Okanagan Polo Club

Polo is alive and well in the Okanagan… our club is thriving, and our membership is growing. Normally every club in our circuit hosts an annual Tournament, but all that did not happen last year due to Covid.

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his year we are back to normal with our local club play in Kelowna and with tournaments happening in other clubs. We had everything set up and arranged here for our annual August long weekend Tournament… all the horses and players had arrived from out of town ------ and then the smoke arrived! In the interest of horse and player health, the Tournament was cancelled. Of course travel to American clubs is not yet possible but hopefully soon.

Polo has a long history in BC and in the Okanagan dating back to the turn of the 20th century, with clubs in Kelowna, Kamloops, Westwold, and Vernon. The current edition of the Okanagan Polo Club was formed in 1986 by John Price. John came to the Okanagan having begun his playing career with the Toronto Polo Club. The Okanagan Polo Club was started with nothing more than a few mallets provided by John, some local horse types who had an urge for something new, and a desire for some fun times. Initially playing on a field located at the Kelowna Riding Club, a new polo field was soon created just down the road on Benvoulin Road where it stayed until 2003. Housing development forced the club to seek a new home in its present location on Bulman Road on the north side of Kelowna.

The facilities at the current location are considered some of the best in Western Canada with 2 polo fields, a 1 mile exercise track and stabling for more than 100 horses. The club’s membership is comprised of men and women of all ages from 7-70 years and all walks of life, from professionals, to business owners, to students, and horsemen alike. People come from West Kelowna to Vernon and places in between to play at our club on a weekly basis.

We offer gatherings 2-3 times per week to play "club polo," with Saturdays including a pot-luck gathering afterwards to provide time for visiting and bragging. Many of our players also travel to other clubs in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest for weekend tournaments.

The annual tournament hosted by our club on the August long weekend is open to the public and we invite everyone who is interested to come out and join us for this great event. Our tournament attracts teams from throughout Western Canada and the North Western United States.

A great way to have fun on horseback – and a family sport for sure!

The August long weekend tournament regularly features teams visiting from Victoria, Calgary, Grand Prairie, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Spokane, and Seattle.

When people hear that there is polo played in the Okanagan their first reaction is usually to ask “Isn’t that the sport of kings?” and assume that there is probably no room for the average person to get involved with it. But in reality all walks of life are welcome at our club and there truly is a place for everyone within our ranks. We welcome anyone who is interested in the sport or who may want to come out and try it to get in contact with us and we will be more than happy to get you out on a horse to give it a try. No previous riding or horse experience is necessary. All we ask is that you come prepared for a great time. We are available for contact year-round, so don’t be shy.

Why not give Polo a try?

How big is the field?

Our field is 180 yards wide and 300 yards long. The goals are 24 feet wide. 9 football fields fit on one polo field!!!

What kind of horses are polo horses?

Most polo horses are Thoroughbreds or Thoroughbred crosses because they are the ones with the speed, stamina and athleticism we need. They range in size from 15 to 16 hands high. Many polo horses had previous careers as race horses and get a second career as a polo horse. Often young prospects are started at 3 years or so and over the next couple of years are trained to be polo horses.

The training involves teaching the horse to be handy, obedient, willing and competitive. They must become accustomed to close contact with other horses, the mallet and ball. Good polo horses are brave and confident.

Horses really like the game because it is about the only one in which horses get to play in a herd setting. Many polo horses are ready for competitive polo by the time they are 6 or so and will play fast polo for 10 years or more. After that, many go on to play well into their twenties as beginner mounts.

What about the gear for horses and riders?

The horses wear protective leg wraps to protect them from errant balls or mallets although they rarely get hit.

The players wear helmets and eye protection from a cage or goggles, boots, and knee pads. Polo saddles are a rugged, flat style English type saddle that allows for maximum player mobility in the seat.

Bridles have double reins for more accurate control of the horse and to provide a safety rein. A standing martingale is used to protect the rider’s face in case the horse suddenly raises his head at the same time when the player is up over the horse's head taking a shot.

The mallets are made out of bamboo handles with a hardwood head. The ball is struck with the SIDE OF THE MALLET - NOT THE END. With the horse going 30 mph a strong hitter can hit the ball 150 yards at over 100 mph!

We love to get new players and we do all we can to give anyone interested every opportunity to check it out. We are a really casual group and FUN is the name of the game - after all, why would you do it if it wasn't fun??

Anyone interested in our group can visit www.okanaganpoloclub.com for more information, or you can contact Alex Wales at 250212-4096, email alexwales54@gmail.com.

CAUTION: HANG ON FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE. POLO CAN BE ADDICTING!!