342 POLO 



by laying out a new polo-ground at Houghton in Norfolk, which 

 bids fair to equal any ground in England. 



Captain Thomas Hone, late yth Hussars, is another very 

 brilliant player, and a tremendously hard hitter. He formed one 

 of the team that accompanied Mr. John Watson to America,, 

 and is the owner of the shapely Mary Anne. 



Amongst Hurlingham habitues the brothers J. R. and W. 

 H. Walker are not so often seen as others, but when they do 

 put in an appearance their brilliant play cannot fail to attract 

 attention. Taking the deepest interest not only in the game 

 but in the breeding of ponies to play it, they are living examples 

 of how good horsemen can play, and play right well too, on 

 any breed of pony ; though, like some others, their fancy inclines 

 towards Eastern breeds. Their Arab, Magic, a perfect picture 

 to look at, who has won several races both in India and at 

 home ; their Syrian ponies Sinbad, Saladin, and the Egyptian, 

 Solomon, are all fast, good, and active, and endowed with the 

 qualities necessary in a polo pony. 



Mr. Gerald Hardy is another familiar figure wherever polo 

 is played. Few men have done more for county polo than Mr. 

 Hardy, and, in conjunction with the Messrs. Walker above 

 mentioned, he is the life and moving spirit of the well-known 

 Barton-under-Needwood Club in Staffordshire. A good horse- 

 man, hard hitter, and with a thorough knowledge of the game, 

 he still plays as well as ever he did before he met with the 

 unfortunate accident that deprived him of an eye. His old 

 white pony Rose-alba, by an Arab sire out of a New Forest 

 pony mare, the speedy chestnut Arab, Rajah, and Venus, are 

 all quite celebrities. 



Mr. John Watson, the present Master of the Meath 

 Hounds, is perhaps the leading poloist of the day, as well as 

 one of the best judges of a horse or polo pony, and trainer of 

 either. Son of the veteran master of the Carlow and Island 

 Hounds, and formerly holding a commission in the i3th 

 Hussars, he is captain of the renowned ' Freebooters,' perhaps 

 the strongest combination of polo talent that exists a club that 



