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POLO 
 
 BY 
 
 /. MORAY BROWN. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY 
 CUTHBERT BRADLEY. 
 
 UonDon : 
 VINTON & Co., Limited, 
 NEW BRIDGE STREET, E.C, 
 
 1895- 
 
C^^y^Cf)^ 
 
 \ 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 In response to a suggestion made to him by 
 many polo players, the late Mr. J. Moray Brown 
 undertook the preparation of this book, and had 
 completed the work a short time prior to his 
 lamented death on December 3, 1894. 
 
 As will be seen, he did not attempt to give a 
 history of polo, as he had already dealt fully with 
 that topic elsewhere. His aim was to prove the 
 popularity of the game, to show how widely it 
 was played, to furnish hints and instructions to 
 beginners, to trace the formation and progress of 
 many of the principal Polo Clubs, and to gather 
 together in a handy form the rules and other 
 current information in reference to the game. 
 Before the matter had been put in type the 
 author died, and the proofs have been revised 
 by Mrs. Moray Brown, his widow, to whom the 
 thanks of the publishers are due. In a brief in- 
 troductory note which he had written, Mr. Moray 
 
IV. PREFACE. 
 
 Brown expressed the hope that " a perusal of 
 these pages may prove of use to young players, 
 and that by reminding veterans of incidents 
 similar to those in which they themselves have 
 taken part, they may not be without interest." 
 It may be said further that the book will also 
 help to keep green the memory of one who did 
 much to develop the game, on which he was an 
 able and fascinating writer, as well as a skilful 
 player. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Chapter I.— The Popularity of Polo ... ... ... i 
 
 Chapter II. — Strategy, Tactics and Danger in Polo ... 15 
 
 Chapter III. — Letters to Young Polo Players ... ... 37 
 
 Chapter IV. — About some Provincial Polo Clubs ... 94 
 
 Chapter V. — Polo Clubs in the World , . ... ... 142 
 
 Chapter VI.— The Hurlingham Club ... ... ... 152 
 
 Chapter VII. — Rules of the Indian Polo Association ... 161 
 
 Chapter VIII. — Principal Tournaments and Winners ... 175 
 
 Appendix ... ... ... ... ... ... 180 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Back Hander, "Turn your Ponies" ... To face title 
 
 Plan of Polo Ground .. . ... ... ... To face i 
 
 Galloping in Locked Pairs ... ... ... ... 19 
 
 Danger of Blinkers and Bad Bitting ... ... ... 29 
 
 " Hit the Ball when it is in a line with Pony's Forelegs "... 50 
 
 Hitting on the Near Side ... ... .. ... 53 
 
 Education in Bending — Outside ... ... ... 63 
 
 Education in Bending — Inside ... ... ... ... 64 
 
 "Ride Him!" ... ... ... ... ... 81 
 
 " Ride Hard, Hit Hard, Don't lose your Temper, and 
 
 Never Cross!" ... ... ... ... ... 92 
 

 en 
 
 Goal S yards wide. 
 
 200yard's 
 
 5 ^ 
 
 '5,QdV/CoOT 
 
 <s: 
 
 Goal S ijards wide. 
 
 AN OF Polo Grol nd. (See Rule 2, p. 152.) 
 
POLO 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The Popularity of Polo. 
 
 S polo popular? Is it a game 
 that has " taken hold " ? Such 
 questions are often asked by 
 those who do not understand or 
 appreciate the game, but if these 
 querists were to take the trouble to study it 
 in its scientific aspect, and the effect that it 
 has on a man as a man; nay, if they follow 
 its past history and trace its gradual increase 
 all over the world, the answer will come 
 glibly enough in the affirmative. Of its 
 origin, shrouded in the mists of antiquity, 
 and its history up to within a score or 
 I 
 
2 Polo, 
 
 more years ago, I do not propose here to 
 dwell, for Is it not written in the Badminton 
 Librarv^ volume on " Ridino- " ? But for 
 those who are sceptical on the point of its 
 present popularity, it may not be out of 
 place if I advance a few proofs in favour of 
 my assertion. That polo can never attain 
 the popularity of racing, cricket or football 
 I will allow, but the reasons are not far to 
 seek. In the first place it is a game which 
 scarcelv admits of oramblinof or bettinsf in 
 connection with it, and secondly, it is one in 
 which the masses cannot indulge. And yet 
 let a polo match be played anywhere where 
 the populace can view it gratis, or at a tri- 
 fling cost, and there the people will assemble 
 " in their thousands." 
 
 Now what makes them do this ? Simply 
 the love that is implanted in the hearts of 
 most Encrlishmen of witnessino- anv contest 
 in which horseflesh plays a conspicuous 
 part, and also the love of seeing their fellow 
 countrymen engaging in a game that calls 
 forth all those qualities which have made 
 Britons what they are. I would venture no 
 modest wager that if a polo match were 
 
The Popularity of Polo. 3 
 
 announced to take place in Hyde Park some 
 Saturday afternoon in June, you woukl see 
 a greater concourse than the efforts of any 
 aofitatinor orator has sfcithered tog^ether, or 
 even England's " Only (Salvation Army) 
 General " could accumulate. The crowds 
 present at Hurlingham or Ranelagh when 
 the Champion Cup, the Inter- Regimental 
 Tournament, the County Cup, or other 
 important matches are being played, bear 
 sufficient testimony to the popularity of the 
 game with the classes ; but if you would 
 see how the masses appreciate it go to the 
 Phoenix: Park in Dublin any day when a 
 good game is on. Go to the Liverpool, 
 Edinburgh, Barton-under-Needwood, or to 
 the Elvaston grounds on similar occasions, 
 and you will then see how the British public, 
 little or nothing though they may collectively 
 know of polo, appreciate it, whilst in India 
 the European and native population are 
 equally enthusiastic. To take one instance 
 — Dublin to wit. We will say a match in 
 the All-Ireland Polo Tournament is set 
 down to begin at 3.30 p.m. Some three- 
 quarters of an hour previous to this you will 
 
4 Polo. 
 
 see an endless stream of spectators on their 
 way to the polo ground in the Phoenix Park 
 — coaches and cars, landaus and dog-carts, 
 gigs and polo-carts all convey their loads, 
 well and ill dressed, and before play begins 
 there will be some ten thousand of "all sorts 
 and conditions of men" — ay, and women 
 and children — collected In a serried mass four 
 and five deep round the arena of contest. 
 An orderly yet appreciative crowd it Is, and 
 not requiring the aid of the police to keep 
 it within due bounds. Then, too, the most 
 ragged gossoon knows not only the players 
 but most of the ponies as well, and though 
 the remarks that emanate from the crowd 
 may not always be complimentary, they are 
 generally very much to the point. Let me 
 give an example of which I was a witness. 
 The Freebooters, captained by Mr. John 
 Watson, were playing a trial match against 
 a regiment quartered in Dublin. At one 
 point of the game Mr. Watson, who was 
 playing "back," w^as hotly pursued by some 
 of the opposing team, and with no comrades 
 near enough to aid him, his position seemed 
 perilous. Two ragged little urchins, aged 
 
The Popularity of Polo. 5 
 
 some nine and six years respectively, had 
 crept through the crowd ventre a terre 
 (Hterally), and were watching and criticising 
 the game as best they could, lying flat on 
 the ground and obtaining occasional glimpses 
 of what was going on between the legs of 
 the spectators in the front row. "Ah! look 
 there now," quoth one as Mr. Watson 
 dodged the ball by a skilful tap out of the 
 reach of his nearest opponent, and then hit 
 a telling " back-hander." '' Faith," observed 
 his comrade in dirt and rags, "John Watson 
 and Fritz wad bate 'em all by thimselves." 
 " Begorra, an' he would," replied the elder; 
 and he was not far wrong, for the remark 
 was apposite enough, and showed that the 
 youthful critics had taken the measure of 
 the great player and his famous pony truly 
 enough. Impulsive and excitable as the 
 Irishman is, and imbued w^ith horsey tastes, 
 one can well understand his admiration of 
 the game ; but even the phlegmatic Scotch- 
 man is also roused to enthusiasm at times in 
 favour of polo, and year by year the Edin- 
 burgh polo ground becomes more thronged 
 now that the game and its good qualities are 
 
6 Polo. 
 
 better known, whilst even the rural popula- 
 tion at Rugby and other places appreciate by 
 loud hand-clapping a bold bit of play, a good 
 stroke, or a daring run. 
 
 If we ofo further a-field than our own 
 tight little islands and see how the game has 
 gained in popularity, we have but to look 
 abroad. In India — though this is perhaps 
 not quite a fair instance, since it is the cradle 
 of Polo — there are not only Polo Clubs in 
 many regiments, but in most stations the 
 military and civilian element both worship 
 at Polo's shrine ; whilst the many tourna- 
 ments in which both European and native 
 teams take part show how popular the game 
 is. Putting aside the Inter - Regimental 
 Tournaments, both cavalry and infantry, 
 held at Meerut, Umballa, and Lucknow, 
 others are held at Calcutta, Madras, Allaha- 
 bad, Bombay, Poona, Hyderabad, Quetta, 
 Kohat, in Rajpootana, and in the Punjab, at 
 all of which teams from different parts of 
 India compete, whilst several native rajahs 
 — as those of Kuch Behar, Pattiala, Dhole- 
 pore, Jodhpore, and the Nawab-Vikar-ul- 
 Oomra — have their own teams, whom they 
 
The Popularity of Polo. 7 
 
 spare no expense In mounting. In proof of 
 my assertion that polo is a popular game let 
 me refer the reader to the list of Clubs in 
 various parts of the world, given In a sepa- 
 rate chapter further on. 
 
 Nearly every cavalry regiment, both In 
 the British and Indian army, has Its Polo 
 Club, and In most places where more than 
 one battery of artillery Is quartered the 
 gallant gunners support polo. It Is there- 
 fore unnecessary to enumerate them. But, 
 as It Is generally supposed that only the 
 mounted branches of the service play polo. 
 It may be as well to note that the following 
 Infantry corps all have Clubs (In many cases 
 they are double battalion regiments), and 
 doubtless I have omitted several from the 
 list. The following, however, are the most 
 prominent polo-playing infantry regiments: — 
 — Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Berk- 
 shire Regiment, Rifle Brigade, Buffs (2), 
 5th Fusiliers, 7th Royal Fusiliers (2), 13th 
 Light Infantry (2), 14th West Yorkshire, 
 1 8th Royal Irish, Ennisklllen Fusiliers, Lan- 
 cashire Fusiliers, 60th Rifles, 6ist Regiment, 
 79th Cameron Highlanders, and 3rd Bengal 
 Native Infantry. 
 
8 Polo, 
 
 To turn again to India, In which, as I 
 said, nearly every station has Its Club, it may 
 be noted the Staff of the Viceroy and the 
 Governor of Madras can both put repre- 
 sentative teams into the field ; whilst we 
 find figuring In Indian polo matches such 
 Clubs as the Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, 
 Ootacamund, Poona, Mhow, Hyderabad, 
 Unceremonials, Rangoon, &c. 
 
 Now for the Western Hemisphere. 
 America can boast of several Clubs, such 
 as the New York, Westchester, whilst in 
 other places Polo Clubs are springing up 
 annually. Even in Canada and the Far 
 West, Calgary, High River, Macleod, Pin- 
 cher Creek, and other places, have regular 
 polo gatherings, which are increasing in 
 popularity, and where the cowboys think 
 playing polo Is better fun than "cow 
 punching." 
 
 Perhaps the greatest stride that polo has 
 made anywhere Is, however. In South 
 America, where there is now quite an 
 English colony. Some four or ^\^ years 
 ago polo was unknown, but now there are 
 no less than twentv-five Clubs. 
 
The Popularity of Polo. g 
 
 Perhaps the most remarkable thing about 
 the way polo has become popular in the 
 Argentine is that the natives are develop- 
 ing a taste for the game, and, moreover, 
 seem to promise well towards being players. 
 The following extract from a capital little 
 paper published in Buenos Ayres, called 
 " River Plate Sport and Pastime," and 
 edited by a thorough English sportsman 
 and good polo-player, will prove interest- 
 ing. In describing a match that took 
 place between a Las Lomas team and 
 Petacas, in which the latter, with the ex- 
 ception of Air. F. Kinchant, were all native 
 peones, the writer says : " Many who came 
 to scoff were rather surprised at the good 
 form shown by the Argentines. There is 
 no doubt that if well taught these men will 
 make first-rate players, a noticeable feature 
 in their play being their quickness in get- 
 ting on the ball, and the admirable way in 
 which they back one another up. No polo- 
 player need ever despair of getting a game, 
 however isolated his estancia may be ; he 
 has only to pick his men from the peones, 
 and he can always ensure having a good 
 
lo Polo. 
 
 knock up. As makers of polo ponies the 
 natives will prove invaluable, and with train- 
 ing (one of these men had only played a 
 few times), I venture to predict that the 
 Petacas team will become one of the 
 strongest in the country." * In this match, 
 which was severely contested and only won 
 by Las Lomas by two goals to one, " cow- 
 punching" play is said to have been notice- 
 able by its absence, and, much to everyone's 
 surprise, there was no roughness at any 
 time. To Mr. Kinchant and his schooling 
 of the team much of their success was no 
 doubt due, but evidently the willingness 
 and the ability to play exists amongst the 
 Argentine population. 
 
 I think I have said enouorh to satisfv most 
 people that the game is not only popular 
 but is becoming more so every year. I will, 
 therefore, only add that Paris, Cairo, Jamaica, 
 Hong Kong, and South Africa, Malta, Gib- 
 
 * This prediction has since been verified, for in 
 1894 the Las Petecas team were only beaten by the 
 crack Argentine Hurhngham team by 5 goals to 4 
 in the Championship Tournament of Argentine. 
 —J. M. B. 
 
The Popularity of Polo. 1 1 
 
 raltar, New Zealand, Australia, and even far- 
 away Samoa, can all boast their Polo Clubs, 
 and that, travel the world over, wherever half 
 a dozen Englishmen with horsey proclivities 
 are gathered together and a piece of suitable 
 oTOund is available, there will a Polo Club 
 spring up and "flourish" like a green bay- 
 tree. 
 
 But, it may be asked, why Is the game 
 popular ? What makes it so ? Why do 
 men spend money and risk life and limb 
 simply for the sake of knocking a ball about 
 from the top of a pony ? To such querists 
 I would propound another question. What 
 makes hunting popular? what cricket, foot- 
 ball, racquets, or any other manly sport or 
 pastime? Is it not because they bring to 
 the front the exercise of manhood's physical 
 powers and encourage that spirit of generous 
 rivalry which must benefit all those who take 
 part In such games ? And If a further reason 
 be needed it may be supplied by just that 
 element of danger without which w^e are apt 
 to consider any sport or pastime tame, for 
 very true are Lindsay Gordon's lines : — 
 
12 Polo, 
 
 "No game was ever worth a rap 
 For a rational man to play 
 Into which no accident, no mishap, 
 Could possibly find its way." 
 
 As such, polo as a game must always 
 appeal to the manhood of our nation, and 
 particularly to soldiers, bringing to the front 
 as it does all the qualities of courage, en- 
 durance, the ability to give and take, added 
 to the calmness and judgment necessary in 
 those who follow the profession of arms. 
 
 Add to this, the scientific aspect of the 
 game, the combined knowledge of strategy 
 and tactics necessary in a team who would 
 win laurels, and, as a last item, its antiquity 
 as the very oldest of games, and is it sur- 
 prising that its votaries, nay, that many 
 others, sing its praises enthusiastically '^. 
 
 As a proof of the value of polo as a 
 game for soldiers, I cannot refrain from 
 quoting an extract from a speech recently 
 made by Sir George Greaves at Poona, 
 when he was the Bombay Commander-in- 
 Chief. In alluding to polo Sir George said: 
 "I do not wish you to think that I have 
 passed from the playing stage into the talk- 
 
The Popularity of Polo. 13 
 
 ing- stage of this lovely game. Thank good- 
 ness I feel quite as keen on playing now 
 as I did twenty years ago. Gentlemen, Sir 
 Frederick Roberts has just given us an x\rmy 
 Order* on Polo, and I think It speaks volumes 
 for the game that it should have worked Itself 
 into Army Orders. I do not know of any 
 other game having been so honoured. But 
 polo is now an essential part of onr army 
 education. It teaches men to ride and to 
 keep their heads whilst riding." Sir George's 
 pregnant words need no comment, for he, in 
 a single sentence, which I have taken the 
 liberty to italicise, advanced an Irresistible 
 argument in favour of polo, which must 
 carry far more weight than any words of 
 mine ; but I would beg those who may be 
 in favour of discouraging such an eminently 
 military and manly game to read and ponder 
 these lines of Lindsay Gordon's, which I 
 have slightly altered to suit the case : — 
 
 " And some for their country and their Queen 
 Would fight, if the chance they had, 
 Good sooth, 'twere a sorry world, I ween, 
 If we all went galloping mad ; 
 
 '•' The Order referred to was one enjoining officers 
 to wear a strong and protective head-dress whilst 
 playing polo. 
 
1 4 Polo. 
 
 Yet if once we efface the joys of the game 
 From the land, and out-root the stud, 
 Good-bye to the Anglo-Saxon name I 
 Farewell to the Norman blood ! " 
 
 Be it remembered that not only have 
 some of our most orallant as well as most 
 scientihc soldiers been polo - players, but 
 that they are so still, and that in the 
 polo field they have acquired that training 
 which has stood them in good stead in the 
 sterner strife of war. Is not this a clinching 
 argument in favour of the game ? I think 
 it is. But let reformers do their worst, polo 
 and its champions who love to play on the 
 green turf of Merry England or the arid 
 niaidan of Hindostan, on the sandy plain of 
 Egypt or the "Marsa" of ?vlalta, will live 
 long in memory when those who have been 
 its detractors are forgotten, and so Floreat 
 Polo ! 
 
15 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Strategy, Tactics, and Danger in Polo. 
 
 "W^^ UBLIC knowledge of polo is 
 
 y limited, nor do the public study 
 
 £ ^^^ the game in its scientific aspect, 
 
 for to most people the main 
 idea presented by a polo match consists 
 of eight men mounted on ponies, knock- 
 ing a ball about. Perhaps I cannot convey 
 a better illustration of what I mean than 
 by describing a little Incident I once 
 witnessed at Hurllngham. It was a lovely 
 July Saturday, just before the Inter-Regi- 
 mental Tournament, and a trial match was 
 taking place between the Royal Dragoons, 
 whose team included poor Arthur Mesham, 
 who subsequently died from the effects of a 
 fall whilst hunting in Cheshire, and a Hur- 
 llngham team. The pavilion roof was fairly 
 
1 6 Polo. 
 
 thronged, when a lady and her attendant 
 cavalier took seats beside me. Now, it was 
 only natural to suppose that those who come 
 to the pavilion side of the ground should take 
 some interest in the game and know some- 
 thing about it, and, moreover, that, though 
 lovely woman may be ignorant of its intri- 
 cacies, the sterner sex should be more en- 
 lightened. Yet this was the conversation 
 that passed at my elbow. 
 
 She : '' What ha\'e they got to do ? " 
 
 He: ''Oh! don'tcherknow— er — one side 
 knocks the ball this way, and the other knocks 
 it that way." 
 
 She : " Oh ! indeed I But what are those 
 blue-and-white things stuck up at each end 
 of the ground ?" 
 
 He: "Those? Oh! — er- let me see. 
 Those — er — yes, those are the goal posts. 
 They have to hit the ball between them, you 
 know. It's awfully hot ; wouldn't you like 
 some tea ? The tea is awfully good here, 
 you know." 
 
 And then they prattled on. doubtless 
 enjoying themselves thoroughly, but. in fact, 
 almost as ignorant of what was going on 
 
Tactics and Danger in Polo. ly 
 
 under their very noses as babes unborn. 
 This is no exaggeration, and is a fair speci- 
 men of what the majority of the pubHc know- 
 about polo. To them it conveys Httle 
 beyond several men galloping about on 
 ponies, and hitting a ball backwards and 
 forwards. They know nothing of the actual 
 science of the game, any more than half the 
 men who go out hunting know of the science 
 required to hunt a fox. To the latter such 
 niceties as being able to distinguish when 
 hounds are running "riot" or a ''heel line," 
 or to take scent into consideration is so much 
 Greek. They see hounds running, and with- 
 out pausing to think what they are running, 
 or what sort of a scent there is, they ride, 
 and — often spoil sport. 
 
 But I am running riot myself, so to polo 
 let me hark back, and point out how strategy 
 and tactics can be applied to the game. 
 Both these may be broadly defined as using 
 the best means in your power to outwit 
 an adversary, and may be employed either 
 collectively or individually — that Is to say, by 
 a team and by every individual member of it. 
 There is more in this than is apparent to the 
 
 2 
 
1 8 Polo. 
 
 ordinary onlooker, for a team must know 
 when to turn defence into attack, and Its 
 members must be ready at all times to seize 
 and make the most of an opportunity, and, if 
 necessity requires, disregard the set rules laid 
 down for their individual play and places In 
 the game. Let It not be understood that I 
 am advocating such a departure from the 
 general principles that rule polo, but in the 
 great game of war, victories have occasion- 
 ally been won by following such a course. 
 Risk there no doubt Is In setting rules at 
 defiance, but it is the man whose mind can 
 grasp a situation and who knows when he 
 can transgress with impunity that fortune 
 will smile on. 
 
 Polo Is — or ought to be — essentially a 
 game of combination, and every member of 
 a team should play not for himself but for 
 his side, and be ready to sacrifice the chance 
 of exhibiting personal skill for the good of 
 his side. But, it may be asked, where does 
 the strategy come in? In a dozen ways. I 
 would ask those who disbelieve me to watch 
 the play of such men as Mr. John Watson, 
 the Messrs. Peat, Mr. Frank Mildmay, Capt. 
 

 
 
 
Tactics and Danger in Polo. i \ 
 
 Lament, 9th Lancers, Capt. Renton, 17th 
 Lancers, Capt. Spicer, Royal Horse Guards, 
 Capt. Le Gallais, the Messrs. Miller, and 
 many others. Watch such men as these, 
 note how often they, to use a Gallicism, 
 se rdcitlent pour mieux satiter, how often they 
 provoke an attack merely to repel it and 
 exhaust their adversaries, and then say, if 
 you can, that there is no strategy in polo. 
 
 And as to tactics ? Ah ! that opens up 
 a very wide question, one that can hardly 
 be dealt with now in minute detail. Let me 
 take an instance, however, where, aided 
 by a cool head — we will, of course, suppose 
 the player is mounted on a well-trained 
 pony — a strong arm, and a straight eye, a 
 player can afford very material aid to his 
 side. We will imagine that a No. 2 is bring- 
 ing the ball along, with his No. i " nursing " 
 the opposing " back " and having his adver- 
 sary on his left. A No. 2 who disregarded 
 strategy and tactics would hit the ball in any 
 direction. Not so one who has studied the 
 game. Such a one would try and hit the 
 ball so that it should go to the right of both 
 friend and foe in front of him. And the 
 
22 
 
 Polo. 
 
 reason is apparent enough. By so doing, he 
 would enable his No. i to still keep the front 
 clear for him by keeping off the "back," and 
 even afford No. i, if opportunity arose and 
 the ball was near the goal, a chance of scoring. 
 To do this naturally requires precision in 
 hitting, but it requires something more, viz., 
 a cool head, a knowledge of pace and tactics. 
 Then when the players in front have an 
 opportunity, they should place themselves in 
 such a manner with regard to their opponents 
 as. will give w^hoever is in possession of the 
 ball a fairly clear field goalwards, though, of 
 course, to gain any advantage by such a 
 tactical movement, the man who is in posses- 
 sion of the ball must play to his side, for 
 naturally his adversaries will endeavour to 
 defeat the manoeuvre. Yet, be it remem- 
 bered, if the striker of the ball can hit 
 accurately he will be able, by the use of tac- 
 tical skill, to materially benefit his side by 
 placing the ball either to the left or right. 
 In other words, he can by doing so dodge 
 and foil his antagonists. Of course he must 
 use his judgment in this matter, and neglect, 
 if he can afford to do so, any hard and fast 
 
Tactics and Danger in Polo. 23 
 
 rules, bearing in mind that his adversary is 
 the one obstacle to be got past somehow. 
 How to do this cannot of course be formu- 
 lated precisely, and circumstances alter cases, 
 but as the "Red Book" lays down for the 
 instruction of young officers, "Tlie intelli- 
 gent officer will be able to avail himself of 
 any means at his command." I may not have 
 quoted the context exactly, for it is many 
 years since that interesting volume was my 
 hourly study. Still I think I have given the 
 sense of the paragraph . 
 
 Of course under ordinary circumstances 
 the ball should be hit straight up and down 
 the ground as much as possible, but there are 
 instances when it is permissible to do other- 
 wise and take the ball round. We will 
 suppose that the ponies of one side are tiring, 
 whilst No. 2 of the opposing team Is on a fast 
 and fresh pony ; if he gets on to the ball, 
 obviously it will pay better for him to take 
 the ball round, particularly on a boarded 
 ground, for he will force the enemy to gallop 
 after him and still further exhaust their weary 
 animals. His No. 3 will then probably have 
 cut across into the centre of the ground, and 
 to him No. 2 should then pass the ball. 
 
24 Polo. 
 
 All this sounds very easy on paper, and 
 some may say it is nothing but theory. Still I 
 think if such sceptics were to watch narrowly 
 the play of such able exponents of the game 
 as Mr. F. B. Mildmay, Captain Jenner, Mr. 
 James Peat, and other shining lights of the 
 polo world, they would note that almost their 
 every move and stroke in the game was in- 
 fluenced by a motive, and that there is a great 
 deal more required in a man to be a good 
 player than merely being able to ride and hit 
 hard, though, of course, to rank high he must 
 be able to do both these. A feigned attack, 
 the putting a too attentive No. i ''off-side" 
 by his opposing '' back," keeping places in 
 the game, dropping back to take the place 
 of a friend who has gone up into the game, 
 seeing where a friend is, and passing the ball 
 on to him ; all these demand the exercise of 
 much strategical and tactical skill, and in fact 
 there is scarcely any limit to the possibilities 
 of the game, or the perfection to which it can 
 be brought by those who give their minds to 
 the subject. 
 
 I trust I have briefly demonstrated that 
 polo is not the wild hurly-burly it is com- 
 
Tactics and Danger in Polo. 25 
 
 rnonly supposed to be, but a game requiring 
 thought, judgment, and self-control, besides 
 physical strength and horsemanship ; and as 
 such, surely it is one which most befits a 
 soldier, and therefore is worthy of every 
 encouragement as a military game. 
 
 A few words, now, about the danger of 
 polo. Happily, in this country, serious acci- 
 dents have been comparatively few, whilst 
 none that I can call to mind have terminated 
 fatally. In India, however, the case is 
 different, and within the last few years the 
 death roll has been somewhat long ; conse- 
 quently a cry has been raised against the 
 game on account of its danger, and some 
 three years ago this argument was advanced 
 in favour of stopping officers in the Army 
 from playing. In India, the fatal accidents 
 that have occurred may be attributed to two 
 causes — viz., the hard ground, and the fact 
 that men often play badly-bitted and imper- 
 fectly-trained ponies. Yet another cause has 
 been assigrned as a reason — viz., the increased 
 size of ponies, and it has been urged that in 
 the early days of polo men were content to 
 ride small ponies. Let us look into these 
 questions. 
 
26 Polo. 
 
 The hard ground certainly is an evil that 
 cannot be got over, and it is a factor which 
 must be faced in any Indian sport pursued on 
 horseback ; but precautions may be taken, 
 and Lord Roberts, when Commander-in-Chief 
 in India, issued an Army Order in which 
 he strongly urged officers to wear a stout and 
 protective head-dress when playing. That in 
 some cases such a protection may be bene- 
 ficial, just as a tall hat fulfils the purpose in 
 the hunting-field at home, is indisputable; but 
 it cannot always have the desired effect, vide 
 the case of poor ''Bay" Middleton. A tall 
 hat did not then save the neck of one of the 
 most brilliant horsemen of the age when 
 galloping on the fiat, for he met his death 
 full twenty yards on the landing side of the 
 last fence he jumped. 
 
 To continue our examination of the dan- 
 gerous elements of the game. The greatest 
 of these undoubtedly arises from playing im- 
 properly-trained and badly-bitted ponies, and, 
 I might add, playing ponies in blinkers. At 
 home, as a general rule, ponies are fairly 
 well trained, and considerable attention is 
 paid to their bitting. But abroad it is 
 
Tactics and Danger in Polo. 27 
 
 different. A youngster in India buys a 
 likely-looking pony, hacks him about a bit, 
 introduces him to a stick and ball for a 
 couple of days, and forthwith takes him 
 straight into a game. What is the result ? 
 The animal, who has never been hustled 
 about amongst a number of other ponies, gets 
 frightened, becomes unmanaoreable, and forth- 
 with, in his blind terror, bangs into another 
 pony. There is a smash, and then "Another 
 Fatal Accident at Polo " heads a paragraph 
 in the newspapers. Common-sense, if no- 
 thing else, should point to the fact that a pony, 
 before he is fit to play in a game, should 
 undergo weeks, nay, months, of quiet hand- 
 ling and training ; his education should be 
 gradual ; he should be looked on as a child, 
 and taught on the same principle, viz., by 
 slowly giving him confidence, and imbuing 
 his lessons with interest. He should on no 
 account be hurried or rushed into a game, or 
 he will never become trustworthy, and, until 
 he has been practised for some time in 
 company with three or four other ponies, 
 he should not be subjected to the ordeal of 
 having seven galloping round, in rear and 
 alongside of him. 
 
28 Polo. 
 
 There have, indeed, been some few excep- 
 tions of a pony playing the first time of asking, 
 such as Mr. John R. Walker's Syrian pony 
 Sinbad, which he played in a match at Cairo 
 within five minutes of purchasing him, and 
 after the pony had just come in from a long 
 desert march. The pony then played as per- 
 fectly as he does now ; but such exceptions 
 only prove the rule. 
 
 Whilst penning these lines, I received a 
 letter from a correspondent at Port Elizabeth, 
 in South Africa, who has sought my advice 
 on some points connected with the game. I 
 give this extract from his letter : — " In train- 
 ing ponies for the game, I surmise that, in 
 England, you give them a thorough drilling in 
 bending and twisting ; whereas we rush them 
 straight off into a game, and let them learn 
 it as best they can. . . . But here we 
 generally ride in racing-snaffles." Now\ this 
 is what too often occurs ; and yet people 
 expect to get good ponies, and that they 
 should play without any education ! You 
 might as well expect a chimney-sweeper to 
 navigate an ironclad, and yet the public fancy 
 this is how polo is played, and wonder that 
 accidents happen ! 
 
Tactics and Da^ioer 
 
 111 
 
 Polo. 
 
 29 
 
 Blinkers are an abomination, and ought to 
 be forbidden on the polo field. A pony 
 wearing them cannot see sufficiently well to 
 avoid the rush of an adversary, and being 
 
 -SK^^' 
 
 Danger of Blinkers and Bad Bitting. 
 
 taken unawares is more liable to get knocked 
 over. If blinkers have to be used on account 
 of a pony being " ball-shy," the sooner his 
 owner gets rid of him and relegates him to 
 
30 Polo. 
 
 the humbler tasks of hacking or harness the 
 better, for sooner or later they are both bound 
 to come to grief. 
 
 Bitting is a most important point, and one 
 which I fear has too little attention paid to it. 
 No matter for what work used, an improperly 
 bitted horse or pony does justice neither to 
 itself nor to its rider ; both are playing at 
 cross purposes, and the result is mutual irrita- 
 tion and discomfort, to say nothing of danger. 
 I have always contended that with very few 
 exceptions no polo pony should be played in 
 anything but a double bridle. No matter 
 how light a mouth an animal may have, his 
 rider cannot, with a snaffle, possess the same 
 powder of pulling him up suddenly as he has 
 with a double bridle or curb, and consequently 
 the risk of accident is immensely increased. 
 Some may affirm that their ponies will not 
 face a double bridle properly, and will not go 
 up to their bits. This, I think, is merely a 
 question of hands, and though a few, a very 
 few, ponies may play in a snaffle, such as Mr. 
 John Watson's celebrated pony Fritz, yet 
 such ponies are very few in a thousand. Here 
 again common-sense should clinch the argu- 
 
Tactics and Danoer in Polo. 
 
 c^ 
 
 ment, for the greater control you possess over 
 any motive force the more you will be able to 
 bend that force to your will, and, in the case 
 of horseflesh, a suitable bit is the controlling 
 force. 
 
 The increased size of ponies Is one of the 
 many causes to which fatal polo accidents 
 have been attributed, and though, of course, I 
 may be mistaken in my ideas on this subject, 
 I cannot subscribe to the doctrine. It has 
 been urged that when men played on 1 3 to 
 13-2 hand ponies no fatal accidents occurred. 
 But how about one of the earliest victims to 
 polo, poor Captain Clayton of the 9th 
 Lancers, who was killed at Delhi on Christ- 
 mas Eve, 1877.^ ^"^ he, I believe, was rid- 
 ing a 13-2 hand pony at the time. Then it 
 must be remembered that the whole game has 
 altered very materially of late years. Slow, 
 dribbling play, with an occasional scrimmage, 
 has given place to a scientitic, galloping, hard- 
 hitting game, in which a big man on a small 
 pony would be nowhere. So, with altered 
 conditions, bigger and stronger ponies had to 
 be used, animals able not only to gallop faster 
 but stand hustling w^Ithout coming down. 
 
32 Polo. 
 
 Personally, I do not believe that the size of 
 ponies has anything to do with accidents, ex- 
 cept, of course, In the case of a small pony 
 coming in contact with a big one, when the 
 weaker is bound to go to the wall, or rather 
 to the ground. But even if two ponies of the 
 same size collide, one or both may fall, and 
 there is still the chance of one rider being 
 killed. If a small pony crosses his legs, 
 cannons against another, or from any other 
 cause comes down, he is just as likely to give 
 his rider a fatal fall as a larger animal. The 
 distance a man has to fall has nothing to do 
 with the proportionate amount of injury he is 
 likely to receive in that fall. If it had, would 
 men ride 16-2 horses with hounds ? Would 
 they not prefer 15-2 animals as diminishing 
 the risk of injury from a fall ? A 14 to 14-2 
 hand pony — and now-a-days most ponies are 
 nearer the latter than the former height — will 
 not only carry his rider safer at polo, but his 
 weight in a husding bout is bound to tell. 
 Besides — and this especially in the case of 
 a long-legged man — he balances his rider's 
 weight better, and does his work with greater 
 ease both to his rider and himself. It has 
 
Tactics and Danger in Polo. 33 
 
 been urged by some champions of small 
 ponies that they turn quicker and are more 
 handy. This I consider a fallacy, and I 
 would ask those who differ from me to note 
 such ponies as Mr. John Watson's Fritz ; the 
 Messrs. Peat's Dynamite, Gay Lad, Firefly, 
 Grasshopper ; Lord Harrington's The Girl 
 and AH Baba ; Mr. T. S. Kennedy's Umpire 
 and Dancing Girl, Capt. Daly's Wig, and 
 many others, who have to carry big and 
 heavy men. If they will do this, they will, I 
 think, agree with me that many big ponies — 
 mind, all these ponies are 14 hands, if not 
 over — can turn like hares. 
 
 That all dangerous continofencies in con- 
 nectlon with polo cannot be guarded against, 
 no one will deny ; but much can be done, and 
 the salient preventive measures I have en- 
 deavoured to sketch briefly. But before con- 
 cluding my remarks on this subject I would 
 draw the attention of polo players at home 
 to the following resolutions passed at a 
 meeting held at Poona, on March 11, 1892, 
 and presided over by Sir George Greaves, 
 then Commander-in-Chief in Bombay, who 
 is a well-known enthusiast about all matters 
 3 
 
34 Polo. 
 
 connected with polo. On this occasion the 
 following resolutions were passed : — 
 
 1. That in view of recent accidents, and in order to 
 keep the manly game of polo going, it is necessary for 
 the players to take some steps among themselves to 
 re-establish it in the favour of the authorities and the 
 public. 
 
 2. That it is desirable to have umpires when prac- 
 ticable in ordinary station games, to enforce the 
 rules, not only with a view to the safety of the players, 
 but to train them, and to give them a full knowledge 
 of the rules and to bring home to them the con- 
 sequences of reckless play both in regard to its 
 danger and its inutility in a match. 
 
 3. That every encouragement should be given to 
 young players, but that every endeavour should be 
 made to prevent men who cannot ride well enough, 
 or who play unbroken or dangerous ponies from 
 joining in the game. 
 
 4. That hustling should be discouraged as much as 
 possible when neither player is actually riding for the 
 ball. 
 
 5. That umpires should enforce the rules against 
 unfair or dangerous riding without waiting to be 
 appealed to. 
 
 6. That the present height of ponies should not be 
 interfered with. 
 
 7. That subsidiary goals should not be introduced. 
 
 The first five of these rules are obviously 
 so much to the point that I think they will 
 meet with universal approval, and Xos. 4 and 
 5 are specially worthy of notice. Hustling 
 
Tactics and Danger in Polo. 35 
 
 is no doubt carried to absurd lengths, and 
 I have seen two men, both first-class players, 
 hustling each other at Hurlingham, when the 
 ball was a good two hundred yards away 
 from them, and play going on in a different 
 part of the ground ; whilst in India the 
 practice assumed I believe ridiculous pro- 
 portions until very stringent rules with refer- 
 ence to it were framed by the Indian Polo 
 Association. And with regard to No. 5, the 
 subject is worthy of the consideration of 
 the Hurlingham Polo Committee. Umpires 
 should have every latitude given them, and 
 shoitld be empowered to interfere withotU 
 waiting to be appealed to. * 
 
 But here I am treading on delicate ground, 
 and discussing a subject which I never in- 
 tended alluding to. The ethics of polo might 
 indeed furnish matter for a large volume, 
 and so the sooner I practise what I have 
 been preaching, and ride my pen in a curb, 
 the better. A genuine love of the game 
 must be my excuse for transgressing, but it 
 is a grand game — one worthy of an abler 
 
 " This has now been done. — J. M. B. 
 
J 
 
 6 Polo. 
 
 scribe to brlnof its advantaofes home to the 
 public. \\^hat I cannot do in prose has, 
 however, been accompHshed by that good 
 sportsman, Mr. "Harry" Bentley, whose 
 pen seems to gHde over paper with the ease 
 that his good horses cross the stiff country of 
 Northamptonshire. Let me therefore borrow 
 from him, and quote the following lines : — 
 
 " So search the world all over, take the pastimes, 
 one and ah, 
 No better game than polo you can find ; 
 For, like life, its twists and turnings teach us all to 
 give and take, 
 And strengthen both the muscle and the mind. 
 So the flying ball we'll follow ever on from goal to 
 goal, 
 Till minutes into hours swiftly pass ; 
 And we vow no other pleasure in excitement can 
 compare 
 To such a glorious gallop on the grass." 
 
 True words, these, and in years to come 
 may there be many a good gallop on the 
 sound turf of merry England, on the sun- 
 baked niaidaiis of Hindustan, in France, in 
 Australia, x-\merica, and Africa, or wherever 
 polo finds a home. So, Vive le polo ! 
 
Zl 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Letters to Young Polo Players. 
 
 I. 
 
 Y DEAR A 
 
 You tell me you intend to 
 take to polo during the coming 
 season, and ask my advice on 
 certain matters connected with the " Royal 
 Game." This 1 shall be delighted to give 
 you, but first let me congratulate you on 
 your determination to become a polo player. 
 Depend upon it, you will not regret doing 
 so, for it will not only teach you to become 
 a horseman, but will considerably benefit 
 you in other ways, particularly as you will 
 — during your stay in London — be a young 
 man " about town." I am not going to read 
 you a lecture on how you should comport 
 
38 Polo. 
 
 yourself whilst enjoying your London season, 
 but would impress on you that if you mean 
 to shine as a polo player, you must not 
 "burn the candle at both ends," for if you 
 do, you will find your nerve fail, and that 
 you will neither be able to ride nor hit the 
 ball. 
 
 There are several points on which you will 
 need enlightenment, and such advice as I can 
 give is very much at your service, but I will 
 ask you to remember that no advice that I, 
 or anyone else, can give you will be much 
 good unless you make up your mind to prac- 
 tise self-denial in a great many ways, and go 
 in for the game with all your heart. You 
 may, no doubt, think when you look on at a 
 good game played by good men on good 
 ponies, that it is all very easy ; but you will 
 find, once you begin to try and hit a ball 
 about, or ride an imperfectly-trained pony, 
 that it is quite a different thing to what you 
 imagined, and that before you can even aspire 
 to play in moderate company you will have 
 to learn and practise many things, and until 
 you can do two things, viz.. manage your 
 pony and hit the ball. I pray you not to 
 
Letters to Yoitng Polo Players. 39 
 
 make an exhibition of yourself by play- 
 ing in public. The points I shall submit 
 for your consideration will not be many, but 
 they will be important, viz., sticks, the choice 
 and training of a pony, how to play the 
 game, &c. ; but as I do not want to disgust 
 you with too long a lecture, I shall not let 
 this letter run to undue length. You will 
 have some time before the regular season 
 begins, and during that time, by constant 
 practice, you w^ill be able to do much towards 
 perfecting yourself and your pony. I shall 
 therefore select as the subject of this letter 
 the sort of animal you should purchase, 
 and if you are not able to find one 
 already trained — which would be your wisest 
 course — you will derive much pleasure in 
 training him. Still, as teaching requires 
 knowledge on the part of the preceptor, I 
 should advise your deferring this until you 
 have gained some practical experience. 
 
 You will probably have heard polo de- 
 scribed as expensive and dangerous. Per- 
 haps it is, as much as hunting or shooting ; 
 you will have to spend some money on it, 
 for you cannot get really well-shaped, fast 
 
40 Polo. 
 
 ponies without paying for them, nor can you 
 go about playing matches or play in town at 
 Hurlingham or Ranelagh for nothing ; still, 
 there is no need why you should pay an 
 exorbitant price for your amusement. If 
 you want to hunt in the Shires or take a 
 grouse moor in Scotland, you will have to 
 pay far more than you would If you are 
 content to hunt with your country pack, and 
 enjoy such moderate sport with a gun as 
 your paternal acres w^ill afford. In fact, you 
 must cut your cloth according to your means, 
 but if you will eschew tickets to theatres, 
 giving dinners and supper parties, and other 
 means of Qrettino- rid of vour monev, and 
 expend your superfluous cash on polo, 
 believe me you will be the gainer, both 
 physically and morally. 
 
 Now, with regard to the clangers of polo, 
 do not let vourself be influenced bv the aro-u- 
 ment that it is such a verv danorerous crame. 
 Certain elements of danger it undoubtedly 
 possesses — and what sport worth a rap has 
 not ? — but not more than attend hunting, 
 steeple-chasing, shooting, or even football, 
 and such danger as there is, can be reduced 
 
Letters to Young Polo Players. 41 
 
 to a minimum by the men themselves, if 
 they play the game as it should be played, 
 and ride properly-trained ponies. 
 
 You will want to know the sort of pony 
 you should buy, and what his qualifications 
 should be. You will probably not be able to 
 get a perfect pony at first, but I will briefly 
 sketch out for you what he ought to be like, 
 and when you see one answering the descrip- 
 tion, take my advice and buy him. He or 
 she — and many of the best polo ponies are 
 mares — should have a clean, well-bred head, 
 a broad forehead and intelligent eye, a well- 
 set-on-neck, strong, flat legs, and good sound 
 feet. The nearer perfection you can get 
 shoulders the better, for though sloping 
 shoulders are not absolutely necessary for 
 turning quickly or for speed, yet good shoul- 
 ders will often enable your pony to recover 
 himself if he makes a mistake or gets 
 knocked out of his stride. The pony's 
 back should be short and muscular, the 
 ribs well arched, and the loins strong ; 
 the quarters should be strong, long, and 
 muscular, with length from hip to hock, and 
 the second thighs well developed. Do not 
 
42 Polo. 
 
 despise a pony with a tendency to sickle hocks 
 or with a sHght goose rump ; these points 
 may offend the eye as far as s)'mmetry is 
 concerned, but an animal thus made, though 
 he may lose in speed from the conforma- 
 tion, can invariably turn quickly. Let your 
 pony show as much substance as a weight- 
 carrying hunter, the quality of a race horse, 
 and measure from 14 to 14.1 hands. With 
 the present uncertainty as to height, I cannot 
 conscientiously advise your buying one 
 over that height, though half the ponies 
 played, and some whose names are bye- 
 words in the polo world, are a good 14 
 hands 2 in. Personally, I think a pony 
 of the latter height the most desirable, 
 and though people will tell you that a pony 
 measuring a hand less is more handy, and 
 turns quicker, I do not believe it. and if you 
 go to Hurlingham and watch many of the 
 well-known big ponies, you will note that 
 they can turn and twist like eels. Besides, 
 a 14. 1 hands or 14.2 hands pony not only 
 balances his rider's weight better, but, from 
 being hea\'ier. Is more able to withstand any 
 shock from being bumped Into — as will hap- 
 
Letters to Voting Polo Players. 43 
 
 pen at times — and so is less liable to come 
 down. You, I know, are not a very heavy 
 weight, and a pony of 14 hands should suit 
 all your requirements ; but see before you 
 buy him that he has a good mouth, for a 
 pulling, yawing, or boring brute, that wants 
 a 20-acre field to turn him in, is utterly 
 useless for polo, and will pro\'e not only a 
 source of misery to yourself, but one of 
 danger to your friends. Ponies as well as 
 horses go well in all shapes, and some of the 
 best have not been the best-lookino" ; but, 
 presuming that your purchase satisfies you 
 on this point, and gives promise of being' 
 possessed of a fair turn of speed, it will be 
 as well for you to consider what the quali- 
 fications are that are necessary to make him 
 a good polo pony. 
 
 Briefly, they may be thus summed up, and 
 I quote from such a good authority as Cap- 
 tain Hayes : — 
 
 1. He should be able to start quickly, jump 
 into his bridle at once, and strike ofi" from the 
 halt into a canter or gallop. 
 
 2. His mouth should be so "made" that 
 he will go at any rate of speed you desire, 
 
44 Polo. 
 
 from the slowest canter to the fastest gallop 
 — in fact, if he can " passage " at the former 
 it will be all the better. 
 
 3. He should be able to pull up to a 
 halt in a very few strides when at his greatest 
 speed. 
 
 4. He should be able to change his lead- 
 ing leg the moment he gets a hint to do so. 
 
 All these he can be tauo^ht to do in a 
 military riding-school, and if you have 
 neither the time nor the ability to teach him 
 yourself, you cannot do better than send him 
 to one, for they are the most important rudi- 
 ments of his profession. When he has 
 learnt them, and been taught to give to your 
 hand and heel, you may proceed further with 
 his education. However, this will be a 
 matter for future consideration, and as you 
 will want to learn a good deal yourself, you 
 will require a handy animal at first. Do not 
 think it necessary to get a fast pony for your 
 initial lessons ; buy one that is thoroughly 
 trained, even though it may be a bit of a 
 screw\ Arab, Barb, and Syrian ponies have 
 not only as a rule good mouths, but seem to 
 take to the game naturally, and so many of 
 
Letters to Voting Polo Players. 45 
 
 these have been lately imported that you 
 should find no difficulty in suiting- yourself, 
 and it will pay you far better to g-ive a little 
 more for such a pony, than buy an English 
 or Irish pony which, though probably faster, 
 has not been w^ell trained. South American 
 ponies, too, are wonderfully handy, and if 
 you do not object to their looks, and get a 
 well-broken one, you will find it of service. 
 Presuming you have got a suitable pony, 
 make it your business to discover in w^hat bit 
 he goes best. This is an important point, to 
 which you should pay attention. And let 
 me strongly urge you to eschew a plain 
 snaffle, and use a double bridle, which, whilst 
 not irritating your pony's mouth or being 
 unduly severe, gives you command of him. 
 
 Your next step will be to learn to sit him 
 properly. You will probably be indignant at 
 my suggesting such a thing to you, but sitting 
 a pony when he turns sharply, as he will have 
 to do at polo, and when your attention is 
 concentrated on the ball, is a very different 
 thing to sitting a horse over a fence. You 
 will have not only to acquire grip, but learn 
 to balance yourself, and not hold on by the 
 
46 Polo. 
 
 reins. Begin by cantering your pony, giving 
 him a hint when to turn by leg pressure and 
 the sway of your body, as well as by a light 
 touch of his mouth. Turn first to one side 
 and then to the other, taking a serpentine 
 course. When you find you have learnt 
 the art of communicating your wishes to the 
 pony without pulling and hauling at his 
 mouth, make your half turns sharper and 
 closer together, and then try a circle; begin 
 with a wide one and gradually decrease it. 
 After ha\'ing done this you can practise 
 getting your pony to turn right round when 
 going at a hard canter, and then do it at 
 a gallop. This will teach you a good deal, 
 but you will perhaps learn more how to sit if 
 you will adopt Capt. Hayes' method, viz., by 
 getting someone to drive your pony with 
 long reins and turn and twist him about 
 whilst you sit on his back without any 
 reins in your hand. This will teach you 
 not to rely on reins as a means of keep- 
 ing on your pony's back, and give you 
 the confidence acquired by balance. Balance 
 is a very important point in all riding, 
 and the man who keeps his balance, and 
 
Letters to Yoimg Polo Players. 47 
 
 thus distributes his weight equally on a 
 horse's back, affords the animal great assist- 
 ance. In polo you have frequently to lean 
 over considerably on one side, and if your 
 pony is turning sharply at the time your 
 loss of proper balance communicates itself 
 to him, and the result will be that he is 
 more liable to come down, as you, from your 
 position, are unable to assist him in keeping 
 on his legs. 
 
 Practise these few things every day for an 
 hour or so until you feel perfectly firm in 
 your saddle, and then try hitting the ball. 
 The first time you endeavour to do this, 
 and for many succeeding times, you will most 
 likely miss it altogether, or not hit it fair. 
 Some men will tell you to begin by going- 
 fast at the ball and to try hitting it at full 
 speed, maintaining that unless you do so you 
 are apt to potter over your strokes. Their 
 opinion is entitled to respect, and may be 
 correct, but on the principle that you must 
 learn to walk before you can run, I contend 
 that you should first learn to hit the ball fair 
 and square at a stand, then at a trot and 
 a canter, until your arm and eye so work 
 
48 Polo. 
 
 together, that you can strike it accurately at 
 speed. Learn to hold your stick properly, 
 viz., at full length, not letting any part 
 of the handle project beyond the level 
 of your hand's palm. You will constantly 
 see drawings in which players are de- 
 picted with a good three or four inches 
 of their stick-handles visible beyond their 
 hands. This is wrong ; for if you held your 
 stick thus, the swing of the forward motion 
 in a drive would, on the rebound consequent 
 on the head of the stick meeting the ball, 
 bring the projecting part of the former against 
 your wrist, and so not only give you a nasty 
 jar, but deprive the blow to be administered 
 to the ball of half its force. Try the experi- 
 ment yourself, and you will at once grasp my 
 meaning. Hold vour stick tirmlv, vet allow 
 your wrist plenty of play, and avoid those 
 abominations, leather straps attached to the 
 ends of polo sticks. They are supposed to 
 prevent your losing your stick ; they certainly 
 fulfil this object, and also another, viz., that 
 if by any means your stick gets caught you 
 cannot release your hold of it. and are liable 
 to be draofeed off vour ponv. Cut off these 
 
Letters to Young Polo Players. 51 
 
 straps, therefore, and if you must have some- 
 thing to help you to retain your grasp of the 
 stick, tie on a loop of thin tape sufficiently 
 long to wind round your wrist, and of suf- 
 ficient weakness that it will easily snap on 
 any great strain being put upon it. 
 
 Begin by hitting the ball slowly at a walk ; 
 you cannot do better than try dribbling it a 
 few yards at a time. This will be useful to 
 you at times, for though the game now is one 
 of hard hitting, there are times when a judi- 
 cious dribble of a few yards to dodge the 
 ball out of the w^ay of an adversary, or to 
 place it in a position for yourself to deliver 
 a more telling stroke, will be very useful. 
 W^hen you have mastered this, you can go 
 on to hit harder and at an increased rate oi 
 speed ; and when going fast remember that 
 you should hit at the ball when it is in a line 
 with your pony s fore -leg, and not when it is 
 under your own foot. This is the cause why 
 balls are so often missed or not fairly hit. 
 Take the opportunity of watching Mr. James 
 Peat or other hard and accurate hitters, and 
 you will find that this is half the secret of 
 their success. 
 
52 Polo. 
 
 You will also have to practise back-handed 
 strokes delivered on each side of your pony, 
 as well as near-side forward strokes, and, 
 moreover, go on practising until you have 
 thoroughly established a thorough unison 
 between your hand and eye. When you 
 have attained to a certain amount of 
 efficiency, and can hit the ball fairly well 
 when it is stationary, have one thrown 
 towards you, or in to one side as it is at the 
 commencement of a game. This will teach 
 you to be quick on it. ^Meeting a ball is 
 often necessary in a game, though it is a 
 risky form of play ; but if you can hit it thus 
 with a tolerable amount of certainty, you will 
 be of great use to your team. 
 
 There is nothing more I can tell you that 
 will ensure your perfecting yourself in the 
 matter of striking the ball. The attainment 
 of perfection in this matter can only be the 
 outcome of constant and persevering prac- 
 tice, and it will depend mainly on yourself 
 how proficient you become. 
 
 I have now allotted you a task sufficient 
 for a month, and you will find that it will 
 take you all that, and more, before you are 
 
HlTTiMc cii rh£: ^£'AR ^"^^ 
 
Letter's to Yoimg Polo Players. 55 
 
 satisfied with yourself. You will probably 
 be disappointed that you do not "come 
 to it " sooner, but do not be discouraged. 
 Remember that Rome was not built in a 
 day ; go on hammering away, and when you 
 can report yourself as fairly competent to 
 sit your pony properly, and hit the ball, I 
 will give you some more hints, and tell you 
 how to set about training your pony. 
 
 II. 
 
 Having in my last letter told you some- 
 thing of the stamp of pony you should try 
 and suit yourself with, and how you should 
 practise and train yourself, I now propose 
 giving you some suggestions as to how you 
 should train your pony (supposing that you 
 have bought an untrained one), as well as on 
 other matters. 
 
 First of all, let me give you a hint which 
 you will find useful. Do not attempt to play 
 in a very small saddle. You are not like 
 James Pigg, of immortal memory, " lang and 
 leet." The curves of your figure are graceful 
 and symmetrical, and though I do not intend 
 for a moment to hint that you are tending 
 
56 Polo. 
 
 towards obesity, yet good living is apt to 
 develop flesh and those curves which, to an 
 artistic eye, are lines of beauty. Do not, 
 therefore, lay yourself open to the charge — 
 as I once did when riding a race many years 
 ago in a 2 lb. saddle — of attempting to put 
 " a round of beef on a cheese-plate" ! When 
 playing polo, as well as when hunting, you 
 will have every muscle of your nether man 
 called into play in order to retain your seat ; 
 you will often have, as assailant in a hustle, 
 to lean right over your pony, and as a de- 
 fendant you will have to do all you know to 
 remain in your saddle ; you will often, too, 
 have to turn very sharply and balance your- 
 self the while." You cannot do all these 
 unless you have a good foundation or basis 
 of operation, and that basis is a saddle 
 which, without being clumsy, fits your pony 
 well and gives you something comfortable to 
 sit upon. You will find a surcingle a useful 
 addition to keep your saddle in its place and 
 prevent it from slipping. 
 
 If possible, avoid using spurs, but if you 
 must have them, use blunt rowels. You are 
 a smart man, I know, and a boot does not 
 
Letters to Young Polo Players. 57 
 
 look dressy without spurs, so if you must 
 have -them, have the rowels taken out and 
 substitute sixpences. Your vanity will be 
 satisfied, and I am sure your pony will be. 
 About spurs, here is another tip : Have the 
 buckles removed, and let the straps that 
 come across the instep btUton on like the 
 underneath strap. Buckles are responsible 
 for half the cases of men being dragged 
 when they fall, for they catch against the 
 stirrup irons. " Looks so bad! " I hear you 
 say. Not a bit. Believe me, not one man 
 out of fifty will notice the change, and, after 
 all, which is of the greater importance, 
 appearance or life ? You will be wise if you 
 sacrifice a little of the former for the sake of 
 ensuring safety to the latter. 
 
 One other bit of advice, and then we will 
 get on to the ponies, and that is as to a 
 head-dress. You know that in India, when 
 there w^as so much fuss, and absurd fuss, 
 made about the dangers of polo. Lord 
 Roberts, the late Commander-in-Chief, was 
 very strong on this point, and his remarks 
 were very apposite. Hunting hats are made 
 hard in order to break the force of a fall ; 
 
58 Polo. 
 
 and yet you constantly see men either play- 
 ing polo without any covering at all to their 
 heads, or else with some wretched flimsy 
 thing made of silk. Now, swagger or in- 
 difference are all very well in their way, but 
 if a simple precaution may be the means of 
 saving your neck, why in the name of com- 
 mon sense not adopt it? The difficulty of 
 combining fashion with safety has, however, 
 been met, and by one of the best of our 
 polo players, Mr. Gerald Hardy. He has 
 invented a head - dress w^hich combines a 
 certain amount of elegance with usefulness, 
 viz., a hard felt crowned cap covered with 
 loose cloth, which has all the appearance of 
 an ordinary cap — though not Mr. Keir 
 Hardie's pattern ! I have ventured to call 
 this the "G. H.," which may stand for the 
 '' Gerald Hardy " or the '' Good Hat." And 
 you can get it at a hatter's in Jermyn Street 
 — the firm's name I forget, but if you make 
 a cast down the street you will find it. It 
 is, if I remember right, a corner shop. 
 
 Now for training your pony — and I am 
 presuming that you have paid me the com- 
 pliment of carrying out the suggestions as 
 
Letters to Yoking Polo Players. 59 
 
 to yourself that I gave you in my last letter. 
 You must start with the assumption that 
 your pupil has everything" to learn, and 
 having discovered which bit he goes best 
 in, you may commence his education. Do 
 not, however, be in too great a hurry, or 
 attempt to teach him too much in a short 
 time. Education of every description, if it 
 is to bear weight, must be gradual, and 
 "cramming" is good for neither man nor 
 beast. Your own experience will probably 
 have taught you this ; apply it. therefore, to 
 your pupil, and remember that the object you 
 have in view is to teach your pony to obey 
 your slightest hint from hand or leg pres- 
 sure. What you have in view is to gain the 
 mastery over him, and this can only be 
 obtained by your keeping your own temper 
 and — by perseverance. Once he knows that 
 he has to obey you, nolens volens, you start 
 with an advantage. You must work on his 
 memory, and make him connect his educa- 
 tion with kindness, though of course, like 
 a human being of a low order, his feelings 
 must occasionally be appealed to by punish- 
 ment. The less of this you employ, how- 
 
6o Polo. 
 
 ever, the better. Bear in mind that you 
 have not only to educate him, but correct 
 his faults, and that nervousness is what you 
 will have to combat principally. If you 
 succeed in removing the causes of this, you 
 will have gained half the battle. You may 
 have a stubborn pupil, you may have a 
 vicious one, but both can be subdued and 
 bent to your will, if you only take time and 
 — keep your temper. And, above all, do 
 not sicken and disgust your pupil with too 
 long lessons. 
 
 One of the primary objects you have to 
 consider is to get your pony to carry his head 
 properly and go up to his bridle and yet 
 freely — I am presuming you have a pony 
 with a fairly well-set-on head and neck — for, 
 if he does not, he will not be much use as a 
 polo pony. You cannot do this better than 
 by fitting him with a standing martingale, 
 attached to the rings of the snaffle, a7id not to 
 the nose band as is so frequently done. This 
 will give you increased control over him, as 
 the mouthpiece will always remain on the bars 
 of the bit, and by preventing him from poking 
 out his nose, teach him that it is easier to 
 
Letters to Young Polo Players. 61 
 
 bend to the bit ; it will also make him move 
 in more collected and more evenly-balanced 
 form. He will soon appreciate the relief, and 
 this will be a point in your favour. Having 
 fixed your standing martingale at the necessary 
 length, put on a driving- pad, and with long 
 reins passed through the pad terrets, drive 
 your pupil about, first at a walk, then at a trot 
 and a canter, making him the while turn to 
 the right or left, pull up, or rein back. But 
 remember ahvays that the reins must not be 
 on his back. For instance, if you want him 
 to turn to the rio^ht, see that the riorht rein 
 comes round his right quarter. This will 
 give you additional power and leverage. 
 
 You can do much, too, in speaking to 
 him, and connecting what you w^ant him to 
 do with words. Many will scoff at this, 
 but you can prove the value of my advice 
 by putting it to the test. This practice with 
 long reins on foot will make your pony 
 attentive, teach him discipline, and give him 
 confidence in his tutor. It will repay you 
 to give him plenty of practice w^ith them, 
 and you will by their use be able to over- 
 come much of his natural timidity. 
 
62 Polo. 
 
 Let me. therefore, strongly recommend 
 you to give your pony a couple of lessons 
 every day with the long reins, though, of 
 course, you should divide them into periods 
 of an hour, or an hour and a-half. Believe 
 me the time will not be wasted, and will con- 
 siderably facilitate the furtherance of his edu- 
 cation. If necessary you may help the pony 
 to carry his head properly by buckling reins 
 from his snaffle to rings on the roller pad, 
 when he is in his stall or loose-box ; this may 
 be dispensed with except in the case of very 
 obstinate pupils, but its employment, as well 
 as that of the standino- martino^ale, will teach 
 him to bend his neck to save his mouth. 
 
 I cannot undertake to teach you how to 
 acquire "hands," or that ''magic touch" 
 which is the secret of horsemanship, but if 
 you will only bear in mind what a very delicate 
 organism a horse's mouth is, you may learn 
 much for yourself, and a ligkl hand, remember, 
 will often control with apparent ease an 
 animal that " hangs " on his bit, pulls, or 
 fights with his head in the air when ridden 
 by a heavy-handed man. 
 
 When you have got your pony fairly 
 
Letters to Young Polo Players. 63 
 
 handy with the long reins, and properly 
 bitted, you may begin to ride him, and 
 pursue the course which I have advocated 
 in my chapters on Polo in the Badminton 
 volume on " Riding." It would be super- 
 
 - CDuCATio/^ /N a£^^iO'^'Ci • Outside 
 
 fiuous for me to repeat what I have said 
 there, and I feel that I cannot do better than 
 refer you to the book, only adding that 
 the '' bending course " invented by Lord 
 Harrington is of the very greatest value. 
 
64 
 
 Polo, 
 
 Practise your pony well up and down this, 
 circle about, and get him to turn to the right 
 and left, pull up and turn quickly, and you 
 will have advanced a very great step in his 
 education. 
 
 
 
 
 £'OUQAr/ON IN BCNOini:^ . ft><SlOC 
 
 Now, a pony will do all this beautifully, 
 but once you take a stick In your hand, and 
 try to hit a ball off his back, you will 
 frequently, and, In fact, generally, find that 
 he Is frightened. This arises from the 
 
Letters to Young Polo Players. 65 
 
 natural timidity of the equine nature, and it 
 will be your business to overcome it. It 
 must not be done by harsh means, or you 
 will connect the game with punishment in 
 your pony's mind ; you must, on the con- 
 trary, appeal to him by kindness, and demon- 
 strate that his terror is unfounded. Before, 
 therefore, you take a stick in your hand, or 
 let him see a ball, let him understand that 
 both are harmless ; let him overcome his 
 dread of them by constant association. You 
 cannot arrive at this end better than by 
 having a couple of sticks hung up in his 
 loose-box, and by placing a ball there. If 
 you watch you will probably note that he w^ill 
 sniff at them, push them about with his nose, 
 and play with them ; in fact, they will 
 eventually become to him as toys, and he 
 will disconnect them with all ideas of harm. 
 When you go into his box to give him an 
 apple or a carrot, take a stick with you, let 
 him see it in your hand, and move it about 
 in front of his head ; repeat this when you 
 ofet on his back, swinorino- the stick on each 
 side of his head until he takes no notice of it. 
 Then begin to hit the ball off his back, and 
 5 
 
66 Polo. 
 
 be as careful as possible not to let either ball 
 or stick hit his legs. You will thus over- 
 come one great difficulty — viz., the tendency 
 most ponies have to shy off the ball, a very 
 aggravating fault, as you will find once you 
 have played on an animal who is addicted to 
 it. There is but one way of overcoming it, 
 and that is by imbuing the pony's mind with 
 confidence in you, and divesting him of the 
 idea that either ball or stick are going to 
 hurt him. They possibly may do so in the 
 future, but he will most likely then not 
 connect them with pain, and take matters 
 philosophically. 
 
 One point of importance I would call your 
 attention to, and that is teaching your pony 
 to meet other ponies ; and with regard to 
 this, and the question of sore backs, I must 
 again refer you to the Badminton Library 
 volume on '' Rldlno-." Above all, do not 
 attempt to play your pony before he Is fairly 
 well educated, and then only in a " canter- 
 ino^ " orame. If you do, he will o'et flurried 
 and alarmed, and half of the trouble you 
 have taken will have been thrown away. 
 
 About bits and bridles I have little to tell 
 
Letters to Young Polo Players. 67 
 
 you, but do not commit the mistake of 
 playing in a snaffle. Some ponies will do 
 so undoubtedly, but they are few and far 
 between, and, besides, a double bridle gives 
 you more control over your pony, it makes 
 him go in more collected form, and turn on 
 his haunches ; and this is what you want to 
 make him do. Above all, never ride a pony 
 in blinkers. They are an abomination and a 
 very fruitful source of danger. If a pony 
 will not play without them he is not fit for 
 polo, and you had better relegate him to 
 harness, or — pass him on to a friend. A 
 whip you may at times find useful, and it is 
 as well to carry one, for the best of ponies 
 want rousing at times, and even if you do 
 not use it in a game, it is as well to let your 
 pony know that you have one in your hand, 
 and that he is eno^aaed in a more serious 
 business than practice. Use it, however, 
 with discretion. 
 
 What sort of a stick should you use ? 
 Well, that must depend on your own physical 
 strength and the height of your pony. If 
 you are not strong in your wrist, use a light 
 stick. You will find the cigar-shaped heads 
 
68 Polo. 
 
 (Mr. John Watson's pattern) very handy, 
 though I do not think they drive Hke the 
 square-headed ones, and they are more Hkely 
 to cut under the ball than heavier and squarer 
 ones. If you elect to use square heads see 
 that the edges are bevelled off. A sharp 
 edofe mav, if vou miss vour stroke, inflict an 
 ugly cut on nian or pony. The stick-heads 
 are made of various woods — sycamore, beech, 
 ash, willow, and birch, and in India, mango 
 and seeshum are used ; but you will find 
 sycamore the best ; it is light, durable and 
 drives well. The length of your stick must 
 depend on the height of the pony you are 
 riding, and should be of such a length that 
 when mounted and grasping the end of the 
 handle, your stick-head rests lightly on the 
 ground. They are made in lengths varying 
 from 4 ft. to 4 ft. 6 in., but the average length 
 is about 4 ft. 4 in. The handles are made of 
 ratan and malacca cane. The ratan ones are. 
 I think, the best, for they are light, strong, 
 and not so whippy as the brown malaccas. 
 Avoid using a too whippy stick ; you may 
 not only suffer yourself — for instance, by the 
 cane curling round when you try to hit a ball 
 
Letters to Yoitng Polo Players. 69 
 
 under your pony's neck and hitting ^'(9// — but 
 you may injure a rival bent on hustling you 
 on the near side. Sticks will cost you about 
 5s. each, and you should keep at least a 
 dozen by you, as you will need them of 
 different lengths probably, and they often 
 break just where the handle of the cane 
 meets the stick-head, particularly in very dry 
 weather. No very efficient remedy has as 
 yet been discovered, though in India some 
 men stand that part of the handle that fits 
 into the head, in oil ; others soak their stick- 
 heads and a few inches of handle in water or 
 oil, but this naturally increases their weight, 
 so you had better make up your mind not to 
 mind sticks breaking. I would recommend 
 you to use a flat-handled stick in preference 
 to a round-handled one, for the former is less 
 likely to turn in your hand at the moment 
 of hitting. The former are considered the 
 safest and best. From these suggestions 
 you will, I trust, be able to suit yourself in 
 the matter of sticks, and remember, what 
 you have to guard against is having a stick 
 which is too heavy for you. If your stick is 
 unwieldy you will miss the ball frequently, 
 
yo Polo. 
 
 though your eye may be true enough, and 
 so you will be apt to become disgusted and 
 fancy that you will never be able to play 
 properly. If you want to know where to get 
 sticks, I would recommend Salter of Alder- 
 shot, to whom most of the best men eo. 
 
 You will do well to lay in a stock of balls. 
 These are made of willow, and cost about 
 6s. 6d. a dozen, though if you purchase a 
 "gross" you will get them cheaper. These 
 can also be got from Salter. 
 
 Having now suited yourself with a pony 
 and sticks, besides having trained yourself 
 and pony, it will be time for you to study 
 the tactics of the game, and learn how to 
 comport yourself in any position you may be 
 called upon to fulfil. In my next letter I 
 will tell you the principles that should guide 
 you when playing "No. i," "No. 2," 
 " No. 3," or when occupying the responsible 
 position as "back." These, I trust, you 
 will study and lay to heart, and if you do, 
 we may some day see you a shining light in 
 the polo world. 
 
Letters to Young Polo Players. 71 
 
 III. 
 
 This must be my last letter, and it will be 
 devoted to telling you how to play the game. 
 Before, however, offering you a few sugges- 
 tions as to the main points you will have to 
 study and bear in mind, when playing in 
 different positions, I would invite your atten- 
 tion to one or two other considerations. 
 Please do not think me a bore for doing so. 
 
 You must remember that every combina- 
 tion depends more or less on the units of 
 which it is composed ; and that a polo team 
 is either strengthened or weakened according 
 to the ability of its members to fulfil the 
 duties of the various positions allotted to 
 them, and to keep their places. No matter 
 how brilliant individual members of a team 
 may be, if they do not play together they 
 will not make their mark. Reflect also on 
 the fact that, in polo, strategy and tactics 
 have to be considered in a very marked 
 degree. Study these by precept and obser- 
 vation, and if you want a clearer definition I 
 would refer you to what I have written in a 
 former chapter. You will have to be greatly 
 
72 Polo. 
 
 guided by circumstances ; to learn by ex- 
 perience when to be bold and when to be 
 wary ; to seize the right moment for turning 
 defence into attack ; and make the most of 
 any weakness shown, or mistake committed 
 by your adversaries ; in fact, you will ever 
 have to be on the qici vive. Let me recom- 
 mend you to watch narrowly the play of 
 good men ; note what they do and endeavour 
 to imitate them. An ounce of practice is 
 worth a ton of theory ; and you will learn 
 more from observation than anyone can 
 teach you on paper. I would further im- 
 press upon you the absolute necessity of 
 keeping your temper and not losing your 
 head. The former will doubtless be often 
 tried, and the latter you will be frequently 
 tempted to do — under certain circumstances. 
 We will suppose, for instance, that you are 
 in possession of the ball, and that one of 
 your opponents, a wary veteran, tries to 
 "bluff" you, by shouting at you to "get out 
 of the way." Your natural diffidence may 
 lead you to fancy that you have no right to 
 be where you are. Visions of "crossing" or 
 being "offside" will flash through your brain, 
 
Letters to Young Polo Players. y2> 
 
 and you will feel inclined to obey the man- 
 date delivered, perhaps, in an imperious tone. 
 You will get flurried, and your adversary 
 having succeeded in putting you off — the 
 very thing he is trying to do — will calmly 
 take the ball from under your nose, and 
 draw upon you the ridicule of foes and the 
 anger of your own side. Be certain that 
 you are right and then stick to it. Do not 
 give way, for your adversary, when he sees 
 that his little plan has failed, will be too wise 
 to risk a collision, and you will probably 
 have the satisfaction of having placed him 
 in the predicament wherein he would fain 
 have lodged you, and turned the tables on 
 him. Study well the rules and definitions 
 about ''crossing" and "off-side." There 
 may at times be excuses for transgressing 
 the law of the latter, but for the former none. 
 So, my dear A., resolve, whatever other 
 faults or failings of which you as a polo player 
 may be guilty, not to let the sin of "cross- 
 ing " — which, remernber, is foid play, pro- 
 ductive of danger to yourself and your 
 opponent, and for which a penalty is exacted 
 — be laid to your charge. Polo is a scientific 
 
74 Polo. 
 
 game nowadays, and rough and unmannerly 
 play spoils it. It is quite possible to play 
 with vigour, and to hustle without degene- 
 rating into "rough-and-tumble," and to pre- 
 serve the instincts and courtesies of a man 
 gently bred. No one yet was ever a worse 
 soldier or a worse sportsman for being for- 
 bearing, and master of himself and his lan- 
 guage under provocation ; and if, my young 
 friend, you will carry out these principles, 
 you will rise in your own estimation as well 
 as in that of others. 
 
 Let me now have a talk with you as to 
 what w^ill be your duties as No. i, No." 2, 
 No. 3, and " back " respectively. Do not, I 
 beg of you, make up your mind that you are 
 more suited for one position than another. 
 You ought, if you are to make a name for 
 yourself, be able to play in any place. 
 Granted, that after a while your particular 
 capabilities may be more suited for one place 
 than for another, still begin by learning to 
 play in all. You constantly hear men 
 saying, "Oh, I cannot play 'back,'" or " I 
 never play No. i or No. 2," &c. Do not 
 follow their example ; take cheerfully any 
 
Letters to Young Polo Players. 75 
 
 place that may be allotted to you, and do 
 your best in it ; for if you can acquit yourself 
 equally well in any position you will be a 
 useful, even if you are not a brilliant player, 
 and your services will be appreciated. 
 
 You will do well to begin by playing No. 
 1, and when so doing you must make up 
 your mind that hitting the ball is to be some- 
 what of a secondary consideration, and that 
 the main part of your duty is to harass your 
 opposing " back " by every legitimate means ; 
 to thwart him and keep him off the ball on 
 every possible occasion ; and be a regular 
 thorn in his side. Stick to him like a leech, 
 and never leave him except on certain 
 occasions when you have a clear field, and 
 you see a good chance of hitting a goal. An 
 uncontrollable desire to hit the ball is the 
 great temptation every young player has to 
 contend against, for we are all keen to have 
 a smack at it, and earn distinction as oroal- 
 hitters. Some men cannot be made to 
 understand and appreciate the harm they do 
 to their side by not grasping the fact that, 
 by keeping the field clear for their No. 2, 
 they often are really doing more service to 
 
76 Polo. 
 
 their side than by striking the ball. I saw 
 an instance once in a match wherein I was 
 asked to coach some beginners. They all 
 vowed they would do what they were told ; 
 but once the game began, entreaty and 
 objurgation alike failed on my part to get a 
 certain " No. i " to stick to his "back." He 
 was a good horseman, well mounted, and 
 could hit the ball fairly w^ell, but was so keen 
 on doing the latter that he neglected his 
 "back" entirely, and was always hanging 
 back and looking out for the chance of a 
 smack at the ball. I ventured to prophesy 
 that, unless he adopted different tactics, he 
 would never make a polo player, and the 
 only cure for him was to play for a w^hile 
 without a stick. I fancy he did this, for 
 when I saw him play a year or two after he 
 had greatly improved. 
 
 Now, though your first and paramount 
 duty will be to keep your opposing "back" 
 off the ball, and to hustle him on every 
 possible occasion, you must not think that 
 you have nothing else to do ; but hustle at 
 the right moment only, and do not expend 
 your energies and those of your pony use- 
 
Lettei^s to Yotuig Polo Players. yy 
 
 lessly. Hit the ball occasionally you must, 
 but you must watch your opportunity, and 
 then quickly make the most of it, remember- 
 ing that doing this must be made subordinate 
 to taking care of your opposing "back," and 
 keeping the field clear for your " No. 2." 
 You must combine the two without carrying 
 either to excess ; for the man who never hits 
 the ball, and contents himself by " shadow- 
 ing " his "back," is as useless in a team as 
 one who neglects his " back," and thinks 
 only of hitting the ball. You will constandy 
 have to use your judgment, your observa- 
 tion, and your skill, altering your pace, 
 judging your side of attack and defence, 
 clearing the front for your "No. 2 " when 
 your team is attacking, and, when defending, 
 prevent your hostile "back " from coming up 
 into the game. Circumstances alter cases ; 
 and, what may be a mistake under certain 
 conditions, will be right under others. For 
 these no mere theory can be advanced, and 
 you will have to form your own judgment 
 how to act. There is one thing you must 
 guard against — viz., being put off-side by a 
 " back," and to avoid this be careful not to 
 
7^ Polo. 
 
 get in front of him. A knowing " back " will 
 frequently try to put you off-side by taking a 
 pull at his pony, and letting you shoot past 
 him, and so vou must be careful to regulate 
 your pace by his. I feel that I cannot do 
 better than quote part of a letter written to 
 me by Mr. John Watson, who is the finest 
 all-round player the world has ever seen. 
 He thus defines the duties of a " No. i." 
 after insisting that the latter, like every other 
 member of the team, should be a good 
 striker, and master of the ball : — " The two 
 ' forwards,' No. i and No. 2, should work 
 together, and, if possible, be exactly the 
 same class of player ; but the least certain 
 striker I should place as No. i. His duty is 
 to always keep one eye on the ball and the 
 other on his opposing ' back, ' always bearing 
 in mind that it is his duty to prevent the 
 latter getting the hdiW jttst as much when the 
 game is going against his {No. \s) side as 
 when it is attacking. It is ridiculous to say 
 that No. I should not strike the ball. He 
 should invariably do so when he has an 
 opportunity, unless he is shouted to by one of 
 his side to ' leave it,' in which case he should 
 
Letters to Vo?mg Polo Players. 79 
 
 pop the eye he has on the ball on to the goal, 
 and keeping his other eye still on the ' back,' 
 devote all his energy to get alongside his 
 enemy, and clear tJie road. Should he manage 
 to get up alongside, he should be careful not 
 to let the ' back ' drop away suddenly, and so 
 put him off-side, but should hug him and hold 
 him, as it were, with his knee. If the ball 
 then comes in front of him, he cannot well 
 tell what is going on behind. No. 3 of the 
 other side should be up against his (No. I's) 
 'second forward,' and unless shouted to 
 'leave it,' No. i should get the goal if he 
 sees his chance. In fact, unless told by one 
 of his own side to leave the ball, he should 
 always strike. A team is weak if its No. i 
 cannot strike ; but at the same time, a good 
 rider, well mounted, may do grand service 
 to his side by riding out the 'back,' and not 
 striking often, yet not half so much as if he 
 be a good striker as well. No. i should be 
 very careful to know exactly when he is off- 
 side, and, if even at all doubtful, he should 
 not give the opposite side a chance of 
 claiming a foul." 
 
 There you have the whole matter in a 
 
8o Polo. 
 
 nutshell, and only experience can teach you 
 the right thing to do at the right moment, 
 when to take the ball on and when to leave 
 it ; but you must practise self-denial, and one 
 of the first lessons you must learn and lay to 
 heart is to be unselfish, to play for your side, 
 and not for your individual gratification. 
 Master the art of sticking to your ''back" 
 first, however, and when you have thoroughly 
 learnt this, it will be time for you to practise 
 when to hit and when to leave the ball. I 
 am talking to you as a beginner, remember, 
 and therefore would impress on you the 
 former necessary point. You will have at 
 times to be prepared to change places with 
 your "No. 2 " ; and you must be quick to see 
 when occasion requires you to do this, but do 
 not do so unless imperatively called on, for it 
 is a difiicult matter, and one for which, if you 
 attempt it unasked, you will probably not be 
 thanked. 
 
 As ''No 2 " you will have an easy place, 
 and one that should suit a man who, like 
 yourself, glories in the elixir of pace. As 
 " No. 2 " you will have to mainly lead the 
 attack, for you will be essentially the fighting 
 
Letters to Voinig Polo Players. 8i 
 
 man of your force, constantly engaged in 
 attack. Unless you are a good striker, how- 
 ever, you will be little good as " No. 2," for 
 
 ^IOe: Him \ 
 
 next to the " back," more will depend on the 
 accuracy of your eye and the strength of 
 your arm than any other member of your 
 6 
 
82 Polo, 
 
 team. You will have to be sharp as a 
 needle, ever ready to swoop down on the 
 ball and be off with it ; you must, too, keep 
 your wits about you every bit as much as 
 *' No. I," whose place you must be ready to 
 take the moment you see he is in possession 
 of the ball. Do not call to him to leave it 
 unless you feel confident about yourself, or 
 unless you see that the interests of your side 
 recommend such a course ; be ever ready to 
 play into your ''No. I's" hands, and, when 
 hitting the hall, note on which side of his 
 opposing "back" he is. I would lay stress 
 on this latter point, for it is one which is 
 very much neglected, and one in which the 
 value of accurate hitting is proved. Now, 
 we will suppose that you are embarked in all 
 the thrilling delights of a run ; that your 
 pony is going a good pace, and that your 
 ''No. I " is doing his duty to perfection ; is 
 riding off the opposing "back"; and is on 
 the right side of the latter. In such a case 
 you should — supposing always that you are 
 going in a direct line for goal — hit the ball 
 to the right of your "No. i." His task of 
 keeping the "back" off will then be greatly 
 
Letters to Yo7tng Polo Players. ^'^^ 
 
 facilitated, whilst if he gets a chance at goal 
 himself the odds in favour of his success 
 will be increased by his having the ball on 
 his right side. If, however, your '' No. i 
 is on the left of the ''back," hit to the left 
 — in fact, hit the ball to that side which will 
 best enable your "first forward" to keep the 
 road clear for you. You should play to the 
 player on your side, and this applies equally 
 well when you are "passing" the ball, and 
 do not hit it anywhere, and then expect your 
 *' No. I " to ride off his adversary. If you 
 make a point of doing this always whenever 
 practicable, you will considerably lighten the 
 duties of your " No. i," for he will know on 
 which side of him the ball is going to be hit 
 without looking back, and so will manoeuvre 
 the "back" out of the way. Many men 
 consider that as long as they hit the ball to 
 the front, somew^here in the direction of their 
 adversary's goal, they have done sufficient ; 
 but this, you will see, is not nearly so advan- 
 tageous as hitting in one particular direction, 
 and with a particular strength. Endeavour, 
 therefore, to hit the ball to a place from 
 which your forward player can keep his 
 
84 Polo. 
 
 adversary and so give you a clearer field. 
 This naturally reads very much more easy 
 of accomplishment on paper than it is in 
 reality ; and you will doubtless experience 
 much difficulty in perfecting yourself. To 
 achieve a system you must persevere with 
 it and practise. Nor need you be discour- 
 aged if success does not crown your efforts 
 at once ; but. believe me, when you have 
 attained proficiency in the particular point to 
 which I refer, you will find it pay. As a 
 " No. 2 "' you should of course hit straight up 
 and down the ground as a rule ; but cases 
 will arise when, as in the ofreat o-ame of war, 
 vou will find that turning the enemv's flank, 
 and taking the ball round, will be distinctly 
 to vour advantaore. This vou will be able to 
 do very frequently if the ground be a boarded 
 one and you are mounted on a fast pony — I 
 need not tell you that a " No. 2 " should not 
 be on a slow one — when the efficacy of such 
 strategy will be very apparent to you. Of 
 course you must ride hard and hit hard ; and 
 I think I may sum up the rest of your duties 
 by telling you that your enemy's " No. 3 " 
 is your special opponent, and that you should 
 
Letters to Young Polo Players. 85 
 
 always be ready to take on the ball whenever 
 it has been hit out from behind your own 
 back line. 
 
 As " No. 3," or " half-back," much will 
 depend on you, but the position, though 
 onerous, is yet a very pleasant one. Your 
 chief duty will be to keep a sharp look-out 
 on your opposing " No. 2,'' and ride him off 
 the ball on every possible occasion. Besides 
 this, you must be ever ready to protect your 
 " back," and assist him to keep the ball away 
 from dangerous proximity to his goal. You 
 should also be ready at the slightest hint to 
 drop back and take his place whenever he 
 goes up into the game ; and when not 
 wanted for this purpose go to the assistance 
 of your *' forwards." In a sharp attack you 
 may often afford material aid by doing this, 
 and help to overpower opposition. You 
 must be good at '* back-handers," quick to 
 note every turn and phase of the game, and 
 be prepared to play the "general utility 
 man " ; ready to hustle, make a run, hit up 
 to your "forwards," act as ''back," and 
 occupy in turn almost every position in 
 which you can render assistance to your side. 
 
86 Polo. 
 
 \Mien you can do all these you will be 
 one of the most useful members of a team, 
 and earn unbounded gratitude from your 
 comrades. 
 
 " What can I do as ' back ' ? " Ah 1 my 
 young friend, that opens up a very wide 
 question. What you should do on every 
 occasion it would be as impossible for me, 
 or anybody else, to strictly define, as it 
 would be to lay down any law by which a 
 general should conduct a campaign. Certain 
 axioms and principles you will have, like him, 
 to be guided by, but on occasions you will 
 have to set these at defiance, and judge 
 whether some bold coup de main, even 
 thoucrh attended with risk, will not, in the 
 end, prove the most advantageous strategy. 
 As "back" you will occupy the most re- 
 sponsible position in the game, for not only 
 will the burden of defending your goal rest 
 immediately on your shoulders, but you will 
 have to exercise the qualities of a com- 
 mander, and direct, more or less, the move- 
 ment of your forces. You will have to 
 encourage and censure ; inspire your com- 
 rades with confidence, and uro-e them to the 
 
Letters to Yo7tno- Polo Players. 87 
 
 fight. To you they will look for incitement 
 to further efforts when the sfame is aorainst 
 them ; on you they will depend for that 
 cheery word of praise which, when bestowed 
 by a leader, always stimulates. Be lavish of 
 such praise if you like ; but when you have 
 to censure, let it, I pray, be bestowed in the 
 language of a gentleman, and let not hot 
 words or foul language escape your lips. 
 Fault can be found, and reproof administered 
 — ay, with stinging effect — if such be your 
 object, without putting yourself on a par with 
 the hoi polloi of Billingsgate, or forgetting 
 that you are a gentleman ; and, if you care 
 little what you say before men, bear in mind 
 that ladies are frequently present on polo 
 grounds, and let not foul language pollute 
 their ears. 
 
 Forgive me, my dear A., for reading you 
 this lecture. I do not pretend to be better 
 than my neighbours, and fear that I have 
 often sinned in the matter against which I 
 preach ; but complaints have, of late years, 
 been frequently made about the unusually 
 strong language used on polo grounds, and 
 that the o^ame encouraofes the use of such 
 
88 Polo. 
 
 language is one of the charges laid against 
 polo by its detractors. As far, therefore, as 
 lies in your power, prove that the accusation 
 is groundless. 
 
 As a "back" you will have, so to speak, 
 to be the "intelligence department" of your 
 team, besides being its leader, its reserve, 
 and directly responsible for the defence of 
 your goal. Xow, many men think that as 
 long as they stick near their goal they are 
 carrying out the duties of a " back." This is 
 a fatal error ; for, if you are not near your 
 fio-htlno- line, vou cannot control it, nor afford 
 aid at critical moments. There will be times 
 when defence can be suddenly, and with 
 telling effect, turned into attack. This will 
 most frequently devolve on you, and you 
 must therefore keep as near to the game as 
 you can conveniently trust your pony ; while 
 if you have a sharp and fast pony you can 
 go nearer to the game than if you only have 
 a slow one. Let your defensive strokes be 
 mainly given in the shape of back-handers. 
 When galloping back to defend your goal 
 you must hit thus if you want to save time, 
 and If the ball be In front of vour o-oal hit it 
 
Letters to Young Polo Players. 89 
 
 to one side, and take it out of dangerous 
 ground. You frequently see an inexperi- 
 enced "back" hit a backhander straight into 
 the face of the attacking force, and it is 
 needless for me to point out to you the folly 
 of such a proceeding, You will be called on 
 to "hit out" when the ball is behind your 
 back line — at least, this is the general rule — 
 though personally I have always held the 
 opinion that " No. 3 " is the man to do this. 
 However, let that pass. On such occasions 
 be careful not to hit the ball in front of your 
 own goal, but to one side ; you may at times 
 find it advantageous to follow up your hit 
 out, and take the ball on ; but, if you do, 
 shout to your " No. 3 " to drop back and 
 take your place, which you should resume 
 yourself as soon as convenient. Do not 
 attempt to meet a ball when defending your 
 goal, except as a desperate resource, for if 
 you miss it you leave the road clear for the 
 attacking force ; it will be far better for you 
 to turn your pony and wait for the chance of 
 a back-hander. You must be prepared at 
 times to come up into the game and lead the 
 attack ; but, before doing so, be certain that 
 
90 Polo. 
 
 your " No. 3 " is to be depended on — that he 
 grasps the situation and takes your place. 
 You will, of course, be considerably bothered 
 by your opposing " No. i," but you can also 
 bother him to no slight extent by always 
 trying to put him off-side, w^hich can be done 
 by letting him get between you and your 
 goal. Watch Mr. John \\^atson, ViX. Arthur 
 Peat, or Capt. MacLaren, and you will see 
 how this can be effected. Let your guiding 
 principle be the steady defence of your goal, 
 and sacrifice every other desire for great 
 deeds to that object. Much will depend on 
 how you comport yourself at critical moments, 
 and on your quickness and decision. You 
 must temper boldness with caution, be Argus- 
 eyed, and frequently practise self-denial ; you 
 will then possess the qualities of a leader, 
 and Inspire your team with confidence. 
 
 Such are the main points that you must 
 be guided by in your play in different posi- 
 tions. That you will prove yourself such an 
 Admirable Crichton as to strictly observe 
 them all, I doubt ; you will constantly fail, 
 and commit many mistakes ; but you can 
 at least try. Be not discouraged if you fail ; 
 
Letters to Young Polo Players. 91 
 
 time and practice work wonders, and if you 
 persevere and carry out the spirit of the 
 suggestions I have laid down for your guid- 
 ance you will succeed. Let me advise you, 
 once you have mastered the intricacies of 
 the game, have a handy pony, and can hit 
 the ball well, to play as much as possible in 
 good company. Nothing will stimulate you 
 more, nothing will afford you more practical 
 experience, or demonstrate to you your weak 
 points, than playing with men who under- 
 stand their business. You will never dis- 
 cover your faults if you are content to play 
 always with men of your own calibre, or 
 possibly inferior to it. Then, when you 
 have made a name for yourself, remember 
 you too were once a duffer, so be lenient to 
 the shortcomings of others, and when asked 
 to play with inferior players, do not look 
 glum and object. Be guided by what Lind- 
 say Gordon says : — 
 
 As far as you can, to every man 
 Let your aid be freely given. 
 
 You will be respected for so doing, and do 
 much towards advancing the interests of 
 the glorious game. 
 
92 
 
 Polo. 
 
 I have now given you all the advice I am 
 capable of imparting ; and as you possess 
 youth, courage, and a liking for the game. 
 
 ^^^Aoi^r 
 
 \\SZ HARD, 
 
 KIT HAFD 
 DO/i'T LOSE rOUR TEMPER, 
 
 AND iNEIVEF^ "CRC3S" 
 
 I hope you may profit by what I have told 
 you. Apply precept to practice, and where 
 precept fails, let common sense and observa- 
 tion serve you. I have nothing more to add, 
 
Letters to Yoimg Polo Players. 93 
 
 except this : Ride hard, hit hard, keep your 
 eyes open and your mouth shut ; stick to a 
 good pony when you have got one, and be 
 temperate in Hving ; do not lose your tem- 
 per, and never "cross." Then shall men 
 speak well of you, and in time you will 
 occupy a niche in the temple of polo fame. 
 So good luck to you. 
 
 Believe me, my dear A , 
 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 J. Moray Brown. 
 
94 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 About some Provincial Polo Clubs. 
 I. 
 
 T is an acknowledged fact that the 
 popularity of polo is yearly in- 
 creasing, in spite of the sneers 
 indulged in against it by some 
 who should show a more generous and 
 sympathetic spirit where horseflesh and a 
 manly pastime are concerned ; and, as I do 
 not wish to make an assertion that cannot 
 be substantiated by facts, I take up my pen 
 to ofive a brief account of some of the best 
 known provincial Clubs. With a few of 
 these I am naturally fairly well acquainted, 
 but not being endowed with the faculty of 
 being everywhere, I have been obliged to 
 depend on the kind courtesy of others with 
 
Abottt some Provincial Polo Chtbs. 95 
 
 regard to the history of certain Clubs ; and 
 so, without further preamble, and with grate- 
 ful acknowledgment to those who have 
 supplied me with information, let me come 
 to the point, premising that I follow no table 
 of precedence in seniority or in any other 
 matter, but jot down my notes as the various 
 Clubs recall themselves to my mind. 
 
 The Liverpool Club. — It was in the 
 autumn of 1872, when polo was in its in- 
 fancy, that the late Mr. Hugh Gladstone 
 started the Royal game at Liverpool, and in 
 those early days its devotees used to play on 
 their hunters with long sticks. This was 
 naturally found unadvisable, though judging 
 from the increased height of ponies during 
 the last few years, and the indecision of the 
 Hurlingham Polo Committee about fixing 
 polo pony height, we may before long find 
 men reverting to the ancient practice ! But 
 this by the way. At any rate, twenty-two 
 years ago the then most prominent members 
 of the Club found it did not pay to play on 
 horses, and bought ponies. At that time 
 none were keener than the Messrs. Hey wood 
 Jones, of Larkhill, including the popular 
 
96 Polo. 
 
 Captain " Wengey " and his brothers, ''The 
 Boss," Oliver, and " Bengey," better known, 
 perhaps, by their sobriquets than by their 
 surnames. Other supporters of the Club 
 were Mr. Henry Stock, the Messrs. Glad- 
 stone (of Courthey), Mr. R. E. Graves, Mr. 
 George Warren (better known as "Cock 
 Warren"), and Mr. R. Haig, whilst the 
 officers quartered at Liverpool also took no 
 little interest in the game, and played at 
 Childwall, where the Club still have their 
 o^round, some of them beine included in a 
 team that Liverpool sent to play at Lillie 
 Bridge, w^hen that place was looked on as 
 the head-quarters of polo. 
 
 After an existence of a few years, how- 
 ever, the polo spirit waned ; the Club became 
 moribund, and, though the Messrs. Hey wood 
 Jones and a few others kept the game alive 
 at Larkhill, the Liverpool Polo Club became, 
 for all practical purposes, extinct. In 1885, 
 however, it rose, Phcenix-like, from its ashes, 
 and to Mr. William Lee Pilkino-ton, its 
 present hon. secretary, it owes its renais- 
 sance, for it was his energy and sporting 
 spirit that warmed up into a blaze the dying 
 
About some Provincial Polo Clubs. 97 
 
 embers of the sport, conjured back the spirit 
 of polo, and put the Club again on its legs. 
 How this was done it may not be out of 
 place to mention. The idea originated at a 
 dinner given by Mr. George Lockett at the 
 Liverpool Racquet Club, when the terms of 
 a match between two ponies were being 
 made and discussed. Mr. Lee Pilkington, 
 seeing his opportunity, suggested that the 
 Polo Club should be re-formed. Several of 
 those present agreed to the proposal ; so, 
 going on the principle of striking while the 
 iron is hot, Mr. W. L. Gladstone produced 
 pencil and paper, took down the names of 
 those who aquiesced, and the existence of 
 the Liverpool Club, which has ever since 
 gone on and prospered exceedingly, was un 
 fait accompli. 
 
 The Club at present consists of the fifty 
 playing members, to which number the Club 
 is limited, besides over 200 honorary mem- 
 bers at a yearly subscription of one guinea 
 each. The grround situate at Childwall is 
 fairly level, but apt to get bumpy. It is 
 boarded, and, like the Wirral ground, is 
 formed in a way that might with advantage 
 7 
 
98 Polo. 
 
 be imitated by other clubs, for inside the 
 boards the turf is raised slightly, so as to 
 slope upwards towards them ; so that the 
 ball seldom if ever hangs, but rolls back, 
 thus orivinof a man who is comino^ fast at it 
 a good clear shot. The length of the ground 
 is 255 yards, by 127 yards wide — rather 
 narrow, perhaps, yet not to be grumbled at. 
 There is a charming ladies' pavilion, now 
 considerably enlarged, with tea-room, boudoir 
 furnished with great taste, and balcony ; and 
 also one for members, with dressing-rooms 
 and refreshment bars. This pavilion since 
 my last visit, has, I hear, been considerably 
 enlarged and raised, and possesses now the 
 advantage of having seats on the roof, from 
 which a capital view of games can be ob- 
 tained. Attached to these buildings, and in 
 prolongation of their line, there is an ex- 
 cellent rano^e of stablinof while few, if anv, 
 provincial Clubs can boast such attention to 
 the comforts of members and their friends 
 as the Liverpool Club. Certainly none can 
 have a more untirinor courteous, and ener- 
 getic hon. sec. than Mr. Lee Pilkington, who, 
 being a keen poloist himself, has worked 
 
Aboitt some Provmcial Polo Clitbs. 99 
 
 hard to rear an offspring that does him 
 infinite credit. 
 
 Keen to foster polo spirit, the Liverpool 
 Club not only annually send a team to com- 
 pete for the County Cup at Hurlingham, 
 which they won in 1891, but go so far afield 
 as to do battle with the Edinburgh Club, 
 which latter occasion is generally a very 
 pleasant and festive one, the rivalry of the 
 polo field being tempered with that camar- 
 aderie and good-fellowship which should 
 always exist when the mimic strife is o'er. 
 Gathered haphazard, I may mention the 
 following as some of the most prominent 
 members of a Club which often turns out 
 nearly forty members of an afternoon, all 
 keen to have a smack at the ball : — Mr. W. 
 H. Walker, Messrs. W. Lee and G. H. 
 Pilkington, Mr. A. Tyrer, Mr. C. E. Mason, 
 Mr. " Tannar " Graves, Messrs. J. and D. 
 Irvine, Messrs. A. T. and H. C. Neilson, 
 Mr. Munro Walker, Mr. George Warren, 
 Mr. S. M. Dennis, Mr. H. Miller, Mr. F. 
 Tinsley, Messrs. W. W. and H. Kellock, 
 Mr. George Lockett, Mr. T. H. Stock, Sir 
 Peter Walker, Mr. C. Nicholson, Mr. 
 
loo Polo. 
 
 Stollerfoht, Mr. Hodge, Mr. J. Bateson, 
 Mr. Edmonson, and Mr. Burgham. The 
 Club colours are chocolate and pink. 
 
 The West Essex Polo Club was started 
 in 1878 at Epping by Messrs. A. Waters, 
 G. H. Dawson, H. B. Yerburgh, and B. 
 Dickinson, of whom the first three still 
 remain members of the Club. Polo was 
 then only in the stage of ''short frocks" in 
 England, and the Club, which played upon 
 "The Plain," a common lying between the 
 town of Epping and the Lower Forest, was 
 carried on in a rough-and-ready fashion for 
 a couple of years, the matches being con- 
 fined to one or two against the Bishop Stort- 
 ford and Cambridge University Clubs. 
 
 In 1880 Major Tait became the hon. 
 secretary of the Club, a post which he still 
 holds ; and, thanks to his energy, the Club 
 was regularly organised, with a list of nine- 
 teen members, of whom nine still belong to 
 it. In 1882 Mr. Chisenhale Marsh, of 
 Gaynes Park, near Epping, came to live 
 at home, and at great expense enlarged his 
 cricket ground in the park into the present 
 polo ground, which he has ever since gener- 
 
About some Provincial Polo Chibs. loi 
 
 ously placed at the disposal of the Club. 
 This ground is now one of the best in Eng- 
 land, being 300 yards long by 200 wide, and 
 consists of sound old turf, surrounded by 
 trees, and with a beautiful view across 
 Gaynes Park and the valley beneath, to- 
 wards the high ground of Epping Forest. 
 It is not boarded, and is given over for the 
 use of the Club by Mr. Marsh rent free, the 
 only expense the Club has to bear being the 
 keeping it in order and the necessary atten- 
 dance. This enables the Club to do with a 
 very moderate subscription. On obtaining 
 the use of so good a ground, the members 
 increased to about thirty, all living within a 
 radius of about eight miles from Epping, of 
 whom about half are now playing members. 
 Among the most prominent of these have 
 been Mr. Waters, a very hard hitter, who is 
 Captain of the Club ; Mr. Dawson, who 
 unfortunately has for some years been 
 unable to ride owing to an injury to his 
 hip, received in a polo match at Bishop 
 Stortford ; Mr. Chisenhale Marsh (a most 
 energetic No. i), Mr. Alfred Suart, Mr. 
 Alfred Kemp, Mr. Sydney Kemp, Mr. 
 
I02 Polo. 
 
 Sheffield Neave, Mr. Walter Buckmaster, 
 and Mr. Robert Ball. The last was, per- 
 ha[)s, the best player the Club has produced, 
 and his death in 1890 has been a loss which 
 it has never recovered. 
 
 During its existence the Club has played 
 matches with varied success against Cam- 
 bridge University, the 13th Hussars, the 
 1 2th Lancers, and other regiments quartered 
 at Colchester; the Royal Artillery, Hertford- 
 shire, Kent. Ashstead, the Dagenham Priory, 
 Stansted, and other clubs, and has several 
 times competed in the County Cup Tourna- 
 ment at Hurlingham. There, however, it 
 has met with but little success, owing to its 
 members being outclassed in ponies by its 
 rivals, although it has at different times won 
 matches against every one of the Clubs above 
 mentioned. 
 
 One of the most interesting contests in 
 which the Club has taken part was an annual 
 tournament instituted by Colonel Studdy, 
 R.H.A., between the R.A. Club, Woolwich, 
 the Hertfordshire Club, and the West Essex. 
 This continued for several years, and the 
 cup was held by each of the three Clubs in 
 
About sovie Provincial Polo Clubs. 103 
 
 succession ; but, on the breaking up of the 
 Hertfordshire Club, in a final contest for the 
 cup between the R. A. and the West Essex, it 
 was won by the former, who now retain it. 
 
 As the Gaynes Park ground is within 
 a mile and a-half of Epping, where good 
 stabling can be had, and to which there is 
 a good train service, it might be well worth 
 the while of players from London, who find 
 Hurlingham and Ranelagh too crowded to 
 get as much play as they wish, to join the 
 West Essex Club. Men go as far to play 
 golf; why not do so for polo ? The hon. sec, 
 Major Talt, Epping, will give any Informa- 
 tion wished on this subject, and those who 
 want a good gallop over sound turf, good 
 polo, and a hearty welcome might go further 
 and fare worse. 
 
 The Wirral Club was inaugurated by 
 Mr. G. K. Catto, hon. sec, and Mr. F. W. 
 Blain, the hon. treasurer, in 1885, at the 
 same time that the Liverpool Club was re- 
 started, as before mentioned. For the last 
 eight years, however, Mr. F. W. Blain has 
 ably filled both posts. When the Club was 
 first founded, the principal players were 
 
I04 Polo. 
 
 Messrs. C. M. Nicholson, H. Nicholson, R. 
 Haig, A. Hassell, G. Ravenscroft, G. K. 
 Catto, and F. \V. Blain. More recently- 
 other well-known names have been added 
 to the roll, such as Messrs. Ravenscroft, A. 
 H. Wrigley, A. D. Chambers, F. C. Dale, 
 F. Wignall, \V. A. Ball, and F. Tinsley. 
 The ground is situated four miles from 
 Birkenhead, and one mile from Spital 
 Station. Its area is about seventeen acres, 
 the actual playing-ground being 250 yards 
 long and 180 yards wide ; it is boarded. It 
 might, indeed, be more level in some places, 
 but the ground is sound old turf, with thick 
 herbage, and though, from being on the clay, 
 it is apt to crack in very dry weather, yet 
 under ordinary circumstances it plays well. 
 Like the Liverpool ground, it is made to 
 slope slightly up to the boards. There is a 
 commodious pavilion and shelter stalls for 
 about twenty ponies. The playing days are 
 Wednesdays and Saturdays, but the ground 
 is open every day for practice. There are 
 a good number of members, but those who 
 may really be called playing members do 
 not, as a rule, exceed about a dozen. With 
 
About some Provincial Polo Chtbs. 105 
 
 the exception of the Liverpool Club, there 
 are but few in the neighbourhood, but 
 matches are played with the various regi- 
 ments stationed within reach, and the Liver- 
 pool and Manchester Clubs, and with 
 Edinburgh, whilst the newly-formed Ches- 
 ter Club, started by Mr. A. Tyrer, will add 
 to the number. The Wirral men, however, 
 are imbued with one very necessary element 
 to success ; they are all keen, and love the 
 game, and though circumstances do not 
 permit of their mounting themselves as well 
 as they might wish, they have all studied the 
 game, play good sound polo, and gallop. 
 We shall, I trust, hear more of them in the 
 future, and one day see them win the Blue 
 Riband of county polo. They should cer- 
 tainly have a try for it, judging from what 
 I have seen of their play ; and, should they 
 win, their success will, I can assure them, be 
 warmly applauded as that of true sportsmen. 
 Their colours are yellow and black. 
 
 The Edinburgh Club. — Twenty years 
 ago, when the 7th Hussars, in which H.R. H. 
 the Duke of Connaught was serving as 
 a Major, and my own regiment, the 79th 
 
io6 Polo. 
 
 Highlanders, constituted the garrison at 
 Edinburgh, polo was in existence in the 
 North, and once or twice a \veek play used 
 to take place in a field near Duddingstone. 
 Those were the old days of small ponies, the 
 dribbling game, and charging for the ball ; 
 and I remember with a shudder even now 
 a collision which took place between His 
 Royal Highness and myself; how in the 
 charore we met — I will freelv acknowledo^e 
 that the fault was mine — how we both went 
 heels over head, and how I thanked God 
 that my Sovereign's son experienced no ill 
 effects from my aw-kwardness. I can picture 
 the whole scene — my Royal opponent's strug- 
 gling white pony and my own wTetched 
 " tat " mixed up on the ground, and the 
 generous and kindly words of reassurance 
 as we rose and I faltered out a breathless 
 apology. But how changed is the story 
 now, for the Edinburgh Club at present 
 ranks high amongst provincial Clubs, and last 
 year won that coveted trophy, the County 
 Cup at Hurlingham. 
 
 In a desultory way the game was kept 
 going till 1888, when Mr. T. B. Drybrough 
 
About some Provincial Polo Chtbs. 107 
 
 took the matter vigorously in hand, and then 
 the Edinburgh Club began to be heard of. 
 About seventeen acres of land at Murray- 
 field, situate only a mile and a-half from 
 Princes Street, was rented, and a ground 
 laid out which has the advantage of scenic 
 surroundings, it being backed by the Murray- 
 field Woods, from which several snug and 
 picturesque villas peep out. The soil below 
 the surface is gravel and sand ; this causes 
 it to dry rapidly after rain, of which they 
 have more than their fair share in the North, 
 and so it always rides light. The length of 
 the ground is 300 yards, and from goal-posts 
 to goal-posts 260 yards, whilst the width is 
 175 yards. The ground is a boarded one, 
 and there are besides an ample lawn and 
 pavilion, surrounded by a broad verandah ; 
 a orood hall, dressinor-rooms, kitchen, &c. 
 There are stalls for thirty-two ponies, a band 
 stand, a large wooden shed for tea and 
 refreshments, two lawn tennis courts, public 
 and members' lawns, an archery ground, and 
 an open military menege 120 yards long by 
 20 yards wide, which is a most useful adjunct 
 for schooling ponies in. 
 
io8 Polo, 
 
 The Club is in a most flourishing con- 
 dition, and at present, I beHeve, numbers 
 nearly 500 members, of which some five- 
 and-twenty play with fair regularity, whilst 
 that most sporting and polo-loving corps, the 
 1 2th Lancers, now quartered at Edinburgh, 
 supports the Club as loyally as did their 
 predecessors, the 4th and 13th Hussars, to 
 whose initiative, coupled with Mr. T. D. 
 Drybrough's (the hon. secretary) energy and 
 keenness, Northern polo owes much. The 
 matches at Edinburgh are mainly confined 
 to games with civilian members and the 
 military ; but once every year Liverpool and 
 Wirral send teams to the North, whilst Edin- 
 burgh also goes South to meet them. For 
 the last two seasons Edinburgh has sent 
 a team to compete for the County Cup at 
 Hurlingham, and won it on both occasions. 
 The most prominent civilian members of the 
 Club are Messrs. T. B. and W. J. Dry- 
 brough, Messrs. W. and G. Younger, 
 Messrs. James, John, and Charles Craig, 
 Mr. H. B. Towse, Mr. T. W. Tod, Mr. W. 
 D. Gibb, Mr. R. Usher, and Mr. Connal. 
 The Club colours are black and white. 
 
About some Provincial Polo Clubs. 109 
 
 The Ludlow Club. — Started in 1892, 
 this Club owes its origin to the initiative of 
 Mr. W. Howard and Mr. T. McMicking, 
 has as its President Lord Windsor, and 
 numbers about thirty-five members. The 
 ground, which is a small one, and not 
 boarded, is most picturesquely situate at 
 Bromfield, inside the Ludlow Racecourse. 
 Play takes place twice a week from May till 
 August, when a Gymkhana meeting winds 
 up the season. The most prominent players 
 are Messrs. Boyd, H. Cunninghame, A. E. 
 Gerard, F. R. Hill (hon. sec. and treasurer), 
 Hugo H. Martin, T. McMicking, J. H. 
 James - Moore, and E. Tredennick, and, 
 though the Club is too young to venture 
 far afield in search of glory, there is a grow- 
 ing keenness amongst its members which 
 augurs well for its future success. The Club 
 colours are light blue, black and yellow. 
 
 The Manchester Club can trace its 
 origin as far back as most other Clubs, for it 
 was founded in 1872 by Messrs. Colin Ross, 
 Ashton Radcliffe, Bailey Worthington, and 
 others. For five years it flourished fairly 
 well, and then died. In 1881, however, the 
 
1 1 o Polo. 
 
 cavalry regiment then quartered at Man- 
 chester — to which regiment the honour be- 
 longs I have failed to ascertain — began to 
 play, and their example was continued by 
 the Queen's Bays, who have of late years so 
 distinguished themselves on Indian polo 
 fields, till 1884, when they left. Their 
 example bore good fruit ; the civilian ele- 
 ment recoo-nised the advantages of the orame, 
 and Messrs. James E. Piatt, Walter Roberts, 
 and Septimus Lambert founded the present 
 Club, w^hich, however, suffers much from 
 want of local players, and is mainly depen- 
 dent on the cavalry regiment quartered at 
 Manchester. The trround, which is full-sized 
 and boarded, is, on the whole, fairly level 
 and well turfed. It is situated at Old Traf- 
 ford, about three miles from the centre of 
 ^Manchester. A pavilion and shed are at- 
 tached, and play generally takes place three 
 or four days a week. Sir Humphrey de 
 Trafford is President of the Club, Mr. Fritz 
 Reiss, Vice-President, and the committee 
 consists of Messrs. C. S. Lyon, L. Carlisle, 
 F. Tinsley, R. L. Cranshaw, and \\\ J. H. 
 Jones, with Mr. Percy Hargreaves as hon. 
 
AhoiLt some Provincial Polo Clubs, iii 
 
 treasurer, and Mr. Douglas Phillips hon. sec. 
 The Club colours are chocolate and yellow. 
 
 The Bowden Club. — This modest and 
 comparatively little - known Cheshire club 
 may jusdy boast of an earlier origin than 
 any, for it was originated in the early 
 *' sixties" by Messrs. Gaddum and Symons, 
 who had come home from India bitten with 
 the charms of the game. They w^ent at it 
 with a will ; sent to Exmoor for a consign- 
 ment of ponies, and got a ground at Cheadle, 
 a suburb of Manchester. Their well-meant 
 efforts, however, bore but little fruit ; most 
 of the ponies died ; and, as far as I can 
 gather, only one game was played. Mr. 
 Gaddum's health soon after broke down ; 
 the Club died out and was not revived till 
 1 89 1, and I think I am right in stating that 
 It owes its present existence to its hon. sec, 
 Mr. Harry E. Gaddum, a nephew of the 
 original founder. The Club at present con- 
 tains about thirteen playing members, mostly 
 business men at Manchester, but these can 
 generally be relied on to play regularly dur- 
 ing the season. On Mondays and Thursdays 
 members are able to get a gallop at 6 p.m. ; 
 
112 Polo. 
 
 on Saturdays the ground is open at 3 p.m., 
 and it is very rarely that owing to weather 
 or want of players a game is not played. 
 The ground is a poor one, not very level, 
 and only 220 yards long; there is a shed 
 for ponies, whilst a tent is pitched for tea 
 and refreshments. Most of the players can 
 boast of one pony apiece only ; but, by 
 avoiding matches and letting every member 
 feel confident of getting a game whenever he 
 turns up, they manage to get a great deal of 
 enjoyment, and put in sixty days' polo, more 
 or less, from April to August. 
 
 I think the example of the Bowden Club, 
 unpretentious as it is, is worthy of imitation. 
 All men cannot afford to keep several ponies 
 or to play high-class of polo, but most men 
 can afford to keep one mount, learn to hit 
 the ball, and acquire the rudiments of one 
 of the most entrancing of games. By keep- 
 ing down expenses within reasonable limits 
 there are few counties or large towns where 
 a Club could not be formed on similar lines, 
 and such a scheme, if formulated widely, 
 would not only do much to increase the 
 popularity of polo, and do away with the 
 
Abo2tt some Provincial Polo Clubs. 113 
 
 idea that it is de facto an expensive game, 
 but would also encourage pony-breeding, and 
 give many people that essential object for 
 healthy exercise during the summer which is 
 so necessary for hard-worked business men. 
 It is to be hoped that in many districts the 
 good example set so unostentatiously by the 
 Bowden Club will be followed, for it is as 
 possible to enjoy polo without any very 
 ruinous expense as to enjoy hunting, shoot- 
 ing, or fishing in moderation. 
 
 The Wellington Club is the latest recruit 
 to the ranks of polo Clubs, and was started 
 in 1894 t>y Mr. A. C. C. Kenyon-Fuller, in 
 conquence of the Staff College Club being 
 given up, and the military authorities very 
 foolishly prohibiting polo at the Royal Military 
 College, Sandhurst. At present there are 
 only about twelve playing members, most of 
 whom live in the neighbourhood ; but soldiers 
 at Aldershot help the young Club, and Read- 
 ing should also be able to furnish a contingent 
 to keep the game alive. The ground, which 
 I hear is a very fair one, is situate close to 
 Wellington College Station, on the S.E.R. ; 
 capital stabling can be obtained at the Wei- 
 
114 Polo, 
 
 lington College Hotel ; whilst the subscription 
 (^i) is so small that it should attract many 
 beginners who are keen to learn the rudiments 
 of the game in the seclusion of the country. 
 As an old Wellingtonian myself, I must con- 
 fess to feeling much interest in this Club, and 
 trust that being able to run down and watch 
 polo may have a beneficial effect on the rising 
 generations of schoolboys at the school which 
 bears such an honoured name, imbue them 
 with its charms, and so result in the old school 
 turning out many a poloist as brilliant as 
 Capt. Malcolm Little, of the 9th Lancers. 
 The Committee of the Wellington Club con- 
 sists of the Hon. R. W. Ward, the Hons. O. 
 and R. Molyneux, Capt. J eaves, and Mr. A. 
 C. C. Kenyon-Fuller ( of Finchampstead, 
 Wokingham, Berks, who acts as hon. sec), 
 and the ground is open for play on Mondays, 
 Wednesdays, and Fridays during the season. 
 The Staxsted Club is an instance of how 
 keenness for the game, though confined 
 within a limited area, can be developed, for 
 this Club was only really started very late in 
 the autumn of 1892. There was hardly time 
 then to do more than lay its foundation, lease 
 
About so7ne Provincial Polo Chtbs. 1 1 5 
 
 a field, and get a few players together, but 
 Mr. Tresham Gilbey inspired others with a 
 fondness for polo, and the outcome was the 
 present Club. At the time mentioned I was 
 paid the compliment of being asked to come 
 and see them start. Few of the members 
 knew much about the game. The ground 
 was rough, full of rabbit holes, and on a 
 slope, whilst ponies were none of the best. 
 But the raw material was there, men anxious 
 to learn, and not above doing so ; moreover, 
 they galloped and rode hard, and if they 
 did not always hit the ball, they did their 
 best to keep their places. In 1893 ^^ey 
 started with renewed energy, played against 
 Cambridge and Rugby, and derived con- 
 siderable benefit from the experiment, and 
 last season, with true sporting spirit, entered 
 for the County Cup at Hurlingham, and the 
 strong Rugby team had all their work cut 
 out to defeat them in the first ties. Their 
 example is to be most warmly commended, 
 for they exhibit that true esprit de polo which 
 in the end is bound to succeed. 
 
 Since then a new and much improved 
 ground has been made at Bishop Stortford. 
 
1 1 6 Polo. 
 
 It is 290 yards long by 130 yards wide, and, 
 being well turfed, rides sound. It is boarded. 
 There are eighteen playing members, of 
 whom fifteen are nearly related to each other 
 by the bonds of brotherhood or cousinship, 
 and the Committee consists of Messrs. Her- 
 bert Blyth, Philip Gold, and Tresham Gilbey, 
 the last named acting as hon. secretary. Mr. 
 Walter Buckmaster, who has played with 
 such eclat for Cambridge University for the 
 last few seasons, is one of the Stansted Club's 
 most prominent members, as is Capt. Breeks, 
 R.A. ; whilst two other members distin- 
 guished themselves in the rowing world> viz., 
 Mr. Harcourt Gold, who was stroke for the 
 Eton boat which won the Ladies' Plate at 
 Henley last year, and Mr. W. F. C. 
 Holland, who was President of the Oxford 
 University Rowing Club, and rowed in the 
 'Varsity boat for two or three seasons. 
 
 The Club meets for practice on Tuesdays, 
 Thursdays, and Saturdays. Their colours 
 are light blue and gold, and if they go on as 
 they have begun they should have a bright 
 future before them. 
 
 The Fetcham Park Club. — In 1887 Mr. 
 
About some Provincial Polo Chibs. 117 
 
 Walter Peake originated the Ashtead Polo 
 Club, and, his father kindly giving the use 
 of a field, play began in that year. For five 
 years the Club prospered, and in 1890 played 
 in the final tie for the County Cup at Hur- 
 lingham, on which occasion they were beaten 
 by the Berkshire County Club, after a very 
 tight game, by 2 goals to i. In 1892, how- 
 ever, Mr. Peake left Ashstead, and the 
 ground, always a small one, being no longer 
 available, the Club migrated to Fetcham, 
 where Mr. J. Barnard Hankey placed a 
 ground in his park at their disposal. They 
 then assumed the title of the Fetcham Park 
 Polo Club, the constitution of the Club re- 
 maining unaltered. 
 
 Three hundred yards long, 180 yards 
 wide, not boarded, and very level, the polo 
 field is most picturesquely situated on rising 
 ground, whence a lovely view is obtained, 
 whilst it is backed by the magnificent timber 
 of Fetcham Park. The turf is good, and, 
 being full-sized, the ground affords ample 
 scope for galloping, a privilege of which the 
 playing members take full advantage. It is 
 most conveniently situated, being only three- 
 
ii8 Polo. 
 
 quarters of a mile from Leatherhead. There 
 is stabling for thirty ponies, dressing rooms, 
 and tea pavilion, and two stands for specta- 
 tors, so that it may boast of being as com- 
 plete as any provincial ground, and more 
 so than most. 
 
 The Club consists of about 120 members, 
 and though on first going to Fetcham Park 
 they were rather short of players, they now 
 muster about twenty who play regularly, the 
 most prominent at present being Messrs. L. 
 Paine, L. Cobham, T. Brandt, E. Courage, 
 and J. Budd. The playing days are Mon- 
 day, Wednesday, and Saturday, and the 
 Club colours are red and grey (stripes). 
 
 Several matches are played during the 
 season, and in 1894 a very successful handi- 
 cap tournament was held, in which four 
 teams competed. The Club has for the past 
 few seasons sent a team to take part in the 
 Abergavenny Tournament, and won the cup 
 there in 1892. 
 
 Mr. J. Barnard Hankey is President of 
 the Club, with Messrs. A. G. Moon, W. 
 Fraser-Tytler, Ronald Peake, J. E. Budd, 
 and T. E. Brandt as a committee, whilst 
 
About some Provincial Polo Chtbs. 119 
 
 INIr. Ronald Peake acts as hon. treasurer, 
 and Mr. Arthur G. Moon, Fetcham Rectory, 
 Leatherhead, fulfils ably the position of hon. 
 secretary, 
 
 The Rugby Club.— Within rifle-shot of 
 the famous Hilmorton Gorse, and on ground 
 famous in the annals of hunting, where the 
 Pytchley, Atherstone, and North Warwick- 
 shire all converge to a central point, there 
 sprang into existence some three years ago a 
 Club which bids fair to become the best in 
 the provinces. Until the year 1891 Rugby 
 had never been stirred by the polo spirit. 
 Hounds and horses were its main attrac- 
 tions, and during the summer months its 
 residents led a sleepy sort of existence till 
 the advent of another hunting season roused 
 them into activity, But all that is now 
 changed, for Rugby now is as lively in the 
 summer as it is in the winter, and this has 
 been owing to the magician's wand waved 
 by the Messrs. Miller, of Spring Hill, the 
 founders of the Rugby Club. It may not be 
 here out of place to trace how in a short 
 time great results have been attained from 
 small beginnings, and to show how the Club 
 sprang into existence. 
 
I20 Polo. 
 
 In 1 89 1 Mr. George A. INIIller and his 
 brother, Mr. E. D. Miller (who when serving 
 in the 17th Lancers played for his regiment 
 in several inter-regimental tournaments, both 
 in India and at home), bethought them of 
 combining business with pleasure, by train- 
 ing ponies and dealing in them. With this 
 object in view they cast about for some suit- 
 able spot, and found it in Spring Hill, the 
 farm of the late Mr. John Darby, the well- 
 known Rugby dealer, whose name must be 
 familiar to every hunting and horsey man. 
 The surroundings of Spring Hill — 130 acres 
 of good grass land, with boxes and stalls 
 capable of accommodating fifty-seven horses 
 — were eminently suitable for the enterprise 
 the Messrs. Miller proposed embarking in ; 
 and, once settled there, they set about making 
 a polo and practice ground, and then starting 
 a Club. There were naturally difficulties at 
 first. Some residents looked askance at the 
 new scheme, and there was a dearth of 
 players in the immediate neighbourhood. 
 Energy and tact, however, soon overcame 
 all opposition ; the advantages of such a Club 
 became recognised ; men came to see, try, 
 
About some Provincial Polo Clubs. 121 
 
 and buy ponies, and found the ground so 
 good, and the class of polo played so high, 
 that they joined in numbers, and I think I 
 may venture to assert without fear of contra- 
 diction that none who have ever bought a 
 pony at Spring Hill, or played on its ground, 
 have regretted doing either the one or the 
 other. This by the way, however, for I 
 would not pose as a puffer of ponies ; and, 
 besides, Messrs. Miller's reputation stands 
 too high to need such adventitious aid as any 
 words from me could afford them. And so 
 the Club, once having taken root, grew and 
 flourished, a good number of playing mem- 
 bers joined it, whilst it was not long before 
 the neighbourhood testified their approval 
 by subscribing liberally, till now there are 
 over eighty members, of which thirty-six 
 may be reckoned on to play with fair 
 regularity. 
 
 The ground is 285 yards long by 175 yards 
 wide, and formed out of a field of sound old 
 ridge and furrow, now levelled as flat as a 
 billiard table. It is boarded, and like the 
 Liverpool and Wirral Clubs, the turf slopes 
 upwards to the boards. There is a com- 
 
122 Polo. 
 
 modious and covered stand, besides a tea 
 and refreshment pavilion, and any amount of 
 stabling in the farm buildings adjoining the 
 ground, where ponies can be sheltered in 
 wet weather, whilst numerous benches afford 
 the good folk of Rugby resting places from 
 which they may watch the game and become 
 imbued with its charms. The President of 
 the Club is the Earl of Denbigh, and the 
 Vice - President Mr. A. James. Lieut. - 
 General Tower, Messrs. E. Chaplin, A. 
 Brocas Clay, R. Beech, N. Rhodes, G. A. 
 Miller, and Captain Beatty form the Com- 
 mittee, and the duties of hon. treasurer and 
 hon. secretary are ably filled by Messrs. A. 
 Brocas Clay and E. D. Miller respectively. 
 
 The Club colours are dark blue shirt and 
 light blue cap. The playing days are gener- 
 ally Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, 
 and the Rugby Tournament, which was so 
 successfully inaugurated in 1893, is now 
 recognised as one of the events of the polo 
 season. The Rugby Club, both in 1893 
 and 1894, sent a team to compete in the 
 County Cup Tournament at Hurlingham, 
 and also to the Paris Tournament, as well 
 
About so7ne Provincial Polo Chtbs. 123 
 
 as to Abergavenny, and, though successful 
 in none of those contests, gave a very good 
 account of themselves, considering that they 
 are such a young Club. Growing in favour 
 and support day by day, they have a brilliant 
 future before them ; and, being composed 
 almost entirely of men who go well to hounds, 
 they should earn the highest distinction, 
 whilst the day is perhaps not far distant when 
 we may hail the Rugby men, mounted on 
 Spring Hill ponies, winners of the blue 
 riband of polo, the Champion Cup at Hur- 
 lingham. 
 
 A word in conclusion, and this at the 
 expense of appearing to vaunt other men's 
 wares. The Messrs. Miller have now built 
 a large riding school at Spring Hill, 90 ft. 
 by 30 ft., and here their raw material, In the 
 shape of ponies, is subjected to that careful 
 and systematic training which few ponies get 
 before they are allowed to see a stick or a 
 ball. The advantages of such, and the being 
 able to continue education regardless of 
 weather, are obvious ; and to this thorough 
 training the Messrs. Miller's ponies owe their 
 well-deserved high character. But, whether 
 
1 24 Polo. 
 
 he goes to buy ponies or to play polo, at 
 any rate from the Rugby Club the stranger 
 will meet with nothing but the most cordial 
 welcome, play on one of the best of grounds, 
 and meet some of the best of sportsmen. 
 
 I ought perhaps to mention that the most 
 prominent playing members of the Club are 
 the Messrs. E. D. and G. A. Miller, Mr. C. 
 Beatty (so well-known as a gallant man to 
 hounds and a steeplechase rider), Mr. R. 
 Beech, Messrs. A. and J. Belleville, Mr. 
 Howard Cartland, Mr. W. F. Inge (Master 
 of the Atherstone), Mr. T. Jameson, Mr. A. 
 Jones, Mr. P. A. Leaf, Mr. H. J. Selwyn, 
 the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot, Mr. W. 
 A. Tilney (17th Lancers), Mr. A. Tree, Mr. 
 John R. Walker, Captain D. Daly, Mr. A. 
 Burnaby, Mr. A. Batchelor, and the Earl 
 of Craven, whilst frequent attendants are 
 such well-known poloists as the Earl of Har- 
 rington, Mr. Gerald Hardy, and Mr. E. B. 
 Sheppard. 
 
 The Warwickshire Club. — Much senior 
 to the Rugby Club, but its near and very 
 good neighbour, is the Warwickshire Club, 
 which has its head-quarters at Leamington, 
 
About some P7^ovincial Polo Clubs, 125 
 
 and was founded about 1884 by Messrs. F. 
 Shaw, Albert Jones, and the late Major 
 Green, to the initiation of which latter, I 
 believe, the Club really owes its oriorin. Be 
 that as it may, .records show that on March 
 26, 1884, it was recognised that such a 
 prominent place as Leamington should have 
 a polo club ; so a meeting was held at the 
 Tennis Court Club, and this was attended 
 by Major Green, Captain Prior, Messrs. W. 
 M. Low, Bond-Cabbell, Kingsley, E. Trep- 
 plin, Charrington, J. F. Shaw, the Hons. 
 D. and S. Leigh, and C. W. Bell. There 
 the subject of establishing a polo club was 
 discussed, its establishment decided on, and 
 games were played in Warwick Park and 
 on the Racecourse. After the first flush of 
 excitement, however, the game languished, 
 and though the Club was never broken up, 
 it did not meet with any very hearty support 
 till 1887, when it took a new lease of life, 
 and in the following year the present ground, 
 on the Sydenham Farm, Radford Road, 
 Leaminofton, was taken on lease and made. 
 This is now all that can be desired, being 
 perfectly level, capable of being watered. 
 
126 Polo. 
 
 and measuring 268 yards long by 152 yards 
 wide ; it is boarded, and like the Liverpool, 
 Wirral, and Rugby Clubs, has the turf 
 slightly raised inside the boards, and sloping 
 to them. Watering a polo ground is always 
 a matter of difficulty and expense, but the 
 keenness and liberality of the members of 
 the Warwickshire Club have overcome this 
 obstacle, and arrancjements have now^ been 
 made for the ground being watered, so that 
 it can be played on in even the driest 
 weather. This is undoubtedly a great ad- 
 vantage, and one of which the Club may be 
 justly proud. The ground is within easy 
 reach — one mile, I believe, the correct dis- 
 tance— of the L. and N.W.R. and G.W.R. 
 stations at Leamino^ton, and stablino^ can be 
 had in the immediate vicinity. 
 
 The Club numbers amongst its members 
 eighteen who are non-players and twenty-one 
 who play with fair regularity. Amongst the 
 latter the most prominent are Messrs. A. 
 Batchelor, C. Beatty, R. G. Beech, Howard 
 Cartland, the Earl of Craven, A. C. Jones, 
 P. A. Leaf, M. J. Selwyn, the Messrs. 
 Miller (from Spring Hill), F. Shaw, Mr. A. 
 
AboiU some Provincial Polo Clubs. 127 
 
 M. Tree, and Mr. H. Powell (Warwickshire 
 Regiment). The hon. secretary is Mr. P. A. 
 Leaf, and, the Warwickshire Club may now 
 be looked upon as being in a most flourishing 
 condition, and as one of the rising county 
 clubs. Their colours are dark blue and 
 French grey. 
 
 The Staffordshire Club. — Amongst 
 county polo clubs of recent origin, perhaps 
 the Staffordshire Club shares with the Wel- 
 lington the position of being the youngest, 
 and it may aptly be termed the offspring of 
 the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot's sport- 
 ing and enterprising spirit ; for, though in 
 the early days of polo a Club existed which 
 played at Lichfield and Stafford alternately, 
 it never had a serious existence, and soon 
 died out. It is only within the last two 
 seasons that his lordship has regularly taken 
 to polo, but, once he became bitten with its 
 charms, he took to it con ajiiore, purchased 
 the best ponies that money could buy, and 
 became a red-hot enthusiast. That he has 
 attained no mean proficiency those who 
 witnessed his play in the Paris and Rugby 
 Tournaments as well as at Hurlingham in 
 
128 Polo, 
 
 1894 will readily admit, and now he has 
 earned further polo laurels by establishing a 
 Club and making a ground at his residence, 
 Ingestre Hall. This was laid down two 
 years ago, and, having been carefully tended 
 ever since, will soon be in splendid condition. 
 Distant four miles from Stafford and one 
 mile from Hinxon Station, it is full-sized, 
 well turfed, and very level. It is near the 
 River Trent, from which Lord Shrewsbury 
 has laid iron pipes all round the ground ; 
 these are connected with hydrants ; with 
 these and the aid of his private steam fire- 
 engine, the ground can be thoroughly well 
 watered. There is plenty of stabling at the 
 Home Farm, within 200 yards of the ground, 
 and the train service is excellent. The Club 
 consists of twenty-five members, amongst 
 whom may be mentioned such well-known 
 names as the Earl of Harrington, Captains 
 the Hon. R. Greville, Daly Fergusson, 
 " Wengey " Jones, and Renton, Messrs. 
 John Reid Walker, E. D. and G. A. Miller, 
 N. T. Nickalls, Portal, Gerald Hardy, E. 
 Selwyn, A. Burnaby, and A. Jones. 
 
 Mr. J. K. Bisgood is the honorary secre- 
 
About some Provincial Polo Clubs. 129 
 
 tary, and the Club colours (which can be 
 obtained from Messrs. Beale and Inman, 
 New Bond Street) are : — First team, red 
 and yellow ; second team, pale yellow and 
 white. 
 
 The Cambridge University Club. — 
 Founded in 1873 by the Hon. John Fitz- 
 william, this Club may be said to have 
 attained its majority and turned out some of 
 the most brilliant players of the day. Its 
 records, too, have been kept with fair regu- 
 larity for some ten years, judging from a 
 book kindly placed at my disposal by Mr. F. 
 B. Mildmay, M.P. From this it appears 
 that, though they used to play all the year 
 round, it was not till 1878 that the game was 
 seriously taken in hand, rules framed, and an 
 inter-University match against Oxford de- 
 cided upon. The colours of the Club were 
 maroon and yellow, and, after some discus- 
 sion, and with the sanction of the Cambridge 
 University Boat Club, the following rule was 
 passed : — " That the Polo Five (i.e., the five 
 who ever have or shall play against Oxford) 
 be allowed to wear a light blue polo shirt, 
 white forage cap, and belt." To this there 
 9 
 
1 30 Polo. 
 
 is the following addendu77i : — '' N.B. — Any- 
 one playing for the team may wear the blue 
 shirt for that game, but -that game 07tly, 
 since he imcst play against Oxford to be 
 entitled to his blue." 
 
 In 1878 the game was further encouraged 
 by the Captain, Mr. W. E. C. Ellis, present- 
 ing a medal die to the Club, to print silver 
 medals for the trial fives, together with five 
 silver medals for that year. 
 
 The first inter - University match was 
 played on the Bullingdon Cricket Ground at 
 Cow'ley (Oxford) on November 27, 1878, 
 in pouring wet weather ; and as many of 
 those who took part in it have since made 
 names for themselves, it may not be unin- 
 terestmg if I copy from the book before 
 me : — 
 
 Oxford. Cambridge. 
 
 Miles (Capt.). | W. E. C. Ellis (Capt.). 
 
 Stock. ; R. A. Bayley. 
 
 Green-Price. I H. C. Bentley. 
 
 Kavanagh. I S. C. Mitchell. 
 
 Leigh. H. R. Jameson. 
 
 Colours : , Colours : 
 
 Dark Blue. | Maroon and Yellow. 
 
 Umpires : 
 Story. C. A. Wood. 
 
About some Provincial Polo Clubs. 131 
 
 The game seems to have been protracted, 
 and to have lasted an hour and a-half, at the 
 end of which Oxford won by 5 goals to love. 
 
 The following year we find Cambridge 
 competing for the Champion Open Cup at 
 Hurlingham, but they were defeated by the 
 Wanderers in the first ties by 3 goals to love. 
 The same year they turned the tables against 
 Oxford, when they played at Hurlingham, 
 and defeated them by 2 goals to i. 
 
 In the meantime the game increased in 
 popularity, and many members joined the 
 Club, but in 1880 Oxford were victorious, 
 and won by 4 goals to i, though in 1882 
 Cambridge won by 3 goals to love. In 1883 
 the match seems to have been a hard-fought 
 one, ending in a draw with the score i goal 
 all. Four days after a return match was 
 played to decide who should be the winners, 
 and on this occasion Cambridge won by 3 
 goals to 2. 
 
 The era of playing four men a side instead 
 of five then dawned, and the next time Cam- 
 bridge met Oxford the former do not seem 
 to have distinguished themselves, from the 
 following comment accompanying a descrip- 
 tion of the match : — 
 
132 Polo. 
 
 "In this match, as in all previous Univer- 
 sity matches, the Cambridge men were all 
 abroad during the first part, and seemed to 
 quite lose their heads. During the second 
 half, however, they had considerably the best 
 of it ; but luck was against them, and they 
 were unable to score." The final result was 
 that Oxford won by four goals to love. 
 
 Here my information comes to an end. 
 Between this match and 1889 (when I first 
 saw the inter-'Varsity match) no one seems 
 able to tell me how often either University 
 won. In 1889 Cambridge won by 7 goals to 
 love. In 1890, after a hard fought game, 
 each side being 4 goals all at the end of tim.e, 
 Oxford eventually hit the goal that gave 
 them the victory by 5 goals to 4 ; and in. 
 1 89 1 Oxford were again victorious by 4 
 goals to I. In 1892 Cambridge put such 
 a strong team together — the best ever sent 
 by them to Hurlingham — and consisting of 
 Messrs. G. Heseltine, W. C. Harrild, W. S. 
 Buckmaster. and L. MacCreery, that Oxford 
 had no chance, and were defeated by 12 
 goals to I ; whilst in 1893 they were again 
 victorious by 6 goals to i, and besides, made 
 
About some Provincial Polo Clubs. 133 
 
 a very good fight for the County Cup, being 
 only beaten in the semi-final tie by Edin- 
 burgh, who eventually won the cup by r 
 goal. 
 
 So much for past history ; but, from all 
 I hear, they have no youngsters coming on, 
 and the game at Cambridge seems to have 
 passed its zenith. 
 
 The ground at Cambridge is a good one, 
 and full-sized, but boarded down one side 
 only. It is situated one and a-half miles 
 from the town, and play takes place on 
 Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays during 
 the Summer Term. Mr. W. S. Buckmaster 
 is the hon. secretary. 
 
 The Oxford University Club. — It is 
 with regret that I can give but scant informa- 
 tion about this club, which, I believe, was 
 started in 1874 by Mr. Walter Long, who 
 has since distinguished himself so much in 
 the political world, and who brought some 
 friends up from Wiltshire, and commenced 
 operations in a cut hay-field. The Club 
 records seem not to have been regularly 
 kept, though this may to a great extent be 
 owing to the Club completely changing 
 
1 34 Polo. 
 
 every two or three years, and this enhances 
 the difficulty of obtaining information regard- 
 ing its early history. Still, that the game 
 has been kept alive at Alma Mater is evi- 
 denced by the information I have given in 
 the accounts of the inter-University matches, 
 when Oxford seems to have had its fair 
 share of successes. 
 
 The Oxford ground, which is 280 yards 
 long by 170 yards wide, and not boarded, is 
 in Port Meadow ; but as this is near the 
 river, and subject to being flooded, play takes 
 place during the winter on the Bullingdon 
 Club ground. The number of playing mem- 
 bers seems to average about a dozen, and 
 the playing days are Mondays, Wednesdays, 
 and Fridays. Since 1889 the following have 
 been captains and hon. sees., the duties being 
 combined : — 1889, Mr. N. C. Cockburn ; 
 1890 and 1891, Mr. K. Pulteney ; 1892, Mr. 
 A. Dugdale; 1893, Mr. G. N. E. Baring; 
 whilst the position was in 1894 filled by 
 Viscount Villiers, New College, Oxford. 
 
 The Swindon Club. — Though conducted 
 on modest principles, and never going far 
 afield in search of glory, this Club is another 
 
About some Provincial Polo Clubs. 135 
 
 instance of how men anxious to have healthy- 
 exercise during the summer can do so by- 
 playing polo. Who its originator was seems 
 shrouded in mystery, and, though it was 
 started some fifteen years ago, it had for the 
 first years of its existence rather a chequered 
 career, being— owing to members leaving the 
 neighbourhood — constantly broken up and 
 then re-formed. The present Club was 
 started four years ago, mainly, I believe, 
 owing to the encouragement given it by 
 Major T. C. P. Galley, ist Life Guards, 
 who lent them a ground at Burderop Park ; 
 and, by taking part in games himself, and 
 bringing a regimental team down to play, 
 gave an impetus to the game. The present 
 ground is the Wiltshire Gounty Ground. It 
 is very small, and far too narrow, being only 
 220 yards long by 80 yards. Yet within this 
 limited area its members get plenty of fun 
 and generally disport themselves on Tues- 
 days and Fridays. The surface is old turf, 
 taken up in 1893 ^^^ relaid in 1894 after 
 being levelled, so that the ball travels very 
 true. The Glub consists of fifteen members, 
 of which some ten, including Dr. McLean, 
 
I ^6 Polo. 
 
 the Messrs. Deacon, Mr. Lawrence, and Dr. 
 Toomer, of Fair View, Swindon, who is the 
 hon. sec, are the most regular players. 
 
 The Chester County Club is the revival 
 of one which was started in 1881 by Lord 
 Arthur Grosvenor, Mr. J. Henry Stock, 
 M.P., Messrs. Ashton, C. Shaw, A. D. 
 Chambers, A. Hassall, J. Knowles, C. Lane, 
 and W. H. Walker, and owes its resuscita- 
 tion mainly to the efforts of Mr. A. Tyrer, 
 a well-known member of the Liverpool Club, 
 and a most enthusiastic poloist. In former 
 days the Club used to play with fair regu- 
 larity, though it was not till Lord Harring- 
 ton, who was out with his Yeomanry, posed 
 as their Mentor, that they learnt much about 
 it. His lordship telegraphed to Elvaston 
 for his ponies, mounted several would-be 
 players, and taught them the elements of 
 polo. The first match they played was 
 against a team brought by Mr. Sydney Piatt 
 from Llanfairfechan, and commenced rather 
 disastrously. Those were the days when 
 charging for the ball was in vogue, and, on 
 play commencing, Mr. Lane, who headed 
 the charge for Chester, collided with Mr. 
 
About some Provincial Polo Clubs. 137 
 
 Piatt, with the result that the latter and his 
 pony were knocked over, the rider being 
 rendered unconscious for a short period. 
 They also played against the Manchester 
 Club ; and one of their matches at Vale 
 Royal, the seat of Lord Delamere, on the 
 occasion of a great fete, is talked of to this 
 day by the country folk as a great event. 
 
 The Roodee at Chester, that public resort 
 which, besides being the Yeomanry training 
 ground, racecourse, football, cricket, and 
 hockey field, was then, as it is now, the arena 
 on which poloists disported themselves, and 
 it was no unusual sight then to see an un- 
 trained pony, after a charge, '' take charge " 
 of its rider and carry him round the race- 
 course before being induced to come into the 
 game again. For some years the Club led 
 a parlous existence, and polo died out at 
 Chester, except during the Yeomanry week, 
 when Lord Harrington kept things going. 
 Matters are now, however, on a better foot- 
 ing, as last year Mr. Tyrer revived the Club, 
 and began by applying to the Chester Town 
 Council for permission to level the ground. 
 This was readily granted, and at a com- 
 
138 Polo. 
 
 paratively small cost he succeeded in mak- 
 ing it a first-rate ground. Composed of 
 sound old turf, it is 320 yards long and 160 
 yards wide — a great galloping ground, but of 
 necessity not boarded. Mr. Tyrer's efforts 
 to re-form the Club met with signal suc- 
 cess, for it now^ numbers about twenty- 
 eight playing members, whilst the Committee 
 consists of Mr. A. D. Chambers, Mr. W. K. 
 Court, Capt. W. Higson (late 4th Hussars), 
 and Mr. J. H. Stock, M.P. ; whilst Mr. Eric 
 Piatt acts as hon. treasurer, and Mr. A. 
 Tyrer, Plas Newton, Chester, is hon. secre- 
 tary. Amongst the list of members will be 
 found such well-known names as Mr. Blain, 
 Mr. S. M. Dennis, Capt. T. M. Gordon 
 ( 1 2th" Lancers), Captain Higson, Mr. G. H. 
 Pilkington, Sir Humphrey de Trafford, Mr. 
 E. Tinsley, Mr. J. H. Stock, M.P., &c. ; 
 whilst amongst promising men coming on 
 may be mentioned Mr. George Wyndham, 
 M.P., and Mr. Moseley Leigh. 
 
 Much, however, as the Club owes its new 
 lease of life to Mr. Tyrer, it owes more to 
 the generous way in which they have been 
 met by the Town Council of Chester, and 
 
About some Provincial Polo Chtbs. 139 
 
 especially to the courtesy of Mr. Enfield 
 Taylor, the engineer to the Racecourse 
 Company, for he has thrown himself heart 
 and soul into the task of assisting them, 
 and has afforded great facilities by lending 
 the Club rollers and other machinery, and 
 by giving them a place to keep their mow- 
 ing machines, &c., besides the loan of 
 dressing-rooms in the Grand Stand. 
 
 In such happy circumstances, and with a 
 keen polo spirit springing up in the county, 
 it is not too much to hope that the Chester 
 Club may some day take back to the old city 
 the Hurlingham County Cup, for which they 
 made such a good fight in 1894. But they 
 were, perhaps, consoled for their defeat by 
 winning the Rugby Tournament after one 
 of the best weeks of polo ever seen. They 
 have the raw material ; they are animated 
 by keenness ; and only want organisation 
 and practising together as a team to make 
 them a powerful combination. 
 
 The Woldingham Club. — This, like 
 many another Club, originated spontaneously 
 in 1 89 1. In that year Messrs. R. de Cler- 
 mont, C. Taylor, F. S. Bristowe, F. A. 
 
1 40 Polo. 
 
 Edwards, H. Wilton, and one or two other 
 business men, were discussing the game 
 whilst travelling by train, and the outcome 
 of their conversation was that they deter- 
 mined to start the Club. Without a ground 
 and without ponies the matter was one of no 
 little difficulty, but they meant to succeed 
 and did so. A rough meadow was obtained 
 at Godstone, and the difficulty about ponies 
 was overcome by arrangements being made 
 with Mr. E. Woodland to have the Club, or 
 rather to find ponies on the hire system, 
 and a beginning was made. The next year 
 the ground was moved to Coulsdon, and 
 this was such an improvement that the 
 members of the Club got more and more 
 bitten with the game and determined to do 
 even better, and so towards the end of the 
 year a suitable ground was rented at Wold- 
 ingham. The Club now became fairly 
 established ; men bought ponies, a pavilion 
 was built and stabling erected for sixteen 
 ponies, whilst this was supplemented by Mr. 
 Walpole Greenwell kindly affording aid in 
 the matter of stabling at Marden Park. 
 The ground is a very fair one, 250 yards 
 
Abo2it some Provincial Polo Clubs. 141 
 
 long and 180 wide, and there is an excel- 
 lent train service from town to Oxted, 
 Redhill or Caterham, all of which are 
 within easy reach of the ground. The 
 Club numbers some forty-five players, a 
 good many of whom put in an appearance 
 on playing^ days, which are generally 
 Wednesdays and Saturdays. 
 
 Though the Woldingham Club have not 
 gone far afield to earn laurels, they have yet 
 for such a young Club shown promising 
 form, and have played Stansted, Woolwich 
 Garrison, and a few other Clubs with satis- 
 factory results. They mea7i to perfect them- 
 selves, and with this point in their favour 
 will, no doubt, in time win their way to the 
 front rank. 
 
142 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Polo Clubs in the World. 
 
 ^/ N the September number (1894) of 
 
 i^ 
 
 m^W ^^^^ amusing quarterly sporting 
 
 ^'^?^ magazine, Fo7'es Sporting Notes 
 
 and Sketches, I came across an 
 
 article by *' Triviator" on "The 
 Production of Polo Ponies," in which the 
 writer seemed to me to have a slap at the 
 game. He did indeed begin with the alliter- 
 ative description of a "princely pastime," and 
 brought to bear on his subject his whole 
 artillery of classical quotations, and the result 
 was a very readable article ; but when he 
 thus delivered himself I must confess that 
 my hackles rose, and I growled as viciously 
 as ever did an ill-tempered hound. Listen 
 to him, polo players, and you who are inter- 
 
Polo Chtbs in the Wo7dd. 143 
 
 ested in the breeding of the animal on which 
 you are dependent for your fun, and say, 
 had I not good reason, for thus our friend 
 **Trivy " writes (see pp. 219-20) : — " If polo 
 was certain. . . . animal than Fritz." 
 
 " Already there are signs of some waning 
 in the interest taken in polo " ! Are there 1 
 Let the answer be the following list — -by no 
 means complete, I fear — of the various Polo 
 Clubs in the world. And when it is taken 
 into consideration that a decade ago not a 
 quarter of these existed, I think our "Trivy" 
 is answered. And remember, please, that 
 these do not include Regimental Clubs, that 
 most cavalry regiments, both British and 
 Indian, possess one, and that I have in a 
 previous chapter enumerated the infantry 
 regiments that play polo. Let me, therefore, 
 submit the following list for your considera- 
 tion, premising it by saying that I give it in 
 alphabetical order and not with any idea of 
 seniority or priority. 
 
144 Polo. 
 
 EUROPE. 
 
 England. 
 Aldershot, Divisional. 
 Barton, J. R. Walker, Esq., The KnoH, Barton-under- 
 
 Needwood. 
 Berkshire. 
 
 Bowden, Harry E. Gaddum, Esq., Bowden, Cheshire. 
 Cambridge University, W. S. Buckmaster, Esq. 
 Chester, A. Tyrer, Esq., Plas Newton, Chester. 
 Cirencester. 
 Derbyshire, Earl of Harrington, Elvaston Castle, 
 
 Derby. 
 Fetcham Park, A. Moon, Esq., Fetcham Rectory, 
 
 Leatherhead. 
 Grantham, Blundell Williams, Esq., Stamford. 
 Hurlingham, Captain Walter Smythe, Polo Manager, 
 
 Hurlingham Club, Fulham, S.W. 
 Liverpool, W. Lee Pilkington, Esq., Huyton Grange, 
 
 near Liverpool. 
 Ludlow, T. AIcMicking, Esq., Burway, Ludlow, 
 
 Salop. 
 Manchester, Douglas Phillips, Esq., The Cottage, 
 
 Chelford. 
 Monmouthshire, R. W. Kennard, Esq., Llwyn Du, 
 
 Abergavenny. 
 Oxford University, Viscount Villiers, New College, 
 
 Oxford. 
 Ranelagh, Rev. F. Dale, Polo Manager, Ranelagh 
 
 Club, Barn Elms, S.W. 
 Rugby, E. D. Aliller, Esq., Spring Hill, Rugby. 
 Staffordshire, Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot, 
 
 Ingestre Hall, Stafford. 
 Stansted, Tresham Gilbey, Esq., The Grange, 
 
 Bishop Stortford. 
 
Polo Clubs in the World. 145 
 
 Sussex, A. Peat, Esq., South Hayes, Wimbledon. 
 Swindon, Dr. Toomer, Fair View, Swindon. 
 Tiverton, J. de las Casas, Esq., Collipriest, Tiverton. 
 Warwickshire, P. A. Leaf, Esq., The Brewery, 
 
 Leamington. 
 Wellington, A. C. C. Kenyon Fuller, Esq., Finchamp- 
 
 stead, Berks. 
 West Essex, Major Tait, Epping. 
 Wirral, F. W. Blain, Esq., Ashfield, Bromborough, 
 
 Birkenhead. 
 Woldingham, P. M. Cleremont, Esq., Godstone, 
 
 Kent. 
 Worcestershire. 
 
 Scotland. 
 
 Edinburgh, T. B. Dryborough, Esq., 23, Grosvenor 
 Street, Edinburgh. 
 
 Ireland. 
 
 All Ireland, Captain Wood,Dishelstown,Castleknock, 
 
 CO. Dublin. 
 Antrim, Captain Ivan Richardson, Glenburn, Dun- 
 
 murry, co. Antrim. 
 Carlow, Stewart Duckett, Esq., Russellstown Park, 
 
 Carlow. 
 Fermanagh, T. E. T. Packenham, Esq., Enniskillen. 
 Freebooters, John Watson, Esq., Bective House, 
 
 Navan, co. Meath. 
 Kildare, Colonel de Robeck, Gavan Grange, Naas, 
 
 CO. Kildare. 
 Londonderry, Andrew Watt, Esq., Londonderry. 
 Meath, Dr. Sullivan, Meath. 
 Sligo, R. St. G. Robinson, Esq., Sligo. 
 Tredeagh (Drogheda). 
 
 10 
 
1 46 Polo. 
 
 Westmeath, Captain E. Dease, Earlstown, Goole, 
 Westmeath. 
 
 France. 
 Deauville. 
 
 Paris, M. Kellaire, Pelouse de Bagatelle, Paris. Hon. 
 sec, M. R. Raoul-Duval, Marolles, par Genille, 
 
 Indre-et-Loire. 
 
 « 
 Gibraltar. 
 
 Gibraltar, O. W. Thynne, Esq., King's Royal Rifles, 
 Gibraltar. 
 
 IMalta. 
 Malta. 
 
 ASIA. 
 
 India. 
 
 Polo Association of India, hon. sec, ]\Iajor Sherston, 
 Rifle Brigade. 
 
 Allahabad, x\hmedabad. Bangalore, Bannu, Barrack- 
 pur, Bombay Gymkhana, Calcutta, Fort Sande- 
 man, Hyderabad (Deccan), Jhansi. 
 
 Jhodpore, Major Beatson, Jhodpore. 
 
 Jubbulpore, Kirkee, Kirkee Gymkhana, Karachi, 
 Lucknow, Madras Government House, Madras 
 Gymkhana, ^leerut, ]Mhow, Mian Mir, Ootaca- 
 mund, Naini Tai, Nusseerabad, Peshawar, Poona 
 Gymkhana, Quetta, Ranikhet, Roorkee, Saugor, 
 Sealkote, Secunderabad, Umballa, Viceroy's Staff". 
 
 Assam. 
 
 Dibrugarh, A. ^I. Harry, Esq., Dibrugarh. 
 
 Jhanzie, F. Perman, Esq., Jhanzie Tea Estate, via 
 
 Jorehat. 
 Jorehat, C. ]\Iiller, Esq., Cinneenara, Jorehat. 
 
Polo Clubs in the World. 147 
 
 Lahwal, F. W. Collins, Esq., Bokal, Dibrugarh. 
 
 Moran, Secretary, Moran Tea Estate, Sibsagor. 
 
 Nazira, J. Hulbert, Esq., Nazira, P.O. Sibsagor. 
 
 North Lakhimpur, Secretary, Joyhing. 
 
 Nowgong, Secretary, Nowgong. 
 
 Nudwa Road, G. W. Sutton, Esq., Dikom, Dibrugarh. 
 
 Panitola, A. W. Madden, Esq., Panitola, Dibrugarh. 
 
 Rishnauth, Secretary, Rishnauth Estate, Teypur. 
 
 Singlo, Secretary, Singlo Tea Estate, Sibsagor. 
 
 Teypur, Secretary, Teypur. 
 
 Upper Sudiya, F. E. Winsland, Esq., Tippuk, Di- 
 
 brugarh. 
 
 BURMAH. 
 
 Bhamo, Kindat, Mandalay, iMauImain, Meiktila, 
 Moniya, Mugwe, Rangoon, Myingyan, Pokoko, 
 Shewbo, Thayetmo, Toungoo, Yamethin. 
 
 AFRICA. 
 
 Cairo, Dargle, Estcourt, Greytown, Government 
 House, Mooi River, Rand (Transvaal). 
 
 Wanderers (Transvaal), Joseph Paterson, Esq., P.O. 
 Box 647, Johannesburg, Transvaal. 
 
 AMERICA. 
 Canada and British Columbia. 
 
 Beaver Creek, M. J. Holland, Esq., Beaver Creek 
 
 Ranche, Alberta, N.W.T. 
 Calgary, Cannington. 
 Fort Macleod, E. A. Browning, Esq., Alberta, 
 
 N.W.T., Canada. 
 High River, Orlando (Florida). 
 Pincher Creek, E. M. Wilmot, Esq., Pincher Creek, 
 
 Macleod, Canada. 
 Qu'Appelle River, Regina, Victoria (B.C.). 
 
148 Polo. 
 
 United States. 
 U.S. Polo Association, E. C. Potter, Esq., 36, Wall 
 
 Street, New York. 
 Country Club of Brookline, F. Blackwood Fay, Esq., 
 
 Brookline, Mass. 
 Country Club of St. Louis, John F. Shepley, Esq., 
 
 St. Louis, Mass. 
 Country Club of Westchester, E. C. Potter, Esq., 
 
 Westchester, New York. 
 Dedham, Samuel D. Warren, Esq., Dedham, Mass. 
 Devon (Philadelphia). 
 Essex County, T. H. P. Farr, Esq., Orange, New 
 
 Jersey. 
 Harvard, C. C. Baldwin, Esq., Cambridge, Mass. 
 Hingham, G. D. Braman, Esq., Hingham, Mass. 
 Meadow Brook, Oliver W. Bird, Esq., Westbury 
 
 Long Island, N.Y. 
 Morris County, Benjamin Nicoll, Esq., ]\Iorristown, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 Monmouth County, P. F. Collier, Esq., Hollywood, 
 
 N.J. 
 Myopia, R. L. Agassiz, Esq., Hamilton, ?^Iass. 
 Oyster Bay, F. T. Underbill, Esq., Oyster Bay, Long 
 
 Island, N.Y. 
 Philadelphia, Charles E. ]\Iather, Esq., Philadelphia, 
 
 Pa. 
 Rockaway, John E. Cowdin, Esq., Cedarhurst, Long 
 
 Island, N.Y. 
 Tuxedo, Richard ^Mortimer, Esq., Tuxedo Park, N.Y. 
 Westchester, Thomas Hitchcock, Esq., Newport, 
 
 Rhode Island. 
 
 South America (Argentina). 
 Association of the River Plate, F. J. Balfour, 559, 
 Piedad. 
 
Polo Chibs in the World. 149 
 
 Belgrano, J. K. Cassels, Lavalle 108, Belgrano. 
 
 Bellaco, M. M. C. Henderson, Paysandu. 
 
 Camp of Uruguay, L. Edwards, Barrancas Coloradas, 
 
 Colonia. 
 Canada de Gomez, J. S. Robinson, C. de Gomez, 
 
 F.C.C.A. 
 Casuals, R. AIcC. Smyth, Venado Tuerto. 
 Gualeguay, H. J. Perrett, Gualeguay, Entre Rios. 
 Hurlingham, F. J. Balfour, 559, Piedad, Buenos 
 
 Aires. 
 Jujuy, H. Wright Poore, care of Leach Hnos. y Ca., 
 
 Salta, Argentina. 
 La Colina, O. G. Hoare, Santa Rosa, La Colina. 
 La Merced, P. H. Cawardine, La Merced, Chas- 
 
 comus. 
 La Victoria, Magnus Fea, Estacion, El Trebol, F.C. 
 
 Central Argentino. 
 Las Petacas, Frank E. Kinchant, Las Petacas, San 
 
 Jorge, F.C.C.A. 
 Lezama, E. J. Craig, Estancia Las Barrancas, 
 
 Lezama. 
 Medie Luna, Scott MoncriefF, Soler, F. C. Pacihco. 
 Montevideo, P'red. A. Christie, Club Ingles, Monte- 
 video. 
 North Santa Fe, H. J. J. Bury, Las Limpias, Estacion 
 
 Carlos Pellegrini, F.C.C.A. 
 Roldan, W. Ellery, Roldan, F.C.C.A. 
 Rosario, W. F. Christie, F.C.C.A., Rosario. 
 San Jorge, C. H. Hall, San Jorge, Estacion Molles, 
 
 F.C.C. del Uruguay, Montevideo. 
 Santa Fe, Kemball Cook, Las Tres Lagunas, Las 
 
 Rosas, F.C.C.A. 
 Santiago del Estero, Dr. Newman Smith, La Banda, 
 
 Santiago del Estero. 
 Tuyu, H. Gibson, Los Ingleses, Ajo, F.C.S. 
 
1 50 Polo. 
 
 Venado Tuerto, H. Miles, Venado Tuerto, F.C.S. 
 Santa Fe y Cordoba. 
 
 AUSTRALIA. 
 
 Adelaide, E. Laughton, Esq., jun. 
 
 Argyle, Ballarat, Brisbane, Broken Hill, Burra- 
 Caramut, Camperdown, Coolak, Cooma, Dubbo, 
 Goulbourn, Hamilton, Ipswich, Melbourne, Mus- 
 wellbrook, Mount Crawford, Oaklands, Quean- 
 beyan, Quirindi, Scone. 
 
 Sydney, Capt. A. J. Dodds, Australian Club, Sydne}-, 
 N. S. Wales. 
 
 Wagga-Wagga, Werribee. 
 
 SAMOA. 
 Apia, T. B. Cusack-Smith, Esq., British Consulate, 
 Apia. 
 
 NEW ZEALAND. 
 Auckland, Christchurch, Canterbury. 
 Elmwood, R. Heaton Rhodes, Esq., Christchurch. 
 Hobart Town, Kihi-Kihi, North Canterbury, Poverty 
 Bay, Rangiora, Rangitiki, Wanganui, Weikiri. 
 
 In Jamaica I believe they play, and that 
 there are one if not more Clubs in existence, 
 bat many letters having failed to elicit any 
 reply from that land of sugar and "sangaree," 
 I can give no details. 
 
 Now let us tot up the list, and we may, I 
 think, add to it H.M.S. " Curacoa," for the 
 sporting officers of that ship have earned a 
 name for themselves as polo players, and 
 take their ponies about with them on board, 
 
Polo Chtbs in the World. 1 5 1 
 
 landing where they can on southern shores, 
 and holding their own with any team that 
 they have a chance of meeting. Sailors 
 were ever sportsmen, but the names of these 
 should be " clogged up in great gowd letters"! 
 But to our addition sum. Giving Jamaica 
 the credit of one club, and including H.M.S. 
 "Curacoa," I make the number of Polo Clubs, 
 not including Regimental Clubs, at over 200! 
 This does not look as if there were signs of 
 waning in the interest taken in polo ! 
 
 One word in conclusion, addressed to polo 
 players all over the world, where I hope this 
 little book of mine will penetrate. I ask 
 you to tell me of your Clubs, to give me 
 particulars of them, their members and their 
 ponies, their play and all matters connected 
 with them, in order that, to the best of my 
 ability, I may forge another link in the chain 
 of polo history. The game is going ahead, 
 no matter what its detractors may say. Let 
 you and I assist each other mutually to hand 
 down to posterity those who have helped on 
 the grandest ^(^7;/^ there is, the one that must 
 appeal most to the riding Briton — POLO. 
 Long may it flourish ! 
 
152 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 The Hurlingham Club, 
 laws and bye-la\ys of polo, 1894. 
 
 Rules and Regulations. 
 
 (i) Height. — The height of the ponies must not 
 exceed 14 hands, and no ponies showing vice are to 
 be allowed in the game. 
 
 (2) Ground. — The goals to be not less than 250 
 yards apart, and each goal to be 8 yards wide. 
 
 A full-sized ground should be 300 yards long, by 
 200 yards wide. 
 
 (3) Size of halls. — The size of the balls to be 3 inches 
 in diameter. 
 
 (4) Umpire. — Each side shall nominate an Umpire, 
 unless it be mutually agreed to play with one instead 
 of two ; and his or their decisions shall be final. 
 
 Referee. — In important matches, in addition to the 
 Umpires a Referee may be appointed, whose decision 
 shall be final. 
 
 (5) Number of players. — In all matches for cups or 
 prizes the number of players contending to be limited 
 to four a side. 
 
 (6) How game commences. — The game commences by 
 both sides taking up their position in the middle of 
 
The Hzi^dingham Club. 153 
 
 the ground, and the Alanager throwing the ball in 
 the centre of the ground. 
 
 (7) Dnvation of play. — The duration of play in a 
 match shall be one hour, divided into three periods 
 of twenty minutes, with an interval of five minutes 
 between each period of play. 
 
 The two first periods of play shall terminate as 
 soon as the ball goes out of play after the expiration 
 of the prescribed time ; any excess of time in either 
 of the first two periods, due to the ball remaining in 
 play, being deducted from the succeeding periods. 
 The last period of play shall terminate immediately 
 on the expiration of the hour's play, although the ball 
 is still in play. 
 
 Exception. — In case of a tie, the last period shall be 
 prolonged till the ball goes out of play. 
 
 (8) Changing ponies. — As soon as the ball goes out 
 of play, after the expiration of the first ten minutes 
 of each period of play, the game shall be suspended 
 for sufficient time, not exceeding two minutes, to 
 enable players to change ponies. With the above 
 exception, play shall be continuous, and it shall be 
 the duty of the Umpire to throw in the ball punc- 
 tually, and in the event of unnecessary delay in hitting 
 out the ball, to call upon the offending side to proceed 
 at once. Any change of ponies, except according to 
 the above provision, shall be at the risk of the player. 
 
 (9) Bell. — A bell shall be rung to signify the time 
 for changing ponies, and at the termination of each 
 period of play. 
 
 (10) — An official Time-keeper shall be employed 
 in all important matches. 
 
 (11) Tie. — In all tournaments, the game, in case of 
 a tie, after an interval of five minutes, must be played 
 on till one side obtains a goal. 
 
154 Polo. 
 
 (12) Goals. — A goal is gained when a ball is driven 
 between the goal posts, and clear of the goal line, by 
 any of the players or their ponies. 
 
 (13) Overtop of goal posts. — If a ball is hit above the 
 top of the goal posts, but in the opinion of the Umpire, 
 through, it shall be deemed a goal. 
 
 (14) To win game. — The side that makes most goals 
 wins the game. 
 
 (15) Where ball to hit from posit ion of players. — If the ball 
 be hit behind the back line by one of the opposite 
 side, it shall be hit off by one of the side whose line it 
 is, from a spot as near as possible to where it crossed 
 the line. None of the attacking side shall be within 
 30 yards of the back line until the ball is hit off. If^ 
 however, the ball be hit behind the back line by one 
 of the players whose line it is, they shall hit it off as 
 near as possible to where it crossed the line, and all 
 the defending side shall remain behind the line until 
 the ball is hit off, the attacking side being free to 
 place themselves as they choose. 
 
 (16) Ball thrown in by Umpire. — When the ball is hit 
 out of bounds, it must be thrown into the ground by 
 the Umpire from the exact spot where it w^ent out of 
 play, in a direction parallel to the two goal lines, and 
 between the opposing ranks of players. 
 
 No delay allou'ed. — There must be no delay whatso- 
 ever, or any consideration for absent players. 
 
 (17) Riding out an antagonist. — A player ma}' ride 
 out an antagonist, or interpose his pony before his 
 antagonist, so as to prevent the latter reaching the 
 ball, but he may not cross another player in possession 
 of the ball, except at such a distance that the said 
 player shall not be compelled to check his pony to 
 avoid a collision. 
 
 Definition of crossing.— It two players are riding from 
 
The Hitrlingham Club. 155 
 
 different directions to hit the ball, an4 a collision 
 appears probable, then the player in possession of the 
 ball (that is, who last hit the ball, or if neither have 
 hit the ball, the player who is coming from the direc- 
 tion from which the ball was last hit) must be given 
 way to. 
 
 (18) Crooking stick. — No player shall crook his 
 adversary's stick, unless he is on the same side of the 
 adversary's pony as the ball, or in a direct line 
 behind. 
 
 (19) Off side. — No player who is off side shall hit 
 the ball, or shall in any way prevent the opposite 
 side from reaching or hitting the ball. 
 
 Definition of off side. — A player is off side when at 
 the time of the ball being hit he has no one of the 
 opposite side between him and the adversaries' goal 
 line, or behind an imaginary line drawn parallel to 
 the goal line, and he is neither in possession of the 
 ball nor behind one of his own side who is in possession 
 of the ball. The goal line means the eight yard line 
 between the goal posts or that line produced. The 
 position of the players is to be considered at the time 
 the ball was last hit, i.e., a player if on side when the 
 ball was last hit, remains on side until it is hit again. 
 
 (20) Rough play. — No player shall seize with the 
 hand, strike, or push with the head, hand, or arm 
 below the elbow. 
 
 (21) Carrying hall. — A player may not carry the 
 ball. In the event of the ball lodging upon or against 
 a player or pony, it must be immediately dropped on 
 the ground by the player or the rider of the pony. 
 
 (22) Penalty for foul. — Any infringement of the rules 
 constitutes a foul. In case of an infringement of Rules 
 17, 18, 20, and- 21, the Umpire shall stop the game ; 
 and in case of an infringement of Rule 19, the Umpire 
 
T56 Polo. 
 
 shall stop the game on an appeal by any one of 
 the side which has been fouled. On the game being 
 stopped as above, the side which has been fouled 
 may claim either of the following penalties. 
 
 {a) A free hit from where the ball was when the 
 foul took place, none of the opposing side to be within 
 lo yards of the ball. 
 
 {})) That the side which caused the foul, take the 
 ball back and hit it off from behind their own goal 
 line. 
 
 (23) Penalty for disabling a playev. — In the case of a 
 player being disabled by a foul, the side who has 
 been fouled shall have a right to designate any one of 
 the players on the opposite side who shall retire from 
 the game. The game shall be continued with three 
 players aside, and if the side that causes the foul 
 refuse to continue the game, it shall thereby lose 
 the match. This penalty shall be in addition to that 
 provided by Rule 15. 
 
 (24) Changing ends. — Ends shall be changed after 
 every goal, or if no goal have been obtained, after 
 half-time. 
 
 (25) Ball out. — The ball must go over and clear of 
 the line to be out. 
 
 (26) Throwing in ball. — If the ball be damaged, the 
 Umpire must at once stop the game, and throw in a 
 new ball at the place where it was broken, and at 
 right angles to the length of the ground, and between 
 the opposing ranks of players. 
 
 (27) Broken sticks. — Should a player's stick be broken, 
 he must ride to the place where sticks are kept and 
 take one. On no account is a stick to be brought to 
 him. 
 
 (28) Dropped stick. — In the event of a stick being 
 dropped, the player must pick it up himself. No dis- 
 mounted player is allowed to hit the ball. 
 
The Hiti'linghani Chtb. 157 
 
 (29) Ground kept clear. — No person allowed within 
 the arena — players, umpires, and Manager excepted. 
 
 (30) Accidents. — That in the event of any player 
 having a fall, or if, in the opinion of the Umpire, any 
 player shall be hurt in any way to prevent his playing, 
 the Umpire shall in that case stop the game and allow 
 time for the dismounted man to mount, or the injured 
 man to be replaced. 
 
 (31) Where hall thrown in. — On play being recom- 
 menced, the ball shall be thrown in, where it was, 
 when the accident occurred. 
 
 (32) Disregarding Umpire's decision. — Any deliberate 
 disregard of the injunctions of the Umpire shall 
 involve the disqualification of the team so offending. 
 
 (33) Umpire s power to decide all disputes. — Should 
 any incident or question arise that is not provided for 
 in these Rules, such incident or question to be decided 
 by the Umpire. 
 
 BYE-LAWS. 
 
 (i) Officers selected to serve on Polo Committee. — Every 
 Regiment having amongst its officers four Members 
 of the Hurlingham Club, starting a team in the Inter- 
 Regimental Polo Tournament, and which is not 
 already represented, shall have a right to elect one 
 Officer (being a Polo player and a Member of Hur- 
 lingham) as a Member of the Hurlingham Polo Com- 
 mittee ; and this Officer shall be a Member of the 
 Committee for one year from the time he is elected. 
 
 (2) Time shortened. — In order that all members may 
 play during the afternoon, the Manager shall have 
 power to shorten the time, and stop the Match or 
 game at the appointed hour. If a Match is timed to 
 commence at 4, 5.20 shall be the time at which it 
 may be stopped. 
 
158 Polo. 
 
 (3) Time. — On ordinary days, in cases of a match 
 taking place before the members' game, such match 
 must finish at 5, unless by special leave from the 
 Committee. This does not apply to the tie games in 
 Cup Competitions. 
 
 (4) Registration. — All Polo Clubs must be registered 
 with the Manager on May 15th in each year. A 
 Book of Rules and Members of such Club to be 
 forwarded at time of registration. 
 
 (5) Ponies pvoperty of Clnh, S'C. — In matches for cups 
 or prizes the ponies must be bond fide the property of 
 the Club or Regiment contending. 
 
 (6) Spurs and blinkers. — No blinkers, or spurs with 
 rowels allowed, except on special occasions when 
 sanctioned by the Committee. 
 
 (7) Measurement. — Each pony to be passed under 
 the 14 hand standard by the Manager and two of the 
 Polo Committee. A book to be kept by the Manager, 
 in which the height of all ponies belonging to mem- 
 bers is to be entered. A pony five years old or aged, 
 after having been passed, is not required to go under 
 the standard again. 
 
 (8) Four players. — Not more than four players on 
 each side are allowed to pla}'. 
 
 Precedence. — The members arriving first at the 
 Pavilion to be allowed precedence. 
 
 (9) Whistle. — The Umpire shall be required to 
 carry a whistle, which he shall use as required. 
 
 (10) Time of ground being opened and shut. — If, in the 
 opinion of the Manager, the ground is in a fit state for 
 play, it shall be opened for not less than six players, 
 at 3 o'clock each day, Fridays excepted, when the 
 ground is closed. Each set of players shall be 
 allowed the use of the ground for 20 minutes. All 
 play shall cease and the ground shall be cleared by 
 7.15 p.m. 
 
The Hit7'li7igJia7H Club. 159 
 
 (11) Colours. — The colours of the Hurhngham Club 
 shall be light blue shirts. The second colours white 
 and red sash. In members' matches every player 
 shall wear a white shirt or jersey, the sides being 
 distinguished by red and blue sashes, supplied by 
 the Manager. 
 
 CONDITIONS FOR THE COUNTY CLUB CUP. 
 
 Open to all Registered Clubs. 
 
 (i) Conditions. — Any IMember playing for his Club 
 must be a resident in the County where such Club 
 has its ground, or reside within 50 miles of the Club 
 Ground. 
 
 (2) Three years. — No member of a Team who has 
 played for the Open Cup and won the same during 
 the last three years is eligible to contend. 
 
 (3) University. — Oxford and Cambridge University 
 Clubs can play. 
 
 (4) Residence. — A residence within the metropolitan 
 area of London cannot act as a qualification for a 
 Aliddlesex or Surrey Club. 
 
 (5) Entries. — Entries to be made in writing to the 
 Manager at least ten days previous to the date fixed 
 for the first game, giving the names and addresses of 
 each player. 
 
 (6) Five pounds lodged. — The Captain of each Team 
 on entering to deposit Five Pounds with the Manager, 
 which shall be returned on the Tournament con- 
 cluding. 
 
 Should the Team be scratched the Five Pounds 
 shall be forfeited and go to the Team which is second. 
 
 (7). — The number of players on each side is limited 
 to four. 
 
1 60 Polo. 
 
 (8) Substitution of play ey in case of accident. — In the 
 event of one of the players being prevented from 
 playing from some hond fide good reason, the Polo 
 Committee may, if they think fit, allow another man, 
 properly qualified, to be nominated in his place ; such 
 substitute must not, however, be taken from among 
 the players selected in any other Team. 
 
 CONDITIONS FOR CUP TOURNAMENTS. 
 
 Champion Cup Conditions. 
 
 (i) Open. — Open to all registered Polo Clubs and 
 Regiments. 
 
 (2). — The number of players on each side is limited 
 to four. 
 
 (3) Entry form. — The entries, naming colours, to be 
 made on or before 5 p.m., on the Saturday prior to 
 the week of competition. 
 
 (4) Draw. — The respective Teams to be drawn, and 
 the said draw to take place on Saturday, at 5 p.m., 
 prior to the week of competition. 
 
 Name players. — The Captain of each Team to name 
 his four players at time of entry. 
 
 (5) Substitutes. — In the event of one of the players 
 being prevented from playing from some bojid fide good 
 reason, the Polo Committee may, if they think fit, 
 allow another man to be nominated in his place ; 
 such substitute must not, however, be taken from 
 among the players selected in any other Team. 
 
 (6) Three teams. — Unless three Teams contend the 
 Cup will not be given. 
 
 (y) Jig^ — In case of a Tie between two Teams, it 
 must be played off the same day till one Team obtain 
 a Goal, always excepting both Teams elect to post- 
 pone. 
 
i6i 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Rules of the Indian Polo Association. 
 
 RULES FOR THE REGULATION OF 
 TOURNAMENTS, &c. 
 
 (i) Maximum height of ponies. — The new rules for 
 the measurement of ponies shall have effect from 
 April I, 1893. The maximum height of polo ponies 
 shall be thirteen hands and three inches. 
 
 (2) Stewards. — All tournaments played under the 
 rules of the Indian Polo Association shall be under 
 the management of three stewards, who shall be 
 elected locally. 
 
 (3) Rig^ii of appeal to stewards. — There shall be a 
 right of appeal to the stewards upon all questions 
 which are not by these rules declared to be subject 
 to the final decision of some other authority, such as 
 umpires, &c., and the decision of the stewards in all 
 such appeals shall be final. 
 
 (4) Questions to he referred to stewards. — Any question 
 which may arise in the course of a tournament and 
 which is not provided for by these rules, shall be 
 referred for decision to the stewards, who may, if 
 they think fit, refer the matter to a committee of 
 five members of the Indian Polo Association, whose 
 decision shall be final. 
 
 II 
 
1 62 Polo. 
 
 (5) Limit of time and number of ponies. — The duration 
 of play, and the number of ponies allowed to be 
 played by teams in a tournament, shall be decided 
 by the local stewards of each tournament : provided 
 that the maximum duration of play in any match 
 does not exceed forty minutes, exclusive of stoppages. 
 
 (6) Annual meeting. — There shall be an annual 
 meeting of Members of the Indian Polo Association 
 during the Inter-Regimental Tournament. No altera- 
 tion in the rules, or constitution of the Indian Polo 
 Association, to be made except at this meeting ; due 
 notice having been given to all members by the 
 honorary secretary. 
 
 (7) Existing tournament polo ponies. — All ponies 
 registered by the Indian Polo ^Association on or 
 previous to April i, 1893, i^ accordance with the 
 rules in force prior to that date, as having played in 
 a recognised tournament previous to March 31, 1892, 
 shall be entitled to life certificates. 
 
 (8) Aged ponies. — Ponies over six 3^ears old, when 
 once measured by the independent authority to be 
 appointed, and in accordance with the rules to be 
 laid down by the Indian Polo Association, may be 
 given life certificates by the Association. Racing 
 certificates will not be accepted. 
 
 (9) Rules for measurement. — The stewards of every 
 tournament shall nominate a committee, consisting of 
 three members, to measure all ponies not holding life 
 
 ertificates which are intended to be played in a 
 tournament. No pony shall play in a tournament 
 unless — 
 
 (a) It has got a life certificate. 
 
 [b) It has been measured and passed by the 
 committee. Such committee to assemble at tlie 
 station where the tournament is held, within 
 
Rules of the Indian Polo Association. 163 
 
 one week of such tournament. The honorary 
 secretaries of tournaments will advertise in 
 a daily newspaper published in the province 
 in which the place is situated, the date of 
 assembly of such committee. Not less than 
 seven days' notice shall be given. 
 
 (10) The inspection of ponies shall take place 
 during the week previous to the commencement of 
 the tournament. 
 
 (11) Ponies may be aged or measured by the 
 stewards of the Indian Polo Association, and by the 
 persons duly authorized for that purpose by such 
 stewards. Ponies shall be aged and measured at 
 such times and places only as the stewards of the 
 Indian Polo Association shall determine. 
 
 (12) Any two of the persons, empowered under 
 Rule II, shall form a quorum for the purpose stated ; 
 and if more than two act the decision shall be that of 
 the majority. 
 
 (13) Rules fov meastirement. — If, after the publication 
 of the notice referred to in Rule g, the necessary 
 quorum cannot be obtained owing to the inability of 
 any person to attend or act, the stewards of the 
 Indian Polo Association may appoint a substitute 
 for such person. 
 
 (14) No person shall take any part in ageing or 
 measuring his own pony or a pony in which he has 
 an interest. 
 
 (15) The person presenting a pony to be aged or 
 measured shall fill up and sign a form containing 
 such particulars as the stewards of the Indian Polo 
 Association shall from time to time direct. The 
 following shall be the form : — 
 
164 
 
 Polo. 
 
 Owner. 
 
 Colour. 
 
 Class. 
 
 Sex. 
 
 Name. 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sigjiature 
 
 Date 
 
 Place 
 
 (16) When the age or height of a pony is deter- 
 mined, the name, colour, and distinguishing marks 
 of such pony, as well as his age and height, shall be 
 entered in a register kept for the purpose ; and the 
 entry as regards such pony shall be signed by all the 
 persons who have taken part in the determination. 
 If the entry is made in a register which is not kept 
 by the Secretary of the Indian Polo Association, the 
 sheet containing it shall be forwarded to the said 
 Secretary without delay, and shall be filed in the 
 office of the Indian Polo Association. 
 
Rides of the Indian Polo Association. 165 
 
 (17) Any person who is dissatisfied with the deter- 
 mination arrived at may, by written appHcation 
 presented within three days, apply for another deter- 
 mination. A note of the appHcation shall be made 
 in the register referred to in Rule 16 ; and if the pony 
 is presented at a time and place of which due notice 
 shall be given, he shall be again aged or measured, 
 as the case may be. The particulars of the second 
 determination shall be entered in the register above- 
 mentioned, and the determination shall be final. If 
 the pony is not presented at the time and place fixed, 
 the original determination shall hold good, unless the 
 stewards of the Indian Polo Association direct other- 
 wise. 
 
 (18) A pony shall not be measured if he appears 
 to have been subject to any improper treatment with 
 a view to reduce his height, or if he is in an unfit 
 state to be measured, and he shall not be aged or 
 measured if he is unnamed, or if all the particulars 
 required under Rule 16 are not furnished. If a pony 
 is rejected on the ground that he has been subjected 
 to improper treatment, the persons before whom he 
 is brought may order that he shall not be again pre- 
 sented within a period of six months. 
 
 (19) For every pony presented to be aged or 
 measured, there shall be paid in advance a fee of 
 Rs. 2. Such fee shall be credited to the Indian Polo 
 Association. 
 
 (20) Any person may, on payment of a fee of R. i, 
 obtain from the secretary of the Indian Polo Associa- 
 tion a certified extract of an entry in the register 
 referred to in Rule 16. 
 
 (21) The following rules shall be observed in mea- 
 suring ponies : — 
 
 (i.) The pony shall stand stripped on a perfectly 
 
1 66 Polo. 
 
 level platform, and the measurement shall be 
 made at the highest point of the withers with 
 a measuring rod of a pattern approved by the 
 stewards of the Indian Polo Association. 
 
 (ii.) He shall be held by a person deputed by 
 the persons conducting the measurement, and 
 he shall not be touched by any one else with- 
 out their permission. 
 
 (iii.) The head shall be so held that a line from 
 the poll to the wither would be parallel to the 
 platform. 
 
 (iv.) The forelegs from the point of the shoulder, 
 and the hind legs from the back downwards, 
 shall be as perpendicular to the platform and 
 and as parallel to each other as the conforma- 
 tion of the horse allows. 
 
 (v.) The wither may be shaved, but the mane 
 must not be pulled down, or the skin of the 
 neck or wither in any way interfered with. 
 
 (vi.) No allowance shall be made for shoes. 
 
 (vii.) Not more than five minutes shall be allowed 
 for the measurement. 
 
 (22) In ageing ponies a veterinary surgeon shall, 
 if possible, be consulted. 
 
 (23) In case of the number of entries for any 
 tournament not being a power of 2, as 4, 8, 16, &c., 
 all byes shall be in the first round. For instance, 
 13 teams enter, 3 draw byes, the remainder play off, 
 leaving 8 to play in the second round. 
 
 (24) Each team to consist of not more than four 
 players. 
 
 (25) Native teams may be admitted as honorary 
 members of the Indian Polo Association without 
 voting powers. 
 
 (26) All Station, Regimental, and Battery Polo 
 
Rules of the Indian Polo Association. 167 
 
 Clubs can become members of the Indian Polo Asso- 
 ciation on payment of a donation of Rs. 5. 
 
 Rules of the Game. 
 
 (i) Diivation of each match. — Each match shall last 
 for not more than forty minutes exclusive of stoppages 
 and intervals. Time shall not be called while the 
 ball is in play, unless the game shall have lasted 
 forty minutes, when time shall be called, irrespective 
 of the ball being in play. 
 
 (2) Time. — Time may be called whenever the ball 
 is out of play, and the game shall be stopped for two 
 minutes, at the expiration of which the umpires must 
 call play. 
 
 (3) Ties. — In the event of a tie the goal flags shall 
 be placed forty-four feet apart, and the game shall 
 be immediately started as directed in Rule 18. 
 
 Play to continue for eight minutes, when time shall 
 be called, unless the game is still a tie, in which case 
 play shall be continued until one side gets a goal. 
 
 (4) No team shall be compelled to play on two 
 consecutive days, except in the case of a tie. 
 
 (5) Interval. — Three minutes' interval shall be 
 allowed after every period, it being optional, if both 
 sides agree, to have no interval ; but three minutes 
 must not be exceeded. 
 
 (6) Umpires. — The stewards shall nominate two 
 umpires and four goal referees for each match. 
 Those selected as umpires must be regular Polo 
 players, and must possess a thorough knowledge of 
 the game. 
 
 (7) Powers of umpires to order players off the ground. — 
 The umpires shall have the power of ordering off the 
 ground any player who, after having been warned, 
 
t68 Polo. 
 
 plays unfairly or rides dangerously, and it shall be 
 his duty to do so. Such player shall not be replaced. 
 
 (8) Each umpire shall be provided with a whistle, 
 the blowing of which by either umpire is a sign that 
 the game is to stop till the decision is given. 
 
 (g) Poivev of tuupives to order dangerous ponies off the 
 ground. — The umpires shall order off the ground any 
 pony w^hich they may consider dangerous or im- 
 properly bitted, or which the rider has not under 
 thorough control. 
 
 {ga) In order to be able to discharge their duties 
 properly, umpires must be mounted on well-trained 
 and fast ponies, so as to be able to ride near enough 
 to the ball to give a decision at any moment, and yet 
 not to interfere with the pla^^ers. 
 
 (lo) Power of umpires to order play to begin. — The 
 umpires shall have the power of ordering play to 
 begin after the time fixed, notwithstanding the 
 absence of any player. 
 
 (loa) In the event of an accident, the umpires are 
 empowered to stop the game. 
 
 (ii) Decision of umpires final. — The decision of the 
 umpires shall be final on all questions declared by 
 these rules to be subject to their final decision, and 
 shall also be final on all questions arising out of the 
 actual play of the game, except on questions arising 
 out of Rules 36 and 37, on which questions the 
 umpires shall have no voice. 
 
 (12) Decision of '^ goal referee'' final. — The decision 
 of the " goal referee " standing at the goal in question, 
 shall be final as to whether the ball has passed 
 between the goal flags or subsidiary goal marks. 
 
 (13) Size of ground. — The size of the ground shall 
 be as nearly as possible 300 yards long and 200 
 broad, and shall be marked off by flags. 
 
Rides of the Indian Polo Association. 169 
 
 (14) Gort/s.— At each end of the ground, in the 
 centre of the back hne, there shall be a goal marked 
 by flags which shall be 22 feet apart. The line 
 between the goal posts shall be called the goal line. 
 
 (15) Sides to toss fov choice of goals. —Sides shall toss 
 for choice of goals. 
 
 (16) Change of goals.— Go3.\?, shdXX be changed after 
 every goal obtained. Should the game continue for 
 two periods without a goal being obtained, goals 
 shall be changed ; but should any goal afterwards be 
 obtained, goals shall be changed after that goal, and 
 after any subsequent goal, without reference to time. 
 
 (17) Size and- lijeight of halls. — The ball shall be of 
 bamboo root, about ten and a half inches in circum- 
 ference, and four ounces in weight. 
 
 (18) The starting of the game.— To start the game 
 and after each goal, the ball shall be thrown into 
 the centre of the ground by one of the umpires dis- 
 mounted, the two sides ranging themselves opposite 
 each other, the ball always to be thrown in from the 
 same side of the ground. 
 
 (19) When hall hecomes dead, and course to he then 
 followed. — The ball on being hit out at the side line, 
 shall be thrown in under hand, as soon as possible, 
 by one of the umpires, or by any one deputed by 
 him to do so, in a straight line at right angles to the 
 line and as hard as possible — the ball to touch the 
 ground before passing the side line. The ball shall 
 be considered to be in play as soon as it crosses the 
 side line, unless the umpire should immediately call 
 it back. The umpire shall be the sole judge as to 
 whether the ball is properly thrown in or not. The 
 thrower is to be on foot. 
 
 (20) Course to he followed when hall hit hehind hack line 
 (i) hy one of opposite side. — If the ball is hit behind the 
 
170 Polo. 
 
 adversary's back line by one of the opposite side, it 
 shall be hit off, by one of the side whose line it is, 
 from a spot as near as possible to that at which it 
 crossed the line. None of the opposite side shall 
 stand within thirty yards of the line until the ball is 
 hit off. 
 
 (21) (2) By one of side wJiose line it is. — If the ball is 
 hit behind the back line by one of the side whose line 
 it is, it shall be hit off from the nearest corner by one 
 of the opposite side ; no other player of that side shall 
 stand within thirty yards of the back line until the 
 ball is hit off; and all the players of the side behind 
 whose back line the ball is being hit, shall stand 
 behind their own back line. 
 
 The above rule shall be enforced at the option of 
 the side who have the right to hit off from the nearest 
 corner. If they decline to enforce this rule, the ball 
 shall be hit off according to Rule 20, excepting that 
 the side from whose back line the ball is being hit off 
 shall stand behind their ow^n back line. 
 
 (22) Hit off. — The ball shall be considered to have 
 been hit off when it has been hit across the back line 
 with the intention of hitting off. 
 
 (23) Small flags to he placed. — Small flags shall be 
 placed on the side lines to mark fifty yards and thirty 
 yards from the back line, and a section of a circle 
 shall be marked off at each corner of the ground with 
 the corner for the centre and a radius of five yards. 
 
 (24) No imnecessavy delay to take place in reviving the 
 hall. — No unnecessary delay shall take place in reviv- 
 ing the ball under Rules ig, 20 and 21. Any neces- 
 sary delay shall not count as actual play. 
 
 (25) No player to cross or ride dangerously. — No player 
 shall cross or ride dangerously. 
 
 (26) Course to he followed when two players are in danger 
 
Rules of the Indian Polo Association. 171 
 
 of collision, ivhen coming front opposite directions. — If two 
 players are riding to hit the ball from different direc- 
 tions, and a collision appears probable, the player 
 not in possession of the ball must give way to the 
 player in possession of the ball. The player who hit 
 the ball last, or who has come in the same direction 
 as the ball did when last hit, is in possession of the 
 ball. 
 
 (27) No person other than umpires and players to come 
 on ground. — No person other than the umpires and 
 players shall come on the ground while the ball is 
 in play. 
 
 (28) In ^^ riding off '' or ^^ hustling'' no player to make 
 use of his arm below elbow. — " Riding off" is permitted. 
 " Hustling " is not. The penalty for hustling shall be 
 the same as that for dangerous riding. 
 
 The following is a general definition of "riding 
 off" : 
 
 (28a) Definition of ^^ riding off.'' — {a) A player shall 
 be considered to "ride off" fairly, when having 
 placed himself abreast of an adversary (after follow- 
 ing a line of direction as nearly as possible parallel 
 to that in which his adversary is moving) he gradually 
 forces him from, or prevents his continuing in, the 
 direction in which he is riding. This definition to be 
 considered together with Rule 25 " on crossing." 
 
 {b) In so " riding off" a player shall be permitted 
 to use his arm between the shoulder and the elbow, 
 provided the elbow be kept close to the side. 
 
 {c) Any other attempt to ride off shall be hustling. 
 
 [d) Players must not play left-handed, 
 
 (29) Course to be followed when a player catches the 
 ball. — If any player catch the ball in any way during 
 the game, it must be dropped on the ground at once. 
 
 (30) When a player may crook an adversary's stick. — 
 
lyi Polo. 
 
 Subject to the next rule, a player may crook, or stop 
 an adversary's stick, when the adversary is about to 
 strike the ball. 
 
 (31) Players not to place stick over, across or under 
 adversary's pony. — No player shall at any time place 
 his own stick over, across or under the body of an 
 adversary's pony. No player shall crook his adver- 
 sary's stick unless he is on the same side of the 
 adversary's pony as the ball, or immediately behind. 
 
 (32) No player to interfere ivhen " off-side.'' —No 
 player, when "off-side," shall be ahowed to hit the 
 ball, or in any way interfere in the game, intention- 
 ally or otherwise ; should he do so the penalty of 
 foul can be claimed. 
 
 (33) Definition of " off-side.'' — A player is " off-side " 
 when, at the time of the ball being hit, he has no one 
 of the opposite side between him and the adversary's 
 goal, and he is neither in possession of the ball nor 
 backing up one of his owm side. He shall be deemed 
 to remain "off-side" until he shall have passed by 
 one of his own side who is " on-side," or until the ball 
 shall have been struck or struck at by an adversary, 
 provided that such adversary shall be between him 
 and the adversary's goal. 
 
 (34) Player not to take part in game while dismounted. — 
 No dismounted player shall be allowed in any way 
 to take part in the game while dismounted. 
 
 (35) " Broken hall." — If in the opinion of the umpire 
 the ball is sufficiently damaged to interfere with the 
 game, he shall stop the game, and a new ball shall 
 be thrown in from the side nearest to where the ball 
 was broken and at right angles to it, the players 
 ranging themselves in the same wa}^ as when the 
 ball is out of bounds. 
 
 (36) How a goal may he ohtained. — A goal is obtained 
 
Rules of the Indian Polo Association. 173 
 
 if the ball be hit between the flag-posts of the goal ; 
 or if it be kicked by a pony between the flag-posts of 
 the goal ; or if being hit higher than the top of the 
 posts it would, in the opinion of the goal referee, have 
 gone between the posts produced ; or if it be hit over 
 the goal line between the two points where the goal 
 posts should stand, when either or both the goal 
 posts shall have been displaced. The ball must go 
 over and clear of the line to count as a goal. 
 
 (37) A subsidiary goal is obtained in the same way 
 as a true goal, except that to score a subsidiary goal, 
 the ball must pass between the subsidiary goal mark 
 and the goal post which is nearest to it. 
 
 Siihsidiavy goal. — The subsidiary goal marks must 
 be shown on the ground by a white line, and not by 
 flags. 
 
 Subsidiary goals are to be measured eleven feet 
 from each goal post on the outside — the sum of the 
 subsidiary goal thus equals the true goal. No number 
 of subsidiary goals will ever equal a true goal. In 
 the event of a tie in the actual number of goals, the 
 side scoring the greater number of subsidiary goals 
 will be considered the winner. 
 
 (38) Goals not to count when obtained by unfair play. — 
 No goals or subsidiary goals shall be counted which 
 have been obtained by unfair play. 
 
 (39) W//za^ is ''unfair play" or "a fold." — Any 
 infringement of the rules constitutes " unfair play " 
 or " a foul." 
 
 (40) Penalty in case of ''foul " being declared. — In case 
 of " a foul," other than crossing or dangerous riding, 
 being declared, the umpire shall stop the game, and 
 either of the two following penalties may be claimed 
 by the side which has been declared to have been 
 fouled : — 
 
174 Polo. 
 
 (a) A free hit from where the ball was, when 
 the "foul" occurred, and none of the opposite side 
 to be within ten yards of the ball. But if the " foul " 
 occurs near the goal of the side which causes the 
 " foul," a free hit shall be given from a spot not 
 within thirteen yards of the goal, but as near as 
 possible to where the " foul " occurred. 
 
 (b) That the side which caused the "foul" take 
 the ball back and hit it off from behind their own 
 back line, and they shall stand behind their back 
 line until the ball is hit off. 
 
 (41) Penalty for crossing or dangerous riding. — The 
 following shall be the penalty for crossing or danger- 
 ous riding: — In the event of a "foul" being given 
 for crossing or dangerous riding, the following shall be 
 the penalty : A free hit from a spot fifty yards from 
 the back line of the side causing the "foul " and as 
 nearly as possible opposite the spot where the 
 "foul" took place, unless the "foul" takes place 
 less than fifty yards from the back line, in which 
 case the free hit shall be given from the spot where 
 the " foul " occurred ; all the side causing the " foul " 
 to be behind the back line until the ball is hit off, 
 but not between the goal posts. "*" 
 
175 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Tournaments and Winners. 
 
 The following Is a list of some of the prin- 
 cipal Tournaments and the winners since the 
 date of their inauguration. 
 
 HURLINGHAM OpEN ChAMPION CuP. 
 Date. Winners. 
 
 1877. Monmouthshire Club. 
 
 1878. Monmouthshire Club. 
 
 1879. Hurlingham Club. 
 
 1880. Sussex County Club. 
 
 1881. Sussex County Club. 
 
 1882. Sussex County Club. 
 
 1883. Sussex County Club (walked over). 
 
 1884. Freebooters. 
 
 1885. Sussex County Club. 
 
 1886. Freebooters. 
 
 1887. Freebooters. 
 
 1888. Sussex County Club. 
 
 1889. Sussex County Club (walked over). 
 
 1890. Sussex County Club. 
 
 1891. Sussex County Club. 
 
 1892. Sussex County Club. 
 
 1893. Sussex County Club (walked over, but did 
 
 not take the Cup). 
 
 1894. Freebooters. 
 
I "j^ Polo. 
 
 HURLINGHAM InTER-ReGIMENTAL ToURNAMENT 
 
 Date. 
 
 Winners. 
 
 1878. 
 
 5th Lancers. 
 
 1879. 
 
 5th Lancers. 
 
 1880. 
 
 i6th Lancers. 
 
 1881. 
 
 1 6th Lancers. 
 
 1882. 
 
 5th Lancers. 
 
 1883. 
 
 7th Hussars. 
 
 1884. 
 
 7th Hussars. 
 
 1885. 
 
 7th Hussars. 
 
 1886. 
 
 7th Hussars. 
 
 1887. 
 
 5th Lancers. 
 
 1888. 
 
 loth Hussars. 
 
 1889. 
 
 9th Lancers. 
 
 1890. 
 
 9th Lancers. 
 
 189I. 
 
 9th Lancers. 
 
 1892. 
 
 13th Hussars. 
 
 1893. 
 
 loth Hussars. 
 
 1894. 
 
 13th Hussars. 
 
 
 HURLINGHAM InFANTRY ToURNAMENT.^ 
 
 1890. 
 
 5th Northumberland Fusihers. 
 
 189I. 
 
 5th Northumberland Fusiliers. 
 
 
 HURLINGHAM CoUNTY CuP. 
 
 1885. 
 
 Gloucestershire Club. 
 
 1886. 
 
 Gloucestershire Club. 
 
 1887. 
 
 Derbyshire County Club (walked over). 
 
 1888. 
 
 Kent County Club. 
 
 1889. 
 
 Barton-under-Needwood Club. 
 
 1890. 
 
 Berkshire County Club. 
 
 189I. 
 
 Liverpool Club. 
 
 1892. 
 
 County Meath Club. 
 
 1893. 
 
 Edinburgh Club. 
 
 1894. 
 
 Edinburgh Club. 
 
 This tournament has since been discontinued. 
 
Toitrnanients and Winner's. i ^^ 
 
 All Ireland Open Cup. 
 
 Date. Winners. 
 
 1878. 7th Royal Fusiliers. 
 
 1879. 7th Hussars. 
 
 1880. Scots Greys. 
 
 1881. 5th Lancers. 
 
 1882. All Ireland Polo Club. 
 
 1883. County Carlow Club. 
 
 1884. 5th Lancers. 
 
 1885. Freebooters. 
 
 1886. Freebooters. 
 
 1887. All Ireland Polo Club. 
 
 1888. All Ireland Polo Club. 
 
 1889. Freebooters. 
 
 1890. All Ireland Polo Club. 
 
 1891. 13th Hussars. 
 
 1892. 9th Lancers. 
 
 1893. 13th Hussars. 
 
 1894. 15th Hussars. 
 
 The All Ireland Regimental Challenge Cup. 
 
 1886. loth Hussars. 
 
 i6th Lancers. 
 
 3rd Hussars. 
 
 4th Hussars. 
 
 4th Hussars. 
 
 15th Hussars. 
 
 13th Hussars. 
 
 9th Lancers. 
 
 loth Hussars. 
 
 1887 
 1888 
 1889 
 1890 
 1891 
 1892 
 
 1893 
 1894 
 
 Paris International Tournament. 
 
 1893. 17th Lancers. 
 
 1894. Hurlingham Club. 
 
 12 
 
i?^ Polo. 
 
 IxDiAX Ixter-Regimental Tournament. 
 
 Date. Winners. 
 
 1877. 9th Lancers. 
 
 1878. gth Lancers. 
 
 1879. ] No tournament in these years owing to the 
 
 1880. / Afghan war. 
 
 1881. loth Hussars. 
 
 1882. loth Hussars. 
 
 1883. gth Lancers. 
 
 1884. 9th Lancers. 
 
 1885. 9th Lancers. 
 
 1886. 8th Hussars. 
 
 1887. 8th Hussars. 
 
 1888. 17th Lancers. 
 
 1889. 17th Lancers. 
 
 1890. 5th Lancers. 
 
 1891. 7th Hussars. 
 
 1892. Queen's Bays. 
 ^^93- Queen's Bays. 
 1894. Queen's Bays. 
 
 1889 
 1890 
 1891 
 1892 
 
 1S93 
 1894 
 
 The Malta Tournament. 
 
 49th (Berkshire) Rgt. 
 49th ("Berkshire) Rgt. 
 41st (Welsh) Rgt. 
 49th (Berkshire) Rgt. 
 41st (Welsh) Rgt. 
 2nd (Queen's) Rgt. 
 
 Indian Native Cavalry Cup. 
 
 1890. gth Bengal Lancers. 
 
 1 891. gth Bengal Lancers. 
 
 1892. 14th Bengal Lancers. 
 
 1893. 9th Bengal Lancers. 
 
 1894. 14th Bengal Lancers. 
 
Tournaments and Winners. 1 79 
 
 IxDiAX Infantry Tournament. 
 
 Dale. Winners. 
 
 1890. i8th (Royal Irish) Rgt. 
 
 1 89 1. 14th (West Yorkshire) Rgt. 
 
 1892. 6ist (Gloucester) Rgt. 
 
 1893. 6ist (Gloucester) Rgt. 
 
 1894. 2nd Batt. Durham Lt. Infantry. 
 
 PuNjAUB Tournament. 
 
 1886. 1 2th Bengal Cavalry. 
 
 1887. i2th Bengal Cavalry. 
 
 1888. 1 2th Bengal Cavalry. 
 
 1889. i2th Bengal Cavalry, 
 
 1890. 1 2th Bengal Cavalry. 
 
 1891. Patiola. 
 
 1892. Patiola. 
 
 1893. Patiola. 
 
8o 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 The Polo Pony Stud Book Society. 
 
 It may be interesting, in connection with 
 this handbook on Polo, to give a short 
 account of the Polo Pony Stud Book Society, 
 in \vhich the late Mr. Moray Brown took 
 such a deep interest. The Society is the 
 outcome of many meetings and much corres- 
 pondence in the Field, Live Stock JournaL 
 Land and Water, and other papers on the 
 subject of pony breeding. A great want was 
 felt of such a Society and of a stud book, but 
 opinions were so Yaried and inten'ests so con- 
 flicting, that the whole scheme was nearly 
 being entirely lost. However, eventually, 
 upon a meeting being called by Mr. John 
 Hill, of F^elhampton Court, to be held during 
 the show of the Royal Agricultural Society 
 at Chester, on June 20th, 1893. ^1^ former 
 
Appendix. i B i 
 
 disagreements were loyally forgotten ; Mr. 
 Moray Brown brought all his great personal 
 influence and knowledge of the subject to 
 bear, and the present Society was on that 
 day formed on such a sound basis that in 
 less than two years its success and popularity 
 are established. As the preface to the first 
 volume of the Stud Book states — "The 
 Society was formed for the registration of 
 all ponies suitable for riding purposes, and 
 for the production of such ; the ' weight- 
 carrying ' blood polo pony being the type 
 which the Society considers the one to be 
 aimed at. At present there is no distinct 
 breed of ' riding ' ponies, and there is no 
 animal scarcer or worth more money as a 
 pony than one which will carry a heavy man 
 safely and easily as a hack — a pony standing 
 from 14 to 14.2 hands, with bloodlike head, 
 intelligent eye, well set on neck, shoulders 
 strong, but sloping well into the back, good 
 deep barrel, well coupled loins, tail well 
 carried, long quarters, clean cut hocks, and 
 hard wear and tear forelegs. Made some- 
 thing on such lines as these, he must be a 
 safe and fast walker, putting his feet down 
 
1 82 Polo, 
 
 without catching- his toes, and stepping well 
 out from the shoulder. Such a mover almost 
 invariably can trot, canter, and gallop as a 
 matter of course. High trotting action is 
 not required, in fact, is an objection in most 
 cases when breeding ' riding ' ponies, in 
 distinction to those of the harness type." 
 
 The above quotation will show the objects 
 of the Society, which accepts ponies of all 
 heights not exceeding 14 hands 2 in., but 
 none are admitted without being inspected 
 by one of the judges appointed by the Coun- 
 cil. By this inspection rule it is hoped to 
 lay the foundation of the future breed of 
 riding and polo ponies on as hrm ground 
 as possible. The first Council consisted of 
 twenty-four members, with the Earl of 
 Harrington as its President. This number 
 has now been increased to thirty, the Presi- 
 dent for 1895 being Sir Humphrey de 
 Trafford, and Mr. Fredk. Wrench, of the 
 Irish Land Commission, has again been 
 elected as Vice-President. The influential 
 support, both from polo players and pony 
 breeders, is most encouraging; but the irre- 
 parable loss the Society has sustained by the 
 
Appendix. 183 
 
 • 
 
 the death of its warmest patron, iMr. Moray 
 Brown, is indeed a heavy one. It is hoped, 
 however, that his many friends will rally 
 round the cause he had so sincerely at heart, 
 and use every effort to make it the success 
 which he was working so hard to secure. 
 One of his latest actions in connection with 
 it was, on behalf of the Ranelagh Club, to 
 invite the Society to hold its first show of 
 ponies on its ground, and he was instru- 
 mental in fixing the very best day in the year 
 for the date, viz.. the Wednesday following 
 the Derby, June 5. 
 
 By holding an annual show, and by sup- 
 plementing the prizes given by other Societies, 
 or by awarding medals on the same principle 
 as that whfch has been adopted by the Hunter 
 Improvement Society, the breeding of high- 
 class riding and polo ponies may be greatly 
 encouraged. The impetus already given to 
 the business has been considerable, many 
 studs having been formed, while the owners 
 of old established strains recognise an in- 
 creasing value to their property from the fact 
 of their being able to record the pedigrees in 
 the Stud Book. It is, perhaps, worth while 
 
1 84 Polo, 
 
 to mention that the United States Govern- 
 ment has already acknowledged the Society, 
 and will permit the importation of any animals 
 for breeding purposes free of duty, if they are 
 accompanied with certificates issued by the 
 Society for the purpose. Several animals 
 have been exported under these favourable 
 conditions. The name and address of the 
 Secretary of the Society are Mr. Fredk. R. 
 Hill, Felhampton Court. Church Stretton. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Africa, Polo Clubs in, 147. 
 All Ireland Polo Tournament, 3. 
 America, Polo Clubs in, 147. 
 
 „ Polo in, 8. 
 Asia, Polo Clubs in, 146. 
 Assam, Polo Clubs in, 146. 
 Australia, Polo Clubs in, 150. 
 
 Badly Bitted Ponies, 26. 
 Badminton Library, volume on 
 
 " Riding," 2, 63. 
 Bending, 63 
 Bitting of Ponies, 30. 
 Blinkers, 29. 
 Bowden Club, no. 
 Burmah, Polo Clubs in, 147. 
 Byelaws of Polo, 157. 
 
 Cambridge University Club, 
 
 Canada and British Columbia, 
 Polo Clubs in, 147. 
 
 Cavalry Regiments and Polo, 7. 
 
 Chester County Club, 136. 
 
 Clubs, Polo, of the World, 143. 
 ,, Some Provincial, 94. 
 
 Conditions for County Club 
 Cup, 159. 
 
 Conditions for Cup Tourna- 
 ments, 160. 
 
 Crossing and Off-Side, 73. 
 
 Dangers of Polo, 25. 
 Duties as No. i, No. 2, No. 3, 
 and " back," 74. 
 
 13 
 
 Edinburgh Club, 105 
 Education of Ponies, 27, 58. 
 England, Polo Clubs in, 144. 
 Europe, Polo Clubs in, 144. 
 
 Fetcham Park Club, 116. 
 France, Polo Clubs in, 146. 
 Fritz, Mr. John Watson's, 5, 
 30. 
 
 Gibraltar Polo Club, 146, 
 Ground, 152. 
 
 Hard Ground, Danger of, 26. 
 
 Hats, 58. 
 
 Hayes', Capt., Description of 
 
 Polo Pony, 43. 
 Head-dress, 57. 
 Height of Polo Ponies, 31, 42, 
 
 152. 
 Hints on Playing, 71. 
 Hitting the Ball, 47. 
 Holding the Stick, 48. 
 Hurlingham Club, 152, 
 
 Improperly Trained and Badly 
 
 Bitted Ponies, 26. 
 India, Polo Clubs in, 146. 
 
 ,, Polo in, 6, 
 Indian Polo Associates, Rules 
 
 of, 161. 
 Ireland, Polo Clubs in, 145. 
 
 Laws and Byelaws of Polo, 152. 
 
1 86 
 
 Index. 
 
 Letters to Young Polo Players, 
 
 37- 
 Liverpool Club, 95. 
 Ludlow Club, 109. 
 
 Malta Polo Club, 146. 
 Manchester Club, 109. 
 
 New Zealand, Polo Clubs in, 
 150. 
 
 Origin of Polo, i. 
 
 Oxford University Club, 133. 
 
 Playing No. i. No. 2, No. 3, 
 
 and "back," 74. 
 Polo, Cavalr}- Regiments and, 7. 
 
 ,, Clubs of the World, 43. 
 
 ,, Clubs, Provincial, 94. 
 
 ,, In America, 8. 
 
 ,, In India, 6. 
 
 ,, Laws and Byelaws of, 182. 
 
 ,, Letters to Young Players 
 
 of, 37- 
 ,, Origin of, I. 
 ,, Ponies, Description of, 41. 
 ,, Pony Stud Book Society, 
 
 180. 
 ,, Popularity of, I. 
 ,, Strategy, Tactics and Dan- 
 ger in, 15. 
 ,, Tournaments, 175. 
 Ponies, Description of, 4 
 ,, Education of, 27. 
 ,, Height of, 31, 152. 
 ,, Training, 58. 
 Poona Resolutions, 34. 
 Provincial Polo Clubs, 94. 
 Public Ignorance of Polo, 15. 
 
 Qualifications of Good Polo 
 Pony, 43. 
 
 Reasons for Popularity of Polo, 
 
 Roberts, Sir Frederick, Order 
 on Polo, 13. 
 
 Rugby Club, 119. 
 
 Rules of Indian Polo Associa- 
 tion, 161. 
 
 Rules of Polo, 152. 
 
 Saddle, The, 56. 
 Samoa, Polo Club in, 150. 
 Scientific Aspect of the Game, 
 
 12. 
 Scotland, Polo Club in, 145. 
 Sitting the Pony, 45. 
 Size of Ponies, 31. 
 Soldiers' Polo, 12. 
 South America. Polo Club in, 
 
 148. 
 South America, Polo in, 8. 
 Staffordshire Club, 127. 
 Stansted Club, 114. 
 Strategy. Tactics and Danger of 
 
 Polo, 15. 
 Spurs, 56. 
 Sticks, 67. 
 
 Striking the Ball, 22. 
 Stud Book Society, 180. 
 
 Tournaments and Winners, 
 
 175- 
 Training Ponies, 58. 
 
 United States. Polo Club in, 
 148. 
 
 Value of Polo for Soldiers, 12. 
 
 Warwickshire Club, 124. 
 Watson, Mr. John, 4. 
 Wellington Club, 113. 
 West Essex Club, ico. 
 Winners of Tournaments, 175. 
 Wirral Club, 103. 
 Woldingham Club, 139. 
 
A dvertisemetits. 
 
 I>0 1L.O. 
 
 J. SALTEE, 
 
 POLO, RACKET, AND LAWN TENNIS 
 
 /in>anut"acturei% 
 
 23, HIGH STREET, ALDERSHOT. 
 
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 J. SALTER supplied the winners of the Inter-Regimental Tournaments for 
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 TESTIMONIALS. 
 
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 To Mr. J. Salter. 
 
 I am very pleased with the Sticks ; they are as good as I could wish to play 
 with. Your Rubber Grips make the most comfortable handle I can imagine. Make me 
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 J. E. PEAT. 
 
 Ballydarton, Bagn'alstown. 
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 Having used your Polo Balls and Canes for several years, I can with pleasure 
 testify to their excellence, and recommend my friends who do not patronise you to do so, 
 if they have any difficulty in getting what they want. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
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 Aprit 21st, 1888. Hon. Sec. Freebooter Polo Cltih. 
 
 Springhill, Rugby. 
 
 Sept. \ith, 1893. 
 Mr. J. Salter, Aldershot. 
 
 I consider your Sticks the best I have ever used, and your Balls too. 
 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 E. D. MILLER, 
 
 Hon. Sec. Rugby Polo Club. 
 
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 1l3at anb Cap nbanufacturer, 
 
 97, JERMYN STREET, ST. JAMES'S, 
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 SOLE MAKER OF THE 
 
 G. H. REGISTERED POLO CAP," 
 
 No. 193,630. 
 
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