Polo Pony First Aid & Welfare at Guards
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
During my five seasons working at Guards, the attention to detail concerning Pony Welfare – with the Club keen to be at the very cutting edge of polo pony welfare, implementing changes and putting key practises into place – was always something of which I was very proud to be part of, working alongside all in the office and pony lines to ensure Guards was at the forefront of best practices. Heading up Pony Welfare at Guards for many years was Felicity Matthews, whose dedication and passion lead to the implementation of many important welfare guidelines and regulations being put into place both at the club and in the wider polo community. Liaising with the club’s Pony Welfare Committee and Scott Dunn’s Equine Clinic she worked tireless to ensure Guards was always at the forefront of the very best Polo Pony Welfare.
Taking up the reins in recent years has been Guards Polo Club veterinarian, Holly Baird from Scott Dunn’s Equine Clinic, who is always present when polo is in place, monitoring ponies both on and off the pitch and ensuring the highest standards of welfare are maintained for all ponies who visit the club’s pony lines. Early in the year Holly launched the @ponywelfare page on Facebook and Twitter, offering advice and top welfare tips to all involved in polo. It was also announced that Tally Ho Farm would be sponsoring a series of monthly Grooms Awards to recognise the skill and dedication of all grooms involved in the sport, with £150 and a review in the 2016 Guards Yearbook being given each month to the ‘most outstanding groom of the month – who has been the most well-ordered, tidy in the pony lines, with an exceptional string and outstanding pony welfare.’
Winners of the prize to date this season have been:
May 2015 – Sophie and Ellie – grooms for James Harper
June 2015 – Nico, Derek and Paul – grooms for Chris McKenzie
July 2015 – Jim and Martin – grooms for Ryan Pemble.
For all those wishing to learn more about ‘Polo Pony First Aid,’ Holly Baird along with staff from Scott Dunns Equine Clinic will be holding a Polo Pony First Aid Workshop this Wednesday 26th August at 6pm at Flemish Farm near Windsor, including a demonstration, talk and discussion on how you can assist your ponies in the event of an accident. As Holly explained, ‘The workshop will be polo specific and will cover topics including first aid kits, minor wound management, minor orthopaedic injury management, and how to assist with emergencies requiring immediate veterinary attendance before the vet arrives. There will also be the opportunity for those interested to observe and participate in an anatomy display, where we can take a closer look at some of the vital structures of the equine forelimb and obverse their function.’
If you are interested in attending this event, please contact the Guards Polo Office or Scott Dunn’s Equine Clinic to register, or send a message to the Pony Welfare page on Facebook.
Follow on facebook & twitter @ponywelfare