Anuario Raza Polo Argentino Anuario2018 | Page 245

Raising and Training
a Polo Pony
By Antonio Heguy
This article is a copy of the original that was published in the 1969 edition
of Centauros Magazine 50 years ago. And its author is great grandfather
to the generation which is bursting its way up in today’s polo .
The brilliant tours around Europe and the United
States by Argentine polo teams since 1922, as
well as the admiration their horses awoke; their
adaptability to the game; their speed and the ease
with which they were managed, gave rise locally
to debate—and sometimes controversy—as to the
way in which our herds should go improving based
on the contribution of thoroughbred racehorse
bloodlines.
There is little doubt that despite the success and
failure of some breeds, the outcome has been
distinctly positive, seeing that in places where this
sport is practiced our horses enjoy high prestige.
Our contribution to this extremely debatable issue,
which may seem rather unorthodox and regarding
which we provide you with simple suggestions,
are the result of our extensive experience, and if
they turn out useful for players and breeders, our
aspirations would be wholly satisfied. We know
that the 4 stages in which we divide this process
(raising-break-in-training-play) are difficult to put
together, but we understand that they are of key
importance if one is to obtain a first class horse.
1- RAISING: We believe that to reach our
goal—i.e. to achieve a good polo pony—our
herd must possess superlative type, speed and
character. As in all bloodstocks of any breed,
the dam is essential and must be selected from
among playing mares that have shown aptitude
for the game on the field.
Consequently, getting together a batch of
similarly endowed mares is the most difficult
part and means many years of selection. As
regards the sire, it must be a Thoroughbred
Racehorse, if possible with a polo background
and from bloodlines that are easy milers,
emphasizing the importance of quality, in such
a way that they may guarantee a progeny of
stayers with the aptitude to play two chukkas
per match. Inasmuch as type is concerned,
their attributes must include the beauty which
we all know, but we wish to highlight some
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