How To Buy A Polo Pony

Purchasing your first polo pony is a little like buying your first car. It's a good idea to talk with people who own polo ponies and actually play polo at a club before you talk to someone who wants to sell you one.

Characteristics

A healthy polo pony displays several typical characteristics. It is alert, attentive, and its eyes are bright. Its skin is elastic and its coat shows luster. Given the opportunity, it will run and play for exercise. Its appetite is good and it will consume a normal ration at feeding time. And it loves to play polo.

Consult An Experienced polo player

Learn all you can about the clubs and dealers in your area before you actually look at a polo pony for sale. Horse dealers give a 10% finders fee to anyone that recommends them, so be sure it goes to someone you trust and has your best interests at heart.

Ride different horses

This will help you get a feel for the size and type of horse that's right for you. You need to physically experience how a horse moves underneath you. Try different types of horses to know what you want, even if you have to pay for it. It's a very small investment in the long run. A good polo pony is an asset that will pay off in every game. Reputable horse dealers will let you stick and ball a horse you are interested in purchasing. Ask an experienced polo player to try the polo pony for you. Ask the horse dealer for a one week trial, so you can ride and handle the horse daily. If a horse dealer does not allow this, find another dealer.

Buy Experience

Begin on an experienced polo pony. Three, four, or five year old horses have very little experience even if they have played a lot of polo. A good horse can be as much as 15 years old if it's fit and has been kept up.

You'll learn faster and it will be much easier. More importantly, you'll enjoy the sport more, even if you miss a few plays for lack of speed. A fast horse can get you to the ball a little quicker, but you won't be able to hit the ball at that speed. If you practice and play regularly, you will eventually move up to faster polo. Make sure the dealer provides you with a history of the polo pony. All former race horses will have been tattooed or freeze branded.

Don't Buy More Horse Than You Need

A new polo player can get seriously injured on "too much horse". A good horse to learn polo on will cost between $7,500 to $15,000. In a year or two, you should be able to sell your horse to another beginner without losing a lot of money. A good first pony is always a good first pony.

Consult A Veterinarian

It's a good idea to have a horse examined by an equine veterinarian before you make your purchase. The veterinarian can give you a good idea of the its age and physical fitness. Ask the veterinarian to check the horse for soundness and to administer a drug test.

Be Patient and Have Fun

Polo is the world's fastest team sport, but that speed comes quite naturally for a polo pony and very slowly for a new polo player.

Be patient with yourself and your horse. Have fun playing the game you love.