#:7 Visit the Horses - Singapore Polo Club
Little kids LOVE horses... What better way to feed their enthusiasm than with an early morning visit to the Singapore Polo Club.
Visitors are welcome to the Club on week days only... you'll need to latch onto a member or become one if a weekend visit is desired.
HOW TO GET THERE: Singapore Polo Club, is located at 80 Mount Pleasant Road, off Thompson Road and near the Old Police Academy (Bus Stop No: B51021). Check out their website for detailed instructions and maps http://www.singaporepoloclub.org/contact.html
You are best to arrive early... by early I mean 8:30-9:00! At this time there are still ponies being worked by members at the out door riding arena. Too much later than 10am and you may find that the heat has seen the ladies abandoned the arena for ice tea and gossip in the club's cafe!
We like to arrive before 9am, park the car and walk (confidently) past the reception desk, through to the pool, bearing right toward and then past the polo field, past the tennis courts and onto the indoor riding arena. Here you will hopefully find 5 or 6 horses being worked, and they really are beautiful! That is saying something coming from me as I grew up in a farming family but was never taken with horses as a kid. As much as my mother tried it was not my thing. I hate to think how much the privilege of pony club would cost here in Singapore! Still it is nice to watch others enjoy the privilege!
Once done you can actually continue to the stables (visible form the arena) and say "hello" to the horses who are just kicking back in their quarters. They seem to be pretty friendly - on my last visit I took my visiting mother-in-law who is a "horse person" and she taught me to pick the friendly horses (it all about how their ears are pointed) so I was actually confident enough to let Miss May pet a few... with out her I would not have chanced it!
TAKE CAUTION: There are some staff about the place but they are not there to help you and it is not their job to keep you safe or point out dangers... HOLD YOUR KID'S HAND! Perhaps it is the hardened farm girl coming out in me but I feel the need to point out that this is not an environment especially set up for kids, indeed it is not a zoo... it is just a lovely place that it is easy going, and we are lucky to be free to wander about... ie don't ruin it for the rest of us!
After you have finished your meandering head back to the cafe and enjoy a fresh glass of orange juice and enjoying the lovely views of the polo field!
FLOWERS ANYONE?: If you have time you might consider continuing onto the plant nurseries on Thompson road (just turn right out of the polo club and right again on Thompson Road). The huddle of Nursery's sell mainly potted plants however in the middle of it all is a fully refrigerated flower house!!!! I'm talking two or three rooms of cut flowers (orchards, daisy's, lily's you name it...). Well priced and nearly too chilly, it is a welcomed stop before heading home.
Interesting Polo facts to talk about with your kids...
Polo Ponies have their mane's "hogged" ... that is to say it is cut back - kinda like a little mohawk! This is to prevent them being tangled in play. You will see ponies with hogged manes in the stables at the Singapore Polo Club!
In a game of polo each rider requires a number of ponies (ie they get tired - especially in Singapore where it is so hot)... I cant help but liken this to an AFL interchange bench (for the Aussies this will make some sense ..). The need for multiple horses is why it is such an expensive sport... enter James Packer!!
Polo horses are called "ponies" but this is in reference to their agility rather than their size. That said you will probably notice that the polo horses at the club are generally a little smaller!
The Singapore Polo Club was founded in 1886 making it one of Singapore oldest sporting and social clubs and it boasts a distinguished history... it has been at it current location since 1941.
During WW1 the Japanese army used the location to store their guns and later it was used as a squatters camp.
Lord Mountbattern, who was himself a keen player of polo helped to reestablish the club following the war.
Enjoy your time at the Singapore Polo Club!
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