244 POLO IN INDIA. [Chap. IX. 



charged to every officer, and each player is given two 

 ponies, whose stable expenses he has to pay. The 

 ponies are sold off annually, and the funds of the club, 

 which are almost entirely derived from the profit made 

 from these sales, are devoted to paying off borrowed 

 capital, buying new ponies, and paying the expenses 

 of the team to tournaments. 



This system has worked admirably under Colonel de 

 Lisle, to whom is due its entire success in the case of 

 his team. It is however doubtful that in most 

 regiments a man who is a fine judge of the raw article, 

 a good buyer, sound organiser, and capable trainer, 

 could be found. I think that in ordinary cases a sub- 

 scription of Rs. 2 would be too small : because the 

 success of a regimental club will generally depend on 

 subscriptions, and not on the profit of ponies sold. 

 Besides, ponies as a rule should be kept, and not sold 

 annually. 



4th. This system is more expensive than the last 

 one, but will I think be found to cost players far less 

 than if they had to buy their own ponies. Its details 

 can vary according to circumstances. If a regiment 

 can afford it, the subscriptions should be fairly high, 

 and I would point out to any Committee which intends 

 to start a club of this kind, that the more money they 

 have at their disposal, the less trouble and anxiety will 

 they experience. 



Let us take as an example a regiment numbering 

 twenty-five officers belonging to the Polo Pony Club, 

 of whom fifteen are polo players, and that the club 

 is formed with the idea of supplying each player with 

 two ponies. Non-players can join, if they like, at 

 a monthly subscription of Rs. 5, which will bring 



