Polo wraps for warmth?

[Nisi]

Just a question for those of you experienced in using wraps and/or boots. I know studies indicate that neither wraps or boots really provide any support, and can actually be counter-productive if too tight, etc. But I’m wondering if any of you use polo wraps in the bitter months of winter exclusively for the warmth they provide - perhaps shortening warm up time to something closer to what is expected in warmer weather and/or keeping the horse more comfortable as they are asked to work? Or do they heat up and keep the leg too warm to be productive for that use as well?

Thank you in advance.

[Laurierace]

A horse’s legs don’t need to be warm.

[ryansgirl]

Why do you want them warm? To me it’s not worth the risk (I’m not a fan of polos at all :no:).

[crimsonsky]

[QUOTE=Laurierace;7871002]
A horse’s legs don’t need to be warm.[/QUOTE]

sidebar - why do people use the Back On Track wraps then?

[Laurierace]

Back on Track wraps reduce inflammation and actually make the legs cooler to the touch afterwards.

[sdlbredfan]

Yes, I have. Warmth on the legs is very useful for any horse with arthritic fetlocks, or any elderly horse that is having trouble with thermo-regulation.

[Abbie.S]

I think, as has been somewhat clarified, there needs to be a REASON for the warmth.

Most people who I see using boots or wraps, when asked why they are using them, really don’t know why. Or their reasoning is ill-educated.

So if you’ve got a horse with arthritis, that moves off stiff for a bit at the start of a ride, that’s had an injury and would benefit from drawing blood quicker to the injury site and surrounding tissues, than creating warmth via polos could be a beneficial thing. Otherwise, they add minimal positive benefit based on their insulating tendencies.

That said, I don’t think one should EVER try and “short-cut” a good warm-up, regardless of time of year. Wraps, BoT, etc., are not stand-ins for a slow, methodical work-up before asking the horse to really go to work.

[Gestalt]

From personal experience, I have a bum ankle, warmth helps a lot during warm up for my own exercise. I would think it could help a horse. I use a BoT saddle pad during the cold months.

I’m not a fan of polos. They are hard to wrap properly.

[kdow]

[QUOTE=Gestalt;7871707]
From personal experience, I have a bum ankle, warmth helps a lot during warm up for my own exercise. I would think it could help a horse. I use a BoT saddle pad during the cold months.

I’m not a fan of polos. They are hard to wrap properly.[/QUOTE]

Same here. Warmth makes my arthritis less cranky. But I probably wouldn’t fuss over a horse with no problems, and you’d still need a good warm up - the wrap may just make the horse a little more comfortable as you are working through the stiffness.