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YO U C A N P L AY T O W I N , B U T YO U C A N S T I L L
EN J OY A L O S S I F YO U ’ V E B E EN I N C U L C AT E D
W I T H T H E AU T H E N T I C VA L U E S O F T H E S P O R T
In a troubling trend, there is a continuing
decline in the number of new patrons
coming into polo. There are many reasons
why, such as the proliferation of clubs
and their generally protectionist attitude,
the loss of the one genuinely vibrant
and open point of entry, Ascot Park,
and the school of ‘well done’ instructors
who don’t do much more than simply offer
praise if the pupil happens to get lucky and
hit the ball, rather than actually teaching.
Nor do individual professionals
understand the need for a personal supply
chain of future patrons, rather than
competing on price and win/loss records
instead. And then there’s the fact that the
cost of entry-level ponies is now closer
to £20,000 than £15,000 – if you can find
them, that is. The cost of a winning ticket
in the high goal has become so big that
it discourages upward mobility.
I could go on, but for me the
main problem is an increasing lack of
understanding that polo is a pastime and
not a sport. As soon as winning and losing
became more important than entertainment,
polo was on a sticky wicket. People need
to be reminded of the true ethos of polo –
you can play it to win, but you can still enjoy
a loss if you’ve been inculcated with the
authentic values and essence of the sport.
Back in time, it was said that polo was
a sport where eight friends gathered together
and split into two teams of four, became
enemies for an hour or so and afterwards
were friends again. In this modern age,
time pressures from work and changes in
the family dynamic have made that more
difficult to achieve, but care and thought
needs to be given to the enjoyment of not
only the players, but their families too.
Anyone who visited Ascot Park in
its heyday will surely remember the sheer
number of people there with their families
and friends at weekends. Some small clubs
still survive on the same ethos, but the sport,
in general, has forgotten the need for an
inclusive, fun attitude that involves all
the key members of a player’s entourage.
Entertainment is key, on and off the
pitch. You need a connection between
teammates, a sense of friendship and
camaraderie that all can enjoy, as well as
an encouragement of ‘the love of the game’.
Polo is a sport with many facets and
nuances, and these need to be shown to new
players, who should then be encouraged to
improve and enjoy their polo. I cannot see
the long-term value of encouraging new
players to not hit the ball, to block and
potentially put themselves at risk, all for
the sake of the mighty win. When wins
turn to losses, teams get changed. And
when losses continue, people give up.
I did a telephone survey of a dozen or
so players I know who have given up polo
in the past few years. They gave various
reasons why, but the main one was that
they had simply fallen out of love with
the game; they do not like the way polo
is played today. However, they all gave
the same answer to my final question –
they still have the boots and hat.
There is no cure for polo if you actually
get to experience the true spirit of the game.
Polo has a responsibility to itself to find
a way to give people a love of the game
again. Lower levels should be regulated
in such a way as to encourage this and
to foster enjoyment and entertainment.
Those who love the game need to respect
it, and pass that respect and love on to new
players coming in, whatever their age and
resources. Only then do we stand a chance
of reversing the trend and welcoming
a new era of players who are passionate,
in the right way, about this great game.
P H I L D I S L E Y
