Wrapping a horse?

Question

I've got some questions about wrapping that I'd like answered:

1. Why do you wrap a horses legs, what exactly is the purpose?

2. Should a horse always be wrapped after he is ridden, or only after they work hard?

3. How important is it to wrap your horse? What's the worst that could happen if you don't?

These questions should be answered in your opinions, because there appears to be a lot of different ones in the equestrian world.

And I'm talking about these kinds of wraps in case there's any confusion:

http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/2237817/WrappedLegs2-main_Full.jpg

Answer 1

1. you wrap a horses leg for one of three reasons.  

a) support for a hurt leg, suspected broken bone, tendon issue.. just provides extra support. (also used sometimes when furazone is applied to a cut to help it heal and stay clean)

b) while traveling, for support of the leg (since a road can be bumpy and strenuous for the horse..) or

c) after a work out to apply liniment, or to give the leg support so it can relax after jumping large fences.

2) horses need not be wrapped after every ride unless you're jumping 3'6 fences every day (which would be stupid anyway) they generally aren't needed after any flat workout, and very rarely for jumping sessions... most people don't bother.

3) if your wrapping after a workout, i don't really think there is a worst thing to happen.. its no big deal and many people just don't ever do it...

also, for further notice these type wraps are often referred to as "pillow wraps" or shipping wraps.