154 POLO PONY MANAGEMENT. [Chap. VII. 



yet they came up In better condition and with more 

 flesh and muscle on them than the ponies which had 

 been in loose boxes, but which had not been exercised. 

 All these twelve ponies, however, took a long time, 

 quite two-and-a-half months, to get into polo condition. 

 Had the six turned-out ones been well fed during the 

 months of December, January and February, they 

 would not have taken half that time to have got fit. 

 It is really extraordinary how well ponies will condition 

 themselves when turned out, if they are fed as liberally 

 and as regularly as they would be when in the stable. 

 We obtain an excellent proof of the good effect of corn 

 on turned-out ponies, from the fact that after the 

 morning feed, they will almost invariably have a gallop 

 about together; but if they are not fed, they will seldom 

 go out of a walk. It is evident that this morning 

 gallop is a capital means for maintaining their muscle, 

 and keeping their wind clear. 



I have found that the best food for ponies when 

 turned out is crushed maize. All the corn should 

 be crushed and mixed with a liberal allowance of 

 old hay cut up into chaff A good daily ration for 

 a pony during November, December, January and 

 February, would be 7 lbs. of maize and 10 lbs. of hay. 

 If there is plenty of keep in the fields, the ration can 

 be cut down in quantity. 



CONDITIONING PONIES. 



When the ponies come up from grass, I like to give 

 them a mild dose of physic, say three drachms of aloes, 

 after which they will be ready to start regular long 

 exercise in about a week's time. Taking a month's 

 work as sufficient to get them ready to play on the 



