Polo, Anyone?

[BohemianRN]

Hello!

I am a long time lurker, finally getting the guts to post. I ride dressage primarily (lease a Friesian), but have recently developed an interest in polo. Of course I would not be riding the Friesian in polo, it seems most the clubs have horses there. There are a few clubs in my area ( San Fran Bay Area) that I am investigating. Does anyone here play polo?
If so what are your experiences? It seems like a fun and exciting sport!

[KateKat]

I'm glad you brought this up! I'm also interested in local polo clubs, particularly UC Davis. It definitely seems like a fun sport!

[jubilee43]

It is a very fun sport! go to http://www.us-polo.org/ for local info and help finding a place to play.

[StellaTMK]

A few weeks ago I was involved in a sidesaddle demo during half-time (is that the right term?) of a local match. Afterwards, I tried a few swings with a mallet, but even the longest they had was too short for my 17h OTTB. But it was FUN!! And I scored an uncontested goal since it was just me! A few of the players even tried riding aside after the match! What a great group of people.

There is talk of a few clinics this winter if the weather isn't too bad here in NJ. We will see just how sidesaddle polo works!

[Carrera]

I've been playing polo now for about 9 years and I love it! My polo pony is taking the winter off after a long hard summer of playing. I love the game and plan to start 2 youngsters playing next summer.

Call a few local clubs and see if they offer intro clinics. They are a great way to get your feet wet without spending a ton of money!

Good luck!

[jmerryl]

I like to watch Polo actually. It is a very interesting and above all very traditional, old-fashioned (which I believe to be good) and elegant sport that brings back classy past in sports to the contemporary weirdness in some types of sport. I love men who play polo, because it looks very graceful :)

[BohemianRN]

Thanks for the replies! I found there are several clubs in the area that offer clinics and lessons et. al. I am looking forward to it!
Stella: Wow, sounds like you had great fun!!
Carrera: Your right, they do offer a great way to get started affordably (plus you can ride some great horses)!
JMerry: I totally agree!! Call me old fashioned

[Miss J]

Polo is sooo fun! and why couldn't you ride your Friesan in it? lower level polo is played with all different breeds...we had a paint draft cross win the polo pony of the year in Alberta at one time and he was awesome!! I found it reletivly inexpensive, all I bought was the mallet and I got it used, borrowed some pads and that was it! the people were so friendly and just a great group to be around....but the field my club played at was sold for development:( so no more:( but you should totally go for it! it's a blast!

[Petstorejunkie]

Polo is extremely fun
Dressage is extremely fun
you cannot be good at both at the same time. polo will ruin your dressage equitation, sorry folks can't do both. It took me 2 years to get square in the saddle again and to let go of my knees after working polo horses. I've talked to 2 other dressage riders that took a few years to play polo, and they had the same experience.

[Carrera]

Polo is extremely fun
Dressage is extremely fun
you cannot be good at both at the same time. polo will ruin your dressage equitation, sorry folks can't do both. It took me 2 years to get square in the saddle again and to let go of my knees after working polo horses. I've talked to 2 other dressage riders that took a few years to play polo, and they had the same experience.

I would have to disagree...

I do both and I do both well.
Yes I have eq. issues, but they are not polo related at all. I used to show hunters/eq and play polo and I always placed well in the eq's on the A circuit.