Horse Riding and Polo in the Phoenix Park

People probably started to ride about 3,500 years ago. Riding changed their way of life. They could travel farther and faster than ever before. Today we usually travel in cars, planes or trains, but people still ride for fun. Children find it easier to learn to ride on ponies, as they are smaller than hores.

I go to the PHoenix Park on a Sunday morning at 12 o'clock. On Sunday 25th February I went riding out on a horse called Star. Star is a jet black horse, the type of breed Star is is a Percheron. A percheron is a heavy horse. Star is also very gentle with children. I have to watch out for the traffic as it goes by because horses can get into a bad mood.

Beside the Phoenix Park, Dublin there are horse stables Stables.

These are some of the rules of the stables for riding through the Phoenix Park.

1 No person shall ride a horse (a) in any enclosure in the Park, (b) in any place in the park where the riding of a horse is prohibited by the Commissioners by a notice exhibiton (c)

on any footpath , or on any grass within 20 yards of a road or footpath, or (d) on any newly-laid turf or space newly sown with grass.

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2. No person riding or in charge of a horse in the park shall engage such horse or permit such horse to be engaged in the exercise of jumping or in the exercise of being longed.

Polo in the Phoenix Park

People who play polo usually wear:

A polo neck sweater with tight turned over collar .

Jodhpurs these are riding trousers loose fitting above the knee but tight below.

Riding cap to protect their heads and riding boots.

Polo is a game in which two opposing teams of four players each mounted on horseback attempt to drive a small wooden or plastic ball through each other's goal by means of mallets. The object is to score goals. It was first played in England in 1869 by cavalry officers of the Tenth Hussars and in the United States in 1876. It has been played since the Phoenix Park opened. The name of the Phoenix Park club is "The All Ireland Polo Club."

Polo is played on a field no more than 300 yds. long and from 160 to 200 yds. wide. A goal consisting of two uprights 8 yds. apart, is set at the centre of each end line of the field. The game falls into chukkas each of 7 or 7 and a half minutes. There is a short rest between chukkas while ponies rest.