The page has been broken down into the following titles. Click on a title to jump to that section.
If there are any words used and you are unsure of the meaning, there is a glossary of terms at the bottom of the page.

1. THE POLO PONY

  - So how do you get a horse to play Polo?
  - How is a Polo Pony prepared for Polo?
  - What if you have a horse already and want to try Polo?
2. THE POLO PLAYER

  - The player's equipment
  - So what does it take to be a good player?
  - Horsemanship
  - Hand eye co-ordination
  - Tactics
3. THE GAME OF POLO

  - The ground
  - The teams
  - The different standards of Polo
  - A typical polo match
  - The rules
4. POLO CLUBS
5. WHERE DO I START?
6. GLOSSARY OF TERMS

So how do you get a horse to play Polo?
Without going into too much detail a Polo Pony is trained from the age of 3 for approximately 2 years before being brought onto a Polo ground. In this time a rider will build a bond of trust with their horse and gradually train it to move and react in certain way to the rider's commands. One major difference with riding a Polo Pony is that a player steers it with one hand. This is called neck reigning (a horse will react to the pressure of the reigns on it's neck rather than it's mouth). It will also be trained to get used to the stick being swung around it's head and other horses moving in close proximity.

How is a Polo Pony prepared for Polo?
As a Polo Pony is so valuable to a player, the most important equipment is that to protect the horse from injury. Polo Ponies are rarely injured but the precaution of applying bandages to their legs for support and protection is a must. A Pony will also have it's mane removed, this is so a players view is not obstructed around the neck. They will also have their tail taped up just for the period of the game, again this so their tail does not obstruct the players view or get tangled in the stick. The tack used is basically the same as tack used for any other equestrian sport except for a few differences. The bridle has a standing martingale and two sets of reigns and the saddle is specially designed so it doesn't have knee rolls or a high pommel.

What if you have a horse already and want to try Polo?
It is more difficult to teach an older horse because as the saying goes, you can't teach an old dog new tricks. If you are starting out you will want to avoid having problems trying to get your horse to adjust while playing.

The player's equipment.
A polo player will use the following equipment for playing:

• A pair of riding boots - these must go up to below the knee and are required for protection
• A pair of knee pads - these are also required to protect the players knees.
• A polo stick - these are traditionally made from a bamboo cane shaft and a Tipa wood head. Depending on the size of the horse they are between 49 and 53 inches in length. The ball is struck on the side of the head (unlike croquet). Some modern sticks use carbon fibre or fibre glass shafts.
• A helmet - essentially a modified riding helmet. It has a wide brim so a player can dip their head and deflect a ball or mallet. It also might have a face guard made from thin steel bars.

Horsemanship
So how do you ask a living animal many times your size and much stronger go exactly where you want it? The saying that you can take horse to water but can't make it drink is very true. You can't force a horse to do anything it doesn't want to. A good horseperson will almost become a part of the horse when playing. Many good players will tell you that they almost forget the horse is there and subconsciously manoeuvre it, so natural is the bond that is made.

Hand eye co-ordination
Travelling at 35 miles an hour on a horse trying to hit a ball 3 and a 1/4 inches in diameter with a stick that is 52 inches long definitely requires hand eye co-ordination! If you are left handed you will have to learn to hit the ball with your right, this is for safety reasons [ N.B. The rules are designed so that players travelling towards each other meet right hand to right hand. If the rules allowed left handed players, a left handed player meeting a right handed player would collide and therefore for safety reasons left handed players are not allowed].

Tactics
Polo is a very tactical game and based on team play. Like most team sports a good player will 'read' the game and anticipate where the ball will go next. A weaker player will chase the ball around the ground and invariably never catch up!

The ground
The ground is a grass, flat rectangular field 300 yards long and 200 yards wide (the equivalent of 10 football fields). There is a goal at each end, the posts stand 24 feet apart and are designed to break easily if hit by a horse. Some grounds have wooden boards along the side, this is to stop the ball from going out of play and reduce the number of throw ins during the game.
Starting from the back line where the goals are there is a line across the ground 30 yards in, called 'the 30 yard line'. Another 10 yards in there is a spot in the middle of the ground called the 40 yard mark. Then another 20 yards in there is another line and you guessed it called 'the 60 yard line'. Each of these lines are for different types of penalties.

The teams
A team is comprised of four players, they are numbered one to four. The number one is usually the weakest player in the team and the person who receives the ball and tries to score a goal. In theory if the number one misses the rest of the team will be there to back them up. The number two works with the number three to get the ball up to the number one. The number three is usually the strongest player. They will try to control the game and create opportunities for other players in their team. The number four is the defence; they will try to disrupt the opposing teams attack.
Each player is given a handicap rating based on how well they play. The handicap system starts at the beginner who is 'minus two goals' up to the best players in the world who are 'ten goals'. This doesn't mean that a 'ten goaler' will score ten goals in a game, it is merely a rating.
To be a professional, a player needs to have a rating of two goals or above.

The different standards of Polo.
There are three levels of standard in Polo - Low goal, Medium Goal and High goal. Each level is based on the teams overall handicap - the higher the team handicap the higher the standard of Polo they will play. High goal is at the top level. This is played by the best players in the world but they don't play for free. A patron, who has some cash to burn will hire these players to play for them so they can enjoy playing at the top level. Essentially you have three top professionals in a team and a patron. Watching a game at this level is quite awesome to watch. Until you've played yourself it's quite difficult to understand the incredible skill that the top players possess.
At the other end of the spectrum there is Low goal. This level is by far the most popular and fiercely competitive. Typically it is played at an amateur level but tournaments might include a professional or two.

A typical polo match
A match comprises of between four to six chukka's (depending on the standard), each chukka lasting seven and a half minutes. For each chukka a players will ride a fresh horse, therefore for a match of six chukkas a player will need at least six different horses! In Polo a player can play a horse twice although it requires that the horse is not played for at least one chukka in between.
So that the teams are fairly equal in skill, the handicap of the team is added up. They should be fairly equal for the level that they are playing at. If there is any difference the weaker team is awarded a number of goals head start before the game begins. You might see a Polo score where a team has been awarded a half a goal. The team didn't get the ball half way over the line or anything like that; they were awarded it at the beginning of the game as the team was weaker.
The game begins with both teams lined up and facing each other in the middle of the ground, there are two mounted umpires, one of which throws the ball in.
Once under way each team will be trying to score as many goals as possible, the winning team is the one who has scored the most goals at the end of the match.
An important point to remember is that every time a goal is scored the teams swap ends. This can often confuse spectators!

The rules
There are many rules in Polo and learning them is quite daunting. They cover everything from the type of shoe stud a horse should use to the game play rules. They are necessary because of one important factor - safety. Polo is potentially an extremely dangerous sport but with rules in place to protect the horses and the players, there are rarely any injuries.

There are many clubs in Britain stretching the whole length of the country. To play at a club you need to become a member. Typically there will be a fee to play for the season (this covers ground maintenance etc) and a fixed compulsory insurance fee to protect the club in case of a claim.
The season runs from mid April to mid September during which a typical club will have practice chukka's on one or two days during the week, with faster more serious match chukkas over the weekend. There is no inter club league like football but clubs will arrange tournaments during the season where other teams from other clubs might travel to come and compete.

Polo is not the cheapest sport you can play but it doesn't necessarily have to be too expensive. The expensive part is keeping horses but if you can afford to keep a horse then you should be able to afford to play.
If you don't have the facilities for a horse there are often players in a club who will look after your horse for you. Another alternative is to hire horses from players. Dundee and Perth Polo club can provide both these options.
Sadly the sport has an elitist reputation - in reality most clubs are always looking for new members whatever their background. To join a club you don't have to have a title or vast sums of money. As long as you are friendly and get along you will fit in, just like in any other sports club.
In Scotland here are two HPA approved Polo clubs, one near Edinburgh (Dalmahoy) and the other near Perth (Dundee and Perth Polo Club). Both clubs are friendly so if you are interested in starting don't be afraid to pick up the phone! Contact details can be found in the contact section of the site.

A    B    C    D    F    G    H    L    M    N    O    P    R    S    T    U    W

A
Appealing - This is when a player raises their stick in the air to draw the umpires attention to a foul. It's against the rules but players still do it!

B
Back hand - This is a type of shot that a player can play. The ball in this case is hit backwards from the horse. There are variations such as 'tail' and 'open'.

Ball - This is a white plastic ball measuring 3 and a ¼ inches in diameter. It can travel at speeds in excess of 100 miles an hour.

Bandages - These are the length of protective cloth wrapped around the horses cannon bone to support the tendon and provide protection from knocks.

Bay - A colour description for a horse with a black mane and tail, and reddish brown colour over the rest of the body.

Bit - The metal or rubber straight or linked bar that rest in a horses mouth. This is attached to the bridle and reigns.

Blaze - A natural white marking down the face of a horse.

Breast plate - A piece of leather tack that reaches around the horses chest to keep the saddle from slipping back.

Breeches - Trousers worn by the rider, usually a pair of white jeans.

Bridle - A harness of leather straps around the horses head to hold the bit in place.

Brushing boots - Also called over reach boots or coronet boots. Usually made of neoprene, these are designed to protect the hoof and lower part of the leg (below the fetlock).

Buck - This is when a horse tries to dismount a rider. You'll sometimes see a horse do this when it first goes out on the Polo ground. The majority of time this is because the horse is feeling full of energy and a little cocky!

C
Cannon - This is the part of the horse's leg where the bandages are applied. Found between the Knee and the Fetlock

Canter - The action of a horse moving. A canter is faster than a trot but slower than a gallop.

Check and turn - This is when a horse is asked to stop and turn quickly. Rather than haul on a horses mouth to stop, a check is a light pull to the horses mouth coupled with a lifting action of the riders legs. Polo Ponies are trained to stop on this command. With the horses weight on it's back legs (through the stopping motion) it is then asked to turn.

Check up - Where a rider has to stop or partially stop to avoid a collision.

Chestnut - A colour description for a horse with a light brown body, mane and tail.

Chukka - A period of seven and a half minutes of play.

Coronet - The surface of the hoof.

Criollo - A breed of horse favoured in Argentina for Polo.

Crop - Also known as a Whip. Used as a riders aid, not for punishment.

D
Divot - A section of turf ripped up from the ground by a horses hoof.

Draw reign - A set of reins attached to the girth at one end, passing through the rings of the bit and back to the rider's hands. Used to control and align the horse's head position.

Drop noseband - Used to remind a horse to keep it's mouth closed and therefore giving the rider more control.

Dun - A colour description for a horse of light to medium sand colour with dark skin, dark points on the mane, tail, and lower legs.

F
Farrier - A professional blacksmith who puts shoes on horses.

Fetlock - The ankle joint of a horses leg.

Field - The ground that the game of Polo is played on.

Filly - A female horse under 4 years old.

G
Gait - The different ways a horse can move. They are Walk, Trot, Canter and Gallop.

Gag - A type of bit. The most commonly used in Polo.

Gallop - The fastest way a horse can move.

Gelding - A castrated male horse.

Girth - The wide leather strap that holds the saddle on to a horses back.

Goal - A goal is scored in a polo match anytime the ball crosses the line between the goal posts, regardless of who (including a Polo Pony) knocks it through.

Goal judge - A person who stands back from the goal and signals with a raised flag when the ball goes through the goal posts.

Grey - A colour description for a horse that ranges from white to dark grey.

Green horse - A young horse that is fairly new to the game of Polo.

Groomed horse - A horse that has been prepared for Polo but before the tack is applied. This includes brushing, hoof picking, mane clipping and the tail tied up.

H
Halter - Also called a head collar. This is a harness of leather, rope, or nylon that fits over a horse's head, like a bridle but without a bit or reins, used for leading a horse or tying up.

Handicap - The ability rating of a player or team. The team handicap is all the players handicaps added up. The higher the handicap the better the team.

Hands - A hand is approximately 4 inches. A horse's height is measured in hands. The measurement is taken from its withers (the highest point on a horse's back just before the mane begins) to the ground in a straight line.

Head collar - see Halter.

High goal - A term to describe the standard of Polo. This is Polo played at the highest level and by the best players in the world.

Hind quarters - The part of the horse's body from the rear of the flank to the top of the tail. Basically it's backside!

Hit in - When a player hits a ball in to play from their team's own back line.

Hock - The knee joint on a horse's hind legs.

Hogged mane - A mane that has been completely removed from a horse by using hair clippers. This is to allow a player to see around a horse's neck without obstruction.

Hoof - The foot on a horse. A horse shoe is applied to the base.

Hoof picking - Part of the grooming process. This is where a hoof pick (metal blunt pick) is used to remove any dirt or stones from the base of the horses hoof.

Hook - The action where a Polo player uses their stick to stop another player hitting a ball.

HPA - Hurlingham Polo Association, this is the UK's governing body for Polo.

L
Lame - When a horse has injured a leg.

Line - This term is used to describe part of the most important rule in Polo designed to make the game safe. When a ball is hit an invisible line is created. This line cannot be crossed because players travel up and down it. Rather like the central reservation on a dual carriage way which is there to stop cars going into oncoming traffic.

Low goal - This is a term to describe the lowest standard of Polo. By far the most popular and fiercely competitive.

M
Made Pony - A horse that has been trained for Polo.

Mallet - Another term for a Polo stick. This is used for hitting the ball.

Mane - The hair that grows along the top of a horses neck.

Mare - A female horse over 4 years old.

Martingale - In Polo this is a 'Standing Martingale'. This is a leather strap that goes from the girth to the bridle underneath the chin to prevent a horse from throwing its head up.

Medium goal - A term to describe the standard of Polo. A higher standard that Low goal but not as high as High goal.

N
Nearside - The left side of the horse if you are sitting on it's back.

Neck reigning - The action where a rider asks a horse to turn in one direction by applying pressure on it's neck with the reigns.

Neck shot - This is a type of shot that a player can play. The ball in this case is hit under the horses neck.

O
Officials - The officials in a Polo match are the two mounted umpires and a referee at midfield on the sidelines who has the final say in any dispute between the mounted umpires.

Offside - The right side of a horse if you are sitting on it's back

Out of bounds - This is where the ball is hit outside the field area and therefore goes out of play.

P
Palomino - A colour description for a gold coloured horse with a blond or white mane and tail.

Pass - When a player hits a ball to another player.

Patron - A player who pays a professional to play in their team.

Pelham - A type of bit.

Penalty - A free hit awarded to a team because the opposite team committed a foul. There are ten types of penalty in Polo, ranging from a penalty goal to a player being excluded from a game.

Piebald - A colour description for a horse made up of white with black patches.

Pommel - This is a part of the saddle that sits over the horse's withers.

R
Ride off - The action where a player travelling in the same direction as another player tries to push the other player to one side using their horse, and therefore gain advantage over hitting the ball.

Reigns - A thin strip of leather going from one side of the bit, through the riders hand and back to the other side of the bit. Used for control, a Polo bridle has two.

S
Saddle - Placed on a horses back this is used for the rider to sit in. A Polo saddle is light weight and modified in that it has a low pommel and no knee rolls.

Skewbald - A colour description for a horse made up of white with brown patches.

Side boards - Wooden boards running along the side of the Polo ground to keep the ball in play.

Snaffle - A type of bit.

Sound - A horse that is free from lameness or injury.

Spur - A blunt metal pointed device worn on a riders boot. Used as a riding aid.

Stick - This is used by a rider for hitting the ball. The shaft can be between 49 and 53 inches in length (depending on the size of the horse) and normally made from Bamboo with a Tipa wood head. The ball is struck on the side not the end of the stick head. Some modern sticks use a carbon fibre or fiberglass shaft.

Stick and ball - A term used to describe a player practising before playing.

Stirrup - A metal D- shaped ring hung from the saddle that supports a rider's foot. Also known as a stirrup iron.

Sudden death - Overtime play in polo when the score is tied at the end of the last chukka, the first team to score a goal wins.

T
Tack - Any equipment worn by a horse including saddle, bridle, reins, martingale etc.

Tail shot - This is a type of back hand shot that a player can play. The ball in this case is hit at an angle across the back of the horse.

Third man - One of the match officials, the third man is un-mounted and stays in the centre of the ground. He is there to give the final decision if the umpires cannot agree.

Thoroughbred - A breed of horse descended from three Arab stallions brought to Britain in the 17th century. Thoroughbreds are favoured by Polo players because of their lightening acceleration and speed.

Throw in - When an umpire throws the ball back into play after it goes out of play over the side line.

Treading in - This is when the spectators are asked to walk out onto the ground and help repair the ground where a horses hoof has damaged the turf. The section of grass that has been dug up is called a divot, this is picked up, placed in the hole where it has been removed and then treaded down with the foot.

Trot - The action of a horse moving. A trot is faster than a walk but slower than a canter.

Turn the ball - This is when a player rather than play a backhand will tap the ball around until they are facing in the opposite direction.

U
Umpires - These are the mounted referee's in a match. Between them they will police the game and make sure the game is safe and fair.

W
Whip - Also known as a Crop. Used as a riders aid, not for punishment.

Wind milling - When a player swings their stick above their head in a helicopter motion. This is done in joy or frustration. This action is illegal in the game of Polo for safety reasons.

Withers - The slight ridge on a horse's back just before the mane begins.

PLEASE NOTE: These are not the views of the Dundee and Perth Polo Club. This has been written independently only as a guide to the game of Polo.