With Hiromi Nzomo’s pony – The Honey- being declared the Most Valuable Pony in the Davis Cup at Nairobi Polo Club over the weekend, polo lovers may wonder on the criteria used to do so.
In polo, a player must have at least four horses to play a match of four chukkas and one is allowed to change horses in between the Chukkas.
A player who has six horses in a match has an added advantage.
Rarely does a horse complete a full chukka of seven minutes divided into halves of three and half minutes per match. This is because of the vastness of a polo pitch, which is three and half times of a football pitch.
Professional British polo commentator Jammie Hayward said a horse that can complete a full chukka without being rested confirms its (the horse) fitness levels and therefore stands a high chance of scooping the coveted prize.