LADIES IN THE HUNTING-FIELD 295 



Nobody, man or woman, possesses a seat so firm 

 that it cannot be made firmer by constant practice 

 outside the hunting-field ; but during the summer 

 months, beyond hacking along country lanes or 

 riding in the Row, which is slow work, few hunting 

 people take much horse exercise. Latterly, however, 

 there has been a craze for what I may term popular 

 polo, and in 1898 I drew up a set of rules for ladies' 

 polo, which were published in the July number of the 

 Ladies' Field for that year. These rules were a 

 modification of the Hurlingham Club Rules, and the 

 principal alterations which I suggested related to 

 Rules 7, 8, and 17. I think that my simplest plan 

 would be to quote these rules, giving after each rule 

 my suggested amendment, which should apply not 

 only to ladies, but also to hunting men whose 

 financial capabilities do not permit of them entering 

 the ranks of first-class polo players. Besides, I have 

 heard it stated that it requires a finer horseman to be 

 a first-class polo player than to win the Grand 

 National. If this be true, it follows that even casual 

 practice with stick and ball will serve to make us sit 

 firmer in the saddle. Any grass field, the more level 

 the better, ranging from three hundred yards long to 

 two hundred yards wide, will serve for the purpose of 

 such practice. 



Rule 7. Duration of Play. 



The duration of play in a match shall be one hour, 

 divided into three periods of twenty minutes, with an 

 interval of five minutes between each period. 



