Most people are used to seeing horses galloping in paddocks and racing around a track.
They’re even used to seeing them partake in a game of polo on a field.
Polo is when two teams ride around a ground with giant mallets and attempt to hit a ball into a goal.
It’s one of the oldest group sports known to man.
But did you know that besides being played on luscious green fields, polo is also played on the icy snow plains of Europe?
That’s right, instead of playing polo on a grass surface, it can be played on ice surfaces. In Europe, a game of polo is often competed on a frozen lake. The rules are very similar, as is the equipment. But thankfully, they use a colored ball to make it much easier to find in the snow.
Shocked?
Who would have thought that anyone would be playing polo could be played on snow?
But it’s a very common sport in Europe during the winter and even has its own World Cup.
Here’s everything you need to know about what snow polo is.
What Are The Origins Of Snow Polo?
In the mid-80s, a small group of Swiss riders decided to have a game of polo on the frozen surface of Lake St Moritz in Engadin.
The location spawned the St Moritz World Cup and is considered by many as one of the most prized polo tournaments in the world.
In addition to this competition, there is also the Polo Masters in Megeve, France, the World Snow Polo Championship in Aspen, Colorado, and Snow Polo World Cup in Kitzbuhel, Austria.
Asia has also introduced the sport with the World Cup in Tianjin.
While snow polo originated in Switzerland, it continues to grow in popularity outside of Europe, with more and more countries hosting games and events.
How Do You Play Snow Polo?
The rules to snow polo are not too dissimilar, but there are some rules to be aware of If you plan on taking to the ice.
Snow polo can be played on any level field that has been maintained and is firm.
The dimensions are generally 87 yards wide by 218 yards long.
The goal should be 23 feet wide, but there is no crossbar at the top.
You need two teams of four to have a competitive game.
The captain, who wears number 3, runs the strategy for the team.
The back, who wears number 4, is responsible for defense.
The other two players run attack plays.
There usually are four to six periods, known as chukkas.
They last for approximately seven and a half minutes, and the last period goes for seven minutes.
The right of way is an essential rule of the sport.
When the ball is in play, the player right on or at the smallest angle has the right of way.
No player can position themselves on the line of the ball if there is a risk of collision.
The player can only use their right of way when they are ridden off or hooked by another player.
Hooking is when the player uses their stick to prevent their opponent from retrieving or striking the ball.
Riding off is when a player attempts to take their opponent off course by riding alongside them.
While the rules and strategies are similar to regular polo, it’s essential to know the differences in order to win a game.
How Is Snow Polo Different To Normal Polo?
The creators of snow polo attempted to keep as many of the rules and strategies as close to the regular version of the game.
However, to accommodate to the conditions, some changes needed to be made.
The dimensions of an official international polo field are 200 yards wide by 300 yards long.
But in snow polo, they are often 87 yards wide by 200 yards long.
The changes reduce the physical strain on the ice compared to playing on grass.
Games are also played with a big red ball to ensure that riders can see what they’re hitting.
The balls are also a lot lighter and made of an inflatable vinyl.
A traditional polo ball is made with a hard plastic.
The rules and strategies that are applied to polo also apply in this game, but they need to be altered to suit the conditions and the differences of the game.
Where Can You Play Snow Polo?
The frozen lake in St Moritz, where the game was founded, is still considered the best place to play snow polo.
It’s situated 2023 yards above sea level and offers fantastic views of the mountains.
If you’re not close to Switzerland, then there are plenty of other countries that host snow polo events.
Some even hold championship tournaments if you’re looking to play professionally.
You can play snow polo in:
Cortina, Italy
Megeve, France
Aspen, USA
Kitzbuhel, Austria
Livigno, Italy
Moscow, Russia
Cerro Catedral, Argentina
Verbier, Switzerland
Zakopane, Poland
Villa La Angostura, Argentina
Courchevel, France
Chapelco, Argentina
Bukovina, Poland
More and more countries are hosting snow polo events as the sport becomes more popular.
If you have snowfields or ice lakes close to your city or town, then a snow polo event may pop up sooner than you think.
Is Snow Polo Dangerous?
Unlike the classic game, snow polo is considered an extreme sport.
Accidents can happen to players who fall off the horse onto the cold ice.
The most common injuries that can occur are broken arms and collarbones.
However, the rules of snow polo are stringent and are designed to avoid an incident occurring when a rider flies off their horse.
The game not only looks to protect the players, but also the horses themselves.
All of the horses are fitted with special shoes that contain grips, similar to cleats so that they can provide extra traction on the ice and snow.
In between periods, the horses are also covered with special blankets to keep them warm while they’re stationary and waiting for the game to recommence.
As an extra precaution, the horses are flown in weeks before an event to allow them to get accustomed to the climate.
Despite being considered an extreme sport, all the necessary precautions are made to ensure the safety of the riders and the horses.
The rules of the game are designed to protect everyone on the field and reduce the risk of anyone getting hurt.
But accidents can happen, and professionals should only play snow polo.
Is Snow Polo Popular?
Polo is often considered a luxurious sport for the rich and famous, and snow polo is no different.
More than 12,000 private jets touch down at St Moritz’s airport, with the majority of them coming for the Winter Polo World Cup.
The event has seen more than 15,000 spectators watch the game.
Some of those in attendance can include members of Europe’s royal families, the world’s highest-paid CEO’s, and some of the Hollywood elite.
Events can be streamed online at pololine.tv, and highlights can be found on YouTube.
While it might not be as mainstream as other sports, there is a following for snow polo.
As events continue to pop up around the globe, more and more people are starting to take notice of snow polo.
Where Else Do You Need To Know About Snow Polo?
More and more countries are now participating in snow polo events.
The Snow Polo World Cup in China featured teams from Argentina, Australia, England, South Africa, and the USA.
While it’s not considered an Olympic event, it has been discussed whether or not to include it in future games.
You might not be able to catch a game or the World Cup on ESPN, but you can stream events online by going to the tournament websites.
They also include links to their social media pages, which share highlights of the matches.
If you want to learn more about snow polo, then the best place to start is at its origins at World Cup at St Moritz as the event is still considered one of the best in the world.
