Polo
Published by GHC • Jan 18th, 2008 • Category: Junior Bloggers, Showing and Sport, by Madelaina
by Madelaina, age 12
While the title may seem quite simple, the sport of polo is everything but once you look in on it.
Traditionally, polo is a game on horseback where two teams of four riders and their horses try to score a point against the other in a period of seven minutes, or as they call it, a chukka. Nowadays, there is another version called arena polo, where there are three riders instead of four and an extra thirty seconds added to each chukka. There are also normally six chukkas in each game, however, this number may change according to the different league rules.
The game was first played in Persia in the 6th Century BC to the 1st Century AD. It was actually played out as a mini battle training for the king’s guards, and elite troops had nearly one hundred players on each side! Comparing that to the already chaotic scenes and tensions of polo, it is hard to imagine how players coped with it!
In the game, a white ball, made out of wood or plastic, is the main target apart from the goals. Each rider has a long-handled mallet they use to hit the ball or pass to another player.
There are four different positions on each team, and every role counts in a good and successful game of polo. Number One can be regarded as the leading position that scores the goals and counteracts the opposing team. Number Two often rides the fastest pony, having to retrieve lost balls and shots made by the Number One. Number Three is usually the best player of the group and links the attack and defense into a strong team. This role is normally the one of the leaders due to his or her strategic playing. And last but not least, Number Four. This position acts as the main defense, making sure the ball stays down at the other half of the field, a safe distance away from his or her own goal. The role of Number Four is just as vital as the one of Number One.
So now when you hear the word “polo” again, you will know it is more than a white ball being hit around by a gang of riders!
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Whoa I never knew that much about this sport, it sounds hard controlling the horse and trying to score a goal at the same time!
Polo rocks! Loads of people play it here in England, and we even have another version of it, like lacrosse (I can’t remember the name of it, I read about it in a mag.). I’ve never done it before but it looks great fun and really builds a bond between horse and rider, as you have to trust your pony when you bend down to hit the ball.
That is an excellent blog I have always wanted to play polo maybe I will try it now I know more about it…. :D
One word Marisa, practice, although I doubt it sounds that easy since I just started cantering in my last lesson and it was hard but really fun.
Trust is definitely something you need, because you’ll have to know your horse or pony wouldn’t spook or anything when you catch the ball.
Rosie: Good to hear you like it! Trying something new especially after learning more about it is great! Just be careful to stay safe and have a good time! :D