The appearance of a polo pony is different than that of horses in most other equestrian sports. Manes are shaved and the ponies’ tails are braided and tied up out of the way of mallets or reins during the close physical contact at high speeds. As the unsung heroes of the game, the grooms take care of all the day-to-day responsibilities behind the scenes such as conditioning, training and stable maintenance. There are no breed restrictions on the horses of the game, and they can be of any size and color, but a great majority of them are Thoroughbreds or crossbreeds including that influence. They require speed, stamina and the athletic ability to stop and turn at high speed. Many polo players describe their best mounts as having an aggressive confidence and a feel for the game. HANDICAPPING A handicap is a comparative rating of polo playing skills conferred by the USPA and expressed as “goals” that range on a scale from -2 to 10. A -2 would be given to a beginner player whereas a 10 handicap is reserved for the most skilled player. These ratings are not directly correlated with the number of goals a player scores, rather, a variety of factors such as skill, horsemanship, strategy, knowledge of polo, team play and sportsmanship. The team handicap is the sum of the players’ handicaps. Each tournament has a handicap range and each participating team’s handicap must fall within that range. SAFETY The rules of polo are based almost entirely around safety and designed to prevent injury to players and their mounts. The official Safety Committee and Equine Welfare Committee monitor all safety aspects of polo through injury research, prevention measures and testing of protective gear, and communicate that information along with recommendations to polo players and officials at the club and national levels. EQUIPMENT Balls – In outdoor polo, the ball is about the size of a baseball and made of hard plastic. It will weigh between 3.5 and 4.5 ounces. Leg Wraps - The colored material wrapped around the horses’ lower legs, leg wraps are typically made of a synthetic felt-like material and have some stretch to them. They serve two purposes: protecting the horses’ legs from injury and providing support. Boots - Players wear leather boots that extend up to the knee to protect the lower leg and enough heel to keep the boot from slipping out of the stirrup. There are also a variety of equine protective boots, which may be used with leg wraps for additional protection. Helmet – The USPA rules require that all polo players wear a helmet during play. Helmets are traditionally covered in cloth or leather and comprised of an outer fiberglass or carbon-fiber shell with an interior high-density foam liner for padding, typically secured by a chin-strap or a harness. Knee Guards - Protective equipment worn by players on their knees. They are generally padded and made of leather. Mallet - The mallet is used to hit the ball and is generally between 50 and 53 inches long. The grip is similar to that of a tennis racquet with a sling, which the player loops over his or her thumb. The sling helps to ensure the player does not drop the mallet during the rough action, as there is no timeout called for a player to dismount and retrieve it. The shaft is traditionally made from a bamboo cane while the cigar-shaped head is made of a hard wood. Tack - Refers to the equipment which goes on the horse: bridle, saddle, saddle pad and wraps. Misc. Player Equipment – Whether a player chooses to use gloves, protective facemasks, eyewear, elbow pads or mouth guards is a personal preference.
17