Rules of the Game

A sport unlike any other, polo showcases the powerful bond between a player and his or her equine partner.

As one of the oldest team sports, polo is an exhilarating combination of horsepower, athleticism and control.

Competing on a 300 by 160-yard grass field (outdoor polo) or a 300 by 150-foot dirt arena (indoor polo), players score by driving the ball between the opposing team’s goal posts using a bamboo mallet while riding at speeds of up to 35 mph.

The team with the highest score after 4 to 6 chukkas (periods) of play win the game. If both teams are tied at the end of the final chukka, play will go into overtime. The game follows some established rules that keep the horses and riders safe.