Grimm added that, “Polo is a noble sport and a sport in which you can make friends easily. It is a noble sport as we should play it with a noble spirit on noble animals, of which horses may be the finest examples.” A spectator really has little idea of 32 mph on the back of a four-legged animal, being chased by 28 other legs really feels like, nor how true it is that a polo handicap really is a passport to the world.
If you have never held a polo handicap you can only guess how many doors this really opens. About two-thirds of the rated players carry a rating of 2-goals or less; few ever advance beyond 3-goals. Rating of 5-goals and above usually belong to professional players. Since the inception of the system in 1890, less than 50 players have ever been awarded a perfect handicap of 10-goals. At the present time, there are 11 active 10-goalers registered with the United States Polo Association. The rest of us are pure mortals, but unlike other sports, handicapping allows and, in fact, encourages teams of mortals to play with the pros and the gods.
There is nothing to compare the sport of polo to, not even among the other horse sports nearly all of which we have tried and a few which we have loved such as fox-hunting, eventing and show-jumping, but we should remember, as Lawrence Phipps, II, often would say, “Polo is a game, fox-hunting is a sport, never confuse the two.” Fox-hunting is our sport, but polo is our game.
People who have never been to a polo match often imagine the game something like croquet on horseback and are amazed to find the game at 30 mph. The field is actually 9 football fields at 300 yards by 160 yards. Four mounted players make up a team and the mallet is held in the right hand. The objective is to hit the ball (3 1/2″ in diameter) through a goal 8 yards wide and to prevent opponents from doing the same on the opposite end of the field, which changes with each goal. The play begins at the line-up at center-field. When the ball goes over the sidelines a throw in happens and in some cases a knock-in happens from the end of the field. A polo match is divided into four or six periods called “chukkers.” Each consists of 7 1/2 minutes of play. Most players require a fresh horse for each chukker and, some professionals, switch in the middle of a chukker for a fresh pony. At higher levels, this means 12 ponies for a single match per player. the line of the ball creates the right of way and each player is designated a position from 1-4, which is fluid throughout the match, depending upon position, much like hockey. Polo was one the sport of kings played by wealthy, classes, but now players come from different backgrounds and occupations. Women make up the fastest growing segment of polo today. Some players are professionals who make a living playing, teaching or selling polo ponies. Others are dedicated amateurs, who spend much time playing after work. They are all committed to a passion for horses, a shared commitment of the sport, and a love for gave, which is like no other on earth.
General play calls for not letting up unless there is a whistle, keeping your eye on the ball, not dribbling and taking a full swing whenever possible, and playing your man. The art of team polo is to create situations that results in goals. The players should interchange positions freely, depending upon the situation.
Some people enjoy polo for the lifestyle, others because of the community it creates, still others out a love for the horses. I simply love the game itself and everything that goes into becoming good at it. It really is the best team sport ever devised and becoming proficient at it, can occupy your entire life with many enjoyable pieces to that activity. And it’s a sport you can play your entire life, and play it with family and friends, of mixed ages and abilities. What other sport can you say that about?
According to the USPA, “Polo is considered the oldest team sport in known history. Historians have conjectured the sport originated in either Persia or amongst other tribes of Central Asia as far back as 600 BC as a way to prepare young leaders for the rigors of war. James Gordon Bennett, a wealthy New York publisher, is credited with bringing polo to the US from England in 1876. At that time, the game was quite different than the one played today, with eight or more players per side and matches lasting an entire afternoon. In 1890 the Polo Association, now the United States Polo Association was established in New York City, with seven clubs joining and over 100 handicaps assigned to members, including future President Teddy Roosevelt. Today, the USPA includes 270 member clubs in 13 geographic circuits around the United States and oversees 40 national tournaments.”
Polo Ponies
Many may believe only pure-bred thoroughbred ponies are suitable prospects for polo, since the sport demands a great deal of speed from the animal. In higher goal games, it is many times true that only the thoroughbred can consistently produce the speed necessary to keep the pace of play, moderate and lower goal players will often benefit from the level-headedness of a half-thoroughbred and half-quarter horse, or appendix bred animal, as it is termed. I always played thoroughbreds, but our daughter has gone to many quarter-horses or appendix in her string.
Tips and tricks
Get the best cordless clippers you can. We have had Ni-Cad Oster. Terrible. Quiet little corded ones, not powerful enough for anything except ears and muzzles, which is great for on shy horses. The best is the Oster Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Clippers. Does everything and stays quiet, no wonder why vets love them.
Get Blue-Lyte electrolytes and feed on game days, or powered electrolytes to add on top of feed. Prevents a lot of collic problems ever since we started this regime.
Deworm 4 times a year.
Use thrush buster as needed.
Your polo handicap is your passport to the world.
Some of our favorite players, some of which we have been been blessed to play with and others we just hope to play with someday or enjoy watching play, are:
Tommy Hitchcock, Jr. (11990-1994) was a legendary great
Our favorite teams are La Dolphina, Black Watch, Crab Orchard, Valiente, Audi, Piaget,R&L Farms Polo Club, Denver Polo Club, La Patronaand of course, Lauren’s team, Equipage. In the context of polo, “équipage” can refer to the team or crew involved in managing and handling the horses and equipment used during a polo match. It encompasses the players, grooms, trainers, and other individuals responsible for the horses, gear, and overall functioning of the team during the game.
Polo Clubs
The history of polo in Colorado Springs: the Broadmoor Polo Association — The Penrose Polo Park (Elm Avenue and Polo Drive). Adapated from article written by Speranza.
The U.S. Polo Association organized in 1890. The first polo match in the Pikes Peak region was played in the 1890s at Cheyenne Mountain Country Club at the city’s south edge, which was also one of the earliest polo clubs in the West. Speck Penrose likewise installed polo fields near his world famous Broadmoor hotel, added barns and raised a few ponies. Passion for equestrian pursuits was heightened by Easterners who flocked to Colorado Springs and brought their taste for equestrian pastimes such as trail rides, jumping and fox hunting. Denver Polo Club formed next to the Denver Country Club. Sheridan Polo Ranch from Wyoming and the United States 10th Cavalry, were active in the region. By 1914, there were 17 Army stations playing sanctioned polo, many in the West.
Polo’s popularity took off during the roaring twenties. Celebrities enjoyed and promoted the sport, among them Oklahoma humorist Will Rogers. The Broadmoor became a major polo center with stables for more than 400 horses.
Some of the polo clubs we have been fortunate enough to play at or visit are:
I would not recommend the 14D to her, it is way to small, the 18XL is a great wheel, the other option is the KS16X which I believe is a better wheel for Polo, it is a little smaller (which is good) and has a wider tier plus has better acceleration, specs below and I am attaching a picture
KS16X, 16 inches wheel size Enrique Sanz de Santamaría +1-3057754402
IG @eWheelsPolo www.eWheelsPolo.com – to buy your electric unicycle
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Polo Tips & Tricks: One of our favorite tips and tricks for caring for polo ponies is supplementing their feed with BlueLite and SandClear. Another is this great article on legging up and Polo Pony Exercise by DPC.
