Polo pony injuries: player-owner reported risk, perception, mitigation and risk factors.
Authors: Inness C M, Morgan K L
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Polo Pony Injuries: Player-Owner Reported Risk, Perception, Mitigation and Risk Factors Polo presents a distinctive challenge to equine health professionals because it combines the demands of high-speed athletic performance with direct contact sport dynamics, yet systematic injury data in this discipline remains sparse in the UK. Inness and Morgan conducted a survey-based epidemiological study gathering injury reports and risk perception directly from polo players and pony owners, documenting both the nature of injuries experienced and the management strategies employed to mitigate harm. Their findings highlighted significant variation in how injuries were classified and reported, alongside considerable gaps between perceived risk and actual injury occurrence—suggesting that anecdotal experience rather than structured data often shapes current prevention practices in the sport. The research identified several modifiable risk factors specific to polo, including training intensity, surface conditions, and pony fitness levels, which were variably recognised and addressed by different players and owners. For practitioners working with polo ponies, this work underscores the importance of moving beyond assumption-based care protocols towards evidence-led preventive strategies, whilst also revealing opportunities to improve injury reporting standards and risk communication between veterinarians, farriers, physiotherapists and their polo-owning clients.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Veterinarians working with polo ponies should recognize the sport's contact nature and high injury risk profile when developing preventive health strategies
- •Risk factor identification from this data collection will enable targeted injury prevention protocols specific to polo populations
- •Understanding player-owner perception of risk is essential for developing effective injury mitigation strategies in this discipline
Key Findings
- •Study represents first epidemiological data collection on injuries to UK polo riders and ponies
- •Polo sport presents unique injury risk profile due to merging of human skill with equine performance in contact sport environment
- •Research identifies need for collaborative approach among medical, dental and veterinary scientists to address polo-related injuries