The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21
ANY HEIGHT POLO
PONIES PERMITTED
Nottingham Club Withdraws
liz Hands Rule for I'M
Fymited Standard,
BAA VICIOUS MOUNTS
Hampton Court Stables Disin-
fected for the Reception of
American Teams Animals.

Special Gable to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1890, BY THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
London, Dec. 20.
With the International polo match be-
tween England and America In view,
the Nottingham Club. which will have
charge of the big contest. has made sew
eral important changes in the playing
rules, the most vital being the introduce
ton of a clause which will permit ponies
of any height to be played in the match
next June. Heretofore the limited
standard was IA hands 2 inches, so that
the new rule eliminates one of the most
obnoxious Noints of the game and one
which has aroused international crti-
csm for years. 1t Is well known fact
that the bigger the pony the longer he
will stay, and, naturally, of course, the
better will be his stamina. Still. the
Englshmen who make q study of the
polo pony have It that a pony of Id
hands or more is not as nimble nor as
easily handled as the animal of 14.2 or
thereabouts. SO It is a case with the
shrewd one here that If a. player likes
big. unweldy animal he Is welcome to
his mistake.
A number of minor rules were altered
and they will apply principally to
players on this side of the Atlantic, but,
of course. they will have to be observed
by the American team as well. From
now on all ponies will have to be
licensed, no matter whether they belong
to polo clubs, regiments or other organ
izations. Nowadays In England all the
high class ponies are registered. big
majority being listed In the polo stud
book, but a number Of good ones used
in the County Polo Association tourna-
ments have never been registered or
licensed. and II is against these that the
rule has been directed. Another point
touched upon and one which must be
enforced Is that all vicious and badly
trained ponies must at once be removed
from the scene of the tournament and
any pony showing the least sign OF tenn
per must without delay be withdrawn
from the game.
For some time past number of Brit
ish players have been annoyed by the
claims of others that they were banging
around on troopers and steeplechases and
were paying no heed TO the height of
the ponies, so this was one of the chief
reasons why the height rule was with
drawn, and now it will be seen how 1t
will work on both sides of the Atlantic.
Considerable comment has been raised
here about the stabling OF the American
ponies They are to be housed at Hamp-
ton Court Palace, once the royal resi-
dence of King James l.. and the edifice
historically known as the ono wherein
the English Bible was translated. The
stables have been practically unused for
number of years. but it is said that
they have been renovated of late and
put in shape for the reception of the
American animals. In connection with
the stables the unpleasant experience
some time ago of the Duke of West
Minister will be remembered. The Duke
was about TO take his team of ponies for
visit to Spain. and sent them to Hamp-
ton Court Palace. where they were inn
mediately stricken with hoof disease
Nothing like that awaits the American
animals. as the British polo officials are
responsible for the statement that the
stables have been thoroughly disinfected
and are quite free from contagion of
any kind.