Polo is an incredibly fun and fast-paced sport, one that requires a huge amount of skill – and if you’re new to it, you’re sure to have a wonderful time learning how to play. But have you ever wondered where the game originated from and how long people have been playing polo for?
Well, it’s certainly worth knowing that polo is, in fact, the oldest equestrian sport of them all. It was first played in Persia (now Iran) in as early as the sixth century BC, initially used as a way to train the cavalry units up, mimicking a battlefield!
As time went on, it soon became the country’s national sport and from there, started making its way around the world, first appearing in Arabia, then Tibet, China and Japan. It was first played in India in the 13th century, with the first European polo club formed by British tea planters in the mid 19th century.
The game started to spread very rapidly indeed after that, especially around England, with matches taking place at Richmond Park and Hurlingham, drawing in huge crowds.
Towards the end of the century, polo was being played in the US, with the Westchester Polo Club founded in 1877. The Polo Association was formed in 1890, with a formal set of rules established.
International competitions started to take place from 1886, with the first seeing the US try to take on the English team – rather unsuccessfully. However, the US upped its game and was the dominant international team for years, before polo was adopted by the national sport of Argentina, perhaps unsurprising given the country’s horse-based culture.
If you want to see how to play polo, definitely do some research into the Argentine team for a masterclass in excellence.
Looking for polo lessons in the UK? Get in touch with Menard Polo today.