The Club may, through the Committee, offer livery for Polo Ponies to Charter Members which shall be upon the terms and conditions set out in these Bye-laws.
All Polo Ponies registered in Livery at the Club, shall be privately owned or leased from the Club and must play polo in accordance with the terms and conditions of these Bye-laws.
Livery Charges for Polo Ponies shall be determined by the Committee at its absolute discretion from time to time taking into account the following guidelines:-
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A subsidised rate for Polo Ponies occupying allocated and/or long term or 10 year leases and meeting the other criteria set out in these Bye-laws.
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A subsidised rate for Polo Ponies playing polo regularly to the satisfaction of the Polo Sub-Committee and occupying stables under short term leases, renewable on a strictly annual basis, and meeting the other criteria set out in these Bye-laws.
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Full livery or no subsidy in all cases where a Polo pony belonging to one Charter Member is being played primarily, or to an extent deemed unacceptable by the Polo Sub-Committee, by another member.
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Full livery or no subsidy where a member’s Polo Pony is, temporarily or otherwise, stabled in a stable allocated to another Charter Member.
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A reduced subsidy during spelling.
The Committee may by written notice immediately withdraw any subsidised livery for horse without giving any reason.
The Committee will determine, at intervals of three months, the livery charges for Polo Ponies and these will normally be valid for the next three months. Details of the livery charges will be advised to members within seven days from the date of the aforesaid determination. At the end of each three month period, the Polo Sub-Committee will consider each Polo Pony on its individual merits, to determine whether or not there is justification for continuing the livery charges at the previous quarter’s level. It will then make its recommendations to the Committee. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Committee shall have the discretion to assess Polo Ponies on a monthly basis and revise the livery charges accordingly.
The Club will invoice the member for the charges in arrears on a monthly basis. A refundable deposit of one month’s livery will be held by the Club.
The criteria to be used to determine charges for livery for Polo Ponies will include:-
A Polo Pony must be played by its owner for a minimum of 50% of all available chukkas played during a period of 6 months, unless special exemption is granted by the Polo Subcommittee.
A Polo Book will be maintained by the Polo Captain and serve as a record of the frequency with which Polo Ponies are used to play polo. The Polo Sub-Committee will look for a satisfactory overall level of participation over each three monthly period, and the desirable level is a minimum of 80% participation in available chukkas, whether playing polo or as an umpire’s pony. Members who cannot play their horses will make them available for umpiring (unless there is a specific reason such as lameness etc for not doing so) as the Club does not have any horses set aside for this essential purpose. Where a Polo Pony is used for umpiring, this will count on exactly the same basis as if it had played. A member who, in the view of the Polo Captain, unreasonably withholds the use of his polo pony for umpiring may, as determined by the Polo Sub-Committee, stand to lose either some or all of the livery subsidies enjoyed by that polo pony.
When a Polo Pony is genuinely produced for umpiring but is not utilised, this will be marked down in the Polo Book as ‘participation’. When a member puts himself down to play a specified number of chukkas on his own Polo Ponies and is not allocated the full number, the chukkas “lost” will count as participation. When any chukka or chukkas are cancelled, these will also count as participating.
The Polo Sub-Committee will also take all other relevant factors into account including the following criteria:-
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Any period in which the Polo Pony was lame and the cause of its lameness.
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Periods of illness or injury of owners and/or lessees.
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The absence of owners and/or lessees on business or personal trips.
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The background playing records of the Polo Pony and its owners and/or lessee.
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The level of participation of the Polo Pony and its owner or lessee in tournaments both in and outside Singapore.
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Any Polo Pony which plays in a Club sanctioned tournament outside Singapore or in Singapore will automatically qualify for that month.
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The loan of Polo Ponies to visiting players and for tournaments.
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The good conduct of the owner and/or lessee in following the Club’s Constitution and Bye-laws.
Owners and lessees are asked to advise the Polo Captain, in writing, of any circumstances which may/have affected their ability or the ability of their Polo Ponies to play polo.
Any member dissatisfied with the rate of charges imposed for livery for Polo Ponies may appeal in writing to the Committee, through the Honorary Secretary.
Members are responsible for ensuring that their Polo Ponies when playing polo are properly groomed and have safe and proper tack in good serviceable condition. This includes a saddle, fixed martingale, bit, surcingle, bound tail, protective boots or polo bandages on all four legs and hogged mane. The Polo Captain will decide whether a pony is properly and safely tacked up and presented to play polo.