In this video Claire moves away from stick work and onto horsemanship. She shows us the proper way to warm a polo pony up, how to check-up, and how to turn. Additionally, she explains how to maintain your balance and grip while in two-point. She also shows us some more advanced techniques like flying lead changes and rollbacks.
Post Tagged with: "Horsemanship"
Polo Advice and Wisdom from High-Goal Players
A collection of advice and wisdom from high-goal polo players.
Schooling a Green Horse for Polo – Video 3
Christian shows us how to prompt the horse to move forward with her rider and the proper reward for desirable behavior. He also shows us how only through proper repetition can we teach the horse to respond favorably to the mount and dismount
Schooling a Green Horse for Polo – Video 2
In this second video in the “Schooling a Green Horse for Polo” series, Christian introduces Hanalei to her first saddle and her first attempts at learning to steer.
The best instructional polo book I’ve found
Hugh Dawnay’s book, Playmaker Polo, is the single best resource for the novice or intermediate player I have yet found. Dawnay is an internationally recognized polo coach and has been intimately involved with the sport for many years. In Playmaker Polo he explores basics such as striking, beginner horsemanship, muscle memory, preperation on and off the field, and playmaking as well as more advanced concepts such as team strategy and formations, set-piece positions, learning to emphasize the strengths of your team (and the weaknesses of your opponents) on-the-fly, and many more.
Riding off an opponent
When riding off, change your horse’s lead to the opposite one to the side your opponent is on. As you draw up alongside your opponent and when you are at the same speed and shoulder to shoulder give the aid to change leads to the side your opponent is on. The momentum of the horse changing from one diagonal to the other will usually win the ride off.