The Swing from Horseback

The Three Steps of the Polo Swing from motion

This chapter covers the transferring of the swing technique you have learned standing on the ground to sitting on horseback.

In principle, the swing movement is performed analogously to the exercises you have learned with the walking stick. When hitting, the player changes from the half-seat into the hitting position. The swing from the horseback has to be phased according to the horse’s movements, momentum, beat and rhythm. So you must especially take into consideration the timing of the swing according to the different paces.

From Half-Seat to Hitting Position

To recap: In order to reduce thrust on the horse’s back and obtain a better balance himself, the player rises up from the saddle and bends slightly forward to harmonize his center of gravity with that of the horse. It is important to have your buttocks in a stable position over the saddle and have your upper body float almost parallel to the horse’s neck. At this time, your back should be straight. The role of the legs is a stabilizing one here; together with the horseman’s weight, they guide and control the horse.

The position of your lower legs is of crucial relevance in the polo seat and especially in the hitting position. This is the reason why you should watch the position of your lower legs before rising up to the half-seat and hitting position. They should be bent somewhat backwards behind the girth, with the knees bent at the flap. In a polo player’s terminology this would be known as “bend the knee”. From this position bend slightly forward, lift your weight off the saddle and rise up a bit. If you keep your legs straight, you will not find any balance in your saddle.

In the hitting position the horseman’s knees are bent; lower and upper legs represent an angle of almost 90 degrees.

The Three Steps of the Polo Swing from horseback

1Basic Position

The swing begins in half seat, the mallet is held in a balanced position.

2Backswing

The arm is moved back, the eyes are fixed on the ball, and the weight is shifted to the right.

Checkpoints Body tension plays a decisive role at the end of the backswing. The body should be tensed to its maximum and this tension only released with the downswing and the moment of impact. The eyes focus on the bottom half of the ball, the left shoulder aims at the ball.

3Hitting and Follow-Through

At the moment of impact the arm is extended. Gaze, arm and mallet are in one line. The mallet hits the ball

at the sweet spot.

During the downswing, the player’s knee rolls over the knee roll (“bend the knee”), lower and upper legs represent an angle of almost 90 degrees, the lower leg is bent behind the girth and the ball of the foot is pushed down in the stirrups.

Tips from the Pro

n Practice the hitting position as a dry run, without hitting, but with steering your horse.

n Practice the hitting position in different gaits, primarily in walk!

n

Position your legs fi rst, then stand up.

n Bend your knees with the help of the position of your lower legs. Imagine having a coin between knee and fl ap.

n Develop a feeling of how far you have to retract your lower legs and bend your upper body forwards to be balanced.

Directly after the moment of impact, the arm remains extended and the eyes fi x the ground. Imagine that mallet head and ball are connected with twine and the fl ying ball drags the mallet along.

The swing ends in the half-seat position, i.e. the player’s weight is shifted from the saddle. The mallet is ready for action immediately. Now the eyes are fi xed ahead.

The Influence of the Horse’s Dynamics

The Polo Swing from a Halting Horse

You will swing from a halting horse when, for example, you are being interfered with, in free hits or in throw-ins. The swing must obtain power and speed from your shoulder rotation. Therefore, you must adopt the hitting position in order to be capable of sufficiently rotating with the hips and body.

The Polo Swing from a Walking Horse

For warming-up the horse and horseman, or in penalties, you might swing from the walk. Pay attention to the horse’s rhythm and foot fall, and try to ride straight towards the ball – this is often more difficult than doing it at high speed. When swinging, again always adopt the hitting position.

In walk you will only be able to make use of the horse’s power transmission to a minor extent, i.e. a good deal more shoulder rotation is needed analogously to the swing from a halting horse. The amount of movement needed is higher than that with swings at high speed. Pay attention to correct timing. In most cases you have enough time in walk to prepare for the swing. In walk, you can ideally practice and train the precision and rhythm of your swing.

The Polo Swing in Trot and Gallop

In gallop in particular one can make the maximum possible use of the horse’s dynamics. Here, you should keep in mind the following:

n

n

n

n

n Benefit from the horse’s motion sequences of left-lead gallop for nearside swings and rightlead gallop for offside swings, for example penalties.

Practice change of speeds and the polo player’s typical upward and downward movement.

Practice swinging with the galloping phase and tune your timing.

Go straight on when you miss the ball; do not stop immediately.

Try to gallop rhythmically and control the gallop jumps.

The Polo Swing in Fast Gallop

Even in fast gallop sprint you should be able to control your horse and check it immediately before the swing during the game, i.e. take up the reins. The horse will gallop like a racing horse in a very stretched posture, which means you should shift your center of gravity further forward. Following an overview of the full-swing offside-forward in walk and gallop.

The Polo Swing in walk

The Polo Swing in Trot

The Polo Swing in gallop