Polo Darling
Debbie Downes
You may think that polo is only for the elite, well you are
wrong. Anyone can have a go at the sport of princes, even those
that cannot ride (65% of those taught polo have never ridden
before).
I was a bit apprehensive when I arrived at the school. Looking
around at the others who had booked on to the 2 hour lesson, it
seemed I was the only one who did not have my own jodhpurs, boots
and hat. This did not matter as all essential equipment is
provided for the day.
The morning started with a briefing on the basic rules and theory
of polo. In short polo is a tactical game with either 3 (indoor
or enclosed arena) or 4 (full size ground) players a side. The
team scoring most goals wins.
As players and horses travel at up to 35 mph when at top speed,
there are strict rules about how players can approach and attack
the ball and each other.
Using a board and miniature men on horses we were introduced to
the concept of "the line of the ball". This is the imaginary line
or road the ball creates as it is hit from point A to B. Once we
had got our heads around this concept, the rules soon became
clear as they are very much like the rules of the road. Don't
overtake unless you know the coast is clear, don't ride head on,
and if you are turning onto the imaginary road make sure that it
is safe to do so.
We then went and stood on crates to practice the polo swing. I'm
glad we did this as it allowed us to focus on getting the
technique right without worrying about the horse. Plus, crates
don't bolt when you accidentally hit them. All you had to
remember is to let the mallet swing by itself and not to force
it. We practiced both offside and nearside shots.
The best bit was when we got to ride the polo ponies. I have
never ridden such well schooled horses before. I could move, stop
and turn the pony with only very small changes in how I was sat,
where the reigns were and how I was pushing down on the stirrups.
I wish all horses were like these.
We were then given the mallets to practice hitting the ball from
the pony. I did not find this too difficult, probably because I
wasn't riding as fast as the others and so had more time to focus
on the ball.
After a short break everyone had the opportunity to play a couple
of instructional chukkas or mini games. This was supposed to
enable us to experience the tactics and team play involved in
playing the game. However, with constant missing of the ball and
stationary horses, it was more of a laugh than educational.
I would thoroughly recommend this experience to all.
Debbie Downes is the founder of
http://www.factivities.co.uk.
Please visit her website to discover more about UK outdoor
activities.
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