The Lure of Polo Through the Years :: Games Sports Essays

The Lure of Polo Through the YearsDangerous, thrilling, addictivehowever you assume to describe the current game of polo, you can be sure that someone utilise those same words thousands of years ago for the same purpose. Polo, as it is played to twenty-four hours, is merely a refinement of games played as earlyish as the sixth century B.C. It has been said, in some(prenominal) languages and in many time periods, He who plays polo once will sacrifice his money and tree trunk to play again. Polo has survived for over two thousand years its addiction essential be as powerful as players claim.The sport of kings is one of the oldest sports soundless in existence today. In fact, versions of the game were played so unyielding ago that a definite origin of the game cannot be determined. imputable to the expense of owning and training the surmount horses, it was primarily nobles who played the game. Because of this, polo was spread as nations conquered others, and it disappeared in areas as noble classes died. Thus, the game was often born and born-again in so many versions that the term polo (translated from several ancient and modern languages) grew to encompass a wide variety of games involving a stick, ball and players on horseback.Many historians will trace polos roots back to Persia (modern day Iran), where the game developed from its most raw and dangerous form. The Persians, who were among the first to tame horses and use them in warfare, began playing games on horseback in run to refine their equestrian skills. The game of choice involved any kind action of players on horseback all attempting to hit a round purpose with mallets past the other teams final players. Sometimes hundreds of players were on each team, and the object they were fighting over ranged from balls, to goats, to decapitated human heads. With so many players and no regulation, polo quickly became a sport in which collisions, ill-trained horses, and human error could easily cau se injury and even death.Despite the translucent dangers one encounters while playing polo, it was a popular activity for armies and nobles. For cavalry, polo provided a venue for displaying ones athleticism, poise, quick thinking, and boldness. In fact, kings from many nations used polo as an easy way to determine appointments for political and army positions. Often, the best polo players were the only ones who could surpass their natural born social class.