Polo Lessons

Here at Sussex Polo, we are able to coach all levels from complete beginners to experienced players. Lessons are fun with Memo who runs the El Casal Polo School based at Sussex Polo during the summer season. He and our other experienced HPA* accredited instructors will provide you with the support that you need to help you feel confident right from the start. Take a look at our Step by Step Guide below which explains the process of learning to play polo going from Zero to Hero!

NEXT STEPS: Zero to Hero

Steps Guide to Learning Polo Membership
Step 1 Learn to Play Polo Lesson None

A comprehensive 1½ hour Introduction to Polo lesson which covers:

  • Theory & Safety: Learn the basic rules
  • Polo Swing using Short Sticks: Learn the polo swing and practice the four basic polo strokes under the careful watch of our qualified HPA club instructor
  • Polo Riding: Using very quiet, safe horses geared to your riding experience, learn to move, stop and turn your polo pony.
  • ‘Stick & Ball’ Practise: Hitting the ball under instruction whilst mounted.
Step 2 Coaching Tuition None

Develop the correct techniques to enhance your individual performance. Identify your strengths and weaknesses with your qualified HPA club instructor in private or group lessons and as you progress you can move onto Step 3 to experience the thrill of your first slow supervised Instructional Chukkas.

Step 3 County Polo & Instructional Chukkas Instructional

Once you have the basics, enjoy playing competitive polo and improve your polo skills: Learn about the objectives and rules of the game in a safe controlled environment in these Instructional Chukkas. Take part with other players of your level in these supervised chukkas on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and selected weekends which expand on the tactics and safety of the game. From here, progress to the faster 3-a-side matches which will be the first steps to achieving your first official handicap.

Step 4 Club Chukkas & 3-a-side  Matches Chukka

Advance from the slower County Polo to faster club chukkas held Wednesdays and weekends and from here you can move on to take part in the 3-a-side tournaments held regularly throughout the season.  These matches are designed for advancing players to gain experience playing alongside a professional player to help bridge the gap between County Polo and tournament polo.

Step 5 Club Chukkas & Tournaments Full

Enjoy the thrill of the King of Games in regular weekly club chukkas (Wednesday evenings, Saturday and Sunday mornings) or the excitement of receiving your prize in a line up at the end of your first ever polo tournament held at weekends. Tournaments are held at varying levels of play to suit your ability.

We recommend that everyone starts with a 1½ hour introduction to polo and your instructor will guide you if you need private or group lessons thereafter. The 1½ hour introduction to Polo Lesson costs £75.00 Tuesday to Friday and £95.00 at weekends & Bank Holidays.  Please call the polo office for more details or e-mail info@sussexpolo.co.uk for prices. You don’t have to rich to play polo – here at Sussex Polo we maintain a competitive price structure so you can play polo without paying a king’s ransom! *HPA is the Hurlingham Polo Association – the governing body of UK polo.

Read about Jean-Luc Bressard’s experience during his first season at Sussex Polo, before being voted Newcomer of the Yearby the members in 2010, in the article A Season of Firsts