IMPHAL, November 16: Chronicling the contributions made on the sport of Polo by the people and the ponies of the state, the International Museum of the Horse at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington unveiled new display on Tuesday, November 15.
A Raj Bhavan release today said that although the game of Polo was introduced to British in 1854 by Manipur the actual story remained shrouded in mystery.
The state Governor, GurbachanJagat, has said, “Over the last century and a half decades, the sport of polo has become synonymous with British horsemanship”. And on behalf of the peoples, the state Governor presented the new exhibits as a gift to the International Museum, the press release further added.
Museum Director, Bill Cooke have said, “We are extremely grateful to the Governor and people of the state not only for their significant donation of ethnographic material related to the Manipuri Pony, but also for allowing us to do our small part to raise awareness of these historically significant animals that is currently on the threat of extinction”.
The museum also expressed its gratitude to the Secretary of the Manipur Governor and the Commissioner of Art and Culture, Dr RK Nimai Singh and L Somi Roy, a New York-based films and media curator for his arrangement in presenting the gift.
All the exhibits were designed and assembled by MeisnamKhelen of Imphal, former captain of Manipur Polo Team. And the exhibits features a traditional Manipuri polo saddle, braided leather whip, a full set of traditional attires of polo player, two-polo mallet, a ball made of bamboo root and a set of traditional equestrian darts, as said by the press release.
During the occasion, the tournament director of US Polo Association (USPA) Ed Armstrong have said, “We are very interested in the fascinating antecedents of our game and are pleased to be a part of this”. The press release further added that the exhibit offers a comparison with modern American polo gear provided by US Polo Association.
The Manipuri Pony is still used for Polo in Manipur where the game is played with seven team players per side. But unfortunately, the Manipur Pony is now an endangered breed with estimated population of fewer than 500 in the state, the press release maintained.