2010 Polo Clinic Dates Polo Lessons. HBA Polo Club. For the Newcomer to Polo - basic rules; how do you play polo? Facilities for polo: *Full size polo field. *Stick & ball fields. * Paddocks and stables for visiting ponies. *Wooden horse. * Our three-star lodge will provide you with a good night's rest    (enjoy the roar of our lions and other night sounds!) * a family restaurant provides delicious home-made meals. The MacRae family have been hosting safaris for the last 15 years, we have all the experience and facilities needed to ensure your family an unforgettable holiday! In between playing chukkas you can feed the baby lions, do a wildlife safari or get a different view from a spectacular Balloon flight. Holiday packages are run by professional coach, Gavin Chaplin who held a 6 goal handicap and played for the South African national team. His superb teaching, modern computer based swing analysis, play strategy insight and horsemanship coaching will greatly improve your riding and playing abilities. Polo has been played in South Africa since the 1870's and is played from the lush coastal garden route to the heights of the mighty Drakensburg mountains and throughout the rolling Savannas and Bushveld regions. There are many exciting clubs to visit, each in there own unique setting but all offering the same enthusiasm and famous South African hospitality. Here at Horseback Africa, having to chase giraffe or zebra off the field before play can start is a regular occurrence!
2010 Polo Clinic Dates Instructor? Justo Del Carril Justo Del Carril was born in Argentina  where he learnt to play polo as a young boy. He currently plays off a 5 goal handicap in Argentina. He started his professional career in the USA. Justo now has over 20 years of polo experience, teaching, team coaching, and playing professionally in Great Britain, South America, Argentina, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Austria and the United Emirates. Justo is the author of the book 'Polo Tips'. When?.......13th to 15th August Cost? R2800-00 per day...............All inclusive, Accommodation, horses, meals, clinic. R1500-00 per day................Horses, meals, clinic R740-00 per day...................Clinic, lunch. Instructor? Gavin Chaplin. Needs no introduction! We've been lucky enough to book Gavin for 6 days in October! When? 26th to 28th October               29th to 31st October R2800-00 per day...............All inclusive, Accommodation, ponies, meals, clinic. R1500-00 per day................Ponies, meals, clinic R740-00 per day...................Clinic, lunch. Book now to avoid disappointment !
			"Our sincere thanks to all of you, including Sean and the Major for all you did for Cody. He still hasn't stopped talking about all the things that happened. I do feel that the experience that he had with you has changed him in so many ways. His appreciation and respect for wild animals has quadrupled. Thank you all again." -Selby and Jeannie Williamson. "I really enjoyed it and felt I learned a lot. It was all beautifully organized in a relaxed atmosphere, you provided a really nice backdrop to the clinic - for both participants and families and I think we all enjoyed having the vagaries of your local wildlife entering into the spirit too." -Marisa Astill-Brown. Back to top
HBA Polo Club. Horseback Africa Polo Club is registered with HPA and SAPA (the national associations). Because we are a new club we are only charging green fees and not joining fees for the first year. We have chukkas Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; Stick&ball and riding practice every afternoon Tuesday-Sunday; polo lessons and regular Clinics with expert coaches. Give us a call so we can make a date to show you around the club or arrange guest chukkas!
Weekly Lessons. Have you always wanted to play polo but don't know where to start? Polo is about team spirit, horsemanship and freedom. Escape from your busy life, leave all your troubles behind and experience the speed and thrill of a truly unique sport. We offer comprehensive polo lessons in 6 week courses. We can teach you to play regardless of your riding abilities! For complete beginners we also give horse-riding lessons. All equipment is supplied, all you need to bring is a pair of jeans and comfortable shoes. Next course dates: Saturdays 3:00pm to 5:00pm 12th June to 17th July.                                     Sundays 3:00pm to 5:00pm 13th June to 18th July. Costs: R3000-00 p/p including horses and all equipment. If any lessons are missed due to clashing times with soccer matches we will arrange a time that suits you to catch it up. Back to top

Offside Forehand This stroke is used most often because it produces the most powerful drive.	For the Newcomer to Polo, Basic rules and game concepts. Two underlying concepts govern the game of polo. The first is that polo is a tactical team sport with either 3(indoor or enclosed arena) or 4(full size ground) players a side. Like all tactical team sports, each player fills a specific role and supporting the team effort on both offence and defense. The objective of the game is for a team to score the most goals by hitting the ball through their goal posts at the end of the ground. Like other high contact team sports such as Rugby or Ice Hockey, defensive plays such as "riding-Off" and "hooking" are important tactics and can result in fouls which incur penalties. All playing rules are centered around speed and safety for both horse and rider. Normally, polo is played on an outdoor polo field which is 300 yards long and 160 yards across, the area of 10 football fields. The second is "the line of the ball". This is the imaginary line the ball creates as it travels from point A to point B. This "line" determines the strict rules about how players can approach and attack the ball and each other, ensuring that the players and horses, traveling at 35mph when at top speed, do not collide resulting in serious injury to either horse or rider. When two players ride to the ball, both hoping to hit it, they must ride on either side of the "line" so that both will have access to the ball. They must remain on opposite sides of the line, thus minimizing the risk of collision. The line remains set until the ball is struck by a player, changes direction, and a new line is formed. A player may cross the line only when it does not create a hazardous situation such as a collision with another rider. This may result in a foul and consequent penalty being awarded. Team Positions and Tactics Team members are numbered 1 to 4 (or 3 in Arena polo) with No 1 being the attacking or offensive player and No 4 being the back or defensive player. In Indoor or Arena polo, the pivotal player on the team is the No 3, as he must stem the opponent's offence, turn the play to the attack, and pass the ball up field to his No 2 and No 1 player, as they turn to press the penetration toward the enemy goal. The No 1 player concentrates on opportunities for scoring, but also has the defensive responsibility for the opposing No 3 player. The No 2 team member supports No 3 on the pivotal plays, turns quickly to follow the No 1 player on attack, and harasses the opposing No 2 player. Outdoors the No 4 player is primarily responsible for defending the team's goal. These assignments are not rigid, and each player must be prepared to make any play that will benefit his team, temporarily changing position as the pattern indicates. Scoring and Rules There are general rules covering everything from the size of the ball to the colours of the team shirts, and field rules setting regulations for actual playing situations. When a foul occurs the umpires can award anything from a free goal to a free hit from a distance determined by the severity of the foul. Scoring is accomplished by putting the ball across the goal line between two goal posts 24 feet apart. Three umpires, two on horseback and one on the side of the field, oversee the game and enforce the rules. Infractions generally involve hazardous riding and dangerous use of the mallet. Umpires can be recognized by their shirts which have vertical black and white stripes. Chukkas The full game is 8 periods, called chukkas, but often in club matches 4 or 6 chukkas are played. They are 7 minutes each in length, plus a 30-second overtime. The brief periods are necessary due to the stress placed on polo ponies who will spend a great deal of that time galloping up and down a 300 meter ground. Each player in high goal(top level professional) tournaments uses a fresh pony for each chukka because the game is played at a very fast pace, with the horses galloping much of the time. In club games, ponies may play 2 chukkas in a match. Should an overtime be required, a seventh mount may be called upon, or a player may go back to his best mount of the day. Three minutes are generally allowed between chukkas to change horses. Indoor and Arena polo Indoor polo follows the same basic principles, but requires a different strategy due to the limited amount of space involved. The outdoor polo field is the area of 10 football fields. The indoor polo arena is only about 100 yards long and 50 yards wide Three players instead of four are used on a team. All must be committed to the attack when the team is on offence, but they must be prepared to revert instantly to the defence if the play should turn to the other team. Close coordination is essential between horse and rider in indoor polo since they must constantly stop and go at high speed. Back to top
Nearside Back Shot This is a difficult shot to do well, but once it is mastered, it is the second most powerful stroke in use
Offside Tail Shot This is used to clear the ball when it is behind the pony. Like the neck shot, the ball is hit with more of a flick of the wrist than use of the entire arm.
Offside Neck Shot This shot has power, but it can interfere with the pony's front legs and may, therefore, be dangerous to both horse and rider.
Nearside Backhand This is another basic stroke. It is also important because players are not allowed to switch mallet hands and must play right handed.
	Nearside Neck Shot This shot is used to clear the ball for a harder stroke, set up plays for team mates and attempt a shot at the goal from a different angle	The ride-off. This is a basic defensive move where the player urges his pony to shove an opponent's horse away from the ball, allowing the player or a team mate to get a clear shot. Also a player will ride off an opponent who is about to strike the ball.