4 minute read
Thrill of the pace
Rhys Moore explains how the experience of a good polo pony makes it ideally suited to fox hunting – even in the hands of an excited young rider
On a crisp pre-dawn morning in October 2007, in North Salem, New York, stood a perfectly proud polo pony in a field of hunters attired in black and scarlet, surrounded by hounds anxious to be cast. In the tack was an equally anxious, determined and very excited five-year-old girl. The pony had one of those deeply resigned expressions, as if wondering, ‘Where are the manicured fields, the mallets and the clean white balls, the warm weather?’ In the next moment, the horn sounded, the field moved out, the hounds were cast, and so began a wonderful fox-hunting relationship between a little girl and a remarkable polo pony.
My daughter, Elizabeth ‘LuLu’ Moore, has loved horses ever since she was very little, and insisted on seeing our hunt, the Golden’s Bridge Hounds, off most Saturday mornings. Each week, she asserted she was ready to hunt, despite being only five (‘almost six’) and riding for little more than a year. Eventually, our most senior master, Gene Colley, invited her to join us in the field on a lead line. It was a huge honour.
Master Bruce Colley, Gene’s son, selected a beautiful black mare named Marocha from his string of polo steeds for LuLu to ride. He knew the horse’s temperament well. Her steady gait, sure-footedness and calm confidence meant not even an excitable almost-six-year-old could shake her. LuLu and Marocha made the perfect pair – I’ve never seen a horse and rider fall in love and care for one another so quickly or strongly.
Within two years, LuLu and Marocha became frequent hunting partners, learning the ways of the hounds and the prey, and understanding the protocol of the hunt field. Our hunt fixtures are a combination of rugged open territory, narrow and steep trails, rocky pastures and swampy bottom territory. For a polo pony, this is a far cry from soft, flat fields and 7½-minute chukkas, yet Marocha adapted well. She was so confident and
Opposite and below LuLu, aided by polo pony Marocha, took to fox hunting from the tender age of five, encouraged by her father, Rhys
strong on her feet, I’ve never had cause to worry about the safety of my young rider.
Each spring, Marocha returns to polo in the north. Each autumn, she goes home for another level of challenges designed by an ever-confident LuLu. As they enter their seventh hunting season, they show no less enthusiasm for the sport. It’s easy to understand why LuLu is so passionate about fox-hunting. She loves the thrill of the chase, the demands of the ride, the protocol and ceremony of the field, the traditions of dress, the history and honour of the hunt, and the respect we pay to the land and to the prey. Most of all, it’s her relationship with Marocha that motivates her.
But what is it that makes a polo pony a better prospective fox-hunter than any other horse needing a second career? Well, polo ponies are naturally athletic and willing to learn. They are well adapted to riding alongside traffic and have grown up with the noise and commotion of the game, so are not distracted by the huntsman’s horn, a cracking whip or noisy hounds. They are accustomed to start-stops and sprinting runs, and respond smoothly to the strong bit-demands and unbalanced movements of their rider.
But perhaps the most important attribute of all is their capacity for affection. After years of aggressive play on the polo field, of rigorous training schedules and manhandling by grooms and players, these ponies react well to the affection and attention of young and relatively light riders. The soft brushing and sweet chatter must seem comforting to them. I watch Marocha run to the edge of the pasture to greet LuLu when she arrives. I see her take the brush to her coat without resistance, when I know the same action from me would be met with a nip.
Gene and Bruce Colley are on to something special. With their initial intention of providing steady mounts to our youngest riders so they could join us in the field, they have inadvertently developed another life for retiring polo ponies.
I would encourage both the fox-hunting and polo communities to take Bruce’s lead and develop closer ties to allow for a happy transition from one sport to another for these horses. Polo ponies can make great field hunters and wonderful companions. They develop bonds with our fox hunters and love the sport. They are easy to handle, respond to all types of riders, and are athletic, agile and affectionate. You couldn’t find a better partner to trust with your little girl.
