The
use of animals in sport is just as controversial an issue as using them
for their furs, their meat, or for the advancement of medicine. Somehow
their use in sport, however, goes less noticed than their manipulation
in other domains though the consequences may prove to be just as dire.
Polo, though not the most popular of sports in the United States, is a
favorite among those in other parts of the world including the UK, Australia,
Argentina, and Brazil. A greater understanding of ethical issues
surrounding the breeding and treatment of horses in polo will foster a
growing effort to uphold high standards of moral behavior regarding the
sport.
Web Links:
Guards
Polo Club
This
is a link to the Guards Polo Club in the UK. The site has in depth
information
on the rules and regulations of the sport including the
punishment
for various penalties. A short description of preferred breeds
is
also given.
United
States Polo Association
This
is a good place to start to find background information on the sport.
You can link to dozens of different sites from here to find information
on breeding, competition, and the latest safety standards.
Equine
Recovery System
This
site describes a new technique used to speed the recovery of ponies after
competition, both for the safety of the pony and to the benefit of the
players.
National
Animal Interest Alliance
This
organization promotes animal welfare as opposed to animal rights.
The difference between these is clearly defined in their site. They
attack the campaigns sponsored by animal rights extremists such as PETA
and advocate the responsible ownership of animals as pets and for sports.
Coalition
of Responsible Animal Owners of Texas, Inc
This
nonprofit works to protect the rights of hobby breeders and ensure the
ethical treatment of animals in captivity.
Polonews
A
great site for finding anything you'd like to know about polo, a firm statement
is given here regarding intolerance for horse abuse and abusive polo players.