Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-08-20
TRAINING POLO
PONIES Is HARD
Great Patience Needed to Fit
Them for Tournaments.
GUIDED BY LEG PRESSURE

UOtUIU III LLU ltlEOOOttI
In the "Mouthing" Stage Of instruc-
tion More Ponies Are Ruined Than
Made-Work Requires Horseman Of
Consummate Skill and Patience
Improperly Trained Pony Is Not
Only Menace to His Rider. But 10
Other Unfortunates Who Are Play
ing.
Docs the ur,linar! individual realize
What making poi" pony means ana
Why the tr>r.cla>s tournament pony
frtchc> nowadays from $3.50 to s.
O,o; asks writer il The london Daily
Mail lIc then proceeds t. answer
his OWN question H. follows.
Very probably not, FOR Tie average
man has perhaps 4 lazy idea that
polo pony has 10 hc taught Stick aild
hall" and thinks that once this is ac-
compli,hcd pony is fit 10 play.
stick aud ball" is an inhnitr>imal
part III a pony's education. and might
almost BE- compared with the learning
OF "mcn>a" in classical career.
The pony's first lesson is mouth
ing" ana in this stage more ponies
are ruined than made, for the really
expert horscIuan who can give his
time to this consuinmatr art is very
rare.
y hard inouthcd, pulling pony is the
devil; lishl-mouthcd. easy pony
JOY. Tie latter i, the outcome Of
many months patient schooling from
an expert horscman with hands,
good Judgment, and, above ali. per
feet temper for one bad tempered
jab in the pupils mouth from an i'm
patient rider viii und" the laborious
work 81 Il month
Guided by Leg Pressure.
Coincid,1lt with mOuthng i ia" les
son Of the leg" that most misundcr-
stood and misapplied term Putting
on the leg is not vigorous dig with
the heel or spur, rs even some OF our
best men To- hounds and over Il country
apparently think but Il distinct pres
surr-to be- perfect. it should b" IN
visible of the leg muscles and knee.
This the pony must be taught 10
recognize ana obey Under this pres
sure, he must start stop, passage
change legs bend and turn.
With the lessons of mouthing and
leg we'll learned, a pony may he sad
to be- well on the Way to being col
lectcd aud balanced. stat" which Is
the alpha and omega Of "A polo pony'S
education. and if the trainer has
brought raw pony I" this pitch IN
side twelve months he has done more
than we'll.
The pony which j, played unframed
is not only q menace To his OWN rider
but also to tho other unfortunatcS
playing for crossed les may mean
spill and one 'pll may mean others.
Yc, one slill SEES ponies al our most
famous grounds failing TO change on
turn. generally With nuyic"> III, turn
ing Oh their fnrchand hanging on the
bit all faults duc to lack of training
Perfectly Trained.
Then, rs contrast look AT the per
frctly trained pony. balanced and col
lcctcd. almost. IL it were playing with
his bit. answering the leg long before
the rein. ilinging himself round with
out givin. his rider II moment dis
comfort and enabling him /" c"ncen-
trDtr All his energies on hitting the
bali. which is the A. l. and { OF polo.
"Ridin. OF thcr" must he no
ninching here. but u determination
lust as great nu the part Of the pony
uS on that OF the man 1" push his OF
ponrnt IN The line Some ponies de-
light in il. going IN without amy effort
Oh the part Of the rider and revealing
IN good hard tu>SIc.
10 this the pony must b" educated
Just a. the foothaller Is taught III his
youth how To- tackle. 50 must ia" pony
be taught to ride "li FIRST, ~ the
walk, up and doNu the school or pad
dock. shoulder L. shoulder with an
old hand. givc and take. III" young
Stcr may he allowed go haN" the best
Of things at this stage la civ him
heart ana ENCOURAGEMENT, then he
progresses hy easy Stages I" the can
ter and finally 10 TIE -aiiop.
Those or us Who play know HE joy
Of going IN on Il pony Wh" goes Ia
on his own and is -luttun for ia" job
and realize what :. different 'Pr"p"S!-
ton" i, thu pony which needs riding
hard To- s,t there aud much lcs 10 keep
him at il.
= 49,. ,,,, ,.r.t.vaS~,.. frntp seln,l