Ex-racers score highly at Polo

Polo ponies need to be fast, agile, and intelligent. Do Thoroughbreds spring to mind? Ideally they should also be not too tall, and be great at short bursts of speed. Sounds just like a flat-race sprinter to me. Not surprisingly, ex-racehorses, at least the smaller ones, are becoming increasingly popular as polo ponies. Some 900 ex-racers – mostly 3-4-year-olds from the Flat – leave UK racing every year to retrain for polo. Polo players like them because, apart from having speed and athleticism, they are usually also good-mannered, quick to learn, easy to travel, and used to operating amongst other horses.

Through this summer, many polo ponies have been seen in play wearing white stickers on their quarters (rather like those labels that get stuck onto horses' bums in the sales ring!) The white stickers show that the polo pony has once raced – and therefore qualifies for the attractive bonuses ( £1000 + !) offered by ROR. There are different awards on offer, according to the horse's age, and whether it has raced in Britain or simply been in training here. (Horses that raced abroad can qualify through some of the International fixtures around the country.) There are prizes for the best ex-racer pony at the end of the season, and for the rider or producer who the panels feels has contributed most to the retraining cause. It is hoped that this will be an annual feature that grows the popularity of both ex-racehorses and the sport of polo.

This year's winners are:

High Goal Pony Award - Costa Lotta - owned and played by Ollie Cudmore

Young Producer - Jack Richardson

Costa Lotta is a 9-year-old mare by Statue of Liberty out of Costa Balena (clever naming!). Formerly in training with Ed Dunlop, she ran four times, winning zero. Clearly she simply needed a different career, because she's doing great now!

Jack Richardson gets most of his polo ponies from racehorse trainers such as Richard Fahey and the Easterby’s. Presently Jack has around 30 ex-racehorses on his farm, ranging from 2-year-olds to older, experienced playing ponies. His playing string of 12 ponies is made up of 10 former racehorses that Jack has produced himself. Ex-racers prove themselves once again!

                                      Costa Lotta does Polo !              (Credit  Annabel Wigley Equestrian)