by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

If you’re like me the only time you really ever saw a Polo match was in the movie Pretty Woman or pictures of the sport in a magazine.  Long Island, however, has some interesting history with Polo, this centuries old sport dating back some 2,500 years – LI can claim that the Meadowbrook Polo Club is the oldest polo club in the US with roots dating back to 1879. But we are lucky that there are a few places on LI that you can go and watch this fascinating sport. Where else can you combine the athleticism of horses and riders hitting a ball with a mallet while riding full speed across a field all while being chased by opponents?  Seriously, football players have nothing compared to these polo players! (Sorry but throwing a ball and being tackled, big whoop!)

From someone who has been horse back riding since the age of 5, and has witnessed some amazing jumper horses at horse jumping competitions – I have never seen a horse with such intensity as such during a polo match this past Saturday in Bridgehampton.  I could almost swear the horses were watching the ball, eh em, keeping an eye on the ball, as much as the athletes from around the world who were riding (for lack of a better word) them.

Going into to watch the match with friends, we were technically ‘tailgating’ at the match (along with hundreds of other spectators), but I am now hooked and want to go back to learn more about the game itself, the teams and how they train the horses that participate.  That seems to be the most interesting part – that these horses seemingly love the game – are not in the least bit spooked by men wielding mallet at the ball, nearly crashing into each other and all while galloping, turning and putting their full bodies into the game.  It’s breathing taking to watch.

Polo Player Nacho Figueras with two adorable fans!

And of course at half time you get to go out onto the field and stomp the ‘divots,’ or walk across to see if you can spy any celebs under the VIP tent.  Or after the match you can get your picture taken with Nacho Figueras, the famed polo player and Ralph Lauren Model, father, and sorry ladies, husband too.

It’s not expensive to go either, for a car load of people (at Bridgehampton Polo Club), its just $20, and you can park and sit right up to the field to watch the event, and bring food to tail gate as well.  If you are looking to experience a different event in the Hamptons before the summer is over – there are just 2 Saturday’s left of the Blue Star Jets polo matches at Bridgehampton Polo Club – but check the other clubs listed below for their schedules and ticket prices. This is a fun family event to watch a very old sport featuring these majestic horses.

This is a pet friendly location (Bridgehampton) – but be sure that your pet if you bring him or her is leashed at all times and well behaved.

Polo Clubs Across Long Island:

The Meadowbrook Polo Club

Polo at Bethpage State Park

If you are on Twitter, follow @Poloatthepark

County Farms Polo in Medford, NY

A bit of Polo History:

According to Pro-Polo.com, Polo is arguably the oldest recorded team sport in known history, with the first matches being played in Persia over 2500 years ago. Initially thought to have been created by competing tribes of Central Asia, it was quickly taken up as a training method for the King’s elite cavalry. These matches could resemble a battle with up to 100 men to a side.

British officers themselves re-invented the game in 1862 after seeing a horsemanship exhibition in Manipur, India. The sport was introduced into England in 1869, and seven years later sportsman James Gordon Bennett imported it to the United States.