polo people

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Jesstickle

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I posted earlier about finding weekend work and I have already agreed to go to a polo yard on Saturday for a chat. That was a bit quicker than I was expecting!

I have never had anything to do with polo. What do I expect? I have worked in the flat industry so am not too fluffy and I'm brave (for brave read have no self preservation), will I be ok? I'm sure it'll just be mucking out and tacking up which should be fine.

I am nervous/excited now!

Also, what do I wear?
 
hi, it will be arena polo at this time of year so wrap up warm! only three aside unlike outdoor. where abouts are you? who is the interview with? PM me if you like.
 
I'm at Cambridge and it's at Haggis farm who I think are big enough that I'll only have to muck out. I'm sure I'll be fine. Before I worked with race horses I'd had nothing to do with them either and they just chucked me up on one.

I remember thinking it was so fast and the horse was so strong and then after I'd been there about two weeks I realised it was the slowest dopiest horse on the yard. I rode her a year later when she came back in to work after I'd been riding everything else on the yard including backing the two year olds and couldn't believe how hard it had felt the first time. Amazing what you get used to!
 
it is dead easy and a blast you just have to work fast & think on your feet, the horses are fab and similar banter to racing yards even if you have to learn spangalish. enjoy.
 
I did two seasons grooming for a polo syndicate - years ago!

I loved it :D I had about 10 horses to get ready to play three times a week and my God you will have your eyes opened to all the tack they wear! You will become the best and fastest person at bandaging, plaiting tails and clipping ever!

My riders all had different coloured and co-ordinating tape each too - best write it all down if yours do as it gets confusing ;)

Exercising can be very boring - 40 minutes cantering around a field with three horses is very tedious but watching the matches is fascinating and so exciting - although I am still not sure of all the rules even now!!
 
Well I'll only be there weekends so I really will have to write stuff down if that's the case. In the week I have a grown up job as a scientist. I am just missing playing ponies. Like you say jockmaster it's all about the banter! I feel that my ability to swear, slag off everyone in sight and drink tea at break neck speed are on the wane so I thought I'd do a little something to keep my eye in!
 
Been in polo toooo many years, travelled all over the world and had amazing experiences......just a word of warning......DO NOT GET INVOVED WITH A POLO PLAYER/ARGY!!! Have fun :)
 
Polo ponies are the most incredibly well behaved lot I've ever worked with! Absolute pleasure to do. The tack and super fast bandaging will take a bit of used to, but you will love it!
 
Hehe. No fear guys. I have a very lovely OH and definitely know which side my bread is buttered. And worse than the jocks? Really? Surely nothing is worse than an evening in Dineros!
 
cj22 said:
Been in polo toooo many years, travelled all over the world and had amazing experiences......just a word of warning......DO NOT GET INVOVED WITH A POLO PLAYER/ARGY!!! Have fun :)
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best polo advice ever lol!
i used to be a polo groom - great fun but was eye opening for a nieve country girl...
 
I did some grooming for a local player during the summer of my Pony Club years.

Learn to Bandage fast. Learn to tack up a horse with only one buckle undone at a time! (its like sliding on a saddle, 2 martingales, double bridle and headcollar in one swift movement!) Learn to dunk tack in hot water and only clean it once a year!

Oh and learn that most polo ponys (the ones i saw) dont like to be tied up properly and generally just are left to stand still!!!

You will love it! So fast paced! :D I miss it sometimes!
 
Happy Hunter said:
Learn to dunk tack in hot water and only clean it once a year!
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Sounds like something I could do. My tack is, shall we say, less than spotless!

I am a slow tacker uper sadly. Racing yard does nothing to help you tack up quick. No noseband no martingale so only two buckles. One for the saddle and one for the bridle :) Will have to practise at home!
 
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