POLO

[kandm]

Any suggestions on how to teach a pony (good little allrounder who likes to "have a go" at most things) to be ridden one handed. Mickey bless him really enjoyed messing around with a stick and a ball today (Pics in gallery) but we both struggled with steering!

Thankies in advance

Edited to add: Also, any ideas how you can become involved with pony club etc polo?

 

[flyingfeet]

Best way is to keep riding one handed - whenever hacking etc try using one hand. Much easier on ponies that already listen to the rider's weight rather than the reins.

Polo is huge in the Cotswolds - VWH, Cotswolds & Heythrop pony clubs all have active teams.

 

[RunToEarth]

I used to play games for PC PPcup times, and I used to hack, hunt, rally and on occasions jump with my reins in a knott singled handed.Perfection will only come with practice, for me it was hours of bending poles in the field single handed, perfecting turns and such, just takes time.

 

[GTs]

I would contact your local pony club and ask them - their program is designed to use general purpose horses for polo, and will be great help! But it is pretty much down to just practice - the more you do it the easier it will become, the more he will go off your body/legs.

 

[madgirl]

VWH is sh!t lol all out pLAYERS GO to other pony clubs to play north cotswolds had a handy cross and jorrocks team you could lay with these teams are played with ordinary allrounder onies not polo ponies ! These would be your age groups when you get olde you ould need a polo pony or a very good allrounder pony. As your Dc rob cudmore up at longdole does lessons but they are exensive like most of polo and ciren park do matches.

To ractise role lots of balls towards him bandage him tape his tail up so he gets a feel for it and practise swinging your stick alot use your weight to steer him and lots of practise and leg! me and majo stuggled but we can do it now!

 

[squemma40]

Start by turning with pressure from your outside rein on the neck rather than using the inside rein. Eventually they should respond to this, then go up the gaits. Then you try one handed but everytime you feel out of control take both reins back. You should end up being able to change direction by moving your body weight and looking in the direction your going. I couldn't control my horse with two reins never mind one, then in september started training for polo and on Thursday I played him in a slow game on the beach for the first time. So it doesn't take as long as you may think.

 

[Chex]

I'm really lazy, and always ride one handed. Chex pretty quickly learnt to neck rein, so I can steer with pressure from the rein on his neck. Can't exactly remember how I taught it, it wasn't really deliberate!