 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
What Does It Cost To Play Polo?
On a Shoestring...
For the beginner, one or two horses are enough.
Four chukker games are common at many clubs. An older, experienced horse (what the beginner needs) can be purchased for between $3,000 and $5,000. He will require shoeing every six to eight weeks at a cost of $50 to $80 and vet bills usually total $300 to $500 annually. Stabling and feed bills range from $250 to $450 per month depending on costs in your area, if you can't keep them at home.
A basic playing uniform for the horse requires at least one saddle ($500-$900), bridles ($200.00 each), blankets, and polo wraps ($60.00). You need a helmet ($100+), boots ($150), Knee guards ($60), and mallets ($80). Other expenses will include grounds fees ($500 and up) and membership in the United States Polo Association ($150).
Stepping Up...
The road to advancement also means an increase in financial commitment.
A player will most likely want to upgrade the horse he owns, as well as increase their number to four. Price tags of $5,000 to $10,000 will be encountered and a vehicle for shipping will be required - usually a stock trailer and pickup. Shoeing, vet bills, and feed bills will grow along with costs of stabling and extra tack.
A groom is often needed at a thousand dollars per month. This commitment will allow you to compete in ninety percent of the polo played in the United States.
Competing at the Top...
To compete among the finest, a great deal of money is necessary.
Even low-goal players can surround themselves with experienced and talented pros and enjoy the thrill of the finest polo. As a team sponsor; the player may pay his pros as much as $50,000 plus per tournament. His stable will include 10-60 of the finest horses at $10,000+ per pony.
At least one full-time groom for every six horses will require $1,500 and up per month plus expenses. Add to that the cost of the player's own travel and living expenses and some appreciation of the incredible commitment required to sponsor a top-level polo team can be gained. This total can run between $300,000 and $1,000,000 for a team to participate in a season of high goal competition.
What Do You Get?
Winning a tough match produces a euphoria that makes the best experiences of life seem commonplace and the game provides a fraternity of instant kinship between princes and cowboys, scholars and jocks - the richest social brew of any sport. It is just the best game in the world!
Re-produced with courtesy from the USA web sitewww.us-polo.org/learn/cost.htm
Interestingly, the figures quoted above are comparable to Australia,
ignoring the exchange rate !!
So again ... how much?
So, as you can see, the cost of polo of playing polo varies considerably but generally it is not as expensive as some would think and players can lease ponies by the hour and many owner players "double chukka” ponies (meaning you only need two horses).
Learning to play is inexpensive when done in a group or clinic
Polo clubs are mostly inexpensive but some larger facilities charge more to recoup the cost of maintaining fields close to Melbourne.
The Whroo Polo club offers both inexpensive polo clinics and basic facilities for members to enjoy the polo experience. The clinic offering 4 hours riding per day, accommodation, meals, leasing of polo ponies, grooms, mallet hire, expert tuition from accredited coaches, insurance, video instruction of rules, a foot mallet, DVD of the rules and clinic insurance at a very reasonable rate.
In New South Wales there are over 260 registered financial playing members and NSWPA (polo association) fee’s are as little as $400 (being $200 for insurance and $200 for administration) with most clubs charging between around $200. Club polo is strong in New South Wales.
You can join the WPC as either a social or playing member.
When you decide to start riding and take up playing, it is a good idea, just in case, to have your insurance all sorted out. Even when you simply rent or lease ponies, it is best to be covered. And when considering purchasing a pony, until you know what kind of pony you like and how much responsibility you wish to take on, leasing is a great way to go. After this, many players keep their ponies in livery.
You can stick and ball on leased ponies, get lessons and participate in games and tournaments. An average evening session of 1 hour or riding can cost anywhere between $80 and $120 dollars for a pony with groom, ready to go.
The following costs may be more appropriate in the current retail market –
Players Equipment
Player Fee's
Equipment
Ponies
Pony Care