Latest News
► HELP ON ULU
► Search ulu.co.uk
► ULU poll
► ADVERTISE THROUGH US
Want to promote through the ULU Network?
ULU has various student marketing and student advertising tools that can promote your services direct to UK students.
Click here for our student marketing & advertising opportunities
► FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
1.1. Where are the lessons?
1.2. When are the lessons?
1.3. How much do lessons and chukkas cost?
1.5. What equipment do I need?
1.6. What are the ponies like?
1.7. Who teaches the lessons?
1.8. When will I be able to play a chukka?
1.9. What is the format of the lessons?
1.10. Can get a discount if I buy lessons in bulk?
1.11. How do I get to the club?
1.12. How do I book a lesson?
1.13. How d I get added to the mailing list?
1.14. What if I book a lesson and I can't make it?
1.15. Where can I buy polo equipment?
1.16. Will I get to play in competitions?
1.17. I've played before, how come you're making me play with the beginners?!
1.18. I have a handicap, I don't want to have lessons!
1.1. Where are the lessons?Lessons are held at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club which is situated between Windsor and Ascot. See further down the page for details on how to get to the club.
1.2. When are the lessons?Wednesday lessons are currently help from 4 p.m onwards on Wednesdays. However, we are currently in talks to organise another afternoon.
1.3. How much do lessons and chukkas cost?Wednesday lessons/chukkas are currently £40 for beginners and £45 for novice/advanced. Lessons last an hour and include all pony and equipment hire. Lessons and chukkas on other days of the week may vary in price an this should be discussed with Michael or Suzie at Cool Hooves Polo.
1.5. What equipment do I need?None! All equipment is provided by the club and included in the cost. However, you should wear comfortable jeans or trousers and shoes or boots which preferably have a smooth sole and a small heel. Wrap up warm as it gets cold and it's rare that lessons get canceled due the weather!
1.6. What are the ponies like?There are ponies for all abilities. There are safe ones for the complete beginners and more feisty ones for those up to the challenge! Most of the ponies are either ex high goal and still play in professional matches! If you're used to riding school ponies, expect a big difference as all of the ponies are quick off the leg and turn on a sixpence! See the ponies page for details on some of the ponies we ride.
1.7. Who teaches the lessons?The lessons are taught by Cool Hooves Polo School (www.coolhoovespolo.co.uk). The coaches vary, we were previously taught by ex ULU Polo Captain, Will Emerson (5 Goals) and are currently being taught by Twm Morris Lowe (2 goals).
1.8. When will I be able to play a chukka?The beginners usually start to play chukkas in November or December depending on their progress.
1.9. What is the format of the lessons?To begin with beginners will spend half their hour on the wooden horses learning hitting and the other half an hour on the horses learning polo riding and most importantly, both riding and hitting together! Within a few weeks, the beginners will spend the whole hour on the ponies learning riding off, marking and hooking and they will begin to play slow friendly chukkas.
Novice and advanced players will spend their hour playing instructional chukkas.
1.10. Can get a discount if I buy lessons in bulk?No, unfortunately there are currently no discounts available.
1.11. How do I get to the club?By Train
Paddington to Windsor Central (takes about half an hour, change at Slough)
Waterloo to Windsor and Eton Riverside or Ascot (takes about an hour but is direct)
Both cost about £5-6 return with a Young Persons Railcard.
Then take a taxi from the station to the club. There are taxi ranks outside all the stations. The taxi ride takes about 10-15 mins so factor this in to your journey time. It can cost up to £15 so it's best to find people to share with!
By Car
Take the M4 (A4 - Cromwell Road) out of London and exit at Junction 6. Follow the signs for Legoland and at the roundabout after the entrance to Legoland, turn right. The club is about half a mile up the road on the right. Drive in and bear right past the Asprey shop, you can either park on the left by the stables or further up on the right near the arena. There should be people there to meet you.
1.12. How do I book a lesson?If you are on the mailing list, you should receive an email each weekend. All you need to do is reply to this email BEFORE the deadline given. Emails received after the deadline will be ignored. You will receive a confirmation email if your name is down to play. Under no circumstances should you contact Cool Hooves. Please also read question 1.14.
1.13. How do I get added to the mailing list?Email [email protected].
1.14. What if I book a lesson and I can't make it?If you have booked a lesson and can no longer make it, please inform a committee member as soon as possible. Lessons can only be canceled up to 24 hours before the lesson, otherwise you will be charged full rate for the lesson and banned from future lessons until the club has been paid in full. No shows will also be charged as well as people who phone an hour before! If you are going to be late, let us know asap as we may be able to put you in a later group.
We hate to be harsh but late cancellations and no shows causes a lot of grief as ponies are prepared and groups chosen etc...
1.15. Where can I buy polo equipment?Polo equipment is expensive, so only invest if you know you're going to keep it up!
Tally Ho Farm, situated near to the club, gives ULPC members a 10% discount. There are also a lot of places to buy equiptment online. Also talk to the committee members as some of us have the ability to get polo gear at a fraction of the cost.
1.16. Will I get to play in competitions?Yes! The SUPA (Schools and Universities Polo Association) National Championships happen in February and June. Last year (2006) we took 6 teams the February Arena Nationals and 5 to the outdoor Nationals in June. We will give out details closer to the time.
This year we may also be organising some friendly inter university matches.
1.17. I've played before, how come you're making me play with the beginners?!We have to assess everyone who doesn't have an official HPA handicap before putting them in the more advanced group and this is the best way to do it since we can see your hitting and riding clearly. We don't want to scare you, plus it's unfair on our advanced players if you claim you're a 1 goaler and you've only had 3 lessons! If we think you're suitable for the advanced chukkas we'll move you up, if not, don't worry, you will be continually reassessed and the beginners move so fast they might be up to your standard in a couple of weeks anyway!
1.18. I have a handicap, I don't want to have lessons!
You don't have to! We have players of higher levels too and you can join them in chukkas. Our current best player has a handiap of 1 outdoors and we also have other players who aren't handicapped but are of SUPA Novice and Intermediate level. The mix makes for fast and fun chukkas so you wont feel like you're wasting your time.
Doesn't answer your question? Email: [email protected]