Polo in the Park was absolutely amazing but to a complete newbie like me, I will be frank - I had no idea what was going on half the time. Perhaps you are just like me, interested in polo but no clue where to start. Have no fear, read on and Melody (aka melodyrrainbow) will give you an insight into this world.

“Polo is way more accessible and casual than the media seems to portray.”

How did you first get into playing polo?

I fell down the polo rabbit warren at the tail end of Covid in 2021. I grew up on horseback, but I had been out of the saddle for a while at this point, for various reasons.

I was going stir crazy during lockdown so I posted my woes on Instagram looking for ideas, subsequently I was kindly invited to try polo at Stewarton Polo Club, outside Edinburgh where I lived at the time.

Could you tell us what are the rules of polo?

The rules of polo are vast and cover everything from equipment to playing safely. In the UK, the rules are created by the Hurlingam Polo Association (HPA) the organisation that governs the sport. To play polo competitively you must take a test to prove that you have read and understood the rules and agree to play safely.
The most important rules to know to enjoy watching polo are the right of way and the line of the ball. The first thing to understand is that polo is played with the mallet in your right hand, we call this the off side.

If the ball travels past the left side of your pony you must lean across your pony to play the ball, we call this the nearside. Now think of the polo field as a motorway, the line between lanes is drawn by the ball and is created by the player who last hit the ball. You can't cross the line drawn by the ball, you must play the ball as it comes to you, nearside or offside.

You can't hit a ball into a pony and you can't use a pony to deflect a shot, this is where the right of way comes in - you must allow a player behind you with the ball to safely play their shot.

Although you can't physically block a shot you can play defensively with a 'hook' on another player's mallet (blocking the swing of their mallet with your own) or you can push another player off the line, this is known as a ride off.

Knowing these rules coupled with the fact that the teams change goals after every goal scored will help you to understand and enjoy the game.

What are some key traits that a polo player needs to become a strong player?

Polo is a game of strategy, team-work and horsemanship, there are so many different things occurring simultaneously - you have to be constantly anticipating the next play.

A strong polo player is a skilled athlete, a team player, a great rider, has incredible hand-eye coordination, adapts to new situations quickly and reads the game well. If you are interested in researching the best players on the field ahead of the Cowdray Gold Cup, I would recommend searching for Adolfo Cambiaso, Polito Pieres, Jeta Castagnola and Poroto Cambiaso, I find them incredibly exciting to watch!

What drew you to the sport initially and what keeps you playing now?

I suppose I was initially drawn to the sport because I love horses and at heart, I am a pack animal, so team sport suits my personality. People regularly ask me what keeps me playing and honestly, I live and breathe polo. It would be easier to list the things that would stop me from playing, death or apocalypse, for example.

For everything you need in life polo has it covered - therapeutic connection to horses, it's a team sport with an incredible community, lots of time outdoors, it's fast paced and high adrenaline, it requires athleticism, hand-eye coordination, attention to detail - the list goes on and luckily it includes beers with friends.

How would someone who is interested in playing and/or watching polo, try to get into this sport?

Polo is way more accessible and casual than the media seems to portray.

Every club I have been to is incredibly invested in introducing new players to the sport; they offer lessons, pony hire and frequently invite people to watch games year-round.

They don't expect you to have riding experience, polo knowledge or for you to own ponies. It is as easy as searching for your local club and following their social media accounts or checking their website.

What is about the game that brings you joy and excitement?

Polo is possibly the oldest team sport in the world, there is a reason why it has endured across centuries and continents.

The thrill of the game, watching the ponies make the impossible possible, seeing your friends and idols pull off difficult plays…asado & parties are pretty exciting too.

Polo is not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle to enjoy.

Polo Lingo

(courtesy of Chestertons Polo in the Park)

BUMP

A player is permitted to ride off another to spoil his shot or to remove him away from the play. The angle of contact must be no more than 45 degrees. The faster the pony travels, the smaller the angle must be.

CHUKKA

There are six Chukkas (periods) in high handicap matches, each lasting 7 minutes plus up to 30 seconds of overtime. If during the extra 30 seconds, the ball hits the sideboards or goes out of bounds, or if the umpire blows his whistle for a foul, the chukka is over. There is no overtime at the end of the final chukkas unless the score is tied.

HANDICAP

All players are rated on a scale of 1 to 10 (the higher the better) and this refers to their overall playing ability. A player’s horsemanship, range of strokes, speed of play and sense are the factors considered in determining his or her handicap. The team handicap is the sum of its player’s handicaps. In handicap matches of six chukkas, the team with the lower handicap is awarded the difference in goals at the start of the game.

HIGH GOAL

Teams with a total handicap from 17 to 24 goals. It is the highest level of official tournament polo played in the United Kingdom.

MALLET/STICK

The shaft is made from bamboo cane or graphite composite and the head from a hard wood. The wide face of the stick head is used to strike the ball.

Polo sticks range in length according, principally, to the height of the pony and extend from 48 to 54 inches.

HOOK

The move whereby a player uses their mallet to block or interfere with an opponent’s swing by hooking the mallet of the other player with their own mallet. A player may only hook if he/she is on the side where the swing is being made, or directly in front or behind an opponent.

HURLINGHAM POLO ASSOCIATION

This is the governing body of the game in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Its governing officials are called stewards. They should not be confused with club stewards, who guide and advise members while at the club.

Polo Schools in the UK

Do you want to try your hand at some polo lessons or maybe watch matches locally? There are hundreds of polo schools in the UK and the HPA website is a great start to find clubs near you.

The Hurlingham Polo Association

If you dear reader know great clubs, please pop a comment below and share them so that people can visit.

Once again, a massive thank you to Melody for taking the time out of her busy schedule to do this interview. I am so grateful to her and I hope to share more story times from different people very soon.

Story time: Polo with Melody