Northwest Polo Match

Ponies wait for the Tacoma Polo Club Independence Cup

Tacoma Polo Club’s popular summer tournaments are a traditional favorite. The Club is located approximately two hours north of Portland. Tacoma Polo Club is known for its family atmosphere where fans tailgate or watch polo matches from the clubhouse deck. The game of polo has 7.5 minute periods called chukkas. Players ride a different horse in each chukka. (Photos by Andrew Towell)

Warming up before the game. Polo horses get exercised in groups. They walk trot and canter around a track to keep them in shape and build stamina.

Tacoma Polo Club Independence Cup. Blue reaches for the ball with Gray in hot pursuit. Polo is played four players on each side.

After intense play the ponies are cooled down. Polo ponies work hard in a seemingly short 7.5 minutes chukka.

Umpire Rene Skaggs holds a pick up stick and sets up a fouled shot. There are two mounted umpires and a referee on the sidelines in every chukka.

The Tacoma Polo Club has a regulation sized field, practice field and club house with deck seating for spectators. It’s located at 202 288th Avenue East, Roy, Washington, 98580.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.