Polo is an ancient equestrian sport originated in the Middle Eastern country of Persia, about two thousand years ago. The word “polo” means “ball” in Balti, a language that is spoken in Pakistan. The sport was introduced to Europe when the British colonized India and spread it around the world. In its origins, mostly kings and warriors who were preparing their horses for battle played polo.
The main purpose of the game is to move the ball downfield with a long, flexible mallet and get it through the opposite’s team goal. This may seem quite difficult, but the real hard work lies on the horses. “Polo ponies”, which is the name polo horses are given, start training at the age of two or three, and are selected for agility, speed, and above all, obedience.
Polo is normally played outdoors in a field that is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide, making it the largest field in organized sport. There are two teams of three or four people on a match. Each player rides a polo pony while holding a mallet, trying to hit a ball with the size of a small football reaching speeds of 110 miles per hour up to the other’s goal. Polo is played in periods called “chukkers” (or chukkas). Each chukker lasts seven minutes, and there are six chukkers per game. This may not seem much, but a regular polo match can last up to two hours. There’s also a half time in which spectators go down to the field and take part in a social tradition called "Divot Stomping".
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Sources:
Sport Polo. "The Equestrian Sport of Polo." Equestrian Sport of Polo. 2011. Web. 16 Aug. 2011.
Wise Geek. "What Is Polo?" WiseGEEK: Clear Answers for Common Questions. 2011. Web. 16 Aug. 2011.
Dear ale
ResponderEliminarFirst, I really love you topic and I really thought that polo was too easy , for me polo was only get on a ordinary horse get the mallet and hit the ball, and I thought that polo was a sport of only 2 people, nut when I read you comment I really see that I was wrong is a more complicated sport since you have to training the horse when it is baby, the force that the player must have to hit the ball to reach those speeds wow! It’s awesome!, today I discover that pole can be like a football soccer game but less players and more time or “chukkers”, Is interesting. CONGRATULATIONS!=)
117words Carolina Perez A01280135
Ale, it is great to know that you are writing about this topic.
ResponderEliminarI really like horses, so the Polo is one of my favorites sports (you can imagine why).
It is really interesting what you say about who has the hardest work; I think you are totally right.
Maybe in your next post you can explain us more about the “Divot Stomping” and why it is a tradition and since when.
I would like to know what countries are still having this sport and if there is an international polo Olympics or something like that, because, sadly, the polo is not one of the most popular games in our country.
Hope you post soon!
115words Daniela Ramírez Ramos