Polo "ponies"

[Chall]

This may not be the right forum.
Are there polo pony breeding lines? Are they always TBs.
Are there polo pony standards or are they horses whose skill set seems to fit the need?

I have only met one, used as a pleasure horse. I was out on the trails, when a loose horse came thundering at us.
The polo pony owner just said “I’ll handle this” and turned her horse sideways. Her horse took a bit of a hit on the shoulder
from the runaway (riderless), but was non-plused.

It was impressive.
Just my random question, but I don’t remember reading much on COTH about them.

[Highflyer]

A lot of the ones in the US are race-bred TBs, although some people do breed for polo specifically and they are starting to clone some of the top ponies (and also cloned the stallion Storm Cat to use for polo/ breeding). A lot of the top high-goal ponies come from Argentina and Brazil and are TB/ Criollo (native pony) crosses. There are some serious breeding programs there and they do a ton of ETs with the really good ponies. There is no standard-- mostly they are 14.2-15.2 and mares tend to be more popular/ successful.

[ladyj79]

Kinda related, a really good read! https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/07/polo-horse-cloning-adolfo-cambiaso

[Chall]

Whoa! That is an interesting article. I get a little uneasy about cloning.
on the other hand, most polo ponies are MARES? And I bet a lot are chestnut :lol:

And good to know there is a cross breed to a native breed, because I thought they were slightly rounder and more upright necks than a pure TB.
Thanks all.

[Foxtrot_s]

I wold not know where to find it, but there was a tv show on the cloned polo ponies. Interesting and an eye opener.

[RTF]

There are definitely breeders of polo ponies, but many polo ponies are smaller/ mid sized OTTB that are retrained. Years back when I was a polo groom, the training process on the youngsters is very intense. They are trained to go head onnto another horse, pass nose to tail, push another horse off of the line of the ball, and you could guide them like a broke cow pony at high speeds. Once they are broke to the game, we just had to keep fitness up and didn’t drill them much outside of some stick and ball practice. When I was overseas, most of the owners 22 plus polo herd, were OTTB. They were New Zealand bred so a bit bigger, more substance Tb, but pure tb nonetheless.

[Chall]

It’s so interesting that I have this perception of TBs as delicate and reactive, but here they are in a rough and tumble sport.
Come to think of it mine was laid back, except when cantering in a group, he had to be the first.

[RTF]

Honestly the reactions of the low goal polo pony to the high goal polo pony is a huge difference. The starter players, usually ride a bit more laid back, older seasoned, slower ponies. The high goal ponies were fast, hot, reactive and aggressive. The bulk of the high goal ponies were also mares. I started grooming for a starter player and his group of ponies were easy, laid back and fun to work with. When I went to high goal polo for one season, those horses were dynamite. They have to be to stay in the game.

[Chall]

Why aren’t starter ponies more popular for the general riding public, as a second career?
They tie, correct? Good in a crowd, ship well (I assume), good on trails?
Are they “sensible”?

[Highflyer]

A good polo pony is expensive. If they are nice and quiet to ride they just move down the levels as they get older. The less quiet ones tend not to be anything you want to hack. They also don’t necessarily have much training beyond polo and being ponied for fitness. And it is a tough sport so they may not be sound. We had a retired high goal pony of my uncle’s for a while. She was awesome for pony club games and polocrosse but very hot, went with her head straight up at all times, and was one of the most uncomfortable movers I’ve ever ridden.

[BravAddict]

@Chall

Why aren’t starter ponies more popular for the general riding public, as a second career?
They tie, correct? Good in a crowd, ship well (I assume), good on trails?
Are they “sensible”?

They are where people have access and relationships! I have one myself and have ridden quite a few besides.

ETA: Yes, in general they are very tolerant and user-friendly to handle. Mine ships like a pro (because she was one) and is great on the trails. She is very sensible but as others have pointed out she wasn’t exposed to certain things that some horses with a different background might’ve been (such as being ridden bareback). And yes, it took some time for her to understand the aids though I’m sure a more competent person would’ve done it better and faster.

Still, I get what you’re asking, and yes, if a horse can be successful and sound in polo, they are generally a good, tolerant horse.