What is Polo?
Polo is one of the oldest team sports known to man and is over 2,000 years old. A Polo match or game consists of 4-6 Chukkers (periods), each Chukker lasts for 7 1/2 minutes. Players are given a ranking or “Polo Handicap” by the governing body of the sport annually. The ranking system in polo is from a -1 to 10, ten being the best. Traditional attire for a polo player includes a helmet, a mallet, a pair of riding boots, a pair of knee guards and white pants for tournament matches. Players use a “Polo Mallet” in the right hand to strike the ball. Polo is played on horseback and horses used for polo are traditionally called “Polo Ponies”. Polo ponies can be any breed and/or size of horse that the player chooses. Winning a polo match is determined by which team scores the most “Goals”. A goal is scored by striking a “polo ball” through the goal posts centered at each end of the polo field. Teams change directions after each goal is scored to accommodate any field or weather advantages. Unlike many other team sports which require players to stay within a zone, polo players are free to move anywhere on the field as they pass the ball between team members traveling at speeds of up to 35 mph. in an effort to score goals.
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