WESTERN Riding competitor Bob Reader was reined in himself recently by the All Ireland Polo Club and the Irish Quarter Horse Association (IQHA) to give a demonstration of his Western Riding skills and reining expertise.

Riding Albert Einstein’s Velvet, a seven-year-old Quarter Horse, Reader showed all the flexibility and turning power expected from any of the polo ponies that compete summer and winter around the country.

The Western Horsemanship clinician and European level competitor has enjoyed success in many western disciplines including reining, riding and cutting, and was at the AIPC with the Dublin Polo Academy, which was held until September.

“The breed tends to be quiet and biddable, a good working partner and that is why the Quarter Horse is special,” said Bob Reader when he spoke to around 40 students at the demonstration.

“They are generally easy to train, and the compact body is well suited to the speedy turns and sharp stops required in competition.”

The demonstration by Bob and his Quarter Horse brought the success of the breed as a polo pony to the fore, at least in this country and most of Europe. The iconic American breed has excelled at sprinting short distances but only gained wide approval as a polo pony just four years ago at the US Open in Florida.

Apparently as much as 40% at the low-to mid-level polo games in the United States are played on quarter horses.

Bob Reader was demontrating at the AIPC in association with the IQHA which is based in Co Leitrim.