equestrian medicine
Photograph by Jacqueline Miller
AG E N DA
The Horse Healers
Standards set by Myopia’s Equine Welfare Committee have been adopted by the USPA, leading to improved excellence in equine care. / by Bill Burke
It’s often said that the best athletes on a polo field are the spirited, hard-working ponies. Their strength, endurance and heart ensure generations of passionate players fall under the spell of the sport. So when it comes to caring for the four-legged athletes thundering up and down Gibney Field, the men and women of Myopia take a proactive approach to equine care. The Myopia Equine Welfare Committee — a group made up of polo players, equestrians, veterinarians, experts and longtime club members — ensures the safety and care of the horses 22 myopia polo 2021
remains a focus of everyone involved in the sport. “Our mission is to provide the highest level of oversight to the care of our horses in the community, and the polo horses in the polo community, in particular,” says Dr. Bryan Parrott, owner of Parrott Equine Associates and one of the founding members of the Myopia Welfare Committee. “We wanted to develop and raise the standards for the welfare of these wonderful animals.” The committee was first founded several years ago when it became apparent that improvements were
needed. The group came together, organized, codified standards and put them into action. These innovations did not go unnoticed on a national level. The United States Polo Association (USPA) adopted most of the committee’s standards for the care and maintenance of horses — both on and off the field. Among them: Myopia’s rules on using artificial aids, core conditioning — ensuring the horses are healthy and fit to play — have been adopted by the national organization. “Having that happen was so rewarding,” Parrott says. “It was cause for celebration. It wasn’t just me — I was there to help steamroll it — but there was such a passion from the committee as a whole. We really worked well together.”
