Anuario Raza Polo Argentino Anuario2018 | Page 228

started analyzing the situation. I reached a very
good level in jumping, with an excellent mare
and worked with people who were outstanding
in the sport. I started with polo when I was
already 45 years old and with more experience
with horses, and realized that in this sport one
has to have at least 12 to 15 horses to be able to
play at this level, and that is when I realized that
I would have to breed, because if a player has
a really good mare, he/she keeps her… So we
started to put together this bloodstock so that I
may be able to play and mount Facundo for the
Opens. I come from the jumping world and am
used to seeing very tidy mares, which is what I
have been looking for from the start. As well as
always talking with Rubén Sola who is someone
whom I believe knows a lot. So we made a plan
to purchase two-year-old mares, train them
and raise them and have a really good rider like
Facundo to mount them.”
“What similarities do you find between these
ponies and jumping horses?”
“The first thing is the strength they need; also
their head and break-in. There isn’t really any
difference; there may be small issues such as
size or the way they work out. And as regards
training, with show-jumping they work out
every day so as to be able to go out on to the
jumping arena on the day of the competition,
and in the case of polo it’s the same thing, you
go preparing for the day they have to go out on
to the field.”
“The horses you chose to purchase turned
out good, didn’t they? What were your
criteria?”
“We always seek balance for me; very strong
legs and back. With ideal feet, neither too small
nor too fat and in my case I like perfection; they
tell me I’m tiresome, but I know I have a difficult
eye for this and Rubén, who knows much more
than I do, does also.”
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