A car driver who brakes and accelerates too much will quickly run out of petrol. How big is the tank of a polo pony ? Seven and a half minutes, if the pony is fit and is not over exerted early in a chukka.
Unnecessary use of speed can be avoided, and braking minimized, by cutting corners to the next play. In this way, the pony’s stamina can be preserved on the day and for the future.