A Day at the Polo Field

Sa 12.1.12

• I've been excited to go to a polo game ever since we moved here in January...something about the combination of horses and sport just gets me...
• so learning that I'd have to wait until November/December for polo season required a lot of patience
• we had a hot, sunny day to spend a late afternoon with friends at the polo field...our FIRST polo match!
• polo requires lots of horses...10-12 per player! (expensive sport!)
• horses were brought in with these semis:

• here are some horses chilling out before the competition commences 

• we went for the cheap seats...90 pesos for the bleachers

beautifully decorated bleachers

• this match was part of the 119th Argentine Open Polo Championship (some action shots here)
• the game was La Dolfina vs. Pilará to advance to the finals next weekend

• the field is huge...would've been a good idea to bring along some binoculars...

• but we did see some action

• although we didn't know a whole lot about polo, we did know that the team with the higher score won, unlike golf...
• we learned that only four players per team play at one time and the game is divided into eight seven-minute chukker (or periods)...on average, players change to a new horse each chukker
• dad, did you know polo must be played right handed? you might have troubles when we play in January...just warning you

• getting a close-up view of the caballos at half-time:

• score! (hitting the ball through the two red and white striped poles using a mallet...while on a horse...crazy!)

• FINAL SCORE: La Dolfina - 18, Pilará - 13 (La Dolfina went on to lose [10-12] against Ellestrina the next week in the finals)
• so super hot for those horsies...here's one getting washed down and cooled off post-match

• one of the couples we went with lives next to the polo fields...in fact, their balcony overlooks one of them, so they invited us over afterward for picadas and drinks
• best picada platter EVER! (thanks chicos!)

• great evening with friends...

• ...and can't wait for the next chance to see horse and man work together in competitive sport...so impressive!