Course
Uneven Ride Off

Why is Uneven Ride Off a Rule

Uneven ride off occurs when a ride off between the two mounts is not shoulder to shoulder, either in front or behind the saddle. The reason uneven ride off is called, is for the safety of the horses and players.      


How is the Rule of Uneven Ride Off Applied

Uneven ride off applies equally to all players whether they be defending or attacking. The main determining factor for an uneven ride off, is deciding on who the aggressor is or who initiated the contact that caused the ride off to be uneven.  


Procedure of the Uneven Ride Off Rule

The penalty for breaking the uneven ride off rule is a penalty hit to the team that was fouled. The placement of the penalty hit is determined by the amount of potential danger or amount of danger caused to the mount and player during the ride off. The game is always restarted this way when an uneven ride off is called. 

Uneven Ride Off at Different Levels of Polo

There is a small difference in the interpretation of the uneven ride off rule at high and low-goal levels. The main difference is the tolerance is smaller at high-goal, where if a player hits slightly behind the saddle, without it affecting the other player, and gains an advantage, then a foul will sometimes not be called.  Although at any level it remains that if danger is caused to a player or mount by an uneven ride off, then a foul will be called. 

The most common error that Fergus noted for an uneven ride off violation being called, is players mistiming the ride off. There’s generally no mal intent, but more a case of a player misjudging the speed of an opponent or distance to them. The best way to mitigate this, according to fergus, is to try and match the speed of your opponent as you go in for the ride off.   


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