Polo, western or jumping?

[IAmCrazyForHorses]

I am a novice can walk trot and canter English. I really want to learn polo even though its expensive because I love the fast galloping horse sports. But at the same time I could now have a jumping lesson but I also would love to try western. All three I could do easily but I don't know which one to start. Polo is my favourite and its a good time to start because its winter. I never done any of these before. Should I have one lesson of each and see which one I like best?
I am going to plumpton college (in year eleven currently) so I will probably do jumping anyway because they do a lot of that there.
Thanks xx

 

[Flyingwithoutwings]

Hiya,
For me personally polo doesn't appeal to me. Firstly the idea of galloping a horse at full speed then straight into a sliding halt, Is dangerous (much like all equestrian sports) but also seems to be particularly strenuous on the horse. However if you wanted to do polo then I would have a few full speed gallops on a hack or something just to get used to the speed. Also practice cantering and trotting and when you get there galloping with just one or no hands. (This will help you to keep you balance when you holding the polo stick.
Jumping is one of my faves. There are so many possibilities, so many different jump heights, jump types. You could do grids and bounces and even get into cross country.

I've never tried western, so I don't know much about it. But I have friends who seem to enjoy the long trail rides and hacks.

I would take a few lessons in each to see which one you enjoy most, you don't want to rush into it.
Hope I helped a bit...

 

[IAmCrazyForHorses]

Thanks xx
Quite often I go on hacks on this (lazy) pony called Trooper. He has to go at the back which is great because it means I can practise one handed riding with no one to tell me off
I will definitely try jumping my yard has got a new pony who is apparently a very good jumper

 

[olivia x]

Western and jumping are both things I have done a lot of in the past-- never even thought of polo! I grew up across the pond, where Western was the predominant style of riding-- though I badly wanted to ride English and jump. I don't know anything at all about the Western style riding activities in the UK. I did little rodeos with barrel racing, pole bending, etc, but all I really wanted to do was ride English-- once the opportunities to take English lessons and learn to jump came along, I have never ridden Western again. To me ( just my opinion and experience, others will have theirs) I felt more part of the horse, had more feel of the horse, more connected to the horse, riding English.

That said, I have a friend who did the opposite-- abandoned dressage and jumping to compete on cutting horses, and she has never looked back.

If you have the chance, by all means, check out Western. And if you ever get the chance to ride a horse trained as a cutting horse-- wow. What an experience-- the horse does the job themselves-- amazingly smart. I was fortunate to get to ride ranch trained horses at various stages of my life. Talk about bomb proof. The ranch horses are used for work, and they have to be utterly reliable.

 

[TT55]

Definitely give polo a go, it's a great sport! Plus, you are right, winter is a good time to start. You will be in an arena so it wont be an intimidating as outdoor polo.

Most clubs do an "introduction to polo" day or lesson which would be a good way to see if you like it.

I'm not sure about your college, but some do polo and even if they don't a lot of clubs do good rates for students as a way of encouraging people in to the sport.

 

[donkeygary]

Have you thought about Polocrosse?