Polo pony reschooling tips

[[59668]]

Had a bit of an epiphany tonight. Call me stupid, but in reschooling my ex polo mre I realised it would be super useful to understand where she is coming from, aids and tack wise.
I have her in a neue schule verbindend and a grackle. Would she be happier in a plain snaffle noseband and a plain bar snaffle do you think? She is so very sensitive to the contact, as would be expected
Aids wise... how are polo ponies asked to trot/canter? She is so sensitive to the leg and gets quite...annoyed....with leg aids. Are the literally asked to go up the gaits by putting the rein forward?
Thanks!
She is a wonderful hack alone and in company and has the most comfortable paces.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Body weight change and neck reining are what polo ponies understand. Watch videos on YouTube to see how they are moved around by their riders. Personally I would have a really good trainer working with me to reschool to another discipline or I would be trained by a polo trainer so I could communicate better with the horse whilst hacking.

 

[Stenners]

I have been riding polo ponies for a few years and they aren't used to any mouth contact at all. As PP said they are used to neck reining and yes moving body weight and to stop you just sit back - you don't pull on the reins at all. In fact often if you pull they go faster (similar to a racehorse in that sense) - very different to 'normal' riding'. However, I've also been riding ex polo ponies and they do adapt very well to 'normal riding'.

I would suggest for now putting the kindest bit possible in their mouth with just a cavesson noseband. They won't be used to a grackle and having their mouth tightly shut. Getting a trainer aswell or some help with someone that's used to polo ponies would be beneficial. More than happy to help if you have any questions.

 

[Skib]

you pull they go faster (similar to a racehorse in that sense) -

Not just polo ponies. I share a mare on a hacking yard who (sadly) speeds up if I shorten the reins because she believes an upward transition is coming. She does slow if I touch just one rein (half halt) or halts nicely if I close my legs on her. My answer to everything is riding lots of transitions.

 

[[59668]]

I have a plain snaffle noseband so will switch to that I think.
Thank you all!

 

[SEL]

One of my old yards used to take a lot of ex polo ponies because they taught polocrosse - although they were used for general riding too.

Most of them were very one sided and I used to do a lot of hacking with them before we even started any school work. I never needed a strong bit because they would all pull up if you shifted your weight back. I don't remember any major issues with upward transitions, just that some of them were pretty sharp so you had to ask quietly. They made good RS horses on the whole but without fail their eyes would light up when they realised it was polocrosse training night!!!

 

[spotty_pony]

As others have said they respond to most things from the weight aid and aren't ysed to any rein contact. They are used to having quite a lot in their mouths but if she isn't strong then a rubber straight bar snaffle (the flexible kind) may help her to relax and learn to take the bit. I would do lots of hacking, including hillwork and just encourage long and low to start with and then once she relaxes take up a gentle contact this will help to develop the topline. A lot of them are very 'buzzy' from the polo atmosphere and need time to switch off and chill before you can start retraining. Then once they are chilled out mentally they will start to physically listen to you a lot easier.

 

[Winters100]

Good advice above. ALso remember that polo ponies generally do not trot under saddle, so this will be new to her.

 

[[59668]]

OK so I have ordered a straight bar flexible rubber bit to try....have also been trying her in a NS turtle top and I don't think she's a fan.
What I'm finding is if I try to take a contact I get head up in the air, short tense choppy backwards thinking strides. It sounds like this is to be expected?
She has a very upside down neck.

 

[Winters100]

OK so I have ordered a straight bar flexible rubber bit to try....have also been trying her in a NS turtle top and I don't think she's a fan.
What I'm finding is if I try to take a contact I get head up in the air, short tense choppy backwards thinking strides. It sounds like this is to be expected?
She has a very upside down neck.

OK so I have ordered a straight bar flexible rubber bit to try....have also been trying her in a NS turtle top and I don't think she's a fan.
What I'm finding is if I try to take a contact I get head up in the air, short tense choppy backwards thinking strides. It sounds like this is to be expected?
She has a very upside down neck.

Absolutely normal, contact is indicating to her that she should expect to be asked to do something, either stop or turn sharply, and the head up gives her more stability for very tight turns. I would start slowly, get her to accept contact in walk to start and go from there.

May I ask what is it that you are reschooling her to do and how old is she?

Will be interested to hear how you get on

 

[bonny]

Is she an imported pony or homegrown ?

 

[[59668]]

Absolutely normal, contact is indicating to her that she should expect to be asked to do something, either stop or turn sharply, and the head up gives her more stability for very tight turns. I would start slowly, get her to accept contact in walk to start and go from there.

May I ask what is it that you are reschooling her to do and how old is she?

Will be interested to hear how you get on

She is 9. Was in polo till she was 7, but also did a bit of jumping, and hunting while she was with them (they bred her). Then she's had a difficult 18 months with an unsuitable home so we have some additional issues to unpick, other than general reschooling.
I'd love to event her.
She's home bred. Sussex.

 

[[59668]]

Is she an imported pony or homegrown ?

Bred in Sussex.

 

[Winters100]

Sounds like she has landed on her feet with you. Good luck with her, I bet she will be wonderful once she knows what you are asking for

 

[lannerch]

The aids to stop a polo pony is not just sit back but also lift the reins up in one hand. Polo ponies also only ever trot to get fit after that it’s walk to canter and maintaining fitness is all slow canter. Ours were ridden if the pitch in snaffles , cavesson nose bands and standing martingales . Some of them did take a very strong contact .
i don’t find they need too much reschoing obviously incoorperate more trot and introduce riding with two hands with lots of transitions. Their balance is usually very good . Usually fun horses good luck

 

[[59668]]

Sounds like she has landed on her feet with you. Good luck with her, I bet she will be wonderful once she knows what you are asking for

Thank you I hope so!