Polo: What it takes

What does it take to play polo? In two words, guts and class.

It takes guts because not just anyone can fly across a sports field of largest dimensions on a half-ton, living powerhouse. Not just anyone can maneuver for position at high speeds and stay focused on one small ball amid the pounding of hooves and contenders’ shouts.

Not just anyone can play golf during an earthquake. And that’s kind of what polo is like.

Polo is fun. It’s camaraderie and laughter. It’s a rush. But it’s a rush because there’s risk involved…like rock climbing or sky diving or parasailing or skiing a double black.

Of course it doesn’t start out that way. If you’ve never been on a horse before, we won’t make you gallop around swinging wildly at the ball. We’re not that extreme. But chances are if you want to play polo, you’re a certain kind of person…and you’ll get there eventually.

Polo players are adventurous. They’re extreme and competitive yet still playful. They’re the kinds of people who are successful everywhere they go, because they have that inner drive to win that you either have or you don’t, but they’re also aware of the people around them and can work with a team. They ride in the spirit of the hard-charging warrior, but they care about living things and living, period.

Which brings us to our point about class. Polo is the world’s oldest team sport and as such carries a rich legacy of tradition, style and sophistication. This isn’t street ball, folks.

Played around the globe in some of the world’s most remarkable ancient civilizations, polo has an air of international grandeur. And brought to the Western world by the upper echelons of the British cavalry, even U.S. polo still has a tint of the English gentleman about it. Like maybe Downton Abbey’s Lord Grantham might show up at any minute.

In that vein, polo players value a certain level of collegial esteem, and a consciousness of safety and rules. That doesn’t mean, however, that they’re snobbish. A more friendly, fun bunch you’ll never meet. Being snobby isn’t classy.

Class means getting back up when you get thrown. It means being considerate and lending a hand to a competitor who needs help. It means having fun but never in an unkind way. It means respecting rules and safety guidelines. Class means having the guts to play your heart out and still lose gracefully.

If you’re a person with guts and class who’s up for an exhilarating new challenge, give us a call at 303-791-7656.