Pony Passports

ALL horses now have to have a passport. Checking that horses have passports is a matter for the local authorities and they do carry out random checks.

The Hurlingham Polo Association does have a blanket insurance policy for ponies played on Cartier International Day and in the Test Matches. However, any claim is dependent on the pony having a passport.

Following Cartier, a pony had to be put down and a payment of £25,000 was agreed subject to the pony having a passport. It turned out that the passport had never been registered with the HPA and the owner was very fortunate to receive a cheque for £25k.

However, as far as the HPA is concerned, the main point is that any polo pony is only covered for public liability if it has either a passport that shows that it is a polo pony or a passport (for example from Weatherby’s) that has been over-stamped by the HPA. If a polo pony gallops in to the crowd causing an injury which is then subject to a substantial claim, the underwriters are almost certain to insist that any claim will be invalidated if the pony does not have a valid passport.