INSTRUCTORS FORUM
Wild Ride What to do when a horse won’t stop by Tom Goodspeed
Given that polo entails traveling atop horses at full speed, it’s not uncommon for players to find themselves in poor control to some degree. That degree, however, can range from the pony being a little tough to check to it being an all-out runaway hell-bent on returning to the barn or trailer, even it means running through substantial obstacles with or without you aboard. In the worst-case scenario, here’s what to do; • Don’t panic or yell unless to warn others; you could spook the pony even more. • Drop your mallet and whip. • If you are unsure how to handle a runaway and have the chance, make an emergency dismount before the horse gets up more speed. • If you opt against the dismount, separate your reins into two hands and try to turn the horse into a circle. If he turns, gradually keep making the circle smaller until the horse stops. • If turning doesn’t work and you still have a death grip on the horse, loosen the reins a little and then jerk them backwards. Repeat if effective— pulling steadily on a runaway is almost always ineffective, but pulling and releasing the reins sharply often does the trick. • If your reins are too long, shorten them and put your feet a little forward so you can brace against the stirrups while you pull. If you start falling back in the saddle, use the martingale’s neck strap to regain your balance. • If all else has failed, look for a clear landing spot and get off the horse, if possible; staying aboard can be a problem if it runs close to any obstacles. Dismounting at speed is also very dangerous, but if the situation ever presents itself only you will be in a position to decide what to do. If it is any consolation, I’ve been riding for over 50 years, have been run away with about 15 times and have never had to opt for the last-resort dismount. To handle a runaway successfully it helps to know why a horse would behave this way—in fact, understanding its motives can help you prevent the horse from running away in the first place. The following are common causes of runaways or horses 12 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
tough to stop and some possible solutions to the problems: • Fatigue Equine fatigue can result from poor conditioning or an unusually fast chukker with few, if any, timeouts. The obvious preventive measure is better conditioning, which you can learn from an experienced trainer. On the field, pace your pony as well as yourself—polo is a team sport, and you aren’t supposed to be in every play. If you are playing a horse two chukkers, choose your runs, don’t overdo warm-ups beforehand and let the horse rest during time-outs. If it seems to be tiring anyway, change to a fresh pony. If that is not possible, go to the back position and stay there; tell your teammates your horse is tired and let them take up the slack. Always take advantage of time-outs for penalties, knock-ins, etc. by allowing your horse to stand still or walk to rest. Also, turn your horse’s nose into the wind to allow it maximum air flow. • Improper Bitting An unsuitable, improperly fitted or broken bit can spell disastrous miscommunications between horse and rider, as well as any number of misbehaviors traceable to a mouth made sore by the bit. Make sure you’re using the right bits and other tack before the chukker. Is the bit too tight, too low, too narrow? Is the curb chain right? Is the martingale too short or long? What type of noseband does your horse prefer? Does the horse go better in a curb bit, a snaffle or some type of gag? Does he get his tongue over the bit? What size port, if any, should it have? Should you use draw reins? These questions and their answers will vary from horse to horse, and there are no simple answers. Some horses go great on a loose chain, some on a tight one. Get advice from experts and experiment—preferably in practice chukkers or stick and balling—until you find the best bitting combination for each horse. Some horses don’t adapt to change well, so take it slow. And bigger is not always better. Too much bit can sometimes
