Polo! I'd like to know everything pls

jenbleep

jenbleep

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 November 2005
Messages
14,674
Location
North West
Visit site
Hello!

Out hacking this weekend I was thinking of what I'd like to try next, and I thought of polo! It looks tough but I think it would be a lot of fun :) I'm quietly competitive and think I would like the team aspect!

Thing is, I know diddly squat about polo. Could you all enlighten me?

I wasn't sure where to post this so I hope I get some replies! :)
 
It is ADDICTIVE!

I absolutely loved polo. 3-a-team in arena, and 4 on grass. Arena balls are bigger (and a bit softer!) than your hard grass balls. The ponies are LOVELY - very responsive.

What exactly are you wanting to know?

To get started check out the HPA (Hurlingham Polo Association) website and find out where your nearest club is, and give them a call!
 
I'd just like to know about peoples experiences, how did you get into it, how much were lessons, whats the layout of the game....I know that a game last about an hour and a half, and it's separated into chuckkas but that's about it!

I've emailed a guy from Wadebridge (polo south west) so I'm waiting to hear back from him:)
 
i used to play :D loved it :D
most clubs will have hire ponies - and will do lessons/stick and ball session etc - def worth contacting our local one via HPA

ETA - jsut seen you above post after i hit reply! i got into it from grooming - did hunter over winter and polo ponise over summer - worked for a club then worked for a pro and got to play ladies tournaments when he wasn't playing. not sure of cost etc as my HPA fees and entry fees were paid for by a patron... and ponies obv free
 
They are pressed mints that come in a variety of flavours, such as Original and Spearmint. The name ‘Polo’ is reportedly from the word ‘Polar’ and is to symbolise the cool and fresh feeling one gets from sucking a Polo
 
I got into it at Uni - an e-mail went around the riding club seeing if anybody was interested in a potential polo club. One lesson and I was hooked. The best thing about Uni was that it was fairly cheap - £30 for a 1 hour group lesson.

At Uni polo it's 3 a side in both arena and on grass. I took on the role of dedicated penalty scorer (I could hit the ball in a straight line and be accurate), and played no. 1. Generally your 4 is your big hitter at the back (although in Uni it was 3 obviously). It's been a while since I've played so I'm a bit rusty!

At Uni the longest a match was was 4 chukkas of 7 minutes. You change ponies after each chukka (sometimes in the middle of a chukka especially at high-goal level), and a pony can only do 2 chukkas in a match.

Ways of defence are either hooking (basically hitting the other player's stick with yours, below the level of the horse's back) or ride-off - where you essentially ride alongside the other player and guide your pony into theirs - hence the need for knee pads!

Obviously the team with the most goals at the end of the match wins!
 
Great thanks for your replies everyone! :) Sounds fun, I have a feeling I might only be only to do it every now and again which is a shame but at least I can say I've done it!
 
Ooooh, I will be keeping a very close eye on this thread as I'm currently looking into polo lessons for my birthday this year. Though the entirety of my polo knowledge comes from the Jilly Cooper book of the same name!! I'm hoping to go and watch a few local tournaments soon as well, should be fun fun fun!!
 
Katikins said:
Ooooh, I will be keeping a very close eye on this thread as I'm currently looking into polo lessons for my birthday this year. Though the entirety of my polo knowledge comes from the Jilly Cooper book of the same name!! I'm hoping to go and watch a few local tournaments soon as well, should be fun fun fun!!
Click to expand...

Ditto! I have gotten totally addicted to Jilly Cooper and have ordered the lot off amazon!

PS

LOL @ T-Bag!
 
I've never tried it but our local RC has organised a day at a local club and I am booked into that. I'm really looking forward to it!!

One (dumb!) question for someone who knows something about it all. Do you have to have the stick in your right hand? Its just I'm left handed and have really bad co-ordination!! :D:D:D
 
Cavblacks said:
Ditto! I have gotten totally addicted to Jilly Cooper and have ordered the lot off amazon!

PS

LOL @ T-Bag!
Click to expand...

I'm not just a pretty face!!

I'm no polo diva, but no horse can play more than 2 chukka's (chukka is 7 mins long i think), and I think there is 4 to 6 chukka's in a game? anyway that is why players need more than 1 horse.

however don't let that put you off as polo is about getting drunk, sorry I mean the social side.

It is great fun to watch and even better when the sun is out :)
 
Its so much fun, thats all you need to know!!! It can be expensive though, i play for my uni & we pay £50 for a lesson & for non uni people its £110 - but it does include all your horse & equipment hire!!
 
hi, no you are not allowed to play left handed too dangerous. a bell rings end of chukka at 7 mins you then have another 30 secs unless the ball hits the boards or goes out of play. beware though Polo is addictive!
 
As the others have said, it's great fun! Back in the day *taps out pipe on zimmer frame* I played for the British Ladies U21s team in America (probably because at the time there were only about 6 of us to choose from and one of those had hurt her leg :D)

I was totally hooked. Luckily it was through the Pony Club or else I couldn't have afforded it and was leant ponies to ride.

I do remember that if you scored a goal it was marvellous, but just being in one piece at the end of a chukka was a bonus....

*shuffles off, muttering about 'when I was young'....*
 
I've had a couple of lessons with SW Polo and very much enjoyed it - Andy has a lovely flea-bitten grey called Tonka who is a great schoolmaster.
 
im awaiting a polo cross session :D im well excited, my friend plays it for the south west and hes getting me a lesson when they have a training session. apparantly its cheaper and abit more fun than polo but thats a biased opinion!
 
arizonahoney said:
I've had a couple of lessons with SW Polo and very much enjoyed it - Andy has a lovely flea-bitten grey called Tonka who is a great schoolmaster.
Click to expand...

Yes I've been emailing him - he's quoted me for a private lesson and also if I wanted to share with a friend. Going to persuade her tonight! He quoted with one horse between us :( but also a horse each and that would be the same as a private lesson.

It is expensive but even if I do a lesson now and again, he said the season runs from April - September (sometimes October depending on weather!!)

I just want to add another string to my bow lol!
 
Polo is amazing, unlike any other equestrian sport IMO. I worked and played (badly - 1goal handicap) for 5 years on and off. It really was the best thing I have ever done. the best thing to do is to get yourself on a wooden horse in some nets and practice there or make one :D!! Or buy some foot sticks to practice on a bike or on foot!! I miss it a lot but my mare who was going to be an eventer/hunter and polo dabbler is now 16.3 and my stick wont reach the ball!! :)
 
Last edited:
I played intensively through pony club to uni - it becomes prohibitively expensive when you hit 18

For example when I was 18 (long ago) Ciren Polo Club was £60 to join, when you are 19 its was £1,500 - I think they have graduated it a bit more and charge the nippers more now! (Full member is £2,588)

If you are at uni, then unless you have oodles of cash I think polocrosse is the best alternative!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top