CHOOSING A POLO PONY. 107 



will suit one man will not always suit another, and 

 even with the best intentions, the seller or friend may 

 recommend an entirely unsuitable pony. Besides, it 

 the purchaser, after having tried the pony, finds that 

 he has made a mistake, he will have no one but himself 

 to blame. 



A great many good ponies are missed owing to 

 veterinary certificates. By all means I would advise 

 that a pony should be examined, particularly for its 

 eyes ; but after that ordeal . has been gone through, 

 the intending purchaser should personally consult his 

 veterinary surgeon, and then act on his own judgment 

 in the event of an absolutely sound certificate not 

 having been given ; for he must remember that the 

 veterinary surgeon must state everything that is 

 amiss, and that technical unsoundnesses, which do not 

 materially affect the animal's working capabilities, may 

 be passed over in the polo pony. Very few ponies 

 which have been played for two or three reasons 

 would pass a veterinary examination, although, for all 

 practical purposes, they might be as sound as a bell. 

 In May, 1893, I sold at Tattersall's, for an aggregate 

 price of 450 guineas, two ponies which were examined 

 by several veterinary surgeons, according to some of 

 whose certificates there was hardly one sound leg 

 between the two ponies, and yet both of them 

 have played for many years without going lame. 



It must be remembered that polo ponies have to 

 gallop only for ten minutes on end, and are not sub- 

 jected to nearly so much strain and fatigue as hunters. 

 An animal which would be considered an absolute 

 screw as a hunter, might play polo for years without 

 going wrong. 



