POLO 55 



be short, and the latter well -developed and 

 muscular. Without powerful loins the pony 

 cannot go as fast as you would have him. In 

 the hind-quarters I should rather take a race- 

 horse than the hunter as my model, so that 

 wide; ragged hips would be a disadvantage, and 

 length and galloping power should be looked 

 for. The hocks should be large and well- 

 developed, for a polo pony's hocks have much 

 strain placed on them. It is good if the hind 

 legs are w^ell under the body, and in a polo 

 pony sickle hocks are no defect if they do not 

 reach deformity. 



Lastly, well-sprung ribs and a deep girth are 

 good points. Many good ponies are a little 

 light in the back ribs, and that is a defect 

 which is of less consequence, as the polo pony 

 has only to gallop for ten minutes at a time. 

 Long, awkward ponies are to be avoided ; 

 they are dangerous and apt to come down 

 when turned sharply. The power to turn 

 (juickly, and with safety is of greater im- 

 portance to a polo pony, even than speed, 

 because a pony that can turn sharply 

 and handily, and be off in another direction 

 quickly, will always be easier to keep in the 

 game than a faster animal which requires half 

 the length of the ground to turn in. A polo 

 ground is only three hundred yards by one 



