Equine welfare, safety and accessibility to the sport are the three pillars to the current approach to running polo, with the aim of making it “a great place for people and ponies – and for everyone to enjoy themselves”.

Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) chief executive Anna Hall, former head of participation at British Equestrian who took over the role in 2022, told H&H the HPA is “embracing” the spotlight on the sport, thanks to the new television series of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals. The HPA has also revamped and updated its pony welfare booklet, printed in English and Spanish.

“We’ve got about 2,500 members and it goes to all of them, all our clubs and high-goal teams,” Ms Hall said. “We’re acutely aware different countries will have different standards, and we believe we’re leading the way in relation to welfare standards and polo. We’ve been working with our international polo federation, the FIP, and they’ve done an article about our welfare book.

“Making sure we’ve got it to a South American audience in Spanish, as well as a UK audience, is really important, because welfare, accessibility and safety are probably the three pillars I and the team are working towards.”

The booklet includes everything from winter pony care to dealing with extreme heat and from fitness programmes to a new section on poisonous plants.

It also features elements that consider public perception of welfare; one section states that a pony may not play if its “visual impact is considered detrimental to the reputation of polo”.

“We’ve had cases where a horse has something that’s being treated, has been signed off by a vet as fine to play, but we’ve said, ‘We don’t want that pony to play,’ because we want to make sure we have our ponies looking the best,” Ms Hall said. “From a social licence point of view, not just for polo, for all horse sports.

“We need to make sure we’re showcasing our ponies in the best light, so our umpires, pony welfare officers – every club has a pony welfare officer and above a certain level we have vets on duty – any HPA official can say, ‘We do not want that pony to play.’

Working together

“The pony can play when it’s recovered and photos won’t go viral around the world, but this is about us working together for the good of all horse sports.”

Ms Hall said in the past few years, equine and coaching manager Vix Chapple has been working closely with other disciplines’ governing bodies on everything from welfare to the recent increase in equine flu. She also pointed out that no unaffiliated polo activity runs in this country; all games come under the HPA, the Pony Club or the Schools and Universities Polo Association (SUPA), which follow HPA rules.

“So when a couple of years ago, it was about 40C, we stopped polo for two days,” Ms Hall said. “We felt the heat was too high, not so much for playing, but we were so worried about transport and didn’t want any lorries breaking down on the M25. It was a difficult decision, but then we were confident no polo was being played.”

Another big push is on accessibility. Ms Hall spoke at Royal Windsor Horse Show in May and at the 2025 London International, to try to promote the sport.

“There is an expectation that if you want to play polo, you have to have an entire string of ponies and it’s going to cost you an absolute fortune,” she said. “But actually, you can play your entire life and not have any ponies. You can go to polo schools; there will be an HPA qualified coach and they provide you with ponies. They’ll have a licence, like any riding school, but you could have your entire polo hobby career on hired ponies.

“I was talking to somebody at Royal Windsor who’d been a showjumper, fell out of love with showjumping and did polo through SUPA. She’s now a licensed HPA coach, runs a polo club and has played around the world. She said she wouldn’t have had those opportunities without polo; we’re trying to tell some of those stories and get people to come, watch and have a go.”

Power of Polo

She cited the HPA-affiliated charity Power of Polo, which uses the sport to improve the lives of people in challenging situations.

“It takes people who struggle with a whole range of things or have been involved in gang culture and takes them out of that environment,” Ms Hall said. “These are people who haven’t been trusted by authorities, and there was a wonderful project they did getting the Metropolitan Police and these young people to learn to play polo together and they loved it.”

Pony Club participation is also growing and the HPA is working on a simplified rulebook, to be less complicated for newcomers.

“There aren’t many horse disciplines where you can go to a coach and learn to play, ride, compete, from a beginner to tournaments,” Ms Chapple added. “We have a lot of ponies accessible and it’s accessible to spectators too. There are high-goal tournaments, such as the Queen’s Cup at Windsor, where you can go and watch an outstanding game of polo with some of the best players in the world, and you’re not charged for it.”

The HPA works closely with Retraining of Racehorses as many thoroughbreds enjoy second careers in polo.

“That’s a big part of our welfare work and we want to push that agenda as much as possible,” Ms Chapple said. “I think people don’t realise we’re actually really good at our welfare.

“Usually, the only knowledge they have of polo is when you have a member of the royal family on the front of the Daily Mail or Rivals. It’s really important we sing our praises, because we’re actually doing a good job when it comes to pony welfare. I’m quite proud of it.”

Keeping people safe is also key. The welfare booklet also has resources and signposts for grooms and staff, so they know who to speak to about any issues. Ms Chapple is the HPA safeguarding lead and felt this was very important to include.

Ms Hall said: “We also know that if people are looked after well, the ponies are likely to be looked after well. It’s all circular and we want polo to be a great place for people and ponies, and for everyone to enjoy themselves.”

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Major Christopher Hanbury, the family man, polo player and philanthropist died on 10 May, aged 78.

Born in County Meath, Ireland, Major Hanbury hunted with the Meath and Ballymacad foxhounds. As a student at Cirencester’s Royal Agricultural University, he began to play polo, but did not play seriously until he joined the Irish Hussars in 1965 and played regimental polo in Germany.

In 1974 he went to Brunei as aide-de-camp to the Sultan of Brunei and, while there, he set up the Jerudong Park Polo Club.

His polo career took off when he was a member at Cirencester Park Polo Club with his team Lovelocks, winning the most sought-after trophies. Major Hanbury sat on the executive board of directors at Cirencester, culminating in his position as chairman from 1995 to 1999. Under his leadership, he elevated the ethos of raising money for charities through polo, supported for many years by the Prince of Wales, who played charity games at the club. This period in the club’s history was its golden age during which royalty, rock stars, actors and renowned businessmen came to support the charities, both playing and spectating – and all of this down to Major Hanbury’s inspiration and larger than life personality.

His wife Bridget was his rock, and supported him unwaveringly with his philanthropic work. With his connections and charm, Major Hanbury was able to give millions of pounds to charities through Cirencester Park Polo Club. He also served a term as chairman of children’s charity the Starlight Foundation.

Major Hanbury created the well-respected Lovelocks Polo Stud in Argentina, now managed by his family.

In 2005 he was appointed chairman of the Hurlingham Polo Association, a position he held until 2008. He was one of the most significant figures in polo, internationally renowned with friends and colleagues all over the world. Eventually Major and Mrs Hanbury’s sons Charlie and George took on the reins of polo with enthusiasm and delivered to their father one of the most sought-after trophies in the world, the British Open Gold Cup.

Major Hanbury leaves Bridget, his six children Zahra, Emma, Arabella, Jessica, Charlie and George, and 21 grandchildren. He was much loved by all those who knew him, especially for his legendary sense of humour and his affable, caring demeanour.

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The highest-rated female polo player in the world, Claire Tomlinson, died peacefully at home on 12 January, aged 77, from a long illness with dementia.

Born in 1944, Mrs Tomlinson was the daughter of Ethel and Arthur Lucas, who founded Woolmers Park Polo Club in Hertfordshire following World War II.

In 1963 she went to Oxford University where she studied agricultural economics at Somerville College. She earned a squash blue and was shortlisted for the 1964 Olympic fencing team. That year she joined the Oxford University Polo Club (OUPC), and in a time where women had not been allowed to compete previously, Mrs Tomlinson became the first ever female to play in a varsity match. She went on to become the first female captain of the OUPC in 1966, and when the team beat Cambridge 7-0 Mrs Tomlinson earned a half-blue. On leaving university she had a zero handicap.

She met Simon Tomlinson, a polo player in the Army, and they formed a team called Los Locos, which translates as “the Mad Ones”. In 1968 the couple married. They went on to have three children, Emma, Luke and Mark, all of whom went on to play polo at the highest level, and Emma became an equine vet.

In 1972 Mrs Tomlinson became the first woman to win the County Cup, but at the time women were still barred from competing in high-goal tournaments and despite her achievements she was still denied entry to these games.

She went on to petition the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) to change the rules to allow women to play, and the rules changed in 1979 – the same year she won The Queen’s Cup. In 1986 Mrs Tomlinson became the first female polo player to reach a five-goal handicap, a record she still holds.

Mr and Mrs Tomlinson revived the Beaufort Polo Club in Gloucestershire in 1989 with the aim of providing top-class facilities and encouraging young players to learn the game. The family also started breeding polo ponies in the 1970s and became the biggest breeding operation of polo ponies, launching the Beaufort Embryo Transfer (now Tomlinson Equine), managed by Emma. Luke and Mark represented England on home-bred ponies out of Mrs Tomlinson’s best mares.

Coaching was a passion of Mrs Tomlinson’s. In 1993 she set up a coaching system for the HPA with Major Hugh Dawnay and David Morley. She went on to coach the England team and the HPA junior development squad and was admired for her ability to work with a range of players, from professionals to novices. She was one of six official HPA team coaches.

Mrs Tomlinson has been described as an “innovative and inspiring coach”, a “trailblazer for women around the world” and a “polo legend”.

Mark Tomlinson said his mother’s qualities were “endless”.

“The respect Mum commanded across so many walks of life has to have been one of her most remarkable qualities. Whether you saw her playing polo or schooling a horse in her prime, was helped or entertained by her, it’s clear she touched so many lives,” he said.

“She was a fierce advocate for equal opportunity without being a feminist. She firmly believed that if you worked hard enough at what you put your mind to you could make significant progress. One of the most treasured gifts Mum has left her children and grandchildren is that in life you have to be determined, while at the same time keeping your head and showing humility throughout.

“Mrs T, Claire Lucas, Claire Tomlinson, Clarita, Vieja, Loca, Mum… whatever name you knew her by, she was simply unforgettable.”

Mrs Tomlinson is survived by Simon, their three children and eight grandchildren.

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Polo resumed behind closed doors on Monday with a number of rule changes.

Last week the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) announced plans for the sport to resume with the Prince of Wales tournament running as a “training tournament” at high-goal level. The tournament had been scheduled to begin on 12 June at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, but this was pushed back to Monday (15 June), and will now run until 24 June. One game is taking place per day, with half the usual number of chukkas.

In a statement on 13 June a spokesman for the HPA said following “further consultation” with the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport and the HPA’s legal advisors, it was concluded it was appropriate to run polo “on a progressive basis” and subject to “some important changes”.

The statement added that polo can proceed as planned, at eight-goal level and above along with the Victrix Ludorum women’s tournament. Each team must include a minimum of three professional or aged 16 and over “elite pathway players” along with the team player/manager who is responsible for putting together and entering the team. The HPA will produce a list of elite pathway players, which will be kept under review as the season progresses. Below the eight-goal level and Victrix Ludorum, polo continues to be limited to three on three no contact, and non-competitive training – which remains under constant review.

The spokesman added a number of important rule changes have been introduced to ensure minimal contact between players, in addition to the procedures and compliance requirements the sport has already put in place to confirm with government guidelines.

“It is absolutely crucial that all clubs adhere strictly to these procedures which have been reviewed by the DCMS and that players and all other attendees support clubs in their management of these procedures,” said the spokesman.

“This adherence is the responsibility of every individual and on which the continuation of the sport is dependent. The HPA will shortly be introducing a mandatory education module as a one off, in line with that in racing which will take 30 minutes. It will also be in Spanish.”

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To help achieve social distancing and eliminate face-to-face contact, the rule changes include teams will only change ends at the end of each chukka, the removal of line-ups, and players cannot make contact with another player while the ball is not in play. Other changes include umpires should bring their own face coverings, gloves and sanitising products and use their own equipment such as cards, whistles and pick up stick, while all balls must be disinfected with a suitable product before and during any polo session that involves either training marshals and/or goal judges.

HPA chairman Nick Wiles said: “It was vital the HPA could kickstart the 2020 season in some way as there are so many businesses and individuals whose livelihoods are completely dependent on polo.

“We will of course be closely monitoring these new rules and hope to expand them out to the lower handicapped tournaments as and when government guidelines allow.”

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Polo is set to return behind closed doors this week as the governing body moves forward with plans to get the sport back “in some shape or form”.

The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) announced that the Prince of Wales Tournament will start on Friday (12 June) at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club and run as a “training tournament” at high-goal level. Seven teams will take part in the tournament, with one match scheduled per day, until the tournament ends on 21 June. All tack will be cleaned thoroughly between matches.

HPA chairman Nick Wiles told H&H the tournament is operating within government guidelines, and said the association has been in contact with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

“The sport throughout this crisis has sought to operate absolutely within the guidelines,” said Mr Wiles. “As with every sport we are taking tentative steps to see how we can work within those guidelines to open up our sport.

“We’re taking a lower-key approach with some rule changes; there will be no lineups and contact will be kept to a minimum. There will be two teams of four players on the ground at any one time, with a minimal number of grooms and a minimal number of other people. We’re talking about one manager, one or two drivers per team to get the horses there, and one or two grooms per player.”

Players and those attending will be met by a Covid marshall and have to undergo temperature checks – but not Covid-19 testing. They will be required to wear facemasks and sign a waiver to confirm they have had no Covid-19 symptoms in the past 14 days, and will exercise social distancing when getting on and off the horses.

“We have thought about Covid-19 testing; we haven’t said we won’t – but we’ve said not for now,” said Mr Wiles.

“When talking to the government it may be something they may feel we need to do, and if that’s the case then we’ve taken provisions such that we can.”

Mr Wiles confirmed players had arrived from Argentina last week to take part in the tournament – and added he considers the resumption of polo to come under the government’s guidance on elite sport.

“The players have arrived from Argentina to fulfil their obligations during the summer. They each arrived here with a health certificate to say they have been tested for Covid-19 and found to be negative, they have passports, playing visas and return tickets,” he said.

“We would certainly argue at the levels we’re talking about these are elite sportsmen deriving a living from competing in the sport. This is not grassroots amateur sport – these are people at the top of the sport making a living from it.”

Mr Wiles said it is important for the sport to resume.

“This isn’t really about the eight people on the field – it’s about supporting a whole community that is hugely reliant on the sport getting back in some shape or form; farriers, feed merchants, drivers and every other aspect of the support network that sits within our sport,” he said. “We have a huge obligation to them and it would be too easy for this to be seen as too difficult. It is the HPA’s obligation to do everything it can within the government guidelines to make this possible.

“We are clear that we are working hard to work within the government guidelines. If we need to change course at any point because the government feels we should, then of course we will absolutely take its guidance.”

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A spokesman for the DMCS told H&H discussions are taking place between the DCMS and the HPA.

“The guidance on sport is absolutely clear. For professional and elite sport events they need to draw up protocols that adhere to the government’s return to domestic competition guidance. For grassroots sport, groups of no more than six people from different households can exercise outside and they must be socially distanced at all times,” he said.

“All governing bodies must review and follow the guidance, consider whether they can meet its conditions and take full responsibility for participants’ health and safety. If not, they may face enforcement powers, including possible fines or people being directed to return to their home or accommodation by the police.”

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Heading to a polo match is a wonderful way to spend a sunny summer’s afternoon, especially when a glass of chilled Champagne or Pimms is involved, but few equestrian disciplines can cause as much confusion as polo.

For everyone who may be heading to a game for the first time this season, or even thinking about giving it a try themselves, we bring you a bluffer’s guide to polo basics…

1. How many riders make up a polo team?

In normal grass polo, played in the summer, a team consists of four players (in the winter version, played in an arena, there are three). There will however, be 10 riders and horses on the field during a game – the two wearing black and white are the umpires.

The pro-am format, where a lower-ranked team ‘patron’ employs three professionals to play alongside, is common for the major tournaments of the British season, with the Queen’s Cup and the Gold Cup the most prestigious two. For international games, such as the Coronation Cup, held on the HPA’s International Day in July, national teams comprise four professionals.

2. What on earth do handicaps mean?

Every player is ranked from -2 (the lowest) to 10 (the highest), and handicaps are referred to in ‘goals’, even though they bear no relevance to the number of actual goals a player might score. The vast majority of players in the UK are ranked zero goals or below, with the top British pros holding handicaps up to seven. Very few players reach the lofty echelons of a 10 — there are currently just eight 10-goalers worldwide, and all of them are South American.

In 2017 the Hurlingham Polo Association introduced a parallel handicapping system, allowing top players to hold a normal handicap, and a handicap specifically for the highest level tournaments, which may be different.

The team handicap is the aggregate of the four players’ handicaps, which determines the level of the match, eg 22-goal.

3. So, how does a polo match work, exactly?

A match is split into seven-minute playing intervals, called chukkas. The number of chukkas that make up a match vary depending on the level of the game — at the very top level a match can comprise eight chukkas, but in UK polo six are more common at the higher levels. Breaks between chukkas are just three minutes long, with five minutes at half-time.

The aim of the game is to put the ball between — or above — the opposing team’s goal posts. There is no restriction on which players are allowed to score goals. If you’re not sure whether a ball went in or not — it can be hard to tell — look out for the goal judge standing behind each set of posts, who will wave a flag if a goal has been scored.

4. Hang on, but which direction are each team aiming to score in?

Teams change ends after every goal that is scored, to account for advantages due to wind or terrain. If no goals are scored by half-time, teams will change ends then. Make sure you pay attention!

5. Wait, why have the horses changed?

Firstly, in polo all horses are known as ponies despite their size (there is no height restriction; most will be around 15.2hh). Players will ride several ponies during the course of a match, with each pony allowed to play a maximum of two chukkas in total, with a chukka break in between. At the higher levels, players will change ponies midway through chukkas too, such is the intensity of the action. Look out for players swapping swiftly from one to the other without dismounting!

6. Are the players really allowed to ride into each other?

The ride-off is a classic, recognizable polo move where a player will attempt to push an opponent and his pony off the line of the ball — which gives them right of way. A ride-off may only take place when the ponies are travelling at the same speed, and are shoulder to shoulder with each other. Pulling in front of another player or riding across the line on which the ball in travelling is not allowed, and nor is “sandwiching” an opponent between two players.

7. I never realised how big a polo field is!

Most people don’t! A full size polo field measures 275 x 146m — for comparison, a football pitch has a maximum size of 120 x 90m. You might want to bring binoculars…

8. So, what time is Ricky France-Lynch going be arriving?

Sadly, we can’t guarantee the presence of Jilly Cooper’s dashing polo hero, but we’re sure you’ll enjoy the day nonetheless.

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If you’ve ever stood on the side lines at a polo match, or even watched one on TV, you’ve probably marvelled at the speed, agility and skill of the ponies and their brightly-clad riders. You might not, though, have thought of getting involved with it yourself. The good news is that you don’t have to be a millionaire or even distantly related to the Royal Family to play polo, as the sport is much more accessible than you might think.

Polo is probably the oldest team sport in the world, with origins going back well over 2,000 years in Persia (now Iran). It spread to India in the 13th Century, eventually becoming popular with the British Army in India as a form of military training. There are now around 70 polo clubs across the UK and Ireland, under the regulation of the sport’s governing body, the Hurlingham Polo Association.

“In recent years, polo has been working hard to shed its exclusive image and become more accessible to more people,” says Jade Vere-Drummond of the MHF polo school in Essex. “Yes, it’s expensive at the top level, but then so are dressage and showjumping. We’re working a lot with the Pony Club and schools and universities to offer as many opportunities as possible. It’s great that we’ve got the big, fancy, glitzy events to help publicise the sport, but there’s more to it than that. We’ve developed the ‘polo pathway’ to help ease people into the sport as gently as possible. From an initial taster session, we’d encourage you to have a short course of lessons then play in a couple of ‘instructional’ chukkas, where the coach rides with you. Then we set up special tournaments for novices so that you’re playing with people on the same level and it’s not too scary. Polo can actually be more economical than other equestrian disciplines as you don’t have to have your own horse, you can have a few lessons then hire a trained horse to play on.”

Eden Ormerod of Druids Lodge Polo Club has “horses in his blood”, and started playing polo when he was 11 with the Royal Artillery Pony Club, and turned professional at 18. Since then, he’s represented England and competed all over the world.

“I think the thing that attracted me initially was the thrill of competing as part of a team. I still love that, but through playing competitively I discovered a much deeper love for the horses involved. They are undoubtedly now my strongest reason for playing, and my greatest joy when playing is to be developing a partnership with these incredible animals.

“Modern pony ponies tend to have a lot of thoroughbred in them for speed, and there are a lot of retired racehorses going onto successful second careers in the game. A good polo pony has to be very balanced, both physically and mentally, but must also be sensitive and brave to push into tight spaces or ‘ride off’ against other horses. Some horses are born to it, but it’s amazing to see how others find their feet in it,” he says.

If you want to have a go at polo, being able to ride already can be an advantage but not a necessity.

“If you’re already a good horse rider, then you’ve got a definite head start,” says Eden. “If you are already adept at communication, have a good feel and are well balanced then it’s going to make hitting the ball or making a defensive play all the easier. As polo ponies live together, exercise together and run on the field together, I believe their herd lifestyle helps make them particularly easy to manage and in turn I think that’s what helps people grasp the basic riding skills so fast. After that, as with any discipline, there’s a lifetime of improving left for all of us!”

And just in case you thought polo looked too intimidating to try, Alec Banner-Eve, also of the MHF polo school, says that isn’t necessarily the case.

“Polo ponies are actually great confidence-givers, as they’re trained not to mind loud noises from crowds, mallets being swung near their heads and legs and riding into other horses. I didn’t come from a horsey family, and learnt to ride on polo ponies when I was 11. We use our ponies here for Riding for the Disabled and also to help rehabilitate injured servicemen — they’re incredibly steady.”

Many Pony Clubs and riding clubs organise polo taster days, so watch out for events advertised on their websites or social media. Otherwise, visit the Hurlingham Polo Club website to find a club near you.

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UK polo’s on the rise with the number of clubs more than doubling over the past two decades.

According to polo’s governing body, the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), the number of affiliated polo clubs has risen from 32 in 2005, to 70 this year.

The HPA’s deputy chief executive, Oliver Hughes, partly attributes the increase to it being easier than ever to form a club.

“Twenty years ago, the stewards of the big clubs such as Guards, Cowdray Park and Cirencester opposed the formation of new clubs in their catchment areas. But a change of policy around 15 years ago meant new clubs were encouraged to form and affiliate to the HPA,” he said.

“Clubs are often now based around teaching facilities and there is also increased availability of ponies to hire, providing an opportunity for people to have lessons and try out the game before committing to buying ponies,” Mr Hughes added.

There is a greater geographical spread of clubs compared to 20 years ago, with more clubs opening outside the traditional south-east region.

There are now five clubs in Yorkshire, with four of these — Beverley, White Rose, Vale of York and Rowley Park — having opened within the past 13 years.

In the north-west, two clubs have joined Cheshire Polo Club since 2005 — Chester Racecourse, which hosts an annual international test match, and Peover.

The east of England has also seen a significant rise in the availability of polo, now boasting seven clubs.

“I’d love to say the number could double again by 2035 — perhaps it can,” said Mr Hughes.

“The number of players is gradually increasing. There is the occasional dip due to factors such as the recession, but actually the rise is quite steady.

“The polo season is pretty crammed already, so it is hard for new clubs to have high-goal aspirations, but there’s nothing wrong with that.”

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Polo is a great excuse to get dressed up and sip champagne and/or Pimms in the sunshine (hopefully), while still getting your horsey fix. Cue floral dresses and red chinos, with wedges or flat shoes for treading in – but no extravagant headwear; this isn’t Ascot.

Still need convincing? Here are seven great reasons to head to the polo this summer

1. It’s affordable

Contrary to popular opinion, polo is a surprisingly affordable sport to attend. Tickets for Britain’s most high profile fixture, the HPA’s International Day in July, start at £20 (2014 ticket price; 2015 TBC), and admission to the England International at Chester Racecourse only £8. If you pack a picnic for the sidelines, you’ll save yourself from splashing out on drinks and food too.

2. Celeb-spotting

At which other horse events could you rub shoulders with A-list celebrities? Eddie Redmayne, Gemma Arterton and David Gandy were among the big names enjoying polo in 2014.

3. It’s easy to follow

Polo isn’t as complicated to follow as many think. The main rule to remember in order to avoid confusion is that the teams change ends after each goal scored. Don’t forget too that players change ponies in between, and often during, chukkas.

4. You might catch sight of the royal family

You could be in for some royal-spotting — The Queen presents the Queen’s Cup at Guards, while Prince Charles does the honours at International Day. And there’s the chance to watch Princes William and Harry showing off their skills. The royal brothers both hold a one-goal handicap and can often be seen in action at charity matches and events.

5. Make it part of a trip to the seaside

Polo isn’t restricted to the green fields of the Home Counties. Events are held across the UK, or take a trip to the coast to enjoy beach polo. The main beach polo events take place each year at Watergate Bay in Cornwall and Sandbanks in Dorset.

6. Watch the sport at its best

The skills and bravery of both ponies and players are addictive to witness, and England is home to some of the highest quality polo in the world. The Gold Cup final at Cowdray Park is the pinnacle polo tournament of the season.

7. It makes a great family day out

Polo events are not all about the champagne, they can make for great family days out too. The Beaufort International Test Match in June is part of the Gloucestershire Festival of Polo, with entertainment, shopping and attractions for the whole family.

Where to watch polo in 2015

St Regis International Cup, Cowdray Park Polo Club, West Sussex — 16 May, www.cowdraypolo.co.uk

Chestertons Polo in the Park, Hurlingham Park, London — 5-7 June, www.polointheparklondon.com

Gloucestershire Festival of Polo, Beaufort Polo Club, Glos — 13-14 June, www.beaufortpoloclub.co.uk

The Cartier Queen’s Cup, Guards Polo Club, Surrey — 19 May-14 June, www.guardspoloclub.com

GWR Polo on the Beach, Watergate Bay, Cornwall — 26-28 June, www.watergatebay.co.uk

British Beach Polo Championships, Sandbanks Beach, Dorset — 10-11 July, www.sandpolo.com

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup, Cowdray Park Polo Club — 23 June-19 July, www.cowdraypolo.co.uk

International Day, Guards Polo Club, Surrey — 25 July, www.guardspoloclub.com

England International, Chester Racecourse Polo Club, Cheshire — 4-5 September, www.chester-races.co.uk

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The polo world has been rocked by the news that Audi has ended its 12-year involvement in polo sponsorship.

Audi’s decision has left the England polo team and the Hurlingham Polo Association’s (HPA) flagship event, International Day, without a sponsor for 2015. Audi has also withdrawn its long-term sponsorship of Pony Club polo (pictured below).

“We have been working with Audi for the past two months in the hope of agreeing a new contract,” said HPA chief executive David Woodd “This now leaves English polo with new challenges, but also new opportunities, and we do have ideas in the pipeline for new sponsors.”

The three-match Audi International Series was created in 2012, following a three-year deal between Audi and the HPA. As well as taking over sponsorship of International Day from Cartier, which put its name to the iconic event for 27 years, Audi also sponsored test matches at Beaufort Polo Club in June, and Chester Racecourse Polo Club in September.

Mr Woodd is optimistic that all three internationals will still go ahead in 2015.

“We will run International Day, whether it is funded by us and the other existing sponsors, or by a new title sponsor, and both Chester Racecourse and Beaufort [polo clubs] are keen to keep their events going,” he told H&H. “We are not necessarily looking for a sponsor to take over all three events — individual ones could work better in many ways, especially as the England team line-up and opposition is always different.”

Audi UK’s head of PR, Jon Zammett, said in a statement: “Audi has made a positive impact on the development and growing success of the national England squad, in particular, as well as the sport over the years.

“We feel it is now an appropriate time to embark on a new era for Audi.”

He added that the luxury car company will “further embrace and focus” on activities relating to the performing arts, and has already expanded its links with Bafta and the Royal Ballet for this year.

Audi’s support of polo began in 2002, with sponsorship of visiting international teams. It will continue to host its Audi Polo Challenge — private events which have raised more than £1.7 million for various charities with the support of Prince Harry and the Duke of Cambridge.

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The polo community is still under pressure to catch up with other equestrian bodies and introduce a minimum standard for headgear.

It is now more than a year since polo legend Carlos Gracida died from head injuries sustained in a freak accident. The sport was rocked again later in 2014 when Juracy Santos was left in a coma following a fall at the Guards Polo Club. As a result of the accident the club announced it was to introduce a rule on polo hats for the 2015 season.

However, currently neither the Federation of International Polo (FIP) nor the sport’s national governing body, the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), has a minimum safety standard for helmets.

The HPA has told H&H that its “intention is to introduce a minimum standard”, but that it is waiting until the issues around the withdrawal of EN 1384 have been “resolved”.

A recent survey carried out at the University of Liverpool found that nearly half of all polo players value looks above safety when choosing a new helmet. The study, which was published in Sports Medicine Open earlier this year (20 January), concluded that “players reported that safety certification was not the most important criterion for helmet selection”.

Roy Burek of Charles Owen — the only company that produces a polo hat to PAS015 standard in the UK — told H&H he was not surprised by the results, given the resistance shown to implementing a safety rule.

“Why would somebody fight against safety advances if they weren’t more concerned with what they look like?” he argued.

Redesigning the polo hat

Polo player Robin Spicer, who is studying design at Loughborough University, is in the process of designing a helmet that meets safety standards and looks stylish.

As part of his research, Robin recently took apart a traditional slimline helmet to assess the level of protection it could provide.

“The helmets protect against penetration from outside because they have a hard shell, but they don’t stop the energy being transferred into your brain because there is virtually no padding,” he said.

Part of Robin’s new design includes an inbuilt “crash centre” which can notify first responders if you fall when on your own and, in a match situation, can pass on information to the medical team present.

“I am aiming to get the right mix between a modern and traditional style,” he added.

Robin’s project will be finished in May, when further results will be available.

Ref: Horse & Hound, 12 March 2015

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A new handicap system and a league for amateur players is being introduced this season to promote women’s polo.

The new ladies’ handicap system, approved by the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), will bring women’s polo in England into line with America, France and Argentina.

Under the new system English female players will still hold their current handicap but will have also have a women’s handicap, similar to arena players who hold both an indoor and outdoor rating.

Their female handicap will only be used when playing in sanctioned women’s polo.

Britain’s highest-rated female player, Nina Clarkin, told H&H that the problem with the current women’s game is “the issue of compression”.

Of the HPA’s 765 female polo members (including those under 18 years of age) only 20 have a handicap of 1 or above.

“There are too many players squashed together, resulting in a huge difference in standard between players on the same handicap,” she said.

“Implementing a women’s handicap system in England will allow the female side of the game to grow, without affecting the women who play competitively in the men’s game.”

All the women’s tournaments in England this year will be played with the new handicaps.

“It is simply a way to allow women’s polo to continue to develop and grow as it should,” added Ms Clarkin.

For amateur players a new ladies’ polo league is being launched by Women In Polo (WIP).

Ladies’ tournaments will be held throughout the summer season (April – September) at the participating clubs in the West Country.

Points will be awarded (by placing) to all teams that take part in each of the clubs’ own ladies tournaments.

“The idea is to create greater access to playing opportunities for women,” said WIP co-founder Sarah Wood.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 12 February 2015

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Guards Polo Club is set to introduce a rule on polo hats for next season after one of its players has been left in a coma following a serious fall earlier this summer.

From 2015 the club will enforce warnings and fines on any players who fail to wear protective headgear. However, the specific regulations are yet to be confirmed, according to Guards’ chief executive, Neil Hobday.

“We are working to adopt the minimum standard of safety required,” Mr Hobday told H&H. “Collectively as a sport we must take it [hat safety] very seriously indeed. There does not seem to be any pushback from the playing community about it. We wanted to get the process going.”

After the accident involving Brazilian four-goal player Juracy Santos at Guards, H&H polo reporter Aurora Eastwood started a campaign for the sport’s governing body — the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) — to bring in a blanket ruling. An online petition to change the rule for the 2015 season has received hundreds of signatures.

A safety hat regulation would bring the HPA in line with other equestrian bodies. Safety hats are compulsory for all British Showjumping competitors; British Dressage, except for advanced and above; and for British Eventing, except for dressage and prize-giving at novice and above. Safety hats are already compulsory for polo in the Pony Club.

Last month all four members of the British dressage team competed in crash helmets at the World Equestrian Games.

At present, the HPA enforces the wearing of “protective headgear with the chinstrap or harness correctly fastened” but many players choose to play in “low profile”, single-strap helmets.

The HPA told H&H that the issue of safer headgear is due to be discussed and a decision taken at the stewards meeting in October.

HPA chief executive David Woodd said; “The HPA is surprised to see Guards proposing to follow its own line. The HPA is considering what action it should be taking, bearing in mind its rule will apply to all players in this country and in all countries affiliated to the HPA.

“It’s a big issue: will it also apply to grooms and those umpiring? A decision is needed but it needs to be a very clear decision that makes sense to players.”

➤ To sign the polo safety hat petition visit: http://www.change.org/p/the-hurlingham-polo-association-change-rule-3c-to-insist-upon-safe-helmets-for-the-2015-season

This news story was first published in H&H magazine on 18 September 2014

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Welsh sportsmen are well known for their rugby prowess, but this summer Wales will be fielding an entirely different national team – in the world of polo.

Over the past four years, a group of Welsh polo lovers has formed an unofficial team, playing at venues in Wales.

But for the 2012 season, the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) – the sport’s governing body – has allowed the team to become official and represent the principality in competitions in Wales, England and the US.

Ricky Cooper will captain the team and the chairman of the Welsh Polo Team and Association is Harry Legge-Bourke.

“There were no polo clubs per se in Wales, only individuals putting on polo using a club name at venues,” said Harry, who has held matches at his Glanusk estate near Crickhowell for several years.

“We hope to change that very soon. This hard work by players not only adds to Wales’ rich equestrian heritage, it also lays the foundations for establishing the sport in the country.

“In time, we hope to have a ladies’ team and youth team. With the current squad available to play for Wales, there will be some fast-moving, exciting and spectacular matches in the UK and abroad. They have had invites to play in Nantucket in the US, potentially Palm Beach as well, and in Pakistan.”

David Woodd of the HPA added: “The Welsh have a strong national identity.

The fielding of a national team will without doubt do much to encourage others to take up polo, in the hope that they might be able to represent Wales in the future.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (12 July 2012)

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The HPA Gaucho International Polo at the 02 Arena has been met with criticism by H&H polo fans, with readers citing a lack of atmosphere and a “predictable outcome”.

The polo was billed as a “celebration of Argentina’s sporting and cultural heritage” and was held at London’s 02 Arena on 21 March.

Scotland took on Ireland, followed by England versus Argentina.

One fan, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I’m in favour of bringing polo to a bigger audience. However, the event needs to iron out a few teething problems.

“There were moments of good polo. But the score seemed ‘conveniently’ nail-biting with the penalty shoot-outs resulting in the home side win.”

And spectator Hannah Grissell added: “It was disappointing that the result seemed a bit predictable. It was unnecessary to make it a crowd-pleaser when polo is such a brilliant sport to watch anyway.”

But H&H reporter Aurora Eastwood disagreed: “The first game had genuinely good arena polo.

“The second [England] was lacklustre in comparison and I’ve no doubt that the political situation [regarding ownership of the Falkland Islands] was making both sides a bit nervous, but neither side seemed to want to win.”

Oliver Hughes of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) strongly refuted any criticism.

“It was very successful,” he told H&H. “Those who suggested the match might have been fixed are misguided and it would have been very difficult to do so.

“The event did what it said on the tin, promoting polo to the greater public.”

But others cited a lack of atmosphere. “It wasn’t exactly buzzing,” said one visitor.

Another said: “It was a little stale. The event experience was non-existent, especially in comparison with something like ATP tennis.”

And another said: “The seats were half empty.”

H&H Facebook fans enjoyed it. Kirstie Peake said it was “fantastic” and Annabel Waters said: “It was worth going to see.”

Prior to the event, Gaucho’s Martin Williams said he hoped it would “grow to rival the success of the former HPA Cartier international polo”.

A spokesman for the event said there were around 8,000-10,000 spectators.

“It wasn’t a full sell-out as the arena is huge, but it was the biggest polo match ever to happen in this country,” she said.

“We felt it was a huge success and I’m sure it will happen again next year.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (29 March)

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Prince Harry has been cleared of any wrongdoing or cruelty to his polo pony after tabloid reports that the prince over-spurred his mount during a match.

The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) has reviewed claims that the prince drew blood with his spurs during a match at Guards on 11 July and carried on playing.

Chairman of the HPA welfare committee David Morley told H&H that an independent vet examined the pony for the association on 4 September, after stories appeared in the national press.

“We took veterinary advice that if the pony had been gouged or stabbed by the spurs there would have been scar tissue or a bald patch,” said Mr Morley. “There was no sign of any such injury.”

The vet told the HPA that as the injury had been to one side of the pony only it was more probably caused by a collision rather than spurs.

“I think this was more a story about Prince Harry than his polo skills,” said Mr Morley

He said the HPA welfare committee had concluded that there was no wrongdoing involved in the incident, at a meeting on 4 September.

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Penalties for illegal farriery have been branded “derisory” by the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) after a Chilean polo pony producer was fined just £200 for shoeing his own horses.

On 4 August, Reading Magistrates Court fined Antonio Saavedra, of Shinfield, after an investigator for the Farriers Registration Council (FRC) saw him shoeing one of his ponies on 4 February. He has no farriery qualification.

Only registered farriers, apprentices or a vet are allowed to legally shoe a horse.

The maximum fine for illegal shoeing is £1,000, but magistrates rarely sentence at that level.

David Woodd, HPA chief executive, said although the HPA has no further evidence that illegal farriery goes on in polo, there may be a problem.

“You do hear that some of the South American grooms who are here may shoe their employer’s horses when a farrier can’t be found,” he said.

Mr Saavedra is not a current member of the HPA. He ran Mucho Polo Ponies, a company that rented out polo ponies to riders.

The company was wound up in April after trading for just one year and Mr Saavedra is thought to have since left the UK. He did not return calls from H&H.

“This fine is pathetic,” added Mr Woodd. “It’s not a deterrent — you could earn £200 in 40 minutes shoeing a horse.”

Felicity Heather, of the FRC, said the council has written to the Magistrates Association and the Justice Clerks Society stressing how serious illegal farriery can be for welfare.

The FRC is discussing raising the maximum fine to £5,000 with Defra, but a Defra spokesman said there were no plans to update the Act.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (26 August, ’10)

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For the first time ever an all-female team has won the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) 8-goal Gerald Balding Cup at Cirencester Park.

The plucky foursome, who represented Coombe Farm Wines, achieved the historic victory last Sunday (3 June) despite having been 6 – 1 down at half time.

Tamara Vestey – a member of the winning team – told H&H: “I’m really amazed. We’re just starting to realise what we did. As a team we only had one practice game together.We didn’t think we could win it – we just wanted to show everyone that we’re not a bunch of muppets.”

It was originally planned to have a male member on the team but he sustained a broken foot so Tamara’s sister Nina was drafted in.

Ms Vestey and her teammates — Lucy Taylor, Emma Tomlinson and Nina Clarkin (pictured) — are all amateurs from the Gloucestershire area. Two of their four male opponents in the final match were professionals.

Ms Vestey added: “Nina and Emma had an amazing last chukka and we scored right at the end to put us 7-6 up. Those last minutes felt like an eternity.”

A spokeswoman for Cirencester Park Polo Club told H&H: “It’s a truly amazing achievement. It’s a very physically demanding sport in which men with strength and power are much better off. The competition has been running since 1960 and this was the first time that an all-girl team had even entered an HPA tournament.”

Twenty four teams entered the tournament this year. The girls had to win four games to reach the final.

• www.hpa-polo.co.uk
• www.cirencesterpolo.co.uk

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The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) will test polo helmets before deciding whether to restrict players to headgear that meets certain standards.

David Woodd, HPA chief executive, said the decision taken by the association’s stewards last Thursday (12 April) was “not a knee-jerk reaction” to the death of a player in Florida earlier this month (news, 12 April).

He told H&H: “There was a run of serious accidents in England last season and helmets have been on the agenda since then.”

No date has been set for testing to be introduced.

Currently, HPA rules refer players to British Horse Society hat standards, but not all polo helmets worn by players in this country comply with these standards.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (19 April, ’07)

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