THE TRAINING OF PONIES 327 



but a horse used for such purposes is not called on to do what 

 a polo pony is ; for the latter has to turn, dodge, twist, and 

 pull up often within a few yards. To do this he must get his 

 haunches under him, and a double bridle is the only means by 

 which he can be made to do it. Eastern horsemen invariably 

 use a sharp bit ; so do the Guachos of South America, and they 

 can pull a horse on to his haunches when going almost at full 

 speed. 



The majority of polo players, and all the best with perhaps 

 one or two exceptions, and they ride ponies that would play 

 almost without any bridle use double bridles, viz. ' bit and 

 bridoon,' which, I contend, are for every reason preferable to 

 snaffle bridles. 



Blinkers were formerly nearly universally used in the game, 

 but have now become practically obsolete. That such should 

 be the case is, in the opinion of any one who has experience, 

 most fortunate, as they were responsible for half the accidents 

 that occurred. They were most dangerous, preventing, as they 

 did, a pony seeing another that was charging down on him, 

 and therefore he never exerted himself to resist the shock or 

 get out of the way ; consequently the slightest shove sent him 

 over. In fact, riding a pony in blinkers is about as risky as play- ' 

 ing football blindfold. 



Spurs should as a rule be discarded ; those with rowels are 

 not allowed at Hurlingham, except under exceptional circum- 

 stances. Few men know how to use spurs, and fewer still in 

 the excitement of a game are cool enough to use them with 

 beneficial effect either to themselves or their ponies. Besides, 

 if an accident should occur and you get a fall, the absence of 

 spurs will enable you to get clear of your pony sooner and more 

 easily. At any rate, they should never be worn in a match. They 

 may, however, be used in practice with a pony that has got old 

 and cunning, in order to induce him to start more quickly ; and 

 it is often a good plan to ride him with spurs the day before a 

 match, in order to waken him up. With regard to this question 

 of spurs, I know some will differ from me and, as showing the 



