A Weekend Between Hooves and Friends

There are weekends that just slip away. And then there are polo weekends. They feel fuller, longer, as if you step into a different world for a little while.

When you arrive in the morning, you can already sense it. The grass is still damp, the field quiet, but in the background there’s the sound of hooves shifting, a horse snorting, the clink of a bit being buckled. The ponies stand alert, some restless, some calm, all of them seeming to know exactly what’s coming.

Then the people. Some you meet almost every week, others only once in a while, but it’s always the same: a laugh, a quick handshake, a hug, and you’re back in it together. On the field, everyone gives everything and sometimes pushes hard. Off the field, it’s stories, help, jokes, and the easy feeling of belonging.

The horses carry the whole game. Each one with a different character – the fiery mare that can’t wait to run, the steady gelding who keeps his cool no matter what happens around him. They aren’t just part of the team, they are the team. You trust them, depend on them, and often enough, they feel like they know you better than you know yourself.

Between matches, the place is alive. Riders discussing the last goal, someone rummaging for a lost glove, kids darting between saddles and grooming boxes. It’s noisy and chaotic, but in the best way – the kind of noise that tells you something real is happening here.

And then, when the whistle blows, everything narrows down to the field. The sound of hooves hitting the ground, the shout of a teammate, the rush when the ball rolls perfectly into reach. From the outside, it looks wild, maybe even messy. But when you’re in it, you feel the order: the rhythm with your horse, the instinct of where to ride, the trust that makes the chaos flow.

By the end of the day, the sun is low, the horses are back at the trailers chewing hay, and people sit around tired, dusty, but smiling. You look around, hear the laughter, feel that mix of exhaustion and joy – and you know this is why you come back.

A polo weekend isn’t only about goals or trophies. It’s about the people, the horses, the shared moments. And even when Monday comes, some part of it stays with you.