[QUOTE=emipou;8824660]
What’s the purpose of the tab?[/QUOTE]
IME, it helps prevent the slipping problem, if I am understanding BWBL properly.
OP, How old are your polos?
Old ones loose their stretch after awhile and tend to droop, like old socks.
It’s about tension and direction. Steady, even pressure across and away from the front of the cannon bone toward the rear. Work down and then up again. No wrinkles. Polos are good to learn on because they do stretch a bit. They shouldn’t slip down.
[QUOTE=csaper58;8825069]
OP, How old are your polos?
Old ones loose their stretch after awhile and tend to droop, like old socks.[/QUOTE]
Not terribly old. I bought them used, but they had only been gently used before I got them. They are the Back On Track polo wraps.
I leave about 6" out, wrap over it once below the knee/hock, then fold it down the back of the tendon and wrap down the leg then back up. The “flap” gives the tendon a little extra strike protection and helps the wrap stay put. They shouldn’t be super tight, but they should be snug. Mine don’t move unless the horse was stocked up when I first applied them.
Badly wrapped polos are a pet peeve of mine. Nothing says “I’m clueless” quite like lumpy, saggy polo wraps (which are inevitably some bright color or pattern to attract even more attention!) … Either get help and keep practicing til you can do it right, or use boots!
[QUOTE=keysfins;8824748]
IME, it helps prevent the slipping problem, if I am understanding BWBL properly.[/QUOTE]
Yes Keyfins is correct. The tab folds over the top of the polo as you go back up, then you finish the polo over the tab to keep it secure and prevent slippage (especially if the legs get wet on cross country riding or long gallops.
I was a groom for many years, we used polos or support wraps over thin quilts before the new ergonomic and form fitting boots were invented.
We wrapped the big WB youngsters before going out cross country, especially because many of them were so uncoordinated, they could easily hit themselves or let a buck out and with a heavy steel shoe that can cause damage, you can easily get a good bone bruise going.
Also when we taught them cavaletti or jumping they would often hit the jumps at first.
When you’re talking big $$'s for a youngster, you protect their legs. 
fwiw…I am a groom and tension is not the only factor that can cause polos to slip- you may need to start the wrap mid cannon to keep each “round” of the wraps a little closer together, the more distance you have between the rounds the more likely they are to be pulled down. Also, I personally I don’t make a deep V at the fetlock - I do a shallow cross that goes just below the ergot.
YouTube is your friend! Lots of good tutorials there to help you judge the tension and tightness.
[QUOTE=emipou;8824660]
What’s the purpose of the tab?[/QUOTE]
the tab is left up at the inside of the leg; it serves as an extra ‘barrier’ or strike plate for the inside of the leg as well as to prevent slippage but i have only ever used it as extra padding. there’s two ways to do it and both achieve the same purpose and neither are wrong: you can do it like the way belgianWBluver does it, or you can do it like this:
take the polo, situate yourself at the horse’s leg. flip polo ‘backwards’ (think toilet paper roll orientation debate if you are unclear) and run polo vertically (straight up) the horse’s inside leg - right below the knee, flip polo so that it is now horizontal to limb. smooth crease, and start poloing away!
that is the way i was taught in Pony Club, but things may have changed since then…
[QUOTE=beowulf;8825462]
the tab is left up at the inside of the leg; it serves as an extra ‘barrier’ or strike plate for the inside of the leg as well as to prevent slippage but i have only ever used it as extra padding. there’s two ways to do it and both achieve the same purpose and neither are wrong: you can do it like the way belgianWBluver does it, or you can do it like this:
take the polo, situate yourself at the horse’s leg. flip polo ‘backwards’ (think toilet paper roll orientation debate if you are unclear) and run polo vertically (straight up) the horse’s inside leg - right below the knee, flip polo so that it is now horizontal to limb. smooth crease, and start poloing away!
that is the way i was taught in Pony Club, but things may have changed since then…[/QUOTE]
Tons of ways to wrap them like you said!!
“take the polo, situate yourself at the horse’s leg. flip polo ‘backwards’ (think toilet paper roll orientation debate if you are unclear) and run polo vertically (straight up) the horse’s inside leg - right below the knee, flip polo so that it is now horizontal to limb. smooth crease, and start poloing away!”
This way ^ is how I did it one summer when I groomed for a polo team
[QUOTE=belgianWBLuver;8825508]
Tons of ways to wrap them like you said!!
“take the polo, situate yourself at the horse’s leg. flip polo ‘backwards’ (think toilet paper roll orientation debate if you are unclear) and run polo vertically (straight up) the horse’s inside leg - right below the knee, flip polo so that it is now horizontal to limb. smooth crease, and start poloing away!”
This way ^ is how I did it one summer when I groomed for a polo team :)[/QUOTE]
i’m glad my poor description was at least decipherable - i’m re-reading what i wrote and going ‘how on earth does that make sense to anyone?!’ - i think it’s one of those things you got to see in person and you still won’t be able to articulate it perfectly!
[QUOTE=beowulf;8825513]
i’m glad my poor description was at least decipherable - i’m re-reading what i wrote and going ‘how on earth does that make sense to anyone?!’ - i think it’s one of those things you got to see in person and you still won’t be able to articulate it perfectly![/QUOTE]
Ha! I read it and knew immediately what you were talking about :lol:
Don’t forget to keep slippery things off the hind legs. Tail detangler is a big one (over spray into the legs or transfer from the tail to the legs. Shampoos and fly sprays have caused slipping. Washing with betadine or dish soap can help get the slick out if it’s there.
[QUOTE=Magicboy;8825439]
YouTube is your friend! Lots of good tutorials there to help you judge the tension and tightness.[/QUOTE]
Youtube is where I mostly learned. My vet showed me twice and the BO a couple of times, but I didn’t want to keep bothering people as I still can’t seem to get a hang of it.
I just ordered a pair of Woof boots on sale, I am hoping that they will work out well and I can stop worrying about getting polos done correctly.
[QUOTE=Magicboy;8825439]
YouTube is your friend! Lots of good tutorials there to help you judge the tension and tightness.[/QUOTE]
I would love if someone could point me in the right direction. Here’s the thing about most things relating to horses: there are a hundred ways to do something and only about 5 of those ways are actually correct.
I think I’m pretty good with my wraps but it’s hard to say for sure.
