Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-01
EYES ON POLO PONIES
NIMBLE ANIMALS ARE WELL
SUITED TO REMOUNT SERVICE
James G. Cooley Says English Experts
Have Found This Type Best Adapted
for Purposes. SfS.

While the military authorities are
| searching for type OF army horse It
might be we'll to consider the claims Of
polo enthusiasts. who aver that tho
stout rimble ponies which have been
! developed by the gamc here and abroad
are the finest remounts for cavalry to
be obtained anywhere.
Speaking in support of this theory,
James c. Cooley said at Meadow Brook
| recently:
Il have been told by Mr.. william
Balding. who has devoted a lifetime in
England to training polo ponies and
who selected all the mounts which Lord
Wimborne brought to this country in
1914, that British officers declare that
there Is nothing to equal the polo pony
as an army remount. He is quick:
handy and easily trained. But highly
desirable as these qualities are, the
animal must have the stamina which
only comes with thoroughbred blood.
I'm England there are a great many
thoroughbred ponies which are bred
exclusively for polo. The most note
worthy breeder of this type of animal
was the late Sir John Barker. whose
stud at Bishops Stortford, not far.
from Newmarket. is famous the world
over Sir John Barker achieved his
greatest success with Mark Forard and
Right Forard. Right Forard Is the.
more famous and his blood is always in
great demand. He is unquestionably.
the most successful polo pony stallion
in England. and it is a curious fact
that from show ring point OF view
he was never considered The success
| of his sire, Mark Forard. became SO
pronounced. however. that Right Forard
was used for mares. His success was
| so immediate that he at once became
the most popular stallion of his day.
All Of which goes to prove that effec-
tive as horse shows may be for the .
establishment OF type, the theory and
opinion of the judge in show ring
| cannot for one minute be regarded
| alongside of actual facts and perfor.
| mances. -
| Il mention these sires in particular
because we are fortunate enough to
| have some of the blood In this coun-
| try.
Some years ago Mr.. @. A. Shaw inn
| ported a son of Mark Forard, which he
took to his Virginia farm near Char
| lottesvtlle. AS a result Mr.. Shaw has
now lot Of promising yearlinEs and.
| two-year-olds out of some OF the best.
pony mares that have ever played In,
the United States. Another son - Mark
! Forard in this country is Christopher
Columbus. which was imported ilast,
winter by syndicate composed of Mr..
w. r. Grace, Mr.. Horace Havemeyefs
Mr.. Harry T. Peters and Mr.. Allan
Pinkerton. rs
christopher Columbus will stand for
the season OF 1917 at Commack, L. L, at
the farm Of Mr.. Horace Havemeyera
The gentlemen who bought him for
the benefit Of polo pony breeding in
America are going to let him stand
free to approved mares. and there iafno
doubt but that he will be patronized
to the fullest extent. They felt that
| some effort should be made to breed
ponies of the distinct English polo
pony type In America and that this was'
the best opportunity to obtain an Eng
lish stallion. SS,
They. decided that for their purpose
Christopher Columbus was the best polo
pony stallion in England, both as to
individual typo and also as to polo pony
blood lines. The dam OF Christopher
Columbus Little Chris. played under
the name of Value and was one OF
the best ponies Of her day. winner OF
many Galloway races. Little Chris Is
clean bred. being by Brentworth out OF
| Philobeile. -
The Importation OF these stations Is
a matter of real interest to breeders in
! America. 1t is extremely probable TINT
after the war England will make an
effort to get Christopher Columbus back
! for use in that country. But even if
| he is sent back he will have served his
purpose here.
Il have been playing polo for good
| many years" said Mr.. Cooley in con-
Guiding, and the Improvement In tho
polo pony, of to-day as compared with
that OF twenty years ago is tremendous.
AS far South as Texas and as far North
as Wyoming we see ponies with all the
| appearances and qualifications of thor
oughbreds. They are by thoroughbred
| stations out OF Western mares. The
Western mare belongs to the range. and
the fact that the thoroughbred sire al
ways herds his mares might open the
way to solution OF the remount prob
lem. In coming years we should breed
a large number OF polo ponies almost
II not entirely. clean bred, and their
economic value to the country at large
/ cannot be denied whether q nersnr Ia