They’re strong, quick, and agile. Polo ponies are quite impressive!
Polo is an exciting team sport that dates back to ancient Persia. Two teams with four riders compete against each other by hitting balls with mallets into the other’s goalposts. The sport requires an athletic horse that is well-trained in the discipline. They’re known for their speed, stamina, and intelligence!
Facts About Polo Ponies
- They may be called polo ponies, but the vast majority are standard-sized horses. Often, they’re around 14.2 to 16 hands. In early days of the sport, riders used smaller horses that could be classified as ponies.
- There are four main breeds that are frequently used in polo, including the Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, Argentine Polo Pony, and Manipuri Pony. Some are crosses to get the best of two breeds! These horses need to have intelligence, stamina, speed, and heart. They have to make sharp turns and have quick reflexes.
- The majority of polo ponies are mares. Some estimates suggest upwards of 80-90% of them. The rest are geldings, as stallions are not allowed in this team sport.
- Before a pony can even step foot in a game, they must receive lots of training. It can take three to five years of training before they’re ready. They must be desensitized to mallets swinging, other horses bumping into them, neck reining, and much more!
- Polo ponies receive a lot of specialized care, as most performance horses do. Some of their care includes stretching, massages, specialized shoes, and extra attention to their legs. Furthermore, their mane is shaved very short. This is to prevent the player’s equipment from getting tangled in it.
Known as the sport of kings, polo is quite a fascinating discipline. Polo ponies are no doubt impressive!
