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How do you play polo?
Polo is a mix of chess, Formula 1, and golf. All mixed together, and played during a magnitude 10 earthquake.
This is only a rough description of the sport and, of course, a gross oversimplification. Even though it sometimes appears uncoordinated and many people think it's just about hitting the ball as often as possible, polo is a highly strategic sport that allows for thought. Actually, hitting the ball is the smaller part of the sport. Thinking ahead, finding the right position on the field, and defending are just as important.
So that you can join in the conversation at your next polo match and know what's going on, we've compiled some polo knowledge for beginners. Don't be put off by some of the things explained here; our enthusiasm for the sport sometimes takes us by surprise. The explanations are designed to be understandable. You won't become a rules expert or a polo professional afterward, or have to tell your local bar that you're now a polo player. If you're interested in learning more, please get in touch !
But: Let yourself be inspired and have fun reading and getting into the subject matter.
4x7: The principle of a polo game.
Essentially, four polo players play against four other players on a huge, green field (274 m x 183 m). Alongside one or more referees on horseback, they are accompanied. The object of the game is to get the small white ball (made of hard plastic) into the opponent's goal, i.e., between two goalposts.
A typical polo match (here) consists of four periods of seven minutes each. Each period is called a chukka. Between two chukkas, the horses are changed, because after seven minutes, they know what they have done.
When a goal is scored, the direction of play changes. For you as a spectator, this means: After a goal is scored into the right goal, the team that scored the goal plays to the left goal. This, by the way, can be particularly confusing for spectators. But don't worry, even the players on the field sometimes forget this and play to the wrong side.
By the way, women and men play polo together. This makes any discussion about gender irrelevant.
The most important rules!
A sport in which eight riders ride a horse at top speed could be considered dangerous. That's why there are a few rules. The details are quite complicated. But if you know the most important ones as a spectator, you'll have a lot more fun watching:
Right of way: The player in possession of the ball is in a self-created passing lane. It is not permitted to push forward into this lane. This would be dangerous and could cause serious collisions.
Riding: An opposing player may, under certain circumstances, force the player in possession of the ball out of his passing lane and then take the ball.
Hooking: A player may be prevented from hitting the ball by an opponent (again under certain conditions) placing his club into the swing of the player in possession of the ball. Clubs are often broken in this process.
Just like in real life, violations of the rules result in penalties. These range from a free kick to a penalty kick (the terminology from football might help clarify this a bit, right?). During a free kick (in polo, this is called "from the spot"), the opposing players must keep their distance, allowing the kicking team to organize themselves undisturbed.
Penalties are either taken into an empty goal and are taken from different distances depending on the severity of the offense. The penalty kicks can be blocked by the opponent.
The different strokes in polo.
The polo mallet MUST be held in the right hand. Left-handers will need to undergo a certain re-education at this point. The ball can be hit forward or back. It can be played on the right (offside) or left (nearside) side of the horse. This results in several basic strokes: offside forward, offside back, nearside forward, and nearside back.
There are also many wonderful variations (which of course also have their own names).
The player's equipment.
The basic equipment of the polo player, which he usually has to take off before going to sleep, consists of:
Helmet: Decorative, individually designed according to the vanity of the player, but always with three-point security
Safety goggles: A well-accelerated polo ball fits perfectly into an eye socket, which is actually where only the eye should be.
Mallet: Traditionally made primarily from bamboo, it is available in various lengths, depending on the horse's size or the player's preference.
Leather boots and knee pads: Read the section on breaking in again. Then it'll become clear why this is important.
The polo horse.
Far too little fame and glory go to our main protagonists, the horses. Without a horse, there's no polo on horseback. Equipazo players don't view their horses as sporting equipment to be swapped, replaced, sold, or dismissed at will.
It's best to get to know our horses in a private setting. Words can hardly describe what loving, patient, and wonderful creatures they are. There is no better horse breed than the Argentine Polo Pony (the official name of this recognized breed). Even off the field, they are calm, balanced, healthy, and reliable companions. After their competitive careers, they often become leisure horses or our children's best friends.
Good polo players are also good horse owners and do everything they can to ensure their well-being. They know more than just that a horse has four legs and are concerned with horse health and behavior. Perhaps they can even create a gentle pioneering role (pun intended).
During the game, leg guards provide protection and safety. The tail is tied up during the game to prevent a bat or opponent from getting caught in it. For the same reason, polo horses keep their manes shaved. This is also seen in modern young men and is called "sides to zero."
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