An exquisite equestrian display
Action-packed Polo
Our polo players and horses have international status, and we’ve the proud hosts of the estate’s Kurland International Polo Test, regarded as one of the top ten polo matches in the world, for many years.
A great time to visit the estate is during the polo season in Plettenberg Bay, which spans from December to April. It attracts an ever-increasing number of international patrons, top professionals and enthusiasts, and there are many different tournaments to attend.
Polo facts
Polo Facilities
Four boarded fields.
Full-equipped stables and veterinary clinic.
A one-kilometre sand exercise track.
Paddocks for up to 450 horses.
Specialist ‘wooden horse’ training equipment, including specially mounted visual recording equipment for swing analysis.
Experienced grooms care for the horses and a vet and farrier are permanently on standby.
Resident polo professionals of the highest calibre are available to provide customised tuition.
Favourable Playing Times
December to April are the best times, but 30 days on either side are possible.
Block Out Times
June to October.
Ponies
95% of all polo ponies are re-trained racehorses. The string has been put together over a ten-year period so there is a large selection of suitable horses; from safe, beginner horses to advanced, professional ones.
Famous horses that have come out of the Plettenberg Bay string are “Russian”, who was the best-playing pony in the Queens Cup in 2009, and “Texas”, who was the best-playing pony in Deauville in 2011.
Instructors
There are four instructors based at Kurland:
Shaun Brokensha: 3 goals, has been coaching for 5 years and has 20 playing horses.
Buster Mackenzie: 6 goals, has been coaching for 12 years and has a pool of 50 playing horses.
Doug Lund: 5 goals, has been coaching for 5 years and has 20 playing horses.
Guy Watson: 5 goals, has recently started coaching and has 40 playing horses.
All instructors have been involved in polo over a 10– 20-year period, both locally and internationally, and have acquired vast experience in all areas of polo.
A Polo Day
Groups vary from 1 to 8 guests. Collectively groups of up to 12 polo players can be accommodated. If the players are beginners, this number can be doubled. A regular polo day would include tuition in the morning, a horse riding lesson, stick and ball, and wooden horse, followed by a practise in the afternoon.
Handicaps
Players vary in handicaps from 2 to 5 goals.
For chukkas, either 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 are played, therefore 6 or 8 players are needed. Ideally 4 guests are required on the field at once.
Equipment
Guests are welcome to bring their own equipment, however helmets, gloves, knee guards, whips and sticks can be hired.
Ready-to-play ponies are provided.
Booking Lead Times
Preferably as long as possible before arrival because last-minute requests cannot always be accommodated.
See www.plettpolo.co.za for more information.