Pampita's final Final

We were having a bit of an emotional moment. The Picnic at Polo tournament on the Dundee and Perth polo grounds had come to an end and we were set for the prize-giving. Pampita was brought forward as Best Playing Pony and some of us knew it was her last tournament. A light drizzle had set in during the last game so no one could notice a tear or two as we gathered round, a slightly bedraggled crew, cheering for Pampita.

Pampita is 27 years old. She's owned and played by Gillian Lockhart and, if ever evidence was needed for the long and useful lives of polo ponies, she's it. She really had played super chukkers over the weekend, with Gilly breaking away with her and streaking up the field. If you consider that there were 9 teams taking part in the tournament and the number of ponies involved, she must have really caught the eye of the umpire.

And she and Gilly made it to the Final against Edinburgh missing out on first place by half a goal. Those of us who knew her were cheering not just Gilly but also Pampita.

So, when did you get Pampita? I asked. "I bought her about 15 years ago from James Manclark, a well-known character in Scottish polo. He's done all the stuff from bob-sledding and competing in the 1965 Olympics to starting up elephant polo in Thailand. Pampita's originally from Argentina and is an absolute character too!"

In what way? She's a bitch!! Extremely dominant and always ready with those double-barreled kicks. She gets very upset if we take a pony out of what she considers "her" field. She's "mother" of the pack although we've never bred from her.

Why not?

"Well we weren't into breeding when we first got her and now it's too late."

And how is she on the playing-field? "Because she's small she's not for everyone but, for me, she's perfect. And again, for me, she's amazing; a baouncy, maneuverable pony that loves to ride-off, going in so hard that she once fractured a oposition player's leg! She's rock hard."

Is she difficult to get and keep fit? "Not at all. She's been well trained and leads well. Actually, she's never naughty in training and is really easy to keep fit"

What happens now?

"She has settled down over the years and so we might give her a bit of work in the school at Kinross Polo Club where she can help our students get ahead. She'd be happy to just trot around a bit now. But she won't be playing a final again."

Now something like that always brings a lump to my throat. Horses are just so special and, for me, the polo pony is the ultimate equine athlete. Pampita retires, covered in glory, in September 2025.

Well done, Panpita.

Well done, Gilly.

And well done Scottish polo.