ST. LOUIS, MO ◆ INDIO, CA ◆ CHENGDU, CHINA

Two teams, each with four players, compete on horseback to hit a small ball through the opposing team's goal using long-handled wooden mallets. A normal duration for a game is one or two hours, with games divided into periods called chukkas, or chukkers.

Even though they're called "ponies", the mounts in polo are actually full-sized horses, usually standing between 14.2-16hh. Many polo ponies are Thoroughbreds or Thoroughbred crosses. Polo ponies must be responsive, agile, and able to handle quick bursts of speed and changes of direction. Each player must have several ponies available during the course of a game to ensure the animals don't become exhausted or injured. 

Teams consist of four players of any gender. Each player has a certain role:

• No. 1: primary offense, goal-scorer
• No. 2: offensive, scores goals; passes to No. 1, covers No. 3
• No. 3: tactical leader, maintains defense; feeds balls to No. 1 and No. 2
• No. 4: primary defense, prevents opposition from scoring
  

So, how do polo players and ponies build these incredible skills? Check out the principles and practice drills linked in the manual below!