In the beginning, polo players were military, then families who had a field joined them.
Field polo was undoubtedly the engine of this sport, many players began playing on fields in poor condition, without the necessary equipment, with horses of any breed. Chukkers at low speed, but with a lot of enthusiasm and joy.
Any player who has started like this longs for those times, times that perhaps have been the best they have had in this sport and that if they could they would like to live again.
Field polo is practiced by men and women of all ages.
The player who got hooked on field polo and wants to continue encounters the first great jump or barrier: buying horses, hiring a groom, buying all the equipment. Buying horses forces you to play polo for a few years, which forces you to think in the medium and long term. He who buys horses has fixed expenses to attend to.
Most do not make this jump, and are left with the desire.
The other driving force of polo: professionals bring in new players (Skipper), with very little instruction, and in a short time they can buy horses, participate in tournaments and pay the professional. These players are usually successful people with their work and / or their children.
The Skipper who is enthusiastic about polo, wants to compete, wants to win, wants to win important tournaments. He has to take another leap, buy expensive horses, hire more professionals, build an organization with many employees, seek excellence from his organization.
Employers are people with a lot of money and who are, in most cases, more than 50 years old.
If we compare the number of players who make a living from polo as professionals or playing in order to sell their horses, and people who want to pay professionals or buy horses, it gives the impression that there are more professionals and horses.
Why are there more professionals than are really needed? The high cost of the horses (because of the cost of air freight), the high fees of the professionals, the impossibility of being able to really compete, could they be the causes?
Any player who likes competition will seek to compete where he has a chance of winning.
The handicap is the most effective way to match teams. But there is a problem between players between 1 and 0 (in Argentina) 1 and -2 (rest of the world) the differences there are very big and the handicap does not work. Nor does it work with 10 handicap players who play 12.
The handicap also does not serve when bringing professionals and non-professionals together.
When a player usually plays at one level of tournaments, and goes to another level, his handicap is usually wrong.
The clubs have been the best place for competition, everyone knows each other there, and in some way the teams are similar.
In recent years "amateur" championships have emerged with players who have a job other than polo, clubs made up of non-professional players have also emerged.
This trend is becoming more and more accentuated, with the emergence of the field polo near the big cities. Places where the player goes with his boots, helmet and cue and plays. He does not have to worry about the horses, the professional, Petisero, Veterinarian, etc.
Even matches are made and everyone enjoys field polo, then there is a third half, polo is accessible and fun. More and more places offer field polo.
Retired players also approach field polo, who want to continue practicing with less demand, these players are a source of advice for newbies. Players of all ages enjoy this sport as much as they can, with no overhead. And there are many who try to play polo in this way.
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