PBITG: Breeds and Breeding

First published on Pete’s Blog-in-the-garden PBITG.com on 7th April 2022:

There is a difference between breeds and breeding.   While ‘breeds’ refer to the breed of the horse, for example, Thoroughbred, Arabian, Criollo, Friesian, Sell Francais, Hanoverian, etc, ‘breeding’ refers to the act of breeding and sometimes its inherent traits. A Polo Pony is not a breed, but a type of horse, a horse that plays polo.  Similarly, you could describe a show jumper of any breed, if it has proven itself to be a show jumper.  If it has not yet jumped, it could be described for example as a particular type of warmblood, bred for show jumping, or with strong jumping bloodlines.  In Polo, if it has not yet played polo, we could say it is bred for polo.

Just because a horse is bred for polo, or jumping, eventing or racing for that matter, doesn’t mean it will actually become a polo pony, showjumper, eventer or racehorse.  The horse may not make it.  Not every horse that is bred for a particular activity shows aptitude in it, though its breeding and bloodlines increases the likelihood it will make it.

This is logical, and something most experienced horsemen understand, that not every horse makes it to fulfill the purpose for which they are bred.

Why does this warrant an article?  Because newbies to equine sports may not realise this.

I was recently astonished by a person who approached me for polo lessons.  While he and his wife are learning to ride at a different club, and are at the cantering stage, he decided to buy a polo pony so that he could start playing polo.  Or should I say, he bought a young horse bred for polo, that has not actually played polo yet.  Does it make a difference?  Heck, yes!

You want an experienced player to take a new horse into polo, teaching and guiding the young horse how to play the game.  Conversely, you want a school master who is not going to be spooked by galloping horses or flying balls or hard ride offs, to take a new polo player into game.

A newbie rider/player trying to teach newbie polo pony while learning to play the game himself, is a recipe for disaster.

Just because a horse is bred for polo does not give anyone the right to call it a polo pony.  It has to play polo, before you can call it a polo pony.

There are also levels of playing ability: green horse or farm polo is the first stage, entry level for beginner ponies just starting their education.  After this kindergarten stage, it might start playing full contact polo.  After a season of that, you might call it a first season polo pony.  With a season or two under its belt (girth?) you might call it a ‘made’ pony.  And if it plays in some good tournaments, you might describe it by the level it has played: for example, you might say it is a pony that has played for a patron or a pro in 14-goal polo.

While you might have a horse bred for A grade polo, until it actually plays in A grade polo, you can’t call it an A grade polo pony.  If you do, it is basically misrepresenting your horse.

I’ve written about buying horses before, in this article Caveat Emptor.

What are the repercussions if there is misrepresentation in a sale?  The buyer might feel they have grounds to take the seller to court.  If an accident happens to the new owner because a horse might have been misrepresented, the repercussions for the seller might be worse.

While we are on the subject of misrepresentation, I would like to add that a horse that is born in Malaysia is described as a Malaysian-bred.  It could have Argentine or Criollo parentage, but if it was foaled in Kelantan, it is Malaysian-bred.  Calling it an Argentine Polo Pony is tantamount to misrepresentation.

As many of you know I have a Malaysian-bred polo pony.  Winston was bred in Malaysia at the National Stud Farm.  Winston’s sire was Winchester, an Australian Thoroughbred sire of polo ponies, and his dam was Nata, an Argentine mare I used to play in high goal in Malaysia.  Because he was foaled (or dropped, as we say) in Malaysia, he is classified as a Malaysian-bred.

While Winston is bred for polo, he did not become a polo pony till he actually played polo.  Because of the MCO lockdowns, Winston’s education in polo has been interrupted, but having now played a few tournaments, I am comfortable now calling him a ‘made’ polo pony.

Calling a horse bred for polo, a polo pony, when it hasn’t played yet is like calling a man a polo player just because he wears a Ralph Lauren or La Martina polo shirt – he might dress the part, and even be bred for the part, but until he actually plays polo, you wouldn’t call him a polo player!