Rating a horse?? Do horses get handicaps?

Simply speaking, horses are very often the definition of our handicaps. However, I am speaking of the term “rating” a horse, with respect to when someone says this horse rates well. When we say a polo pony rates well, we can compare it to the cruise control of a car. You get the desired speed [...]

Propping & Stopping

Now stopping is one of the key characteristics in properly assessing top value in a polo pony, whereas the same movement would render a horse nearly useless in both horse racing and show jumping. But the key is to find a horse that will willingly and consistently stop whenever they are asked to through the [...]

Traveling True to the Ball

Another solid trait that we look for in a polo pony is what some call traveling true. The definition of traveling true is a horse that travels in whatever line that you place them on. Once you establish the direction, the horse continues on that course almost as if they were on a set of [...]

So…Does Size Matter? Of course it does…the smaller, the better!

The smaller compact horse tends to be the horse of choice for most. The reason is pretty straightforward. Less horse to control, normally better handling due to their shorter coupling , and generally easier to hit off of. However, if you come up against a bigger horse, that handles and bumps equally as well, the [...]

“Steady Hold” vs. “Pull & Release”

Where are the brakes on this thing and do I apply steady pressure or tap on the pedal…..uhhh…stirrup ? The few of us left that pre-date the ABS breaking systems will remember our dads and moms coaching us to tap on the brakes so that we didn’t lock them up and go into a skid. [...]