The Polera Ltd - Polo HR and Marketing made easy

GREAT JOB OPPORTUNITY!

2012-04-13T09:34:00.004-07:00

Polo club/estancia looking for a new Polo Manager or Polo Manager’s Assistant in Argentina, 1hour from Buenos Aires. www.puestoviejoestancia.com.ar

Main duties to include; organising practices, organising 12 tournaments per year, coordinating polo/riding for hotel guests, helping organise stables and horses. Good spanish necessary, 1 year commitment minimum, on-site accommodation available. Interesting and dynamic position available for the right candidate. No polo experience necessary, just a flexible working attitude.

Please send CV’s direct to: polomanager@puestoviejoestancia.com.ar

Buscamos Polo Manager o asistente para importante Polo Club / Estancia a 1h de Buenos Aires

Tareas Principales:

-  organizar practicas y taqueos.

-  organizar 12 torneos anuales.

-coordinar paseos, practicas y lecciones con huespedes del Hotel.

- estar a cargo de las caballerizas, los caballos y empleados.

-  Bilingue.

- Experiencia en Polo (no excluyente) y una actitud de trabajo flexible y dinamica.

Se ofrece: 

- contrato minimo de 1 año.

-  alojamiento.

- excelentes condiciones de contratacion para el candidato ideal.

Envianos tu cv a: polomanager@puestoviejoestancia.com.ar

El caballo de polo - the history of the Argentine polo horse

2012-04-06T13:16:00.001-07:00

Many people say that an average rider with a brilliant horse can play much better than his actual skill level, while the best player in the world cannot achieve much with the wrong type of horse. Just as in Formula 1, where even the fastest driver can't win a race if he has a car that doesn't meet the same standard as his talent. For polo, the speed and agility of the horses is just as vital as the ball skills, horsemanship and talent of the polo player.

The horse has been around for a very long time - the modern day horse's ancestors walked the Earth for the first time some fifty million years ago. The present day polo horse is the result of more than a century of careful genetic selection and breeding. To understand the present day polo horse we must go back to its origins, those first horses that inhabited the Pampa, who escaped from the first foundations of Buenos Aires in 1536. These horses had Spanish and Berber origins and are the species that gave birth to the criollo horse, which was unbeatable in its rusticity, endurance and ability to adapt.

During the nineteenth century these herds of criollos were mixed with European bloodlines, including showjumping horses. This mixing of breeds produced the first Argentine polo horse, which is admired and often thought of as the best polo horses in the world.

However, as the game evolved so did the needs of the polo player and their needs from their horses. The best players started looking for the fastest horses so they could out-ride their opponents and get to the ball even quicker. They found it in the thoroughbred race horse, which turned out to be so fast that many high handicap polo horses share stallions with the horseracing world to inherit these racing traits.

But this came at a price, they sacrificed manoeuvrability and easiness for speed and agility.

A modification in the rules about horses' height allowed the use of the thoroughbred racehorse in polo. Previously a horses' height was limited to 142cm and then to 147cm. In present day polo, the estimated ideal height of a polo horse is 156cm, which is more common height in thoroughbreds than in a crossbred.

Thoroughbreds weigh between four and five hundred kilos and have very powerful muscles and a strong temper. This means they are fast runners, they move with a lot of dexterity and require a very good horseman to ride them.

In Argentina, according to the records of the Asociacion Argentina de Criadores de Caballos de Polo (the Argentine Association of Polo Horse Breeders) around 3,000 foals are born each year. The best of which start competing when they are five years old and continue doing so until they are 12, there are some exceptions with some horses competing until they are 15.

A great majority of polo horses are in fact mares. Female horses are preferred for competitions over gelded males for several reasons. Some of which are open for discussion, such as the belief that mares are built better and have softer tempers. Others are more a matter of fact: mares make money as breeders and this is why polo players (whose income may come in part from breeding) sell the colts and keep the fillies for their own breeding farms.

The secrets to a great technique in Polo by The Polera

2012-03-27T14:55:00.001-07:00

Mallet Rest position
The rest position is the way to keep the polo stick during the match, when not in use or on standby. It must be considered the starting position of every stroke.

The mallet is secured by placing the cigar in a high position. The mallet grip should be firm but never forced, otherwise over-demand the muscles of the forearm and hand, which can eventually lead to overexertion injuries in the elbow and wrist.

The hand holding the Mallet is close to the one holding the reins to help manage the horse. The elbow and wrist should be at the same height, and closest to the body. Then the mallet is balanced, wrist and shoulder muscle with very little demand, thus the possibility to come into play quickly is much greater than in any position.

A serious flaw many players make in their grip and angle of arm is to separate the elbow from side of the body, bringing it up (abduction), to seek greater balance. However, this position generates an enormous sustained tension of the muscles of the shoulder. Fatigue or exhaustion of the deltoid may negatively affect the precision and power of the stick and ball. – DON’T RAISE YOUR ELBOWS WHEN YOU PLAY -

A very common mode of holding the mallet, especially in times where the game is stopped, is supporting it on your right shoulder, as engaging in the clavicle. Others, in this situation, drop the stick and support the rod in the inner arc of the boot, between the foot and the stirrup. If the plug is left hanging (a defect very common), it takes time and extra effort to restart an action. While these positions make the doll look somewhat forced with lateral tilt, the limit imposed by the support allows temporary relief from the grip of the dowel, which can be positive.

Initial position of the stick and ball
It is the position of the rider in the saddle, which is made from the blow to the ball. It can be considered as the position of body tension prior to the initiation of swing stick and ball or "brace". This initial position is the necessary component of the swing, which precedes, accompanies and follows with bodily action. Indeed, for a coup is successful, power and accuracy, the stick and ball must be done with the whole body. The brace can only be achieved when the rider "to" the stirrups, dumping body weight in them. This enables the asymmetrical action of the lower limbs in swing which is performed as follows:

• The leg side close to the ball stays still so that acts as a support center to swing. Can be considered the "pivot" of the stick and ball.
• The leg opposite the side impact moves back to secure a position, or "brace", firmer, ie a better basis for the final movements of the trunk. Is the lower limb more mobile and in charge of finding the balance in stock.

The greater the power of the blow, steadiness was found in the support bracket on the side of the coup and more mobility in the other member.

Timing or Temporo-spatial coordination
The "timing" as expected, is the ranking runtime swing and is given by the Player to start the swing and creates the expectation that the proximity of the ball.

The classic definition of the timing is "the exact moment when, having coordinated the speed of the horse's head and block the ball, hit it reaches the latter in an effective (full)". This last definition we must stress the fact that the temporo-spatial coordination, necessary for an effective stick and ball, to be generated from the backswing, preparation or movement of the ball. At the top of the swing the mallet head must point to the target (goal posts, team mate or place of escape).

It is wiser to make a complementary fit in the run-time swing, slowing at the top of the swing, the time prior to the decline of the dowel (downswing), which accelerate the arrangement of the block in the backswing. It is advisable to make advance preparation of the swing (backswing). It is easier to take contact with the ball at the top of the swing to anticipate it and, secondly, it ensures a correct starting position for the blow. However, the ideal is that stroke is integrated in succession, without jumping in head acceleration of the block. This only backswing and incorporating it as a stage at which it happens, without stopping, the rest of the movement (downswing and follow-through).

Finally, it is noteworthy that an early swing usually reflected in a decrease of the strength and direction of the shot. This is caused by an uncontrolled and short preparatory movement. The speed should not affect accuracy. Fitts's law dovetails nicely these two variables, in circumstances determined by pre-existing focus control the movement itself. In this sense, the neurophysiological processes prior to movement play an important role in reducing the execution time, in plasticity, or continuity of movement and in the temporo-spatial coordination.

The view of the ball
At the beginning of the game, every player is presented with a myriad of stimuli to which must be adapted through training. Among the strongest stimuli and difficult to control, are the visuals. In order to control this important factor in the stick and ball, the player must keep an eye on the ball from the time before initiating the ball, the decision of sending to execution. The impact can cause you to lose for an instant view of the ball, but if you come on to follow in advance, is in danger of failing to properly hit.

One of the most common causes of missed shots (no impact) due to the fact that too much time keeping an eye on the goal (ultimate goal) and not enough on the ball (goal). Without going into details to neurophysiology, just remember the enormous importance of sight in the body balance system, like the movements of neck, closely related to this task. For this reason, the fact stare at the ball causes the neck to maintain a proper position to provide the necessary balance to strike. The fact track the ball with your neck and eye, does not prevent that act as a pivot or center of motion of the shoulder girdle. On the contrary, predisposes to a finer adjustment of the stroke.

Strong support on the bracket
As with all the bumps, standing in the stirrups is one of the fundamental requirements for a good impact on the ball. This is controlled and are given based on the movements of the trunk from the hip, also is able to perceive with greater sensitivity, the horse's movements, which can more accurately coordinate the ball.

In the pre-swing position, the player must be standing on the running boards looking for a right brace. Then for the coup is necessary to affirm on the running side of the block. The abutment on the opposite side should not have the same pressure, especially in long shots, allowing the action of the trunk in the swing torque. Support is done, primarily, at the knee and the saddle. This way we can distinguish two different actions of the lower limbs:

• Side Strike: the lower member firm needs to have sufficient support.
• Opposite side: the lower limb requires some flexibility to ease the swing

While hip action is not as important at the pole as it is in the GOLF, by the fact that the player is in the saddle, standing in the stirrups can be some movement. It is a power factor of the coup and that may take effect, the player must get used to stand in the stirrups to stick and ball.

Purpose of dribbling
The goal must necessarily be unique and indecisiveness can lead to a hybrid technique that is wrong for any of the desired objectives. The decision must be "total", without any hesitation and you have to know abstract for fulfillment.

In order to make this stick and ball, in which the technique goes hand in hand tactics, you need to know and observe the positions previously heard requests from peers. But once you make the shot and started the swing, the shock should not be disturbed by anything or anyone. At the top of the swing the cigar should point to the goal and the whole movement should develop in the same plane so as not to disrupt that goal.

When we express the fundamental impact on the pole can be summarized in just four, the nature of the movement, we took for granted that the projection of the ball of online effected parallel to the direction of travel of the horse, either forward back oo . However, the shock may have another purpose entirely different from the projection of the ball in the line of travel of the horse. This range of possible directions that are printed on the ball, we can study and not four, but twelve strokes, those resulting from the subdivision of each of the key hits in three different variants, namely:

Stroke:	Direction of Ball:	Zone of impact:
Direct, Straight, Classic hit		The forward stroke is effected at the level of the hands of the horse
Cross backhand, “Cut”	Carries the ball through the line of the horse's body, from right to left or vice versa.	The inward stroke is performed as far forward as possible if it passes below the neck, and the way back if it passes behind the tail
Open or Opening	Move the ball out of the line of the horse's body, directing the ball into the same side, but away from the midline.	The ball was carried out as far as possible from the side of the horse.
“Pull”		Later, when goes back and forth when the ball goes forward.

Basic strokes: How to move the ball in a straight line in a forward direction

Team England take home The Churchill Cup at the Gaucho International Tournament

2012-03-27T03:43:00.001-07:00

England retain their title and take home The Churchill Cup, beating Argentina on penalties 1-0 at the recent Gaucho International Polo tournament held at the o2 arena, London, UK.

During the nail biting finish, Nacho Figueras missed the crucial penalty for team Argentina and Jamie Morrison scored the winning penalty goal to win the Cup for England.

From the outset it seemed clear that team Argentina were keen for revenge after their loss last year. There was plenty of great action with Argentina leading for much of the match and the great duo of Nacho Figueras and Oscar Mancini attacking and breaking down team England's defence to score highly.

However, half-time was the crucial turning point. Team England changed their tactics and saw them begging to dominant the attack against the Argentine goal and in the last few minutes of the match saw England equalise against Argentina making the score 15-15.

Spectators held their breath as the players prepared themselves for the penalty shootout and then got behind the teams shouting encouragement as they lined up for the shots. Unfortunately both teams failed to score in the first two penalties, leaving the pressure on the team captains, Figueras and Morrison to score and win. Nacho Figueras appeared calm and collected but his shot went wide of the goal, leaving Jamie Morrison with the opportunity to take home the Cup. Morrison hit his shot straight through the middle of the goal posts, securing victory for his team.

A great event that is increasing in popularity and spectator attendance, whichwe are sure will be a highlight of pre-season polo in England for many more years to come and a definite must-see for polo lovers and newbies combined. Make sure you look out for it next year, we will be booking our tickets once again and maybe it will be third time lucky for team Argentina.

The Polera – Consideraciones especiales en Polo

2012-03-19T08:48:00.001-07:00

Posición de reposo.

La posición de reposo es la manera de mantener el taco durante el juego, cuando no se utiliza, o en espera. Debe considerarse como la posición de partida de todo golpe.

El taco se sujeta colocando el cigarro en una posición alta. El agarre del taco debe ser firme pero nunca forzado, de otra manera se sobre-exigiría la musculatura del antebrazo y de la mano, lo que puede llegar, con el tiempo a provocar lesiones por sobre esfuerzo en las articulaciones del codo y la muñeca.

La mano que empuña el taco está cerca de la que sujeta las riendas para colaborar en el manejo del caballo. El codo y la muñeca deben encontrarse a la misma altura, l más cercanos al cuerpo. De esta forma el taco se encuentra equilibrado, la muñeca y el hombro con muy poca exigencia muscular, con lo cual la posibilidad de entrar en juego rápidamente es mucho mayor que en cualquier posición.

Un grave defecto ergonómico que se comete frecuentemente es separar el codo del cuerpo, llevándolo arriba (en abducción), buscando mayor equilibrio. Esta posición sostenida genera una enorme tensión de la musculatura del hombro. El cansancio o el agotamiento del deltoides puede incidir negativamente en la precisión y potencia del taqueo. – NO LEVANTAR LOS CODOS AL TAQUEAR –

Una modalidad muy común de llevar el taco, especialmente en los momentos donde el juego se encuentra detenido, es apoyando la caña en el hombro derecho, como enganchando en la clavícula. Otros, en esta misma situación, dejan caer el taco y apoyan la caña en el arco interno de la bota, entre el estribo y la punta. Si el taco se deja colgando (un defecto muy frecuente), se necesita un tiempo y esfuerzo extra para reiniciar una acción. Si bien estas posiciones hacen que la muñeca se vea algo forzada con inclinaciones laterales, el límite impuesto por el apoyo permite un alivio temporal del agarre del taco, lo cual puede resultar positivo.

Postura inicial del Taqueo.

Es la posición correcta del jinete en la montura, desde la cual se efectúa el golpe a la bocha. Puede considerarse como la posición de tensión corporal previa a la iniciación del swing del taqueo o “brace”. Esta postura inicial es el componente obligado del swing, al cual precede, acompaña y sucede con la acción corporal. En efecto, para que un golpe sea correcto, de potencia y precisión, el taqueo debe efectuarse con todo el cuerpo. El brace solo se puede lograr cuando el jinete se “para” sobre los estribos, descargando el peso del cuerpo en los mismos. Este hecho posibilita la acción asimétrica de los miembros inferiores en el taqueo que se lleva a cabo de la siguiente manera.

La pierna del lado del taqueo se afirma de tal manera que actúa como un centro de apoyo al swing. Puede considerarse el “pivote” del taqueo.
La pierna del lado opuesto al lateral del impacto se lleva hacia atrás para asegurar una posición, o “brace”, más firme, es decir, una mejor base para los movimientos finales del tronco. Es el miembro inferior más móvil y el encargado de buscar el equilibrio en la acción.

Cuanto mayor es la potencia del golpe, más firmeza se encontrara en el apoyo sobre el estribo del lado del golpe y más movilidad en el otro miembro.

Timming o Coordinación Temporo-espacial.

El “timming”, como expectativa, es la graduación del tiempo de ejecución del swing y está dada por la decisión del jugador de iniciar el swing y por la expectativa que genera la cercanía de la bocha.

La definición clásica del timming es: “el momento exacto en que, habiéndose coordinado las velocidades del caballo, de la cabeza del taco y de la bocha, se alcanza a impactar a esta última de una forma efectiva (plena)”. De esta última definición debemos recalcar el hecho de que la coordinación temporo-espacial, necesaria para un taqueo efectivo, debe generarse desde el backswing, o el movimiento de preparación del golpe. Ya en lo alto del swing la cabeza del taco debe apuntar al objetivo (mimbres, compañero o lugar de escape).

Es más prudente realizar un ajuste complementario en el tiempo de ejecución del swing, retardando en lo alto del swing, el momento previo al descenso del taco (downswing), que acelerando el acomodo del taco en el backswing. Es conveniente hacer una preparación anticipada del swing (backswing). Es más fácil demorar el contacto con la bocha en lo alto del swing que anticiparlo y, por otro lado, se asegura una correcta posición de partida para el golpe. De cualquier manera, el golpe ideal es aquel que se integra de manera sucesiva, sin saltos en la aceleración de la cabeza del taco. Esto solo de consigo e incorporando el backswing como una etapa a la que se sucede, sin detenerse, el resto del movimiento (downswing and follow- through).

Por ultimo cabe mencionar que un swing anticipado generalmente repercute en una disminución de la potencia y dirección del golpe. Esto se produce por un movimiento preparatorio descontrolado y abreviado. La velocidad no debe afectar a la precisión. La ley de Fitts enlaza perfectamente estas dos variables, en circunstancias determinadas por un control centrar preexistente al movimiento mismo. En este sentido, los procesos neurofisiológicos de anticipación al movimiento juegan un papel importante en la disminución del tiempo de ejecución, en la plasticidad, o continuidad del movimiento y en la coordinación temporo-espacial.

La vista sobre la Bocha.

Al iniciarse en el juego, a todo jugador se le presentan una innumerable cantidad de estímulos a los que debe adaptarse por medio de entrenamiento. Entre los estímulos más fuertes y difíciles de controlar, están los visuales. Para poder controlar este importante factor en el taqueo, el jugador debe mantener la vista sobre la bocha desde el momento antes de iniciar el golpe, en la decisión de efectuarlo hasta su ejecución. El impacto puede hacer que pierda por un instante la vista de la bocha, pero si se adelanta para seguirla en forma anticipada, corre el peligro de no lograr el golpe correctamente. Una de las causas más comunes de los golpes errados (sin impacto) obedece al hecho de que se mantiene la vista demasiado tiempo en el goal (objetivo final) y no lo suficiente en la bocha (objetivo primario). Sin entrar en detalles del a fisiología neurológica, basta recordar la enorme importancia que tiene la vista en el sistema de equilibrio corporal, al igual que los movimientos de cuello, íntimamente relacionados con esta tarea. Por este motivo, el hecho de fijar la vista en la bocha hace que el cuello mantenga una posición adecuada para brindar al golpe el equilibrio necesario. El hecho de seguir la trayectoria de la bocha con el cuello y vista, no impide que esta actúe como pivote o centro de movimiento de la cintura escapular. Todo lo contrario, predispone a un ajuste más fino del golpe.

Apoyo firme sobre el Estribo.

Como en todos los golpes, el estar de pie sobre los estribos es uno de los requisitos fundamentales para un buen impacto sobre la bocha. De esta forma se controla y se les da base a los movimientos del tronco desde la cadera, además se logra percibir, con mayor sensibilidad, los movimientos del caballo, con lo cual se puede coordinar el golpe más certeramente.

En la posición previa al swing, el jugador debe encontrarse parado sobre los estribos buscando un correcto brace. Luego, durante el golpe es necesario que se afirme sobre el estribo del lado del taco. El estribo del lado opuesto no debe tener la misma presión, especialmente en los tiros largos, permitiendo la acción del tronco en la torsión del swing. El apoyo se realiza, prioritariamente, a nivel de rodilla y sobre la montura. De esta manera podemos distinguir dos acciones diferentes de los miembros inferiores:

Lado del Golpe: el miembro inferior necesita firmeza para tener apoyo suficiente.
Lado Opuesto: el miembro inferior requiere cierta flexibilidad para dar soltura al swing

Si bien la acción de la cadera no es tan importante en el polo como lo es en el GOLF, por el hecho de que el jugador se encuentra sobre la montura, al pararse sobre los estribos puede darse algo de movilidad. Es un factor de potencia sobre el golpe y para que puede tener efecto, el jugador debe acostumbrarse a pararse sobre los estribos al stick and ball.

Objetivo del dribbling.

El objetivo necesariamente debe ser único ya que la indecisión puede traducirse en una técnica hibrida que resulta errada para cualquiera de los objetivos deseados. La decisión debe ser “total”, sin lugar a ningún titubeo y hay que saber abstraerse para la realización del mismo.

Para poder realizar este taqueo, en el cual la técnica va de la mano de la táctica, es necesario saber observar las posiciones y escuchar previamente los pedidos de los compañeros. Pero una vez decidido el golpe e iniciado el swing, el golpe no debe ser perturbado por nada ni por nadie. Ya en lo alto del swing el cigarro debe apuntar al objetivo y todo el movimiento debe desarrollarse en el mismo plano para no perturbar ese objetivo.

Cuando expresamos que los golpes fundamentales en el polo se pueden resumir en solo cuatro, por las características del movimiento, dimos por sobreentendido que la proyección de la bocha de efectuaba en línea paralela a la dirección de marcha del caballo, sea hacia adelante o o hacia atrás. Ahora bien, los golpes pueden tener otro objetivo completamente diferente a la proyección de la bocha en la line de marcha del caballo. De esta gama de posibles direcciones que se imprimen a la bocha, podemos llegar a estudiar ya no cuatro , sino doce golpes, los que derivan de la subdivisión de cada uno de los golpes fundamentales en tres variantes distintas, a saber:

Golpe	Dirección Impartida	Zona de Impacto
Directo Recto Clásico Cruzado de Revés “Cut” Abierto de Apertura “Pull”	Lleva la bocha a través de la line del cuerpo del caballo, pasando de derecha a izquierda o viceversa. Mueve la bocha hacia afuera de la line del cuerpo del caballo, dirigiendo la bocha dentro del mismo lateral, pero alejándola de la línea media.	El golpe hacia adelante se efectúa a nivel de las manos del caballo El golpe hacia adentro se realiza lo más adelante posible si pasa por debajo del cogote, y lo más atrás posible si pasa por detrás de la cola El golpe hacia afuera se efectúa tan lejos como sea posible del costado del caballo. Adelante, cuando se dirige hacia atrás y atrás cuando la bocha va adelante.

Mueve la bocha en line recta hacia adelante. Golpes fundamentales.

Welcome to the world of polo - the greatest game on earth!

2012-03-14T04:50:00.000-07:00

The Polera introduce the history and the rules to "The sport of Kings"

- a perfect introduction to the polo beginner.

Lets start at the very beginning - the origins of polo…

Polo is one of the oldest team sports in the world with evidence showing it originated in China and Persia more than 2,000 years ago. With the first recorded game taking place between in 600BC between the Turkomans and the Persians.

It is believed that polo began as a war game for training cavalry units and was seen as a miniature battle (and some would argue it is still the same today, not just a battle for the ball, but a battle of honour for the team and a fight to win the best tournaments in the world).

The game quickly spread from Persia to other parts of Asia including Japan and then to the Indian subcontinent where it gained the nickname "The sport of Kings". In the late nineteenth century, it was discovered by the British tea planters on the Burmese border with India, who then founded the world's first polo club at Silchar, west of Manipur, and other clubs quickly followed.

The first real rules of the game were constructed in India in the 1870s by John Watson of the 13th Hussars. Over the years, various amendments have been made to the game worldwide. Player handicaps were introduced in the nineteenth century alongside the permissible height of polo ponies (that restriction of polo ponies being no taller than 14.2 hands in height has now been abolished).

Polo is now played in other 80 countries around the world and was included as an Olympic Sport between 1900 and 1939. It has recently been recognised again by the International Olympic committee so should hopefully be returning to the Olympics again soon.

Understanding the rules…

Teams:

Each team consists of four players. Number 3 is the captain, who commands the team and pivots between attack and defence. Number 4 (also known as the "back") is responsible for defence and being the goal defender, while Numbers 1 and 2 are the attackers.

Handicap:

The handicap is awarded to each player depending on the aptitude and ball skills, which ranges from -2 to +10 (in Argentina the handicap is from 0 to +10). Although the entry level of -2 denotes a beginner, around 90% of all polo players have handicaps in the range of 0 to +2.

The national polo associations review and assign the player's handicaps annually, according to their success in playing at tournaments and the skills they demonstrate. A team's handicap is calculated by putting together the handicaps of each player. Tournaments are arranged in different classes of play (from low-, medium- or high-goal), and the team handicaps must correspond to the type of tournament.

Chukka:

A polo match consists of four, five or six time units as chukkas. In Europe, a match usually consists of four chukkas, each lasting 7 and a half minutes in length, with the last chukka being 7 minutes. A polo pony may only played in no more than 2 chukkas and not in consecutive chukkas. Half-time consists of a 5-10 minute break, in which the public are invited onto the pitch to "tread in the divots" (the turf kicked up by the ponies' hooves).

Direction of play:

Whenever a goal is scored, the direction of play switches and teams switch ends. This avoids match conditions (such as wind direction) putting one team at a disadvantage.

Rules of play:

The fundamental rule of polo is known as "Right of Way" (ROW). During play there is an imaginary line of the ball which is the direction in which the ball is travelling at any one moment. When a player has established the right of way along that line, it may not be crossed by an opposing player if there is the slightest risk of collision.

Any player who crosses the player on the line of the ball close enough to be dangerous or cause him to slow up, will commit a foul and the opposing team will be awarded a penalty (different types of penalties are awarded depending on the type of foul committed).

The player with ROW can lose this by being "ridden off" or "hooked". "Hooking" means using the stick to prevent the other player from retrieving or striking the ball. The player does this by blocking the opponent's stick during a swing or while the other player is dribbling the ball. Players must not attempt to hook an opponent in front of the pony's legs.

"Riding off" means trying to force an opponent off course using a kind of body check, so that the player can no longer hit the ball. This is allowed only if the riding off takes place parallel and not at an angle to the player who has ROW.

Tapping techniques:

The ball is tapped on the right side of the pony (it is illegal to play polo left-handed), which is known as the "offside". Tapping takes place in a forward or backward direction. For a "nearside" play, which takes place of the pony's left side, the player has to twist in the saddle and, holding the stick in his right hand bring it to the other side of the pony. "Under the neck" shot refers to a strokes performed in front of the pony. The hardest shots are the "round-the-tail" strokes, performed to the rear of the horse.

The Polo Pony:

The present day polo pony (height 14.5 - 16 hands, or 155-160cm) far exceeds the height of the traditional known "pony". The pedigree traces its heritage back to the crossing of the original Himalayan mountain ponies, with English or American thoroughbreds, Arabians or others, especially South American stud horses. Today, the Argentinian polo breed dominates. These are horses which master in sudden bursts of speed, which are brave and pugnacious and their agility and alertness are unrivalled.

Umpires:

There are two mounted umpires on the pitch and a third man in the stands who acts as arbitrator if the umpires disagree. The goal judges (positioned behind each goal) wave the flag when a goal is scored. The timekeeper and scorer keep track of the timings of the match and sound the bell at the end of each chukka.

Penalties:

Different types of penalty are awarded depending on the type of foul committed.

30-40 yard - free hit at the undefended goal. The attackers have to be at level with the ball when hit. Defenders have to be behind the back line.

60 yard - none to the defending team can be nearer than 30 yards.

Free hit - hit from the spot where the foul occurred, with none of the defending team to be nearer than 30 yards.

If the ball has gone over the back line, but not through the goal, then the defending team hit it back into play at the point where it crossed the line. The attacking team must be 30 yards away.

HR News: New immigration and HPA requirements about hiring polo staff in the UK

2012-03-13T09:02:00.000-07:00

When hiring staff this season make sure that your polo staff meet the legal requirements

The HPA are taking a strict view on players and grooms working within the UK without the correct legal requirements, permits and visas. Make sure that you understand the new rules and processes now involved in hiring staff from overseas.

Under the new immigration rules, employers (sponsors) must obtain a sponsors permit to legally hire employees as well as securing an HPA endorsement for each migrant polo player or groom they want to hire. Without this HPA endorsement, the player or groom will not be given HPA membership and therefore cannot play at any affiliated club or in any chukkas or game run by an affiliated club of the HPA.

The Border Agency dictates that only those who hold a handicap of two-goals or above may be granted a work permit as a player. It is important to note that those with a handicap of below two-goals are not allowed to earn money playing polo, but can come to the UK in another capacity, such as a groom or rider. This means that they would only be allowed to play chukkas.

For further information about these new rules, please read the full article on the HPA website here.

The Polera can help you with recruiting staff for this season and can provide advice and contacts about the legal requirements and how to arrange for sponsors permits and visas. Please email our team now if you need help with arranging sponsors permits and work visas for your staff.

The basic polo shots series – The forward drive

2012-03-05T04:35:00.000-08:00

The basic polo shots series – The forward drive:

A how to guide by The Polera

There are many different types of polo shots which are used for different effects and purposes within the game. Polo players may use different strokes and swings when in particular situations within the game, whereby they may shorten the swing, or even use a special variation of shot for a particular purpose.

To learn each type of stroke, one should concentrate on the type of motion that should be applied to the swing and stroke . If done this way, the necessary adaptations arise more easily and with possibilities of a larger repertoire of effective blows.

To analyse the basic strokes of the game of polo, we must first stop to consider the four stages of the shot and the preparation involved to make the shot:

1. Starting position Brace or stance

2. Starting the swing    Swing or downswing
3. Making contact with the ball    Shot, hit or blow
4. Final swing      Follow-through or finish

1) Forward strike from the side of the Mallet - Analysis of the biomechanics involved: Drive right

We begin with the basic polo shot, which is the forward stroke on the side of the Mallet (drive right). The importance of this strike is that it is the most involved in the game. It is popularly said that 90% of balls are struck in this way, so it is an important shot to practice and to achieve a good technique. This shot is used in penalties (a crucial time for any team in a match) and therefore there is much pressure to ensure you don’t miss the shot.

We begin with the tutorial by adding further detail to each of the stages of preparation and method in the hitting of the ball as discussed below. These stages are generated by the movement of a position, or accommodation of the "brace", and the rearrangement of the seat into the rest position after impact.

Taking a stand
The movement of preparation, or accommodation, the result generated by the stroke (backswing) takes place in very different ways depending on the player. We can find four types:

• Classical or direct
• Forehand roll
• Pendulum swing
• Inverted or reversed roll

The classic form - and the most direct way - is to take the hand directly behind and above the head allowing the cue to move very little from its rest position. This preparation method allows for better coordination management for impact but on the other hand, is a movement marked by the little plastic transition between stance (brace) and the beginning of the movement (downswing).

The forehand roll or complete swing - is one in which the player hits the top of the ball at a similar movement to the beat but evenly and without accelerating the final swing, This mode allows for preparation and relaxation, which is vital during important shots such as taking a penalty.

The advantage of this technique is that by having a large backswing, the mallet head takes longer to hit the ball and, therefore, the impact may be more powerful. On the other hand, in developing the preparatory swing, the Mallet fits better in the desired direction. The disadvantage is that it is necessary to coordinate two turns of the mallet or stick instead of one. Polo players use this technique to "break away" when the game situation allows, as in penalty shots or bocce stops in play.

The pendulum swing - The preparatory movement of the pendulum swing is one in which the mallet or stick is dropped from the rest position allowing the mallet head to tilting backwards in taking up the initial position of the swing. This mode is very relaxed and allowed to go taking the distance to the ground. The biomechanical disadvantage is compatible with the kinetic energy rises, with the power to deploy for the coup.

If failing to stop the mallet swing naturally, by gravity, in this position to initiate the downward swing, you may need to deploy a larger force in the final swing, which would subtract power to blow by the need to destroy the opposite movement. The positive side of this embodiment lies in the aforementioned relaxation and takes away, as well as the shortening of the time of the backswing.

Players usually use it in front breaks, where they hit the ball long distance. Some, when the tempo allows, combine the pendulum retrograde (to the height of the rump of the horse) with a full swing before.

Finally, there are polo players who do a rolled swing in the opposite direction to the final swing like a pendulum extended variant considered above. Many feel that this manoeuvre mobilises the wrist in a way that provides a sense of deep relaxation in the articular muscle.

Additionally, the inverted rolled swing leads to the start position of the hit with an amplitude larger and more elastic, than the direct way. It could be argued that the negative view is in possible problems with coordination, both temporally and by changing the direction of movement. As usually this type of swing is most commonly employed during penalty shots however, the negative aspects are minimized or cancelled as the player has time to prepare the shot.

Starting position
In the position prior to downswing, the right hand should be above and behind the player's head. The elbow and arm should be fully extended, although it should not be at full extension when beginning the stroke. The left shoulder should point to the ball and looking ahead, so the torso twists in a clockwise rotation.

The alignment of the shoulders in the direction of the line of travel of the ball, establishing a continuity with elbow and hand, through an anteroposterior axis, the mallet head is positioned forward, above and slightly to the left of the player's head. With respect to the horizontal plane, the stick should rotate between 10 and 35 degrees (so that the mallet head is higher than the hand). The right hand should be placed at the same height as the highest point of the player's head or slightly above it.

The pelvis should be slightly tilted to the side of the action. The torso is positioned with a slight flexion (bending forward) clockwise (right) and a small tilt to the right (synergistic movement of the pelvis).

A faulty technique would be considered one that starts the swing with his head and shoulders too high. If this occurs, it would be common for a player to drop his head and shoulders during the latter part of swing (which is the most critical phase). This manoeuvre is often intended to compensate the player’s initial position error, in order to avoid too high a stroke of the ball. Although, of course the results from a failure of accuracy vary.

The secret to avoiding this problem is to lean forward with torso and head (producing good flexion), together with the lateral inclination, when looking for the top of the swing position. Therefore, the backswing puts the player’s hand back and the body in a forward facing sideways position.

The left shoulder and right knee should be in a more advanced forward than the right shoulder and left knee, respectively, due to rotation of the trunk and the accommodation of the pelvis and thorax (scapular and pelvic girdle). This position allows you to have both "fixed support" during the swing: with the right lower limb (foot on the stirrup) and the left upper limb (hand over the reins on the horse's withers). Thus, to get a "brace", which enables high mobility, the player needs to stay seated on the saddle. It is important to stand in the stirrups, especially on the right, and to balance with the left knee, allowing the mobility of the left foot. Instead of clinging to the horse balanced with the knee and inner thigh and above, you should do so with all of your leg and especially with the foot.

In short, this swing means moving the hip position to accompany with the twisting of the trunk or torso. Without the action of the hip the swing and blow will lose its power or strength. Also in the long shots this technical defect may over time develop an injury to the lumbar spine by overuse.

The height of the swing is very important and has considerable influence on the swing itself. The height must be in accordance with the desired power to the stick and ball. For a long shot, the swing must necessarily begin with the positioning of the mallet at a level above the player's head, however, for a short-throw the hand need not be taken as above.

During the swing
The swing is made based on a movement of the trunk (dorsal-lumbar spine) and shoulders (shoulder girdle). The player's head is maintained so as to act as a pivot or shaft and control movement, instead of being affected by it. The view, head and neck, should follow the ball.

The elbow should be extended throughout the swing, because otherwise it would alter the natural position of the mallet head and affect the power and precision of the hit.
The centrifugal force of the mallet head should feel like a pulling force on the upper limb. It is important to go with the movement and consequent traction without trying to add any extra major force during this critical time of the swing.

The right shoulder should be in a forward movement/position accompanying the alignment of the shoulders and trunk. The steep decline of the upper limb will drag behind him in the swing, and the angles of the arm and forearm will change in the longitudinal axis during the swing as follows:

30 to 45 degrees - when the hand is over your head.
75 to 90 degrees - when the hand is at shoulder height.
170 to 180 degrees - at the moment of impact.

The left upper limb position does not vary significantly and hand should rest on the horse's withers, serving as a pivot movement of the swing.

Contact with the ball
The arm swings through the longitudinal axis allowing the mallet or stick to reach the ball. The face of the "cigar" or mallet head should be cross-throw line, otherwise it hits the ball in a rotary effect and gives uncertainty to the ball’s direction . This is one of the most common mistakes of the swing and prevents the ball from obtaining a longer distance when struck as the mallet head rotates at the time of impact.

The alignment of the shoulder joint in its movement, had positioned itself perpendicular to the line travelled by the swing of the arm straight from the horse.

In a normal hit, which is performing correctly, you should not be able to see any movement in the player’s head and still allow the swing to connect the mallet with the ball and the ball to touch the ground.

Final swing and finish
The completion of the swing does not end in contact with the ball, it continues after that. This stage is often underestimated and considered a waste of time, but it is important that the player acquires the habit of not deleting this final action. If not considered as part of the swing or process, it usually reduces the arc of movement and may as a result produce a braking effect even before the ball is hit, which may adversely affect efficiency and power of the blow. The end of the swing meets, therefore, with various functions, the most important is to not interfere with the blow with a "change of motion" on the moment of impact. Another function is to allow the rider to be prepared to stick and ball again with a passive movement. This then allows the special relaxed state to be achieved in preparation for the next movement, or hit.

Los Golpes Fundamentales del Polo – Drive Derecho

2012-03-02T05:53:00.002-08:00

Los Golpes Fundamentales del Polo – Drive Derecho

La técnica se describe sobre la base de un golpe completo, o total, el cual puede diferir del utilizado por los polistas cuando las situaciones particulares requieren un acortamiento del swing o una variación especial del mismo. EL aprendizaje de cada golpe debería hacerse siempre sobre la base del movimiento completo. Si se realiza de este modo, las adaptaciones necesarias surgirán más fácilmente y con posibilidades de un mayor repertorio de golpes efectivos.

Los dibujos de cada golpe se agrupan, en diferentes ángulos de observación, al final de las explicaciones respectivas para permitir una visualización global del golpe.

En el desarrollo de este capítulo, sobre cada uno de los golpes fundamentales del juego de polo, nos detendremos a considerar cuatro etapas, o niveles de análisis, que son:

1era Posición Inicial Brace o Stance

2da Inicio del Swing Downswing o swing

3era Contacto con la bocha Shot, impacto o golpe

4ta Final del Swing Follow-through o finish

1) Golpe hacia Adelante por el Lado del Taco – Nomenclatura biomecánica: Drive derecho

Comenzamos por el golpe básico del polo, que es el golpe hacia adelante por el lado del taco (drive derecho). La importancia de este golpe radica en que es el que más interviene en el juego. Popularmente se dice que el 90% de las bochas se golpean de esta forma, de lo que se desprende la necesidad imperiosa de lograr una buena técnica. Los penales son ocasiones que no se puede desaprovechar y el golpe utilizado es este.

Comenzaremos con el estudio agregando des etapas más a nuestro planteo descriptivo para los golpes que analizaremos a continuación. Estas etapas son las generadas por el movimiento de toma de posición, o acomodación del “brace”, y la reacomodación del taco en la posición de reposo luego del impacto.

Toma de posición

El movimiento de preparación, o acomodación, precio al que genera el golpe (backswing) se efectúa de muy diversas maneras según el jugador. Podemos encontrar cuatro modalidades:

Clásica o directa
Revoleo previo
Péndulo inverso
Revoleo invertido

La forma clásica – y la manera más directa – es llevar la mano directamente atrás y arriba dejando que la cabeza del taco se mueva muy poco de su posición de reposo. Este modo de preparación permite un mejor manejo de la coordinación para el impacto pero, por otro lado, resulta un movimiento poco plástico por la marcada transición entre la toma de posición (brace) y el inicio del movimiento (downswing).

El revoleo o Swing completo previo es aquel en que se le imprime a la cabeza del taco un movimiento similar al golpe pero en forma pareja y sin la aceleración del swing definitivo, Esta modalidad permite una preparación, en relajación, muy especial a nivel corporal. La ventaja de esta técnica es que, al contar con un amplio backswing, la cabeza del taco toma más velocidad y, por lo tanto, el impacto puede ser de mayor potencia. Por otro lado, al desarrollar el swing preparatorio, el taco se acomoda mejor en la dirección deseada. La desventaja consiste en que hay que coordinar dos vueltas del taco en lugar de una. Los polistas lo emplean para “soltarse” cuando la situación del juego lo permite, como sucede en los tiros penales o bochas paradas.

El movimiento preparatorio de péndulo es aquel en el cual se deja caer el taco desde la posición de reposo permitiendo que la cabeza del taco, en su recorrido pendular hacia atrás, lleve la mano a la posición inicial del swing. Esta modalidad es sumamente relajada y permite ir tomando la distancia al suelo. El inconveniente biomecánico es compatibilizar la energía cinética con la que asciende, con la energía a desplegar para el golpe. De no llegar a frenar naturalmente, por acción de la gravedad, en la posición de iniciación del swing descendente, se necesita desplegar una fuerza mayor en el swing definitivo, lo cual restaría potencia al golpe por la necesidad de anular el movimiento opuesto. El punto de vista positivo de esta modalidad radica en la ya mencionada relajación y toma de distancia, como también en la abreviación del tiempo del backswing, con respecto a la técnica anterior (swing previo completo). Los jugadores delanteros lo emplean habitualmente en sus escapadas, donde llevan la bocha con tiros de polo alcance. Algunos, cuando el ritmo de juego lo permite, combinan el movimiento pendular retrogrado (hasta la altura de la grupa del caballo) con un swing completo previo.

Por último, existen polistas que realizan un revoleo del taco en sentido opuesto al swing definitivo, como una variante extendida del movimiento pendular antes analizado. Esta maniobra previa –según la opinión de quienes la ejecutan – permite movilizar la muñeca de manera tal que brinda una sensación de relajación musculo-articular muy profunda. Por otro lado, el revoleo invertido permite llegar a la posición de inicio del golpe con una amplitud mayor y más elástica, que de la manera directa. Podría afirmarse que el punto de vista negativo se encuentra en la coordinación, tanto temporal como por el cambio de sentido del movimiento. Al ser empleado generalmente en tiros penales, los aspectos negativos se minimizan o se anulan.

Posición Inicial

En la posición previa al downswing, la mano derecha debe encontrarse más arriba y atrás de la cabeza del jugador. El codo busca su extensión total, aunque no llega a esta sino en el momento en que se inicia el golpe. El hombro izquierdo busca apuntar a la bocha adelantándose, de esta manera el tronco experimenta una rotación hacia la derecha. La alineación de los hombros, siguiendo la dirección de la line de marcha (dirección de marcha), establece una continuidad con codo y mano derechos, a través de un eje anteroposterior, la cabeza del taco apunta hacia adelante, por arriba y ligeramente a la izquierda de la cabeza del jugador. Con respecto al plano horizontal, la caña presenta una angulación entre 10 y 35 grados (la cabeza del taco está más arriba que la mano). La mano derecha se ubica a la misma altura que el punto más alto de la cabeza del jugador o un poco por encima de ella.

La pelvis se encuentra ligeramente inclinada sobre el lateral de la acción. El tronco se sitúa con una ligera flexión (inclinado hacia adelante), en rotación horaria (hacia la derecha) y una pequeña inclinación hacia la derecha (movimiento sinérgico de la pelvis).

Debe considerarse una técnica defectuosa iniciar el swing con la cabeza y los hombros demasiado elevados. Si esto ocurre, es común que el jugador descienda su cabeza y sus hombros durante la última parte del swing (la más crítica). Esta maniobra, muchas veces pretende compensar el error inicial, con el objeto de evitar un golpe demasiado arriba de la bocha. Aunque, por supuesto, da por resultado una falla en la precisión. El secreto para evitar este problema es inclinarse hacia adelante con el tronco y cabeza (flexión), conjuntamente con la inclinación lateral, cuando se busca la posición del alto del swing. Por lo tanto, el backswing lleva la mano hacia atrás y el cuerpo hacia adelante, lateralmente.

El hombro izquierdo y la rodilla derecha se encuentran más adelantados que el hombro derecho y la rodilla izquierda, respectivamente, debido a la rotación del tronco y la acomodación de la pelvis y tórax (cintura pelviana y escapular). Esta posición permite disponer de los dos “apoyos fijos” de este golpe: el del miembro inferior derecho (pie sobre el estribo) y el miembro superior izquierdo (mano con las riendas sobre la cruz del caballo). De esta forma, para conseguir un “brace”, que le posibilite gran movilidad, el jugador no necesita mantenerse sentado sobre la montura. Es muy importante que se pare sobre los estribos, especialmente sobre el derecho, y que equilibre con la rodilla izquierda, permitiendo la movilidad del pie izquierdo. En lugar de aferrarse al caballo equilibrando con la rodilla y la cara interna y anterior del muslo, debe hacerlo con todo el miembro, especialmente con el pie.

En los tiros cortos la posición de cadera no acompaña a la torsión del tronco. Sin la acción de la cadera el golpe pierde potencia o se fuerza. En los tiros largos esto puede considerarse un defecto técnico, que puede llegar a desarrollar con el tiempo, una lesión en la columna lumbar por sobreuso.

El alto del swing es muy importante y tiene considerable influencia sobre el swing en si. La altura debe estar de acuerdo a la potencia que se desee taquear. Para un tiro largo, el swing debe comenzar necesariamente con la mando a un nivel por arriba de la cabeza del jugador, en cambio, para un tiro corto la mano no necesita ser llevada tan arriba.

Primera Parte del Swing

El swing es efectuado en base a un movimiento del tronco (columna dorso-lumbar) y hombros (cintura escapular). La cabeza del jugador se mantiene de forma tal que actúe de pivote, o de eje y control del movimiento, en lugar de dejarse arrastrar por el mismo. La vista, con la cabeza y el cuello, siguen a la bocha.

El codo debe estar extendido durante todo el swing, ya que de no ser así se alteraría la trayectoria natural de la cabeza del taco afectando la potencia y precisión del golpe.

La fuerza centrífuga de la cabeza del taco debe sentirse como una fuerza de tracción del miembro superior. Es importante dejarse llevar por el movimiento y la tracción consecuente sin pretender imprimir una fuerza mayor en este momento crítico.

El hombro derecho se adelanta acompañando al movimiento de alineación de los hombros y del tronco. El descenso vertiginoso del miembro superior arrastra tras de sí al taco, el cual va cambiando si angulación con respecto al eje longitudinal del brazo y antebrazo de la siguiente manera:

De 30 a 45 Cuando la mano está por sobre la cabeza.

De 75 a 90 Cuando la mano está a la altura del hombro.

De 170 a 180 En el momento del impacto.

El miembro superior izquierdo no varía significativamente su posición y la mano se apoya sobre la cruz del caballo, sirviendo de pivote del movimiento del swing.

Contacto con la Bocha.

El taco llega a encontrarse como en prolongación con el eje con el eje longitudinal del brazo derecho. La cara del “cigarro” debe quedar transversal a la línea del tiro, de lo contrario se le imprime a la bocha un efecto rotativo con dirección incierta. Este es uno de los defectos más frecuentes en el que se cae al pretender darle a la bocha un impulso más fuerte haciendo rotar la cabeza del taco en el instante del impacto.

La alineación de los hombros en su movimiento conjunto, pasa a situarse en forma perpendicular a la línea recta de recorrida del caballo.

En un golpe normal, efectuando en forma correcta, puede apreciarse un swing de tal manera que permite al taco rozar el suelo sin que se verifique ningún movimiento en la cabeza del jugador.

Final del Swing

La finalización del swing no termina en el contacto con la bocha, continua después del mismo. Esta etapa suele menospreciarse, considerándola una pérdida de tiempo, pero es importante que el jugador adquiera el habito de no suprimir dicho acompañamiento final. Si no se considera como parte del golpe, por lo general se reduce el arco del movimiento, en forma refleja o inconsciente, de tal manera que puede manifestarse un efecto de frenado aun antes de que la bocha sea golpeada, lo cual puede afectar negativamente la eficiencia del golpe. El final del swing cumple, por lo tanto, con varias funciones, la más importante es la de no entorpecer el golpe con un “cambio de movimiento” sobre el momento del impacto. Otra de las funciones es permitir al jinete estar preparado para taquear nuevamente con un movimiento pasivo. Por último cabe mencionar el estado de relajación especial que se logra en esta etapa.

The Polera team up with Polo for Heroes to help support a great cause

2012-03-01T07:44:00.001-08:00

BREAKING NEWS!

The Polera are very excited to announce their latest partnership with Polo for Heroes and are proud to support such a great cause.

For those of who that might not know, Polo for Heroes is a great UK polo tournament that raises money for 'Help for Heroes' a charity that supports members of Britain's Armed Forces who have been wounded serving their country.

Further details with be coming shortly, but in the meantime make sure you check out their facebook page for more information. If you would be interested in buying tickets or a table, or perhaps donating prizes/auction items for this event please email us at thepolera@gmail.com .

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Polo-for-Heroes/245007908857982

And check out their website http://www.poloforheroes.co.uk/

POLO GROOM WANTED - BELGIUM, EUROPE

2012-02-22T03:54:00.000-08:00

Polo groom wanted - Belgium, Europe

Our client is looking for a polo groom to take care of between 5 and 7 horses between 1st April and 30th September this year in Belgium, Europe.

Responsibilities include taking care of horses (mucking out, grooming, maintaing tack etc) as well as training the horses. The candidate must be able to work independently and treat the horses well.

If applicant can stick and ball and play there may be opportunity to stick and ball, additionally if you have a handicap of around 2 goals there may be an opportunity to play from time to time.

Benefits include: a fixed salary of 1200 euro per month, use of a car, accommodation paid for by the employer and expenses of 150 euros per month, as well as a return ticket.

Ideally they are looking for someone who already has an EU working visa, but they can arrange the visa application if needed for the right applicant.

To apply for this position, please email your CV to thepolera@gmail.com for immediate consideration.

To apply for this position, please email your CV to thepolera@gmail.com

Not-to-be missed exceptional investment opportunity in Argentina

2012-02-14T04:57:00.001-08:00

EXCELLENT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Polera have an exciting investment opportunity to buy a substantial property just outside of Buenos Aires in Argentina.

South America offers great investment potential with its land values continuing to increase alongside its economy, which is going from strength to strength. The soils in Argentina are highly productive and are considered some of the best in the world, alongside a stable continental climate, allowing for organic agriculture, horticulture farming on a large-scale.

We have a great opportunity to invest in a harass with exceptional equestrian facilities in a great location which would be perfect for an investor looking to build a business in horse breeding and/or farming. Full details can be found listed below...

BEAUTIFUL NOT-TO-BE-MISSED HARAS FOR SALE, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

– HOUSE WITH LAND AND EXCEPTIONAL EQUINE FACILITIES IS AVAILABLE IN A GREAT LOCATION, PERFECT FOR HORSE BREEDING AND FARMING

LAND DESCRIPTION:

Size of land: 680 hectares

Location: 232 km from Buenos Aires

Soil characteristics: in general the landscape is hilly, alternating with flat plains.

There is also a fitness area for agricultural and livestock usage.

Key features: The main area of the stud farm is situated in an area of 14 hectares and framed by two boulevards of trees. On one side is the main entrance of the facility though which you can access the main house, guesthouse, barbecue area, horse stalls and administration, the other side leads to the ship, manga, personal and professional home.

KEY FEATURES OF THE MAIN PROPERTY:

1. Main house dimensions: 1200 m2

2. Access: close proximity to National Highway Number: 5 and additionally has its own excellent airstrip (with a grass airport).

3. Four guesthouses, which makes it an excellent place for entertainment and receiving guests.

4. Excellent electrical facilities: everything works just as if you were in an urban centre, with a high-tech air-conditioning system, a 3-line telephone system and 36 channel internal TV system. As well as Cable TV, refrigerator, freezer, pool filters, water treatment plant, mercury lamps, track lighting, laboratory and dairy machinery.

5. Communications include: VHF-VLU, 3 phone lines, and a fax line.

6. Horses accommodation capacity: 72 boxes

7. Laboratory and Veterinary facilities

8. Agriculture: the quality of soil and excellent climatic conditions enable the implementation of a mixed system of high profitability. The field is very well suited for the implementation of intensive farming, there have been previous successful sales in foreign markets with crops in blueberries and asparagus, etc.

THE RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX:

The residential complex comprises some 6,000 m2 with four well-equipped guesthouses. It is generally around six years old, with some newly built houses as well as some refurbished houses.

Main house:

The main house with a floor area of 1,152 m2, and is now in the final stage of construction, with around 30% left to complete – perfect for a new owner to add their own finishing touches to this remarkable property.

Amenities include:

Central air conditioning hot / cold.

Developed over two floors.

The ground floor has:

Double veranda

Poillete and reception closet

Fireplace

Bar / dining room, a winter garden with water fountain

Kitchen

Breakfast area

Dining room with fireplace

Room with bathroom

Three bedroom suites with Jacuzzi

Upstairs has:

A reading room with balcony

Four bedrooms

Four bathrooms

Two play rooms

Machinery room

Attic

Terrace of 100 m2.

Other features include:

Barbecue area

A covered area 220 m2 with capacity for 170 people (perfect for entertaining)

Escalles marble floor, cedar walls with broken glass bevels.

Central air conditioning / heat, automatic temperature control and two teams split, cold / hot.

Following amenities: 2 bathrooms with dressing areas, showers and granite countertops.

Fitted kitchen with grill, professional kitchen 6-burner stove, double oven and grill.

Stainless steel commercial refrigerator, freezer, granite countertops with double sink basin.

Espresso machines and coffee grinder.

Hot and cold water with high recovery water heater.

Engine room air conditioning, as well as a basement pantry.

Swimming pool - built entirely of concrete and irregularly shaped, approximately 180 m2 and a depth of 1.00 to 2.00 meters.

Travertilit head, solar deck width of 0.50 metres with internal and external borders.

Installed access stairway to the structure, with pieces of a single edge travertilit. Three stainless steel staircases.

Edge Flooring travertilit with an approximate area of 130 m2, two feet washed at the same integrated wood and a trampoline.

Two suction chambers integrated background reinforced concrete structure, valve guards subversion.

Water purification equipment on a volume of 60,000 litres / hour.

Guesthouses:

House 1: 150 m2 covered area, developed on two floors, all rooms with split air conditioning, cable TV and video equipment

Ground floor: living area - kitchenette, 2 bedrooms for 5 people, 2 bathrooms installed. One bedroom for 6 people

Home 2: covered area of 140 m2 on 2 floors. All rooms with air conditioning, cable TV and video equipment

Ground floor: living room with bar and fireplace, dining room for 10 people, 2 bedroom suites for 2 or 3 people, fitted kitchen, patio with service entrance, a bedroom suite.

House 3: 80 m2 floor area developed in a plant.

Reception with bar, fitted kitchen, 1 en suite bedroom, 2 bedrooms, bathroom installed.

House 4: covered area of 170 m2, developed in a plant.

Living room for 10 people with fireplace, toilette, fitted kitchen, 3 en suite bedrooms, 2 bedrooms w / bathrooms (department)

Professional House: 165 m2 covered area, developed over 1 floor.

Living room, fitted kitchen, 5 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms fully fitted compartmentalized, room with bath, wood-forced heating.

House Manager

Covered area of 75 m2, with split air conditioning and the following amenities: living room, fitted kitchen, 2 bedrooms, fully fitted bathroom.

House Staff

Covered area of 225 m2.

Wood heating, video cable and consists of the following amenities: kitchen dining room for 20/30 persons, 10 bedrooms, fully-fitted bathroom.

Stables:

Covered area of 1,380 m2

72 boxes, riding stables, veterinarians, tack room, storage, personal home with 4 bedrooms, living room, bathroom installed

Airstrip:

Location south and west 35 20 60 34, high compacted earth and planted with tall fescue.

900 metres long and 40 metres wide.

Laterally illuminated runway orientation and headers, buoyed taxiway enabled for night use, authorized by the National Bureau of Navigation, optional Bragado.

Water treatment plant:

A water treatment plant by reverse osmosis, filtered dual mantle, for the retention of suspended particles over 40 microns, with multiway valve for production operations, wash, drain and rinse.

The production of the same, 600 litres per hour, is sent to a 10,000 litre tank, where using a centrifugal pump is elevated to a tank of 18,000 litres capacity and distributed for consumption.

All equipment is controlled by a power supply board.

This is a not-to-be-missed property with amazing facilities, for more details and to arrange a viewing, please email us.

Check out its Facebook page for further photos.

The Polera are excited to announce their latest partnership with Camino Real Polo & Country Club

2012-02-07T13:49:00.000-08:00

The Polera are extremely excited to to announce our latest partnership with Camino Real Polo & Country Club . Camino Real is a polo country club being developed in San Vicente - just 35 minutes outside of Buenos Aires. We shall be working with them on a number of exciting projects - so watch this space.

Please check out their facebook page and website for more information about this exciting new development in polo and how you can be a part of it.

Further information will be coming soon about our upcoming projects.

Marketing doesn't have to be expensive to be effective!

2012-02-02T14:15:00.000-08:00

Our how-to guide to recession-friendly polo and equestrian marketing

During times of recession and economic crises, the first thing many companies cut back on is their marketing and promotional budgets. But in fact this is one area you should actually put more work into to ensure you attract new customers as well as keep your loyal ones. In the polo industry this is particularly important as you need to continually attract new customers and audience attendees to your tournaments and events, to continue to grow the awareness of your polo club and tournaments.

But how I hear you cry? Marketing doesn't always have to be expensive to be effective and produce good results. There are many simple things you can do to increase your target audience reach, which don't always have to burst the bank.

Online tips...

Simple things such as using social media to promote your products, events and tournaments through Facebook, twitter, and through blogs can be relatively easy to manage in-house. They have great immediate results in increasing your audience awareness of your services and creating a new international community for your brand, which is particularly important during recession.

Utilities such as hootsuite allow you to update multiple social media networks quickly and easily as well as schedule tweets for online campaigns about your products.

Another great way of telling people what you are doing is setting up a online newsletter for your customers/polo club members. You could send this out as often as you like -weekly/monthly/quarterly and keeps your customers in touch with your brand as well you giving you the opportunity to promote new upcoming products/discounts/events etc

Have you thought about sharing links with other sites? A good way to drive traffic and visitors to your site is to share links with other polo and equestrian-related websites, who will list your website on their links page in return for you doing the same on your site.

Sponsorships and prizes..

If you want to promote your products to the equestrian industry, it might not be as expensive as you think to sponsor an event. Some tournament sponsorships start from as little as US$250 and can help you get your brand noticed by the polo elite.

Another great way of showcasing your products is through exhibiting at the tournament, many larger tournaments have stands for hire that you can showcase your products.

Many tournaments look for prize sponsors, for people to donate prizes to the winning teams. This can be a very good opportunity for you to directly get your products to your target audience who will then be able to try and recommend your product for you. A great way of getting new customers is through the good worth of mouth of your existing loyal customers. Many polo clubs charge no or very little fees to be a prize sponsor and many will give you a good mention in their press releases, online marketing of the event and depending on how much you donate some even name the tournament after you.

There are many ways to promote yourself, here are our top tips:

1. Set up a a facebook business page account and use this to increase your online audience

2. Use twitter to share news about your products/services and create discussion about your brand

3. Contact other related businesses to see if you can share links on each others websites

4. Set up an online newsletter

5. Become a prize sponsor and donate prizes to polo tournaments and equestrian events

Marketing is important, but it doesn't have to be as expensive as you think so don't leave it out of your budgets entirely.

"Don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with your marketing" - Mike Volpe, Chief Marketing Officer, HubSpot

"There are no magic wands, no hidden tricks, and no secret handshakes that can bring you immediate success, but with time, energy, and determination you can get there. " - Darren Rowse, Founder, ProBlogger

The Polera offer bespoke marketing and sponsorship services and can tailor make packages to suit your needs and your budgets. We offer advertising, marketing, sponsorship and promotional filming services. Contact our team now at thepolera@gmail.com for information on how we can help you.

The Polera polo bag

2012-01-20T09:23:00.000-08:00

I love polo bag - £20 (plus delivery)

The Polera Polo Bags - available to order now from just £10 plus delivery.

Buy the bags direct on our online store - for safe and secure shopping and payment through paypal http://thepolera.bigcartel.com

All bags are handpainted and handfinished - making each one unique - just like you. Bags are made from eco-friendly canvas material.

The Polera basic jute bag - £10 (plus delivery)

The Polera basic canvas bag - NOW £8 (was £10) (plus delivery)

Personalised initial canvas bag - £12 (plus delivery)

POLO PALFS/GROOMS WANTED - SOUTH OF FRANCE, EUROPE

2012-01-16T11:27:00.000-08:00

POLO PALFS/GROOMS WANTED - SOUTH OF FRANCE, EUROPE

We have some groom positions available for the right candidates in the Savoie region in the South of France. We are looking for experienced grooms preferably already in France or have the ability/work visa to work in France.

Details:

main tasks are mucking out boxes, using the tractor to deliver feed and water, making beds, looking after horses etc…
candidates should be motivated, energetic, good flexible attitude
capable of undertaking manual work
should have experience grooming and working with polo ponies
knowledge of how to use agricultural equipment (including tractor, lorries and trailers etc)
candidates must be a good multi-taskers and problem solvers, as well as able to do light admin and work independently

To apply for this position, please email us your CV/resume for immediate consideration to thepolera@gmail.com

ADVERTISE AT THE FAMOUS DUBAI RACING WORLD CUP 2012

2012-01-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

EXCITING ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY AT DUBAI RACING WORLD CUP 2012!

The Polera have an exclusive opportunity for you to advertise your products in the Al Badia magazine's Dubai World Cup edition which will have a stand in the VIP section of the event selling the magazine.
Held on the 31st March 2012 at the spectacular Meydan race track in Dubai, the Dubai World Cup is a very high-profile event and is known as the richest horse race in the world. http://www.dubaiworldcup.com/
This is a great opportunity to get your brand seen by the top equestrian and racing society in Dubai as well as by socialites and celebrities to royalty.
Email thepolera@gmail.com now to book your advertising now

Send us your polo news, gossip and photos!

2012-01-06T07:49:00.000-08:00

Calling all polo clubs and polo fans! This year we want to hear all your polo news from tournaments and events to up and coming players to watch out for. Send us your weekly news features and we will post them on our The Polera blog so that you can share all your exciting news, gossip and photos with other polo fans. Email your news and photos to thepolera@gmail.com

GREAT MARKETING AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2012

2012-01-05T03:00:00.003-08:00

Are you looking for some new ways to connect your brand with the polo or equestrian communities in 2012?

The Polera can offer you some great polo related sponsorship and marketing opportunities around the world for your brand in 2012 to connect directly with the high-profile polo and equestrian communities.

We can help you promote your brand overseas to high-profile polo communities from polo players, patrons, to polo fans, royalty, celebrities and the general public.

The Polera are also the official advertising sales agents for Al Badia magazine - the premier polo and racing lifestyle magazine in Dubaihttp://albadiamagazine.com/. The magazine was started with the main aim of giving the enthusiastic readers of this region information and updates from the equestrian world. Each edition is packed with interesting information, articles, pictures, and stories from the who’s who of the equestrian community. The magazine's readership consists of high profile client base from sports enthusiasts, socialites, eminent personalities and celebrities to royalty - making it the perfect place to launch your products in Dubai and get noticed by your target audience.

Sound interesting? Get in touch with our team now at thepolera@gmail.com to find out more.

The Polera offer bespoke polo HR services

2011-11-26T05:17:00.000-08:00

Are you looking to recruit new staff for your polo club for next season? Did you know that The Polera offer bespoke HR solutions to help you find suitable staff quickly and easily?

Our HR recruitment services operate in two ways: through job posting and advertising service through our social media networks, website, blog, facebook and twitter; and secondly through a more bespoke headhunting service conducted by us for you whereby we personally contact suitable candidates in our database and through our contacts and make a suitable selection for your review.

Our HR services rates are as follows:

Standard job posting/advertising package: £50 per ad per month the ad is run (posting on our website as well as on our blog, facebook, twitter and linkedin accounts). The ad can ask them to email their CV direct to us at thepolera@gmail.com (we will then forward these on to you) or to yourself.

Headhunting service: £POA* per employee introduction through our headhunting service. Once we have received applications for the position through our network we then review these and send you our recommendations with the CVs/resumes of the candidates but without their contact details. Should you then wish to contact the applicants for interview we charge £POA* per applicant for the introduction and contact details. There are then no further charges after this for these applicants.

*POA (Price on application) - we have different headhunting rates available depending on the type of position; polo manager, pro player, rider, groom etc and numbers of applicants you are looking for. If you have multiple positions you wish to fill through our headhunting service we are happy to negotiate a discount.

Email our team today at thepolera@gmail.com for more information.

Polo Manager Position - South of France - Europe

2011-11-10T03:32:00.000-08:00

POLO MANAGER POSITION - SOUTH OF FRANCE, EUROPE

We have a permanent polo manager position available for the right candidate in the Savoie region in the South of France.

Details: This is a full-time position for an experienced farm/polo manager, where you would be responsible for managing horses on livery in the stables and fields, as well as organising lesson plans and the polo club. You will alsooversee the operations of the club and staff, equipment, maintenance and ordering feed and supplies. During the polo season (April-October) your responsibilities would shift to more polo related activities such as overseeing grooms and caring for members horses. Depending on experience and playing ability of the manager, you would oversee matches, team selection and field use etc.

Must speak French and be proficient in English and Spanish.

Accommodation is provided within the farm property. This is a great opportunity for the right candidate.

To apply for this position, please email us your CV/resume for immediate consideration to thepolera@gmail.com

Calling all polo and equestrian jobseekers! We need you!

2011-11-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

We need you!

The Polera have polo and equestrian vacancies in Europe that need filling as soon as possible. We are looking for polo grooms, yard and polo club managers, and instructors. If you have experience working in the polo and equestrian industry then we'd like to hear from you.

Please email our team now at thepolera@gmail.com and send us your CV.

Amazing advertising opportunities in Dubai!

2011-10-25T09:12:00.000-07:00

The Polera are proud to announce that they are the official UK and Argentine advertising sales agents for Al Badia magazine - the premier and highly respected polo and racing lifestyle magazine in Dubai.

It is published monthly by Al Badia Publications. The magazine was started with the main aim of giving the enthusiastic readers of this region information and updates from the equestrian world. Each edition is packed with interesting information, articles, pictures, and stories from the who’s who of the equestrian community.

The magazine's readership consists of high profile client base for you from sports enthusiasts, socialites, eminent personalities and celebrities to royalty.

If you are keen to advertise your polo or equine products in Dubai and target high-profile clients, then contact our team now at thepolera@gmail.com

Yerba Mate - How to prepare traditional Yerba Mate

2011-10-24T13:31:00.000-07:00

Get ready for the polo season and learn how to prepare Yerba Mate the traditional way...

There are many ways of preparing Yerba Mate, ranging from traditional methods to those using a coffee maker, tea filter or french press.

Here we will show you how to prepare Yerba Mate in the traditional Argentine way using the special cup, called a gourd (as seen above) and a traditional bombilla (a metal filtered straw that is used for drinking yerba mate).

Start by placing the yerba mate leaves into the gourd until the cup is around two-thirds full. Next. move the leaves over to one side so that there is an empty 'well-like' space in which to pour the water.

Now add just enough cold water to the space to moisten the yerba mate leaves and leave to site for a few minutes so that the leaves can absorb the water.

Finally add hot water to the empty space, allowing the leaves to brew in the water for around three minutes. The bombilla (metal straw) can then be used to sip the tea from the gourd. Additional water can be added and the process can be repeated as needed.

Help us support the next generation of polo players!

2011-10-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

The Polera are passionate about polo and its development around the world. For polo to truly grow and develop as an international sport we need to continue to support the growth of polo and the development of its players.

For many, polo is a sport they discover at college or university and it is these college and university teams that often need your support the most as they often have little or no funding and rely on donations.

Vassar Polo Club, located in upstate New York, USA, is one such team that needs your support. Vassar Polo Club have had a long polo history, being the first collegiate women's team in the United States, back when Vassar was an all-girls school. However, due to budget constraints they are in desperate help with funding to keep their team up and running.

Unfortunately Vassar Polo team didn't have much of a presence in the past, the club was disbanded a long time ago and then restarted in 2001. Since then, they have had some trouble building up a team, however this year they have expanded the women's team as well as adding a men's team. They have also been expanding the interest in the sport on campus and alongside the local community.

They now need your support to keep their team up and running and continuing to build their presence in the sport and in their community. They are looking for donations and sponsorships so that they can continue playing this year, if you or your company can help sponsor them please contact them via their website vassarpolo.wordpress.com . They are also looking for equipment donations: mallets, arena polo balls, helmets etc. If you wish to donate please contact them via their website or alternatively you can email our team thepolera@gmail.com for more information.

Please help us in supporting the next generation in polo.