Polo-Game of Kings!

Recently, I attended my first polo match. It was so much fun! Who knew how thrilling it could be to watch a bunch of men chase after a little ball? Well, it was the horses that made it different, I have to say.

Great care is taken in the rules to keep the horses safe. But even though each period (called a chukka) of the game lasts only 7 minutes, they do a lot of running. If you participate in a match, you must bring at least 2 horses for a game of 6 chukkas (4-8 chukkas are allowed). It's preferable to bring 3 horses.

There are 4 players on each team, although the players can be rotated out during the breaks between chukkas.

This was one of my favorite parts. At the half, the spectators are asked to go onto the field and repair the divots. Divots are clumps of earth dislodged by the horses. The resulting holes in the turf can be dangerous for both horses and players. Here they are:

 Here are the players in all their glory. (I had a more exciting video, but it was too large to be accepted on the website.) You can barely see the ball, so imagine how hard it is when you're atop a running horse.

The ref was a woman! 


I haven’t written a story featuring polo yet, but I intend to. And no, I did not see any princes, red-haired or otherwise. Sadly.

Has anyone else been to a polo match? I'm going to another one on July 23. Can't wait.

Sex On A Horse

Wow. I went to my first polo match this past weekend. I. Am. Hooked.

Is there anything sexier than the perfect line of man, mallet and horse getting ready to strike the polo ball? 

Or thinking of all that power between a man’s legs (his polo pony – get your mind back here!) as he thunders down a polo field? It literally made me weak in the knees. Of course, now I’m dreaming up a story that stars a gorgeous, arrogant, high-living polo player and the woman who tames him. (Gee, I’m such a writer…)

I mean, I’ve drooled over pictures of  Argentine hottie polo player Nacho Figueras in Ralph Lauren ads as much as the next girl. See?

But actually watching the game being played is mesmerizing. It’s a rough, physical, contact sport. These guys break their noses, wrists, and collarbones. It’s a dangerous game for both horse and rider. But the sheer joy of playing seems to make up for the risk of losing a few teeth.

From what I've read, polo has been around for 2,500 years, and I can understand why. The players love the testosterone rush and the physicality of the sport; the women love to watch sweaty men on horseback. A no-brainer as to why this sport has been around so long.

Add in the perk of fans coming onto the field at half-time to stomp divots in return for a glass of champagne as a ‘thank you’ and you have the perfect sport!

Maybe next weekend I’ll dress up like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman and try to catch the eye of one of the players. Hmm… I’ve heard that a majority of polo players are from South America and England. I’m a sucker for a foreign accent. Maybe I’ll ask them to whisper sweet ‘chukkers’ into my ear and see what happens…

What about you? Is there a sport you’re fanatical about? Tell me why!

Jenna

www.jennaives.com