Equestrian
one chukka (practice match) field and a two- thirds size practice field for school children.” The farm also has 200 acres of grass
paddocks and 150 horses stabled in two new barns to house the polo ponies which stay on site through the season. “The stable development was a big
The clubhouse and treelined members areas make a great spot to enjoy polo on a summer’s day
investment, but should pay for itself within ten years,” he says. “We have also added an all-weather horse exercise track throughout the park.” The latter is mainly used by polo grooms who ride one horse and lead several others at the same time, traditionally done on the country lanes - the frenetic pace of life in rural England now makes this practice too hazardous. Interest in polo has grown dramatically among pupils at local independent schools, and this keeps Mike busy in the first half of the season. The Pony Club organise tournaments with up to 200 riders attending per weekend through the summer, whilst the demand from individuals keen to take up the sport increases steadily once again in the improving financial climate. Pitches take a real hammering and need
constant care. With each pitch measuring 300 x 165 yards, or 10 acres - the size of three football pitches - that’s a lot of turf to maintain. Polo fields are constructed on a slight slope - a dome shape is ideal - to encourage drainage, and it’s a delicate balance between having the surface firm enough to facilitate fast, exciting play, but not so hard that it risks injuries to the horses. “We have minimal machinery and hire in a
verti-drain and seeder to cut costs, but all profits are ploughed back into pitch improvements,” says Mike. “Our bill for seed alone is £5,000-6,000 a year, and we aim to fertilise every eight weeks.” Preparations for the new season start in
Divoting is an essential task, carried out by head groundsman Mike Moss and his assistant after most fixtures
“
March when all pitches are scarified, using an Amazone Groundkeeper. “I tend to delay the first fertiliser
application until we’re mowing, otherwise the grass can get away from us. But this is a busy time of year as I look after the paddocks too.”
Agricultural grade bulk nitrogen is used to
We have minimal machinery and hire in a verti-drain and seeder to cut costs, but all profits are ploughed back into pitch improvements. Our bill for seed alone is £5-6,000 a year, and we aim to fertilise every eight weeks
The divot mix is 50/50 sand and soil to encourage rapid recovery
124 I PC AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015
feed the sward. “We tried small bag specialist fertiliser, but found that it is not much better than the agricultural product,” Mike comments. The first matches are planned for Easter
weekend, subject to the weather, and Mike comments that many of the members will have been playing abroad over the winter and are raring to go! “They don’t always understand that cold British springs can mean that the pitches are not quite ready.” A 6m Major triple roller mower is currently
the tool of choice for grass cutting, which can need doing three times a week at the start of the season. Cut heights are set at around 3cm (1.5in), or a little higher in dry conditions. “The roller mower design means that we don’t have to roll as a separate operation,” Mike explains, “and their 6m cut is essential to get across the expanse of grass.”
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