Learn to Play

Learning to play polo is not as daunting as it may seem! Many of our club members have learned to ride and play at the same time.  and the introduction to polo clinic is the perfect place to start. The Toronto Polo Club can give you several options to help you get started…. whether it’s private lessons, group lessons, or an introduction to polo one-day clinic, we can provide you with the names and numbers of several polo instruction facilities in the Toronto Polo Club area.

Introduction to Polo Clinic

The one-day introduction to polo clinics are organised by Brian O’Leary at his Farm, Bancroft Farm, in King, Ontario. Brian holds these clinics monthly, the cost for the day is $250 and includes equipment, horse lease, and lunch. Riding experience is not required for this clinic, you will be taught the basics on quiet school horses. Please click on the article “Chukkers & Chalkboards”, written by a past participant, to hear their experience with the clinic.

For those who enjoy the introduction to polo clinic, and wish to continue on, Brian offers an 8-week polo school at his farm. Private or semi-private lessons can also be arranged. To register for the next introduction to polo clinic please contact Brian at (416) 891-7529 or check out his website www.polomanagement.com

Bancroft Farm also offers polo lessons for intermediate and advanced level players. 

Polo lessons are also offered by the following Toronto Polo Club instructors;

Dave Offen moosepolo@aol.com

David Wayne foxdenpolo@hotmail.com

Scott Weir skwpolo@mac.com

Alix Begg alix.begg@gmail.com or www.piscespolo.com

Alix Begg offers a polo school at her facility in King.  Alix also specializes in kids polo and runs several kids polo camps throughout the summer.  She can be reached at (905) 505-6650

Fernando Massalin Junior  www.thepoloorganization.com

Training League

In the fall & winter months David Wayne, Manager of Fox Den Farm, offers a ‘training league’ that is geared towards people who are taking polo lessons or are in a polo school. The idea behind the training league is to give beginners the opportunity to play in slow, organised chukkers with qualified coaches on hand to offer instruction, call and explain fouls, and generally teach game strategy. The training league takes place on Saturday mornings at 11am during the indoor polo season at Fox Den Farm in Richmond Hill.  For more information contact David Wayne at (905) 888-1115.

Getting Started

In order to apply for club membership at the Toronto Polo Club you must first be evaluated by the New Membership Committee. They will evaluate your riding skills, hitting, and knowledge of the rules.   If they feel you are at a level that is sufficient enough to allow you to safely participate in club polo activities, and eventually in club tournaments,  then you can apply for membership to the club.

Newcomers to the sport must take polo lessons from an accredited polo instructor before they will be permitted to apply for membership to the club.

  • Players require one to two horses to play in club polo at the Toronto Polo Club. One horse can play at maximum of two chukkers per night, therefore to play in a four-chukker game you will require two horses
  • Horses can be leased or purchased. If you are a novice or beginner player purchasing a polo pony it is not recommended to buy a young or untrained horse. A good, safe polo pony who knows the game and will help you to learn can be purchased for approximately $15,000 +
  • There are facilities near the Toronto Polo Club that offer horse boarding, training, exercising, grooming, etc. Prices for these services vary, depending on what your specific needs are.