If you've ever found yourself standing on the sidelines of a match wondering what breed are polo horses , you might become surprised to learn that will they aren't technically a "breed" in the way a Golden Retriever or a Persian cat is. In the polo globe, these incredible athletes are almost universally referred to because "ponies, " even though they are definitely full-sized horses. It's among those quirky traditions which makes the sport a little bit confusing for beginners, but once you dig into the bloodlines, the history is really pretty fascinating.
Most people expect an easy answer, like "they're all Thoroughbreds" or "they're almost all Quarter Horses. " While those bread of dogs definitely play a massive role, the particular reality is the bit more of the cocktail. The contemporary polo pony is definitely a result associated with decades—honestly, over a century—of selective breeding designed to create the ultimate four-legged athlete. They require the speed of the sprinter, the speed of a gymnast, as well as the calm temperament of the meditation coach.
The misnomer from the "pony"
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the genes, let's clear up that "pony" factor. In the equestrian globe, a pony is usually anything below 14. 2 hands (about 58 inches) at the shoulder. Historically, there were height limits within polo that kept the horses small, which is where the name stuck. However, those limits were scrapped way back again in 1919.
Today's polo horses are usually between 15 plus 16 hands. They're definitely horses, yet if you stroll onto a polo field and call them "horses, " you'll immediately away yourself like a first year. They are ponies, and that's just how it is. Nevertheless we appear at what breed are polo horses today, we're really taking a look at a mix of two major influences: the particular English Thoroughbred and the Argentine Criollo.
The Argentine influence and the Criollo
If you follow polo at all, a person know that Argentina is the undisputed mecca of the particular sport. They generate the best players and, more significantly, the best horses. The particular foundation of the contemporary polo horse is usually the Argentine Criollo .
The Criollo is a hardy, tough-as-nails equine descended from the particular stock brought more than by Spanish conquistadors. These horses spent centuries coping with the particular harsh environments of the Pampas. These people developed incredible stamina, a sensible brain, and also a compact, physical frame. On their particular own, though, Criollos aren't quite fast enough for the high-intensity, "Formula one on grass" design of modern polo.
Back in the time, players realized that if they got these sturdy Argentine horses and entered them with high-speed English Thoroughbreds, they'd get the perfect center ground. You'd get the "engine" and speed from the Thoroughbred combined with the particular "brakes" and "common sense" of the Criollo. This cross-breed eventually became so successful and standard that it resulted in the creation of the Polo Argentino , that is now an identified breed registry within its own perfect.
The part of the Thoroughbred
When requesting what breed are polo horses in a high-goal, professional setting, the answer is frequently "mostly Thoroughbred. " In the top-tier matches you see in places like Wellington, Florida, or Midhurst, England, the horses are frequently 7/8ths or maybe purebred Thoroughbreds.
The reason why? Because speed is usually king. In the high-goal match, the particular pace is extreme. A horse has to be able to hit a full gallop in some strides and maintain it across the particular length of an enormous field. Thoroughbreds supply that raw, explosive power. However, a "track" Thoroughbred—one carefully bred specifically for racing within a straight line or around large curves—usually doesn't create a good polo pony right off the bat. They tend to become a bit as well "hot" (anxious or even high-strung) and don't always have the particular structural agility to turn on a penny.
That's why polo dog breeders look for specific varieties of Thoroughbreds—usually all those that are a little more compact with smaller backs and more powerful hindquarters. They require a horse that can "sit down" on its hocks to stop from 30 miles each hour in an quick.
Why the particular Polo Argentino is usually the gold standard
If you're looking for the "official" answer to what breed are polo horses , the Polo Argentino is usually the heavy batter. The Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Association (AACCP) has really strict standards. They don't just take a look at what the horse's parents were; these people look at just how the horse actually performs within the industry.
It's a performance-based registry. To be fully signed up, these horses frequently have to prove their own mettle in competitors. This focus upon athleticism over "show-ring beauty" has produced the Polo Argentino the most desired horse in the world. They are bred specifically to have a "good mouth" (meaning they will respond sensitively to the bit) and a natural reaction for the game.
It's almost like they possess a "fifth lower-leg. " An excellent polo horse can sense where the golf ball is and in which the play is heading. They'll actually trim into an opponent's horse during the "ride-off" to assist their particular player obtain the line of the basketball. You can't really teach that; it's something that's already been bred into them over generations.
Other breeds you may see on the particular field
While the Argentine influence is massive, it's not the only game in town. Depending on where you are on the planet and what level of polo you're playing, you'll discover some variety.
In the usa, you'll from time to time see American Quarter Horses or even Quarter Horse/Thoroughbred passes across (often called Appendix horses) in low-to-medium goal polo. One fourth Horses have amazing "burst" speed and can turn incredibly well. However, they will often lack the long-distance stamina necessary for the longer chukkers (periods) of high-speed play. They might win the 1st 40 yards, but the Thoroughbred will certainly pass them simply by the end of the field.
In other parts of the world, like Down under or New Zealand, they use their very own local Thoroughbred stock or the Aussie Stock Horse, which usually is just like the Usa Quarter Horse in its utility plus agility. But truthfully, even in individuals places, the impact of Argentine bloodlines is starting in order to dominate the expert circuits because they've perfected the "polo-specific" genetics.
It's about the "mind" as much as the "blood"
When you request an expert player what breed are polo horses , they may give you the pedigree, but they'll most likely follow it up by talking about the horse's brain. You may have the fastest horse on earth, yet if it gets scared when eight other horses are thundering toward it, or if this tosses its mind each time a mallet shifts near its ear, it's useless with regard to polo.
The particular "breed" of the polo horse is definitely as much regarding temperament as this is about actual stats. They require the weird combination of becoming "brave" enough in order to bump into additional horses and "chill" enough to remain quietly as the riders is fumbling along with a broken mallet. This temperament is the reason why the Criollo combination is so popular. It leveled out the sometimes-flighty character of the Thoroughbred.
The potential: Clones and great breeding
All of us can't really talk about what breed are polo horses today with out mentioning cloning. This might sound like science fictional, but polo is in fact one of the leading sports within the use associated with cloning technology.
Top gamers like Adolfo Cambiaso have cloned their legendary mares—horses like Cuartetera—multiple times. Within some high-stakes fits, a player might actually be riding a duplicate of a horse they rode 10 years ago. Whilst this doesn't change the "breed, " this shows how much value is positioned on specific, top notch genetics. In case a horse has that perfect mix of speed, agility, and "polo feeling, " breeders wish to replicate it specifically.
Wrapping up
So, in summary: if someone demands you what breed are polo horses , the most accurate answer is that they are generally a Thoroughbred-Criollo cross, often registered as a Polo Argentino. They are horses that have been meticulously engineered via breeding to be the best all-around athletes within the animal kingdom.
They will aren't just tools for the video game; they are 80% of the formula. Most players will certainly tell you that the great player on the bad horse is just a guy having a bad day, but a typical player on a great equine can actually earn. Whether they are pure Thoroughbreds or even Argentine crosses, these "ponies" are the real stars associated with the show. They have the heart associated with a lion and the agility of the cat, all covered up in the 1, 000-pound framework. It's pretty amazing when you believe about it.