talk
blood ties England is regarded as one of the top polo nations in the world and, since the 1800s, English polo pony owners, players and breeders have been refining the type of pony used. Back in the 1850s, polo breeders imported Arabians from the Middle East and India to breed with smaller thoroughbreds to create their ideal pony. By the 1850s, the first Polo Studbook was published with a foundation stock of 57 Arab and thoroughbred stallions including the famous Arabian Mootrub as well as the thoroughbred Rosewater (GB) 1885. With the advent of war in the early 20th century, the need for polo ponies diminished and the Polo Pony Society blended into the National Pony Society so this record has no bearing on today’s UK Polo Studbook (PSB). With the modern era of computer data technology, it has been possible to create an online Polo Studbook, documenting details such
18
as the breeders, countries of birth, stud fees and availability. PSB is capable of registering the breeds with their back family as well as showing off these bloodlines as tabulated pedigrees, which is unique. After the first year, there are more than 22 UK-based polo stallions, many archive stallions from all over the world and a total of more than 300 top-quality polo ponies already registered. Every breeder, player and owner is encouraged to become a member online at polostudbook.org and to add their pony to the directory, following the basic steps as required on the website. Owners can apply to enter all ponies to the PSB and may succeed after passing the required criteria as stipulated. A select team that is truly passionate about establishing the polo-pony breed carefully administers PSB. It was the brainchild of Emma Tomlinson and Nick Wood, with founder members,
hurlinghampolo.com
Alan Kent, David Morley, Charlie Hanbury, Claire Tomlinson and Piers Plunket. While some question the worthiness of a UK-based polo studbook, others who understand breeding are excited to see this development. Argentine polo-breeding wizard Gonzalo Pieres merely smiles and says: ‘Now the ponies are beginning to get their airtime!’ Claire Tomlinson is of the view that ‘It’s lovely to see our best breeding stock properly recorded in clear format for everyone to access and see at last.’ A few UK players will argue that it is not economical to specifically breed and break your own polo ponies, and that reaching for the thoroughbred throw-outs is the answer, especially as there has been a glut over the past 15 years… and they have managed this with a reasonable degree of success. However, the cream always rises to the top. Players and teams
david sinclair
With its online database, the Polo Studbook ofers an invaluable tool to breeders, players, owners and patrons alike
