Basic HTML Version
• The Basics: Polo is a ball sport, played on horses. Where one
team attempts to score goals by hitting hard hockey-sized ball
through their oppositions’ goal with a mallet attached to the
end of a 4 1/4 foot stick.
• The Pitch: The outdoor polo field is 300 yards long and 160
yards wide, the largest field in organized sport. The goal posts
at each end are 24 feet apart and a minimum of 10 feet high.
Penalty lines are marked at 30 yards from the goal, 40 yards,
60 yards, and at midfield.
• Chukkas: Each polo match is divided in to “Chukkas”. A
chukka is 7 1/2 minutes of active play time and is supposed to
represent the amount of time a horse can reasonably exert itself
before needing a rest. Polo Matches are divided into 4,5, or 6
Chukkas depending whether the level is Low, Medium, or High
goal polo.
• Players: In outdoor polo there is four players on a team.
Numbers 1 - 2 are traditionally attacking whilst 3 is the mid-
field playmaker and 4 is Defense. However as the sport is so
fluid there are no definite positions in Polo.
• Handicaps: Handicaps in Polo range from -2 to 10 “goals”.
With 10 being the best. A player who is playing above his
handicap level (i.e. 3 playing as a 5) is known as a bandit, and
is a very valuable but short lived commodity. Handicaps are
assessed and independently mediated several times during the
season.
• Umpires: Two mounted umpires, referee the game. They must
agree on each foul/call made, if they disagree they refer to the
“3rd Man” who would be on the edge of the pitch in line with
the center mark. His decision will settle the argument.
• The Rules: The Rules of polo are centered almost in totality
around safety. When you have 1/2 a ton of horse traveling one
way in excess of 30mph, you do not want to be hit by 1/2 a ton
of horse traveling in excess of 30 mph the other way. Polo is in-
herently dangerous, which may be part of the allure; however,
the rules go a long way to negate risk.
player’s personal assistant who is
responsible for training and look-
ing after horses. Not surprisingly,
polo has been referred to as the
sport of kings, as in the past it was
usually played by the nobility. In
modern times, it has retained this
exclusive aura, with many tourna-
ments dedicated to royalty such
as the Queen Mother or HRH
the Sheikh. However, the sport
is now played around the
world in over 77 countries.
The game of polo offers thrills
for all; it is a game of great
passion, planning and or-
ganization. Most important-
ly, it must be said that polo
is not merely an equestrian
sport with a horse. This is one of
the few sports in which both horse
and rider make up a single, two-
part unit, in which both man and
horse are essential for good and
exciting play. One cannot com-
pete without the other. One cannot
do what the other opposes. Polo
is a sport that produces consider-
able mental and physical strain,
and, to truly be successful it
requires a deep communica-
tion, an understanding,
a bond between
both rider and horse.
This
relationship develops
through
time and experi-
ence,
and it can give
rise to
some remarkable
perfor-
mances, magical
and
exciting, on the
field.
To-
day, polo has
begun to receive more wide-
spread media attention. Many
brands have exploited its sophis-
ticated image for their logos and
communications. Its charisma is
based on the romantic concept of
man and horse working together,
on its aristocratic traditions, and
the fact that it is something of a vo-
cation, which many players inherit-
ing the passion from their father
and grandfather. As a result, it is
always wonderful to enjoy a polo
match, whether as a spectator or a
player.
S
MARCH 2012 -
SEXY X2
MAGAZINE -
45