The Polo Gear Guide

When it comes to polo gear, there's plenty for players and their ponies. While it may look complicated at first, we're here to give you the lowdown on all things polo gear. We've got all the top tips from what's needed to why it's required and where to buy it.

What's required

Helmet

Polo players require a lot of equipment, the most important of which is the helmet. Mandatory for all players and referees, polo helmets feature a fixed peak and three-point harness strap. Players can customize their helmets to match their colors and add logos, hand-painted designs, and more. Helmet Regulations differ by country and national polo association, so be sure to check the local regulations when purchasing your bespoke polo helmet.

Eye Protection

Eye protection is always recommended and can take the form of glasses or a metal face cage (similar to the plexiglass masks hockey players wear). The cage shields the player's face from impact by balls and mallets. Glasses can be worn with a cage and are mandatory should the player forgo the optional cage. They provide visibility in sunny conditions and can protect the eyes from dirt kicked up by the horses' hooves and other debris.

Jersey

Jerseys are short-sleeved (unless for snow polo!) and made from light fabric, as polo is often played in warm climates where breathability is key. Shirt designs differ depending on the sponsor's design, but all feature numbers on the back so players can be identified by their position. Jersey numbers range from 1 to 4, and opposing teams must ensure that their jersey colors and designs are significantly different so spectators and officials can tell the teams apart.

Pants

Players are required to wear white pants for tournament games. This tradition dates back to polo's past in India. White pants were considered cooler in the hot Indian climate and have been worn for important matches since. They are often store-bought white jeans, though many players have started wearing purpose-made polo whites, which include reinforced stitching, stretch, stain-proofing, and team logos.

Boots

Thick leather boots and leather-covered kneepads are next on a player's list of required gear. Polo boots are knee-high and made of thick brown or black leather with a long zipper up the front. Thick leather or reinforced padding provides extra protection on the sides of the boots. Kneepads are also worn, often the same color as the player's boots. These are made from padded leather with Velcro straps or buckles and sometimes have added silicone padding at high impact points to provide further protection to the player's knees.

Elbow Pads

Elbow pads are optional but protect the elbow from the impact of balls and mallets. Made from Kevlar or carbon fiber, these slip-on pads are ergonomically designed to provide the most protection while being as slim and unnoticeable as possible. While not all players opt for elbow pads, watching someone take a ball to the elbow will forever send a player rushing to their nearest online store to purchase their pair!

Gloves

Gloves are also optional but often worn by players across the globe. While some players choose to only wear a glove on their right hand to provide an added grip on the mallet, others will wear a pair to provide an added grip on the reins in their left hand as well. There are many varieties of polo gloves, ranging from thin weather-proof gloves to carbon fiber padded gloves to protect the knuckles from impact.

Mallet

Mallets range in length from 49 to 54 inches. Players often change their mallets based on the size of the pony they're riding. Handmade of a Manau cane shaft with a hardwood (Maple or Ash) head, mallets can be customized to suit a player's exact specifications, from grip size, balance, weight, color, and more. You'd be hard-pressed to find a polo player without a stash of mallets somewhere in their barn, basement, or garage.

Despite modern technology, mallet materials have remained overwhelmingly similar to those used in the game's early days. While not the most durable or waterproof materials, the cane and hardwood mallets are iconic and integral to any polo player's gear collection. Most mallets are manufactured in Argentina or by Argentine artisans living abroad. As much an art as a science, most polo players will return year after year to their favorite mallet makers to restock their collections.

Ponies

Last but not least, ponies! Polo ponies range in height from 14 hands up to 16 hands (1 hand = 4 inches) or taller. Ponies are chosen to suit a player's position, style of riding, or individual tastes. Not unlike sportscars, each pony has its qualities and competitive advantages, from speed and handling to acceleration.

Most polo ponies today have some thoroughbred in their breeding, and many are off-the-track thoroughbreds enjoying a second career. Players require a minimum of 2 ponies but can have as many as 20 or more!

Ponies, too, require a large collection of gear. From bandages to tendon boots, breastplates, saddles, girths, overgirths, bridles, bits, and draw reins, the list goes on! Stay tuned for more on that in future guides.

Where to buy?

Most polo clubs will have their own tack stores or preferred suppliers regarding gear for ponies and players. Polo gear is also often shipped worldwide, and some of the most prominent polo brands have few in-person stores and rely solely on word of mouth and their website for sales.

When it comes to player's gear, some of the most recognized brands worldwide include Casablanca Polo, Polo Gear USA, Ona Polo, La Martina, and Krono Polo, with most club suppliers stocking at least some or all of these top brands.

Regarding gear for the ponies, top brands include Bombers Bits, Ainsley Saddlery, Performance Polo, Miguel Acuna, and more. Top suppliers of these brands are Tatos and Tackeria, located in North America's Polo Hub of Wellington, Florida; Jackson Hole Horse Emporium, located in California; RJ Polo UK; and Polo International Market in Argentina.

So there you have it, from what you need to where to buy it, you've now got all the information needed to fully equip yourself (or the polo player in your life) for the Sport of Kings!