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The new Polo Season for the Academy will start Thursday 1st October 7am onwards, and as the weather cools down we will of course be extending our hours available during the day. Our operational times will remain the same as over the past season with activity available everyday except Sundays.
Here at the Academy we have also made the most of the opportunity to take a break this season including a week by the Adaman sea just prior to hosting the -what has become the annual 3 week Polo Boot Camp Holiday in Argentina designed for the true Polo Addicts!
With everyone so keen to get back into the saddle after the summer we are already starting to fill the diary with lesson bookings and strongly recommend to book in early as we would like to give priority to our existing clients.
Please note, we will be running the hour and half Introduction to Polo sessions again during October, suitable for all non polo players as well as complete non-riders. Feel welcome to pass this information on to any friends/colleagues who may have expressed an interest over the past as a great opportunity for them to come and try!
Unfortunately due to the increase of fees in general we have had to slightly adjust our pricing structure for this season - see below for full detail.
As August temperatures soared in Dubai captains of industry from the worlds of marketing, finance and media left their luxury lifestyle behind in the desert for the annual pilgrimage to the Mecca of polo – Argentina.
Set amongst the wilderness of open plains, roaming cattle and horses, the real life City Slickers descended on the sleepy village of Santa Rosa 5 hours outside of Buenos Aires.
Now in its 2nd year, Polo Boot Camp as it has affectionately become known is an absolute ‘must’ for the polo set from Dubai. Farmhouse hospitality, roaring open fires, Asado barbeques, cattle herding and of course as much polo as you can swing a mallet at, is what makes this tour so extremely special.
Supported by polo’s leading clothing and equipment brand “La Martina” and luxury cosmetics brand “Clarins” dressed and fragrant the 16 Dubaites had no idea of what was in store. The romantic image of “playing polo in Argentina” was somewhat distorted with the reality of Polo Boot Camp!
Each day would begin early… very early, with a rigorous work-ride around the farm followed by the most amazing farmhouse breakfast (with experience, those delegates who had been before appreciated that this was the only meal which in fact would not contain half a cow or a sheep!) In keeping with the “No Rest” at Boot Camp theme, it was back in the saddle for polo skills sessions for the advanced players and for the new arrivals a big wake up calls with cattle mustering! A much needed siesta following lunch ensured everyone had enough time to apply the creams, lotions and overdose on as many anti inflammatory pain killers as possible before the daily afternoon polo match.
As the sun set every evening over La Pampa, delegates could be seen bonding together around the campfire amidst the delicious aroma of a typical Argentine Asado, swapping highly exaggerated accounts of their near misses to goal and their Beckham like skills on the pitch!
A far cry from the ritz and glitz of the polo world that the media presents, the Polo Boot Camp concept is a real insight into the grass roots of polo. “The timing of the trip in late August , early September is perfect for us as our Dubai season opens on 1st October, so it is ideal for those wishing to brush up their skills or buy horses.” commented Steve Thompson, owner of the Polo Academy in Dubai.
“We all work very hard in Dubai and there’s nothing better to relieve stress than a day in the saddle, a long soak in a hot bath and a bit of soul searching around the campfire”, says Tina Schultz- marketing manager for Costa Coffee.
The setting is a pure romantic Polo Estancia in the country home of Dubai based Polo Professional and manager of the highly successful Habtoor Polo Team Justo Del Carril. The Del Carril family opened their home for the first time last year to members of the Dubai Polo Academy as a training centre and delegate places where sold out within 24hours of the first announcement.
“For me this was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget, I substituted a luxury family skiing holiday and I have to say it is the best thing I have ever done!” quoted Luis Vignoles.
After 3 gruelling weeks of intensive farm life it was admittedly a welcome change to hit the amazing city of Buenos Aires. Compulsory spa treatments, shopping, site seeing and of course the inevitable 24hour partying at PACHA was just the icing on the cake for a truly memorable vacation.
For more information on Polo courses and clinics in La Pampa Argentina, please contact Adriana - info@dubaipoloacademy.com or please feel free to give us a call on 050 887 9847 for bookings and any further info you may require.
Polo Season in Dubai – 09/10 rates :
Introduction to polo : 1.5hr - 800 AED
Group Polo Lesson/ Group Stick & Ball : 40min - 550 AED
Private Polo Lesson : 40min - 770 AED
Instructional Chukkas : 40min - 600 AED
Stick & Ball no inst : 40min - 440 AED
Polo Experience (10 – 30pax) : 3hrs - 1000 AED p.p
Chukka hire : Per chukka - 660 AED
Green fee : Per match - 800 AED
Horse schooling : 20min - 350 AED
Please note: A 10% discount is available for a minimum 4000Dhs prepayment on lessons & stick and ball.
Photos : courtesy of The Dubai Polo Academy
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