“There is a fascination about the game of polo that is hard to describe to anyone who has never played. Once a man has had a taste of it, the task of curing him is rather hopeless.” – Tommy Hitchcock
There is nothing else like it. What other competitive team sport requires you to hit a ball, maneuver your way through a cluster of thundering hooves, all while riding full-out on the back of a powerful horse? In the game of polo, people and their equine partners come together to play an exhilarating game, showcasing the incredible athleticism and coordination necessary of both horse and rider. If you have ever watched polo, you may find the idea of learning to play daunting. On the contrary, polo can be enjoyed by everyone, both men and women of any age. With the help of Polo Instructors, polo schools and USPA clubs, people from all walks of life are able to pick up a mallet and participate in one of the oldest team sports still thriving today.
There is nothing else like it. What other competitive team sport requires you to hit a ball, maneuver your way through a cluster of thundering hooves, all while riding full-out on the back of a powerful horse? In the game of polo, people and their equine partners come together to play an exhilarating game, showcasing the incredible athleticism and coordination necessary of both horse and rider. If you have ever watched polo, you may find the idea of learning to play daunting. On the contrary, polo can be enjoyed by everyone, both men and women of any age. With the help of Polo Instructors, polo schools and USPA clubs, people from all walks of life are able to pick up a mallet and participate in one of the oldest team sports still thriving today.
Two venues - USPA Regulation Polo Rules
Outdoor Polo on a Field Polo in an Arena
Traditional field polo is played with four players by team. A game is divided in 4 to 8 “chukkers”, periods of 7 minutes. Between chukkers, the players change horses to let them rest. Indeed, accelerations, breakings and turns are very intense. Two horses minimum are required for one polo player (playing four chukkers). The grass field is huge: 300 yards long and 160 yards wide. The ball is made of resin and it has a diameter of 8.5cm. Polo season is usually in summer, horses rest and graze during winter.
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Arena polo follows the same rules as traditional field polo, but the field, smaller, is made of sand or dirt. The match is divided in 4 chukkers and the ball with a 12.5cm diameter, is made of leather. Arena polo is played with 3 players on each team. The field is surrounded with sideboards of approximately four feet high, designed to keep the ball in play. In Arena Polo, the horses usually play only two chukkers. The players usually change ponies between each game period.
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