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 Veteran
Posts: 104
Location: Southern Michigan | I've always had some sort of Sports Medicine boot on when I ever ran my horses, and it was important to make sure their legs never got overheated. I loved how easy it was to get them on and off quickly. My current mare has smaller legs and I spent a lot of $$ to get her all small Ventech's and Ventech Elites. I haven't been able to work her in them much yet, but she seems to like them ok. At least a lot more than the old bulky SMB II I had.
I started working her in polos in the spring mud to save the expensive boots from getting ruined. Well she loves polos! She moves so much nicer in them, as they are less restrictive. My question is, are the polos going to be as protective? Or at least protective enough that it's safe to run them in?
I've also seen people put electrical tape around the top for added staying power. I have never had a problem with one very coming undone, but is this common?
I feel like polos keep out more dirt than the boots do, they cover more area of the leg, and my horse is happy. My concern is how to get them on in a decent amount of time without over heating the legs. And if my horses safety is at all jepordized using them instead of the Elites. I know Fallon runs Baby Flo w/out Bell boots because that's just how flo does best. So I'm thinking if polos are my horses preference, then I need to listen to what makes her comfortable.  |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
 
| I've seen polos come unwrapped, it's scary because the horse can trip and cause a big wreck! Make sure you always tape them. Polos don't offer much of anything besides color.
I've ditched my SMBs and polos, and went with Veredus boots. They've been working amazingly and have taken some big hits that I'm glad scarred my boots up and not my horse's leg. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
| I personally run in polos. I do tape the Velcro if the polos are a little older. I have not found a boot I've ever loved. Maybe the newer boots these days fit better, but I'm sticking to polos. I feel polos give a more consistent, conforming wrap and provide more stability. Boots I do think protect better if there was a blunt trauma to the leg, so from that aspect boots may be a little safer for that situation. Overall boots and polos are useless unless applied properly.People tend to have strong opinions on which they prefer, I think do what your horse is most comfortable in. :) |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| cn1705 - 2016-08-05 10:45 PM
I personally run in polos. I do tape the Velcro if the polos are a little older. I have not found a boot I've ever loved. Maybe the newer boots these days fit better, but I'm sticking to polos. I feel polos give a more consistent, conforming wrap and provide more stability. Boots I do think protect better if there was a blunt trauma to the leg, so from that aspect boots may be a little safer for that situation. Overall boots and polos are useless unless applied properly.People tend to have strong opinions on which they prefer, I think do what your horse is most comfortable in. :)
My response exactly. Only think I would add which may relate is my gelding isn't shaped quite right and polos allow a better fit for his confirmation. may be why your mare is more comfortable too. |
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 Three in a Bikini
Posts: 2035
| classicpotatochip - 2016-08-05 8:35 PM
Polos don't offer much of anything besides color.
This is not a correct statement at all...
Make sure you are applying the polo wraps correctly and they will offer adequate support and protection when running the barrels. |
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Veteran
Posts: 104
Location: Southern Michigan | Thank you everyone! I learned how to correctly apply polos in a intro to vet stuff class in college, and I am such a perfectionist. If I don't like it, I'll rewrap it. I'm glad to hear that it will offer support and some protection for being so thin compared to boots.
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| Always tape with polos! I watched a pickup horse do a flip because of a loose polo. |
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Veteran
Posts: 104
Location: Southern Michigan | What's the best kind of tape to use? |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| Queenie07 - 2016-08-06 7:41 AM
What's the best kind of tape to use?
I always bought mine at a racehorse supply company, I think it's the same as electrical tape. |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | IMHO boots or wraps (properly applied) all pretty much do a good job of protecting from outside concussion and not much else. I think it becomes a matter of ease of use and comfort for the horse. |
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10797
Location: Kansas | Marlene Eddleman always ran her wonderful horse Dutch Watch in polos. At the NFR her polos matched her shirt at all times and it was so pretty. She was a stickler about putting them on properly. I always used them on my barrel horse and used the different colors of tape. Boots are made of some breed of rubber and I've seen legs steaming hot when taken off. Polos conform to the leg and absorb moisture. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| We always ran with front boots with bells and back polos since no matter how well back boots were put on, they would not stay up on her legs correctly (different brands/sizes and everything and none worked). Polos go on right and stay on right for the whole ride. Do what is best for you and your horse. |
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | My honest opinion is that no boot reaaaalllllly helps all the ligaments and tendons like they claim. Shoot me lol.
I use them to help guard against concussion, and burns. I know most people will leave the back legs bare, and I think those need wrapping/boots the most. My horses have literally burnt through polos sliding around a barrel, I imagine enough turns with no boots would get pretty uncomfortable and make them not want to get down as much.
I do use something on all 4 legs when competing. I use boots and polos, and a combo sometimes.
Whether I use tape on my polos depends on the Velcro. Some brands (PC I'm looking at you) don't line up the Velcro very good. So even though the Velcro is like 8" long, it only sticks for like 3". That overhang is what's going to catch and pull loose.
I have some a girl made for me and her Velcro is wider, and matches up perfect. I just feel like tape isn't really needed for those.
Typically, as long as you boot/wrap right before you get on, and unwrap after your run, you shouldn't have to worry about overheating. It's when they're just standing still that the heat really builds up. If you're riding, you have plenty of blood flow going to the leg. |
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Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| http://www.thehorse.com/articles/20331/boots-and-bandages-to-suppor...
http://horse-journal.com/article/should-i-use-polo-wraps-6066
http://www.proequinegrooms.com/index.php/tips/equipment-and-tack/th...
I found you some articles! There's some really good pictures for technique and info from veterinarians regarding the heat etc.
My mare cuts herself through polos since she brushes so badly in the back, so I think it depends on the horse. If I personally was going to get stepped on by a horse, I'd want more than a few layers of flannel between me and the shoe, and that's no lie. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | If the Polos are wrapped correctly they are good support for the ligarments and tendons, but you have to know how to wrap them correctly. If not done right then they are useless. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | You might check out the Saratoga bandages. They're much more breathable than either polos or neoprene boots and waterproof. So, you should be able to leave them on a little longer, due to the time involved with wrapping, and not have to worry about heating up the legs much. When I used them, it was in the mud and there wasn't much dirt under them at all when I took them off. To me, they feel just as sturdy as the smb's, as far as impact protection. I normally use smb's. I save the Saratoga wraps for really muddy situations. |
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 Member
Posts: 36
Location: BRITISH COLUMBIA CANADA | I use a combination of polos on the front and PC elite boots on the rear or polos all around. ALWAYS polos on the front. My barrel horse is a bit of a special case. His front left pastern is surgically fused. So he has a plate and screws runnning up the front of his pastern. It's just simply my own thought, that an elastic boot on his fronts would create too much uncomfortable pressure sitting across that plate. So we polo to keep him as comfy as possible. I do however plan to try the new dynamic edge boots on his fronts. From the pictures it appears they go high enough in the front to lay above where the top of his plate ends. Booting up is a personal decision and everyone has their own methods for different reasons. Just go with what your horse is telling you she likes.  |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | I ran in nothing but polos on all 4 legs. Race horses get polos to gallop in our barn. Secure with electrical tape or bandage pins. |
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 Ms. Elvis
Posts: 9606
Location: Running barrels or watching nascar | I run in them when I want some color. I mostly use them on the back legs on one of my horses because she kicks if you put boots on her. I still want protection because she uses her butt. I use electric tape but when I can't find that, I use a thin strip of duct tape. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378
Location: Saskatchewan | I worked at the track, so I can throw on a good polo faster than I can velcro on a boot!
You just have to make sure they are done right, use electrical tape around the top on the velcro, and you've got just as much protection as a boot will offer, and a better fit for all of your horses! It's like a custom fit boot each time, I think they find them more comfortable than boots.
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