Facilities
Uitgedacht's polo facilities are unique. Over the past few years there has been extensive investment in polo infrastructure, including two full sized polo fields, an arena polo field and a stick and ball field. The setting for the A field is one of the most spectacular in the country, at the head of a valley with a bass-filled dam at the southern end and views of mountains to the north. The B field, situated a little further down the valley, is currently under construction and will be playable in 2009. The arena field is one of a handful in the country and offers the excitement of the smaller enclosed arena and an excellent facility to tune your riding skills. The stick and ball field, set high above the exercise track, and the wooden horse, set under a thatched roof overlooking the arena field, are invaluable aids to perfecting your stroke play. Poloafrica is also helping a neighbour, Sandstone Estates, to restore one of the oldest existing polo fields in the country, located 6 km away from Uitgedacht. This charming Boer War era polo field surrounded by fir trees will be playable once the restoration has been completed.
Your polo day
We aim to give you a complete polo experience while you are with us. We tailor the programme to suit guests' requirements and skill levels. A typical day starts with tuition in the morning led by one of our polo coaches. This includes a combination of stick and balling with the ponies, learning schooling techniques, honing hitting skills with foot mallets or on the wooden horse and absorbing the finer points of the game in theory sessions. We also feel that every polo player must understand the basics, namely how to tack up a polo pony, the merits and demerits of different bits, how to tie a tail, how to do a bandage. So for those that want it, we offer this tuition too. After a rejuvenating lunch, we put the lessons into practice during chukkas. Local players often come and join in our afternoon practice chukkas. Then it is time to wind down over a drink and look forward to dinner. To broaden the experience we sometimes take guests to play practice chukkas at nearby polo clubs.
We have an exceptional team who are dedicated to bringing on the ponies and improving your play. Overall responsibility for polo on the farm lies in the hands of our polo manager, Helgard du Preez, a local farmer and a two goaler. Polo has been a way of life for his family since the game began in South Africa. Flippie Fourie, a two goaler, is a frequent visitor to the farm. Flippie is well known in South Africa both as a coach and for his ability to choose and make polo ponies. Johann du Preez, a one goaler, also comes from a local farming family and is a third generation polo player. He focuses on bringing on young ponies on the farm and enjoys teaching his schooling techniques to guests. We also have a network of other polo professionals who look forward to coming to coach at Uitgedacht and play in tournaments with guests. Our grooms have been around horses almost since they were born. Some of them are players in their own right and all are used to assisting players of all levels either while learning on the farm or competing in tournaments.
Your polo kit
Most polo equipment is for loan or sale on the farm. Nestling amidst pilchards, condensed milk and baked beans in the farm shop you will be able to find different styles of locally made polo boot, short paddock boots, chaps, kneepads, clothing, whips, gloves, stick and boot bags and a wide range of polo mallets. There is also a small range of locally made artifacts, including pretty helmet decoration bands made by workers on the farm. Stock is restricted so if you wish to buy something such as a pair of boots it is best to let us know before you arrive so that we can ensure we have your size. We ask that guests bring their own polo helmets.
Poloafrica is fully equipped to support guests who want to compete in tournaments, whether individual players or teams. Depending on your requirements (and the constraints of the South African polo tournament schedule) we can organise your tournament entry, a professional polo player to lead the team, other team members, ponies, transport to the tournament, and your accommodation. A few days practice on the farm before the tournament for you and your team mates to get to know the ponies is the ideal way to prepare for it.
