Larry Jowers, President
phaas0477@aol.com
For more information about Cowboy Polo, and events in your area, please contact:Philip Haas
phaas0477@aol.com Allen McMillen
phaas0477@aol.com
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The Cowboy Polo Association brings the sport of Polo to the everyday family. The attire is blue jeans, saddles are western, and the horses are of the stock variety. Swatting a ball through the opposing team's goal is about the only similarity to its English counterpart. It doesn't take a great deal of money to participate in this game. All that is needed is a horse that reins well, some protective gear, and a rider that loves the fun of competing with fellow teammates.
Cowboy Polo is a sport for the whole family. There is no age limit, and participants range in age from children to players in their 70's. The game is played in rodeo style arenas with two five player teams. Each player is armed with a mallet and the object is to knock an inflatable rubber ball through the other team's goal.
Cowboy Polo is the average person's sport. You don't need a whole string of horses to participate. All that is needed is a horse, a mallet, the ability to ride, and the love of adventure. As in any sport the game is more enjoyable with good audience participation. The Cowboy Polo Association welcomes everyone, whether interested in learning the game as a participant or as a spectator. Spectators are welcome at all events, both local and national.
When it was founded in 1959, the Cowboy Polo Association was organized as a non-profit for the purpose of promoting interest in the sport of Cowboy Polo. Throughout the United States many local clubs are affiliated with the national association. The local organizations have teams which compete on a regular basis, hold exhibitions, and help newcomers learn the sport. Currently, teams are mainly in the western United States; however, teams can be formed in any state throughout the country.
Players and their families spend their weekends at local tournaments and come home feeling the joy of spending time together with friends as they escape from the fast paced business of the week. Every summer, teams from all over the Country get together for a national championship tournament. During the four days of vigorous competition, dirt flies, mallets swing, horses turn and sprint, and adrenaline flows. After the dust settles, one team carries home the trophy and calls itself the national champion.
How the game is played:
The game of Cowboy Polo is played in a standard arena. The arena consists of five zones with the center zone 60 feet in depth, the others 50 feet. Goals, located in the center of each end zone, are 20 feet wide and marked with flexible posts. The players use western tack, helmets with face guards, and padded chaps. The mallet consists of a rubber head attached to a fiberglass rod which is 48-60 inches in length.
Each game is run by two referees, who ensure the rules are followed and determine if a score counts for one or more points. In addition, there is one goal spotter at each end of the field who informs the referees when the ball goes through the goalposts. Other game officials consist of a scorekeeper, two timekeepers, and an announcer to call the play-by-play.
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