First polo lesson report :)

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Lucinda_x

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So on Sunday i went to my first proper polo lesson at Taunton Vale polo club :)

We did some rules and tactics first which was helpful. Then we did a bit of half stick work which was helpful to get the technique sorted on ground. Short break and onto the ponies to learn how to ride a polo pony. I had a small chestnut mare who was lovely. Very nice quick turn on her. We were then given our sticks and had a quick play on the ponies. They then set both groups loose into a chucka which obviously was very slow but we all have to start somewhere!

I really enjoyed it and am defiently going to carry it on! I also have the benifit of a dad who lives in Berkshire and works as a polo groom :)

Here is my mare:

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Mum mainly took video's so i put a video together and here is the link :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y85dNn7LsMs


Hope you enjoy :)
Lucy x
 
well done, you'll be hooked soon! polo is a great equine sport which is brilliant fun, looks like you had a fab time! x
 
Wow I love polo!! You lucky thing... nice mare too! I quite like that spotted one... :D
 
looks like youve had a great day..ive never played polo but i have helped to exercise my friends polo ponies nearby..they play for the wycombe club

im sure thats the same place where ive gone to race my whippets..not on the polo pitch..along side one of them..we also use a paddock at kingsclere polo grounds

bet you cant wait for the net session
 
haycroft said:
im sure thats the same place where ive gone to race my whippets..not on the polo pitch..along side one of them..we also use a paddock at kingsclere polo grounds
Click to expand...

Whilst we were there some very fast dogs were racing on the other side of the polo pitches!
 
Fantastic fun isn't it? Had my first lesson on Saturday (and first time back on horse since I gave up dressage in a sulk because I couldn't afford the cash or time to do it properly over 20 years ago). Followed pretty much the same format as Lucinda_x at the Vale of York Polo club. First off groundwork and wooden horse work to figure how to hit the ball without braining pony or rider, then a cuppa and onto the ponies, 15.2ish strawberry rowan gelding called Pinky for me. 4 reins in one hand is 'interesting' when so out of practice. Out to field for first some stretching then some games and exercises to get the basics of ball control and team tactics. Helped when I figured I needed to stop riding like a dressage rider and ride more like doing mounted games (sorry if I've offended any polo players saying that!). Finished off with a (for any halfway competent player) a rather slow and fairly static chukka. Thankfully the ponies seemed to have more clue about what was going on than the riders so got us in more or less the right place most of the time and weren't above giving the ball a quick kick if we kept missing it! Think I was hooked inside about 30 sec of the instructor calling play in our first chukka and will certainly be back for more!
 
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