HOW TO COMMENCE PLAYING POLO,

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 59

HOW TO COMMENCE PLAYING POLO,

Br F. DA. G. De L'lsle.

As this game is now becoming so popular, it may prove of interest to a great many readers to know how best to commence playing polo. Of course the first consideration is the stud. To those who have seen the game played, and who wish to become players themselves, I would say don't be in a hurry. Take time, and be careful in your expenditure. In New Zealand, and in the country especially, a man can enjoy the most exhilarating and enjoyabe amusement at a very small cost. It is not true that polo is an expensive pastime. Only those who spend recklessly, or, from want of experience, find it expensive. To tha novice about to commence playing polo I would put these questions : —

Are you prepared to spend from £30 to £35 to form your stud?

Can you afford £20 yearly out of your income for the support of your etud? And these questions being answered eatisfactorily I should go on. To play the game, and enjoy it, it is not necessary to have more than two ponies, but they must be good. A great many players have three, four, five, and even six ponies — as witness a player in last season's champion club, who, possessed of two grand animals, played through both the season and tournament by these two ponies alone. Now, the hardest task of a polo player's lot is the getting hold of good ponies. To the man who cannot afford to give £25 or £50 for a "made" or trained polo pony I give this advice.

The first season you will not want firstclass cattle. You must be satisfied to devote the first season to. learning the game and to training your ponies, and your first season will be your worst. Therefore, be all the more careful in what way you buy your ponies. Don't be tempted into buying a cheap pony out of another man's stud. Men don'i sell polo ponies out of their studs cheap, unless they are absolutely no good. You will have heaps of offers, but don't buy, give them a long trial first. And you will find that they are either too slow, or that they are too strong in the jaws, and the devil himself could not hold them or turn them, or that they etumble and are dangerous to ride, or that they won't go up to the ball, or that they possess a dozen other accomplishments not required for polo. Don't buy unless, after a long trial, you find you can get on the ball as often as most other fellows. Do as every sensible man with a small income does — wander about and hunt for ponies. Never mind missing a few games your first season ; you'll be laying the foundation of a glorious second season. Just hunt about indefatigably and look out for the following pony, he's somewhere in the land : — From four to five years old, 14 hands high or under, tractable, with a good mouth, and fa-t. Price, untrained to polo, £5 to £10. If you cannot be sure of his soundness get a guarantee from the " vendor. When you once become possesed of this pony, do be careful how you ride him and how you treat him. Remember that he has feeling* and reason like yourself, and treat him accordingly. Only a cur at heart could knock a dumb animal about and punish j where no return or defence is pqssible. j Having got this pony feed him well. t practice hard, train him thoroughly, and look out for a pair to him. Rather miss a whole season's play than be saddled with bad ponies. Take your time in buying them, and take .plenty of time in training them, and you will never regret the writer « advice. Having commenced playing polo, you will find your first year's expenditure will be something after this fashion: — Two polo ponies .. ,«„ «* ..£2O 0 0 Saddle .. ... •«■ ~ » 410 0 Bridle .. .. .* •• I" 0 Two horserugs -.-a 4. «i .. x „ „ Stable requisites.. c « ••' •• ,„ « Sticks (for season) *. ... .« 110 0 Balls (for season) .. ... •• 06 0 Gear for self (for season) .*■ «. 110 0 Subscription (for season ).. .. 110 Shoeing, at 5s per month each pony 3 0 0 Keep of two ponies at 7s 6d per week each, six months .- 18 0 0 Padaocking ponies, Is per week each for six months „. *. oj, 2 8 0 Sundries .. ... <.« «•• ..200 Total „ w .* ..£SB 5 0 "With a bit of luck the two ponies might be got for a fiver less. Shoeing is an expensive item; buf tne .keep of ponies can be reduced to a minimum by buying your chaff and oats in a sufficiently large quantity to last for the whole season. Once started as above the second season's expenses could be- cut down to less than half that amount. Of course I can hear the "smart" man say "Rot ! I can -play polo for lesw than that!" Well, co he can; and here's how he does it: — ■ Two Maori weeds at 50 bob apiece .. £0 0 0 Second-hand saddle and bridle, bought at auction 1 10 0 Sticks (he buys two, and repairs them himself when broken) .. 012 0 Balls (he gets one, and when that breaks he uses a lunip of wood or sneaks another man's ball .., 0 10 fr«ar (pair of old pwits cut down*

second-hand gaiters, bought at auction) 0 4 0 Subscription (P.N. at sis months) .. 10 0 Shoeing (his ponies nevar ■wear shoe=) 0 0 0 Keep (grass fe<l) 2 8 0 Sundries (somebody elss pays for his chinks, etc.) 0 0 0 Horserngs (two old potatto sacks, cadged from the grocer) .. .. 0 0 0 Total ..i ... .. .. £10 15 0 There you are. It's funny how little you can do it on if you're only moan enough ! Having got your ponies, gear, etc., go in and practise hard. Polo is like billiards, it requires constant, hard practice. The first season will pass away and you won't be very happy — at least not altogether happ3* — but if you have the courage to stick to your practice and the- training of your little stud you will be amply rewarded for it during reason No. 2. In my next article I will devote my attention to the training and management of polo ponies.