Arena Rule 2b. Players' Equipment
Green Book 2025, Rule 2b · Arena
In plain English
Helmets to the HPA standard at all times in play.
- An approved polo helmet at all times during play.
- Spurs are prohibited outright at every level of arena polo - a straight difference from the grass game.
- Whips are no more than 48 inches including the tag, and never broken.
- The whip is carried in the left hand, used only while the ball is in play, and the hand should not come off the reins to use it. No part of the whip may go above shoulder height before it strikes. Breaking any of that is an automatic yellow flag plus the appropriate penalty.
- The guidance attached to the rule is that nobody has to carry a whip at all; it is for safety and encouragement, hands and heels come first, and the pony gets a chance to respond before it is used again.
The clause that governs
The use of spurs is prohibited in all levels of arena polo.
Quoted extract · Green Book 2025, Rule 2b
6 questions on this rule
Are spurs allowed?
- Yes
- No ✓
Spurs. The use of spurs is prohibited in all levels of arena polo.
What is the maximum whip length?
- No limit
- 30 inches
- 38 inches
- 48 inches ✓
c. Whips. Whips must not be more than 48 inches long including any tag. Broken whips are not allowed. d.
Which hand must the whip be held in?
- Left ✓
- Right
- Either
- Whips not allowed
c. Whips. Whips must not be more than 48 inches long including any tag. Broken whips are not allowed. d.
Are whips optional?
- Yes ✓
- No
c. Whips. Whips must not be more than 48 inches long including any tag. Broken whips are not allowed. d.
No part of the whip may be above what?
- Ponies shoulder
- Riders shoulder ✓
- Ponies head
- Riders head
Spurs. The use of spurs is prohibited in all levels of arena polo.
Are duplicate shirt numbers allowed under certain circumstances?
- Yes
- No ✓
Broken whips are not allowed. d.
Test yourself
Practise players' equipment and the rest of the HPA rules, offline, on your phone.
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.