Posistions on a Polo Field
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As you already know, polo is an ancient game played on a massive field--usually 300 yds L x 200yds W, though some fields are 300yds long and 160 yds wide. (For American Football fans, that's the length of *nine* football fields.) The game is played in heats, or chukkas, lasting approximately 7 minutes each. There are typically 6 chukkas per match, though some play with 4 and some with as many as 8. At the beginning of each new chukka, each team's goal changes sides, so that the benefit of controlling the horse with the left hand and hitting the ball with the right does not favor one team or the other.
Now that we have some background on this game, it is time to introduce the field positions.
Position #4: This player can move all over the field, but their main job is to prevent the other team from scoring. They are *the* defense player for their team. They are the "backup" for Position 3, allowing #3 to make more offensive plays for their team.
Position #3: This is usually the second-best player on the team and is typically the team leader. They generally carry the highest handicap and the person must have a strong, powerful swing in order to hit the ball to Players #2 and #1.
Position #2: Often the very best player on the team, #2 is a busy person. They are capable of scoring goals for their team or passing the ball to #1 to allow that person to score. The player in Position #2 is responsible for covering the oposing team's #3 player.
Position #1: This person generally covers the other team's #4 player. This position is considered to be the "most offense oriented" position on the field.
It must also be noted that the majority of polo ponies on the world circuit are actually not *pony sized* at all, but horses that generally stand 14.2 to 16 hh. Most of are some Thoroughbred ancestry, though a popular cross for polo is the Argentine Criollo x TB, also known as the Argentine Polo Pony, though it is not a *breed* in the truest respects.
Besides being taught to neck-rein (where the rider holds the reins in one hand, in the case of polo the right hand) polo ponies must be brave (to deal with the swishing of the bat and the excitement of the players,) agile, willing, and even-tempered. Most players have at least 2 ponies to change out between chukkas, though at higher levels, players may have a *string* of at least eight ponies per game. |
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T W I
Very cool! =]
Very cool! =]
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Nov 21, 2009
• 2,135 views
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Seastar Stables
Eight ponies per game!!! That's gotta cost alot of $$$$.
Eight ponies per game!!! That's gotta cost alot of $$$$.
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Nov 21, 2009
• 2,138 views
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Sinclairs
Very interesting, thanks for the news update, that helps to put our horses in the correct positions on the field hopefully, ans Seastar yes 8 ponies but here you can only use 7 subs so we use 11 in a game (:
Very interesting, thanks for the news update, that helps to put our horses in the correct positions on the field hopefully, ans Seastar yes 8 ponies but here you can only use 7 subs so we use 11 in a game (:
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Nov 21, 2009
• 2,138 views
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Nov 22, 2009
• 2,148 views
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Jean
That's great! However this game seems to be a lot different :? Wish it wasn't so.. But great post nonetheless! Definitely helps to know a little something about the game were playing! lol.
That's great! However this game seems to be a lot different :? Wish it wasn't so.. But great post nonetheless! Definitely helps to know a little something about the game were playing! lol.
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Nov 24, 2009
• 2,140 views
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May 9, 2011
• 2,171 views
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The Love Horses
I play polo. It really is an amazing sport! Also, while you are correct about some playing 8 chukkers, people usually play an average of 4, and occasionally 5.
I play polo. It really is an amazing sport! Also, while you are correct about some playing 8 chukkers, people usually play an average of 4, and occasionally 5.
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Dec 8, 2012
• 2,200 views
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More News by Magik Rose Farm
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The semi-feral Skyros pony hails from the tiny Greek island of the same name. There are records showing that the ponies have been on the island for well over 1000 years. It is a very small equine, generally standing between 9 and ...
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