NSW Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Trust Horses Preparing for a Global Impression

By: Caitlin Lei Sam

Special pictured playing in the 2013 Test Match under Australian captain Robert Archibald

Left to Right - Angel (Anita's Angel) Maloo (Dessert Princess) Empire (Dodge Alley) and another 2 former racehorses

Maloo (Desert Princess) geared up ready to play

A string of retired racehorses have found their way back into the competitive limelight thanks to a unqiue rehabilitation program and are now aiming to make an impression on the international polo scene. 

Professional polo players Ed Matthies and Katie Edmeades discovered the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Trust (TRT) about 12 months ago, and after purchasing 5 graduates to expand their successful polo business, haven’t looked back.

Matthies and Edmeades run JM Polo in Windsor together, under the internationally known Matthies family brand. Matthies is a dedicated professional polo player who has spent the past few years travelling within Australian and Overseas playing seasons in England, Argentina, New Zealand and the Philippines. Edmeades also has extensive knowledge of the polo scene and has represented both England and Australia in Ladies polo, playing all around the world.

JM Polo first heard about the TRT about 12 months ago when they were introduced to Thoroughbred Retraining Manager Scott Brodie. “We were playing the Polo in the City series in Sydney, and Scott Brodie was a guest there and we were introduced” explained Edmeades. “Shortly after we visited the facility in Canterbury and purchased our first TRT horse Anita’s Angel”.

JM Polo owns a mixture of horse breeds but explain that Thoroughbreds are great for polo because of their speed over short distances. “They are athletic and the majority have good stamina. We like the mental strength these horses have and also their toughness and physicality.”

They currently enjoy great success with another retired racehorse by the name of Special (not through the TRT).  Running under the name Trellis, the mare never broker her maiden status after 6 starts, but now is chosen regularly to be ridden by top polo payers including Australian Captain Rob Archibald. 

In the last 12 months, JM Polo have acquired 5 TRT graduates to join their young horse program and hopefully join their international A-String of polo ponies. They are all at different stages of their training, but Edmeades speaks very highly of all of them.

Anita’s Angel (renamed Angel) and Dodge Alley (Empire) have now played a full season of domestic polo and are showing great promise.

Desert Princess (Maloo) is not far behind the first two and is currently playing in friendly practice chukkas.

Manifestation (Fiesta) and the soon to arrive Henrythenavigator (Flight) will begin their training shortly.

When asked if the fact that a Thoroughbred had raced or not made a difference, Edmeades explained that it can affect the way their polo education is conducted. Horses coming straight from the track are guaranteed some form of education, but they can sometimes have learned bad habits. Being able to purchase Thoroughbreds directly from the TRT guarantees JM Polo that the horses have not only had their basic education reinforced but that they are lovely balanced individuals ready to begin their specialised training for polo.

Matthies and Edmeades are very pleased with all of the horses that have come through the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Program. “All the horses we have purchased so far have proved to be good natured and are also well mannered and have been willing to accept the training of a new discipline.”

So what does the future hold for these 5 rehabilitated Thoroughbreds? “Our main aim is to progress our horses to the highest level possible” being international polo ponies explained Edmeades. “We invest an incredible amount of work into each individual and they are all showing great promise so far. Our hope is that they will all excel”

Quick Links

• View NSW TRT horses for sale on Horsezone
• Stay in touch with TRT at facbook.com/NSWTRT 
• Visit www.nswtrt.org.au