Elephant polo, anyone? Yes, it's slow, but then so are a lot of Geezers.  Too bad it's only played in Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. But, they say the elephants do what- eve they want---no yanking on the reins...  For more on this subject, see: www.escapeartist.com

Polo, the original, played with horses, is reputed to be one of the most exciting sports in the world, not to mention, more than a little dangerous.  Back when I was very young, I had a book from the "Polo Boys" series, about a group of young friends who played polo. It didn't mention that their fathers were rich, but they must have been.  If you think a car is an expense, trying keeping a string of polo ponies.  Horses are fragile and costly creatures to begin with, not the least when they're slammed in the fetlock with a mallet.  But we love them, the swift and graceful creatures, at the same time being grateful not to have to clean up after them.  I used to wonder what the garage at work would be like if we all rode or drove horses to work....phew!

                       The History of Polo

First played about 2500 years ago by Asian and Mid-Eastern tribes, polo evolved from a game involving hundreds of players on each side and a training for war, to the elite game played today when the British in India re-invented it in 1862.  It spread to England and then to the United States.  Polo matches are divided into four, five or six 7.5 minute "chukkas", depending on the level of play.  This period of time, 7.5 minutes, is supposed to represent the length of time a horse can go all out before needing a rest.  The riders give commands to the horses by leg movements.  There are four players on a team, and two mounted referees.  A polo field is 300 yards long and 130 yards wide, the largest playing field in organized sports.  The size is necessary owing to the speed of the game and the size of the equine players.  Winston Churchill loved polo, having learned it during his cavalry days .  The most well-known players today are Charles, the Prince of Wales, and his sons, William and Harry.  For much more on this subject, see:  www.argentinapolo.com