Learning to play polo helps you to acquire a diverse combination of skills, such as handling the mallet accurately, calculating and placing the position of the ball, and deploying the strategies of the game. As well as all this, you will learn the foundations of great riding and horsemanship.
Once you have learned to move in harmony with your horse, you will discover a whole new sense of power and freedom as you create a partnership on the polo field, and travel with speed and accuracy. Riding well is a joyful and uplifting experience in itself, which can take you far away from the strains and stresses of everyday life.
If you are new to riding or looking to improve your ability in the saddle, there are some key techniques which can help you reach the next level. Many beginners think that riding is simply about learning to steer and stop the horse, when in fact the essence is to develop an ‘independent seat’ which means you can stay strong in the saddle no matter what!
Anyone is capable of doing this, whatever their size or gender. It does take some time and patience, but the result will be a much more secure seat. This in turn will make you a more confident rider, and your experience of learning to play polo will be all the more rewarding.
A good starting exercise to practice is standing in the stirrups slightly, so your seat is hovering above the saddle, while taking care not to use the reins to provide balance. Start from a standing position for as long as you can manage, then work up to a walk, trot, and canter as your strength and balance improve.
Once you have become comfortable in the saddle and mastered transitions, you could try riding without stirrups for short periods. This will help you to use your balance and core strength to stay steady in the saddle, and you will be less disconcerted should you happen to lose a stirrup during polo practices or matches.
If you are looking for polo lessons in the UK, please contact us today.