120 SIDELINES MARCH 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
P
O
L
O
The Art of
Stick-n-balling
A young rising star in polo, Team USPA member and
3 goal pro Will Tankard, recently reminded me that
stick-n-balling is an ar t form and should not be done
pointlessly and without a plan. Several key elements
should be considered before hitting the field.
The Right Horse
The first thing to consider before going to the field
is the horse. Not all horses are created equal on the
stick-n-ball field. In fact, some are just not cut out for
the job. If you own one of theses animals, you should
consider alternatives, such as a schooling session or
perhaps a vigorous trail-ride instead of setting yourself
and the horse up for frustration. Next, tailor each stick-
n-ball session according to age and soundness of
your string. If you have horses that are older or have
existing ailments that you are aware of, then stick-n-
balling for great lengths of time or too rigorously is not
a good idea. Save their legs for games, and use your
younger, stronger horses for practice.
Think About Your Tack
Now that you have identified the horses from your
string that have the mind and physical capabilities
for the rigors of stick-n-balling, take the time to tack
the horse properly. Throwing a snaffle or exercise
bridle on a horse that is totally different from what
the horse normally plays in is setting your stick-n-
ball session up for failure. Take the time to wrap all
four legs. You will be practicing your weaker strokes
and this is no time for mistakes. During stick-n-ball,
there is a greater opportunity for miss-hits into those
precious legs. It was only last year when a three goal
professional broke his mounts hind leg while executing
a tail shot on a new horse he had recently purchased
and had not taken the time to wrap the back legs.
This unfortunate accident resulted in having to put the
horse down. This could have been avoided by proper
bandaging.
Take Care of Yourself
It is especially important for the rider to be properly
turned out as well. Many players come straight from
the office and forget to take the time to stretch before
mounting. Five minutes of stretching your back and
hamstrings can prevent a season of painful injuries. If
there are other people on the field, wear your helmet
and boots. You never can predict when a wayward
ball may strike you. More accidents occur on the
stick-n-ball field than in a regular game. People are
not paying attention and are over focused on their
strokes or chatting to another player while parked in
the middle of the field thus opening up an opportunity
for danger.
Warm Up!
To begin your stick-n-ball session, start with a vigorous yet
brief warm up. Trot circles in both directions to determine
if your horse shows any signs of lameness or shortness of
gait. Proceed into a canter and work in a handful of lead
changes and stops, taking care not to turn the warm-up into
a full blown schooling session. Now you are ready to stick-
n-ball. Begin with a plan. Running up and down the center of
the field hitting offside shots certainly is a lot of fun; but it is
not the way to enhance your polo game. Start with some of
the tougher shots that elude you during the game. Start with
your nearside or perhaps some tail shots and make the best
use of your fresh horse and your physical condition.
Use the Field
Use all angles of the field and various speeds while practicing.
You may practice carrying the ball on your nearside to goal
in the diamond pattern or in a controlled circle at various
speeds. Try some back shots into goal. Penalty shots are
always great to practice. If you have a partner, try passing
back and forth while traveling down the field. Dribbling the
ball is very important and is often overlooked during practice
time. Have some goals to work towards, then reward yourself
with some off-side runs down the field. Remember, stick-n-
ball should be a 20 to 30 minute exercise on any given horse.
Forcing a horse to stay out longer will only promote burnout
or injury.
Kris’ Corner
Kris Bowman is the National Club Development
Director for the United States Polo Association.
She has achieved national acclaim for teaching
and developing adult and Jr. Polo programs across the
country over the past 20 years.