Chapter 2 - Wrapping Legs and Braiding Tails

Once you arrive at the field, your work becomes non-stop. (For those of you familiar with computer lingo, Multi-tasking is a good trait to possess.)

Wrapping the legs

This is one of the most important parts of the grooming process. So important that many players prefer to do it themselves. If you're not so lucky to have a boss like this, you're going to have to learn. The reason it's so important is because the legs are very delicate. They have many critical tendons that need to be protected and supported as they run hard, stop fast, and turn in all directions on the field. If you wrap a leg too loose, you will do the horse no good, because the wrap will not support the tendons and could actually prove dangerous if it came loose on the field. The game stops immediately if a pony's well being is in danger. If the wrap is too tight, the tendons will be under too much pressure and can actually cause a bowed tendon. If a bowed tendon occurs, it can take up to a year to heal.

With that said, don't be afraid to try wrapping. However, make sure your boss is teaching you and observing your work until he thinks you've got it.

There are the traditional style of leg wraps that are made of a heavy felt and are secured with a Velcro strip. Then there are the newer style of leg wraps that do not require rolling around the leg like the traditional ones, but rather come as a complete unit that entirely wraps around the leg. (Illustration) The new ones provide a lot of support, they're easier to put on, easier to clean, but they cost a lot. Some players will buy maybe one set if they have a pony who needs extra support and wrap their other ponies in the traditional style.

Sometimes during a tournament weekend you'll have to re-roll dirty leg wraps to finish the match on Sunday. After playing, the wraps will be wet, so hang them up to air dry through the night before re- rolling.

To roll the wraps, begin at the Velcro end and make sure you match up Velcro to Velcro to start your roll. Roll them as tight as you can because it makes it much easier to wrap the leg with a tight roll as opposed to a loose one. When rolled, tuck the end into the roll so as to keep it from coming undone. See illustrations:

Velcro to Velcro:

Tight vs. Loose

Tucking in the end:

To become good at wrapping the legs, you'll have to practice. Again, have your boss observe your work and help you until you become proficient.

Wrapping the Front Legs:

Always wrap in an inward direction so as to help support the tendons. Illustrations:

Pull a flap, approximately 7-8", and lay it down the back of the tendons for extra protection.

Illustrations:

Continue wrapping inward and downward covering the fetlock then start wrapping back up the leg until you reach the Velcro strip. If done properly, you should have the Velcro strip secure back up at the top of the leg. Illustrations:

Finished Wrap.

You'll feel like you're all thumbs at first. You'll drop the wrap and it will start unrolling on the ground. The horse will lift the leg that's being wrapped to get a fly and you'll drop the wrap again. Don't get frustrated, just keep trying.

Wrapping the back legs:

Same procedure to use as front, its just that the cannon bone is longer on the back legs and you'll have to adjust accordingly or you'll end up with the Velcro securing strip at the bottom.

For added security, your boss may have special strips that are used on top of the already secured leg wrap just to make sure the Velcro stays put. If these are not available, I've used black electrical tape and wrap once or twice around the Velcro strip just to make sure it doesn't give way.

Illustration:

Wrapping the back legs.	Tail Knot
	Bell Boots

Bell Boots

Bell boots are protective coverings for the hooves and particularly the areas around the hooves such as the pasterns and coronary bands. On the field, players can get into some tight plays where another player's horse can actually step or clip another pony causing damage. These boots are easy to put on and guess how they are secured - you got it - Velcro!

If your boss has bell-boots for each pony, you may as well put them on now. If you do not have enough to go around, then start with the first pony in the line-up, and just remember to switch them to the next horses as they're ready to go on the field.

Braiding (or tying) the Tail

(continued on the next page. Click here)

Part I - Polo Handbook by Sandy Herron | Part II -Handbook By Sue Sally Hale |

Part III - Grooming the Polo Pony by Carol Barker | Introduction | Preface
Chapter 1| Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4| Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Summary