be stronger for me and not otherwise. I start off with a Pelham and then go on to a gag. We only float the molars of those that go on to use a gag. As regards their feed, I like to start off in the open field so as to then stable them for a week and have them mix, so that they go getting used to it, but I see that we all think fairly similarly.
Gastón I don’ t have stables in La Pampa, but it is a good combination so that they get used to it. I think that more important than the bit or gag, is the handling by the person using the mouthpiece whichever it may be.
Juanpi And at the end of this first stage the horses will most likely end up stick-and-balling very well; it’ s normal that one may be harder than another. But we try that they arrive at the second stage with all the polo strokes and we do this so that when the second stage starts they are already used to all that can happen on the polo field.
I like to let them loose to rest with all the polo work done, so that when they begin the second stage, they know what it’ s all about. more difficult part, and if the next man doesn’ t make too many mistakes, the chances are things will turn out well.
Gastón The most important defect is if the horse does not have a soft mouth. The horse’ s mouth is essential.
SCHOOLING EFFICIENCY
Juanpi I think that if the foundation is good; if you have made a good selection; if you’ ve broken it in and that period has ended and you do things right, applying a philter during break-in which means that the horse you don’ t like while it’ s being tamed you try to discard, then they should all be able to play after the tamer has handed them over. But as regards statistics, I wouldn’ t know. We try that all the horses play polo.
Tomás I agree that despite the selection we make— I don’ t have the percentages either— there is always one that doesn’ t make it and is destined to another sport or activity.
Do any of you notice a defect that is common to some of the tamers? Are any of them difficult to correct? Do you see any difference in the breakin systems?
Claudio In my case, I’ ve caught up horses from the time when they were broken in with the threatening signs of arms, legs, or whips: we used to put them in a small exercising pen and get them to loosen up their necks with a small whip so that they would turn both ways. I think that the changes that have occurred with break-in are for the better. In some cases, the most difficult part is who catches them up after, because the tamers do the
AGE FOR BREAK-IN
Claudio I like the horses that have been broken in by the age of three. I don’ t know if it’ s just chance or what, but they’ ve always been the healthiest. Those that have been broken in at two years, in my experience, tend to acquire injuries earlier.
Tomás We break them in between three and four years of age, and although there are some that we break in at 2 years, I prefer to work with mares with stronger builds or more mature. That is personal; I’ m more comfortable with these mares. In our case, we don’ t play them hard till they
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