Learning to play polo? What should I know?
I've recently been interested in study to play polo and thought it would be something fun to learn to at least an introductory level. So I'm thinking of perhaps taking some lessons or something on my horse but am wondering what kind of things we should know before going into this and whether its even worth it. I'm a college student and don't have a lot of money to spend on this right now or set transportation so I don't want to dribble away money learning the basics if it's something I could practice at domestic. My question is, what kind of skills can I practice at home to capture us to a good starting point before starting any lessons. approaching he would need to be neck reined right and should definately be comfortable with me shifting my shipment around and having stuff swinging around his head? I compete through training level dressage and do stadium jump and am very confident on my horse. So I'm pretty experienced and am not going to fall off whether I lean slightly to the side. or at least I hope not :) Also, is this something I could do just on the side and still benefit or should I just keep on for later when I have more time and money to devote to it? There is a polo club near me and I'll beckon them and get some more info but I wanted to get some personal experiences from ya'll first. I know there's greatly more involved than what I know right now so I'm just looking to see if this is something I could lately do for fun or if it would be way too involved even at just the prime level. thanks
Hi, I actually just joined a polo club at my college- mostly for the riding, but it's fun to memorize too.
Anyway, you could probably do a lot of practicing on your own if you buy your own mallot and ball. You want to get your horse used to having things swinging around his head, and self ridden one handed and all that. And just start trying to hit the bubble, and stay on the line and all that. Maybe look up some videos online and stuff, but that's adjectives free, so you won't have to pay for lessons. Once you take the basics down and can hit the ball pretty consistently, maybe afterwards you can get farther with a teacher. I regard this is something you can do on the side and still have fun, and anyway, if you own your own mallot and ball you can go out and hit the ball around on your horse pretty much anytime you want to, short having to pay for anything.
This was pretty long winded, but I hope it help at least a little!
First off before you start practicing on your horse you might want to dream up about your horses safety, a polo ball can break bones whether travelling at speed, this includes horses legs and heads(I've seen a few polo-ponies with fractured skulls from polo balls). Don't worry you most properly NOT going to enjoy a horse with broken bones, unless your playing against professional, but getting hit by the ball does hurt, so wrapping you horses legs thickly and wearing pad bells so your horse doesn't get too bad a fight whether hit by the ball or mallet. A helmet, safety vest and kneepads for yourself.
You should know how to fully control you horse with one hand in adjectives paces without using your seat, which might lift a bit of practise. Teaching your horse verbal commands for slow down and speed up are also helpful and leaves your legs for getting lateral movement, needed for pushing other horses out of the process and getting a better position on the ball.
Then get a mallet and get hold of your horse used to it being swung around, including under the belly and below the head. Then try hitting the ball in pace a few times, this might be a good time to get your first lesson so the trainer can show you to safely swing the sledge hammer.
Answers: I had a colleague at work who be taking polo lessons at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, and she loved it. I listened to her when she talked nearly it, but I really wasn't too interested, to be truthful. Contact sports involving galloping horses and swinging mallets are not something I have ever had a craving to do...;-))
This website have some interesting stuff about polo: http://www.polowicklow.com/aboutpolo/int...
Not cheap to rent a polo pony!
Good luck.
