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General InformationArena PoloIntercollegiate polo follows the rules and regulations of arena polo, which is a variation on outdoor polo. The main difference between arena and outdoor polo is that the former is played in an enclosed arena that is approximately 300 feet long by 100 feet wide. The game involves two teams, each of which consists of three players mounted on horseback. There are two umpires mounted in the arena and one that officiates from the sidelines. The match consists of four game periods, called chukkers, which are individually seven and a half minutes in length. The object of the game is for players to score the most goals possible with the ball, similar to a miniature soccer ball, by legal means of the polo mallet. To score, the ball must cross the opponent’s goal line that is 10 feet wide. To learn more about the rules, and for more polo resources, please visit the United States Polo Association website. Club HistoryThe Oregon State Polo Club was originally founded in 1929, as a nationally recognized military team. Despite a decline over the years, the team found new strength in 1996, and has been solid ever since. It is one of the strongest and largest of the five intercollegiate clubs in the Pacific Northwest. It is also the oldest recreational sport clubs at Oregon State University. This year the team is stronger than ever with the men’s team placing first at the Northwest Intercollegiate Polo Regionals and going on to compete at Nationals at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Our women’s team finished second at Regionals, and lost only one game during the competition season. Last year our women’s team was undefeated and qualified for Nationals, where they won their first game and lost their second game to two-time National Champions, University of Connecticut. The Northwest Region consists of Oregon State University, Eastern Oregon University, Washington State University, Montana State University, and University of Idaho. The Team NowThe club meets for practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the term. We meet behind Callahan Hall in the gravel parking lot at 6:20 PM and carpool out to Gentle Oaks Stables. Practice usually lasts about 3 hours. Practice begins with the cleaning of the club stalls, grooming the horses, and tacking the horses. We then meet up in the arena to work drills and play practice chukkers. As practice winds down we move back to the barn to untack the horses and groom them once more.
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