i64 POLO PONY MANAGEMENT. [Chap. VII. 



pony Charlton (Fig. 43), which used to play polo 

 equally well the day after a severe race as the day 

 before it. 



TREATMENT OF A PONY ON THE POLO GROUND AFTER A 



PERIOD OF PLAY. 



A pony, after ten minutes of hard play, wants 

 careful treatment, in order to bring him up fresh again 

 for his next turn. 



A couple of quarts of water should be given him, 

 especially on a hot day. This will be just sufficient 

 to wash his mouth out, quench his thirst, and freshen 

 him up. His head, mouth, and nostrils should be 

 carefully sponged over, also his dock and sheath. 



The girths must be loosened at once, and a second 

 man, if possible, should set to work and scrape him all 

 over. He may be then rubbed dry with chamois 

 leathers, and should be walked about for a few minutes 

 till cool. When cool he should be wiped over with a 

 clean cloth, and got ready for his turn. 



This can all be done in twelve minutes, but it is of 

 course advisable on ordinary occasions that a pony 

 should only play two periods in a match, which will 

 give him more than twenty-five minutes' rest. 



After the match he may be freely watered. When 

 the pony goes back to his stable, he may have as much 

 water as he likes to drink, and should be given a feed 

 of hay ; he may be then well dressed and made com- 

 fortable for the night, and be fed an hour after his 

 arrival in the stable. A mash once a week on Saturday 

 night is quite sufficient for polo ponies in ordinary hard 

 work. 



