What makes a top polo pony?

8m 28secs
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Posted: 13/07/2009

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Apart from having a calm temperament, top speed, being nimble and strong, an ideal polo pony has a particular build according to polo superstar Mark Tomlinson, winner of the 2009 Queen's Cup. Using his 15 year old, high goal Argentine mare Lucretia as his model, Mark says a top pony is like a 100 metre sprinter. They should have a good bottom, hind legs that sit well underneath the belly, a short back, a wide front and not too much distance between the lower joints. Mark also tells Fiona Price about the 'polo breed', their ideal size and why his Argentine grooms are so amazing! Filmed at the Tomlinson's Beaufort Polo Club, in Gloucestershire.

Comments

joallan 13 Jun 2010 Re conformation, with all that twisting and turning I would imagine that hind leg conformation is very important, does Mark find many high windgalls or thoroughpins, if so can the horses generally work on, I mention this because my pony has just developed small bursal swellings after jumping in a tight circuit, he has rather poor conformation behind, and I had built up his hind leg strength as much as I could.

Mark Tomlinson 29 Jul 2009 I would love to have horses that don't eat their shavings! Some are obviously worse than others, some don't actually need muzzles at all. Polo is very demanding on a horse, it is like rugby, sprinting and long distance running all rolled into one and therefore it is essential that they eat at the right times in relation to their competition. And the muzzle gives us this control and ability to have a routine of exactly when and how much the horse eats, it does not mean the horse is starved for long periods of time. Also, above all, shavings in the stomach can cause problems like colic. Straw would be an option but it tends to be too dusty and of low quality.

Loewenhart 17 Jul 2009 I must say that I was concerned with the muzzle. The only time I've seen muzzles have been on ponies who need to wear them out in pasture so the don't founder. I have had horses all of my life and never have I had or heard of horses eating shavings!

HORRACE 15 Jul 2009 What great videos. How relaxed and happy all the ponies seem to be and in great conditon. I know nothing about polo so it was very interesting. Getting three feeds a day, hay morning and evening exercised twice a day I am not sure they have time to get bored or hungry. What a great stamp of a horse Lucretia is.

Fiona Price 15 Jul 2009 They all looked in peak condition and match fit, so my guess is that they might carry too much weight if they had ad lib hay. Perhaps that's why they might attempt to eat their bedding? But I will ask Mark to reply.