BRANDYWINE POLO CLUB

Friday night (9-5-14), we were invited to tailgate at a local polo match with four of our friends.  Polo has been on my bucket list for the past 3 or 4 years.  I love horses and this would be the perfect opportunity to get some great images.  I loaded up the Nikon, a couple of chairs and a pound cake and we were on our way.  Anyone who knows me well knows that I am not a sports person.  But I think I have finally found a sport that I really enjoy.

The match was sparsely attended, which surprised me, as they advertise Twilight Polo which is a bit romanticized, but for the area, I really expected a tailgate crowd with lots of wine flowing. Come on Chester County, where are you?  Isn't this Horse Country, after all?   But it was a great night, none the less.  I had slathered on Skin So Soft so the mosquitos wouldn't be a factor.  I had a fresh battery and a new flash card and I was so ready to shoot some horses.  Not wanting to miss on the action shots, I put the camera in continuous mode and ended up shooting 1,675 images.  Not bad for 3 hours…

The announcer did a great commentary and explained the rules as he went along.

It was a steamy night for the horses.  

I was so surprised to see so many women athletes playing.  

A player can only use the mallet with his right hand, even if he's left handed.  He also must swing in on both the right and left sides of the horse to get his shots.  You have to be a really strong athlete to play this game. Holding on to the horse, the mallet and twisting to your left side, and bending down to reach the ball.  There's some strong core muscles in play, here.

The horses all seemed to be evenly matched size wise.  

From what I understood...Horses are allowed to bump, and probably encouraged, to do so.  But they can't pass in front.  Too dangerous for man and horse.

I love it when horses have all four feet off the ground.  Reminds me of a Carousel horse.

Horses looked extremely well cared for.

How can they even think of swinging that thing with all those horses around.  Surprisingly, no one got hurt.  Well, the ref did get a bloody nose when a horse lifted his head near his face.  But he got right back in the game after the bleeding stopped.  I was glad to see an ambulance off to the side, just in case.

LOVE THIS PONY.

Next time, I'd like to shoot the pre-game show.  

Brandywine Polo Club

http://www.brandywinepolo.com

They have matches on Friday nights and on Sunday afternoons - Isn't there a non-EAGLES Sunday coming up?  Please take the time to go see.  Visit their website for the schedule and the rules.  Pack a picnic lunch or they have a food truck on the premises.  Worth a look.  I think they have four more weeks left in the schedule.  Very easy to find.  Just off the Toughkenamon Exit of Route 1, near Kennett Square.

Polo - The sport of Kings.

I have a new respect for Prince Charles - as a sportsman, that is.