Horse polo is the sport of kings, and one built around sportsmanship, bravery and immense skill, with players in the sport with even a decent handicap being amongst the most skilful horse riders in the world.
There are many skills that are crucial to success in polo at a professional level, but here are the three most vital.
Horse Riding Skill And The Right Pony
Not only does the HPA pathway require a high level of skill at horse riding to become a successful player, but starting out as a player without horse riding ability can make it more difficult to learn both skills.
Ultimately, 95 per cent of the chukka time you spend will not be spent on the ball, which means being a skilled rider is paramount, and being able to clearly command your pony and carefully navigating the field is a more vital skill.
As well as this, it is important to have the right pony for your skill level. If your handicap is -2 goals then a fast pony will be too difficult to handle for you to make the most of it, and you would be better served with a slower, more dependable steed.
A Cool, Competitive Mentality
Mental makeup is the difference between good players and great ones in many sports, and Polo is no exception.
It requires a cool, calm disposition, but also a will to win, and both of these can be difficult in the face of many potential frustrations such as a bad hit, opponents getting on your nerves and a pony not doing what you want.
Ultimately, remaining calm during all of this will help improve your game, even if it may slow your pace.
Physical Fitness
Being physically fit is important for nearly all sports, but with polo, it is doubly important as your fitness can not only affect your actions but those of your pony.