Little Mary

Little Mary – bred in Ireland, the much-celebrated bay pony “Little Mary” was owned by August Belmont and loaned to the American team, played by Larry Waterbury as part of The Big Four of 1909, winners of the International matches against Great Britain. Shortly after her return from England in 1909, she was injured and thought to be permanently retired. But she recovered and was called upon as part of the American team again, winning the Internationals of 1911 and 1913.

A grand looking pony, there was certainly nothing diminutive about “Little Mary” – she was a good-sized mare, standing well over 15 hands and up to any weight. Played prior to any known awards being established, she was cited by experts of her era as among the trinity of the three greatest polo ponies of that time. She was immortalized in the famed Haseltine bronze “The Big Four” that depicts Larry Waterbury on Little Mary along with the other team members and their legendary mounts. The image of this sculpture is used as the emblem for the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame.