The Care Circle - The Grooms

Dearest Reader, if you have ever lingered at the edge of a high-goal match, you will know the peculiar thrill of it—the thud of hooves like a drumline, the whistle of wind, and then (in an instant) a thousand-pound marvel stopping, turning, and launching again as if the laws of nature were merely polite suggestions.

Society, of course, prefers to speak of the riders—their handicaps, their ambitions, their shiny helmets and shinier confidence. Yet the true spectacle begins long before the ball is tossed in. It begins in the stables, when the world is still dark, when glamour is asleep, and when the real work—quiet, relentless, and unromantic—has already begun.

At El Lirio Polo, we are not in the business of “having horses.” We keep athletes—the sort the ton would brag about if the ton had the good sense to brag about the right things. And our first rule is not negotiable: horse first, always. The circle of care is built on early mornings, repetition, and an almost scandalous attention to detail. At the center of it all stand the grooms—silent, indispensable keepers of our most prized performers.

The Backbone of the Household: Our Polo Grooms

Consider, Gentle Reader: if the veterinarian is the surgeon and the trainer the coach, then the groom is the household’s primary physician, valet, confidant, and watchdog all at once. A polo barn may sparkle from afar, but it is held together by the people who notice everything—especially the things no one else thinks to look for.

Our grooms are in the barn at 5:00 AM—not “around five,” not “shortly after,” but five—and they are often still checking legs, buckets, and bedding long after the day’s applause has faded.

A great groom does not merely tidy. They read a horse the way an astute hostess reads a ballroom: who is off their feed, who has a hint of heat in a fetlock, who is not quite themselves. In polo, consistency is not a luxury—it is the foundation. The bond between groom and string is how small problems are caught before they become expensive tragedies. And do not underestimate the psychology: a calm, confident routine makes for a relaxed horse—and a relaxed horse, Dearest Reader, is a dangerous thing on the field (dangerous in the best possible way).

The Morning Grind (5:00 AM Means 5:00 AM)

The rhythm of polo barns varies with geography and season, but the hierarchy never changes: horses first, everything else second. At El Lirio, the day begins at 5:00 AM, with horses brought in from their night paddocks for grain. While they eat, water is topped, the aisle is set, and the household wakes itself into order.

And then comes “work,” though it is not the gentle kind one might recommend in polite conversation. This is conditioning—hard, methodical, and entirely non-negotiable. We run training sets to build cardio, strength, and recovery fitness. A “set,” for the uninitiated, is a rider traveling the track while managing one to four horses on each side in lead ropes. It is efficient, it is intense, and it is how a string stays fit enough to do what it must do, week after week.

We are quite particular about how sets are run. A walk set is about 30 minutes. A normal set often includes 10 minutes walking, 15–20 minutes trotting or cantering, and a final 10 minutes walking to cool down. When we want to build muscle, our grooms trot the horses rather than letting them canter—because trotting demands more engagement (especially behind), while cantering can be downright relaxing for some horses. Walk sets are reserved for those who have recently played, or for recovery after a hard match.

After sets, the horses are rinsed to remove sweat and sand, returned to their stalls for hay and shade, and the barn is reset—stalls, aisles, buckets, tack—so that comfort and cleanliness remain the rule, not the reward. Our grooms also prepare the evening paddocks before the midday break, because nothing ruins a smooth evening like discovering a problem by flashlight.

Mid-day Breaks and the “Chunga”

It may look, from the outside, as though grooms live in the barn (and some days, one suspects they might prefer it). In truth, the day is commonly split: morning barn, a midday gap, and evening barn. That pause is necessary; even the most stalwart of staff must eat, rest, and recover—especially when dawn begins at five and the work is physical from the first bucket to the last boot.

But midday, Gentle Reader, has another name in the polo world: “chunga.” Officially, it usually means game help. In practice, it has become shorthand for any extra hustle—any additional work taken on to earn a little more. You will find grooms taking chungas to help another team at a match, run errands, handle odd jobs around a club, or step in wherever the season is short-staffed and the needs are urgent. It is the grit beneath the velvet: the unglamorous reality that keeps the entire sport moving forward.

Afternoon Activities and Game Prep

On polo days—lessons, stick-and-ball (S&B), practices, matches—the household shifts into a different tempo. “Stick-and-ball” is a player’s private study: refining mallet work and horsemanship, polishing the skills that make the public moment look effortless.

The grooms prepare and tack up horses according to a precise list. This is not a careless flinging-on of leather. It is a full inspection—every strap, every buckle, every point of pressure—because safety and comfort are not optional when the pace is high. After the activity, they untack, rinse again, and restore each horse to comfort. Some grooms also warm horses up for players, ensuring the pony is supple and ready to go the instant hooves hit grass.

On half-days, the routine softens—but never disappears. Horses may be turned out earlier. Stalls may be prepared for the next morning’s dawn march. But even on “off” days, grooms return in the evening. In-season, many work seven days a week so the off-season can be, at last, a breath. It is a demanding schedule requiring more stamina than most people will ever have cause to develop.

The El Lirio Standard: Horse-First, No Shortcuts

I will confess, Dearest Reader: I am demanding. I come from the show world, where perfection is not a distant dream—it is the entry fee. I have brought those standards to El Lirio Polo, and it means my grooms must be sharper, more observant, and more consistent than the average barn can comfortably tolerate. The horses deserve nothing less.

We test equipment constantly and adjust tack and gear to suit the individual horse—because one-size-fits-all is for hats, not athletes. And yes, I insist upon the details some people call “extra,” though those details protect health and performance.

• Filtered water: Instead of the standard two-bucket system, I use one large water bucket with an integrated filter.

• Custom hay boxes: We use hay boxes to minimize the amount of sand our horses ingest while eating.

• Cleanliness as a standard: Fine shavings, clean stalls, and clean barn areas are non-negotiable. Every feed and water bucket must be emptied and scrubbed daily to prevent bacteria buildup.

• Gut health support: Because horses cannot naturally pass sand, we use "SandClear" (a psyllium husk supplement) monthly. It effectively "picks up" the sand in their gut and removes it with their manure, preventing impaction and colic.

• No sharing tack: I also have a strict "no sharing" rule for tack to minimize any risk of cross-contamination or skin issues.

Beyond the basics, we support recovery like the athletes they are: bodywork and infrared light therapy to ease soreness and speed recovery. Every diet is managed like a private ledger—grain, vitamins, electrolytes, and individualized support. On hot days, every horse gets a fan, because comfort is performance, and performance is the point.

The Evening Wrap-Up

As the day closes, evening barn begins. Horses without a polo activity may go out for an evening set. Others receive a final rinse if needed before dinner—grains and supplements—while the barn is cleaned down and the night paddocks are made ready with fresh hay and water.

And then—just when the crowd believes the drama is over—there is the matter of match-day urgency: the pony swap. It is the fastest costume change in sport, performed in plain sight, with grooms moving like seasoned stagehands. A fresh horse is steadied, tack is checked, a rider is up and away, and the game continues as if it were always meant to look that seamless.

When the horses are finally settled, the grooms at last step out of the spotlight they never sought. In many barns, that is when they share food, laughter, and the day’s small triumphs and near misses—an entire community built on work, skill, and respect for the horses who make polo possible.

Passion Over Everything

So there you have it, Gentle Reader: the life of a polo groom—long hours, hard labor, and a level of responsibility most people would not accept for any salary. The best grooms are the best because this is not simply employment. It is pride. It is craft. It is devotion.

Working for me at El Lirio is not for the faint of heart. But for the groom who cares about equine health, performance, and the quiet satisfaction of excellence, it is a place where the results speak—sleek coats, sound legs, steady minds, and horses who show up ready.

And when you watch our ponies fly across the field this Thursday, do remember: the glamour arrives at game time. The greatness begins at 5:00 AM.