“ How valuable was genetic contribution to good quality as regards growth?”“ When we added genetics, we added red corpuscles; power, and horses with a better nature for playing polo. That was what allowed us to raise the level of our raw material. Genetics helped us all: tamers, pilots, and of course, breeders too. There are many factors that improved thanks to genetics.”
“ Matías, you were a professional polo-player, but decided to stop playing to devote your time to breeding. Was it your passion for horses that lead you to take that decision?”“ I always say that there are two kinds of players: the very skillful, which in my day did not need to have such a soft-mouthed horse, or as in my case, not all that skillful, but who needed to have a very soft-mouthed horse. In time, and putting emphasis on rein management, I went adding American techniques to improve the horse’ s mouth. The time came when I realized that I preferred teaching a horse to play more than what I enjoyed playing myself. That is why we started up a winter season at the club, with Federico, where we taught the horses to play polo.”
Federico Pasquini“ Matías saw to it that he received a lot of training and so perfected himself”
“ Matías was crucial in our district. He comes from professional polo and progressed over the years. All his family played polo, and that helped us as regards learning to get organized. He started to take part in breeding ponies, and ended up becoming a specialist thanks to his vocation. In my opinion he is one of the best riders I’ ve seen. He received a lot of training and devoted a lot of time to perfecting himself and helped us a lot in training our Polo ponies.”
Luis Padilla“ One must breed from what is already proven and sure”
“ How did it all begin in Tucumán as regards breeding Polo Argentino?”“ I started breeding horses because it was our passion on the farm in Tucumán and we were always Polo enthusiasts. In 2002, I had just got my degree and was looking out for something to do with horses. Federico Pasquini had met with Alberto Pedro Heguy, and he invited me to accompany him to La Pampa to take a filly which he ended up changing for Polo Tiro Fijo. I shall always be grateful to Alberto Pedro Heguy because he welcomed us in such a wonderful way.”
“ And what was that first trip to the Argentine Rural Association like?”“ That was in 2001 and we were able to speak with Alberto Pedro Heguy which is when he invited us. That was our kick-off, after which we started to become involved with the AACCP, with a lot of advice from the Heguy family through whom we met Santiago Ballester as well, who was very much involved with breeding. I remember once that Ruso was selling several mares, and we bought them all and took them off to Tucumán and distributed
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