RACING AND CHASING POLO PONIES. 163 



may occasionally use him between the shafts. We 

 should remember that harness work is apt to spoil his 

 action (particularly if breast harness is employed instead 

 of a collar), teach him to pull, and make him heavy in 

 front. No young polo pony should be put into harness 

 until he has been thoroughly broken in to polo, so that 

 he may not acquire too much knee action from trotting, 

 and may not become heavy on his fore hand. 

 Unambitious polo players, who have only second or 

 third class ponies, need not of course be so particular 

 about the question of action and mouth as men who 

 aspire to play with distinction in first-class matches. 

 There are, however, some rare and invaluable treasures 

 in pony flesh which no kind of work seems to hurt, and 

 which can be moderately driven both winter and 

 summer without impairing their efficiency at polo. 

 Even their power of resisting deterioration has its 

 limits. 



RACING AND CHASING POLO PONIES. 



As a great rule, nothing spoils polo ponies so much 

 as racing or steeplechasing them ; for both these sports 

 teaches them to pull and to extend themselves in a 

 manner w^hich is totally different to that w^hich is 

 required even in the fastest gallop at polo, it makes 

 them excitable, and diverts their attention from the 

 game. Even here, as at harness work, we may 

 meet with some exceptionally intelligent ponies 

 which recognise the fact that different kinds of 

 games require different methods of play, and ac- 

 cordingly regulate their movements to suit the 

 nature of the work at which they are engaged. The 

 best instance of this that I can call to mind is the 



1 1* 



