Arena Rule 14. Dangerous Riding or Play
Green Book 2025, Rule 14 · Arena
In plain English
Careless or dangerous riding, or spoiling a shot with your pony.
- Careless or dangerous riding, or a lack of consideration for anyone's safety on either team, is a foul.
- You may not use your pony to spoil a shot by riding over the ball into a player already on the downward swing of a full shot. Equally, a player dribbling the ball who then plays a full shot can be penalised for creating the danger themselves - the umpire may blow either one.
- An under the neck shot at a ball under your own pony's neck is ordinarily fine. Taking one while being ridden off is dangerous play.
- A ride off must be at the same speed, parallel and level, shoulder to shoulder. Penalised: running into or over another pony's quarters; pulling up on or across someone's right of way; zigzagging in front of a player; riding an opponent dangerously across another's right of way; running a horse's head into a player; riding an opponent into the side or end walls; and two team-mates going at one opponent at once.
- Hooking or striking at the ball while an opponent is being ridden off is allowed as long as there is no danger.
The clause that governs
A player may not use their pony to spoil a shot by riding over the ball and into an opposing player who has already started the downward swing of a full shot.
Quoted extract · Green Book 2025, Rule 14
3 questions on this rule
How is a player prohibited from using their pony during a game?
- They cannot use their pony to perform a 'ride off' against an opponent
- They cannot use their pony to spoil a shot by riding over the ball and into an opposing player who has already started the downward swing of a full shot ✓
- They cannot use their pony to circle back to the ball after a missed shot
- They cannot use their pony to push the ball towards the goal
A player may not use their pony to spoil a shot by riding over the ball and into an opposing player who has already started the downward swing of a full shot.
In what situation could the umpire decide to give a foul against either the attacker or defender?
- When the ball is deflected into the crowd
- When a horse falls and a following horse tramples
- When two players sandwich another player
- When a player rides into the oppostions swing ✓
Note. The rule gives the Umpires the opportunity to call a foul on either the player striking the ball or the opponent riding into the play.
May a player use their pony to spoil an opponent’s shot?
- Yes, if no contact is made
- No, it is a foul ✓
A player may not use their pony to spoil a shot by riding over the ball and into an opposing player who has already started the downward swing of a full shot.
Test yourself
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Every rule here is stated in our own words, with short quoted extracts from the HPA Blue Book 2026 and Green Book 2025 and a link to the book itself. Polo Rules Test is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with the Hurlingham Polo Association. In any dispute the published rulebook governs.