A stable bandage, or wrap, is used on a horse's lower legs to protect the cannon bone, tendons, and fetlock joint. It runs from below the knee/hock to the bottom of the fetlock. Polo wraps are made of fleece and provide protection during riding, longeing, and turnout. They conform to the leg but require careful application. Shipping boots protect a horse's lower legs during travel and often provide more protection than polo wraps or bandages. Tail wraps are used for shows, foaling, and shipping but must be applied precisely to avoid cutting off circulation.

1.
Theory Lesson: Bandaging
May 2010

2. Stable Wraps
A stable bandage, or standing
bandage/wrap, is a type of wrap used on the
lower legs of a horse. A stable bandage runs
from just below the knee or hock, to the
bottom of the fetlock joint, and protects the
cannon bone, tendons of the lower leg, and
fetlock joint.
Uses of the stable bandage
• Protection: the stable bandage
offers some protection against minor cuts and bruises in the stall.
• Warmth: stable bandages are occasionally used to keep the lower legs of the horse warm, or to
help dry legs that may be wet or muddy.
• Securing a poultice/dressing: stable bandages are often used to hold a poultice on the lower
legs, or to hold on a wound dressing on an injury.
• To keep an injury clean: if a horse cuts his lower leg, a stable bandage can help keep the area
from being contaminated by stall bedding or dirt. However, it may slow the healing process.
• Reduce or prevent "filling": after hard work, or if a horse is kept in a stall for long periods of
time, the lower legs of the animal may "fill" or "stock up", causing filled legs (fluid builds up and
swells the leg). A stable bandage can help prevent this.
• As a base: stable bandages are used as a "base" for bandages higher up on the leg (such as a
knee or hock bandage). This prevents the swelling of the injury higher up from traveling down
the leg.
• When bandaging in pairs: when a horse injures a leg, it often places more weight, and thus
excess stress, on the uninjured leg. To prevent the uninjured leg from swelling, it should also be
bandaged. So both front legs, both hind legs, or all four legs should be bandaged.
• Traveling: stable bandages are often used when shipping a horse, instead of using shipping
bandages (which are more time‐consuming to apply), or shipping boots (which may not offer as
much protection). When used for shipping, it is best to also use bell boots on the front legs, as
the heels and pasterns are not protected by a stable bandage.
Dangers of the stable bandage

3. An incorrectly applied stable bandage may do more harm then good. Therefore, it is important to learn
from an experienced horseman, and to practice bandaging before keeping bandages on for long periods
of time. Considerations to be aware of when bandaging include:
• Tightness of the wrapping: If the wrapping is not tight enough, the bandage may slip down and
possibly trip the horse. If it is too tight, or uneven, it may cut off circulation to the lower leg or
cause "cording" or bandage bows.
• Padding above and below the wrap: if too much padding is left above or below the bandage
material, it may catch on something, and dislodge the bandage or frighten the caught horse.
• Ending the bandage: The closures of bandage materials may catch on each other, or on the
bandage of the opposite leg, if the bandage closures end on the inside of the leg. This could
dislodge or open the bandage. Therefore, bandages should always end on the outside of the
horse's leg.

4. Polo Wraps
Polo wraps are bandage materials, usually made of
fleece, for a horse's legs. They can be quite stretchy
compared to other bandaging materials, and are used
mainly for protection during ridden work, longeing,
and turnout.
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:
• 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.
Applying polo wraps
There are several different ways to apply a polo wrap. The methods differ primarily in the location the
wrapping is begun. Some people begin at the top of the leg and wrap down and then back up; others
begin at the middle of the leg and wrap first one half and then the other. Wrapping styles also differ in
whether the wrap extends, sling‐like, beneath the fetlock joint. While the amount of support the sling
affords the tendons and ligaments is debatable, it does provide a limited amount of protection to the
joint from scrapes, bruises, and accidental overstep with the hind legs ("overreaching").
No matter how the wrap is applied, the tension in the wrap should be as uniform as possible across the
entire leg. Uneven pressure may cause damage to tendons. Additionally, the pressure on one leg should
be comparable to the pressure on leg on the other side; otherwise gait abnormalities may result.

5. Conventional wisdom holds that because no two people wrap with exactly the same tension, the same
person should wrap the right and left legs.
Advantages of polo wraps
A horse wearing polo wraps on the front legs while being turned out for exercise.
Polos can be used for a horse who cannot wear boots (for example, a horse may be sensitive to
neoprene, or have minor cuts on his leg that would be rubbed if a boot were worn). Polo wraps are
often chosen for a horse whose legs are blemished with significant scar tissue that would prevent a boot
from fitting properly. Unlike boots, polos conform perfectly to any leg, and may also be used on horses
and ponies of any size, depending on the length. Many riders prefer polos due to the 'cleaner' look they
provide. Lastly, polos usually cover a greater area of the leg than boots, and if the groom is experienced,
may be customized to provide slightly more protection in one area of the leg.
Disadvantages of polo wraps
Perhaps the most notable disadvantage of polo wraps is their close proximity to the horse's tendons and
ligaments; incorrect application (uneven distribution of tension, too tight, etc.) can damage the tendons.
Polo wraps only stay on the leg as well as they are put on; if wrapped too loosely or the velcro is weak,
you may be creating a potentially dangerous situation.
Polos are not suitable for use in potentially wet conditions (such as cross‐country riding or riding
through puddles), as they absorb water and become very heavy and sag. Also, polos are more time‐
consuming to apply than boots and need to be washed frequently to remove irritants like dried sweat or
sand. Polos can also be pulled down and tighten around the tendons if a horse were to step on himself
while wearing them.
Shipping Boots

6.
A shipping bandage, shipping boot, or shipping wrap, is a type of stable bandage or boot used on the
lower legs of a horse to protect the animal while travelling in a horse trailer or other conveyance. The
bandage starts just below the knee or hock, and ends at the floor, protecting the cannon bone, tendons
of the lower leg, fetlock, pastern, coronet, and heels of the horse. Some boot designs extend slightly
above the knee and hock, offering protection to the joints in the event the horse bumps its upper legs
on the sides of the trailer.
With the modern development of synthetic shipping boots made with hook‐and‐loop fasteners, most
people choose this option as they are quicker to apply. A poorly applied shipping bandage is also more
likely to fall off than a shipping boot. However, if correctly applied with good tension, safety pins, and
masking tape, a shipping bandage will stay well in place.
Many horsemen believe that shipping bandages are superior to shipping boots, thinking they usually
offer more protection than an ordinary shipping boot and tend to keep the circulation flowing in the
lower leg. However, they can be detrimental if the person applying the bandage does not know how to
do so properly, and may even injure the horse. As a general rule, shipping boots are faster and safer to
use, but for long journeys, properly applied shipping bandages provide superior support.
Tail Wrap

7. Tail wraps are used in preparation for a show, if the
horse is going to give birth, shipping and other
reasons.
A tail wrap must be done precisely and never left over
night as it could cut off circulation to the tail.