LADIES IN THE HUNTING-FIELD 297 



SUGGESTED AMENDMENT. 



" In no case shall less time than five minutes be allowed 

 for changing ponies." 



N.B. — It will take even a first-flight man fully five 

 minutes to change from his first on to his second 

 horse in the hunting-field. Ladies would require 

 a longer time. 



Rule 17. Crooking Stick. 



No player shall crook his adversary's stick, unless he is 

 on the same side of the adversary's pony as the ball, or in 

 a direct line behind. 



SUGGESTED AMENDMENT. 



" Crooking sticks shall not be permitted under any 

 circumstances." 



N.B. — The danger of crooking sticks amongst ex- 

 perienced players is so great that it would be folly to 

 permit it under any circumstances amongst novices 

 and ladies. 



Now when the idea of popular polo for ladies was 

 first mooted it met with universal ridicule. The 

 leading players at Hurlingham and Ranelagh de- 

 clared that it would be dangerous for ladies to 

 attempt to play with stick and ball. To the best 

 of my belief the idea was first exploited in the 

 pages of Fores Magazine in the early nineties, so 

 far as England is concerned, though in India, the 

 birthplace of polo, contests with stick and ball had 

 for some time been a favourite item in gymkhana 



