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[RC] Polo "Ponies", foxhunting, economics - Carolyn BurgessEveryone should go see a professional polo match. You really have to see the pros play it, amateur matches are the same. It is like watching hockey on horseback, and it is a team sport (the rider and the horse). They have the ring with a border, about 6" high or so, then about 10' out from that they have a white line (like at a soccer or football field). They tell you to sit outside of that alley. The reason is that the horses can come out of the field of play into that alley. We were watching one match and the ball got caught up against the boards. One rider couldn't get to the ball from the angle they were at. The horse realized that and jumped backwards out of the ring into that alley, putting the rider in a position where he whacked the ball back into play. It was just amazing. The horses understand and play the game. Other than the ECTRA awards banquet last year, it is the only horse event I've been too where I could dress up and smell as good after as I started :-o Carolyn Burgess --- Juli Jakub <fahraway@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: I have played polo and been a polo groom. It is an amazing game and I wish I could have done it more. However I was horrible! I have no hand eye coordination when it comes to making the mallet connect with that ball...I was whiffing all the time. But what fun to gallop up and down the field riding other players off the ball...bumping, turning, and full out again. It is intense and does take alot of training for both horses and rider. When I was a groom I spent most of my time short tracking the string of ponies. basically running them up and down and praticing roll backs, stops, quick changes of direction ect. It was fun! <html><DIV> <P>Juli Jakub</P> <P>The Air of Heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears.</P> <P>~ arabian proverb</P></DIV></html> Boy, what a picture! And what a picture of what would be required for polo. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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