Polo Ponies Oz

[hati]

I have just returned from 9 months travelling and whilst in Oz I worked with polo ponies for 3 months. Had a brilliant time and got go to some great tournaments. Anyhow, was browsing the web the other day and came across this



and



These were taken at Ellerston in March on our way to the Semi finals. The team got beaten, but won the Subsidary final. Got very attached to my ponies and miss them terribly.

 

[GTs]

Ellerston is fantastic - very lucky girl to be there!!! Hopefully the polo boys behaved themselves.

 

[hati]

ah yes, the polo boys. Of course they behaved, if you consider crashing quad bikes, running over roo's, wrecking utes and the odd drunken night!!!

It is the most amazing place in the world and I made some great friends. Also, was at the International Test match at Winsor (Sydney) and the polo at Sydney Show. Where we made the finals, but would not play as Sam had got smashed in the face with a polo ball the day before in another final.

One of my proudest moments was winning the grooms prize at the international test match.

 

[GTs]

Sam Ballieu?

It sounds like they were trying to behave - it is tough for polo guys!!!

 

[hati]

No, Sam Gunn and his brother Angus.

 

[GTs]

I was over at Melbourne - did an American called Nick Roldan come to Ellerston. He was playing for Jamie in the Melbourne Cup.

 

[hati]

I know who you are talking about, he there at Ellerston in March as well.

 

[GTs]

I have forgotten what the tournament in March is called, but it is a big one. I was meant to go, I decided to go to beech and see more topless women instead.

 

[hati]

There is the 16 and 18 goal at ellerston. Then around easter they had the international test match.

LOL re the naked women on the beach!

 

[GTs]

I was on the list to get in as one of my friends was going to play for David Calvert Jones, however he went back to England, and Scone was just so far out of the way I could not be bothered for the trek - especially for 16 goal polo.

So did you have fun grooming - to me it looks like an awful lot of work, generally for egotistical assholes.

 

[hati]

it was hard work, but really enjoyed it. The family I worked for treated me really well and the boys worked as hard as I did. I would feed in the morning and they would rock with the Ellerston breakkie roll at 8am before we did sets.

The sh*t did hit the fan a few times during the subsidary final as it was 6 chukkas, 9 ponies and Angus decided to half chukka everything!!!
It was an experience and as I do not work with horses full time (studying to get a proper job) it was a lot of fun and something I could not do in Ireland.

 

[GTs]

[ QUOTE ]
The sh*t did hit the fan a few times during the subsidary final as it was 6 chukkas, 9 ponies and Angus decided to half chukka everything!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Let me guess with 2 saddles??

 

[hati]

i was spoilt i had 3 saddles!

 

[GTs]

Oh wow - you were lucky!! But the only had 5 stirrup leathers?

 

[hati]

did have 6 stirrup leathers, but was forever short of side reins and head checks!! Also went through an unreal amount of tape.

 

[GTs]

I knew you were bound to be short of something - knew it was not handsome young men though.

 

[hati]

Plenty of those around!

 

[GTs]

I know the stories of the English grooms in Australia - why else did I go down there to play?

 

[hati]

Em, I'm Irish! lol, and behaved myself, if you must know.