Having to change pony every chukka! (polo)

Vindicated

Vindicated

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Just a little rant,

After having polo lessons weekly for around 5 months, I have just started playing instructional and academy chukkas at my local club. I play areana polo and have not played grass yet. The only thing that I find a little silly is the rules regarding changing pony every chukka of play; a chukka only being 7minutes long.

Now I can understand playing high goal polo, where the pony is at full gallop for nearly the whole 7 minutes of play, on a field 300 yards long, but just cantering around the areana for 7 minutes of low goal polo....c'mon! I have done my fair share of endurance riding in the past and remember some of the Arabs that used to take part. They could gallop and canter for hours on end. Even the little Criollo I used to ride could lope all day long.

The club also charges £35 for horse hire, whcih isn't too bad if you enjoy it, but it's £35 for only 7 minutes of actual play, then needing to hire another pony for the second chukka and another for the third That is far too execssive!

Just thinking of getting my own pony and telling them to stick their rules!
 
It does seem a bit excessive to have to pay three lots of £35 for one game!
I'd definately look into getting your own if you have time/funds etc. It would also be worthwhile looking around at different yards (if there are any others near you?) to compare prices/rules etc.

I've never actually played polo but will be spending three months this summer working at a polo and racing yard, primarily working with the polo ponies and exercising them so am hoping to pick up a few tips!
I don't suppose anyone has actually worked at a polo yard? Not sure what to expect really...
 
Princess Jess said:
It does seem a bit excessive to have to pay three lots of £35 for one game!
I'd definately look into getting your own if you have time/funds etc. It would also be worthwhile looking around at different yards (if there are any others near you?) to compare prices/rules etc.

I've never actually played polo but will be spending three months this summer working at a polo and racing yard, primarily working with the polo ponies and exercising them so am hoping to pick up a few tips!
I don't suppose anyone has actually worked at a polo yard? Not sure what to expect really...
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I'm actually also hoping do to a placement at a polo yard this summer as I have 16 weeks off from University. A game is actually 4 chukkas, so £140 for less than an hour of play. I forgot to mention the fourth.

Where are you going to work?
 
I have worked in a polo yard and consider the rule not to be unreasonable at all. For that 7 and a half minutes the horse is accelerating decelerating changing direction not ideally cantering a circle!
And believe me they finish that 7 and a half minuites high blowing saturated I sweat and tired even in low goal much as a horse comes of a cc course after 5 minuites exertion,
You forget to mention that ponies with stamina can play two chukkas just not one after the other so they have at least a chukka break!
Not all could manage this though and they were all fit!
 
I think its more about the strain that is put on the joints of the horses with all the Sharp turns and stops. Although at low goal its probably not so severe it dies take its toll. When I groomed for the Australian international team we would use 14 horses each match. In low grade there would only be 4 chukkas and we had 2 horses so they could have some rest.
I agree though that 35 per chukka is excessive but if you paid for 2 and could use them in 2 chukkas each then it could work out better value for money. Having your own pony won't necessarily make it cheaper because you'd still need a second for the alternate chukka. Hope that makes sense! :-)
 
Even if you have to change pony each chukka you should only need 2, I am sure many people play low level with just 2 ponies, it sounds like a way to make £££s out of you.
I am sure when I was based next door to a high goal yard the best pony sometimes played twice if they really needed it. possibly first and last so plenty of time to cool down.
The top ponies are really fit, they used to canter non stop for 30 mins each day when getting fit.
 
Well, I did work on a ranch in the states and the quater horses they used were very fit indeed. I understand that sharp turns and such takes it's toll on the horse, but I still reckon one of those hardy little ranch horses could play at least 4 chukkas with a 10 minute break at half time, plus the 3 minutes break between each chukka, maybe more!

Don't get me started on the endurance of the Criollo.
 
I was a polo groom; and i do agree with the new pony rule. however you should be able to just use two? this is what most people i worked for did.
even if your pony is fine after a game or 3, not sweaty or puffing they have to have that rule so people dont exxhaust a pony who isnt fit enough and is being ridden hard. If its just at peoples discression that can be interpreted as ignored by some people. If you want to know anything about being a polo groom feel free to ask :)
 
Imogen Rose said:
I was a polo groom; and i do agree with the new pony rule. however you should be able to just use two? this is what most people i worked for did.
even if your pony is fine after a game or 3, not sweaty or puffing they have to have that rule so people dont exxhaust a pony who isnt fit enough and is being ridden hard. If its just at peoples discression that can be interpreted as ignored by some people. If you want to know anything about being a polo groom feel free to ask :)
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Where can I get a placement for the summer lol?;)
 
Most polo ponies are not criollo ours were mainly tb , English newzealand and Australian even the argentine pones had mainly tb blood .
Have seen ponies break down in a chucca most players are fully grown men and most ponies around 15.1 to 15.2.
Polo is a great game but not easy on the horses. Lameness is common. If you can't afford it then you shouldn't be doing it and certainly not cutting costs at the expence of the ponies welfare!
 
If you think 35 quid is expensive wait till you have to start paying for a pro..... agree with lannerch, ponies welfare come first, if you don't want to spend money you picked the wrong sport!
 
Yep, £35 a chukka sounds pretty cheap, also having (vaguely) groomed for a friend who was playing arena this winter, the ponies come out of the arena having worked pretty hard, if you're only cantering around a bit then yes, maybe your ponies could do more than one chukka in a row...most of the ones i have seen coming off the arena are blowing pretty hard...and those are the fit ones! They have to have one rule for everyone they are hiring ponies to.
 
Wow... I would be delighted at £35 a chukka! The place I'm currently at charges £50 a chukka. Both of which are extortionate of course. It would better if it was £35 for two chukkas (with a break in between)

Fair enough for the ponies not playing consecutive chukkas - I'm a -1 and my ponies would be pretty shattered if I played them 2 chukkas in a row. Not only would it be too much for them but it would hamper my game too.

Ponies (TBs and Argentines) can play 2 chukkas with a break in between. In pony club polo, you play 3 chukkas a day on one pony in some sections with a hour break between each chukka (plenty of time to recover).
 
Vindicated said:
How come? What were your experiences?
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well, i was personaly in charge of 13 horses on my own. and every saturday and sunday they all had to be mucked out, fed and watered; tacked up and groomed immaculately before 10am. a total mission!!!
then i had to lead 5 or 6 horses at once a long way to tie them up in the rain and the cold... and stand there myself walking a horse around while each chukka is played. and im supposed to cool down one horse whilst getting the next ready... its just very hard.
but i did make some fantastic friends, have some seriously good evenings in the tack rooms and fell in love with every horse i cared for:rolleyes:
so its swings and roundsbouts:D
 
Or why not try polocrosse, king of the one horse sports ;) Much more fun than polo!

I have to agree with the others in saying that £35 per chukka isn't expensive, the club the chap I groom for belongs to ponies generally get hired out for £80 per chukka to play low goal.
 
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