Polo, The Sport of Kings

Polo has long been associated with luxury and royalty. The game, dubbed "the sport of kings," was played by kings and royal people and continues to carry on the royal legacy. Polo, one of the oldest known sports, has a long royal history. Polo is more of a lifestyle than a sport, thanks to the sponsorship of the world's best brands. Polo has been passed down through royal families for generations. The game has been popular among kings, royals, and wealthy businesspeople, and it remains the most popular game among them.

This young royal generation is obsessed with polo, a game passed down from their forefathers and fathers.

Polo is arguably the oldest recorded team sport in history, with the first matches taking place over 2500 years ago in Persia. Initially thought to have been invented by rival Central Asian tribes, it was quickly adopted as a training method for the King's elite cavalry. These battles could involve up to 100 men on each side.

Polo was adopted as the most noble of pastimes by the ancient Persian Kings and Emperors, Shahs and Sultans, Khans and Caliphs, Arabs, Mughals, Mongols, and Chinese as mounted armies swept back and forth across this part of the world, conquering and re-conquering. As a result, it became known as "the game of kings" throughout the land.

After witnessing a horsemanship exhibition in Manipur, India, British officers re-invented the game in 1862. The sport was first played in England in 1869, and it was brought to the United States seven years later by sportsman James Gordon Bennett. After 1886, English and American teams competed for the International Polo Challenge Cup on a regular basis. Polo appeared on several Olympic games schedules before ceasing to be an Olympic sport in 1936.

Polo remains the pinnacle of sport, as it has for so long, and reaffirms the special bond between horse and rider.

SOME FACTS

Polo is a ball sport that is played on horses. When one team tries to score goals by hitting a hard hockey-sized ball through their opponent's goal with a mallet attached to the end of a 4 1/4 foot stick, the other team is out.

The Field: The outdoor polo field is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide, making it the largest in organized sport.

The goal posts are 24 feet apart and a minimum of 10 feet high at each end. Penalty lines are marked at 30 yards, 40 yards, 60 yards, and midfield.

Chukkas: Each polo match is divided into "Chukkas". A chukka is 7 1/2 minutes of active play time that is supposed to represent the amount of time a horse can exert itself reasonably before needing a rest. Polo matches are divided into 4,5, or 6 Chukkas depending on whether the goal polo level is Low, Medium, or High.

Players: Each team in outdoor polo has four players. Numbers one and two are traditionally attacking, while number three is a midfield playmaker and number four is defense.

Polo, however, has no fixed positions due to the fluid nature of the sport.

Handicaps: Polo handicaps range from -2 to 10 "goals". The best score is ten. A bandit is a player who plays above his handicap level (i.e. a 3 playing as a 5) and is a very valuable but fleeting commodity. Several times throughout the season, handicaps are assessed and independently mediated.

Umpires: The game is refereed by two mounted umpires. They must agree on each foul/call made; if they disagree, they refer to the "3rd Man," who stands on the pitch's edge near the center mark. His decision will put an end to the debate.

HOW POLO BECAME A FAMILY TRADITION FOR PRINCE WILLIAM AND PRINCE HARRY

Polo and family go hand in hand if you're a royal.

With the polo season well underway, Prince William and Prince Harry saddled up for a charity match at Billingbear Polo Club in Wokingham, Berkshire. It's a sport the competitive brothers have been involved in since they were children, whether as teammates or opponents - and with vastly different approaches.

"Polo is often a reflection of your personality," said international polo champion Malcolm Borwick of his two friends. "Prince Harry is a naturally optimistic person who is always pushing boundaries and challenging people, which is how he plays polo. Prince William is a good defender. He's very composed and does an excellent job in the back."