Anuario Raza Polo Argentino 2016 | Page 247

“In order to breed and be acknowledged, you must see to it that your horses play the Open. Young players should be given support.” other, because union is strength and we give our full support to the Rural Association, and the Ru- ral Association is responding to all our require- ments—which are many—but they listen to us and help us improve. What is your perception of the level of the Polo Argentino ponies this season? They are on a level of excellence. On one hand I notice that Polo Argentino Clones have met and gone beyond our expectations, being nominated and receiving prizes, as in Tortugas with Dolfina B06 Cuartetera, for her superior attributes as playing-pony, and a Clone as well. It won both the AACCP and the AAP horse blankets. On the other hand, the awards granted at Hurling- ham and the Open show us different situations. At Hurlingham the prize went to a mare of great standing, which had already received a prize at Tortugas in 2013: Open Z Jones, with a very good genetic bloodline, of Ellerstina stock. The corollary of these awards was seen at the Open, with the prize granted to Vasca Harrods, a mare that does not belong to the great organiza- tions and which became a part of Nero’s pony line for the Palermo Open; raised by its breeder, Ed- uardo Heguy. This goes to show that there are mares that can make that category leap, which is a comforting thought, knowing that in many teams there is an excellent level of ponies, but as we always say, what we seek is to have an animal that improves sportswise in order to play polo. 245