Polo is a game so steeped in tradition that it still uses bamboo mallets and, in some major tournaments, wood balls. When change comes, it often is greeted with skepticism, if not derision.
That is changing, however, as tradition is bowing to science with an advancement in the most essential equine equipment, the saddle. The Polo Gear Elite Saddle was developed with polo star Nic Roldan, who boldly claims it is the first major reboot of saddle design in 50 years. He says it is the first to emphasize the comfort of the horse as much as the performance of the athlete riding it.
"It's the first innovative thing that polo's done," says Roldan, who is among the world’s top players and the youngest to win the U.S. Open Polo Championships. His experience has riders taking note, given that Roldan, riding a prototype of the saddle, won the best playing pony honor at a tournament in January.
The saddle, which promptly sold out when it hit the market last month, follows another innovation equestrian sports has seen in recent years. Inflatable vests, which work much like an automotive airbag to soften the impact of a fall, appeared in 2009. Still, riders have been slow to embrace the technology, even though falls have killed 13 riders in recent years.
"It's very true that equestrian sports are rich in tradition and that often makes change happen slower," says Doug Payne, a professional equestrian and mechanical engineer. "Even today, if you go to the U.K. you'll still see professional riders not wearing helmets, while in the States its far more common. The technology is there that makes these things common sense, but it takes time to catch on."
Roldan hopes his new saddle catches on quickly despite its radical departure in design. Conventional polo saddles place the rider's weight directly on the horse’s shoulders. Doing so elevates the rider but places great stress on the animal by limiting the range of its joints and stressing its bones.
“It’s like a rock in your shoe,” says Mike Myers, general manager at Polo Gear, which makes the saddle. “Can you run with it? Sure. But afterwards, you’ll be sore.”
Polo Gear designed the saddle with input from Roldan, an equine chiropractor, masseur (yes, horses have chiropractors and masseurs) and veterinarians. It optimizes the rider’s position by keeping him elevated but maintaining his weight on the animal’s back, not its shoulders.
The redesign actually started 20 years ago with rider Gary Fellers and has been through four designs. The latest iteration, which weighs 14 pounds and is made of cowhide, uses curved panels to help move the rider up and forward while keeping the saddle over the loin. This eases pressure on the animal's shoulders, increasing mobility. Myers says riders are seeing 25 to 30 percent increases in the speed of their horses.
The adoption of technology may be inevitable despite the sport’s love of tradition. Polo Gear’s first run of 25 saddles sold out quickly, despite the fact their $4,000 price is roughly twice that of a conventional saddle. But polo is experiencing an increase in popularity, Roldan says, and will grow more competitive. Riders will seek every advantage in the quest to win.
“The fact is, in my career the sports have grown immensely in popularity,” Roldan says, “and with that comes more prize money and a bigger drive to get that money. I think as technology improves, things get safe and safer and more companies get in the game. You see people going away from the old style and tradition to more modern practices."
