Learn the equestrian sport of polo

Polo Barn Checklist

Conditioning Polo Ponies

  • Turn polo ponies out at least one hour per day if possible.
  • Never turn out two polo ponies in the same paddock if they have rear shoes on.
  • First week: walk one hour in morning and walk one hour in the afternoon.
  • Second and third weeks: walk and trot equally for one hour in morning and walk one hour in afternoon.
  • Fourth week: walk, mostly trot and a little cantering for one and a half hours in the morning and walk one hour in the afternoon.
  • Fifth and sixth weeks: Begin some short wind sprints and schooling in the afternoons. Walk and trot in the morning.

Exercising Polo Ponies

  • Turn out all polo ponies each day for at least one hour if possible.
  • Never put two polo ponies in same paddock with rear shoes on.
  • On days when there is no polo match or practice, walk and trot for a total of one to 1½ hours in the morning. Walk for one hour in afternoon.
  • School and short wind sprints in the afternoon on the day before a polo match.
  • On days when there is a polo match, walk and trot for 45 minutes before each polo match.
  • Warm up each polo pony, as needed or requested, before each period of play or in the morning as needed by specific polo ponies.

Polo Games and Practices

  • Call the polo club to get the line-up and game time before loading any horses onto the trailer.
  • Arrive at the polo field at least one hour before a game or practice.
  • Have all polo ponies completely tacked up before the polo game.
  • Take all equipment (mallets, gloves, helmet, clean towel, knee guards, chairs, oxygen kit, et cetera) and lay it out neatly on the polo team blanket.
  • Check the oxygen kit regularly.
  • Bring sports drinks, juices, soft drinks and water to all polo practices and games.
  • Pay hot walkers if needed, and keep an expense record.
  • Bring complete blacksmith supplies, wash water and drinking water for polo ponies to all polo practices and matches.
  • Use a liniment in the wash water.
  • Make sure the emergency kit, including oxygen, medical supplies, et cetera, is always on hand.
  • Give polo ponies a small drink of water after each chukker or polo game at the polo field.

Tack and Equipment

  • Wash and clean polo riding boots immediately after use. Polish polo game boots.
  • Clean tack after each game, as soon as possible.
  • Halter and shanks should be hung up at each stall.
  • Have a bridle and martingale for each horse, marked with name of horse.
  • Mark all new tack in its proper place with the polo barn's brand.
  • Air and dry polo saddle blankets after each use.
  • Wash leg wraps and clean polo saddle blankets as needed.
  • Have broken polo tack repaired at once if it can be reused.
  • Check polo tack regularly, especially billets and girths.

Nutrition and Feed

  • Salt in all stalls and fields (brood mares in foal get white salt, polo ponies in training get a red salt block).
  • Feed by 7:30 a.m., hay first (one or two flakes as needed), then grain a half hour later, after the hay.
  • Feed polo ponies hay before the oats and stuff. After their stomach starts to digest the hay, they'll digest the oats better.
  • Feed twice a day. Certain polo ponies may be fed three times per day as needed, others less.
  • Feed may be varied in amount, depending on condition and need of each polo pony.
  • Check the quality of feed on delivery. Reject anything not of good quality (musty, non-green or sticky hay or dusty oats). Accept crimped full clean and bright oats only.
  • Drive or 707 added to the evening feeding, one small cup as described.
  • Oats and a cup of bran in all feed when in training except as directed below.
  • Honey, one-half oats and one-half sweet feed, the evening before polo matches; oats only on the morning of polo matches.
  • Hot bran mash (oats, bran, 1 cup of flaxseed, nuts) after each polo match and at least once per week.
  • Order flaxseed regularly.
  • No hay on the morning of a polo match.
  • In Florida, when in training, keep polo ponies muzzled at all times when out of stall or in small pens, some even muzzled in stall, to prevent eating sand, which causes colic.
  • Add electrolytes to water during a warm or hot season.

Blacksmith

  • Set up a schedule with the blacksmith to visit every four weeks.
  • Keep records on each polo pony.
  • Keep a record of the type of shoes and pads for each polo pony.
  • Check shoeing for angle and taper on each polo pony, check front and side.
  • Review all shoeing when completed with the blacksmith.
  • Be especially careful of too low a heel. Stand up straight, if anything, to avoid stress to the tendon area.
  • Use Huff Grip pads on all polo ponies that have leg problems, front or back.

Normal Vital Signs of Polo Ponies

  • Temperature: 100.5°F
  • Pulse: 36 to 40 beats per minute
  • Respiration: 12 to 16 breaths per minute

Sick or Lame Polo Ponies

  • Use an ice boot or ice machine for strain, ligaments, or a blow to a leg by a mallet or a ball, for 20 to 30 minutes, two to three times a day, and as soon as possible at all polo games.
  • Use good judgment, call a veterinarian if necessary.
  • If a polo pony has colic, give 1 gallon of mineral oil at once, both oral and rectal. Give 10 cc of Banamine intra-muscular. Keep the polo pony walking. Call the veterinarian. Do not give the polo pony any grain until manure is passing normally again.
  • If a polo pony is lame from the knee down, put on an ice boot at once, and then three times a day for four days. Administer other medication as needed.
  • Keep a calendar record of the time and date mares are "in season".
  • If a polo pony ties up, keep it warm with a cooler; do not walk it, and give 10 cc of Banamine intra-muscularly plus 1 cc of Ace intra-muscularly. Call the veterinarian if the polo pony is not not better in one hour.
  • All shots are given intra-muscular.
  • Never give a vitamin B plus iron combination shot. Vitamin B alone is okay as needed.
  • Poultice all polo ponies' legs after a polo game or practice.
  • Inform the owner immediately, by phone, of any problems with their polo ponies.

Regular Polo Pony Care

  • Check all polo ponies daily when grooming, walk and trot out, paint sores and put Vaseline on old cuts, and give medication as needed.
  • Paint Hooflex on hooves at least three times per week.
  • Wash down after exercise and each polo chukker using a wash liniment.
  • Cool polo ponies well before loading into trailer. Walk polo ponies for at least 15 minutes.
  • In cool weather be sure to have extra sheets at all polo matches.
  • Clip manes and trim head and feet as needed.
  • Have extra water for polo ponies to drink at polo games before loading and driving home. Also provide water after a chukker if the polo pony will play a second chukker.
  • After a polo practice or polo match, poultice the legs from knees down to below fetlock and put on standing bandages.

Polo Barn

  • Keep feed bins closed.
  • Water buckets should be emptied and rinsed out daily.
  • Keep barn and driveway area clean and swept.
  • Hang up all tools.
  • Roll up and hang all hoses.
  • Keep brushes, curry combs, hoof picks and medicine clean and in the proper cabinet.
  • Keep tack rooms neat and clean.
  • Keep the polo barn cleared of cobwebs.
  • Keep the polo barn windows washed.
  • Empty trash cans daily.
  • Spread manure daily if the spreader is more than half full.

Fencing

  • Keep all fencing in good repair and check regularly.
  • Have other needed repairs done as soon as possible, such as carpentry, plumbing, et cetera.
  • Check all stalls for protruding nails or wood slivers, et cetera.

Polo Field and Lawns

  • Where applicable, have the stick and ball area mowed weekly.
  • Cut pastures 4 inches high depending on growth.
  • Trim around the polo barn weekly.
  • Have pastures dragged and fertilized as needed.

Before Leaving the Barn

  • Turn the lights out.
  • Turn the water off.
  • Check if all tack room doors are locked.
  • Check if all outside doors and gates are securely shut.
  • Check if all tools, tack, halters, hoses, buckets, et cetera, are stored in their proper place.
  • Check if all droppings have been picked up.
  • Check if all walks are swept and the yard is raked.

Truck and Trailer

  • Sweep out the horse trailer after each use.
  • Wash the truck and trailer regularly as needed.
  • Keep the truck interior clean.

Inclement Weather

  • Clean, repair or paint equipment.
  • Clean the polo barn, tack rooms, et cetera.
  • Take bridles apart, clean, and apply saddle soap.
  • Shine bits and irons.

Traveling

  • Plan ahead. Then check the plan. Confirm everything.
  • Make reservations for people and horses well in advance.
  • Pay all travel expenses except bar bill. $25 per day for food while traveling on the road. Use a double room, two per room.
  • Be sure to have all necessary veterinary certificates and trip tickets as required. Save them all after each trip.
  • Save all expense chits and turn them in.

Billy Ylvisaker

Billy Ylvisaker is credited with originating this polo barn checklist and encouraging others to add to it.

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