Equestrian polo is a team competition held on horseback, the essence of which is that the team of one club score the ball into the goal of another with a club. This type of competition comes from Central Asia, as evidenced by various finds, for example, prints, documents and paintings. After some time, horse polo gained great popularity in 77 countries of the world. At one time it was even included in the Olympic program. Unfortunately, in Russia this type of competition is very poorly developed.
The history of the evolution and origin of the game
Horse polo was first mentioned in 8-6 centuries BC. The countries of the Arabian Peninsula and Central Asia are considered the place of origin of this game. Ancient Persia is also considered the homeland. Initially, the game was called "chovgan" and had significant differences compared to modern equestrian polo. Competitions were held among the privileged class, which belonged to the royal family and the nobility. A striking example of this is the Persian emperor, who studied this game from childhood.
During excavations in Iraq, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Iran, references to horse polo were found. Persia is believed to have played a large role in spreading this game during its heyday. In 3-4 centuries of our era, competitions began to be popularized in the Eastern Roman Empire. The story carries the sad events associated with the death of Emperor John I and Alexander during this game.
The period of the Arab caliphate is considered the next stage in the spread of equestrian polo. The Arabs brought the game to Asia, Europe and the countries of Africa when they conquered these territories. In India, Pakistan and Egypt, this sport has even become dominant. China also did not stand aside. During the reign of the Tang Dynasty, equestrian polo competitions were very popular in this country.
Despite the fact that the game was popular in many countries, the Indians and the British are most associated with it. In India, the ball for the game was made of wood. Horse polo was brought to England by travelers who, in the 12th century, saw competition and played the game in their homeland. However, it became popular in England only by the 19th century.
Participation in the olympic games
Horse polo was represented at the Olympic Games from 1900 to 1936. For the first time (in 1900) the game was held in Paris. Five teams from different countries became participants. At the moment, the Olympic Committee does not include competitions in this sport in the program. However, an open polo world championship is held every three years.
Horse polo is represented in 77 countries of the world and continues to develop actively until now. The only problem is that not all countries can afford to engage in this sport professionally. The list of countries that hold permanent domestic championships and have a developed club system includes: Great Britain, India, USA, Australia, Spain, Switzerland and others. Recently, women's teams have appeared.
Types of Polo
There are four subspecies of equestrian polo:
- Cowboy - held between two teams of 5 riders on solid ground.
- Beach - the game takes place between two teams, each of which has three players.
- Arena - the game is played on the indoor playground 90 by 45 meters. Distinctive features are: a large ball size, a small goal, an additional series of fines and a speed limit.
- Grass polo is a traditional look, carried out on a field 145 meters wide and 275 meters long.
A sport like equestrian polo has interesting variations. For example, a similar game can take place in the snow, in which case the rules are similar to beach polo. Competitions are also held not on horses, but on yaks, camels or elephants.
rules
The first official rules for equestrian polo were introduced in 1874. Many of them are still relevant. Rules were introduced to prevent injuries to animals and people, as well as to maintain safety on the playing field. To prevent dangerous situations, penalties have also been introduced. A system of international rules has been created, which may vary depending on the subspecies of the game.
Team roster and inventory
Traditionally, two teams participate in the game. Each team consists of four riders who are divided into defenders and forwards. The game ball must have a diameter of 8 centimeters, the mass of the ball must be 110 grams. Previously, the ball was made from bamboo root, but now an object made of special plastic is used for the game.
For hitting the ball, players have special clubs. As a rule, clubs are made from bamboo stems, willow branches or from composite materials. A mandatory attribute of each player is a helmet that performs two functions. Its main function is protective. The secondary role of the helmet is distinctive, since each team has its own color.
How is the game going? Basic Rules
The classic match is held on a site measuring 280 by 150 meters. To play, you need a flat field sown with trimmed lawn grass. The game is divided into six periods, which are called "chuck." Each chuck lasts seven minutes, in case of active actions in the game, it can be extended by 30 seconds.
When injuring horses or riders, as well as breaking the rules, judges intervene in the game to stop. In total, there are four judges on the playing field: one on foot behind each goal and two on horseback on the playing field. After each chakka take a break and a mandatory change of horses. It is forbidden to use one horse two times in a row. The main goal of the game of equestrian polo is to score the ball into the opponent’s goal. The team that scores the most goals wins.
Player classification
In total, four types of players participate in the game:
- Defender - can support the attack and move around the field, but its main function is to defend the goal.
- Leader - considered the main player on the field, his task is to make transfers to the second and first numbers for attack, as well as to support the defense.
- Center - his task is to support the first number during the attack and block the third player from the opposing team during the defense.
- The main striker - the task of this player is to block the defender from the opposing team.
Equestrian polo rules state that the main element of the game is the line of movement of the ball. This element is able to change after every club hit. The line of motion of the ball is determined from the initial position to the final. The rider who stabbed the ball has priority, as the rest of the riders cannot stand in the way of the lead player and also cross the ball's line of movement. Other participants have the right only to approach it from the sides.
The defenders of their team may cross the ball in the event that this does not cause interference to the attacker, otherwise there will be a penalty. Defenders have the right to move the horse relative to the line to the side with a push into the shoulder of the horse, however, the angle should be no more than 30 degrees. Defenders can also block a player’s club, catching it with their own.
You can see how beautiful the equestrian polo game looks in the photo below.
Polo horses
For equestrian game of polo cross, a special breed of horses is raised - polo-pony. Judging by the name, one might think that small ponies are used for the game, but this is not so.
This breed of horses is quite large in size. Traditionally, by English standards, ponies include those horses that are below 140 cm. In general, the main features for a horse are: good coordination, high speed, maneuverability and mobility. It is worth noting that, depending on the region, different breeds are used.
The horses used to play polo undergo special training. They are instilled with calmness, since they should not be afraid of a flying ball, waving of clubs and neighboring animals. Trainers also develop the potential of the animal so that it has the best indicators of speed, maneuverability and flexibility.