La Low Goal
April issue
by low goal for low goal Please note: this magazine is not suitable to be used as a toilet paper alternative due to being digital in nature and therefore may result in discomfort or irritation.
Contents Page 5
Season Checklist -Everything you need to tick off to get your 2020 season in order.
Page 6
Arena Handicap Changes - End of season arena handicap changes listed
Page 12
Polo Price Comparison Table - Answering the big questions like, what is the cheapest way into polo? and, how much bog roll does that equate to?
Page 15
Coronavirus - How the Pony Club and HPA are tackling the pandemic
Page 18
Quarantine Boredom Buster - Suggestions to keep you sane while your stuck at home.
Page 22
Ignacio Fernandez Llorente - Player penalties
Page 23
COVID-19 Timeline - How the coronavirus situation has developed
Page 25
Chukka Wellness - Coronavirus home workout
Page 29
Jennifer Little - Fibre - on the line
Page 35
Club News - Match reports from all over the U.K
Somehow, in the last 30 days, the world has managed to go completely to pot. We have gone from readily preparing and gearing up for our summer season last month, to now facing the very real possibility that there may be no season at all. We may have milestone dates such as the 1st May set in our diary, the HPA’s revised start to the English polo season, but with such a fast moving situation these are simply arbitrary lines in the sand. Honestly nobody really knows how long this could take, so we just have to take each new regulation and each new development as they come.
In the mean time here at La Low Goal we doing our best to tide you over until a polo season finally does emerge. Not only have we got this issue filled with juicy ideas for beating isolation boredom, alongside informative articles from Jennifer Little, Chukka Wellness and more, but we have also introduced the Handstick Challange, an online competition where anyone can compete to work their way to the top of our leaderboard by completing the most “tap ups� on their hand mallet. And if thats still not enough for you, remember that there is always an entire back catalogue of magazines right here on Issuu and over on Apple News for your reading pleasure.
Enjoy the issue
Connor Kay
(editor)
Season Checklist Bringing Ponies in from the field Farrier - Trim/Shoeing Flu Jabs Worming Dentist Read every past issue of La Low Goal HPA Membership Club Membership Check Saddle Fitting Follow La Low Goal on Apple News Equine Physiotherapy Tack Check Buy new whites that fit your ‘expanded’ waistline Find a team Plan tournament schedule for the season Pre - season gym training Follow La Low Goal on Social Media Stick and Ball Practice Pre - season chukkas Cancel all of the above due to Coronavirus
Arena Handicap Changes
Arena Handicap Changes
Arena Handicap Changes
Arena Handicap Changes
Arena Handicap Changes
Post of the month We pick out our favourite post to save your scrolling fingers.
@epsompoloclub
Ponies are good for EVERYTHING! đ&#x;?Ž â?đ&#x;˜Žđ&#x;‘Œđ&#x;Œł.
@la_low_goal
An open backhand
£
e t a m i t l the u
polo price comparison table
$
What is the cheapest way to play polo? The question to which so many of us wish we had the answer, yet so far an affordable way to play has alluded us. And it still does. But with the help of our crack team of statisticians and mathematicians (read: me and my phone calculator), we have come closer than ever before to uncovering the hidden truths behind the economics of Polo.
Presented in our neat little table we have broken down the costs of playing, from horse hiring to lessons and membership fees. Then by using a host of formulae and algorithms (simple multiplication and addition) we have managed to calculate a total season cost (minus any cost associated with keeping a horse alive for 6 months) and a total cost per game. Furthermore, since these are confusing times we have converted this cost into the currency of the moment, toilet rolls, to provide a more accurate representation of the true cost.
(Please note this table may not be entirely accurate due to a number of possible errors, namely: The price of club membership varies vastly depending on the club, different horse hirers charge more or less, as do coaches providing lessons. HPA Membership is dependent on age and situation and tournament costs and pro fees vary wildly depending on the level of teams and the location of clubs. Finally the unforeseen inflation in toilet paper prices is also a source of error. We have tried to minimise the effect of these by calculating average values (guesstimating), however real values can be much higher in real life)
HPA Membership
Other Membership
Tournament Fee
Lesson Costs
Pr Fe
£40
£0 £80
Pony Club Membership
The Pony Club
SUPA
Qualifier x3
£35 £0
£109
£0 £55 £55 £30 £0 SUPA Membership
£280
£60
£0
£200
£1500 £150 £60
£0
£200
£1500 £600
Junior HPA
Qualifier x4
£270 Finals x2
(Paying ¼ share)
Patron
£45 Finals
£100 £0 Club Polo
Friendly
Club Membership
Club Membership
£0
£25
ro ees
Horse Hire
Livery/ stabling
Total
Price per day
Toilet Paper Conversion
0 £0 £80 £214
£71.40
105
0 £20 £0
£1085
£180.83
266
0 £0
£0
£2000
£333.33
490
0 £0
£0
£3020
£188.75
278
£27700 £461.67
679
50
Cowdray stabling
Per chukka
£0
£300 Per week
Co th eN r r OF th ecwoRd? ta t Se t e im lat e Is coRNviRs
) n o s a e s o l o p e h (t
The Corona Virus pandemic is undoubtedly already having an effect on sporting events internationally, cancelling the NBA, postponing Formula 1 and all football in the U.K. to name just a few. As you would expect, Polo has not escaped the virus, with American high goal games still taking place, but being held behind closed doors, with only critical staff permitted. All this has already led to speculation that the virus could essentially wash out the entire U.K. polo season, dooming it before many of the preparations have even begun.
Although it may be easy to take the pessimistic view that the season is over already, there are things that can be done to minimise the risk of spreading the infection, all without the need for cancellation. The Pony Club has already set a good example of setting CoronaVirus guidelines for both competitors and organisers to follow. Many of these could also be carried over to polo, and hopefully help towards making the 2020 season a success.
The Pony Club have expressed a desire to move as much of the organisation and registration process online, in order to
reduce the amount of time people spend around one another, as a result lowering the risk of spreading the disease. Although many polo clubs run on a much more informal system, text systems and the like can be used to inform people of everyone’s arrival and catering services can be reduced to decrease the build up of people in one area, another thing the Pony Club have suggested, instead is to ‘bring your own food and drink to eat in cars’.
st
The Pony Club also suggests reducing the overall time competitors are at the event by posting out prizes and sharing final results online, as a result making a prize giving ceremony obsolete. Polo could easily copy the idea of posting prizes, and unlike many equestrian sports, the final score should be known by the end of each match regardless, making things much easier for the organisers.
“there are things that can be done to minimise the risk of spreading the infection”
Finally, one of the big changes which may manage the spread of CoronaVirus is limiting the total number of people allowed to attend. While it is unlikely that spectators will be permitted, the numbers of grooms and family members may also have to be regulated. The Pony Club suggests one accompanying person to the competitor, however this number would have to be debated when transferred to polo, as many will argue that it won’t be possible to properly operate with a single groom, especially when it could come at the detriment to horse welfare.
The CoronaVirus will no doubt pose a huge challenge to the polo community in 2020,
however when the livelihoods of so many people are on the line, it is important that we make all the possible changes to keep moving forward. Spectator numbers are likely to be down, even if they are permitted at all, which will only knock-on to a lack of investment from sponsors. Team and player numbers will probably be down, and many of the big events may be postponed or even cancelled. However, the situation continues to evolve day by day and nobody can really predict the situation a few months down the line. We will just have to take things as they come and try our hardest to ensure the safety and security of everyone while ploughing on as best as possible.
From the HPA m e de o ta ils f be w low r iti ng The HPA released a update on the COVID-19 virus and how it plans to respond to the challenge over the 2020 polo season. The overriding message of the release was that the HPA, along with its clubs and supporting members, are taking all measures to try and keep the season running as smoothly as possible. In order to achieve this the HPA has set out a number of ‘strict set of hygiene guidelines’ that all affiliated clubs will be expected to follow. These are as follows: 1. When polo is being played each club must retain a record the names of all those entering the club. 2. Each person must self-certify that they have no virus symptoms. Ideally temperature testing should be undertaken.
3. Clubs should make soap and water or equivalent available on entry to ensure all entrants observe hygiene guidance. 4. Anyone with signs of sickness such as a fever or cough or any flu like symptoms should self-isolate and avoid entering a club for at least 7 days. 5. Anyone coming into contact with someone who has been infected with the virus should avoid entering a club for a minimum of 14 days. 6. Clubs should discourage public spectators and everyone in attendance at games should respect social distancing and practice good hygiene as above. This includes the banning of mate sharing at games etc.
7. Every individual needs to take these responsibilities seriously and comply fully.
Latest As of 1st April 2020
In the HPA’s most recent statement of time o publishing they have made the decision to suspend all polo at any affiliated club until further notice. This includes “no chukkas, lessons or stick & ball”. They continue to work towards the beginning of the season being on the 1st of May, however this is under constant review. Despite this they seem confident that torn ament polo will be played in 2020 and are urging both players and clubs to pay their HPA membership.
Quarantene
Bordom Buster 1
.
Polo King Game
Although the Polo king game is still in the Beta stages, you can download testing versions on iOS via TestFlight, which currently allows you to play both grass and arena polo.
Polo King allows you to control your polo team from a top down view, controlling their swings and positioning on the field. Although fairly addictive and fun by itself, Polo King can also help teach yourself about how to read the game, something that will come in useful in the real polo season (if that ever happens).
2
.
globalpolo.com
Although the USPA may have just suspended all the high goal action from Palm Beach, there are plenty of past games available to watch on Global Polo Network’s app and website.
Catch up on all the high goal action from the Ylvisaker Cup, C.V Whitney, USPA Gold Cup and Women’s US Open and see all your favourite high gaolers in action.
3
.
Learn Spanish
Why not spend your spare time learning a new language? Getting a solid understanding of the Spanish language could be a great way to keep up with the argentines, and with online apps such as Duolingo and Vocal Express, it has never been easier.
4
.
Skype Fitness Lessons
Make sure your in peak physical fitness for when the season finally does get underway with Skype sessions from India at Chukka Wellness. India can help you train from the comfort of your own home, even if you own no gym equipment to speak of.
5
.
Design your bespoke helmet
Design your own polo equipment to make sure you stand out on the Polo field. You can while away hours configuration everything from helmets to team shirts online.
6
.
Have your swing assessed online
You might not be able to head out for a polo lesson, but that shouldn’t stop you improving your swing, ready for the season to start. There are a number of training organisations and coaches oering online courses, which are a perfect way to get one step up on everyone else heading into the 2020 season.
7
.
Online Polo Courses
Although you may not be able to attend conventional polo lessons a number of clubs and coaches have taken to the internet to continue their guidance.
MHF Polo have begun training videos on Youtube and ARMIS are presenting a series of lectures via the Zoom app from Phil Baker talking about rules and tactics to fitness programs with Jason Tola Warren.
8.
Hand-stick challenge
The Hand-stick challenge is an online competition where competitors send in their videos of them completing as many “tap ups� on their hand-sticks as possible. These can be completed by using a regular outdoor or Arena ball (separate leagues for each). Simply send your videos to us via Instagram or Facebook and find yourself on our leaderboard (found at lalowgoal.co.uk). The person at the top of the leaderboard when the polo season finally gets underway will earn themselves a La Low Goal tshirt as a prize.
Good Luck!
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Your name here
41 39 32 30 18 12 8
Ignacio Fernandez Llorente Player Penalties I take advantage of these lines to offer my condolences to the families of those who died due to this pandemic that we are experiencing. In these difficult times for the world, I would like to reflect on justice. In the small world of polo, we are not all the same and I do not claim that we are all the same, and we are not equal before the law. One of the great difficulties in polo is getting players and teams, so sanctioning a player is not feasible, and the players and teams know it. There are teams that put pressure on everything and if they receive a sanction they withdraw their team from the tournament. There are players who have to be interested in continuing to spend at Polo (employers, club owners), and others: such as high handicaps, professionals who cannot lose a job, federation authorities, family members, etc. who are untouchable. I have had many experiences as a referee in different countries, countries where the player gives orders to the referee, countries where the player does not receive sanctions, countries where the sanction is given in the off season on purpose, countries where the player is sanctioned depending on who he is ... And what strikes me is the corruption within polo even in first world countries where justice is respected. And in most countries / clubs: the referee who sanctions, does not return anymore There are players who repeatedly have problems with all referees and have no
sanction, in many cases because the referee does not sanction him (to avoid conflicts in this small world, not to fill out score sheets, or because if there are sanctions it is a bad thing). But in reality the fault lies with the one who hires that player. There are very few patrons who have bad behaviour, and if there are any, it is because the professional led them to misbehave (imitation, this creates a climate on the polo field so that the patron reacts badly, they lose because of the referee, for what he has learned in years, because it becomes the normal thing to have bad behaviour) A light of hope is to meet patrons that, by contract, enforce that if their Pro receives sanctions (technical, yellow or red), they have a penalty such as they do not collect money, or change the Pro for the next game. Argentina has the advantage that if the player is penalised he is easily replaced (greater number of players), and the AAP is trying to manage the discipline better than ever, but there is a long way to go. Polo authorities are players or ex-players, and there are no referees or ex-referees. They only see the perspective of the players. Although a sanction in one country is a very small world, it does not prevent playing an unofficial tournament, or playing in the neighbouring country. But in the polo world we are far from being all equal before the law. I often ask myself, how many discourage injustice in polo? Meanwhile the show continues ...
COVID-19
HP
First confirmed death 11/01/2020
First death in Europe 14/02/2020
Declared
11/0
First UK deat 06/03/2020
Timeline HPA suspends polo until further notice 26/03/2020
USPA all USPA tournaments for 14 days 17/03/2020
USPA cancels remainder of Gauntlet of Polo 21/03/2020
PA insists polo season still going ahead 16/03/2020
d a pandemic
HPA delays start of polo season to 1st May 19/03/2020
UK Schools close 20/03/2020
03/2020
th
UK PM contacts Virus 27/03/2020
CORONAVIRUS
HOME WORKOUT Due to the coronavirus many people have been forced to stay inside and quarantine themselves. We recommend using this time to focus on improving strength and fitness even if the amount of polo played this year may be limited.
quarantine, Chukka Wellness has created a home workout for players to follow.
It is important to stay healthy and keep the immune system strong during this crazy time, so to ensure you stay active whilst stuck in
Side Note: *Complete an effective warm up and cool down either side of the workout
Workout - 5 rounds - 40 seconds per exercise - 1 minute rest in-between each round
Mountain climbers Start in press up position with your shoulders over your wrists and core engaged. Flex one knee up towards your chest and raise your foot off the ground. Then extend that leg as you flex the other knee up towards your chest and create a running motion.
Back Extension Lie on your front and pull your belly button up towards your spine to engage your abdominals. Extend your arms above your head and raise your arms and feet off the ground squeezing your shoulder blades together. Hold and then slowly lower your limbs back to the ground.
We recommend completing the workout 3x a week
Star Jumps Jump into the air and extend your arms and legs out to the side, land with bent legs and feet together. Bring your arms back towards the centre of your body as you land.
Press ups Start in plank position with shoulders tracking over wrists and lower your body towards the ground. Lead with the chest and keep the elbows tucked in as you flex the arms. Keep the core engaged and avoid over extension in the lower back. Exhale and extend your arms away from the ground pushing your body back up to the start position.
V-Sit Cycling Legs Start by sitting on your tail bone and lift your feet off the ground. Lift the arms up off the ground and move your legs in a cycling motion. Sit tall and keep the core engaged. If you feel any discomfort in the lower back rest your hands back down to the ground for added support.
Side Plank with Pulses Start by lying on your side and lift yourself up on to your elbow and lower leg. Keep the lower leg bent at 90 degrees for stability. Pulse the hips up and down keeping the core engaged at all times.
Chukka wellness Training CW is also offering skype fitness sessions to those stuck in quarantine and don’t have access to a gym. We are offering 30, 40 and 60 minute training sessions via skype or Facebook video. Each client will receive a consultation and personalised training. To book your session get in touch at india@chukkawellness.co.uk
Don’t forget we also have a downloadable 6 Week Pre Season Exercise Programme which includes warm up routines, polospecific workouts and nutritional advice. For more information on the benefits of the programme visit www.chukkawellness.co.uk
La Low Goal Shop Available at lalowgoal.co.uk
Coronavirus e x p l a i n e d
Vulnerable People are on strict box rest Most People are allowed out for hand grazing only Key Workers are walking out under saddle Frontline Sta arena intensive work with no turnout
+
Jennifer Little on
Fibre
- On the Line
Next to water, Fibre is arguably the most important nutrient to the horse. Fibre is the ‘leafy’ plant-based material of the
horses’ diet, be that grasses, hay, haylage, or chaffs. The importance of fibre is rooted in the evolution of the horse. It has a digestive system that developed to ingest large volumes of tough plant-based material, in an almost constant or trickle
manner. Bacteria in the hindgut can then digest and convert this fibre to Volatile Fatty Acids, which are absorbed and used for energy.
Fibre is critical for the digestive system,
including gastric (stomach) health. The horse’s
stomach can be divided into two sections.
1. Glandular Region – a mucous layered area, protected against acid
2. Non-Glandular Region – non-mucous layered area, unprotected against
acid
Anatomy of the Equine Stomach (Todays Veterinary Nurse) The area between these two regions (Margo plicatus) is a common site for the
development of gastric ulcers. Symptoms of gastric ulcers include poor appetite, abdom inal discomfort, weight loss, diarrhoea, colic, nervous or aggressive behaviour and poor performance. Research has reported 63% of performance horses experience Equine Gastric Ulceration Syndrome (EGUS). Changes to management, ensuring appropriate fibre intake can minimise the risk and impact of EGUS.
As horses chew, they produce saliva, which contains bicarbonate ions, capab
le of
neutralising gastric acid. This protects the vulnerable, non-glandul ar region of
the stomach. Chewing forage results in twice the saliva than when chewing
straights or a
concentrate. As previously stated, horses have a digestive system designed for an almost continuous supply of forage to chew and ingest. Horses need to receive 1.5-2% body weight in fibre per day, that’s 7.5-10 kilograms (KG) for the average 500kg horse. In situat ions where
horses go without forage for a period (which can be as little as a few hours ), the
acid levels rise, as does the risk of EGUS. Ideally forage should be fed ad lib.
stomach
A possible explanation for the higher
prevalence of EGUS in polo ponies (compa red to those seen in leisure horses), may be due to their managemen t. Time spent in stables, travelling or being on the line waiting to play can all interrupt feeding. Timing of fibre provision is also a major conside ration for supporting gastric health. Hay/haylage should be available in stables, with haynets ens uring it’s still available during travel and while standing at events. Hand grazing when away will also red uce the extent of interrupted eating that can occur from competing . Another explanation for the higher pre valence of EGUS in polo ponies could be the ‘splash effect’. This is the when acid is forced to splash up into the sensitive area of the stomac h by more intensive exercise. Fibre in the form of chaff can be used to lessen this splash effect. As little as ½ a stubbs scoop of a chaff (such as Alfalfa) fed just prior to exercise has been shown to form a ‘raft’ on top of the acid. This raft limits the splash eff ect and has been shown an effective met hod of managing EGUS and supporting gastric health. In lower work (as is currently likely
due to events being on hold) fibre sho
the diet. Changing the hard feed may be
required to manage body condition and energy
that’s higher in fibre and lower in ene rgy
Classic Fibre Cubes.
uld, as always, form the base of
levels. Using a feed than full competition diets can be a sui table alternative, such as
5 Top Tips 1. Ensure 1.5-2% bodyweight forage per day is provided 2. Provide forage ad lib 3. Prevent periods where forage is not available 4. Utilise haynets to ensure fibre intake while traveling 5. Provide a chaff e.g. Alfalfa Oil Plus prior to exercise or travel
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Club News
A lovely ☀ day for Oxford v. Cambridge. Congratulations to Cambridge on winning 8-3. Oxford v. Oxford Alumni 2-7 and Cambridge v. Oxford alumni 9-7. Great competitive play and lots of fun in the fresh air. đ&#x;‘? đ&#x;™?
Congratulations Bristol Manyatta, winners of the Super League. They beat Harvard in the final on Saturday. The subsidiary final was a draw (excellent!) between London Allsorts and Exeter. Many thanks to @michaelberkeleyphotography for the pics.
If you have a ticket to @sandpolouk 2020 or are thinking of coming, we would like to set your mind at rest. We are hopeful that the event will take place as usual this summer on 10/11 July. However, we also have a back-up date of 11/12 September!
All tickets are valid for this later date should the event be postponed in July. If we find September is still not possible then your ticket will be valid for next year on 9/10 July 2021.
We wish you well over the next few weeks. Clean hands, open hearts and see you on the beach in July!
Club News
Due to Government advice regarding the Covid-19 virus outbreak, Chestertons Polo in the Park will now be held from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th September 2020.
We are delighted to announce the event will only be postponed – giving all of our guests the opportunity to enjoy the uniquely fantastic day out that the event offers. All June tickets will be valid for September.
While Covid-19 makes history worldwide for all the wrong reasons, we are hard at work to make sure Chestertons Polo in the Park will give summer 2020 an historic send-off for all the right reasons.
Anyone who has already booked their June tickets will be able to receive a full refund should they not be available for our September dates. Please contact Ticketmaster directly.
Asian Art Juniors (Josh Hyde, Raffi Brucker and Findlay Turner) took the win in the inaugural Junior arena Gold Cup, beatoing out New Forest Young Guns (Jacob Watson, George Williams and Rufus Burrell Thomas)
This Month’s Contributors: -
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Ignacio Fernandez Llorente Connor Kay Jennifer Little Chukka Wellness Ignacio Fernandez Llorente
@la_low_goal La Low Goal
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May Issue
Coming Soon (hopefully)
