Polo
Polo is a team ball sport played on horseback, in which four riders a side drive a ball through the opponents' goal using a long-handled mallet.
At a glance
| Format | Two teams of four; played in timed periods called chukkas. |
|---|---|
| Handicap | Players are rated from minus two to ten goals; team handicaps set the level of a match. |
| Ponies | Ridden on agile, fast 'polo ponies', usually swapped between chukkas to keep them fresh. |
| Field | A full-size polo ground is one of the largest fields in organised sport. |
A match is divided into chukkas, short timed periods after which players usually change to a fresh pony. Points are scored by hitting the ball between the goalposts, and the teams change ends after each goal to even out any wind or ground advantage.
The horses, traditionally called polo ponies whatever their height, are prized for acceleration, balance and the temperament to gallop into contact. Much of a player's skill lies in positioning the pony rather than the mallet work itself.
Sources: Federation Equestrian International (FEI) ยท British Equestrian