I've seen them used different ways around here, like with the pads underneath, without them for keeping legs white, etc...  So what do *you* use them for?  I use polos when I'm riding, but I've also seen people at shows with just the stall bandage on when riding.  My Mom saw a four pack of turquoise stall bandages (Tonto's colour!) to help keep his legs white at shows, and I was just wondering if it is safe to use them for everything, or only with/without pads etc.  This is the kind she bought-   http://www.kyhorse.com/store/bandages/stall.htm   
It says that they're for cooling down horses, but like I said, I know some people that will use them for light riding too at shows. 

There are different reasons to wrap and different types of wraps. Shipping wraps for protection, usually with a longer, thicker quilted pad underneath that go from just below the coronet band to the knee. An exercise wrap with a thinner shorter quilt that goes from just abover the coronet band to just below the knee - like a smb boot but wrapped! There are also stable and standing bandages - I think they are the same, someone will correct me if I am wrong, I'm sure. They go from the fetlock to below the knee and offer support after rigorous exercise and prevent stocking up while being stabled overnight or at a show, ie.

I use all of them except I use more of a shipping wrap for exercise to make sure the coronet band and heel bulbs are covered more.

When I show I use smb boots - they sell boots covers made of nylon with velcro closures - cover the boot during warm-up and rip them off before you show. These are great when you use white boots and want to keep them clean. Although they do make a nylon-y swishing noise so if your horse is sensitive to that stuff you may want to give him a heads-up. You can also just wrap your smb's with a regular wrap. Fleece wraps are fun because you can get all kinds of patterned fleece - my son has wraps with red, yellow and orange flames. LOL

 I bet this is one of those questions that will have as many answers are there are colours of wraps

Here's my take: 

Stable bandages are made of a woven non-stretch material, usually heavier & wider  than exercise bandages, used over quilts or cottons to protect a leg after certain medical treatments, and also for support after strenous workouts (to prevent stocking up). Stable bandages can also be used over heavy quilts as shipping protection.

Exercise bandages (polos) are softer (often a polar fleece type of material) with some stretch - they offer some support & protection during workouts.

I just bought Gypsy a set of polos in orange (literally, hunter's orange). I've never wrapped her legs for exercise, but since she's been home, we ride on the dirt roads a lot. I bought them to make her stand out more to drivers. I wear a hunter's orange jacket all the time just so everyone can see me when they're driving. Plus, she looks so cute in orange. My trainer uses standing/stable wraps with the pads after XC to prevent stocking up (sometimes after some Bigole (sp) oil or poltice), but uses boots, not wraps, for exercise. I guess everyone has their own routine.

LOL Yes, there are many takes on "wraps".  

So does the term "polo wraps" actually come from the style of wrapping they use on polo ponies?  

At the risk of sounding rude, please don't ever use knit stable bandages without padding.  Ask your vet about bandage bows!  Good wrapping is an excellent skill, very useful with injuries, moderately useful with training, but as with many other things, extremely dangerous when not done well.  USPC has lots of great info on wrapping, but best bet is to ask a bunch of people, with the item in their hands, about the item.  I have seen horses with corded (sp?) tendons after one night of bad wraps.  All depends what the actual material is, not what the package says.

 Good luck!

My very generic reply:  stall or standing bandages have very little stretch or "give", and are meant to be used with quilts or no-bows.  I use them for trailering.  Polos and track bandages have a lot more "give" and are designed to be used alone.  I tend to use polos when riding (or just good old splint boots).

As far as keeping white legs white, I have the best trick!  Keep your horse's legs clipped really, really short.  Wash those legs very thoroughly with a whitening shampoo, and before you move him off the wash rack towel dry them and coat them with Showsheen.  Dirt won't stick to them--you can just brush them off before your class.  I also keep a can of Shapley's Touch-Up spray (in white) in my caddy.

I have a 36-yo QH with severe arthritis.  He can no longer lie down (because he can't get up on his own) so he is on his feet 24/7.  Every evening I wrapped all four legs with quilts and standing wraps for warmth and support.  I massage his legs for a few minutes prior to wrapping them and when I unwrap them. 

robison02:

Keep your horse's legs clipped really, really short.  Wash those legs very thoroughly with a whitening shampoo, and before you move him off the wash rack towel dry them and coat them with Showsheen.  Dirt won't stick to them--you can just brush them off before your class.  I also keep a can of Shapley's Touch-Up spray (in white) in my caddy.

As always, full of good ideas and advice! I knew the shave short and whitenening shampoo trick but drying off and using showsheen is something I never thought of! I'll do that from now on! LOL Especially helfpul when I *still* have a dirt floor in the barn!

I just found this article on equiseearch.com about turnout boots. I don't know how to make a link, but you can copy/paste this address.

http://www.equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/tack_apparel/miscellaneous/eqboots2900/

Ditto what you said! :) The three types are stable, shipping and exercise... and I've seen people mis-wrap all 3! :) 

Tickin--I showed an evil tobiano mare for way too long--I have all sort of tips and tricks!  LOL!  Like...Invest in a million sets of clipper blades (everything from 10s to 40s), buy stock in Quic Silver or White N Brite, and stockpile bottles of Showsheen or Lasersheen.  And keep BJ covered from head to tail!  If you don't have the time or energy to make your own sleazy hoods (and you will need MANY), I know a lady in Wisconsin who sells them for $25 a piece.  (By the way, did you get my e-mail?  Sarah's new saddle is sitting in the middle of my living room!  And I ended up not having to trade in my old Crates-yay!!!)

Did I get your email? Probably but likely read it late at night. I went searching for my neck sweats and sleezies - I know I have some! - yesterday and I wound up with a jackpot! I found a big bag of 5 clean nylon sheets ranging in size 74-78!! What a find! This tells you how many sheets and blankets I have when 5 can go missing and I barely notice! LOL Of course, this was after I spent over $400 on new blankets for BJ! Oops, Don't tell Tal!! Oh well, now they have sheets to wear when their other set is in the wash - ahhaa! Cool on the new saddle. I was going to buy an english saddle from someone on PHJ but changed my mind - I already have a decent one and there are many other things I need first! Like more clipper blades! ;)

 I'm basically the same way as you guys, polos/SMBs for riding, but put on PROPERLY!  I too cringe at the sight of a horse being worked with their legs wrapped incorrectly...  I actually stopped someone at the barn one day and told them to take the wraps off if they wanted their horse to stay sound...  Anyway I'm just not used to the term "stall bandages" and it really confused me when, on the same package, it also said "track bandage" and "cold water bandage".  Meaning that it is all of these things supposedly combined.  It sounds to me like something that would need the quilt under it and only be for cooling down or standing in a stall, but then why don't they just call them stable bandages like everybody else?