POlo wraps, do you really need them?

At first I wanted to get X some polo wraps (or make a pair with fleece), but I read a few articles that said they actually didn't really support anything and were more of a fashion thing. That boots were better. Can someone educate me more on boots and polos?
My trainer has offered me to do free rides (I tried one yesterday and it was great!) so I'll be doing a lot more flatwork now and start jumping (hopefully regularly) in the spring. I think X has had in the past something with his front lower leg... don't remember what it was called, but it was a small case involving his tendons or ligaments maybe? And someone had helped me put polos on him. I think his leg was a little hot so that lesson I just trotted him (this was a year and a half ago) a bit after walking him a lot, and then put a cold water on his legs and he was fine.

I don't know if this came from being overworked but If I'll be riding him a lot in the summer (If I can somehow get my butt to the barn) I don't want him to get injuries from being over worked. Of course I know that proper warm ups and gradual increases of work are the best prevention, but would boots or polos help in any way as well?

Also, how long should I walk him when lungeing before making him trot and canter. Should that time be longer in the winter than summer?

I prefer polos over boots personally.

It really depends on how you wrap them. If you wrap improperly you can cause lameness. But I have seen the same with people putting boots on improperly and too tight. They use wraps on the track and not boots, I am just making an assumption, but if boots were better I would think they would use them.

The last trainer I worked for had problems constantly and was using boots. A vet showed him how to wrap polos a certain way and had not had a problem since using the wraps. I have been using the same method on my horses with no problems either....I threw out all my boots except skids and bells.

Thanks cowchick.

Bump? I would still liek some more views/opinions/stories/thoughts on using polo wraps. Thanks. ;)

Some say polos offer a little support, others say they don't at all. When I feel like we're going to be jumping very high or we go cross country, I use boots to protect my mare's legs. But as far as support goes, you want sport boots, they help support the tendon with a strap that goes underneath the fetlock.

I WOULD NOT use polos on the cross country course, as they could easily catch on something or unravel and cause a very dangerous situation! In fact I know in Eventing, at least where I compete, you're not allowed polos on course. Only boots.

Oh and I echo the point above about polos, there is a higher potential to wrap them incorrectly and cause damage versus boots. You can still wrap boots too tightly but it's much more difficult to do that than with polos. Unfortunately boots are more expensive but like most things, you get what you pay for!

If you'll just be schooling around inside, polos are fine as long as you can get your trainer or someone else with knowledge to show you how to properly wrap them.

Thanks Hoofprint. I won't be jumping high, or at all until later for that matter. Probably won't use polo wraps either unless I'm lungeing before a lesson. Would like to look into getting X boots though, if we do start jumping high in the next few years. Any recommendations for boots? I think I heard professionals choice was good.

I actually don't like Professionals Choice although I know some people love them. To me they're expensive and don't fit my mare very well anyway. I have these and they work just fine:

Roma Neoprene Sport Boot

Just be careful how long you leave sport boots on, they can create a lot of heat which is obviously not good on your horse's legs!

Also never tried these, but they look pretty cool!
horse.com Tough-1 Gel Sport Boots Medium#

So sport boots support the ligaments and cannon bone?

I just remembered what X had! His left splint (ah- haa, that's what it was) got warm and a little swollen or something. Would splint boots help him when jumping higher? (Like 3 feet and over?)