Rant: Polo so snobbish in the UK!!

Vindicated

Vindicated

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I first learnt to play polo whilst travelling India and Pakistan, and I fell in love with the game instantly. The speed and adderanline rush just did it for me, plus the feeling of playing with the horse and not just on it (if you get what I mean). It is a really awesome connection! I've also played a little in New Zealand.

This is where the rant starts. I've found that polo in the UK is so class ridden it's sometimes almost unbearable. I would like to think I'm far more intelligent and eductated to reduce myself to something as archaic as class distinctions, but the atmosphere at some clubs is almost suffocating. Forced accents from the nouveau rich and socialites irritates me so much!! I find it so annoying, plus the overall snobbishness is ubearable. I feel the people involved really ruin polo in this country, most of them care more about class and the social side of things more than the game itself. :(
 
With you on this..been going to polo(or taken I should say) since only a few weeks old. Dad played here & india, his father played in the army in India and I play here-am a fully paid up PLAYING member not just a social wannabe member. I have my grandfathers cups that he won on his best pony Bill. Yet I can go to matches here & feel looked down upon because i don't bellow my Yaaaaaaaaaaaaa foghorn to announce my every move...oh and the fact that I might just not be in heels and a silly dress as i far prefer to spend the entire day in my whites & boots (only if riding I mean...otherwise thats just soooo rubbish). Amazing how many actually play or should I say "play" but only go to be seen or to be social rather than for the sport. I noticed a similar thing at Hickstead (sj side more so than dressage at Hickstead) over the last 10 years and this will apply today especially as its Queens Cup Final Day (Cartier) both are becoming social events rather than the excellent sporting events they were even a few years ago. Polo seems now to be the parading round, the what i'm wearing yayayayaya -nonononono scene flick my hair & shriek raucously scene oh quick scream the crowd murmered something must have happened lets clap...the party after and of course the China White esque side that it goes hand in hand with. Similarly Hickstead seems now to be full of chavs walking round in boots & jods with lots of pink & lots of diamante and these boots eek at the sight of mud let alone a horse..and polo the same. Yes I love high goal, but to me now, nothing better than going to a low-medium goal game at a friendly local club that you can drive right up to the boards and watch sat on your car bonnet if not playing and if you want to wear your jeans and maybe be a little bit covered in eau de pony then thats fine too...second to this, like today, I stay home.:D
 
Which clubs? I have never been to the polos clubs in Yorkshire (its on the to do list though!) but I can't imagine the snobbery is that bad, but then that might be a gymkhana level compared to posh polo, I don't know anything about it :D
 
It totally depends where you play....and in my experience ( been playing for 15 years now...and been a polo groom for 3 years both here and in NZ so seen both ends of the spectrum..!), its not so much the players/grooms who are the 'snobbish' element, but mostly spectators at the bigger clubs.

There are some really wonderful family run clubs around now, which are friendly and welcoming. You can hire or borrow ponies, its fun low goal, best watched from the bonnet of your car with a cold Corona in your hand whilst someone fires up the BBQ on the sidelines :)

I just got in from playing a tournament this weekend at one such club, there were all ages playing, everyone got involved, its competitive but the most important part is having fun.

Don't tar all clubs and all players with the 'snobbish' brush, because its not all like that..promise!
 
Depends on where you play - I play with uni for a really cheap amount at a great club and haven't found it at all snobbish :)
 
Mariposa said:
It totally depends where you play....and in my experience ( been playing for 15 years now...and been a polo groom for 3 years both here and in NZ so seen both ends of the spectrum..!), its not so much the players/grooms who are the 'snobbish' element, but mostly spectators at the bigger clubs.

There are some really wonderful family run clubs around now, which are friendly and welcoming. You can hire or borrow ponies, its fun low goal, best watched from the bonnet of your car with a cold Corona in your hand whilst someone fires up the BBQ on the sidelines :)

I just got in from playing a tournament this weekend at one such club, there were all ages playing, everyone got involved, its competitive but the most important part is having fun.

Don't tar all clubs and all players with the 'snobbish' brush, because its not all like that..promise!
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teapot said:
Depends on where you play - I play with uni for a really cheap amount at a great club and haven't found it at all snobbish :)
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Exactly as both of these - local is simply about fun, its unasuming, madly competitive but its all about the polo and everyone i there for just that..you'll see the pony lines & the Argentinians dotted about in their hats drinking yerba matte and smoking their roll ups...letting their ponies chill & have a pick at grass after or cantering round in their espadrilles(always makes me toe shy as I would get crushed toes!) and everyone smiles and is friendly..you get the odd banter but its friendly.Even the cliquey clubs are happy to let you into the clique.. They really don't care if you've a hair out of place or you turn up in your slingback clog style muckerboots, and generally the food at these is tastier too!:D
 
Check out Toulston polo club at Tadcaster. I don't play myself but they're as far away from snobbish as you can get! They have an annual tournament in June- may be next weekend? Def worth checking out - if location is no good for you I'm sure they would point you in direction of a similar club elsewhere.
 
Dammit Attie, I just looked that up thinking I could go next weekend, turns out it was this weekend, d'oh, I'll have to remember for next year :)

Its so close to me, how could I not know about this, horses and alcohol - is there anything better lol :)
 
Yes definitely go- next year, I've been quite a few times and it's been great fun- think they do practice chukka days through the summer you can go and watch- you'd need to take your own pimms though. ha ha !
 
misterjay said:
I love watching polo on the telly, and would really enjoy seeing it in the flesh, but the snobbishness puts me off.
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If you've never been to polo then you shouldn't let a preconceived notion of 'snobbishness' put you off - I'm a big believer in trying something out before judging it.

At the large charity days/high goal finals there might be an element of that in the 'VIP' section... but that's the same in most horse sports ( in my opinion). Go watch some of the high goal when its not a big show day, even low goal is really exciting....and it's way better than watching on a TV screen.. I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised by how welcome you feel.
 
I have worked in polo yards for a number of years and behind the scenes is a world apart from the members areas you have such an unfortunate opinion of. The smell of sweaty ponies and exhausted players, stripping and retacking ponies, riding in and bandaging the feeling you can only get having been there in the thick of it - everyone helps muck in and most grooms/players rub along and have a really great 'non snobbish' relationship and we were playing at some of the more 'elite' clubs (Cowdray, Ham, Guards, Hurtwood, Knepp) in the south where rich is as standard.

Having gone and got a 'proper' job now, i still go and watch- usually on a sunday so I can join in the social in the evenings!! I wouldnt dream of ever putting on a dress and heels (and I talk posh!!) hee hee!!

i think if you can, find a yard and offer to exercise - you will soon find your opinions changing!
 
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