Polo Chukkas in Surrey: From Lessons to Your First Coached Match
You’ve practised your riding, worked on your swing and started connecting with the ball. Now comes the next question: where should you ride when the game moves on?
Learning to play polo means bringing your skills together while other players, horses and the ball are moving around you.
At Minninnooka in Chobham, training chukkas and instructional polo matches give developing players a way to practise those decisions with coaching support.
Training Chukkas: Put Your Lesson Skills Into Practice
A lesson gives you time to focus on individual skills. Game play asks you to use them together.
During training chukkas, your attention expands beyond your own shot. You start thinking about your teammates, the opposition and how the next phase of play might develop.
Useful questions include:
Where is the ball going?
What is my role in this moment?
Who am I marking?
How can I support my teammate?
Can I move into that position safely?
These are the decisions that turn riding and stick work into a game.
Polo Positioning: “You Can Hit the Ball. Now Where Should You Ride?”
Imagine your teammate has possession. Your instinct might be to follow them straight towards the ball—but chasing the same ball can leave another part of the game uncovered.
Depending on the situation, your job may be to support the attack, mark an opponent or prepare for the next phase. Your coach can help you recognise which decision fits the play.
For your next session, choose one question to discuss with your coach: “When my teammate has the ball, what should I be looking for?”
That gives you something specific to practise and review. Progress can mean making a better positioning decision, even when you haven’t hit the ball yourself.
Instructional Polo Matches: What Happens in Your First Coached Match?
Your first match can feel like a big step. A coached format helps you experience team play while continuing to learn.
Minninnooka’s instructional challenges place players into teams with a coach supporting each side. Guidance covers rules, positioning and teamwork.
Here’s a useful way to think about your first experience:
1. Meet Your Team
Find out who you’re playing with and discuss how you’ll communicate. Ask questions early, particularly if you’re unsure about your role.
2. Listen to the Briefing
Use the briefing to understand the session and your coach’s priorities. You don’t need to absorb everything at once—having one clear focus makes learning more manageable.
3. Put Your Skills Into Play
Practise looking up, responding to teammates and making decisions as the game changes. There will be moments that go well and moments you want to try again.
4. Ask for Feedback
After play, ask your coach what worked and what to practise next. A specific takeaway—such as recognising your player sooner—gives your next lesson a clear purpose.
Am I Ready for Polo Chukkas in Surrey?
For Minninnooka’s chukkas and challenges, players should be confident at canter, able to control their horse safely and familiar with basic polo rules and positioning.
If you’re unsure, speak to Kirstie before booking. Share your riding and polo experience, confidence level, height and weight so we can discuss a suitable next step.
Polo Coaching in Surrey: Keep Your Lessons Connected to Your Games
Lessons and matches can feed into each other.
A game may reveal something you want to improve. Your next lesson gives you time to work on it. Then you can return to coached play and see how that skill holds up in a changing situation.
Whether your goal is to enjoy social polo, develop your team play or prepare for competition, that connection gives your training a purpose.
Book Training Chukkas or Enquire About an Instructional Match
Ready to put your lessons into practice? Explore polo in Chobham at Minninnooka and find your next opportunity to play.
For advice about your first session or the next suitable instructional match, email kirstie@minninnooka.co.uk.
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