps so that the Velcro strip is on the inside, in the middle of the roll, before you use it. This way, when you wind the polo wrap around the horse's leg, the Velcro strip will be on the outside, allowing the wrap to be secured.

    • 4

      Squat beside the horse's leg. If you are wrapping a front leg, place the end of the polo wrap near the inside top of the horse's cannon bone, slightly below the knee. If you are wrapping a hind leg, place the end of the polo wrap slightly below the horse's hock.

    • 5

      Roll the polo wrap around the horse's leg, pulling the wrap snugly around the leg. Make one revolution with the polo wrap, securing the end of the wrap under the next layer of the polo wrap. This keeps the end of the polo wrap from unwinding.

    • 6

      Roll the wrap down the rest of the horse's leg; use firm pressure, but do not wrap too tightly. With each revolution, overlap the polo wrap slightly with the layer beneath it. Continue wrapping until you reach the horse's fetlock.

    • 7

      Wrap the polo wrap underneath the fetlock and begin wrapping up the leg toward the knee or hock. The wrap should end just below the knee or hock near where you started. If there is a lot of extra wrap, make sure that you have not wrapped too tightly. If the wrap is not too tight, you will need to take the polo wrap off and trim a few inches from the end using scissors.

    • 8

      Secure the wrap using the Velcro strip. To provide extra protection, secure the end with a piece of duct tape or elastic tape.

    • 9

      Change polo wraps when they become dirty or wet. Wet and dirty polo wraps will not effectively protect a competing horse, and can encourage infection in an injured horse.