Polo Pitch Construction and Maintenance

Polo is often called the sport of kings and requires a pitch that’s both beautiful and tough. At A T Bone, we know that a well-built and well-kept polo pitch is key for the sport’s safety, performance and aesthetics. We’ve been managing and constructing sports turf surfaces for decades, and we’re here to share what we know about building and looking after polo pitches.

Key Takeaways: 

• A polo pitch needs regular mowing, aeration, drainage management, and seasonal renovations to remain safe and playable.
• A sandy loam soil profile and perennial ryegrass provide the best surface for durability, drainage, and fast recovery.
• A well-designed drainage and irrigation system prevents waterlogging, ensures pitch longevity, and keeps the surface safe for horses and players.

How Does a Polo Pitch Need to Be Maintained?

A polo pitch requires continuous care to stay in top shape. The grass must be maintained at just the right height, usually between 25 to 50mm subject to preference. This helps the ball roll smoothly and predictably. The ground needs to be firm enough to handle horses running on it, but soft enough to give them good footing and reduce the risk of injury. The soil profile of a polo pitch should be predominantly sand-based to prevent major damage, allow fast recovery and aid drainage. 

Good drainage is key across the surface of a polo pitch. A pitch that drains well prevents surface issues and risk of injury, increases the quality of the grass and performance of the playing surface, reduces damage and increases recovery times. The field should be level, with a minor fall of usually 1-2% to help direct water to the drainage outfall. Regular mowing, rolling and aeration are needed to keep the field in good playing condition, as well as annual renovations pre and post season – this should include scarification, top dressing of approved amenity sand, overseeding of industry recognised quality seed and fertiliser programmes.

What to Consider with Polo Pitch Construction

Building a polo pitch is a large and complex job that requires careful planning and consideration. Here are some key things to think about:

1. Choosing the Site

Choosing a location for constructing a polo pitch is a crucial decision, as it involves a combination of environmental, logistical and practical considerations. Here are the key factors to consider when selecting a location for a polo pitch:

• Size of pitch and surrounding areas to allow for additional requirements such as irrigation tanks or reservoirs, material storage for on-going maintenance, parking and spectator areas. 
• Access to the pitch for the likes of construction and maintenance materials, is there suitable vehicular access or can this be constructed during the project?

2. Soil specification 

The right soil is crucial for polo pitch construction, because it directly impacts the field’s playing surface, safety and the overall health of the grass and drainage of the surface. The ideal soil is a sandy loam, which provides a stable yet free draining profile.  

3. Grass Type

Choosing the right grass for a polo pitch is essential for maintaining a high-quality playing surface that is safe, durable and suitable for the horses’ needs. The grass must be resilient to heavy foot traffic, provide good traction for the horses and recover well after matches. In the UK, perennial ryegrass is a well-recognised grass suitable for many sports, including polo.   

4. Irrigation System

Irrigation is important for polo pitches for several reasons, as it directly impacts the quality, safety and playability of the field. Irrigation is crucial now more than ever with the ever-changing seasons we experience in the UK. It encourages growth and recovery during the season, softens the playing surface for the horses during hot dry periods and therefore prevents injury to both horse and rider. 

5. Drainage System

As with all natural turf sports pitches, drainage is an essential element in a polo pitch and is typically constructed by a combination of primary and secondary systems. 

Primary drainage is the perforated pipe drains that are located in narrow trenches. These are usually ~450mm below the surface, usually at 3-5m centres. They are filled with shingle and topped off with sand to the pitch surface to allow water to easily permeate through to the pipes. 

Secondary drainage typically consists of sand bands that run perpendicular to the primary drains and are ~250mm deep. These connect to the primary drain shingle with a 260mm distance between each coulter – this connects the surface of the pitch to the pipes and provides an enhanced drainage performance. 

6. Field Size

A standard polo pitch is about 300 yards long and 160 yards wide, with goal posts at each end.

At A T Bone, we think about all these things and more when we plan and build polo pitches.

What Does Polo Field Maintenance Involve?

Maintaining a polo field is an ongoing process that involves several key activities:

– Regular mowing

The grass needs to be mowed frequently to maintain the ideal height. This could be as often as every day during the peak growing season.

– Fertilisation

Regular fertilisation helps keep the grass healthy and resilient. The specific fertiliser and schedule will depend on the grass and soil type and localised conditions. 

– Irrigation

Proper watering is crucial to maintain grass health. This might involve daily watering during dry periods. 

– Aeration

Verti-draining is a form of aeration that involves using a machine with vertically oriented tines to puncture the ground and create holes in the soil. This decompacts the ground as well as allowing air to get below the surface. This also aids drainage, surface levels and improves root establishment.

– Overseeding

Overseeding is an important part of the maintenance and renovation process of a polo pitch. Post season, the surface can be very worn and damaged with a reduced grass coverage and it is therefore vital to reintroduce some quality grass seed to the surface. The best method for this is to use a disc drill system which cuts a fine slit in the soil, lays seed and then covers back over to ensure soil contact with the seed for optimised germination. A typical rate for an overseed is 35g/m2 – however, this will depend on how worn the pitch is. 

– Topdressing

Topdressing is another vital part of polo pitch maintenance and renovations. It helps to keep the pitch surface in good condition by addressing any surface irregularities, helps to keep levels correct, ensures drainage runs are not capped over by topsoil and the system continues to perform, prevents major surface damage and helps fast recovery. It is essential that an amenity approved sports sand with good drainage capabilities is used – this is usually applied at 10mm across the surface of a pitch.

A T Bone Sports Pitch Services

At A T Bone, we offer comprehensive services for polo pitch construction and maintenance. Our team of experts understand the unique needs of polo pitches and can provide:

• Full polo pitch design and construction
• Regular maintenance programs tailored to your specific pitch
• Renovation of existing pitches
• Consultation on best practices for pitch care

With our decades of experience in sports turf management, we ensure that your polo pitch is always in prime condition for play. Whether you’re building a new pitch or looking to improve an existing one, A T Bone has the expertise to help you achieve and maintain a world-class polo field.

Contact A T Bone for more information.