THE-:- HORSE 



which horses are led out, sometimes of itself 

 gives rise to the horse acting badly. Care 

 should be taken when the animal is passing 

 such a place instantly to counteract any in- 

 clination he might have to leave the ring. 



Po/o.— Polo ponies happen — they are not 

 bred, at least to no greater extent than apti- 

 tude can be inherited. The chief factors per- 

 taining to a polo pony are speed, staying qual- 

 ity, and a good mouth, which will continue 

 sensitive no matter how winded the animal 

 may become. (A mouth that becomes dry, 

 and loses its saliva, will invariably lose its 

 sensitiveness. Therefore some idea can be 

 had, by looking at a horse's mouth after he 

 has been through violent exercise, whether his 

 mouth is sensitive or not.) 



A well-reined horse, without any habits of 

 shying off a mallet, or off other horses, is 

 necessary. The horse should be able to jump 

 forward quickly, and accelerate his speed so 

 that in a few lengths he has his full stride. 

 A horse that is about fifteen hands in height 

 and runs low to the ground is perhaps the best 

 for this purpose, when the length and weight 

 of the average polo mallet are considered. 



Fine polo ponies are often found on the big 

 cow ranches in the western part of North 

 America. I have had ten years' experience 

 buying and selling these animals. It is diffi- 

 cult to tell, with any certainty, whether a horse 



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