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Chapter 3 - Tacking up the
Ponies
Your boss will first have to
tell you which bridle and saddle goes on each horse. This is
also a good time to ask your boss if the horses have any fetishes
like being tied to the trailer, shying when the ears are touched,
etc. Any ruckus around the trailer can cause other horses to
panic. Before you know it, your whole string is prancing around
the trailers with broken lead ropes and halters.
One thing you can do is take
the bridle and saddle for each horse and lay it on the ground
behind each one until you are more familiar with each horse and
which tack it wears. Or, use your notes pages in the back of
the handbook to write down the line-up for the day and which
bridle each horse wears.
You will also need to know
where extra reins, girths, stirrup leathers, etc. are in case
of a breakage. There isn't a lot of time to get these things
replaced in the middle of a game. A tack "time-out"
is only allowed if the clock is stopped for some other reason,
i.e., a penalty has occurred. Otherwise, unless a dangerous situation
exists, match play does not stop for a tack problem.
Before you begin tacking up
the horses, you'll need to know your boss's line-up - which horse
he's playing in which chukka. For obvious reasons, start tacking
in the order of the line-up. There are six chukkas in a polo
match and many times your boss will play all six which means
you are on guard all afternoon.
There is more tack that goes
on the polo pony than for any other type of horse sport. We assume
in this handbook you know the basics about putting on a bridle
or saddle. Some of the other tack involved can be confusing so,
we'll cover putting on some of those pieces in this handbook.
While you are tacking up the horses, always be on the alert for
any leather that looks especially worn out, thin, or cracked.
Bring anything that looks suspicious to your boss's attention
immediately, before he or she goes out on the field. All of the
tack should be in good condition. It can mean the difference
between enjoying a season of polo or sitting on the sidelines
in a cast. Pay particular attention to the stirrup leathers,
girths, billet straps and reins. Other pieces like nose bands
or throat latches are not as critical, however, they should be
noted and replaced later.
When cinching the girth, you
probably are aware how horses can bloat out a little causing
you to think you've pulled the girth tight enough. Well, guess
again. Every pony we have pulls this little trick, so I never
ever go out on the field until I've checked and rechecked the
girth for snugness.
Let's discuss some of the other
common pieces of tack you'll be using:
Standing Martingales:
The martingale is a
very common piece of equipment that keeps the pony's head from
coming back and hitting the player in the face. This should be
attached to your bridle by way of the noseband. There is a large
loop that fits over the horse's head and rests along his withers
and down to his chest. The connecting piece goes from the noseband
through a small keeper and runs under the belly to be slid onto
the girth.
 Breast
Collars:
This is usually all in one piece and starts with another
loop that goes over the horses head and rests again on the withers.
The leather that goes around the chest comes back and slides
up the billet straps prior to cinching the girth. This piece
helps the saddle stay forward on the horse so the chest piece
should be snug, but not too tight so the horse is not impaired
when running. (Illustration of the piece alone and on the horse)
Draw Reins:
These reins are mostly
used with a bit known as a "gag" bit. This is a type
of bit is commonly used on polo ponies . The purpose of the draw
reins is to keep the horses from lowering its head too low or
from carrying it too high. The best way to describe how to put
draw reins on a horse is to illustrate it. See below:
Over girth:
This is the back-up
plan to make sure your saddle doesn't give way. If a girth breaks,
so does the player. One way to ensure that you will not have
this happen is to use the over girth. These can be leather or
fabric and simply go over the top of the saddle seat, and through
the martingale girth loop and should be cinched tight after the
regular girth is secure. 
Drop Nose Band:
The drop nose band
is used with a gag bit. Sometimes it is necessary to ensure the
bit stays up in the mouth of the horse or it will serve no purpose.
The drop nose band fastens over the muzzle of the horse and in
front of the gag bit and secured underneath the horse's chin.
If it is fastened behind the bit (incorrectly) the horse will
not react to the pressure put on the bit and the rider will not
have the control needed over that horse.
Some other tips:
1. Always put the loose ends
of the tack in their "keepers". These are the little
loops found on the adjustable straps of just about any piece
of tack. They prevent the loose ends of straps from flying around,
causing distraction to both the horse and rider.
2. If you are tacking up horse number 3 and it's the first chukka,
you can leave the girth a little loose and the curb chain undone.
Just be sure these things are checked prior to your boss going
on the field.
3. After tacking each horse, put the halter back over the bridle
and hook the lead rope back on the halter. Never attach
a lead rope to the bit of the bridle.
4. When the horse is ready to go on the field, remove the halter
from the horse, then remove the halter from the lead rope. Do
not leave halters hanging on the trailer. The horse tied next
to that one could get its hoof caught. (illustration)
5. Be very careful attaching curb chains. Too loose and they
serve no purpose. Too tight and you have a very upset horse which
can cause an accident. While the horse is standing still, you
should be able to fit 2-3 fingers easily. As the lower rein is
pulled back you should be able to see the action it will have
under the chin.
6. Now that the horses are tacked, it's a good time to stretch
out those horses that need it. If you are also exercising these
horses for your boss, you will know which ones need warming up.
Keep it light, though, they've got enough work ahead of them.
7. Some people like to stretch their horses front legs before
going on the field. Standing in front of the horse lift up one
front leg and extend it out in front of him. Repeat on the other
leg. This also relieves any pinching the girth may be causing
as well.
8. Horses will always reach down to grab a bit of grass when
they think they can get away with it. When they are tacked, the
reins can fall over the neck and make it very easy for the horse
to step on them or get caught in them. If you don't want to be
buying replacement reins every week, keep a close eye and always
keep their heads up while tacked.
9. When removing the bridle, go slow and allow the horse to spit
out the bit. I've seen many people yank a bridle off a horse
basically raking that stainless steel bit across their teeth
and mouth. Ouch! How would you like someone doing that to you.
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