Being Prepared To Play Polo

By Rob Edwards


Budding horse riders have the option to take part in a number of different riding sports, ranging from the skilful and beautiful dressage, brave show jumping and the daring cross country. One other popular sport is Polo, which is enjoyed by riders up and down the country. Polo consists of four players, each designated a certain position and role within the team. The game takes place on a pitch and each rider is given a polo mallet to hold, which they use to try and hit the ball into the appropriate goal.

In order to take part in Polo, it is important that the horse rider wears the right safety gear so as to protect themselves from the risks involved in the game. Flying balls, swinging mallets and of course, falling off your horse are all common occurrences in Polo. The most important piece of safety equipment that must be worn is undoubtedly a helmet. A Polo helmet is designed specifically for the game and has different advanced safety features to a standard riding helmet. It is not uncommon for Polo helmets to have a metal faceguard that protects the riders face from stray balls or mallets.

Sport specific riding boots must also be worn. Most riding boots come to just below the knee, featuring a flat sole with a small heel of no more than an inch. This ensures that the player's foot does not slip through the stirrup. This could be very dangerous in the event that a rider loses control of their horse.

As well as there being plenty of equipment for the rider, there is also a lot of polo equipment on the market for a horse. As well as a saddle and bridle, horses may need to wear special skid boots which can provide shock absorbency for when the horse is racing up and down the polo pitch. The rider may also need to use a particular bit in the horse's bridle in order to provide accurate control when it comes to instructing the horse to turn quickly in a certain direction.

When taking part in a sport such as Polo, it is essential to look after your horses joints. Products such as NAF Superflex are specially formulated by vets from pharmaceutical quality ingredients. This helps to keep a horses joints healthy and with optimal flexibility, helping them to perform better during Polo matches and lessening the chance of pain or injury. Supplements such as NAF Superflex come in liquid form and can be mixed in with a horse's food.




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