On today's post I'm going to talk about Pato, Argentina's national sport. But you may wonder, what does this has to do with polo? Well, Pato is a game played with horses that combines elements from polo and, believe it or not, basketball (Wikipedia).
Pato has been played since 1610, and originally it was played with a duck, which was put inside a basket and used as a ball. This explains why the game is called "Pato" or "Duck" in English. However, Pato was banned several times during its history, mainly because of its violence, not only to the ducks, but also because of the aggressions it generated in the players. In the 1930's Pato was regulated by the rules made by the ranch owner Alberto del Castillo Posse, who made some rules inspired in polo. In this rules, we can find protection of the players and the horse, the divisions of time, and some other rules that are similar to the original Polo regulations. In 1953 president Juan Perón declared Pato as the national sport of Argentina (Wikipedia)
In today's Pato, two four-member teams try to get possession of a ball (not a duck anymore) which has six handles, so they can catch it easily. After they get this ball, they have to throw it through a vertically positioned ring with a diameter of 100 cm and a height of 240 cm. The dimensions of the field are approximately the same size as in polo (Wikipedia).
However, this game is not very popular yet. It is estimated that 90% of Argentineans have not seen a Pato match in their lives; even this is the country's national sport (Wikipedia).
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Alejandra Treviño A01280206
Bibliography: Wikipedia. "Pato." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Oct. 2011.
Hi Ale!! Wow your topic is crazy girl, I mean it, I love your topic, but anyways, I think it is amazing the renew Pato, because the one before was kind of hurtful for the little ducks and to the players too. It is pretty interesting that Argentina´s main sport is a sport that is familiar to the polo, but instead of a ball, it is a duck. I am really glad that they have take precautions for the little ducks because it is not fair that many ducks are dying because they are playing with them, literally; so I like the fact that they have change the ducks for balls, because one it is more easy to play with a ball, than with a ducks, and two because they are taking care of their animals.
ResponderEliminarAlejandra I love your blog, seriously keep up and keep entertaining us with your beautiful posts. Thank you :)
Hi Ale
ResponderEliminarWell I hope you get good grades in the English class.
I think that this post is very interesting, but at the same time is a little cruel because how they can use duck like a ball! I mean that is very cruel and crazy and also for the player, I like that there were a person who feel bad to use the little duck and say “Hey, we can use a ball instead of a duck”. Well like always I love your blog and the strange and fascinating ways to play polo.
Continue doing well and I see you on Monday ;).
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carolina A01280135 301
Hi Ale!! Nice to read you after some weeks and as ever, your posts are incredibly amazing and weird. But I don’t mean it in a bad way, in the other hand, they are quite interesting, and I mean all of them. I remember that when I first saw your blog, it didn’t catch my eye seriously until the second post, were polo started having different things included, or rules, or combinations (as the one you just mentioned in this post polo + basketball), really, this blog is fun, and I mean it.
ResponderEliminarTo tell you the truth, this week’s post amazed me and scared me, all at once. I mean, really, ducks?! That’s being insensitive! I’m glad that this guy, Alberto del Castillo, added some rules related to polo, because in that way no animals nor humans will get injured. The only thing I don’t like, besides that they used ducks as balls, is that it took a long time until they finally changed the rules, if it weren’t of Alberto, the poor ducks will be extinct by nowadays, maybe. And that’s a sad thing :/
What also caught my attention was the ball with the handles, you said it was easy to catch it, but what if someone accidentally missed the ball and it fells to the floor. By just imaging it, it looks like a difficult and complicated challenge will appear, meaning more about using the horses in such a way that they will be able to pick up the ball from the floor. Hope that won’t happen.
Well, thanks so much for the new information and I’ll look forward for your next post, I know it’ll be as amazing as this one. Have a nice weekend!
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Stephany Gómez (A01280160)
Hi Ale! What an interesting theme you chose this time! When I saw the image at the beginning I could not believe it! Honestly! It looks totally crazy as you said. Well, I found your post really interesting and funny. It is good to know that they do not use a duck anymore. I know it sounds evil, but it would be great to see a Pato game with a real duck... I mean just for a moment.
ResponderEliminarAle, please keep posting about polo or pato or whatever you decide. It is great to read your blog.
Have a nice week girl!
Daniela Ramírez A01280558
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