As we enter Dubai’s polo season, what better way to learn about the sport of kings than to try it firsthand. I arrived at the beautiful Desert Palm Resort and Spa in the morning, dressed in my ridding gear and ready for this wonderful experience arranged by La Martina. I was excited to ride a polo horse and try this sport for the first time. My only concern was that we would have to maneuver the mallet and guide the horse simultaneously and if the mallet was heavy, I was worried that my arm strength would fail me. Thankfully, Pablo, our Argentinean polo player and masterclass instructor, assured me that it wouldn’t be too heavy and that I would be able to hit the ball on horseback even as a novice—a big relief.
As the briefing concluded, we made our way outside to the grass polo field for an introduction on how to hold and swing the mallet. The group practiced hitting balls with smaller-sized mallets first to get used to the feeling. The secret is to grip the end of the mallet as if you were holding a tennis racquet and to keep your arm close to your body when you swing. After a handful of enthusiastic hits, we were introduced to our polo ponies and the full-sized mallets. My pony, a strong and powerful chestnut mare, was a breed from Argentina, called Polo Argentino. Most of the polo ponies in our lesson were born and trained in Argentina and brought over to Dubai where their training will continue throughout their career.
I could tell right away that my horse was a true professional as she was so responsive to me, especially during one-handed riding. A light pressure on her neck with the reins was all that was needed to guide her left and right. With just a shift forward in my body positioning and a light squeeze with my heels, she carried me smoothly and swiftly to the ball. With the help of Pablo’s guidance, I was able to make contact with the ball quite easily, although my aim was terrible. Once I hit the ball, my horse would canter off in its direction so that I could line up another shot.
It was a truly sensational experience riding this calm, well-tempered horse and I enjoyed learning all of the tricks from Pablo. It’s much harder than it looks and I have a lot of respect for the sport and the highly skilled players and their horses.
For more information about polo lessons in Dubai, contact Desert Palm.
