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Bits-The Snaffle, the Pelham, and the Gag

I just read an article entitled "It's All About the Bit That Works Best For You."  I couldn't disagree more, it's all about the bit that works best for your horse.  Like all things American, we have gone crazy for the latest gadget when it comes to bits.  Wilson Dennehy and Marvin Beeman only used two bits, a snaffle or a pelham, for show jumping, hunting and polo.  Why?  Because "I never found a horse that wouldn't go well in one or the other," they both independently said to me. As for the Snaffle, there are a few kinds worth mentioning. First, the Eggbutt Snaffle: The Eggbutt is a very common multi-discipline style of cheek piece for snaffle bits. The eggbutt snaffle minimizes two problems that can arise with its cousin, the loose ring snaffle, whose rings can pinch the edges of the horse's mouth, and which doesn't provide much lateral stabilization. By flaring out the ends of the mouthpiece and joining the rings with flush swivel joints above and below where the lips contact the edge of the bit, the eggbutt can be a more comfortable alternative for many horses. The edges of the mouthpiece are less likely to pinch the horse's lips, and because the cheek is fixed in relation to the mouthpiece, the bit offers moderate lateral control. When the bit is pulled laterally through the mouth, there is some resistance on the opposite side, which can help encourage the horse to turn with less danger of pulling the bit through the mouth than exists with a loose ring snaffle, though more than with a dee-ring or full cheek snaffle.By having rings fixed to the mouthpiece, the eggbutt does give up some

By |June 15th, 2018|Categories: Foxhunting, polo|Comments Off on Bits-The Snaffle, the Pelham, and the Gag

Whitening Spray for Grey or Paint Horses

For keeping grey or paint ponies white, some swear by Orvus + blueing + oxyclean in water; rinse; ketchup soak; rinse; leave in conditioner. We like to use 1/3 wintergreen alcohol to 2/3 water in a spray bottle, with a few drops of cowboy magic shampoo into the bottle, is equally as good as any of the green spot removers. It's inexpensive, easy and very effective!

By |October 20th, 2016|Categories: Foxhunting, polo|Comments Off on Whitening Spray for Grey or Paint Horses

Colorado Mills opens a new U.S. Polo Association store today.

Colorado Mills opens a new U.S. Polo Association store today.  The brand carries clothing for men, womenand children as well as accessories, luggage, watches, shoes, home furnishings and more.  While many think this brand is a knock off of RL Polo, it is actually the original polo gear and is made under an exclusive labeling agreement by Jordache. A portion of all the USPA clothing sales benefits the United States Polo Association (USPA), which was created on March 21, 1890 by H. L. Herbert. The USPA was formed to act as the national governing body for the sport of polo in America and Canada. The USPA is dedicated to growing recognition for polo, organizing tournaments, establishing rules, creating educational programs, coordinating interscholastic and intercollegiate competitions, and providing the handicaps for polo players all over the country. The organization is continually creating new programs for people to learn the sport and develop American players, as well as maintaining guidelines for the safety and wellbeing of the polo ponies. There are over 250 clubs registered with the USPA and over 4,500 members. The USPA is always growing and building stronger roots for the sport of polo.  For more information visit:  www.uspolo.org.

By |November 7th, 2013|Categories: polo|Comments Off on Colorado Mills opens a new U.S. Polo Association store today.

Legging Up Your Hunter

The fox hunting season proper is not far off and many of us are thinking of getting our hunters out of pasture and legging them up for the season.  Many foxhunters continue to use their hunt horses throughout the summer months for showing, eventing, polo, trial riding or pleasure riding, thereby eliminating or reducing the legging up for the season issue.  But many others give their field hunters some well-deserved time off at the end of the season and conditioning for the hunt season becomes an annual ritual. We have been fortunate to enjoy field hunters who had double lives in the summer, also excelling at as polo ponies or show jumpers.  We have also been fortunate to have field hunters who simply enjoyed three or more months off in a pasture, not having been ridden at all in the off-season.  There is no right answer to the “to turn out or to not turn out question.”  Some horses seem to do better being in work all season, while others seem to benefit from the time off and develop a bad attitude if they don’t have some time to just be a horse. For the entire article, click this link... Legging Up Your Hunter in Covertside Magazine 2013. For the most thorough veterinary article on horse conditioning click this link: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/hrs6942   FOR LEGGING UP POLO PONIES, OUR PRO AT DENVER POLO CLUB RECOMMENDS AS FOLLOWS: Pre Season (Exercise) As we approach polo season, I thought it would be a good idea start thinking about getting yourself and your horses ready for the season. These are a few tips and suggestions to help keep you and your horses healthy for the entire season. Don’t wait until it

By |September 6th, 2013|Categories: Foxhunting, polo|Comments Off on Legging Up Your Hunter

BlueLite and Sand Clear for Your Horses

It's that time of summer when colic can hit tired, dehydrated horses and sand often builds in horses pastured in sandy paddocks.  Two of our favorite products recommended by our veterinarians are BlueLite electrolite pellets and Sand Clear Crumbles. Equine BlueLite Pellets are so tasty, you don't even have to top dress them on feed.  Just pour a scoop in each horses bucket for them to receive added nutrients and electrolytes.  Our horses go straight to drinking a lot of water after eating the pellets, which is a reassuring process after a hard day of polo. In addition to having a balanced salt block available near the horses' water, BlueLite pellets provides instant results when your horse needs it most to restores the essential nutrients lost during heavy workout and improves recovery time.  While other remedies such as Morton Lite Salt also provides electrolites, we think the BlueLite pellets are worth the extra money for their ease of use.  The pellets provide salt and potassium chloride blended with iodide and a free-flowing agent.   BlueLite is a balanced electrolyte formula which is easily digestible, non-abrasive, and contains essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Top dress Equine BlueLite Powder on the grain ration according to the degree of dehydration based on the following pony/horse weight: 300-600 lbs - Routine or Mild Activity (1-2 oz daily), Extensive Activity (2-3 oz daily) 600-900 lbs - Routine or Mild Activity (3-4 oz daily), Extensive Activity (4-6 oz daily) 900-1200 lbs - Routine or Mild Activity (5-6 oz daily), Extensive Activity (6-10 oz daily) 1200 + lbs - Routine or Mild Activity (7-8 oz daily), Extensive Activity (8-10 oz daily) Bluelite can be ordered online from many sources: http://www.techmixglobal.com/equine-bluelite Sand Clear pellets contain psyllium

By |August 28th, 2013|Categories: polo|Comments Off on BlueLite and Sand Clear for Your Horses

Mallets for Melonoma Polo Tournament Saturday, August 10, 2013 at Denver Polo Club

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 76,000 people are expected to be diagnosed with melanoma this year. Recognizing a need for melanoma research and localized funding in Denver, Dr. Tyler Vukmer founded the Colorado Melanoma Foundation. The group's inaugural fund-raiser features a polo tournament, live music, and snacks. Fri 2:30-9 p.m.   DATE: Aug 10, 2013 2:30 pm - Aug 10, 2013 9:00 pm COST: $20. VENUE: Denver Polo Club

By |August 7th, 2013|Categories: polo|Comments Off on Mallets for Melonoma Polo Tournament Saturday, August 10, 2013 at Denver Polo Club

2013 Charity Polo Match at Mount Sopris Polo – Check Out the Photos by Peter Feinzig

Check out all the great photos from Peter Feinzip from the 2013 Charity Polo Match at Sopris Mountain Ranch on his website at: http://pfeinzigphotography.com/polo To read the article in Horse Connection magazine click below 2013 Mount Sopris Article Horse Connection

By |August 6th, 2013|Categories: polo|Comments Off on 2013 Charity Polo Match at Mount Sopris Polo – Check Out the Photos by Peter Feinzig

Denver Magazine – Denver 20/30 Polo Classic 2010

This video was just released for public distribution, after being featured in Denver Magazine and features the 2010 Denver Polo Classic.  We think it's a hit as we are in the video, as our many of our friends.  Keep an eye out for the 2013 Denver Polo Classic videos, which should be out soon.  

By |July 11th, 2013|Categories: polo|Comments Off on Denver Magazine – Denver 20/30 Polo Classic 2010

Bear Your Part in the Battle of Life

“Angling teaches a man patience and self control; (fox) hunting improves not only good horsemanship, but pluck and observation; whilst shooting inculcates quickness of hand and eye coupled with endurance and the power of bearing fatigue; football, cricket, rowing, rackets, tennis all bring to the front and encourage qualities that are essentially manly; and perhaps no sport tends to combine all these lessons so much as polo, none makes a man more a man than this entrancing game, none fits him more for the sterner joys of war or enables him better to bear his part in the battle of life.”    - J. Moray Brown, Badminton Library of Sports and Pastimes, 1891 And, while you are at it, check out the new United States Polo Association website. And take back your power. Every time I hear this BS about us (those who struggle with addiction [and you could add those with other issues as well]) being powerless, it makes me angry. Because it isn't true. And saying it over and over just makes it harder to really find freedom forever. But... in AA it's the first step - Admit that you're powerless over alcohol/weed/cocaine/whatever. EVEN though you are literally exerting your power by going to the meeting... or talking to a sponsor... or checking into rehab. You are LITERALLY showing you have power and choice and at the EXACT same time are being forced to claim powerlessness. It drives me crazy. EVERYTHING about the change I've seen in thousands of people has told me that people have SO much power but have actually give up too much of it. Instead of beating them down more and telling them they are worse we need to

By |June 11th, 2013|Categories: polo|Comments Off on Bear Your Part in the Battle of Life