Common Mistakes/Misconceptions

The attached article from PoloLine lists 10 common errors/misconceptions is worth reading. Many traditional practices have been found to not be the best thing for horses or performance. It is important to continue to learn, evaluate and assimilate new research as it comes out. Two comments to add to this list: Tight nosebands have been found to negatively affect performance such that they have been banned by the FEI— the common standard for looseness is the width of 2 fingers; and, another reason not to restrict hay intake prior to a game (or any exercise) is that fiber acts as a reservoir in the GI tract, soaking up water (do not restrict water intake) which is then released during exercise to keep the horse hydrated. If you restrict hay (or water) intake, then performance decreases and it can lead to health problems. Here’s a link to the PoloLine article “10 Things You Could be Doing Wrong”: https://www.pololine.com/polo-quarterly/welfare-10-things-you-could-be-doing-wrong/