Galop 7Caring for the horse
Contents
- 01WelcomeOverview
- 02Limb conformationKnowledge
- 03Identification, the passportKnowledge
- 04Travelling horsesKnowledge
- 05RationingKnowledge
- 06Feed labelsKnowledge
- 07Lunging training aidsOn foot
- 08Long-reining, flexionOn foot
- 09Polo bandagesCaring for the horse
- 10The double bridleCaring for the horse
- 11Shoulder-inKnowledge
- 12StraightnessKnowledge
- 13FlatworkIn the saddle
- 14Dressage optionIn the saddle
- 15Show-jumping optionIn the saddle
- 16Cross-country optionIn the saddle
- 17RevisionRevision
Putting on polo bandages
Soft and warm, polo bandages protect the legs from small knocks during flatwork. Put on well, they go unnoticed; put on badly, they do harm.
In the exam programme
- Put on polo wraps.Common module A
A polo bandage is a fleece bandage, shorter and thinner than a stable bandage, fastened with Velcro. It goes directly on the leg, with no padding underneath, from below the knee (or hock) down to the fetlock. It protects the cannon and fetlock from knocks and brushing, and gives the tendons a little support.
Galop 5
Stable bandage
In the stable, over thick padding, from below the knee down to the coronet: it supports the legs at rest.
For work
Exercise bandage
Thin and elasticated, put on over padding to support the tendons during work: getting it right takes experience.
Galop 7
Polo bandage
Fleece, with no padding, for flatwork: protection that is easy to put on, and a little support.
Start under the knee
The end of the bandage on the outside of the cannon, slightly slanted; the first turn locks it.
Work down, then round the fetlock
From front to back round the outside, each turn overlapping the last; under the fetlock, a V at the front.
Work back up and close
Spiral back up under the knee; the Velcro closes on the outside, never on the tendon or the bone.
Step by step
- PrepareA clean, dry leg, free of sand and mud; a clean bandage, free of hair, rolled tightly with the Velcro folded inside the roll.
- Take your placeThe horse tied up or held; you crouch beside the leg, never kneeling or sitting on the ground, ready to move away.
- Start below the kneeLay the end of the bandage on the outside of the cannon, just below the knee or hock, at a slight angle, and make a first turn that traps the folded-down corner.
- Work downWrap from front to back, round the outside — clockwise on the right legs, anticlockwise on the left legs, seen from above. Each turn goes down a few centimetres and overlaps the one before generously, with even tension.
- Wrap the fetlockPass under the back of the fetlock and come up again to form a V at the front: two thirds of the fetlock are covered, the ergot stays free.
- Work up and fastenSpiral back up to just below the knee and fasten the Velcro on the outside of the leg — never on the tendon, never on the front of the cannon bone. The end of the bandage is no tighter than the rest.
- CheckNo wrinkles, even tension: you should be able to slide a finger under the bandage. A bandage that starts badly is started again; it cannot be rescued.
Safety
A bandage that is too tight, or that wrinkles, creates a pressure point that can damage the tendon: a bandage bow. Too loose, it slips and can trip the horse up. When in doubt, take it off and start again.
Common mistake
Polos soak up water and hold sand: not on sodden ground, not across country, not for jumping outdoors. Boots are safer then.
To take a bandage off, undo the Velcro and unwind it by passing it from hand to hand, without pulling; take the chance to run your hand down the tendons and feel for any heat. Brush the bandages, wash them often, and store them rolled tightly, Velcro folded inside, ready for next time.