La Estancia: we visited a professional polo club in Hungary

On the outskirts of Etyek lies the La Estancia Polo Club, a private estate of the Zimmermann Family and one of the strongholds of the Hungarian polo sport. The owners breed and train Argentinian polo horses, and as the sport is not very common in Hungary, the professionals and their horses attend mostly international competitions.

Polo – from the beginnings to Hungary

Horse polo is a sport that is still rarely practised in Hungary but has a long tradition and history. Since not many people are really familiar with it, we thought we would introduce it briefly.

Its name comes from the Tibetan word pulu, meaning ball. The history of polo dates back to 600 BC, and Persia was its birthplace. It became a national sport in the Persian Empire and spread throughout the empire. Later, polo became popular in other areas, such as India, with the spread of Islam. The British cavalry officers stationed there quickly took a liking to it, and then it was introduced to Europe. From the latter half of the 19th century, the term polo was regularly used by Indians and Englishmen. It was even an Olympic sport before the Second World War, with a total of five Olympic Games (1900, 1908, 1920, 1924, 1936).

Surprisingly enough, there used to be a dominant polo scene in Hungary before WWII. The regiments fielded 16 teams, and there was an intense competition scene. For instance, at the 1936 Olympics, the Hungarian team (Kálmán Bartalis, István Bethlen, Tivadar Dienes-Öhm, Dezső Kovács, Imre Szentpály) finished 4th. After the political changes, the sport was revived in the early 1990s, mainly by foreigners working and living in Hungary and some Hungarian enthusiasts.

Currently, there are 4 polo clubs in Hungary.

Polo in brief

Polo is a team sport, with teams of 4 to 4 riders competing against each other. Due to the high performance of the horses, the size of the field is much larger than, for example, a football pitch: a standard field is 300 yards (about 274 m) long and 200 yards (about 182 m) wide, with a goal at each end to hit a hard ball into. The ball can accelerate up to 150 km/h, making it dangerous for players. Thats why the sport has strict rules to avoid possible accidents and injuries for players and horses. The standard equipment is a helmet and knee pads. White trousers to play is a must! Each player uses several horses in a match and changes after each quarter. 1 or even 2 referees ensure the rules are respected during the game.

Social manners are expected from the players on and off the field!

La Estancia Polo Club

We accepted Uwe Zimmermann’s invitation to visit the La Estancia Polo Club. The Zimmermann Family purchased the then-grassy land in 1997. Since then, they have built and improved the stables, clubhouse, and fields, establishing the place as a meeting point for horse lovers, polo enthusiasts, and family and friends.  Currently, 20 horses, all of Argentinian blood, and most mares call Etyek home.  La Estancia is a kind of equestrian paradise, with expert staff looking after the animals, constantly training them for competition, and providing polo on an international standard level, attracting players and teams worldwide. Over the last 25 years, polo players from all continents visited the club and competed in famous tournaments.  We were able to personally experience how well-organised and family-friendly the club is.

It is safe to say that horse polo is an elite sport requiring mental and physical fitness. The sport provides an unbelievable network around the world. The players take their own horses to European competitions, but they usually hire horses overseas. The polo season is only six months long in Europe, so the horses can enjoy a rather long holiday after a busy season in Hungary and Europe.

The polo ground also needs constant maintenance despite being used relatively scarcely. The 2 fields at the Etyek premises are nestled in a park-like, manicured ambiance surrounded by trees. They allow spectators to follow the game from a higher position while sitting in the shade.

Polo Cup in Etyek

La Estancia holds several competitions yearly, with competitors and spectators only arriving by invitation. The early summer and autumn tournaments, organised by the Zimmermann family, bring together a crowd of 400-500 guests and enjoy the support of many high-class sponsors and international brands. They attract the local and expat society of Hungary and the neighboring countries.

The generational change at the polo club and family polo team is also well underway, as both sons of the family are already playing at a high level. Thus, we can be sure that the Etyek-based La Estancia will continue to enrich the Hungarian sporting scene for many years to come. The Zimmermann family is all driven by the love of polo, and there’s no question about it—it’s felt in every square meter of La Estancia.

You can read this article in Hungarian on HellóMagyar – La Estancia: meglátogattunk egy profi magyarországi lovaspóló klubot

• read also: Discovery in Hungary provides evidence for world’s first horse riders