DAN'S PAPERS, August 8, 2008 Page 68 www.danshamptons.com
Oldest Game
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professional polo league in the U. S., as well – the United States Women’s Polo Federation. That league, along with the United States Men’s Polo Federation, were founded in 2000. While the rules and techniques of polo have changed over the years, the game never was too complicated for novice spectators to follow along with longtime fans. The object is to get the ball through the other team’s goalposts, which are spread eight yards apart at each end of a 300yard-long field. The mallets are more than four feet long, and, like baseball bats, vary in weight and other qualities. The game is divided into six chukkers, or time periods of seven minutes. The action stops only for penalties, broken tack, or injury to either the horse or player. Riders catch their breath between chukkers and change horses. Players have a ranking system, with a 10-goaler being the highest ranked. Each team has four riders, and, of course, four horses at a time. The Number Three player is the equivalent of the quarterback in football, and is the player with the highest handicap. Number Two has the toughest job, though, playing both offensive and defensive. One is the most offensive player, and four is the primary defense player and is sometimes the team’s patron, who is out there for the fun of playing with these other world-class athletes. This system eliminates wind, sun and other advantages, and also it gives each team the opportunity to
start off with the ball on their right side. This matters a lot because everyone has to play right-handed. In fact, few top players are born lefties. Also at each game, you’ll see two riders out chasing the ball who aren’t on either team–the umpires. Thrilling to play, polo can also be a rough sport for players and their horses. A talented and reliable horse is essential, since 75 percent of the player’s skill comes from his teamwork with the four-legged athlete under him or her. Pony training can last up to two years. Their temperaments must be passive enough to take orders – by rein or by leg pressure – from their rider, yet aggressive enough to go flying
after a ball without fear of swinging mallets and other ponies’ hooves. They get hit by the ball frequently, which doesn’t hurt them, the ball weighing only four ounces, but it can be scary because horses are animals whose instincts tell them run when something big or small seems to be attacking. Players are super-aggressive. Rules allow them to “hook” an opponent’s mallet, meaning when a player has his arm drawn back ready to swing the mallet, his opponent can take his own mallet and hook it on the raised mallet, preventing him from taking his swing. Players can push opponents off the line. The line of the ball is a basic concept in the sport. The line of the ball is an imaginary line that is created each time the ball is struck. This line traces the ball’s path and extends past the ball along that shot. A player has the right of way if he made the last shot and has the line of the ball to his right. But it’s fair play to push him off the line. A player can also bump another with his horse, and steal the ball from him. The primary concept, though, is safety for players and horses. Polo is played in covered arenas as well, with a smaller field and somewhat different rules. College teams play indoors, and matches seem more exciting in the confined, smaller space. But outdoor polo is thrilling and at the same time, graceful and elegant, and, on a warm summer day, about as good as it gets in summer sports.
y l F e t Ki
The 36th Annual August 17th
Sagaponack @ Sagg Main Beach 5:00pm Fun for children, adults and families Live entertainment by Jim Turner Clowns, Caricatures, magicians and more! Kite Judging starts at 5:30pm (Weather Permitting)
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