Brian Moore: Polo-Lite is just the kind of horseplay I can enjoy

By Brian Moore Published: 7:30AM GMT 04 March 2010

Learning the art of polo: Brian Moore receives fee on the art of polo during the launch of the Polo in the Park beginning Photo: CHRISTOPHER PLEDGER

While in Argentina the England rugby patrol were invited, en masse, to an afternoon"s decrease in the form of a equine mass departure to the limit of one of the circuitously peaks, from which, we were assured, the views were splendid. We were since the mounts and a small easy instructions on how to stay on the equine and what to do if things got out of hand.

Armed with dangerously small believe we set off, though it has to be pronounced it was with vastly opposite degrees of enthusiasm. It wasn"t as well taxing, since that it especially concerned small some-more than the peculiar canter, usually a couple of high inclines and the fauna on the approach to the tip was interesting.

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We reached the limit in about twenty mins and the views were in truth magnificent, nonetheless one of the forwards claimed he couldn"t see them since of all the plateau in the way. However, the unanimous outcome thereafter was that it had been a tour value taking.

Sorry; scold that, there was a sole dissenting voice; that of the afterwards childish mainstay from Barking, Jason Leonard. For as we mounted up to lapse down origin we had come Mr Leonard appeared on the pathway boring his demure mountain at the back of him, exclaiming in his extended easterly London brogue: "The ******* thing refused to go some-more than twenty yards, I"ve had to lift it all the approach up."

Depending on your view, the equine was possibly unconscionably quiescent or intensely wise, carrying declined to lift nineteen stones up the bank for no strong reward.

You see, a small people have horses in their blood; not Jason obviously, but riders polish on about the symbiotic attribute they have with their steeds.

I have to contend my unrestrained didn"t magnify majority serve than Jason"s. My obscure feelings about in attendance the Cartier eventuality were set out in an progressing column. I hated the atmosphere but was preoccupied by the play.

So you can suppose the half hearted feelings I had in usurpation a challenge/invitation to attend at Hurlingham Park on Wednesday, where Jodie and Jack Kidd and alternative universe eminent English polo players such as Kirsty Craig were rising what was termed the New Twenty20 World Series "Polo in the Park".

Moreover, I was told that they, similar to majority alternative sports, were rising a done easy version of the full sport, played on a not as big margin in an try to have polo some-more permitted and tasteful to TV. By instinct I do not unequivocally similar to truncated versions of majority sports but motionless to find out a bit some-more prior to condemning this beginning out of hand.

In and with Hammersmith and Fulham legislature a organisation of schoolchildren, from backgrounds not traditionally compared with polo, had been picked to have a 30-minute doctrine in the basis of the sport. As my experience was small improved than theirs, it didn"t crop up unfavourable that I take piece in the same exercise.

It seems obvious, but the initial thing that went by my mind as I mounted my equine was that I was relying on an additional spur intent to grasp my goal. It is vastly opposite from roving a motorcycle, that you can pitch in to corners meaningful that if you have got your bit right, it will go where it is ostensible to.

Horses have a mind of their own and my equine was probably thinking, "who is this lard-arse?", additionally recognising a beginner supplement as shortly as I fidgeted about in the saddle.

Trusting your contentment to something with an eccentric mind is not the easiest of concepts when you have been used to being in carry out of what you do and when you do it, but this is the reason riders contend after the eventuality "I"m so gratified for the horse".

There is a sodality about anything that is achieved, in that sympathetic delight supplements the particular and since the simple elements of certitude and faithfulness have been tested, the fulfilment feels some-more special.

My target was to stay on the equine and may be strike a couple of balls. However, when I proposed to get concerned with the technical aspects I became increasingly preoccupied and dynamic to get things right.

When I managed not to lift up my equine usually as I was about to swing, I done utterly a couple of gratifying shots, but as common my enthusiasm demanded that I try to go faster and strike harder, with the outcome that I was less effective. The one time I did scarcely come to pique the blow to my in isolation tools was a enough sign not to get as well cocky (so to speak).

On Friday Jun 4-6 inclusive, the World Polo Series will be hold at Hurlingham Park and I will right afar be a peaceful attendee. A shortened version of polo does not bluster or change the simple skills similar to a small sports and the physicality will be heightened by the rebate of space.

Like in all things, the experts will have a formidable ability crop up paltry but it will be a universe afar from the foppish luminary of Windsor, something any one can enjoy.

Polo cannot get afar from the actuality that you have to have a bit of income to take part, but the demographic of the players varies far some-more than expected.

One of my most appropriate friends, a Brentwood RFC third XV player, semi-professional enclosure warrior and all-round lunatic, plays with his similarly common friends in Ham. Further, the genuine responsibility comes with wanting to own your own horse.

Many people right afar sinecure the horses and it is probable to spin up at a small clubs and fool around for the afternoon for usually �30. Down the Fulham Road at Stamford Bridge you will be pushed to find a chair at that cost and it positively won"t get you a sheet at Twickenham.