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What Makes a Good Polo Pony??
Professional player and trainer Paul Wheaton, with Detroit Polo Club: It’s like any horse and a sport - in dressage you need a horse with a lot of trot naturally. One that naturally does it. In polo, you need a horse with a lot of try. One that will try a lot for you. Usually you want a blocky thoroughbred under 16 hands; square-shaped, wide in the chest, square behind. You usually want a heavier boned horse with a heavier foot than a lot of thoroughbreds have. But you say all these things and one comes along that doesn’t look close to the part and it’s just as good as any. A good polo horse is born.
Usually if you go to make polo ponies, you need to buy numbers. You get quite a few to start with and go through the stages with them. Sometimes you get five out of twenty, sometimes you get one out of twenty
Rafael Perez Matos, from Puerto Rico, player for 40 years: “I think the Brazilians have very good hands for the training, said Rafael. They also work the horses with the cattle.”
Alejandro Tirado, plays in DR
Alejandro Tirado, plays in DR: imported 30 horses in the last two years to Dominican Republic: About Alejandro’s horses, Zimbabwean Peter Lobel says, “Alejandro has the best horses and they go like hell. I was whipping my bloody horse and Alejandro’s whipped right by me.”
Danielle Kuper: lifetime rider, polo player at Detroit Polo Club: I value consistency, consistency and steadiness. Then you know what it’s going to do. You can work with that.
Tania Evans: lifetime rider, member of Club de Polo, Casa de Campo, DR: “A good pony is handy and sturdy; willing to stay keen for the entire chukker, fit to do so; stays on the line of the ball to help the rider; keeps his eyes open for dangerous moments and prevents them.”
