About the Sport

Polo was invented 2,500 years ago as a cavalry training exercise -- not as a spectator sport -- and remarkably little has changed over the years with the traditional game.

The tradition of wearing white pants dates back to the nineteenth century when Indian royals played in the heat, hence the preference for fabrics that were light in colour and weight.

Divot-stomping at half-time is not just for show. It is actually a very important crowd activity, as it does genuinely restore the field for the players and horses.

Polo ponies are not actually ponies, but rather a specific horse bred for polo, usually a cross between a quarter horse and a thoroughbred.

Polo can only be played using the right hand. This is because the rules of the game revolve around the same principle as driving along a highway. Namely, when a ball is hit it creates an invisible line that players advancing from opposing sides cannot cross. If one advancing player were to approach using his left hand and the other with his right hand, a head-on collision would occur.

“Throw-in”, as simple as it sounds, is a term used to start a play. One of two umpires or even a guest of honour at the match tosses the polo ball up between two teams of four players.