Did you know that there is a strong Polo culture here in Poolesville? Described by some as hockey on horseback, Polo is a team game played on horseback and one of the oldest known sports in the world. It is thought to have originated in ancient Persia. The modern game came from India in the 1800s where British soldiers adapted the game and used it for training cavalry riders. 

The British codified rules and the game spread world-wide. It is particularly popular in Argentina and the USA.  

The object of Polo is for a team to win the match by scoring more points than its opposition by hitting the ball through the opposition’s goalposts. 

Each team has four players made up of attackers and defenders, but team members can make any play whether offensive or defensive and change position as necessary to benefit the team. 

A Polo game can last for up to 2 hours and is divided into periods called chukkers. The number of chukkers per game can vary, while 7.5 minutes makes one chukker.   

Polo requires a special breed of horse known as a Polo pony. These horses need a special saddle which enables the player to be seated securely, control the horse, and swing the mallet. Each player needs at least two ponies to switch out between chukkers and these may be the player’s own, or they may be provided by their club. 

General Rules of Polo 

  • Each team consists of four players. 
  • Goal is scored whenever you send the ball through the opposition’s goal post. 
  • Whenever a goal is scored, teams change ends. 
  • Players may challenge opposition team members by ‘riding them off,’ which is when a player rides their pony alongside their opponent’s and attempts to move them away from the ball or even take them out of play. Players may also ‘bump’ the opposition, which is a physical maneuver akin to the body check in hockey. Players may also hook an opponent’s stick when they are attempting to hit the ball.
  • Polo is overseen by two mounted umpires who consult each other on decisions. Should they disagree, they can seek the opinion of the match referee also known as the ‘third man.’ 
  • Intentionally trying to injure an opponent is not allowed, you cannot touch the ball except with the polo stick. 
  • All players can use their right arm only when hitting the ball. 
  • Non-possessive players cannot cross the Line of the Ball (LOB), the theoretical path of the ball, after it has been hit. That means a player can only get the possession of the ball from either side but can’t run across his LOB. Doing so would be called a “foul.” 
  • A foul can be punished in the form of a free hit towards the goal. 
  • The team with the most goals at the end of the match is declared winner. 
  • If there is a draw, then the winner is decided in extra time. The first to score in extra time is deemed the winner. The extra time can vary between 1 to 7.5 minutes. 

The scoring in Polo is simple. A point (known as a goal) is scored when the ball is hit into the goal. Unlike other games that change halves at set periods such as halftime, in Polo, teams change field direction every time a goal is scored. In the past, pitches were traditionally set on an East/West axis and the switching prevented extended periods of time with the sun or wind in one team’s face. 

Join Poolesville Seniors for a social gathering at Seneca Polo Club on Friday October 6th at 6:00 p.m. Bring your own picnic, accessories, and drinks (adult beverages permitted). Watch for the registration on our website.