The clinic will be taught by Phil Van Der Burgt of the Cedar Valley Polo Club in Markham Ontario.

We will work on the riding, rules, game strategy, mallet and ball control, the line of the ball, positions, etc. For the more advanced players will work on neck and tail shots, controlling the ball and your horse at speed, fouls, and general game play.

The clinic will run for 2 days Saturday and Sunday May 19-20, 2012. The clinic is going to be limited to 10 players, the cost for the 2 days will be only $300. If you can only make one day, please come anyway — we’ll fit you in!

The schedule will run as follows:

Saturday May 19, 2012
10am Hand mallets and wooden horse
11am game play and line up rules and strategy
12pm lunch, class room rules of polo
2pm riding and Stick and Ball lesson
3:30pm break question and answer talk
4pm Coaching chukkas

Sunday May 20, 2012
10am riding and Stick and Ball lesson
12pm lunch, class room rules or polo
2pm Coaching chukkas

If you have any questions please contact Ward at wyaternick at hotmail.com. Horses not included in the $300 clinic fee unless you have made a prior arrangement. If you can only make one day, the fee is $150.

However, we got four horses tacked up, gave a little demo of the swings and people got to watch some two against two action indoors. Normally polo is four on four in a big field.

Then all the riders got off their horses and anyone interested was allowed to mount up and give it a try — walk, trot, canter, hit the ball, the whole bit.

People looked like they were having a lot of fun so that was very satisfying to see. Then we briefly talked about what the fees were, what we had planned for the summer, etc etc. Afterwards, we enjoyed a party in the aisle for a few hours where people got to know each other GOOD TIMES HAD BY ALL!!! To recap:

annual membership: $700/year (same as last year)
student: $350/year
family: $1,000/year
OEF Membership: additional $60/year
Horse half-lease: $300/month gets three rides per week
Lessons can be arranged — contact me at wyaternick @ hotmail.com and i’ll make the connections.

We’re having three tournaments this summer. The middle one in July will be of particular interest to beginners, the others are for more experienced players.

Thanks to everyone for coming out, I think we can all agree it was a success.

Cheers,
Ward

Anyone who’s interested in Horse Polo in Ottawa should come.

We encourage beginners, both new at riding as well as never tried polo.

Location: 1600 Bankfield, follow the signs.

Please send an email to manotickpoloclub@gmail.com to tell us if you’re coming so we know how many are coming.

Food and drinks provided.

Prior members, bring your cheque books or cash and proof of your OEF membership.

It’s time to get the fleet all tuned up. We need riders!!!

It doesn’t matter if you’re experienced or not — polo is fun for everyone at all levels!

If you’re interested in polo, please send an email to manotickpoloclub@gmail.com.

Cheers,

Ward

today's chukkers

these are the teams and players for today. 1pm start.

The 2500 year-old game of polo is an exhilarating experience! It’s gaining in popularity because it is good exercise, helps you develop riding skills, and the teamwork aspect is very enjoyable. Anyone who tries it is immediately hooked!

Imagine the excitement of playing hockey, but on horseback, racing down the field while striking a small ball with the precision of an experienced golfer, while watching where your teammates are, to score a goal together.

GAME OVERVIEW

• Polo is played on a ten acre grass field, 300 yards in length by 160 yards, the approximate area of ten football fields.
• The throw-in of the ball signals the start of play.  Teams are trying to capture the ball, cross the path of the other team, and head to the other team’s goal to hit the ball between two posts 24 feet apart.
• A team is made up of four players, each wearing a jersey with numbers 1 to 4, which corresponds to their expected position on the field and their primary role.
• Number 1 is the most offensive player, concentrating on scoring, and tries to stay up the field where other players pass the ball to them.
• Number 4 is the defensive player, primarily responsible for defending against the other team’s Number 1. They try to capture the ball and pass it upfield to their teammates.
• Players also try to match up with a player of opposite team so they alternate between defense and offense, depending on which team has the ball.
• You will often see the team who has the ball have several players all going down the field in a line.  This is in case the up-front player misses a shot, the next player can continue the breakaway.
• Polo rules are established to help avoid collisions and prevent people and horses from being hit by the ball.  For example, an imaginary line always exists in the direction the ball is rolling.Players are not supposed to cross the imaginary line unless they are far away, even if they are behind the ball.  The direction of the ball changes often, and this is part of the challenge of the game! It’d be like playing golf where the ball moves and other players have to get out of your way while you’re hitting – very challenging!

TEAMS

In our club , we like to joke that our two teams follow a Star Wars theme.

Pick your Favourite and cheer them on!

Most of the players you see today are amateurs with varying level of experience. Those who own more horses play more chukkers. Some of players have lots of experience, and some are new this year.  By watching the play, can you tell which ones?

Due to the heat and the strenuous nature of the play, each chukker is 7.5 minutes long. There’s a warning beep 30 seconds prior to it ending.  There’ll a pause between each chukker and a longer pause mid-way.   During this rest period, spectators are invited to go onto the field to participate in a polo tradition called “divot stomping”, which has developed to not only help replace the mounds of earth (divots) that are torn up by the horse’s hooves, but to also afford spectators the opportunity to walk about and socialize.

ABOUT THE CLUB

Manotick Polo Club (MPC) was incorporated this year after an un-official start last year.  Annual fees are $700. A horse lease is about $300 a month.  If you own a horse, boarding a horse here costs $375/month. MPC members often trailer their horses here to play polo from other barns.

We play recreationally on Wednesday nights, Friday nights, and Sunday afternoons. The Friday nights are skill-building nights, perfect for beginner players. Visit www.manotickpolo.com for information how to try it out.

teams for tonight's games

http://www.yelp.ca/biz/snowdon-deli-montreal-2

Manotick Ottawa Polo Club Chukkers August 13 2011

Starts at  7 pm for about one hour.

– 1600 Bankfield Road, Ottawa Ontario