Inanda Club brings polo to the public through its Polo Academy

Polo is a sport anyone can play.

Inanda Club saw to that when it established its Polo Academy six years ago, which sees lessons and games held for people right across the age spectrum with horses and equipment available to use.

An upkeep fee is charged for most, while some development riders get to play for free.

“We are expanding and developing polo, and the academy is a stepping stone for people who want to play at a higher level,” explained the club’s polo manager, Craig James, while preparing for a game with some children.

He said the sport was expensive, and historically was exclusive to people with either money or titles.

But now that has all changed.

“Polo incorporates the finesse of golf, speed of a horse, physicality of rugby and a team element. What makes it special is you play a game while riding a horse that has a mind of its own.”

Annie Iqbal, who has played polo for seven years and is one of the star women players at the club, said she was hooked after her first lesson.

“I just love the speed of the game and harmony between the horse and rider,” she said.

Bafana Skosana, who is only in his first year of polo, absolutely loves the sport.

“Polo is amazing, I don’t know what is best about it but I will definitely carry on playing,” he said.

School friends, Charlie Dewar and Weston Davis, both 12, have been playing for about six years.

They both said they loved training and connecting with the horses, and scoring goals was great fun.

James explained that polo incorporated two four-person teams which played on horseback, trying to hit a hard plastic ball with their long wooden mallets into their opponent’s goal.

The academy uses a softer ball so that the riders and horses do not have to wear protective gear.

Details: Craig James craig.james@inandaclub.co.za

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