La Low Goal
February issue
by low goal for low goal
Contents Page 5
The Basics - Mastering the Backhand
Page 8
Ignacio Fernandez Llorente -We are Polo
Page 9
Chukka Wellness - Ladies Polo Foundation Training Day
Page 11
Jennifer Little - Colic Prevention during the winter months
Page 15
Justin Taylor - A beginners view on polo
Page19
Deal Breaker? -A look into whether polo is about to lose its special Visa Deal
Page 25
Club News -Match reports from all o0ver the U.K.
2
So it’s February already. New Years and Christmas are just distant memories now, and new years resolutions lay shattered, many lasting less than a single month. The weather is foul, colder and more miserable than ever, and this summer’s polo season appears as far away as possible.
Nevertheless, the polo season is alive and well, emerging from its deep sleep over the festive season. The arena high goal sits just around the corner, and the rest of the season booms into life for a final few months before mindsets shift towards the grass season. As a result, we’re back stronger than ever after a quiet December (how selfish of you all to enjoy you’re christmases rather than playing polo which we can report on). We’ve got Opinion reports on the potential visa crisis, we’ve got a look at the LPF with Chukka Wellness, we’ve got professional advice on avoiding colic over winter. We’ve got ‘The Basics’ and of course Club News.
Enjoy the issue
Connor Kay
(editor)
1
The
Basics The Backhand Backhands have become a vitally important part of the game, allowing players to quickly turn defence into offence. Despite being so critical to the success of player, they are often performed poorly by beginners, mostly due to a players tendency to prioritise practicing forehand shots.
When first practicing the backhand you can imagine it as essentially a normal half shot in reverse. As per the half shot it is important to keep you arm straight throughout the shot in order to control the stick head. Another important aspect of the shot is to look over your arm when swinging. This helps keep the stick on a plane parallel to the horse, allowing you to control the angle of your backhand from there.
Once you have mastered the basic backhand the next stage is to start adding tail and open elements to them. Controlling the angle of the backhand presents a significant tactical advantage, allowing you to pass and set up the different players on your team. Outdoors this effect is achieved with a combination of changing the angle the stick head to cutting the ball in each direction and altering the plane of the swing, towards and away from the horses tail. In the arena, cutting the ball is much more difficult, so only the plane of the swing is usually used indoors.
The most common of the angled backhands is the tail shot. This is because backhands are usually played when facing your own goal. As a result playing a tail will place the ball over towards the right hand boards, setting up the common “diamond formation” and keeping your teammate’s horse between the ball and your opponents. This shot is achieved by placing the stick further out from the horses head so it naturally falls closer to the horses bum an the follow through. Outside you can also tail the mallet head slight clockwise. To cut the ball behind the horses tail as well. With practice you will be able to alter these factors to place the ball exactly where it is needed to set up a team mate’s attack.
The other kind of backhand is the open. This is mainly only used as a pass to a teammate, usually at their call. This is essentially the opposite of the tail. Instead of starting your swing further from the horses head, you have to start closer to the horses head and allow the stick to swing outwards away from the horses bum. This will also tend to leave you hitting the ball earlier and further away from the horse than for a regular backhand.
An open backhand
The Tail Shot
Looking over the arm when hitting a backhand
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Ignacio Fernandez Llorente We Are Polo It is common to believe that the answer you have is more or less the answer everyone has. Polo 40 years ago was a game practiced by people from polo families, a family game, to which players from the upper classes joined. Then, with the growth of the population and rise of professionalism, the polo has attracted people from various sectors. When we think of polo, I think of a player with several horses that assembles a team accompanied, and in most cases taught, with a professional or a better player who is payed in some way. Perhaps you have another answer, it is logical, everyone has their vision. Thinking a little more, I want to give my opinion of what polo really is: Polo is the person who raises a horse, who takes care of him, who teaches him, who trains him, who feeds him, who heals him, who transports him. Polo is that advice that I manage to take from another more experienced player. Polo is the game that I like so much and it gives me so much joy, the partner with whom I share my game, my groom with whom I talk for hours about everything, my family and my dog that accompany me to the games. Polo is the gathering of brothers, cousin and friends who have a horse and play as much as possible. Polo is the person who, after work, will see his horse and ride it as many times as he can. Polo is the player who plays two chukkas on his horse and shares his place with another to
participate in a tournament. Polo is the fight to get his favourite horse in school. Polo is the asado, the mate to drink mate. Polo is Nacho Figueras, the Queen, the princes, Sheikhs, Maharajas. Polo is the beach polo, arena polo, snow polo. Polo is adrenaline, nature, action, team, it is a lifestyle. But my answer is not complete. Polo is much more. Polo is also a supporting a player, having a team to follow, knowing the names of the horses, going to watch the games, approaching the pony lines, watching the games on TV, following all the polo news, even if they have never climbed on a horse and never will. Polo is also going to a game because he likes the environment, take the dog, the green, eat, drink, have a good time. Polo is also having a hand stick and practicing in the garden, going to the wooden horse for a while, going for a ride on a polo horse. Polo is wanting to understand everything related to polo because you have a friend who practices it. All these people who literally do not play polo are fans and can contribute to making this sport great. We enlarge our vision so that there are more fans, who may or may not play. The AAP repeats a phrase "we are polo" (somos polo) and in my case I have an Instagram campaign #sumemosparaquehayamaspolo (let' s add for more polo) I think it is important to spread this sport, and we can all do something for it. I would love you to give me your opinion on how to make this sport great.
Chukka Wellness is proud to announce their partnership with The Ladies Polo Foundation. An organisation created by Hannah Henderson to support the growth and development of women’s polo in the UK. The foundation is supported by Ambassadors Nina Clarkin, Sarah Wiseman, Tamara Fox, Rebecca Walters, Tiva Gross and Rosie Ross. These top polo players give their time to offer their expertise to aspiring female polo players during affordable training days. The latest LPF training day was held at Black Bears Polo Club in Henley. The day consisted of a group warm up and a polo-fitness session. The group was then divided into smaller groups and taken for a variety of polo skill sessions by Sarah Wiseman and Rosie Ross.
The second part of the day consisted of lunch, game tactics, Chukkas and a prize giving to finish. Chukka Wellness believes the foundation is crucial to the development of female polo in the UK and so continues to promote healthy strong body image to the women that attend the training days. During the fitness session we focus on creating enjoyable functional exercises that aim to complement the movement patterns of polo to create stronger and fitter bodies.
“The foundation is crucial to the development of female polo in the UK”
“During the day Sarah Wiseman helped with the basics of my swing and I loved how the fitness exercises were polo-specific and enjoyable…the LPF is going to empower women to continue to play polo and encourage younger generations of women to get into the sport…” – Natalie Hall, LPF attendee Polo has been said to be elitist, yet some of the UK’s best talent has come from hard working committed girls who have fought their way to the top, the LPF therefore offers affordable training days to encourage as many women to attend and receive training from some of the most successful UK players. The foundation would not be able to run without the help of the supporting brands Victoria Lodder Jewellery, Dodson & Horrell, Salvavita Helmets, Annabel Brocks and Rug Up Now. Because of this continued support, the LPF was able to fund the travel of a British player sending her to Argentina for 2 weeks of intensive coaching.
The LPF relies fully on funding from brands and supporters and aims to send another 2 female players abroad in the hope that they can continue to grow their skills during the winter months. They also have a variety of clothing on offer, kindly supported by RugUpNow. The selection involves Jackets, polo shirts, jumpers and shirts. To find out how to get involved with the LPF or see when the next training days are email: ladiespf@outlook.com Facebook page – The Ladies Polo Foundation & Ambassadors Instagram: @Ladies_Polo_Foundation
Jennifer Little Colic Prevention
on
During the winter months
Colic is a common fear among all horse wide range of factors have been implicat owners for obvious reasons. A colic. These factors include, but are noted in increasing a horse’s risk of water intake, increased feeding rates of limited to, reduced forage and changes to diet and extended stabling hoconcentrate or whole grains, rapid urs with reduced access to pasture. Unfortunately, winter can often result in simultaneously combine. Wet cold condit multiples of these risk factors to growth of grass and result in the accumulaions reduce or even stop the for prolonged stabling, reduced free grazintion of mud, increasing the need alternatives such as hay or haylage. Feed g and the change of forage to levels i.e. containing higher microbial con ing hay/haylage with poor hygiene tamination with moulds has also been shown to increase colic risk. These oftenmanagement can also impact on water con necessary changes in diet and pastures contain about 80% water, whereassumption. Grasses found in concentrate feeds only around 10% water. haylage 32%, hay, grains and on dried forages and concentrate feeds canTherefore, the increased reliance water that is being provided by the diet. significantly reduce the amount of
“Colic is a common fear among all horse owners for obvious reasons�
unt of o m a e h t o reduce t n w o h s o been 990). ls a e v a h s k1 ture lu a a r b e m p y m C e t ( tion cold rink by up to 14% c n ju n o c n I e these ill d s i w m i e s n r i o m h o water a loyed t entre around p m e e b n s that ca damentally they c alth. e r u s a e m l e severa r season, and fun astro-intestinal he r a e r e h t Thankfullyisks over the winte intake to ensure g inherent r g forage and water suring a n e y b s i n eduction ensure all maintaini r k s i r c li o loy in c include tactics to Larger water p m e n a c asures we water. This may efore unavailable. longer to e m t s r i f e e r One of thupply of fresh cleanme frozen and the ch a rubber will tak detecting constant s ater does not becoulating materials su ng water intake andcolic risks. available wade from more ins rnatives. Monitori ntifying increasing buckets mer than smaller alte can be vital to ide freeze ov in its consumption decreases
buckets to ed fe e at tr en nc co to d de Water can also be ad d increase the moisture content. dampen their contents ancan be made into a mash, such as Alternatively feeds that Condition will increase the amount Kwik Beet or Cushcare of water consumed. t health, but it also gu r fo t an rt po im ly on t Fibre intake is no s such it is of A . dy bo e th h it w ls ve aids with hydration le inimum fibre intakes of 2% great importance that m maintained. The most efficient bodyweight per day are is be proving forage, be that method of achieving thisad lib. Horses digestive systems grazing, hay or haylage and as such it is recommended that have evolved as grazers rage is not available should be periods of time where fosable to have hygiene testing carried avoided. It is also advi ntaminated forage poses a colic risk. out on hay/haylage as co
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D ig e s t i ve S u pp o rt In addition to these measures the hindgut bacterial population can be supported with the use of probiotics such as Actisaf yeast and prebiotics such as MOS and FOS, al which are beneficial in supporting optim intestinal bacteria. These can be provided by choosing a compound feed that includes them or with the use of a separate supplement, such as D igestive Support.
These bacteria can significant take time to adjust to ch things that canly increase the risk of colicanges in diet and sudden transition perio be done in the preventio . As such one of the mo disturbances should be don ds are observed. Chang n of colic is ensuring suff st important stages over one slowly, introducing the es to a horse’s diet (includicient new diet and in e to two week weaning out t g forages) s. he old one in As with all se monitor body asons of the year but part previous polo condition. Ensuring that icularly during winter, it is preventing ex season has been regained b any excessive weight lost important to returning to wcessive weight gain that co efore the next, while sim during the ult uld increase th ork. e risk of injur aneously y on
Justin Taylor
A
beginner
in
polo
1) How and when did you first get into Polo? I first got into Polo when I was 17/18 taking lessons at Epsom Polo Club where my mother was a member. After enjoying the lessons I then continued playing at Epsom and Stirling University in Scotland under the coaching of Thom Bell.Â
2) In your experience what have been main challenges of getting into polo? I think a main challenge of getting into Polo is having affordable chukka fees for players, particularly after they have left University. University clubs normally have subsidised chukka fees and cheap group lessons but this all stops when you stop being a student!Â
3) Do you have any suggestions of ways which polo could be more accessible to beginners? Certainly having more polo taster days at clubs and big events would make it more accessible to beginners. It looks quite intimidating and inaccessible from the sidelines, heightened if you are watching say the high goal! It is so fast and physical.Â
“I think a main challenge of getting into Polo is having affordable chukka fees for players” 4) Would you have any tips for any beginners looking to establish themselves in polo? Lots! Firstly be clear what your goals are at the outset, how much time you have and what your annual budget is. Second seek the advice of professional players who have been in the game for a long time. They can really help you as a beginner and help you avoid making mistakes. If can find a single person who can act as a mentor or adviser that is even better. Third have fun and don't take it too seriously!
5) How has your 2019 season been so far? 2019 has been great. My team Cuatro Estrellas have won three 6 goal trophies over the season which was pleasing and had lot of fun playing together, mainly at Black Bears Polo Club. We played some arena polo for a few months and turned the horses out just before Christmas.
6) What advice would give to a new polo player looking to buy horses? Take your time and don't rush. Horses are 80% of the game so it is really important you choose the right ones for you. See it like an investment, like buying a house and do as much as research as you can. Try the horse more than once, in both a game and stick & balling. Also crucial is having a good groom who knows how to exercise horses to a high level and has an eye for detail.
7) What are your plans and aspirations for the remainder of this winter and beyond? So my polo manager Oli Hipwood and I are off to Palm Beach, Florida next month to play for a week out there and look at some horses. Will also check out a few polo games while we are there I am sure. First time out there for Polo so excited about going! Then looking ahead to summer 2020 season will be playing a full schedule of 6 and 8 goal tournaments with Cuatro Estrellas with Oli and Terrence Lent as the professionals.
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OUT NOW
Deal B
Breaker
Since 2017 the U.K. polo industry has benefited from a special grant allowing an extra 500 grooms and polo workers to obtain visas in the UK, supposedly granted after the queen “became very animated” fearing a clamp down would ruin the 2017 season. However, since then concerns have mounted about the possibility of low skilled workers entering the U.K. on polo visas but , despite having to have clubs as sponsors, ending up farm labouring and in other low skilled work. For 2020 however reports have began to surface. The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, is preparing to bring the, allegedly temporary, agreement to an end.
If this is indeed true, the consequences for the U.K. polo scene may be pretty dire. The Home Office claims they the temporary measures were only “designed to allow the sport time to recruit and train enough British players and grooms”. Although this may be true, I personally have not noticed any major shifts away from foreign workers and grooms within the sport, suggesting that the sport may have used this grace time poorly, or is simply not quite ready yet to accommodate these changes.
Many people will argue that these changes could have a devastating impact on the U.K. game, as 500 grooms may potentially be lost for the 2021 season, having knock on effects for players, who have to source and train new grooms, which is often time consuming and difficult, especially if they are not from an equine background. They will also argue, that although this allowance was supposedly for training up new grooms beforehand, British residents are far less inclined to take the unsociable hours, often low pay and hard manual work that a grooming job demands. As argued countless times over Brexit, it may turn out that foreign workers are not stealing the jobs, merely filling the vacant ones which the British public turn their noses up at. Fears that these roles may be un-fillable, or at least far more expensive to fill, have led some to predict a crisis for the sport as professionals and patrons alike may be unwilling/unable to devote the funds and time to these new grooms, possibly leading many to simply drop out of the game all together.
“Consequences for the U.K. polo scene may be pretty dire”
these new regulations (if the reports are even true), Polo will likely be able to rebuild itself relatively quickly.
On the other hand, it is not as if polo grooming is a skill exclusively obtained by foreign workers. Although there may initially be a lot to teach the grooming side is often fairly basic, (ignoring instances such as where grooms are responsible for helping train horses and playing). It is possible to train a new wave of grooms, and while it may be more difficult and expensive at the minute, in the long run I imagine and hope it won’t be enough to put many people off this great sport. Although there may be growing pains for a few years following the introduction of
As for the validity of the whole report, I’m afraid I think that polo may be about to face the loss of its ‘special deal’. Not only is this because the growing number of reports suggesting polo will lose its deal, compared to relatively few, and very biased reports at that, suggesting otherwise, but also because the queen can no longer risk her reputation. If the government do choose to turn on polo, after the reports the queen already bailed us out, the queen would be powerless. She simply cannot risk her reputation of being neutral within politics on, what really is a fairly small issue.
Vs
la_low_goal
When someone says polo is “just hockey on a horse�
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When the pro asks you to mark a player with stronger horses:
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Club News
Congratulations Xanthos / Calypso, winners of the Autumn League. Many thanks @michaelberkeleypho tography for another fab batch of photos
* Winter Varsity Results * Varsity A: 6-7 Oxford
MVP: Tamara Gibbons
Varsity B: 7-6 Cambridge
MVP: Kate Garnett
Varsity C: 12-2 Cambridge
MVP: Zara Neill
Teams:
- Varsity A: Erik LD, Tony Finch, Tate Lavitt vs. Capucine Granchi, Tamara Gibbons, Max Rumsey.
- Varsity B: Francesca Cornero, Kate Garnett, Aeisha Johnson vs. Isla Sandeman, Immy Hequet, Sophie Clarke.
- Varsity C: Chloe Chadwick, Zara Neill, Camila Cimadamore vs. Seren Irwin, Sarah Sheets, Audrey Grant.
Thank you Oxford University Polo Club for traveling over to play us and we are looking forward to the rematch on the 30th May at Guards Polo Club. Thank you to La Martina for their continued sponsorship & support.
And finally big thank you to pony hire (La Matuza Polo & Oxford Polo) and umpire, Francis Molyneux, and Cambridge County Polo Club for facilitating a fantastic day!
Club News
How happy are we to have #thisgirl @emmasanderson91
The festive season may be coming to an end but we have lots of FUN planned at Westcroft with low, medium and high goal tournaments, the WIP Women’s Championships, our own Schools Championships, club chukkas, club challenges, and private and group lessons from Age 4 upwards! NEW CAFE COMING SOON TOO! Don't miss out on the 2020 fun
This Month’s Contributors: -
Ignacio Fernandez Llorente Connor Kay Justin Taylor Jennifer Little Chukka Wellness
@la_low_goal La Low Goal
52
by low goal for low goal
March Issue
Coming Soon