EQUINE MEDICINE

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 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.”

Dr. Parrott provided some of the equipment, and funds were raised to help acquire other necessities, including an equine ambulance. Each year the committee works with the Massachusetts Societyfor the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) and leads training sessions to update, improve and otherwise enhance the club’s standards.

“If it wasn’t for Myopia’s willingness to look at this and make changes, for the good of our community and for the good of the world, it wouldn’t have been adopted by the USPA,” Parrott says. “It has brought such a level of improvement in horsemanship to our community.”

It also put some teeth into the committee’s ability to enforce those standards. The MSPCA supports the club’s guidelines and has sent the organization’s enforcement arm to committee meetings to bolster its efforts. The MSPCA has empowered the Myopia Equine Welfare Committee to manage its approach, and it will work in concert with the Club to provide law enforcement support should it become necessary to see to the welfare of the animals.

“When people come to our field and play at Myopia, they have to agree to acontract that they will have the horses in good physical condition and that they can not be abused,” Parrott says. “If they are here to play, they have to accept our rules and bylaws. If they can’t live by that, they can’t play. All the professionals do that now.”

And while the recent pandemic influenced how polo at Myopia was played for a season, it played no role in how the horses were cared for.

“It had no affect on the job we do,” Parrott says. “The guidelines never changed and the horses received excellent care. By doing this, our standards at Myopia have increased tenfold. It’s wonderful that anyone who comes here has to abide by these standards. Myopia is a class-A place.”

The Equine Welfare Committee is financially self-sustaining. To donate, contact the committee chair at kmaguire00@ gmail.com.

“First and foremost, the horses are the most important ingredient in the sport of polo. Our love and passion of horses necessitates we enjoy the sport without causing them harm. Our mission is to prevent poor horsemanship and cruelty to these animals, and we’re doing an excellent job at that. “People should know that if they have any concerns, they can reach out to anyone on the Equine Welfare Committee or the polo manager and voice their concern. It will be taken seriously and it will be investigated.”

— Dr. Bryan Parrott, co-founder of the Myopia Polo Equine Welfare Committee

EQUINE WELFARE COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN Kimberly Maguire

ADVISORY COMMITTEE Dr. Bryan Parrott Cathy Taylor Nick Snow

MYOPIA EQUINE WELFARE MEMBERS Terri Campbell C.J. Brown Betty Muise