The Polo Horse: Sport, Care, and Responsibility

We spoke with polo player Fernando Maciel Talavera about the true athletes of polo — the horses — and everything involved in caring for them on and off the field.

This fall, Paws in Town takes a closer look at the world of polo alongside Fernando Maciel Talavera, the featured guest in our equine section. Beyond the speed, strategy, and skill that define this sport, there's a quiet protagonist behind every play: the horse. Its training, nutrition, rest, and care are essential parts of a relationship built on commitment, trust, and respect between rider and animal.

What makes a polo horse?

Not every horse is cut out for polo. These are animals that combine speed, stamina, and agility with a balanced temperament: they must respond quickly to the rider's cues, tolerate the physical contact of the game, and stay calm amid the intensity of a match. Genetics, breeding, and early training all play a decisive role in forming a good polo pony — as they're traditionally known in the sport.

How is a horse prepared for this sport?

Preparing a polo horse is a gradual process that combines training, physical conditioning, and field-specific work. The goal is to build muscle, cardiovascular capacity, and above all, mutual trust with the rider. A well-prepared horse isn't just more competitive — it's also safer, both for itself and for everyone playing around it.

Preparation doesn't end on the field: physical training always goes hand in hand with a bond of trust built day by day.

What care does it need on and off the field?

A polo horse's wellbeing depends on a comprehensive routine that includes:

• Balanced nutrition, adjusted to the level of physical demand and the training or competition stage.

• Proper rest, essential for muscle recovery and injury prevention.

• Regular veterinary care, including health checks, shoeing, and ongoing physical monitoring.

• Emotional care, since stress and overexertion can affect both performance and the animal's health.

This care isn't a secondary detail — it's the foundation that allows a horse to perform on the field without compromising its long-term health.

What responsibility does the rider have for its wellbeing?

Polo is, above all, a team sport between person and animal. That relationship carries a direct responsibility for the rider: knowing the horse's physical limits, respecting its recovery time, and prioritizing its wellbeing over the outcome of the match. A good polo player isn't measured only by technique, but by the care and respect shown to the horses that carry them through every play.

An invitation to discover polo, and to remember that the horse's wellbeing should always be at the center of the sport. Watch the full interview and explore more from our fall edition at pawsintown.com.