Cowdray addresses horse welfare concerns after polo played during hot weather
Cowdray Park Polo Club has responded to concerns over horse welfare after polo was played during Friday’s hot weather, when temperatures reached around 32°C.
A witness contacted Chichester District Council and the RSPCA after observing polo matches at Cowdray on Friday (August 14).
The witness said several matches appeared to be taking place at around 2.30pm, one of the hottest parts of the day, and raised questions about whether the horses were being sufficiently protected from the heat.
The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), which governs polo in the UK, has guidance requiring players to switch horses frequently during amber weather warnings or when temperatures reach 28°C and above. Its guidance also advises that players avoid the hottest parts of the day to reduce the risk of horses becoming excessively overheated.
Cowdray said the HPA was present at the event and confirmed that its guidance and protocols were being followed.
The club also clarified that the polo taking place at around 2.30pm was junior polo involving children under the age of 10.
The format involved four-minute chukkas per pony, meaning individual ponies were ridden for no more than four minutes at a time. Cowdray added that the polo played earlier in the day was low-goal polo and took place on shaded grounds.
Vets were also on site throughout the day to monitor the condition and welfare of the horses
A spokesperson said: “Vets were on site monitoring the condition of the horses, and the HPA was also present and satisfied that its guidance and protocols were being followed.”
Heat stress monitored
Cowdray also explained that the temperature recorded by a standard weather app does not provide the full picture when assessing the risk of heat stress in horses.
The HPA uses Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which takes into account factors including temperature and humidity. Cowdray said the maximum WBGT recorded at the venue on Friday was 23.8°C.
According to the club, some adjustments to activity were required and subsequently made throughout the day.
A spokesperson said: “At this level, guidance requires moderate adjustments to activity, and those adjustments were observed.
“Taking into account the WBGT readings, veterinary supervision, the nature and intensity of the polo being played, and the very short periods for which the junior ponies were being ridden, there was at no point an identified welfare risk to the horses from the conditions.”
Concerns over horse transport
The witness also raised concerns about how horses were transported to the grounds.
HPA guidance prohibits the transportation of horses when temperatures rise above 30°C unless the vehicle is temperature-controlled.
The witness claimed they saw several trailers entering the polo grounds with horses inside: “I noticed a number of old-style trailers entering the polo grounds with horses in them, with the gate top window open which would indicate no air conditioning.”
It has not been confirmed whether the trailers were transporting polo horses or whether they were temperature-controlled.
Cowdray did not specifically address the trailers in its response.
Pony Club event
Cowdray explained that the grounds were being used as a dry-hire venue for the Pony Club on Friday.
The Pony Club was responsible for organising the day’s polo under HPA oversight, while Cowdray Park Polo Club provided the venue.
A spokesperson said: “All relevant protocols at Lawns were followed in accordance with Pony Club and HPA guidelines.”
Cowdray stressed that it takes horse welfare “extremely seriously” and was happy to provide information to ensure the circumstances of the day were accurately represented.