Ever been to a polo match before?
Well we hadn’t, so we decided to make that our next fundraising event since we are into new experiences! Come join us!
POLO FUNDRAISING EVENT! EXPECT GREAT FUN!
September 27, 2015!
Silver Lining Villages will have their first Polo Fundraiser, with fun for the whole family! Gates open at 1:00, and the polo match begins at 2:00. There will be lots of fun including:
- a "silly fun hat" contest for kids
- raffles
- a silent auction available online
- the divot stomp
- "Best Hat" contest for adults
- draw the sculpture (Chukkar Farm has a GREAT sculpture garden with 23 sculptures from local artists) contest for kids
- Bring a picnic basket, a blanket and your cooler and sit on the lawn to see all the fun.
- There will be reflexologists from Georgia Reflexology Organization (GRO) on site - free to veterans, minimal charge to others, which benefits GRO in part, and Silver Lining Village's renovation fund
- there will be short demonstrations of EFT in the clubhouse
Bring your own blanket, picnic basket and food, or buy food from several vendors there!
All proceeds go to Silver Lining Villages to help renovate our new retreat center for Veterans in Bowdon Georgia!
Be sure to print your tickets and bring them with you! There will be someone there to guide you to one of three parking lots when you arrive!
Get ready for fun! See you there!
What is Polo?
“Polo is Hockey, Soccer and Basketball on a horse traveling at 35 miles an hour trying to hit a baseball with a stretched out croquet mallet!”
- Jack Cashin
(Founder of Chukkar Farm and Polo Club and a Veteran!)
Polo is a dynamic equestrian sport which has been played for centuries throughout Asia and the Middle East. The West was introduced to the sport when the British colonized India, and they quickly spread the sport around the world. Numerous variations of classic polo have emerged, including on bicycles, camels and– for the brave of heart– elephants. Like other equestrian sports, it requires immense athleticism, skill, and cooperation. A game with talented players can be an impressive sight.
The origins of the sport appear to lie in Persia, and the game has been played there for at least 2,000 years, as artwork and contemporary writings indicate. Polo spread slowly across Asia, where it was played by kings and courtiers. It is sometimes referred to as the “Sport of Kings”. Many warriors played the game because it kept them and their horses fit and ready for battle. The name originates in Pakistan, where it means “ball” in Balti, a language native to that region.
There are two teams of three to four people in a game of polo, depending on the size of the field and the style of game being played. Each player has a long, flexible mallet which is used to hit a ball, with the intent of driving the ball through the opposing team’s goal. Polo is played in brief periods called chukkars; each chukkar lasts seven minutes, and play can be ferocious. By tradition, horses are replaced at each chukkar, ensuring that they stay fresh and fit.
The horses used in the sport are called polo ponies, which is a bit of a misnomer since they are not actually ponies, but rather full-sized horses. Thoroughbreds are the traditional mounts, although other breeds may be used as well. In all cases, horses are selected for speed, agility, and obedience. A good horse is capable of stopping on a dime, working with other horses and riders, and moving quickly with the flow of play; championship horses can command hefty sums at sales.
Training for polo is hard work. Horses start training at two to three years of age, and their training may take up to a year, and sometimes even longer. Riders usually train heavily throughout the year, often starting out with foot mallets to get familiar with the flow of the game before they add horses into the mix. Riders are often very attached to their mounts, since the two must cooperate well with each other on the field of play.
Competitive polo is played in a number of nations, especially former British colonies. If you have an opportunity to see a match, it is well worth attending. Things can get quite exciting, with horses pounding up and down the field displaying incredible feats of agility and strength.
