Rules of Polo | Sussex Polo Rules of Polo The Specatator’s Guide Here are just a few of the basic rules of the game of polo. On our main spectator days we usually have a commenator who will help to explain what is happening, but by all means, do pose any unanswered questions to our commentator in between chukkas and he/she will provide an explanation for everyone over the loudspeaker system to help everyone. How many players in a team? There are 4 players in a team, but at the lower levels, some players might share a ‘shirt’ and play 2 chukkas each. Umpires There are two mounted umpires and sometimes a ‘third man’ on the sidelines. Captains of teams are the only players who can discuss questions arising during a game with the Umpires. No player shall appeal in any manner to the Umpire for fouls, however many players have a short memory where this rule is concerned! What is a chukka? A chukka is the name for a period of time – in this case 7 minutes with up to 30 seconds ‘overtime’ for all but the final chukka. Play ends after the first bell when: 1.

A goal is scored 2. A foul occurs 3. The ball goes out of play 4. The second bell rings The term chukka is derived from the Indian word for circle or ’round’. How many chukkas in a match? Typically the polo matches you will see here at Sussex Polo are four chukkas long. If you watch the Gold Cup at Cowdray or the Cartier International at Guards Polo Club then these matches are 6 chukkas long. If you see a match in Argentine then you can expect eight chukkas. Players return to the field with a fresh pony after each chukka. Breaks between chukkas are three and a half minute and five minutes at half time. Some players use the ‘Argentine hop’ to jump from one saddle to another to change pony. How big is the pitch? The main pitches here at Sussex Polo are full size. A full sizeboarded pitch is 275m x 183m – that’s over THREE football pitches! How tall are the goal posts? The goal posts need to be a minimum of 10 feet high (3 metres) & light enough to give way if collided with.

They are 8 yards (7.3 metres) apart. What is the ball made of? The ball is now made of resin, although historically it was made of wood. It is 3 – 3.5 inches in diameter (76 – 89 millimeters. It weighs no more than four and a half ounces (120 – 135 grams) The balls do get mis-shapened after being hit with the polo mallet – when hit by a polo pro at speed and with a heavy mallet head the ball can reach upto 190 miles per hour! So it is prudent to be concious of where the ball is as it can change direction very quickly! How long is a mallet or stick? Typically a mallet or stick is 52 inches long but this can vary depending on the height of the pony or the length of the players arms! Most popular lengths are 51 – 53 inches but sticks used for Pony Club ponies can be much shorter e.g. 47 inches. What is the mallet made of? The shaft is made of bamboo cane which gives it the flexibility to bend.

The mallet head or ‘cigar’ as it is called by trhe Argentines is made of ‘Tipa’ wood. Guards Polo Club Guards Polo Club There are no announcements. Polo in the UK The main polo season in the UK is from May to September and indoor or arena polo is played throughout the winter. For the high goal players and many professionals the first high goal tournament in UK is The Prince of Wales Trophy (Royal County of Berkshire) held at the end of May. This is followed by The Cartier Queen's Cup (Guards), The Warwickshire Cup (Cirencester), The Gold Cup (Cowdray), and finally the Royal Salute Coronation Cup, held at Guards at the end of July. The Game of Polo The Ground It is 300 yards long by 200 yards wide although if it is boarded it need only be 160 yards wide. The goalposts, open at the top, are 8 yards apart. Duration of Play There are 4 to 6 'chukkas' in a match and each one lasts for 7 minutes of actual play.

At present, though due to change, when the ball goes out of play, or the whistle is blown, the clock is stopped and only restarted when the umpire calls 'Play'. At the end of the period a bell goes to signify that the 7 minutes are up, however there is a further 30 seconds of play unless the whistle is blown, the ball hits the boards, or the ball goes out of play. This extra 30 seconds does not apply to the last chukka unless the scores are equal. Should a match be drawn a 'sudden death' (i.e. first to score) chukka maybe played, and if still a draw at the end of that chukka, another one is played with the goalposts widened. There is an interval of 3 minutes between chukkas but 5 minutes at half time when traditionally spectators are invited to tread in the divots. The Start Play starts with the umpire throwing in the ball between the two teams lined up in front of him. In the same way play is restarted after a goal is scored or if the ball goes out over the side boards. If the ball goes over the back line there is a hit-in by the defenders.

There is no offside in polo nor is there a corner, instead a 60 yd hit from the back line is taken by the attacking side opposite where the ball went out of play. Goals Polo is probably the only game in which the teams change ends when a goal is scored, thus equalling out any ground or weather advantage. Equipment A polo player must have a helmet, with or without a visor, knee guards, and a polo stick. The ball is hit with the side of the stick not the end of the mallet as in croquet. The stick is pliable and hits of up to 100 - 150 yards are not unknown. The Ball The ball is no longer made of bamboo except in certain parts of India. It is now made of plastic and is 3.5 inches in diameter and weighs 4.5 ounces, still remarkably hard if it hits you. Challenging A player may challenge an opposing playerr by riding him off whether he is about to hit the ball or not. He may also hook the opponent's stick just as they are about to hit the ball, providing it is done on the same side as the ball.

In riding off, a player can prevent an opponent taking an active part, however the angle of the 'bump' must not be dangerous to either player or pony. Control of the Game Two mounted umpires control the game. After they have blown their whistle for an infringement they often consult each other on the severity of the foul. Should they disagree they can seek the opinion of the referee or 'third man' as he is often known in the stands. The Rules Safety Polo is a fast and often dangerous game and the rules are designed for the safety of both the players and their ponies. The three main aspects are: The Right of Way The main rule in polo is that the player on the line of the ball, or the imaginary line along which the ball travels, has the right of way and may only be challenged by being ridden off, or having his stick hooked. A player riding along the line of the ball in the opposite direction may, if it is not dangerous, hit the ball provided it is the corresponding forehand or backhand as the original player. This rule can generally be compared with a dual carriageway with the central reservation being the line of the ball.

There are strict rules covering the entry into that right of way and the severity of any infringement governs the severity of the penalty awarded. Penalties A free hit towards goal is set from distance by the umpire following a foul, these penalties are as follows: Result Frequently Asked Questions - Polo Wicklow - Polo Wicklow Frequently Asked Questions 2. What do I need to play? The player has to wear the standard safety attire during matches. Polo riding hat Knee pads (to protect you knees during close contact) Polo shirt Normal riding gear is sufficient during lessons and practice. 3. How long does a match last? A polo match is either 4 or 6 or 8 chukka depending on the match, players and horses available. In a match you have either 2 or 3 players in a team and 1 or 2 umpires . A chukka is 7 minutes, the interval between chukkas is 3 minutes. A fit horse should never play 2 chukkas in sequence and never play more than 2 chukkas on the same day. 4. What type of horses do they use for polo?

A typical polo pony Polo ponies are generally thoroughbreds or thoroughbreds crossed with a warm blood (i.e Connemara), so you keep the speed but have a quiet head too . Their height is usually between 15 and 15.3 hands. The smaller the polo pony the more agile they are, so you can whiz in and out of the other players, but they may not keep up with the longer legged ponies, so generally in higher goal polo the ponies are slightly taller. For economical reasons most of the polo ponies in the past came from the Argentine but now Irish horses are trained to play Polo and their speed and strong bone makes them some of the best Polo ponies in the world . The training can take up to three years, but is well worth it as the Irish thoroughbred is most suitable for the game, they not only have the speed but they are often very level-headed too. 5. I'm 50, am I too old to start? Age is no barrier.. The earlier you start the better you will become. We have 17 year old players. We have people who started well in their 50's and still play with 80 years old.

I heard a wise man once tell me "the right age to start polo is after you are forty, when your legs start to get tired you can swap them for the 4 legs of your horse and let them do the running". Because of the handicap system any player is important and has the same chance and for sure the same enjoyment of Polo. 6. What makes a good Polo Player? You have to love horses. There is no horse sport, where you feel so much part of the horse, the horse is an extension of you or visa versa, so you have a very close relationship to your horse. The horse knows that too. You to be competitive and always want to win ... You need to be a good team person as the game is very much a team play and you depend on your fellow players and they very much depend on you. A game is always won by the better team on the day not the best individual players. It helps if you are already a good rider or if you have done some competitive ball sports. But both you can learn. You will automatically become a good rider if you concentrate on the game and the ball, as you will learn how to naturally balance. 7. How many lessons should I take before I start to play?

Generally 3 to 4 lessons is enough to learn the basics as you learn just as much by playing. Once you start to play, practice makes perfect. It's also advisable to get a lesson or two throughout the year to get rid of any bad habits you may pick up. " Once you have played your first chukka, there are few people who give up Polo unless you become broke, divorced or even both." 8. Will I have to join a club to play? Yes. Once you have been accepted as a member, the club will look after your Polo. You tell them when you are available and for how many chukkas. A chukka is a 7.5 minute play period, a game usually has 4 periods and you can play with one horse at the most 2 chukka with an interval. The club manager will insure that you get into the teams and keeps you informed of all the club activities. You will find the other members very friendly and helpful. In general the Polo fellowship is one of the greatest assets in the game as the Polo community is relatively small and the game is very much a team sport where everybody depends on his team mates and all good players appreciate this.. 9.

How much will it cost? Polo costs as much as you want to spend. It does not have to be the most expensive sport but you should be aware that to play Polo you will need 2 horses if you want to play the 4 chukka matches. Your first horse would cost you between €4000 and €12,000, although you can get cheaper horses you generally end up swapping them out 2 years later costing you more money. I have played for years with 2 ponies only and so have most of the members. But of course there is no limit to how serious you want to involve yourself. You may be able to lease some horses for your first season, if you join a club like Polo Wicklow, but on the end of the day you have to have your own horses, to enjoy the game. This lease or hire facility is not available everywhere but some clubs have this facility. Yes, you can start with one horse but this allows you only to play 2 chukka and you soon will look for your second horse. So you should budget for a second horse. 10. Is it okay to bring family and friends to the polo club?

Polo is a very much family sport, the clubs are organized for you to bring your family and friends along, they usually are the base of your supporter group and in general get very involved in the social activities of the club. 11. I'm busy with work, will I have have devote all my time to polo? If your horses are kept at a Polo yard, in livery, your time involvement is in your control. All you have to do is, arrive at the Polo Club .. climb on your horse and off you go.. enjoy your polo. After polo have a shower in the club and go back to work if that is what you want. Or stay on and share your experiences with the fellow players . The game keeps your body and mind fit. Obviously if you want to be a top player it's recommended to practice at least once or twice a week. 12. I want to buy my first pony, what should I get? I would always recommend a beginner to buy experienced horses, at least 9 years old, to start the game.

There is no point in buying a young horse and trying to teach it to play when you are only learning yourself, then fighting with it because it picked up your bad habits and later putting you off polo all together. You need all the help you can get when you are learning. Many horses play well into their 20's. These horses will teach you the game and from the beginning on you will enjoy your Polo. They say 80% of the game is your horse! Keep that in mind. Polo is the most safe horse sport if you have a good Polo pony. There are plenty of horses out there so don't rush into buying because everyone else has. Buy a horse that is good for your standard now, not one that will be in 3 years, you will get a fright and it will put you off the game. 13. I'm left handed, can I play with my left hand? Polo Simplified: No, it's a written rule that you must hold your stick in your right hand. This does not mean you cannot play but it does mean it's more difficult. There are 3 or 4 top professionals playing today that are left handed so it is possible.

There are many exercised you can do to help you build up strength in left arm. 14. Polo Simplified: Like in Football you have a goal on each end of the Polo field and the aim is to score as many goals with your team as possible. There are not many rules. The main one is the line of the running ball which means that the person closest to the line of the ball has the right of way and you are not allowed to cross that line from the person who is the closest angel to the line. Similar to driving a car on the main road, 'the line of the ball' is the main road, the other cars can not cross it unless the road is clear. The player can do the following: the obvious .... hit the ball . Hinder another player to hit the ball by riding him off the line of the ball.. Or by hitting the stick of the other player striking the ball and thereby preventing him/her to hit the ball. From this you see that even a person with no initial ball experience can be very constructive in the game. Polo can be played on Grass (but this you can do only in the summer months) or in the indoor/outdoor Polo Arena.

In Arena Polo you have the advantage that it is played in any weather conditions and never cancelled. Arena Polo is also a faster playing game as the boards are used to keep the ball in the game like in a snooker match, this is where you catch out the ones who like to just run with the ball and see the ones who have skill and quick thinking. You can play Arena Polo 2 or 3 aside. Grass Polo is a bigger playing field and usually played with 4 players on a team. P.S. Polo Wicklow provides the only all year round, All Weather Polo and has some of the fastest and best Irish Polo Ponies available. THE HISTORY OF POLO HISTORY OF POLO Polo is arguably the oldest recorded team sport in known history, with the first matches being played in Persia over 2500 years ago. Initially thought to have been created by competing tribes of Central Asia, it was quickly taken up as a training method for the Kingï¿½s elite cavalry. These matches could resemble a battle with up to 100 men to a side.

As mounted armies swept back and forth across this part of the world, conquering and re-conquering, polo was adopted as the most noble of pastimes by the Kings and Emperors, Shahs and Sultans, Khans and Caliphs of the ancient Persians, Arabs, Mughals, Mongols and Chinese. It was for this reason it became known across the lands as "the game of kings". British officers themselves re-invented the game in 1862 after seeing a horsemanship exhibition in Manipur, India. The sport was introduced into England in 1869, and seven years later sportsman James Gordon Bennett imported it to the United States. After 1886, English and American teams occasionally met for the International Polo Challenge Cup. Polo was on several Olympic games schedules, but was last an Olympic sport in 1936. Polo continues, as it has done for so long, to represent the pinnacle of sport, and reaffirms the special bond between horse and rider. The feeling of many of its players are epitomized by a famous verse inscribed on a stone tablet next to a polo ground in Gilgit, Pakistan: "Let others play at other things.

The king of games is still the game of kings." Source: pro-polo.com Quote from Xenophon POLO FACTS ï¿½ The Basics: Polo is a ball sport, played on horses. Where one team attempts to score goals by hitting hard hockey-sized ball through their oppositions' goal with a mallet attached to the end of a 4 1/4 foot stick. ï¿½ The Pitch: The outdoor polo field is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide, the largest field in organized sport. The goal posts at each end are 24 feet apart and a minimum of 10 feet high. Penalty lines are marked at 30 yards from the goal, 40 yards, 60 yards, and at midfield. ï¿½ Chukkas: Each polo match is divided in to "Chukkas". A chukka is 7 1/2 minutes of active play time and is supposed to represent the amount of time a horse can reasonably exert itself before needing a rest. Polo Matches are divided into 4,5, or 6 Chukkas depending whether the level is Low, Medium, or High goal polo.

ï¿½ Players: In outdoor polo there is four players on a team. Numbers 1 - 2 are traditionally attacking whilst 3 is the midfield playmaker and 4 is Defense. However as the sport is so fluid there are no definite positions in Polo. ï¿½ Handicaps: Handicaps in Polo range from -2 to 10 "goals". With 10 being the best. A player who is playing above his handicap level (i.e. 3 playing as a 5) is known as a bandit, and is a very valuable but short lived commodity. Handicaps are assessed and independently mediated several times during the season. ï¿½ Umpires: Two mounted umpires, referee the game. They must agree on each foul/call made, if they disagree they refer to the "3rd Man" who would be on the edge of the pitch in line with the center mark. His decision will settle the argument. ï¿½ The Rules: The Rules of polo are centered almost in totality around safety.

When you have 1/2 a ton of horse traveling one way in excess of 30mph, you do not want to be hit by 1/2 a ton of horse traveling in excess of 30 mph the other way. Polo is inherently dangerous, which may be part of the allure; however, the rules go a long way to negate risk. MORE POLO HISTORY... "The King of Games" - Let other people play at other things. The King of Games is still the Game of Kings. This verse, inscribed on a stone tablet beside a polo ground South of the fables silk route from China to the West, sums up the ancient history of what is believed to be the oldest organized sport in the world. Polo was truly a game of Kings, for most of its reputed 2,500 years or more of existence. Although the precise origin of polo is obscure and undocumented, there is ample evidence of the game's regal place in the history of Asia.

No one knows where or when stick first met ball after the horse was domesticated by the tribes of Central Asia, but it seems likely that as the use of light cavalry spread throughout Asia Minor, China and the Indian sub-continent so did this rugged game on horse back. As mounted Armies swept back and forth across this part of the world, conquering and re-conquering, polo was adopted as the most noble of pastimes by the Kings and Emperors, Shahs and Sultans, Khans and Caliphs of the ancient Persians, Arabs, Mughals, Mongols and Chinese. The great rulers and their horsemen real and legendary, of those early centuries were expected to be brave warriors, skillful hunters and polo players of exceptional prowess. Some scholars believe that polo originated among the Iranian tribes sometime before Darius-I and his cavalry forged the first great Persian Empire in the 6th century B.C. Certainly it is Persian literature and art which give us the richest accounts of polo in antiquity. Firdausi, the most famous of Persiaï¿½s poet-historian, gives a number of accounts of royal polo tournaments in his 9th century epic, Shahnamah.

Some believe that the Chinese (the Mongols) were the first to try their hands at the game. In the earliest account, Firdausi romanticizes an international match between Turanian force and the followers of Syavoush, a legendary Persian ruler from the earliest centuries of the Empire. The poet is eloquent in his praise of Syavoush's skills on the polo field. Firdausi also tells of Sapor-II Sassanid, King of the 4th Century A.D., who learn to play polo when he was only seven years old. Another 9th century historian, Dinvari, describes polo and its general rules and gives some instructions to players including such advice as 'polo requires a great deal of exerciseï¿½, ï¿½if polo stick breaks during a game it is a sign of inefficiency' and 'a player should strictly avoid using strong language and should be patient and temperate'. During the 10th century the Persian King Qabus also set down some general rules of polo and especially mentioned the risks and dangers of the game.

The 13th century poet Nizami weaves the love story of the Sassanid King Khusru and his beautiful consort Shirin, around her ability on the polo field, and describes matches between Khusru and his courtiers and Shirin and her ladies-in-waiting. Nurjehan, wife of the 19th century Mughal Emperor Jahangir, was also skilled at polo. Polo was a popular royal pastime for many centuries in China, the Chinese probably having learned the game from the same Indian tribes who were taught by the Persians. The polo stick appears on royal coats of arms in China and the game was part of the court life in the golden age of Chinese classical culture under Ming-Hung, the Radiant Emperor, who as an enthusiastic patron of equestrian activities. Less cultured, one might think, was the reaction of Emperor Tai Tsu in 9 10 A.D. who according to one source, ordered all the other players beheaded after a favorite was killed in a match. Several controversies still run rampant over the exact origins of polo. Depending on what country you are in the exact history of polo can vary.

However, some parts of the history do remain the same. POLO - The oldest team sport, the exact origin of polo is unknown. Polo was probably first played by nomadic warriors over two thousand years ago. Used for training cavalry, the game was played from Constantinople to Japan in the Middle Ages. Tamerlane's polo grounds can still be seen in Samarkand. British tea planters in India first saw the game in the early 1800's. However, it was not until the 1850's that the British cavalry drew up the first rules and by the 1870's, the game was well established in England. James Gordon Bennett, a noted American publisher, brought polo to New York in 1876. Within ten years, there were major clubs all over the east including Long Island. Over the next 50 years, polo achieved tremendous popularity in the United States. By the 1930's, polo was an Olympic sport and crowds in excess of 30,000 regularly attended international matches at the Meadow Brook Polo Club on Long Island. In the 1950's, intercollegiate polo was played by only four teams.

Today, it includes more than 25 colleges and universities. Player membership in the United States Polo Association has more than tripled with over 250 active clubs, with almost 1000 polo clubs worldwide in almost every country on the globe. Polo's roots are in ancient warfare Although many associate polo with the British Empire, the game's origins are far older. Four thousand years ago the tribes of central Asia domesticated wild horses, migrated to Persia and mastered the art of warfare on horseback. To practice their maneuvers, they began playing polo. The first references to the game in Persian literature date to 600 BC. But the best-known are contained in the 11th-century Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, who used polo as a metaphor for God's dominion over the apparent chaos of life: In the cosmic game of polo you are the ball The mallet's left and right becomes your call He who causes your movements, your rise and fall He is the one, the only one, who knows it all.

Thanks to the military superiority of its cavalry, Persia expanded its empire across Asia in the 5th century BC, and the horse -- and polo -- arrived in China, Japan and Tibet. ("Polo" is derived from pulu, the Tibetan word for ball.) Although it has all but vanished from those lands, it is still played by the hill tribes of northern Pakistan; the biggest match of the year in that country is played under a full moon on a rocky field astride the 11,000-foot Shandur Pass, following rules dictated 800 years ago by a descendant of Genghis Khan. Polo came to the west via India, where the game was introduced in the 16th century. By the middle of the 19th century, polo flourished in several Indian provinces, especially Manipur, where it was observed by puzzled British government officials. One of them wrote an account of the sport and, in 1869, an officer with the Tenth Hussars, a cavalry regiment based at Aldershot, near London, read about it in a sporting journal.

He was so impressed that he immediately ordered his men to start playing makeshift games; within a year, polo was a standard part of a British cavalry officer's training. But the games were confused melees, so in 1874 London's fashionable Hurlingham Club established a set of rules (see "Polo: The basic rules"), many of which are still in use today. Duly armed with their laws, the British took polo around the world. British cattlemen introduced the game to Argentina, the current Mecca for polo aficionados. In Buenos Aires every December as many as 30,000 polo fans attend the Argentine Open, the world's most prestigious tournament. In the land of the gaucho, boys growing up on estancias (estates) play polo as soon as they learn to ride; consequently, the majority of top-ranked players are Argentines, including 27-year-old Adolfo Cambiaso, the sport's tabloid-handsome superstar and current leading goal scorer on the World Polo Tour. Historically speaking, however, polo's most articulate spokesman must be Winston Churchill, who learned the game in 1895 when he was a young cavalry officer.

(He wrote to his mother and begged her for money to buy polo ponies: "I cannot go on without any for more than a few days," he wrote, "unless I give up the game, which would be dreadful.") A year later, stationed in India, he organized a polo club and purchased 25 horses from another regiment with the aim of winning India's prestigious inter-regional tournament. His team practiced every day in the blistering heat, and traveled up to 1,400 miles by train with its horses to play invitational matches. In My Early Life, he describes a game with the kinsmen of Sir Pertab Singh, the regent of Jodhpor: "Old Pertab, who loved polo next to war more than anything in the world, used to stop the game repeatedly and point out faults or possible improvements in our play and combination. 'Faster, faster, same like fly,' he would shout to increase the speed of the game. The Jodhpor polo ground rises in great clouds of red dust when a game is in progress. These clouds carried to leeward of the strong breeze introduced a disturbing and somewhat dangerous complication.

Turbaned figures emerged at full gallop from the dust-cloud, or the ball whistled out of it unexpectedly. It was difficult to follow the whole game, and one often had to play to avoid the dust-cloud." Thanks to his determination, Churchill's team won the inter-regional tournament in 1899. He continued to play polo until the age of 52, despite suffering a constantly dislocating right shoulder which forced him to ride with his hitting arm bound to his side. "Don't give your son money," he later advised parents. "As far as you can afford it, give him horses. No one ever came to grief -- except honorable grief -- through riding horses. No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle.

Young men have often been ruined through owning horses, or through backing horses, but never through riding them; unless of course they break their necks, which, taken at a gallop, is a very good death to die." Chukka Boots Guide — Gentleman's Gazette Suede chukka boots History Of The Chukka Boot Due to their similarities with the Jodhpur boot, their name and the fact that they were worn by off-duty polo players, it is safe to assume that the Chukka boot originated in India among the British army units that played the game and subsequently found its way to the west, much like the Jodhpur boot. The fact that the Chukka boot was first worn in the US in 1924 by the Duke of Windsor , who had previously visited India, played a little Polo and had acquired a few pairs of Chukka boots only adds credence to the story. Subsequently, the Duke wore them regularly, abetting their rise to become a staple in men’s shoe closets in the West. The British army origins are reinforced by the fact that the British army had as standard issue a type of Chukka boot worn in the desert campaign of World War II.

These boots were known as Desert boots and had a crepe rubber sole instead of a leather sole. Whatever the precise nature of their origins the Chukka boots were designed to provide both comfort and a certain amount of style, and it was precisely because of these two qualities that they became extremely popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Chukka boots were considered a comfortable alternative to be worn as both casual and dress boots. 1930s Chukka boot with rubber sole that predated Clarks with yellow socks and green trousers Desert Boots In 1941, while deployed to Myanmar, Nathan Clark, the great grandson of James Clark (the creator of the shoe company Clarks), noticed the chukka boot variation with crepe soles and sent sketches back home. Originally, they were commissioned as a lightweight and comfortable boot with rubber soles and sand colored leather to be worn by soldiers in their downtime. At the time, the suede uppers and crepe sole were associated with footwear only lower classes would wear, and so the Clarks Desert boot was not launched until 1950. Sixty-three years later, it is probably the most common version of the Chukka boot.

Priced between $60 – 150 the Clarks Original Desert Boot is popular with jeans or chinos . Frankly, I doubt the quality is what it used to be, but at that price you can’t ask for more. Because of its popularity, it comes in all kinds of leather and rubber colors or sometimes even fabric. Personally, I prefer elegant lasts with leather soles because the Clarks Desert boot reminds me too much of college, but if you have a more casual style, it might be the right choice for you. Nathan Clark with his great Clarks Desert Boots on the Left Chukka boots today Chukka boots today have become far more versatile than the originals and have been stylized to suit the times. The differences in the finer style details of the boot today determine whether they are right for business or leisure. Chukka boots now come in various leathers and fabrics. Synthetic fabrics, canvas, suede or faux leather / faux exotic skins Chukkas are suitable for work and casual occasions. Traditional leather Chukkas in brown suede and leather soles are suitable for casual outfits but personally, I also wear them with all kinds of blue suits.

Soles – the thinner the leather soles, the finer the boots, but overall Chukka boots will never be a go-to business shoe. However, they can be worn with suits on occasion. The more casual Desert Boots often have thicker soles and rougher stitching, making them only suitable for casual wear. Colors – although there are many color variations, Chukka boots should be brown. Personally, I prefer dark brown suede over tan, but each to his own. I also choose a lace color that matches the leather. Less formal Chukka boots often come with contrast stitching on the uppers but personally, I prefer it tone in tone so I can wear it more elegantly with a suit. Style Advice Chukka boots or Desert Boots are rather popular today, and there are many manufacturers of casual chukka boots and also bespoke versions of it. Considering the casual nature of the Chukka boot, I would never combine a crepe sole Chukka boot with dress pants or a suit. At the same time, an elegant Chukka boot can be paired like a suede shoe , and looks great with dress pants and suits. For example, I have an elegant pair of St.

Crispin Chukka boots in mid brown suede leather that goes very with almost anything I wear. The possibilities of incorporating them into one’s wardrobe are endless. Dress Chukka boots with thin leather soles on an elegant last in brown can be paired with a navy or mid-gray suits and a range of other colors and patterns. For details, please look at our H ow to Wear Brown Shoes Guide , which also applies to Chukka boots. Suede Chukka Boots Suede Chukka boots with crepe soles should only be worn with denim or chinos. Feel free to experiment with colorful and patterned socks . Alternatively, you can go with different suede colors such as blue or beige – the varieties are endless. Paired with an Oxford shirt and jeans or a polo shirt , they make for a good casual outfit. A brown pair goes well with autumnal trouser colors such as green, red and duskier yellows – again, experiment at your heart’s content. For an even more casual weekend look, go for Chukka boots in other materials like canvas. One can combine them with a favorite pair of old jeans and T- Shirt or khakis and a sweater. Stick to slim jeans to create a refined silhouette.

The Chukka boot is a versatile boot can be worn in a variety of ways; you can use them to add variety to your wardrobe. St. Crispin’s Chukka Boots with leather sole & lining Buying Guide There is a wide variety of Chukka boots available on the market from an equally wide number of manufacturers. Some are goodyear welted , others come with a glued rubber soles. In many cases, boots advertised as Chukka boots do not conform to the classic description of Chukkas. However one can use one’s discretion if you find a pair that may not be true in conventional sense but still suits your needs. Below is a list of a few reputable manufacturers. Allen Edmonds

Question: How many chukkas are normally played in a game of polo?
Answer: SIX