Polo and dressage appear to be at opposite ends of the scale of equestrian sports; one requires collection, inner poise, and precision, while the other demands speed, spontaneity, team spirit, and an appetite for the rough and tumble of the game.
However, the graceful art of dressage has more in common with polo playing than you might think. Equestrian fans may have recently watched the talented Charlotte Dujardin and her mount Gio take a bronze medal in the grand prix freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics, with an almost faultless display.
The supple horse and rider wowed audiences at home with moves such as the piaffe, which is when the horse trots in an energetic suspended motion on the spot. He also completed flawless canter pirouettes, which involves moving in a tight circle, and half-passes, where the horse moves forwards and sideways at once, to cross the arena diagonally.
All these moves require agility, strength, and balance, which are also the essential traits of a good polo pony. A polo horse must be able to turn in tight circles, move laterally at speed, and change his canter lead with ease. Not only does it give the player a competitive edge on the field, the enhanced flexibility reduces the risks of falls and injury to the horse.
Teaching a polo pony some of these skills is likely to be helpful in his training. However, some polo horses may get confused if too much dressage is included in their routine. Dressage teaches the horse to listen to the rider’s hand and seat in a far more intensive way than polo, which relies on a freer rein most of the time to encourage quick bursts of speed.
So, although polo and dressage have far more in common than you might think at first glance, they are very different disciplines and a little cross-over training will go a long way!
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