io5 CHOOSING A POLO PONY. [Chap. IV. 



galloper generally makes a better polo pony than one 

 which goes in racehorse style ; because he is quicker at 

 starting and turning. Many long striding thoroughbreds, 

 however, soon learn to shorten their stride as occasion 

 may demand, and thus adapt themselves to the game. 



Of course, the purchaser must be. guided by his own 

 requirements. If he is buying several for himself, he 

 should try to get them as much as possible of the 

 same height and character. 



As a rule, suitable foreigners (see Chapter VIII.) are 

 not difficult to buy, and are comparatively easy to train. 



The would-be purchaser may also buy well-known 

 ponies at Tattersall's. There is no place like an 

 auction for a pony to fetch its real value, although 

 fancy prices are sometimes given, when more than one 

 man is anxious to get the same animal. Polo ponies, 

 if properly advertised, will almost invariably fetch their 

 full value at Tattersall's in the months of March, 

 April, May, June and July. The fact that many 

 terrible brutes are sold by auction during the summer, 

 under the description of ''good polo ponies," should 

 make us very careful, before bidding, to find out all we 

 can about the animal which we are thinking of buying. 



The guarantee at Albert Gate is that "a good polo 

 pony must be sound in wind and eyes, quiet to ride, 

 go to a ball, and be capable of being played." This is 

 a great protection to purchasers. To be on the safe 

 side, a man should never buy a pony which has been 

 trained and played, unless he can trust the seller to 

 tell him the truth, or unless he knows all about the 

 pony himself or through a friend. Personal trial, if 

 possible, in a game is of course the best means of 

 finding out the animal's merits and defects ; for what 



