ATOMS Polo Academy
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POLO 101 “Let others play at other things. The king of games is still the game of kings”
This verse inscribed on a stone tablet next to a polo ground in Gilgit, North of Kashmir in Pakistan, near the fabled silk route from China to the West, not only epitomises the feelings of the players today but sums up the ancient history of what is believed to be the oldest organized sport in the world with the first polo matches being played in Persia over 2500 years ago. Thought to have been created by competing tribes of Central Asia and then adopted as a training method for the King’s elite cavalry, it was adopted as the most noble of pastimes by Kings, Emperors and Caliphs, as a result it became known across ancient lands as “the game of kings”.
POLO 101 “Let others play at other things. The king of games is still the game of kings”
The Singapore Polo Club is one of the oldest polo clubs in the world, being formed in 1886. The game was introduced into England in 1834, and imported in to the United States in 1876 and last played at the Olympics in 1936.

Outdoor polo is played on a field 300 yards (275 metres) long by 180 yards (160 metres) wide; a polo field is the largest field in any organised sport. Over the years other different types of polo have been developed, and polo is also played in an arena (for safety purposes beginners also start out learning in an arena), there is also beach polo, snow polo, camel polo, bicycle polo and segway polo.

POLO 101 “Let others play at other things. The king of games is still the game of kings”
A traditional polo game is divided into 7 ½ minute periods of real time active play called chukkers, each chukker is deemed to be the amount of exertion a pony can physically cope with in one go. Four, Five and Six chukkers are played depending on the level of the game i.e. Low, Medium or High goal polo. Horses are changed after each chukker.
POLO 101 “Let others play at other things. The king of games is still the game of kings”

There are four players per team with numbers 1 - 2 attacking, 3 in the midfield as the playmaker and usually the highest handicapped player on the team and 4 as the defense or “Back”….

Handicaps in Polo range from -2 to 10 “goals” with 10 being the best.

Two mounted umpires referee the game with “the third man”…. Being at the side of field to settle any disputes in case the umpires do not agree on a foul called.

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safe and secure Polo For Beginners

Perhaps you have never played polo, maybe you have never even sat on a horse before. We provide a safe and secure environment along with certified experienced coaches who will take you through your paces, starting off with the basics of learning to ride for polo, and progressing to hitting a ball before you know it.

Safety is our utmost priority, when selecting school ponies, which are experienced and proven suitable for all ages.

Frequently Asked Questions

You don’t need any riding experience to get started in polo. We offer equitation lessons for the beginning level rider so you can learn how to ride horses and play polo at the same time. Our program is open to ages 5 – 50, novice and experienced.

Your first lesson is used to evaluate your riding level.  

Comfortable jeans and a T-shirt with riding boots and a helmet.

The short answer is NO, lessons are fully inclusive. However for Polo Club members, the Atoms Polo Academy has an innovative “time share” lease program, where you are able to OWN a quarter share of your own horse inclusive of the tack and a personalized grooming kit. This way you can ride the same horse every time you come to the club for your lessons, enabling you to build a bond with your four-legged friend.