POLO IN THE ARMY. 279 



their ponies together. On this occasion they were 

 extra keen to win the Cup the first year they were at 

 home, having won it on the last occasion they had 

 played for it, namely in 1886, in which year they 

 left for India ; and they succeeded in their worthy 

 ambition. 



Few officers in the Army can afford to pay big 

 sums for their ponies. Many have actually considered 

 polo an economy, as it has caused them to give up 

 racing and other expensive amusements. Polo can 

 be played cheaply in regiments, by the system of 

 Polo Pony Clubs (p. 242), if well managed, a fact 

 which has been amply proved by Colonel de Lisle of 

 the Durham Light Infantry, Captain Egerton Green 

 of the 1 2th Lancers, and many others. I have never 

 heard of officers in high positions object to polo, 

 except on the ground of its expense. They often say 

 that a polo pony should not cost more than ^50, and 

 that officers should be content to play among them- 

 selves in regimental games at the station where they 

 are quartered. It is true that the regimental or 

 station game is the backbone of polo in the Army ; 

 but players would be no more content to go on playing 

 day after day among the same set of players, than 

 would a cricketer be to play always on the same 

 ground in a pick-up game, with no prospect of 

 matches against neighbouring clubs. 



The Tournament is the culmination of the season's 

 play, and it stimulates a regiment to work and improve 

 themselves. The regimental team, especially in India, 

 is often a tie which keeps a whole regiment together, 

 and prevents them going away in search of individual 

 amusements. In England it often keeps officers from 



