From November to March Carlito and his team move to the southern hemispere for the Argentine summer to deliver your dream polo holiday.

You don't need to be an experienced rider or to have ever played polo before, Carlito has a large string of ponies and will find the mount to suit you. By the end of the two-week holiday you will be playing chukkas and competing in a club tournament.

Mar del Plata Polo Club is situated right next to the beach just south of Mar del Plata city, some 400 kilometres south of Buenos Aires. With its beaches, casinos, shopping centres, restaurants, parks, Aquarium and museums there is plenty to see and do if you fancy a break from the riding.

Your days will be spent at the polo club and the evenings eating out in fantastic restaurants. Each day starts with a ride on the beach, to warm you and your polo pony up. This is followed by two polo sessions, one in the morning and one late afternoon. During the heat of the day you can enjoy a swim, barbeque lunch and a siesta.

Each polo session will consist of 'stick and ball' practice, followed by some chukkas, each lesson focusing on particular skills, tactics and rules of the game. The holiday will culminate with a club tournament on the final weekend, in which you take part.

Day 1

Transfer by luxury bus from Buenos Aires International Airport to Mar del Plata. The journey takes between 4 and 5 hours. After settling into your hotel, Carlitos will take you to the polo club for your first ride on the beach (if time permits).

It is important to let Carlitos know what you hope to get out of your holiday. His aim is to teach you enough polo during the fortnight so that you can play with confidence and skill. He will push you and is a tough coach, be ready for many hours of hard tuition! However, if all you want is fun - please feel free to let Carlitos know and he will happily adapt the itinerary for you. It is also important to advise how you feel physically as your comfort and safety is of paramount importance.

Dinner will be in one of the many excellent local restaurants and you will be able to discuss the day with Carlitos and plan the forthcoming days.
 

Days 2 to 13

The daily format for the next two weeks will be as follows:

• 08:30 breakfast

• 09:30 pick up from hotel

• 10:00 Ride on the beach. This helps you get used to the polo ponies and teaches you how to control your pony polo, stopping and turning and fast transitions. It is fun way to get used to the speed of the polo tournaments.

• 11:30 Stick and ball session, here you are taught how to hit the polo ball correctly from your pony, and all the different swings needed to play polo.

• 14:00 BBQ in the stables, (at the weekend lunch in the polo club restaurant).

• 15:00 Siesta

• 16:00 Chukkas. During these sessions you will learn to play polo as part of a team, and cover defence and attack and the tactics and rules of the game of polo.

• 20:00 Return to the hotel for a chance to freshen up.

• 21:00 Evening meal with Carlitos to discuss the next day's training and how you have done that day.

On the final weekend you will be able to take part in the scheduled club tournament. The tournament matches take place in the afternoon, so the itinerary for the morning stays the same at weekends as on a weekday.

(Please note that lunches taken in restaurants (normally at weekends and during inclement weather conditions) should be paid for locally.)

Day 14

After breakfast, transfer back to Buenos Aires.

Please note that polo is weather dependent and that in the event of heavy rain additional beach riding will be offered.

The Horses & the Riding

ABOUT THE RIDING

Style of Riding: Western.

Type of Riding: Centre-Based.

Type of Tack: Argentinean polo saddles.

Hours in the Saddle: 5 to 7 hours a day.

Riding Ability Required: Beginner upwards. This is meant as a fun introduction to Polo for people of any riding ability. All the ponies are specifically selected to suit the guests ability and the instructors are of the highest standard. The course is designed to cater to you.

Maximum Weight: 120kg (18st7lbs)

Number of Instructors: 1 or 2 depending on group size.

Minimum/Maximum number of riders in group: 1/8.

Looking after the horse: Guests are not expected to groom or tack up their horse but can help untack and wash them down..

ABOUT THE HORSES

Carlitos owns a large selection of quality polo ponies available, suitable for complete beginners up to medium goal players. All the horses have been chosen, not only for their ability to play polo, but they were bred and brought on by individuals Carlitos has known for many years. All these people took time from the day these horses were born, right the way through their handling, breaking, schooling, riding around the farms, introduction to polo, chukkas and finally tournaments.

Carlito also has polo ponies for sale and can organise door to door delivery of these ponies to any destination in the world.

What to Pack

In Mar del Plata the average daytime temperatures are between 20 and 25C during the season, November to March. During the evening the temperatures drop and a fleece and or a light weight jacket are a good idea.

The best way to dress is in layers - a T-shirt or shirt and a fleece. Take a jacket to give protection in case of wind and rain.

Please remember you will be playing in a tournament at the end of your holiday, so you will need white jodhpurs or breeches and long boots! If you don't have your own mallets or polo hat, please let us know so that we can arrange for them to be hired locally.

• 2 pairs of white jodhpurs for tournaments.
• Long boots * Your boots are kept at the club and cleaned every day so bring trainers to wear to and from the club or use short riding boots.
• Mallets.*
• Whip.*
• Polo Helmet.*
• Polo Gloves
• Jodhpurs or riding trousers - for everyday riding and chukkas.
• Short riding boots such as Ariat Terrain - these can be used when not competing and are much more comfortable than long boots.
• Long sleeved shirt and/or T shirts.
• Half chaps.
• Fleece.
• Underwear - cycling shorts are good for long days in the saddle.
• Waterproof/windproof jacket.
• Casual clothes for evening.
• Trainers or comfortable shoes for evening.
• Swimming costume.
• Personal toiletries.
• Ibuprophen gel or deep heat spray or cream for aching muscles.
• If you are prone to blisters please purchase Compeed (available from Boots( which works as a second skin if you get blisters - iIt is much more effective than a plaster)
• Back and/or and wrist support.
• Sun block.
• Lip balm.
• Camera, film, batteries and binoculars.
• Riding hat (if you do not have a polo helmet). Your hat should conform to BHS requirements (PAS015, BSEN1384). You will not be permitted to ride without a hat.
• Spanish/English phrase book or dictionary.

• * Please let us know if you cannot bring any of these things so that we can arrange for them to be hired locally.
• Polo Boots can also be made locallY, hand made and made to measure as well as saddles and bridles