A game and its pony
Sagol Kangjei is the mounted game of Manipur from which modern polo developed. Local ponies carried players through tight changes of direction and also served as cavalry mounts. The state’s account of the breed records its place in Lai Haraoba celebrations. Several explanations of the pony’s deeper ancestry survive, and those origins remain uncertain.
Small stature, individual ability
Manipur’s conservation material describes ponies of roughly 11 to 13 hands and highlights their agility. A hand is four inches measured at the withers, the high point where the neck meets the back. For a riding enquiry, ask how the pony behaves during mounting, around other horses and away from its usual playing ground.
The importance of grazing space
Manipur identified the loss of wetland grazing as a pressure on its ponies. Before taking one into your care, plan for safe turnout, daily access to forage and the company of compatible horses. If a pony will move yards, collect its feeding and exercise routine in advance so its next keeper can ease the transition.