Polo Times Pony Powers

Martini

Height: 15.2hh Age: 16/17-years-old Colour: Dark bay Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Heloise Wilson-Smith Tournament: The Claire Tomlinson Trophy at Beaufort Polo Club

Where is she from/breeding? Her breeding is Acetuna x Portage (related to Comedy Star Alan Kent’s breed).

How long have you had her? I bought her in 2018, she was recommended to me by a close friend, Sheena Robertson. Described as a Maserati engine with glitches (hence why she never made it into the high goal that she was bred for).

What are her strengths? She is so fast when she’s allowed to run open. Covers ground like a cheetah.

How has she gone this season? Each season I’ve had her she’s gone better and better. She’s settled down from a very highly-strung mare with a management handbook for anyone working with her, to a much softer calmer mare. She is still very much the fearless powerhouse I bought four years ago.

Has she won any other Best Playing

Pony Awards? Yes, she has won BPP once before at Tidworth when they used to run Hero’s Day (Help for Heroes) with an exhibition match of a Ladies’ 6 goal team vs Men’s Army 6 goal team. was affordable because she’s was extra quirky, too quirky for the high goal she was bred for. But over the years she’s settled down fighting her rider or handler and trusts people a lot more. She’s never been classically naughty: bucked, reared bitten or kicked (people). She just wants to get on with her job, so you just have to go with her quirks and not box her in, then she’s good as gold.

What are your plans for her in the future?

I would like to take an embryo from her or try to have a foal from her if it’s not too late. Does she have any special quirks? She Describe her in three words? Strongwilled, powerful, honest.

Lupa

Height: 13.2 hh Age: 10-years-old Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Elizabeth Clarkin Tournament: Handley Cross Pony Club Polo Championships at Cowdray Park Polo Club

How long have you had her? We have had her for five years.

What are her strengths? She is really easy, fast, handy and loves her job.

How has she gone this season? Very well. She has done Pony Club Camp, show jumping at Rectory Farm, and the polo season. She does everything and seems to love it all. Her and Elizabeth have improved over every tournament and she always gives her all.

Has she won any other Best Playing

Pony Awards? This is her first one.

What are your plans for her in the

future? Elizabeth will keep playing her, riding her and hunting her and when she grows out of her, my [Nina’s] son Patrick and other daughter Florence will be fighting over her! Does she have any special quirks? She loves sharing Elizabeth’s picnic with her and hates being in a stable.

Describe her in three words? Perfect pocket rocket.

Cayoque

Height: 15.1hh Age: 11-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Owned and Played by Millie Hughes Tournament: The Whitbread Trophy: Young England vs Young Scotland

Where is she from/breeding? She is a French Thoroughbred from the tracks, bought and made by Dayna Waechter as a two-year-old.

How long have you had her? I played her lots of last season when she was owned by Dayna Waechter. But loved her so much I had to buy her, so begged Dayna for her and managed to steal her away at the end of last season.

What are her strengths? She is superfast and flat which makes her a great hitting platform when running. Definitely making her a horse to jump on when needing a goal.

How has she gone this season? She has been incredible all season, very consistent and never any problems. You always know

Photograph courtesy of HPA

what you are going to get when playing her.

Has she won any other Best Playing

Pony Awards? This was the first opportunity I have had this season at winning BPP and so with her being my newest recruit to the string I was super happy.

What are your plans for her in the

future? I am currently looking to potentially sell her, but only to the right owner due to finishing university and working out my next steps in polo and career. So if readers are looking to buy please do get in touch (+447825153416).

Does she have any special quirks? I wouldn’t say she has any quirks as such, but she is just a peculiar horse is the easiest way to describe it. She is almost like a human.

Describe her in three words? One in a million.

Lovelocks Pebbles

Height: 15.1hh Age: 11-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned and played by: Zac Beim Tournament: Gannon Pony Club Polo Championships at Cowdray Park Polo Club

Where is she from/breeding? She is Lovelocks Polo Stud bred by Charlie Hanbury in England with the her breeding being Lovelocks Bonjovi x Gravel.

How long have you had her? We have known her since she was five-years-old, however, we have owned her since the start of May this year.

What are her strengths? Her strengths are that she has amazing sides, she is tough and doesn’t give up in any play. She has an amazing mouth and can shut down really well.

How has she gone this season? Since I’ve had her she has being going amazing, she’s the first chukka in most games because she gives me lots of confidence.

Photograph by Ultimate Images

Has she won any other Best Playing

Pony Awards? She hasn’t won any others yet but hopefully she’ll win some more soon in the next few years.

What are your plans for her in the

future? My plans with her and to keep her in my string as one of the main stayers. Does she have any special quirks? She’s a quirky horse, she can be a bit funny to get on at times, so we like to keep her really relaxed before the game and around the yard at home.

Describe her in three words? Fast, agile, tough.

OOPS

In January of 2022 my intention was to release my educational program in May of 2022. That objective turned out to be a bit overzealous. I am now shooting for a release date of July/August 2022 The fi nal product should contain fi ve primary books of approximately one hundred pages each, i.e., an Introduction Book, a Riding Book, a hitting Book, a Strategy Book, and a Course Outline Book. Additionally, there will be approximately twenty-fi ve booklets consisting of about ten pages each, detailing:

Hitting, A booklet for each of the twelve shots used in the game, another on: dribbling, another on turning the ball, another on gripping the mallet handle, another on the plane of swing, another on the hitting spot, etc.

Plane of swing equals a sheet of glass

Riding, One riding booklet details: collecting the horse’s body and stride, another accelerating, another decelerating, another changing direction by way of turning, and another changing direction by way of a lateral move), etc. Strategy, there is a booklet for each of the positions; with each dealing with the offense and the defense perspectives of that position. There is another booklet on the throw in, another on the hit in, and another on set plays, etc.

The Throw in

Additionally, there will approximately twenty-fi ve videos demonstrating what is described in each of the booklets. Each video will be approximately fi ve-minutes-long.

Weight on inner side of feet, (big toe) CORRECT Weight on lateral side of foot (little toe) WRONG