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Get trained
This page explains the principles. It is not a substitute for lessons from a qualified polo instructor or club, and it does not replace the rules of your governing body, club or tournament.
A polo pony's legs take knocks from the ball and from hooves, its own and other ponies'. This guide covers what the rules require and what to look for when buying. It does not explain how to bandage a leg: that is a hands-on skill to learn from an instructor or experienced groom, and the Pony Club's 2026 rulebook expects players to be able to redo a bandage quickly.
What the rules require
| Body and rulebook | Front legs | Hind legs | Tail |
|---|---|---|---|
| HPA 2026 (Part 1 Rule 3c) | Bandages or boots required | Bandages or boots required | Must be put up |
| USPA 2024 Outdoor (Rule 6c) | Boots or bandages required | Recommended, not required | Not covered in Rule 6 |
| Pony Club 2026 | Bandages or protective boots required | Bandages or protective boots required | Must be put up |
This is a real difference between the two main rulebooks. Under the HPA's 2026 rules, hind-leg protection is compulsory; under the USPA's 2024 rules it is only recommended. Protection on all four legs meets both rules as written. The USPA revises its rules each year and its 2026 book was not reviewed for this site, so check the current edition.
Loose bandages stop the game. Under the HPA's 2026 Rule 20b, trailing bandages are one of the tack failures for which play is stopped at once. The Pony Club's 2026 rulebook says play stops if a bandage comes undone and expects players to be able to redo bandages quickly. Under the HPA's 2026 guidance, an umpire's pony is equipped as for playing except that its tail need not be put up.
Our picks by category
Polo wraps and bandages
The St. Moritz Snow Polo World Cup programme (2023) says bandages are wrapped, not too tightly, around each leg to protect the tendons. The South African Polo Association says bandages and boots guard the legs against the ball. Buy enough for every leg the rules require on every pony you play, plus spares for a bandage that comes loose.
Best for: Every playing pony, on whichever legs the rules require
Horse leg boots
The rules accept boots in place of bandages. The St. Moritz programme says tendon boots are often used on the front legs as well as bandages, and that polo ponies wear overreach, or bell, boots around the pastern to protect the heel from their own hooves and other ponies'.
Best for: Front-leg tendon protection and overreach protection
Tail wraps
Both the HPA's 2026 rules and the Pony Club's 2026 rulebook require tails to be put up. The St. Moritz programme says playing ponies' tails are plaited and tied up, usually with tape, so sticks do not catch in them.
Best for: Any pony playing under HPA or Pony Club rules
How to choose
Start from the rule, then the pony count
Work out which legs need covering under the rules you play under, then multiply by the ponies you play in a day. Under the HPA's 2026 rules and the Pony Club's 2026 rulebook, every leg of every playing pony needs a bandage or boot. Under the USPA's 2024 rules only the front legs must be covered, but hind protection is recommended.
Bandages or boots
Every rulebook above accepts either. The St. Moritz programme describes many ponies wearing both: bandages on all legs and tendon boots in front. What suits a particular pony is a question for your instructor, groom or vet.
Fit and security
Because trailing or loose bandages stop play under both the HPA's 2026 rules and the Pony Club's 2026 rulebook, how well protection stays on matters as much as what it is made of. The St. Moritz programme warns against wrapping too tightly. Ask an experienced groom or instructor to check your bandaging before you play.
Manes and tails
The St. Moritz programme says manes are hogged (clipped very short) so sticks, reins and hands do not tangle, and EBSCO says the same about clipped manes and braided tails. The St. Moritz programme names tape as the usual way to tie up the plaited tail.
Related rules
Leg protection sits alongside other pony rules, such as the HPA's 2026 shoe and stud limits and its chukka limits per pony. See the pony leg protection page for shoes and studs, and welfare rules for chukka limits.
Before you play, check the current rules of your governing body, club and tournament, and take advice on fitting from your instructor, groom or vet.
Sources
- Hurlingham Polo Association, Rules and Regulations for Polo 2026 (Polo South Africa copy, PDF)
- United States Polo Association, 2024 Outdoor Rules (PDF)
- The Pony Club, Polo Rulebook 2026 (PDF)
- Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, equipment explained (2023, PDF)
- South African Polo Association, polo equipment guide
- EBSCO Research Starters, polo