R. Neal asked:


The Scope of This Project Exceeded Anything We Have Ever Done.

Our client was a high-end residential development in Southeast Texas. This master-planned community spanned nearly 2,000 acres and was home to a number of superb amenities which included a recreation center, a gymnasium, a game room, a resort pool with water slide, and most impressively, two World Class Polo Fields. The community planned to hold championship matches on one of these fields and decided to have a lighting system designed specifically for this purpose.

Many Unique Elements Distinguished This Endeavor.

This was a rather unique request for any lighting company to receive, considering that only two or three polo fields in the nation have lighting systems for nighttime matches. The client was aware that lighting a polo field essentially meant creating a unique and very rare facility, and they were more than willing to invest in this landmark facility in order to obtain the very best lighting design possible.

The project was ambitious, to say the least. The polo field spanned the area of nearly seven football fields. This already told us that a very high foot candle level would be necessary, and prior to even calculating the polo field lighting design, we knew that the poles we used would be laden with an exceptionally high number of lighting fixtures.

Lighting Design Software Enabled Us to Accommodate the Satisfy the Unique Parameters of This Project.

The client provided us with a CAD file which enabled us to calculate foot candle levels and determine exactly how many fixtures we were going to need. The results called for an exceptional configuration. First, we would need to create a luminance level of 50 foot candles over the entire field. Due to the massive area that we had to light, it would be necessary to place 48 fixtures on each lighting pole. This is far beyond industry standard configurations, and presented a formidable challenge to overcome. The wind loading of 48 fixtures on each pole is very great, and special care was needed when selecting the proper poles. Since this region of Texas lies near enough to the Gulf to experience tropical storms and occasional hurricane force winds, the high number of fixtures per pole amounted to a literal “wind sail” effect which represented a very unstable configuration if standard steel poles were used.

Unique Lighting Poles Were the Key to the Success of the Whole Endeavor.

To overcome this, we designed the polo field lighting system with 100′ concrete poles. These were the tallest and most powerful structures available for the task, and the modeling scenarios we ran in our photometric software confirmed that in spite of the high number of fixtures, these poles would provide reliable support for the lights and be able to resist the intermittent high winds that strike Southeast Texas on occasions.

Installation was Performed by a Local Team of Sports Lighting Installation Experts

The actual fixtures and poles were installed by a partner organization whose primary specialty lies in the arena of sports and athletic field lighting installation.



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Luis Pezzini asked:


Buying A Polo Pony  

There’s no one breed that’s known as a “polo pony”, but many that make fine polo ponies. 

 What makes a good polo pony?  You want a horse that’s strong and can run all day.  It needs speed and great balance.  It’s an alert horse with bright eyes, elastic skin, and a coat that’s lustrous.  It needs to be a bold type of horse also, yet still able to be managed and trained, since polo is a sport that requires quick reflexes and the ability to be controlled.

 Although any type of horse might be a great candidate, some horses are better suited for polo than others.  The most popular is the Argentina polo pony, also known as the Criollo.  That’s kind of a misnomer, as the Criollo was crossbred with Thoroughbreds to become its own species of horse known as the Argentina.  Actually, they’re crossbred twice with Thoroughbreds; the second time after the first mix of horse becomes available.  This horse is strong, has great endurance, but has a shorter stride than the Thoroughbred, which gives it the ability to turn on a dime and maintain its balance.  It also seems to love polo, as it can run all day.

 The first thing recommended in buying a polo pony is buying one with experience.  Unless you’re a trainer, it can take you years to get one up to speed for what you want to do.  Some horses literally are trained at least six years before they enter a game. 

 The second thing you want to do is see a horse run.  You want a horse with speed, as well as a horse that can stop suddenly and make sharp turns.  If the people you’re buying the horse from don’t have someone who can ride it for you, try to find an experienced polo player and let them ride for you.  It’s hard to gauge how fast a horse is going if you’re already sitting on it.

 After that, you’re going to want to ride the horse, just to get a feel of it.  Truthfully, you should ride more than one horse for comparison.  In this case, since it’s going to be your pony, you can’t have an expert help you with it.  Some horse dealers will let you experience riding the horse you think you’re deciding on for up to a week to see if you’re really comfortable with it.

 Next, you want to have your horse examined by a doctor of your choosing.  Every reputable dealer will allow this, and if one doesn’t, go to another dealer.  They will check everything from musculature to teeth, joints and limbs.  They will also determine the true age of the horse, and probably take blood samples to make sure the horse hasn’t been chemically enhanced or altered. 

 Finally, it’s time to talk about costs.  Polo ponies aren’t cheap; not only that, but you can’t just buy one horse, especially if you’re hoping to play in tournaments.  Horses generally range from $15,000 to $35,000 each, but some horses can cost way more depending on breeding.  This isn’t bowling or golf, that’s for sure.  And that’s only the cost of the horse.  You have to think about other expenses for polo, such as what you’re going to wear, where you’re going to board the house, trainers for the horse, feeding your horse, etc.  If you’re looking to grow with your horse, training is estimated between $7,500 and $15,000 a year, which you can avoid by purchasing an older, more experienced horse.

 Polo can be a lot of fun, but, at the prices above, it’s no wonder that it’s a sport for wealthy people.  That doesn’t mean you can’t purchase a polo pony or four; it just means that you may have to break your piggy bank open and hope for a genie to keep your coffers full.



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HorsebackRidingLessons asked:


One cannot simply jump onto a horse for the first time and gallop away into the sunset-at least not without injury. Horseback riding lessons are required for a person to build up the skill and the confidence necessary to become a truly good rider. In order to learn any higher skills, whether it be show jumping or barrel racing, a solid foundation is required. Beginner riding lessons are designed to teach new riders balance, basic skills and confidence.

Balance is a fundamental element required in learning to ride a horse. Without a good seat, further skills cannot be developed. In learning to balance on a horse, one will learn to move with the horse instead of against it. The natural reaction is to brace one’s self and tense their muscles in response to a horse’s panic or even just the oddity of its movement underneath a person. This is a matter of time and practice. Often times, an instructor will lead or lunge a horse with a new student on its back. The rider can then take their hands off of the reins and saddle, release their stirrups and truly feel the horse’s movement. This is a technique which many trainers employ when working with those new to horse riding. Gripping the saddle is fine for pony rides, but in real riding, one needs to learn sooner rather than later how to balance without this safety blanket.

Basic skills which will be taught in beginner horseback riding lessons include the obvious stopping, starting and turning. Skills quickly advance past these necessities to other required skills. Riders must learn to guide a horse with not only hands and reins, but legs as well. This guidance with the legs will be essential in more advanced levels to perform movements such as half passes, leg yielding and other sideways movements. Leg pressure is also necessary in learning to create bend in a horse-a rather fundamental principal. In beginner horse riding lessons, one will also be taught the basics of form which apply in most fields of riding. One must sit straight, neither slouching on the tailbone, nor perching forward. Legs should be stretched long, with heels down. Hands should be down, just off of the saddle, and elbows held close to the body. Eyes should always be up and looking where one wants their horse to go.

Confidence is a key factor in advancing beyond the basics. In beginner horse back riding lessons, one will learn to truly control a horse. Riders come away from these lessons with a sense of pride and confidence from the knowledge and skills they have gained.



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Rain Stockton asked:


Now available for ordering ahead of its arrival in the UK in October is Volkswagen’s Polo BlueMotion, which promises excellent fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions of just 99 g/km. The new model will have a starting price of £11,995 for the BlueMotion 1 while the BlueMotion 2 with higher levels of equipment starts at £12,845.

The BlueMotion 1 qualifies for a place in the tax-exempt VED band ‘A’ as it benefits from combined fuel consumption figure of 74.3 mpg and CO2 output of 99 g/km.

The more capable new Polo will be available in two outfits – BlueMotion 1 and BlueMotion 2. The BlueMotion 1’s list of standard equipment includes diesel particulate filter, twin front and side airbags, a CD player and electric windows, the BlueMotion 2 benefits from air conditioning, rain sensing windscreen wipers, remote central locking and leather trim for the steering wheel, handbrake and gear knob. On the other hand, the BlueMotion 2 emits 104 g/km of CO2 while returning a combined 70.6 mpg.

An advanced 1.4-litre, three-cylinder unit injector diesel engine, with turbocharger, intercooler and exhaust gas recirculation is powering both BlueMotion variants. It’s mated to a bespoke five-speed gearbox with new, longer ratios for third, fourth and fifth gears to minimize engine speeds and enhance economy. The exhaust system also features a diesel particulate filter to help further trim emissions.

The BlueMotion will accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 12.8 seconds to reach a 109 mph top speed. Reduced aerodynamic drag, low rolling resistance tires and weight saving all play vital roles in the performance of the vehicle.

The Polo BlueMotion went on sale in mainland Europe in 2006. The demand for the vehicle was such that production at the Pamplona plant in Spain was more than tripled to trim down the waiting list for customer orders. The Polo BlueMotion will be offered in three- or five-door bodystyles in the UK. It will have a choice of four colors, which range from black through Grey Anthracite and Ice Silver to Candy White. The wing mirrors and trailing edge of the rear bumper are finished in silver, regardless of the body color.

The vehicle is now available to order now from Volkswagen UK Retailers, and the first cars will hit the showrooms in October.

Polo BlueMotion pricing courtesy of VW Website:

Polo BlueMotion 1 3dr – £11,995

Polo BlueMotion 1 5dr – £12,595

Polo BlueMotion 2 3dr – £12,845

Polo BlueMotion 2 5dr – £13,445

We can all expect that Polo BlueMotion parts are as durable as Volkswagen Passat parts.



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Lily Woods asked:

Horseback riding has been popular for centuries for a many reasons. Soon, horseback riding became a primary mode of travel. In the beginning, horses were primarily used for fighting and hunting. The speed of the horse gave people a great advantage. With the advent of wagons and carriages, people could move themselves and their belongings long distances with comparatively little difficulty.

Today, horseback riding is primarily used for recreation and therapy. Horseback riding camps are available from and to almost anywhere in the world. From Alaska to Mexico, from Botswana to Mongolia, horseback riding camps provide much more than just merely riding through hills and valleys.

Instruction about horse care and grooming are also basic requirements for attending a horse camp. They also teach about different kinds of tack, such as saddles, bridles, halters, bits and other horse gear. Most riding levels are catered to in horseback riding camps, and they are suitable for both novice and experienced riders who may find themselves fortunate enough to own a horse for the first time in their life.

When choosing a horseback riding camp, you must first decide which style of riding your child wants to learn. Western riding is generally associated with cowboys, ranches, and rodeos. Horseback riding camps can be found throughout the United States, and are also known as Dude Ranches or Guest Ranches in many western portions of the country. Popular western riding activities include trail riding and barrel racing. Western saddles were designed with the comfort and security of the rider in mind, so it has a higher seat back (cantle) and front (pommel) so riders feel secure while on the horse.

English riding, on the other hand, generally focuses on jumping, racing and horsemanship. This style of riding requires the horse and rider both to have more freedom of movement, so these saddles don’t provide as much support and security as does a Western style saddle. If your child is a first time rider, they might want to consider a Western riding camp.

Horseback riding is great therapy for persons of all ages with physical or mental disabilities. This type of therapy provides a fun environment to practice new skills and existing skills that people are seeking to improve. In addition, they are able to enjoy the benefits of being around people with whom they can easily relate.

If you’re looking to do something a little different the next time summer rolls around, consider horseback riding camps whether you own a horse or not. The experiences and fun gained at horseback riding camps will ensure that your stay will be a highlight you’ll remember forever.

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Paul Simms asked:

Summary

The term “Polo pony” is an expression for a horse or pony that is used in the game of Polo.

Polo ponies are not a registered breed but a type of horse or pony that possess intelligence, bravery, speed, strength and masses of agility as the polo pony has to gallop and turn around and halt rapidly on demand. On the Horsewizard website you’ll find many Ponies for Sale suitable for the sport of Polo. Polo is considered to be one of the fasted games in the world; sometimes reaching speeds of around 30 mph, relentless galloping and quick changes of direction can put massive amounts of stress on the polo pony’s body. Polo ponies must have good confirmation to help with the rigours of the game.

Confirmation

A strong muscular body is needed; this will help when being bumped by others.

A deep sloping shoulder, this will allow for the rigors of “riding off”.

A deep and wide chest giving ample room for the heart and lungs, this will help with stamina.

Well defined withers to keep the saddle in place as the rider will make a tremendous amount of movement.

Ample room between the point of hip and the stifle, combined with a well let down hock to permit the utmost power from the hind quarters.

Pasterns can be more upright than normally acceptable to reduce the strain on the tendons.

Polo pony turn out

Polo ponies are traditionally hogged.This is a practice where the mane and forelock are shaved off, this is to prevent the mallet from getting caught up in the mane.

Polo ponies have their tail taped up during practice and in competition.This is to stop the ponies tail from getting in the way of the polo mallet which could potentially harm the pony, also a tail down may obscure the ball from vision.

Polo ponies legs are always bandaged and the ponies often wear protective boots to help protect their legs from the rigours of the game and to give their legs as much support as possible.

History and development

Argentina is the largest exporter of polo ponies. They have created some of the greatest polo ponies on the planet. This has been done by crossing the native Argentine Criollo horse with the Thoroughbred horse.

When polo was first discovered in India by the British the ponies used stood around 12 hands, only ponies could be used in the game until 1919 when height limits were brought to an end.

Hence the term “Polo pony”.

If you are interested in Horses for Sale or more information about popular breeds and types of Horse and Pony visit the Horsewizard website.

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