THE NORTHERN POLO PONIES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 46, 31 March 1914, Page 5

THE NORTHERN POLO PONIES.

RETURNED YESTERDAY. - iAs is generally known polo is an expensive sport, even if played At home, for the ponies have to be kept in good form, well fed and groomed, but to journey from home to play polo is a very costly matter. In the recent Christchurch tournament some 49 ponies came from Napier. The return freight on'these worked out at £154 7/-. Of the twelve players, three brought five ponies each, seven brought four, and two brought three each. To bring the ponies in lots from one to three the single freight is 55/- each; four cost 52/3 each; five cost 49/6 each. In conversation with Mr T. White prior to his leaving for the north last night, he considered that the actual travelling fare for the horses was not excessive, but the risk of them sustaining injury was the worst feature. Yesterday during loading operations there was considerable delay. Players who journeyed to port to assist in the handling of the horses had a long wait. Matters were hot improved when the actual loading commenced, for there were several minor accidents happened to the ponies. i One of Mr W. G. Stead's ponies sustained a broken pastern, and consequently will not be of any use for polo again. Mr Price also had: a pony knocked about. In this . case the shoulder was put out. In fact, the grooms in charge considered that they would have a busy time on arrival at their destinations applying blisters and putting the ponies to rights again. A smaller contingent of ponies were shipped on Saturday night.