For more information on the term Polo Pony see our previous blog. If you are starting out in Polo it is a good idea to ride as many different ponies as you can. This is easily achieved as you will be taking Polo Lessons , if you take your lessons at Polo Clubs such as Dallas Burston there are plenty of top quality ponies to choose from.
This will not only improve you as a rider but will also help you to understand the type of Polo Pony is right for you.
Choosing a Polo Pony is not about your size and the Ponies size, its about what sort of Pony works best for you. Smaller Polo Ponies can be more agile and sharper, where as larger ponies are excellent with ride-offs and of course give you that extra height. Thoroughbreds or Thoroughbreds crosses are used by most of the high end Polo Players these typically have the stamina and speed to gallop the long distances. Some are really good at riding off or holding their ground to keep from being ridden off.
You want a horse with quick reflexes that can stop, turn and change direction easily. Horses that have participated in drill teams have some of the skills necessary such as riding in a clump and moving laterally easily.
Polo horses also need to be quiet enough to stand tied to a trailer for an afternoon, waiting to play and then waiting to go home while players socialize. Thoroughbred Polo Pony Thoroughbreds are the most popular breed for polo. They are prized for their endurance, speed and agility. The typical Thoroughbred ranges from They are most often bay, dark bay or brown, chestnut, black, or gray.
They are hardy horses with brawny, strong bodies with broad chests and well-sprung ribs. Their height averages 14 to 15 hands. Their legendry endurance makes them a natural for the game of polo. In recent years, however, there has been an increase in the popularity of crosses between thoroughbreds and criollo horses from Argentina. For example, in Argentine Australian, stock horses are the breed used more often for polo. Instead, they are a type of horse that is agile on the field.
They are not even technically ponies because most are horse-sized. Not only that, but polo was also a sport that was part of the Olympics until , and today it is popular in countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, Germany, and many others.
Naturally, the type of horse used in polo is important, and originally Manipuri ponies were used in the game. These ponies were only 54 inches at the shoulders because there were height restrictions for polo ponies at the time. Those restrictions were lifted in , and since then, thoroughbred and thoroughbred crosses have been used in the majority of polo games in the United States and a few other locations. Not just any breed of horse can be used in the game of polo. In fact, these horses have to meet certain physical requirements to even be considered; most notably, they have to have intelligence, speed, and endurance.
Today, most polo ponies stand at around 64 inches at the shoulder or higher, although sometimes smaller horses are used. One of the reasons a thoroughbred horse makes such a popular polo pony is because of their strong hindquarters, which give the animal tremendous speed. Even in England, most polo ponies are ancestors of the Rosewater horse, which is a small English thoroughbred stallion. Thoroughbreds are strong, fast, and very versatile, making them great polo horses.
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