From Mechanical Horse to Polo Pitch: Sebastien's Journey

Jun 24

3 min read

The Journey Begins

Most beginners are terrified of two things: the speed of the horse and the force of the other players. Sebastien was no different. That's why we started on the mechanical horse. No other riders, just him on the mech that moves like a real pony, and a ball he had to hit repeatedly.

Phase 1: The Mechanical Horse (Mid-March)

For the first two weeks, we drilled the basics:

The correct grip
The swing arc
The offside shot

Sebastien was frustrated. He wanted to run. I told him, "You don't learn to tango in a hurricane. You learn it in a studio." By the end of March, he could hit the offside and nearside with 70% consistency. More importantly, he wasn't looking at the mallet anymore; he was looking through the ball.

Sebastien out on the grass for a lesson with Scott Anderson - 1-Goal Player

Phase 2: Moving to Grass (May)

The first day on a real horse on the pitch is a humbling experience. The mechanical horse doesn't swerve. It doesn't have an opinion. Sebastien’s first lesson on the pitch was chaotic. He missed the ball a lot. His pony swung wide. His balance was off. But here is why Sebastien will be a good player: He laughed. He got back on. And he listened.

We spent May focusing on:

Ride-offs: Learning to use his shoulder, not his hands.
Dribbling at the walk: Getting the ball to stick to his stick like a hockey puck.
The stop-and-turn: The single most important skill for a beginner playing at Epsom.

I kept him away from scrimmages. He was frustrated, but I knew that if he learned to stop and turn without losing the ball, his first chukka would be magic.

Phase 3: The Invitation (Early June)

I told Sebastien, "You’re ready to play instructional chukkas with the rest of the gang." He looked at me with an excited smile. Here's why Epsom Polo Club is the perfect place for a debut. The players are supportive; you can make mistakes, and everyone laughs it off. Plus, you get to hit the ball a lot! Oh yeah, and the ponies are schoolmasters who have taught more beginners than I have.

The First Chukka – Early June

Epsom was buzzing. The grass was cut low. The sun was out. Sebastien was paired with two experienced 0-goal players (I told them to go easy on him for the first two minutes—then all bets were off). I watched from the sideline as he trotted onto the pitch. He looked terrified.

Then, three minutes into the first chukka, it happened. The ball shot loose. Sebastien saw the space. He didn't panic. He used the stop-and-turn we drilled fifty times. He took the ball across the pitch—not a goal, just a cross—but he kept possession. A 1-goaler tried to ride him off. Sebastien held his line. He made a simple pass. He didn't score. He didn't look like Cambiaso. But for seven minutes, he played polo. When he came off, his face was red, he was sweating, and he had the biggest grin I have ever seen.

The Polo Guy's Takeaways for Beginners

If you want to go from zero to chukkas at Epsom Polo Club (or your local club), here is my blueprint:

Don't rush the mechanical horse. Six weeks there saves you three months of bad habits on grass.
Learn to stop before you learn to sprint. Beginners who can stop and turn will always beat beginners who can hit hard.
Epsom is your friend. Get to Epsom Polo Club for their low-goal weekends. The culture there is built for learners.
Trust the process. Sebastien had ten lessons on the mech, five rides on grass, and one moment of "I can't do this" before he succeeded.

Ready to Start Your Journey?

Sebastien’s first chukka wasn't pretty. But it was real. If you are tired of watching polo from the sideline, come see me. We will start you on the mechanical horse, and I promise you will be riding out for your first chukka on the grass before you know it! Get in touch now.

Keep Poloing on!