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.

Funeral held Friday, February 12th, 11:00AM at St. David’s in the Pines, 465 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington, FL 33414.

In lieu of flowers, Bill’s family would be very grateful for a donation to the Polo Training Foundation in Bill Ylvisaker’s honor.

Download a PDF Poster version of this page