Horse Polo
Posted: December 22nd, 2022
Horse Polo
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Table of Contents
The Materials for the Game/Horse Polo Equipment 5
Regulation Spurs and Polo Boots. 7
The Aims and Learning Outcomes of the Game. 14
The Age-Related Physiological and Psychological Effects of Playing the Game. 15
Comparing Horse Polo with other Similar Sports. 17
Horse Polo
Introduction
Horse polo, known as polo, is among the oldest horse-riding sport. It is played on horseback. Two opposing teams each composed of four mounted horse riders play the game. The members of the team could be males or females or a mix of both. The game is popularly known as “the sport of the kings”. Its players use mallets fixed with flexible handles to pass a wooden ball between two goalposts. The playing time is divided into periods known as chukkers or chukkas. According to Isaksen et al. (2016), the two types of polo are arena polo and field polo, each played with a different ball. The main aim of horse polo is to score against the opponents. When one thinks of polo, they imagine nobles like Prince Harry and Williams running down perfect fields, while being watched by stately socialites. However, polo is not an inaccessible sport as it can be played by people of all ages and at any class level if one can afford the required equipment.
Figure 1. Men playing polo.
A History of Horse Polo
Horse polo is one of the oldest games in the history of sports. While the exact dates of the sport remain unknown, horse polo is thought to have started over 2000 years ago in Persia- Iran (Chehabi & Guttmann, 2002). During that period, nomadic warriors practiced the game as part of war training. The sport then became a Persian national sport that was mainly played by nobles. Men and women also participated in the game (Chehabi & Guttmann, 2002). The sport then spread to the Eastern parts of Asia and down to Northern India, where the Western people discovered it in the mid-1800s. Today, the sport is played, worldwide, with more than 100 member states in the Federation of International Polo. Professionally, horse polo is played in sixteen nations. The game became an Olympic sport from the year 1900-1936.
Muslim conquerors introduced polo in India in the 13th Century. In Europe, the first people to engage in the sport were Assam based British tea planters. They were the masterminds behind the formation of Sinclair’s European Polo Club in 1859 (Chehabi, & Guttmann, 2002,). In England, the game grew and became popular among the nobles and royals in the country and spread to educational institutions like universities.
James Gordon Bennett, a sports newspaper publisher, introduced the game in the United States in 1876. By the end of 1876, the game was already being played in cities like New York. During this period, only a team of five members was allowed on the field. However, in 1881, the rules were changed to include only four payers from each side, a rule that is followed until today (Chehabi & Guttmann, 2002, p. 388). The first global match occurred in the U.S in 1886, when England successfully challenged the U.S team. The style of playing the game was changed from the slow English type of Polo to the American Polo, which was fast (Figure 1). In the 1930s, Argentina adopted the sport as its national game. Today, there are polo matches where women play against women, with a woman occasionally playing as the fourth team player in an all-male team.
The Materials for the Game/Horse Polo Equipment
Polo is a very intense sport that results in high adrenaline levels for those who play it. However, just like any other game that requires horses and speed, Polo entails several risks. Due to this, players cannot rely on their skills only – they need adequate materials to enjoy the sport safely. Figure 2 shows two of the players with their gear – the Polo ball, their helmets and face guards, knee pads, the Polo mallet and sticks, gloves, and protective glasses – playing the game intently.
Figure 2. Some of the materials used to play Polo are shown in this picture.
Polo Balls
Different balls are required depending on the playing conditions. Other than the standard Polo balls, softer balls are recommended for arena matches given the proximity of the spectators. In cases where the weather conditions limit visibility during winter or on rainy days, a red ball is used (Argentina Polo Day, 2017). The images in Figure 3 show some of the balls used to play horse polo.
Figure 3: Some of the different balls used to play polo.
Helmet and Faceguards
The helmet is used to protect the players against any hard blows from the ball, stray mallets, or any other potential hazard that could harm the face (Figure 5). It helps to identify the player (Argentina Polo Day, 2017). It must be well-cushioned on the inside and hard on the outside to protect the players against falls and glancing balls.
Polo Mallet and Sticks
The polo mallet is 1.30 meters long. However, the length and the weight can be customized to suit the playing style as well as the height of the pony. Usually, the mallet is flexible and is held in the right hand, a rule that is also followed by left-handed players.
Regulation Spurs and Polo Boots
Top-quality boots made from high-quality leather are essential. They must be thick with a good ankle and sole support. They are paired with durable stainless-steel regulation spurs, to help the player to be safe and to maintain his/her balance during the game (Figure 4). Boots also protect the players’ legs from blows, which can result in serious injuries.
Knee Pads
Just like boots, the kneepads are used to protect the players’ legs from injuries due to falls and/or blows.
Quality gloves give the players an extra grip, particularly in low temperatures and slippery conditions.
Protective Glasses
These offer the players protection against possible impacts or blows.
Elbow Pads
These are used to safeguard the players’ elbow during falls or from bumps.
Polo Pony Equipment
Saddle. Although they come in different types, the most vital factor is to find one that is comfortable for the horse and the rider (Argentina Polo Day, 2017). The saddle must have a cinch to hold the body of the horse, and a surcingle, in case the cinch snaps.
Stirrups. These are fixed to the saddle and help players to secure their feet, thus giving them stability and security.
Shin boots. They give the horse’s legs, the most sensitive part, special protection (Figure 4). The boots help protect the tendons and prevent sprains, scratches, and blows.
Bridle. A bridle is a leather strap that is used to control the horse (Figure 4).
Horseshoes. These are used to protect the hooves from injuries (Figure 4).
Reins. They come in pairs but are separately used, to control the movement of the horse, especially when it stops or turns (Argentina Polo Day, 2017).
Bit. A bit is a part of a bridle (Figure 5) that is put in the mouth of the horse to control it.
Bandage. It protects the pony’s legs against contact with the ball.
Safety straps. These are used to retain the bandage.
Martingale. The equipment keeps the head of the horse in the correct position.
Plaited tail. To avoid the tail hairs from getting snarled in the mallet, the tail is plaited (Figure 4).
Figures 4 and 5 show the complete Polo equipment and the definitions of some key Polo terms.
Figure 4. A player and horse completely fitted in their Polo outfits.
(Figure 5. Definitions of key Polo terms.
The Rules of the Game
The Playing Field
According to Rules of sport.com (n.d.), the legalized pitch is 160 yards wide and 300 yards long. The goal posts should be 8 yards apart.
The Duration of the Match
A horse polo game is divided into chukkers or chukkas. Each chukka lasts seven minutes, with a three-minute interval between each one. During half time, the interval is prolonged for five minutes.
The Players
Every polo team is composed of four players. Each player is given a position that is shown by the number worn on the playing kits (Figure 5).
The Positions
Position one. This position is played by the attacking player. He is like the striker in a soccer match. In polo, the players in this position are the accurate ball hitters – their main objective is to score.
Position two. This position is taken by the offensive player, who marks the position one opponent. These players also play defensive roles, often interchanging with those who play in position three during the attack.
Position three. The best player plays in this position, which calls for an attacking stance. Those who fill this position must have the ability to accurately hit the polo ball upfield to the position one or two players.
Position four. This is a defensive position. The players who perform this role must defend the team’s goal. Nevertheless, they take offensive roles, and when defending the goal, the players are expected to accurately move the ball to the offensive players of the team.
Scoring
Scoring is quite simple. The goal, also known as the point, is made when the ball is hit between the goal posts. The teams change their playing direction whenever a team scores a goal. As posited by Davis (2015), it is unsure why this change happens, but it is assumed that it emanates from the fact that the players did not want to spend a long time with the wind or sun in their faces.
Winning the Match
At the end of the polo game, the team that scores the most goals or gets the highest points is declared the winner. When there is a draw, the umpire begins another chukka, where the first team to score is deemed the winner (Best & Standing, 2019). If no goal is scored, another chukka is played with wider goalposts, whereby the first team to score wins the game.
Right of Way (ROW)
During a polo match, there is a fictional ball line that is basically the direction in which the balls travel at any given moment. When the ROW is established by a player, an opposing player should not cross it as this can result in a collision.
Line of the Ball (LOB)
This line should not be confused with the ROW. A LOB is an imaginary line that a player creates as he moves the ball down the field. It is utilized when a foul is committed, and it represents the ROW for the last team member striking the ball.
At the beginning of every polo game, the members of the team line up, numerically, opposite their opponents. The referee then throws the ball between the teams to begin the match. The game is continuous throughout the chukka unless an injury occurs or a foul is detected (Davis, 2015). If a penalty is awarded, then the fouled team gets the opportunity to shoot the penalty shot.
Riding Off
When a player rides off, he/she pushes the opponent and the horse out of the way. This act is allowed, but only when the right angle is observed. When riding off, however, the player should not cross the one who is in possession of the ball.
Handicaps
Every team member is granted a handicap level that ranges from -2 to ten goals based on his/her ability. The lowest handicap that a player can be given is -2 and the highest is 10 (Rules of sport.com, n.d.). The handicaps are what evaluators use to rate a team. Usually, they are calculated by adding the handicaps of each of the four players.
Crossing
A player who tries to cross another player in the ROW, close enough to slow down the other player, commits a foul.
Hooking Sticks
Players can hook their rivals’ sticks if they remain on the same side as the opponents’ ball or directly behind them (Rules of sport.com, n.d.).
The Umpires
A horse polo match is officiated by two mounted umpires. These umpires must consult each other when making important decisions regarding the game. In case the umpires sense a foul, a free hit is granted. There is usually a referee who assists them from the sidelines.
The Aims and Learning Outcomes of the Game
. There are many reasons for playing Polo. The main aim “…is for a team to score more points than its opposition, thus winning the game.” (Rules of sport.com, n.d.). Every team tries to move the polo ball into the opponent’s half of the pitch with the objective being to hit the ball into their goal to score. The team of four consists of defenders and attackers though, realistically, all polo players must be flexible enough to play any position whether defensive or offensive. The second reason why people play polo is to enjoy themselves in an adrenaline-charged game on horseback.
There are many benefits to playing this sport. One is that it teaches us to work diligently to accomplish our goals in life. Polo is intense, challenging, and requires aggressive horsemanship. The players must look beyond what they cannot see and look at what is right ahead of them (Isaksen et al., 2016). To achieve this feat, a polo player must have coordination skills: he should be aggressive and disciplined and should be able to strategize and make informed decisions in order to play effectively and score goals.
The second learning outcome is that polo teaches us to support each other and play as a team. The players must work together and assist each other. They must execute the team’s vision and not their individual plan to attain success. Thus, players learn the importance of teamwork by the end of the game.
The Age-Related Physiological and Psychological Effects of Playing the Game
While exercise is one of the most evident health benefits of playing horseback polo, there are other psychological and physiological effects of the game whose impacts on children and the elderly cannot be overlooked. One of these benefits is that it helps improve focus. Polo requires a great deal of concentration as one must be aware of the “direction the horse and the ball are moving” (Sorrell & Vail, 2009, p. 25). As such, involvement in this game helps children to perform well at school. Secondly, the game is a stress reliever. According to psychologists, spending time with horses is good for one’s emotions, especially the elderly. It can provide ease from anxieties and stresses, “thus releasing the hormone serotonin that makes one feel good” (Sorrell & Vail, 2009, p. 26). Additionally, horse polo helps boost social connections for both children and adults. Playing the game is a social activity as one connects with other players. Such a relationship is proven to increase happiness and enhance one’s self-confidence. Lastly, the game helps people reconnect with nature. Horse riding entails leaving the polo training school and riding to the countryside or woods to relax and enjoy what nature has to offer. Consequently, children and the elderly learn to appreciate their natural environment.
Physiologically, horse polo is a great physical exercise. Playing the game on horseback takes stamina and physical strength, and this is a great way for children and adults to exercise. Secondly, staying balanced on that horse strengthens one’s abdominal muscles. Moreover, playing horse polo improves the muscle tone as it strengthens the back, pelvis, and thigh muscles as a result of the constant movements that require the player to stay balanced. “The rider reacts to the horse’s movements to avoid becoming off-balance and the deep postural muscles of the trunk and pelvis and the abductor muscles of the thighs are continuously being conditioned.” (Health Fitness Revolution, 2019). Also, it gives the elderly and children a better posture since the more they play, the better their posture becomes. Lastly, playing polo makes one stronger and improves one’s balance and coordination. Horses tend to move and turn faster; thus, players must ensure that they can control themselves and stay on the horse through every twist or turn that the horse makes.
Specific Discussion
Horse polo has tremendous mental and health benefits compared to games such as golf, tennis, soccer, and chess. Even though it is equated with sports like soccer, its benefits outweigh those of soccer. In as much as the other games provide players with mental benefits, horse riding is an excellent avenue for keeping the brain active. It has therapeutic qualities. Although golf, tennis, soccer, and hockey offer emotional benefits, those derived from horse polo are excellent because they help players to develop a sense of trust and a connection between the horse and the player which is quite rewarding. Learning to care for the horse and controlling it also has a profound impact on one’s confidence. Additionally, many of the players who own horses have the feeling that the animal is somehow a friend that is in sync with their emotions as opposed to some human beings. Unlike the other four sports, playing polo on horseback helps one develop balance and improve motor function as well as coordination (Health Fitness Revolution, 2019). Moreover, the type of eye and hand coordination involved in controlling the horse and hitting a ball with a mallet is outstanding.
Horse polo improves one’s upper body strength. The strength is gained while swinging the mallet when riding the horse. This activity contributes to the arm, shoulder, and upper body strength. In addition, polo improves postural muscle strength which offers the players more power to the muscles, thus minimizing injury risks during strenuous exercises and daily activities (Health Fitness Revolution, 2019). Lastly, the adrenaline rush that comes with the full horse speed helps the liver to break down glycogen and supply the body with fuel, in contrast to games like golf, hockey, and soccer.
Comparing Horse Polo with other Similar Sports
The four sports similar to horse polo but played differently include horse ball, pato, beach polo, and cowboy polo. The discussion on the rules of horse polo explains how polo is played. In this section, the difference in how the four sports differ from horse polo is explained. Horseball is a sport that combines basketball, rugby, and polo, and just like horse polo, it is played on horseback where the players carry the ball and shot through a high net to make a goal, whereas in horse polo goalposts are made using two posts without a net. Another game that is similar to horseback polo is Pato, which is Argentina’s national sport. The game combines elements of basketball and polo. The playing field of Pato is width 80 to 90 m and length 180 to 220 m, unlike horseback polo whose field is 160 yards wide and 300 yards long. Unlike horse polo, which is played on a grass field, beach polo is played on sand fields. The last game similar to horse polo is cowboy polo. The game, however, differs from horse polo in that players compete in a smaller field using inflatable rubber balls. Unlike horse polo, which uses several horses within one game, there is no change of horses between chukkers in a cowboy polo game. The game requires only two horses, and sometimes only one horse is used.
Argentina Polo Day (2017). Suitable polo equipment for a match. Argentina Polo Day. Retrieved from https://argentinapoloday.com.ar/blog/polo-equipment/
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Chehabi, H. E., & Guttmann, A. (2002). From Iran to all of Asia: The origin and diffusion of polo. The International Journal of the History of Sport, 19(2-3), 384-400. https://doi.org/10.1080/714001752
Davis R. (2015). What you need to know about polo, the ‘Gentleman’s Sport’. Horse Network. Retrieved from https://horsenetwork.com/2015/07/need-know-polo-gentlemans-sport/
Health Fitness Revolution (2019). Top 10 health benefits of polo. Health Fitness Revolution. Retrieved from https://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/top-10-health-benefits-polo/
Isaksen, A., Togelius, J., Lantz, F., & Nealen, A. (2016, March). Playing games across the superintelligence divide. In Workshops at the Thirtieth AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence. Retrieved from https://www.aaai.org/ocs/index.php/WS/AAAIW16/paper/viewPaper/12645
Rules of sport.com (n.d.). Polo Rules. Rules of sport.com. Retrieved from https://www.rulesofsport.com/sports/polo.html
Sorrell, J. M., & Vail, J. D. (2009). Polo for All Ages: Exercise should be functional… and fun! Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 47(5), 24-27. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20090331-03
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