Polo Forum, Please!

[The_Centaurian]

Dear Mods,
I see polo questions popping up more and more frequently on the forums, but no one quite knows where to ask them…

I myself have bitting questions at the moment: I want to know if anyone plays in a snaffle with draw reins, or if that’s somehow against the rules. Or perhaps a pelham rein and draw reins in place of a straight snaffle rein? What about bitless, hackamores, and the like? Differences, if any, in bitting choices for exercise bridles, stick-and-ball bridles, and game bridles?

I also have questions about facemasks, helmets, and eyewear for the rider.

How do new forums come into being? Do we need a poll or a petition or something?
Thank you!
–Kim

[The_Centaurian]

And mallets! I have burning questions about mallets!

[the_rook]

I would love it if there were a polo forum as I have just begun to learn the sport and it would be nice to talk with other people that play Right now I am in New Zealand and polo is pretty common. However, I’ll be in Colorado next year if there are any polo people out that way!

As far as I know about the rules, you must have two sets of reins (which can be draw reins), so you would be able to play in a snaffle with draw reins. I have only ridden ponies with either two sets of reins on the snaffle ring, or one on the snaffle ring and one on the gag portion of the bit, never with draw reins. I’m not exactly sure why two reins are required, I think it is a standing tradition or something?

You must also have a standing martingale for safety.

As far as bits… I don’t know if there is anything official. Maybe someone can fill us in? I know you can ride in a snaffle or pelham but I don’t think you would be allowed to ride bitless in an official game (just guessing). As far as training and exercising, I am sure you could ride in whatever you want Probably the snaffle is most common but I have seen people hack out their polo ponies in a bitless bridle.

[the_rook]

Oops, didn’t realize your post was on a technical support thread. Sorry!

Mods:: If there aren’t enough polo people to get our own thread, maybe do an “other disciplines” category? I think there are a couple small groups that don’t fit in elsewhere like saddle seat, or maybe even vaulting and the like?

Thanks!