"Carol Barker author of A Guide to Grooming the Polo Pony - for new grooms and new players."

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Preface

My life as a polo groom began in 1986. I had horses all my life, but only occasionally did I ever attend our local polo matches. I was without a horse for probably 8 years or so due to college and becoming a newly- wed. Then my husband and I moved to the country which allowed me to own a horse once again. We also boarded a few horses at our new farm, one of which was a retired polo pony.

One day I looked out the window and saw a glimpse of what was going to be our future lifestyle - my husband was swinging a golf club atop this retired mare. I somehow knew our life was going to change - drastically. In 1985, I purchased a polo mallet from a tack store and gave it to my husband as a Christmas present. He gave me a shovel. But that's another story.

The following summer of 1986, he joined the local polo club with a string of one and it all began. I created a monster. While my husband was learning the intricacies on the field, I was learning the more meaningful stuff back at the trailers. Every week I pestered the neighboring trailers with the same question, "Can I observe while you tie that tail, please? Needless to say, it was quite a learning curve.

Through the years, I've helped my husband and the horses get ready to enjoy this exhilarating sport and finally one day I said to myself, "There's a lot to learn about what goes on behind the scenes. Perhaps a handbook for the beginner would be a good thing."

So here it is.

A long-winded, hopefully informative, handbook geared for the beginner groom and even the beginner player. If you're hiring a new groom before the start of the next season pick up an extra copy or two or three for them. (You never know, they may lose them) Or, if you're a new player constantly lost in a maze of tangled tack wondering what to do next - read on.

Part I - Polo Handbook by Sandy Herron | Part II -Handbook By Sue Sally Hale |

Part III - Grooming the Polo Pony by Carol Barker | Introduction | Preface
Chapter 1| Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4| Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Summary