Polo.

LTHOUGH polo is only a new game in this country, it origi-

nated many centuries ago in Japan. It was first played in the

United States in the year 1874, coming from England here.

While it has not spread rapidly, it isa game that will stay with

us. Itis not agame for the masses for the reason that not every

one can afford to play it. The game requires plenty of leisure

and plenty of money, to say nothing of pluck, endurance and agility. The

latter qualities will be worth nothing if the first two are lacking, and for that
reason it will always be a game for the few.

There is no game, however, which is more interesting to spectators than
agameof polo. To play the game properly, the players must all be mounted,
and you can imagine, perhaps, some of the excitement aroused by a number of
mounted players rushing hither and thither over the field, each armed with a
long stick or crook, and intent upon the game. The horses add not a little to
the interest. The skill and intelligence shown by trained polo horses is wonder-
ful indeed. To judge by their actions they really enter into the game and play
it with vim and interest. To play polo properly each player must have two or
three horses. It-is this feature which makes it so expensive. The rules re-
quire that the horse used in the game must be small. This has been done to
prevent the game from becoming too dangerous. Then, too, the smaller the
horse the nearer the rider is to the ground, and hence the better chance he
has to display his skillin the game. Perhaps more attention is given to the
selection of the ponies than to anything else. It is necessary that the pony be
not only well trained, but that he be hardy and intelligent, and above all he
must “mind the bit.” A great many of the best polo ponies received their first
training in herding cattle, for the fact that good herding ponies are very easily
converted into good polo ponies. They come from the plainsof Wyoming,
Indian Territory, Texas, etc.

The game is played something like lacrosse. The ballis placed upon the
ground, and at a given signal the opposing parties make a rush for it. The
successful one throws it into the territory of the opponents, and then the
scramble is free for all. The goals are placed quite a distance apart, and
when the ball is put past the opponent’s goal a score is counted. The
game is found mostly in eastern states. It is indeed a magnificent sight to
see a pony going at full speed, the rider dexterously catching the ball with his
crook, and hurling it far away. Thena rush is made for it by all the players,

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