74 THEORY AND PRACTICE OF POLO. [Char II. 



under such circumstances, immediate steps should 

 be taken to prevent a recurrence of this mishap. 

 A new and easier bit should be tried, such as an 

 India-rubber Pelham (Fig. 28), Ben Morgan (Fig. 29), 

 Kerro bit (Fig. 30), or half-moon Pelham (Figs. 31 

 and 32), or the bit may be wrapped round with sponge 

 or wash-leather. No player should knowingly con- 

 tinue to ride a pony which bleeds at the mouth. In 

 most cases, the seat of the injury will be found on 

 the bars of the lower jaw, just in front of the first 

 back tooth. 



Many ponies which will pull desperately in severe 

 bits, will play kindly in light ones. 



Men with loose seats should never use severe 

 bridles at polo ; because they hang on to their horses' 

 heads, and consequently have bad hands. Although 

 the effects of sharp spurs, cutting whips and blows on 

 the legs from sticks, are far less painful than those of 

 severe bits, we should remember that ponies have 

 feelings. Reckless hitting into a scrimmage, regard- 

 less of ponies' legs, causes quite as much cruelty as 

 sharp spurs, which are not allowed at polo. Also, a 

 young player should carefully accustom himself not to 

 hit his own ponys legs with stick or ball. 



As a good pony is worth a vast amount of trouble, 

 the owner should consider his comfort in and out of 

 the stable, and should see that he is sound and fit, and 

 properly bitted and saddled, before playing him. The 

 animal will then last for many years, and will become 

 as fond of the game as his master. The long lease 

 of playing life enjoyed by the majority of polo ponies, 

 is one reason for the enormous prices fetched by first 

 class ponies during late years. It is by no means 



