Edinburgh Polo Club
Edinburgh Polo Club
About & Welcome
Located a short drive from Edinburgh within the grounds of The Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club, Edinburgh Polo Club is open to all abilities.
Club Chukkas are held each weekend and on some week day evenings (weather permitting).
The club is happy to offer; lessons, chukkas, liveries and also welcomes visiting players.
Please contact the polo manager if you wish to know more.
Edinburgh Polo Club is a fully accredited HPC club and offers coaching, membership and liveries. The Club is located in the midlothian countryside within easy reach of the city centre.
The club was set up in 1973 and has been offering chukkas and membership ever since. The club is also the home for Edinburgh University & The Dick Veterinary School.
We hold club chukkas throughout the year with a break over Christmas, the main season really kicks off with our May Tournament.
We also regularly travel to other clubs in Scotland throughout the summer for tournaments as well as taking part in the Randox Matches. Edinburgh Polo Club is also proud to host the Winter University Leagues and TEAT tournament which closes out the year in November.
Whether you are an experienced player or have never sat on a horse before, the experienced and extremely friendly HPA qualified coaches have something to offer you.
Club Offers & Services:
Intro to Polo, Private & Group lessons, Polo Days, Weekend Clinics & Instructional Chukkas.
To find more or book, please contact the polo manager:
The Club
Polo is played every Wednesday evening and most weekends throughout the year, weather permitting as ever in Scotland.
The Club boasts one full size grass pitch, a practice ground, a full size all weather arena. Livery facilities are available. For more information contact the polo manager.
There is a casual atmosphere during Chukkas and requests only that members bring white or blue polo-shirts to play in. Due to the nature of farm Chukkas its best to keep your whites safe for tournaments!
Many of the clubs members also make use of the excellent hacking the estate offers as a more scenic way to keep your pony in-shape or to just relax after a long day at work.
Club Chukkas
Polo is played every Wednesday evening and most weekends. Edinburgh Polo Club has seen a host of international players grace its grounds and the Edinburgh Polo Club opening up its gates to corporate partners is a fantastic opportunity for brands to get into the sport.
There is a lovely friendly relaxed atmosphere during the winter and summer seasons with plenty of healthy competition with the other Scottish Clubs. Matches are frequently held at Dalmahoy or at Errol Park in Perthshire or Piddlesheugh in the Borders.
Beginners Chukkas
Throughout the summer season the club will hold (usually on a Tuesday) beginners chukkas. These will usually follow a more instructional set up designed to allow experienced riders and novices a safe environment to learn the art of polo.
Where possible these will take place on the grass but we also have the clubs arena for when the weather is a touch more ‘Scottish’. During the winter these will take place at the weekend in-between club chukkas.
Facilities & Team
James Douglas – HPA Coach & Polo Manager
James is a three goal arena player and a two goal outdoor player. He coaches individuals, teams and University groups. In addition, one or two day courses are run throughout each season. James is also available for one on one private tuition.
Instructional chukkas are also on offer should there be enough of a demand.
Please telephone or email to book into a lesson or chukkas.
James is also available to host hen & stag parties wishing to try polo as well as corporate group bookings. Edinburgh polo club has a number of horses to hire that suit all abilities.
The club has a number of ponies for hire during club chukkas, tournaments and events. The club can seat everyone form complete beginners to high goal players. With Edinburgh Polo Club being the home to the Royal Dick Vet School team our ponies are often used for; university lessons, league matches and tournaments.
If you wish to hire a pony please use see our contact form for more information.
During the winter the club makes use of its full size outdoor arena for club Chukkas, winter tournaments and high goal arena exhibition matches. In the last year the club has proudly played host to; the Scottish Universities League, The TEAT Tournament and a high goal Scotland vs Kenya arena match.
The arena also forms the outdoor exercise space for club members in the winter months allowing for ample space to set their horses, stick & ball along with practice chukkas. The club also offers jumping facilities in the area for those who wish to do something different in the winter months.
The arena is also used for club and university polo lessons as well as stag and hen parties. Catering can also be provided for events in our clubhouse that is situated next to the arena with a handy viewing deck.
From April until October club chukkas move from the arena to our two grass pitches, the club has a full size boarded pitch in addition to a practice pitch.
During the summer season club chukkas are played on a Wednesday evening and at the weekend. The pitch is accessible from the farm as well as the A71 for those who have their own lorries and horse boxes, parking as well as ample tie up space is provided next to the clubhouse.
Edinburgh play host to a number of tournaments throughout the year, this usually begins in May with the Spring Tournament.
Info & FAQ
Listed below are a lot of the questions prospective memebers have, if you cannot find an answer, please use the contact from at the bottom of the page.
Memebers whishing to play club chukkas should also become a memeber of the Hurlingham Polo Assocation (HPA). Students are covered by their memeberhsip of SUPA.
HPA Website: hpa-polo.co.uk
SUPA Website: supa.org.uk
How Do I Become a Member?
Club membership is open to all regardless of abilities, for total beginners the club has a coaching program and wooden horse.
For new membership enquires please see the contact page for details of the club secretary
Students may play with their own ponies or hire from the club provided they have a SUPA membership but should in all cases contact the club secretary if they have not played at Edinburgh before.
What Can I Expect?
There is a lovely friendly relaxed atmosphere during the winter and summer seasons with plenty of healthy competition with the other Scottish Clubs.
Matches are frequently held at Dalmahoy or at Scone Palace in Perthshire or Piddlesheugh in the Borders.
The club offers a casual atmosphere during Chukkas and requests only that members bring white or blue polo-shirts to play in. Due to the nature of farm Chukkas its best to keep your whites safe for tournaments!
Are Beginners Welcome?
Club membership is open to all regardless of abilities, James Douglas is the clubs HPA coach and is ranked as a 3 goal arena player and 2 goal grass player.
James has coached beginners of all ages and often takes student lessons through the season for universities as well as individual lessons.
To find out more please contact James Douglas on our ‘Contact Form’.
Do I Need My Own Equipment?
The Club has a number of helmets and sticks that are included in the price of beginner lessons and events. If you are a non standard size please advise the events or polo manager at the time of booking.
For members wishing to play regularly you are required to have your own equipment even if you are hiring horses, the club does have a limited number of mallets but it is advisable you have your own.
For full members It is also required that you have your own; helmet, knee pads, riding boots and gloves.
Here is a list of the current Polo Helmets that meet approval.
Charles Owen Palermo Polo PAS015:2011 and VG1 01.040-2014
Charles Owen Polo Edition PAS015:2011 and VG1 01.040-2014
Charles Owen Young Rider Polo PAS015:2011 and VG1 01.040-2014
Armis PAS015:2011 and VG1 01.040-2014
GPA Speed Air/X2 UTAC/CRITT 04/2015
Please see the following links for online shops that stock polo kit.
Can I Bring My Own Ponies or Keep Them At The Club?
Many of the club members have their own string of ponies that live at Dalmahoy, others who live nearby bring theirs for chukkas with their own lorries.
The club has ample space to park lorries and horse boxes for chukkas and tournaments. Livery facilities are available for club members only.
The Club does not accept non-polo liveries. For more information contact the polo manager.
Pony Hire
If you wish to hire ponies please contact the polo manager in advance or use the contact form on the facilities page. The Club has ponies to suit all abilities and can seat members for 2 or 4 chukkas.
Student Hire £35 per Chukka
Non Student Hire £45 Per Chukka
all prices include VAT
Chukka Timings
Polo is played every Wednesday evening and most weekends. Edinburgh Polo Club has seen a host of international players grace its grounds and the Edinburgh Polo Club opening up its gates to corporate partners is a fantastic opportunity for brands to get into the sport.
Where Does the Club Play?
The Club can make use of its all weather outdoor arena and from April through September its full size grass and practice grass pitches which are located a short distance from the farm.
Chukkas are usually played on Wednesday evenings and at weekends, the club also hosts regular ladies only chukkas on Tuesday or Thursday evenings.
To view the map of the clubs facilities click here
Beginners Chukkas – Tuesday Evenings 6:30 PM March till October.
Club Chukkas:
Thursday Evenings – 6:30 PM March till October.
Saturday & Sunday – All Year usually 2 PM
Arena October to April, Grass May to September.
Lessons
If you require a private lesson please let us know through the link below, private lessons are available out of standard times.
Please note all lessons must be pre-booked.
Contact Information & Directions
The Club is located in the grounds of the Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club just off the A71 near Ratho.
The pitches are located adjcent to the Skirmish Paint Ball off the A71 on the Currie Junction.