3. PONIES.

a. Ponies of any height may be played.

b. A pony may not play if:

• It is blind in an eye;
• It has any form of open tracheotomy (tubing) or has been de-nerved (chemically or surgically desensitized). If desensitized temporarily then it must not be played until full sensation has returned.
• It is not under proper control or is showing a vice so that it is unsafe, such as kicking or biting. See Part 2 Rule 2.4t.
• It has a contagious or infectious disease.
• It is lame or showing any signs of distress.
• It has any signs of spur damage.
• It is showing blood from any part. If the blood is not part of any spur damage and the bleeding is superficial so that it can be stopped the pony may return to play if a club official or the umpires are content.
• It has be suspended by the HPA
• Been sent off by an umpire 

 

See Part 2, Rule 2.7 Report Forms

c. Ponies must be protected by bandages or boots on all four legs and must have their tails put up. Ponies are expected to be well turned out and the following is not allowed:

• Poor or badly fitted tack.
• Blinkers or any form of noseband or other equipment which might obstruct the vision of the pony.
• A noseband, headpiece or headcollar which incorporates wire or any sharp material.
• Any equipment that has sharp projections which might cause injury to the pony or any other pony or player.

d. Shoes

(i) Rimmed shoes may be worn but the rim must be on the inside of the shoe only.

(ii) A calkin or stud must be of less than 0.5 inches (13 mm) cubed or hexagonal and must be fitted on the last inch (25mm) of the outside heel of the hind shoe. If a shoe has a calkin or fixed stud it must be balanced by a raised and feathered inside heel tapered for a minimum of 1.5 inches (40 mm). A non-slip plug or road plug may be fitted. A plug is sunken into the shoe by a farrier and is not to be confused with any form of stud. A removable stud, which is the type strongly recommended, should be removed before the pony leaves the grounds.

(iii) Frost nails, road studs, screws and fancy spikes or any protruding nails or sharp edges on a shoe are not allowed. A pony may be shod with a maximum of two road nails or non-slip nails per shoe in order that it may be exercised safely on the roads. Such nails must not be on the widest part of the shoe.

(iv) The lateral extension or projection of a shoe must not be more than 5mm proud of the hoof wall.

(v) A pony may be played without all four shoes or without hind shoes. Should this lead to the pony not being under proper control so as to be a danger to itself or others then it should be ordered off by the umpires.

 

23. INJURED, DISTRESSED, FALLEN OR FATIGUED PONY OR LOST SHOE.

The umpires have a responsibility during play for pony welfare, but the primary responsibility lies with the player at all times.

a. During a break in play, or exceptionally during play, a player may inform the umpires that his pony is injured or distressed, or the umpires may make their own assessment to this effect. In both cases, they should stop play immediately and examine the pony.

If in their opinion:

(i) The pony is visibly injured or distressed they should call “all may change”. The pony in question must be led off the field or taken off by horse ambulance. Play will be restarted with a throw-in from where the ball was when the player with the injured pony has returned on another pony.

(ii) The pony is not visibly injured or is fatigued then they should instruct the player to change by leading the pony off the field by the shortest route and then to a changing box or area. No other player on his team may change. Play should be restarted as soon as he has left the field of play. The pony may be tagged or marked under supervision of the umpires so that it may not play again in the match.

b. If a pony falls the player must make every effort to retain hold of his pony. If its shoulder touches the ground the umpires should stop play immediately and, if the player wishes to remount, ensure that it is trotted up and examined for soundness. If sound or if there is no evidence of injury, the player may remount or change ponies in accordance with Rule 24a(i) SPARE.

c. If a pony throws or skews a shoe the player may be allowed to change at the next break in play. Play will be restarted when the player returns.

Voorbeeld antwoord op de vraag. Voel je vrij om de inhoud aan te passen met de werkelijke informatie die je wilt schrijven.

a.Pony Welfare and Ownership.

The ultimate responsibility for care and welfare of a pony rests at all times with the owner who must take all responsible steps to ensure the welfare of their ponies. This includes:

(i) All activity at private grounds and during the winter months.

(ii) Ensuring that a pony is always under control during polo, either tied up, being led or ridden at all times and never loose. See also HPA booklet ‘Polo Pony Welfare Guidelines’.

(iii) Taking reasonable steps to ensure that the future care and welfare of the pony is safeguarded when it is passed onto a new owner, especially if it is being retired from polo.

‘Owner’ shall mean the individual or individuals whom the Disciplinary Committee is satisfied in fact enjoy the rights, privileges and powers incidental to ownership. This includes without limitation the power to make decisions concerning the welfare of the pony whether such individual(s) has any legal status as owner or not. In the case of hirelings, a member of the HPA involved in the hiring of ponies has the responsibility of ‘owner’ until the pony or ponies concerned have been handed over officially to another member of the HPA or his agent.

b. Tack.

(i) A hackamore or bitless bridle may only be used in practice chukkas and only at the discretion of the club.

(ii) Any bit, whether single or double, with the mouthpiece of less than 0.25 inch (6.50 mm) in diameter at its narrowest point or a curb bit with a cheek length of more than 6 inches (15.2cms) is not permitted.

(iii) Tongue ties are not permitted.

c. Restrictions on Ponies. For 12 goal and above a team may not play a pony that has been played by another team in the same tournament except that dispensation for 12 goal may be granted by the Tournament Committee if included in the entry form.

d. Old Ponies. Owners of old ponies aged 16 or over are advised to have a heart and eye test done by a MRCVS at the start of each season.

e. Limit of Time Played and Chukkas.

In the normal duration of a match, a pony must not play for more than 7½ minutes without a 10 minute break or 15 minutes in total. Should a match go to extra time then a pony that has played two chukkas may be played for as much time as the extra chukka lasts providing it has had a break of at least ten minutes. A pony must not play more than three full chukkas or the equivalent time in any one day or at more than two locations.

f.Umpire Ponies. A pony to be ridden by an umpire must be equipped as for playing except that the tail need not be put up. Ponies must be suitable to umpire the level being played and, if required, must have been warmed up before it is handed over to the umpire. Should an umpire deem that the pony offered is unsuitable for umpiring then the team must provide a replacement. A pony that has either played in a match at 8 goal level and below or has already umpired four chukkas should not be used to umpire again or play unless it has had a break of at least 10 minutes. Above 8 goal, any pony that has played in a match should not subsequently be used as an umpire pony or vice versa. See also Annex C Para 10.

g. Inspection of Ponies.

(i) The Chairman of the Welfare Committee may ask a MRCVS, a member of the Polo Pony Welfare Committee or any other suitable person to inspect a pony belonging to an Associate Member or Affiliated Club or Provisionally Affiliated Club (‘Club(s)’), and whether the pony is at a polo ground or on private premises in a yard or turned out. Clubs and Associate Members shall procure that the necessary access for such an inspection, which may be required at short notice, shall be given. Failure to do so without reasonable excuse shall constitute Misconduct. If the Chairman of the Welfare Committee considers that the inspection establishes that the welfare of a pony is or has been put at risk he may require the club or Associate Member having the care and custody of it to pay the costs of the inspection without prejudice to any further action that may be considered appropriate under Part 3.

(ii) An HPA or Club official who has concerns for the welfare of a pony present at a Club has the right either to inspect the pony themselves or to demand that an MRCVS examines the pony at the earliest opportunity. The pony in question shall not leave the Club until the inspection is completed save with the express consent of the official or MRCVS concerned.

h. Complaints. If a complaint is received, whether from the general public, a veterinary surgeon, a club official, an officer of any other horse welfare body or from a member of the Welfare Committee, a Report Form should be completed and sent to the Chairman of the Committee and the club concerned. The Chairman will liaise with the club concerned as to the action to be taken; if it is necessary for an inspection to be made with a MRCVS his cost will be borne by the club concerned. A Club Disciplinary Committee is obliged to hold a Hearing (see Part 3) if they receive a report from a current MRCVS concerning abuse or cruelty to any pony. A report of that hearing must be sent to the Welfare Committee Chairman. 78 PART 2

i. Use of Non-Members of the RCVS. The 1966 Veterinary Surgeons Act lays down that within the UK any activity described as ‘veterinary surgery’ can only be carried out by veterinary surgeons who are current members of the RCVS or FRC except that a veterinary surgeon on occasion may delegate some veterinary tasks, such as minor surgery or medical procedures, in particular, to a registered veterinary nurse. Any member or club that allows an individual who is not an MRCVS to carry out any veterinary surgery, except as above, on a pony may be liable to a charge of misconduct.

j. Medication. Pony welfare is of the utmost importance to both the Hurlingham Polo Association and the wider polo community. The Pony Welfare Rules are set out to ensure the safety and comfort of ponies at all times, whether before, during, or after playing. Residual or trace levels of some BEVA-approved medications may be accepted, subject to further investigation; only when these have been administered under the guidance and supervision of an MRCVS-licensed veterinarian, in response to a specific veterinary diagnosis, and when the pony’s welfare has not been compromised. Further information is available on the HPA website.

(i) Testing. Both random and specific tests will be arranged by the HPA and the clubs as considered necessary. The services of LGC will be used. If the result of a test on a sample of a pony’s blood shows the presence of a substance above the permitted level, a report form must be completed and copies sent to the player, the owner of the pony, their club and to the Chairman of the Welfare Committee. The club may be directed by the HPA to hold a disciplinary hearing. In any case, all Associate Members are required to cooperate with the HPA in producing any evidence relevant to any such enquiry by the club or the HPA when requested to do so.

(ii) Medication at Polo.A pony which has received any medication by injection or ingestion at polo may not play thereafter that same day.

k. Equine Passports. By law:

(i) All ponies must have a valid Equine Passport which contains an ‘Administration of Medicinal Products’ section (formerly Section IX, now Section II) that has been issued by and is registered with an approved UK Passport Issuing Organisation.

(ii) All ponies are required to be microchipped.

(iii) All ponies taken to play at any club or in any tournament must be accompanied by a valid Equine Passport.

(iv) Equine passports for foals and newly imported horses may be obtained from the HPA.

(v) Passports must be registered in the name of the correct owner, and any change of ownership must be registered with the relevant PIO within 30 days.

(vi) The HPA may carry out random passport and microchip checks at any tournament, and players must present their ponies’ passports and allow them to be scanned for a microchip when requested by an HPA Official.

l. Vaccinations against Equine Influenza. No pony will be allowed to play at a club or in a tournament unless the pony’s passport shows that it has been vaccinated against Equine Influenza in accordance with the HPA rules for vaccinations as set out on the HPA website.. These vaccination rules may not be in line with other associations, disciplines or jurisdictions.

m. Contagious or Infectious Diseases. Any pony owner, stable manager or polo club that has a suspected case of a contagious disease such as ringworm or an infectious disease such as strangles or equine herpes must inform the HPA immediately with details of the action being taken. No infected pony or others in contact will be brought to a polo ground until clearance is given by a MRCVS.

n. Shoes and Shoeing. The Farriers’ Registration Act of 1975 states that any person who shoes a horse, including their own, must be a farrier registered with the Farriers Registration Council. Any member or club that allows an individual who is not registered with the Farriers Registration Council to shoe a pony may be liable to a charge of misconduct. (In the Netherlands we advise players to have a qualified farrier shoe the polo horses)

o. Water at Polo. Water must not be withheld for an extended period prior to play. Ponies must be offered water before leaving the club or ground.

p. Muzzles. Muzzles should only be used for short periods to prevent a pony from feeding. They shall not be adapted in any way to reduce the ability to breathe or drink.

q. Trimming Whiskers. Sensory hairs (around the lips, muzzle and eyes) may not be removed or trimmed and any horses with any sensory hairs removed or trimmed (unless for veterinary reasons) will be the subject of a Report Form.

r. Cinch Girths. The use of cinch girths is not permitted.

s. Excessive Heat. Guidelines for when temperatures are very high are on the HPA website. Under amber Met Office heat warnings, or forecast temperatures of 28 degrees and above, free changes are to be given with a restriction of one minute for the change.

t. Ponies Reported for a Vice or lack of control. A pony that has been sent off for being not under proper control or showing a vice to that it is unsafe will be subject of a Report Form and automatically suspended from match polo until the suspension is lifted by the HPA. The pony will be automatically suspended from match polo until the suspension is lifted by the HPA. To request the lifting of a suspension the owner must verify in writing to the HPA that they are fully satisfied that the pony has been successfully retrained and accepts responsibility for its behaviour. During retraining the pony may only be played in chukkas with the consent of the host club. A pony suspended for kicking must play without hind shoes during retraining and wear a red ribbon tied around its tail which it must continue to wear for at least its first 79 6 weeks of match play. Should the pony kick again it shall be suspended indefinitely. A pony sent off for lack of control for a second time will be suspended indefinitely. Veterinary consultation should be sort by the owner to identify any underlying causes in the process of retraining.

u. Ear or nose twitching.Ponies must not be ear or nose twitched for a player to mount. Should this be seen by any official than the player of the pony concerned will be issued with a yellow card.