Monday, March 31, 2014

Getting Prepared For Polo

By Brennan Huff


Budding horse riders have the option to take part in a number of different riding sports, ranging from the skilful and beautiful dressage, brave show jumping and the daring cross country. One other popular sport is Polo, which is enjoyed by riders up and down the country. Polo consists of four players, each designated a certain position and role within the team. The game takes place on a pitch and each rider is given a polo mallet to hold, which they use to try and hit the ball into the appropriate goal.

To play Polo, all players must wear the appropriate safety equipment in order to prevent themselves from serious injury as best as possible. A player could easily be hit by a flying ball or mallet, and of course, they could fall of their horse. The most essential piece of Polo equipment that every player must wear is a helmet. Polo helmets differ from standard riding helmets as they have different safety features that are designed specifically for this sport. Some helmets also feature a metal faceguard to give extra protection from balls or mallets hurtling at a players head.

Sport specific riding boots must also be worn. Most riding boots come to just below the knee, featuring a flat sole with a small heel of no more than an inch. This ensures that the player's foot does not slip through the stirrup. This could be very dangerous in the event that a rider loses control of their horse.

As well as making sure the rider is safe, it is also important to provide the Polo horse with the right equipment. As well as a comfortable bridle and saddle, many Polo horse also wear special skid boots that are designed to give support and provide shock absorption as the horse speeds around the pitch, changing direction or having to come to a halt rapidly.

When taking part in a sport such as Polo, it is essential to look after your horses joints. Products such as NAF Superflex are specially formulated by vets from pharmaceutical quality ingredients. This helps to keep a horses joints healthy and with optimal flexibility, helping them to perform better during Polo matches and lessening the chance of pain or injury. Supplements such as NAF Superflex come in liquid form and can be mixed in with a horse's food.




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