Polo in the Park - great fun as long as you stay out of the way.
As the sun was setting over Victoria Park in Adelaide on the Friday night most of the eventing ponies were tucked up in their stalls ready for a big cross country day on Saturday.
However there was another bunch of ponies that came out to play on Friday night; these looked a bit different, their tails were wrapped up and looked a bit stumpy, their riders were wearing funny looking Safari hats and they were all carrying big sticks.
For me this was my first introduction to polo - the Polo in the Park Friday night entertainment during Australia's International Three Day Event. The dressage ring had been cleared and even the cross country fences had been pushed aside while in their place were four green and white posts.
Ponies chasing down the ball
These posts were the goals for the modified match, it was modified polo because, despite the size of the ring, it was still too small for normal polo. It was to be polo with three a side and a larger softer ball.
Despite the modification I thoroughly enjoyed it and, going on the commotion and free flowing wine in the VIP tent, the sell out hospitality event was a success too.
The traditional divot stomping at half time.
As a photographer I am used to standing in the warm up ring with horses buzzing past me on each side. Or even sitting close to a line on cross country so that I can get the shot. However nothing had prepared me for the 'interesting' moment when the softball sized ball landed at my feet while sitting near the edge of the polo field.
I dont ask why, I just take the photos
Polo ponies are trained to chase the ball, so when the ball landed at my feet I looked up to see six ponies closing on me at a full gallop with their riders swinging big mallets in my direction. Well, I got my adrenaline rush, WOW!
When my kids asked me what I was doing earlier in the evening and I said I was going to shoot polo, they asked "What's polo?" My best description was "It's like hockey on horseback".
Sam Griffiths and Paul Tapner prepare for the Celebrity Event Obstacle Race
Nothing had prepared me for how agile these ponies are, they can turn like a quarter horse and gallop like they are on the final furlong at Flemington. No wonder during a regular polo match each horse is only used for one seven minute chukka.
I spoke with Clemmie Mann after the match. Clemmie is a former eventer who has returned to her family roots to play polo instead of eventing and she told that me most of the horses are thoroughbreds because other breeds just don't have the speed to keep up.
Former eventer Clemmie Mann, member of the winning San Churro team
Anyhow instead of hearing me ramble on, here is Clemmie.
Personally, I will have to come and check out polo again. For the record the Victorian San Churro team won 6-5 against the local Grant Burge Wines team. Polo is great fun, even more so from the VIP tent where you are less likely to have all the horses gallop directly to you.
Enjoying the hospitality and Grant Burge Wines.
Yours in Eventing and Polo
John Lechner (ESJ)
If you see this at the Polo, RUN!
