HOW TO BECOME A POLO PLAYER. 5 



We now play four a side, on ponies varying from 

 14 hands to 14.2, which is the standard limit of 

 height. In India it has lately been raised from 13.3 

 to 14. 1 ; and in America, from 14.0 to 14.2. Instead 

 of the old dribbling and scrimmaging game, in which 

 every man played more or less for himself with but 

 little idea of combination, we have now a carefully 

 arranged organisation, in which every player has his 

 own particular duties clearly defined, so that the suc- 

 cess of a side depends more on the ability to work 

 as a whole, than on the individual good play of the 

 different members. Formerly, the only player with a 

 special office to fill was the goal-keeper, who stayed 

 far out of the game, and whose sole duty was to 

 defend his goal, while the remainder of the side played 

 up in front together. 



HOW TO BECOME A POLO PLAYER. 



A good horseman, whose eye has been educated 

 by such games as cricket and racquets, and who 

 thoroughly understands football or hockey, the tactics 

 and combinations of both of which greatly resemble 

 those of polo, will not take long to master the pecu- 

 liarities of polo, and ought to be a really good per- 

 former after three months of regular play. Here, as 

 in all other games which demand quickness of eye 

 and skill of hand, assiduous and long-continued 

 practice is imperative. At first glance it may appear 

 strange to say that many men play polo well in spite 

 of being bad horsemen. Hence, the fact that a man 

 knows little about riding should in no way deter him 

 from giving the game a trial. Indeed, it should be 

 an argument all the other way ; for nothing improves 



