Polo (The Sport)...

So, what I've been wondering, is why don't they just use horses from America? I believe UCONN uses/breeds their own, since they're all morgans.

I played intercollegiate polo for a couple years. Started with the schools horse and then convinced my jumper trainer to allow me to lease one of her TB's for it. It was amazing.

So that begs a few questions......

1. Do all trainers in Argentina beat their ponies, or was it just this one barn?
2. If it was just this one barn, is that how all trainers there treat their ponies, or was it just one guy going rogue?
3. Does harsh training happen only in Argentina, or is that something that can happen anywhere including here in the US?
4. Did your friend witness this brutality, or is she just repeating what she was told without corroboration?

I'm just curious.

Argentine polo ponies are either Criollos or mixes of Criollos and TBs. They are buff little horses with great endurance and temperment. The power of their hindquarters is a big draw for quick starts and turns. Lots of photos on the internet. TBs, domestic and imported, are still the most commonly played here in the U.S.

I've worked with Argentine trainers and players and have not witnessed abuse. Ever. I did work with one Criollo pony that didn't tie well. At the same time I had a TB in another string didn't tie well either. Some horses don't, though both would stand all day next to the other horses at the trailers. I will not assume that having a bad habit means poor or abusive training.

I just asked her about it. She told me she didn't know for sure, but she said there's just this general knowledge that people in Argentina don't treat their horses well, which was supported by the manners of some of their polo ponies. She didn't really elaborate, but I assume her coaches or other students may have talked about it with her. I don't think they'd really have a way of knowing exactly what kind of training they've had, as most of their ponies were donations from wealthy benefactors.

Is this the kind of third party hearsay that anyone should be repeating, then?

Dont believe all the hype.Polo rocks and those who play it are dedicated to the safety and health of the ponies.As in any sport,you will have those who are underhanded and don't take care of their animals.Ive been around Polo a long time and I have nothing bad to say about it at all.And once you play...youre hooked.

Polo is a tough game and the ponies need to be fast, turn on a dime and be bold enough to take all the knocking and whacks they get both from other horses and the mallet and ball!

The best ponies come from Argentina where, I can assure you, they are started well before they are six years old. Many others are small TBs that have failed on the track.

Polo ponies are pretty much bomb proof - they have to be!

They have to stand tied for ages waiting for their chukka which is only 7.5 minutes and the game (at top level) is so hard and fast they only play one chukka per game.

I have a retired international polo pony here and she is a dream to have around - never any problem.

Oh my god.... so many misconceptions here... get ready to be educated....

I've played at UCONN many times within the past six years, and many UCONN horses are actually donated by polo players (my grandfather actually donated the very first UCONN polo pony, a horse called Spinner, many many years ago). Sometimes, they are from high-level professionals who only need the horse during a few years of their peek performance, and then donate the horse to UCONN where they know it will be well taken care of. Maybe a handful of horses bred at UCONN (though I don't believe they have an actual breeding program), but the majority are from the USA and all over the country. They do not ONLY use morgans, but actually the majority of the polo ponies are thoroughbreds, or at least partially thoroughbreds. Unless the riders are professionals, or they are very wealthy, most riders will try many different breeds for polo ponies. They have used paints at UCONN, and they even have a saddlebred that they use for polo (one of my favorite ponies there!!). They get new horses periodically almost every year, and even have a horse auction once a year so they're always getting new additions to their string.
Overall, I have only positive things to say about UCONN polo. They have one of the nicest facilities in the northeast, a very very well taken care of and talented string of ponies, and the people in the UCONN horse program are extremely helpful, talented, kind, and they take such great care of their ponies.