Hurling on Horseback

Polo practice ad

Newspaper article 26th July 1873 advertising County Carlow Polo Club to meet for practice at Ballybar Racecourse, Steuart Duckett, Honorary Secretary.

Carlow County Library

Polo practice ad
Carlow County Library

Polo practice ad

Newspaper article 26th July 1873 advertising County Carlow Polo Club to meet for practice at Ballybar Racecourse, Steuart Duckett, Honorary Secretary.

Carlow County Library

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Polo Match at Oak Park

An article taken from the Carlow Sentinel newspaper on the 17 August 1872, explains the first polo match witnessed in Carlow. "Hurling on horseback – which is the shortest and simplest description we can give of this new and exciting game – was witnessed for the first time in this country, we believe, on Monday last. On the evening of that day a match was played at Oak Park, the demesne of Henry Bruen, Esq., M.P., the novelty of the game attracting an unusually large number of spectators, including most of the elite of the county, whose equipages were drawn up in the immediate vincinity of the Polo ground."

"Polo possesses peculiar attractions for good riders, who are afforded many opportunities of performing feats of horsemanship, probably as difficult and daring as any to be met with in the hunting field. It is undoubtedly trying on horseflesh and hurdles, and well calculated to test the temper as well as the muscular powers of the players, all of whom are armed with hurdles, or long-handled, light mallets. Judging from our very limited experience of the game we should say the former are preferable, but would suggest that they should be made of "sterner stuff" than most of those used on Monday evening, in order to avoid so many breakages."

"While on this point we may be permitted to direct the attention of Polo players to the style of hurdle lately displayed by our facetious cotemporary Punch, which appears to us to be about the proper pattern for the work. An illustrated contemporary, The Graphic, thus describes the game:-

"Like many other good (and some bad) things 'Polo' as it is termed, is derived from the East, that general birthplace of all the arts and sciences. So far from being really a novelty it is probably as venerable as the hills, for it is said to have been originally played in China, and afterwards in India. Something like it was also played by the Arabs, so that it is decidedly an Asiatic pastime. It was introduced into England more than a year ago by the 10th Hussars and the 9th Lancers, who took up the game systematically, the two regiments playing matches together. The life Guards have now also formed a club, and the Horse Guards (Blues) are forming one. A match has already been played at Windsor between the Life Guards and the 9th Lancers."

"The rules of the game are precisely those of hockey applied to mounted players. At the beginning of the game, the players on each side are drawn up in front of their own goal. The ball is carried to a sport midway between them, and thrown into the air. One player from each side then gallops forward rapidly; in fact, the race takes place between these two for the first hit, the other follow up, and the scuffle becomes general. Ponies are employed because they enable the riders to reach the ground easily. This last remark may be applied to a player's body, as well as his stick, for falls are very likely to occur. Both riders and ponies must be good, and when these conditions are fulfilled, the game is remarkably interesting and exciting……….."