Equestrian sports & games: Polo

By: Virginia Imberti Posted: 14/02/2020

Origin and objective of Polo

We have all seen those riders mounting muscled horses of average size, as they chase a small wooden or plastic ball and try to hit it with a mallet between the opponent’s goalposts.

This equestrian sport game is called Polo and in this article we’ll tell you all about it.

It is an ancient horse sport, dating back more than two thousand years, and probably originating in Central Asia.

Do you want to know how to play polo?

The game is played by two opposing teams with four people each. The objective of each team is scoring goals by hitting a small hard ball through the opposing team's goal. After each score, which equals one point, teams must change sides in the field.

The game usually lasts two hours and is divided into 6 periods called "Chukkers". A polo match consists of six to eight 7-minute chukkers. This game is usually very intense.

Riders change mounts every time a chukker ends. It is played at a professional level and there are national teams from the five continents. For many people or companies it can be an important financial investment.

Necessary clothes and equipment to play Polo

• The mallet: is the element used to hit the small ball. It comprises a cane shaft and a wooden cigar-shaped head. Variable lengths of the mallet typically range from 119 cm to 137 cm.
• The ball: is made of plastic, although in some tournaments a wooden ball can be used.
• The helmet: is used for safety reasons, since it can protect riders in case of a fall. It is cushioned on the inside and it also serves to identify the player.
• Riding boots: protect the legs of the players from blows that may cause serious injuries. They have a small heel that provides the necessary support for the feet to remain well fixed on the stirrups.
• Kneepads: like the boots, these are used to protect the legs of the player from possible blows or falls.
• Gloves: protect the hands of the rider and improve their hold on the mallet and reins. They also prevent scratches.
• Elbow pads: provide protection for the player’s elbows in case of blows or falls.
• Protective goggles: provide the player safety and protection against possible impacts or blows.
• The crop: is used to direct and control the horse.

The playing field of Polo

The Polo playing field is approximately the area of seven official soccer fields. Nevertheless, these dimensions may change within some standard measures.

Length: maximum, 275 metres; minimum, 230 metres.

Width: maximum 180 metres open, and 146 metres if it is closed. The minimum is 160 metres open and 130 metres closed.

Traditional polo is played on a mowed turf field that is 270 by 150 m.

The field needs to have an area of 10 meters aside and 30 meters behind the goals. These are known as safety zones.

Main techniques of Polo

The main techniques of polo comprise two different aspects: the need to ride your horse correctly and the technique to hit the ball. What follows is a description of the four most commonly used hitting points.

Offside forehand-right forward

It’s the natural hit, on the “rope side” or right side of the horse. The direction of the ball depends on the rotation angle of the torso which, in turn, determines the framing of the mallet head. Ideally, the mallet should hit the ball at the same time when the right foreleg of the horse is set on the ground and next to the ball.

Nearside forehand-left forward

It’s a forward hit but on the left side of the horse. In an optimal hit, the mallet hits the ball at the very moment when the left foreleg of the animal is set on the ground and next to the ball.

Back

It’s a backward hit on the right side of the horse, with the back of the mallet.

Backhander

Backward hit on the left side of the horse.

How many horses are needed to play Polo?

It is considered that each player should have at least 4 horses, so as to change mounts during the game without tiring them.

So, in all, there’ll be 16 horses in each team during the game but this doesn’t mean that all of them will go out to play. On average, 12 of them are usually used.

If we add the two teams, there will be a total of 32 horses present but approximately 24 of them will be used.

Polo rules

In our country, the Argentine Polo Association (AAP for its initials in Spanish) is the responsible entity of regulating and enforcing regulations.

These regulations are adopted by different associations and polo clubs from all over the world in order to preserve the true spirit of this equestrian sport in all the countries.

Who is responsible for enforcing these rules during a game?

In each polo match, there are three authorities involved: two mounted umpires and a third referee watching from the stand. It’s the latter who makes the final decision regarding the enforcement of the rules.

What are the basic rules of polo?

• In the field, each player plays a role within the team: number one plays as forward; numbers two and three play in the centre of the field, and number four is the primary defence player.
• A player cannot cross another player that is following the “line of the ball”, unless he is far enough and there is no risk of collision or danger to other players.
• After each goal, teams must change sides to compensate for field or wind conditions.
• If the game ends in a draw, an additional chukka is played. The team scoring first will be the winner.

What are the basic rules that players must comply with?

• Players must always handle their mallets with their right hand and carry it in a manner that doesn’t disturb other players or horses.
• The use of the helmet is mandatory.
• Players are forbidden to use the mallet to hit a ball or hit another player’s mallet above the height of the horse, or underneath the horse as it creates a dangerous situation.
• Players must avoid intercepting the player that has the ball by crossing the imaginary line drawn by the ball.
• A player can «take» the imaginary line by pushing aside the opposite player. They can push with their arm up to the elbow, as long as it remains pressed against the body. This is referred to as “bumping”.
• They can’t grab, hit or push with the head, hand, forearm or elbow.

Handicaps for players

Each player is given a handicap level from -2 to 10 goals depending on his ability. The lowest handicap is -2, with 10 being the highest possible. A team’s rating is calculated by adding together the 4 players’ handicaps.

Penalties in Polo

Foul definition: “Any violation of the rules in the pitch will be considered a foul and the judge can stop and applying the penalty is disadvantageous for the team against which the foul was committed”.

A penalty may be called for any number of reasons.

Free hit at the ball by the team fouled from the distance ordered by the umpire, depending on the type of foul committed by the other team:

• Penalty Nº 1: automatic goal.
• Penalty Nº 2: 30 yards to an undefended goal.
• Penalty Nº 3: 40 yards to an undefended goal.
• Penalty Nº 4: 60 yards to a goal with defence.
• Penalty Nº 5: a hit from the spot where the ball was when foul occurred.
• Penalty Nº 5B: a hit from the centre of the field.

The attackers have to be level with the ball when hit or hit at. Defenders have to be behind the back line.

Game variations of Polo all over the world

Arena Polo: a reduced version of polo played on horseback, in a smaller field enclosed with walls.

Elephant Polo: a type of polo played on elephants instead of horses.

Yak Polo: a Mongolian variant of the sport polo played on yaks instead of horses.

Snow Polo: a variant of horseback Polo played on an arena packed with snow or on a frozen lake.

Beach Polo: horseback polo played on a sand arena with sideboards to keep the ball in play.

Canoe Polo: participants in canoes flick the ball with a paddle to score in their opponent's goal, which is suspended two metres above the water.

Cowboy Polo: similar to regular polo, but riders use western saddles, and it’s generally played in a smaller arena and with a rubber medicine ball.

Polocrosse: an equestrian sport that combines lacrosse and polo.

Polo in Argentina

British settlers in Argentina, who owned horses and lands, introduced polo. These immigrants arrived in our territory during the second half of the 19th century. Thanks to these men, the sport was able to find riders and horses in Argentina that put it in top positions within the world ranking.

The key to the superiority of Argentine polo has to do with the riders’ ability and the quality of the horses.

The high ability level of Argentine polo has turned the three most important Argentine championships, Argentine Open, Hurlingham and Tortugas, into the most prestigious of the world. These three tournaments are known as the Triple Crown of Argentine Polo.

Another sign that proves the qualified level of Argentine polo is the fact that eight Argentine players have the highest handicaps in the world for this equestrian sport. They are: Adolfo Cambiaso (considered the best polo player in history), Juan Martín Nero, Gonzalo Pieres, Facundo Pieres, Hilaro Ulloa, Nicolas Pieres, David Stirling and Pablo Mac Donough.

Argentine polo ponies are the result of carefully controlled breeding and training programs. From the strength of the “criollo” horse, used at first, to the speed of “thoroughbreds”, the performance of horses has only improved with time.

Today, the Argentine polo pony is a cross between a ranch “mestizo” horse and the thoroughbred. They are bred under a strict control and careful selection, creating an incredibly valuable horse breed that is highly qualified and unique in the world.

Busting the myth about Polo

There is a false belief that the only people who play polo are rich people.

In the past, this was true but today, many equestrian centres, associations and clubs rent their ponies in order to make this a popular horse sport.

In Ampascachi, we believe that it is necessary to promote this equestrian sport because of its many benefits: you are in contact with horses, it fosters team work, you learn to be alert in front of your reflexes, and you exercise your body and improve your posture.

If you have always wanted to play polo, now that you know these advantages...
What are you waiting for?

Would you like to delve deeper into the world of horse training?

Download our free guide on Horse training step by step. There we tell you everything we have learned about horse training in more than 25 years of experience.

And if you want to be a professional horse trainer and get field-based training, you should check out our training program. You will have the opportunity to live in our equestrian centre and experience our full training process with young horses.

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