Do people play polo in Indiana? Indeed, they do.
Hickory Hall Polo Club has been in the Chandler family for generations. Greg Chandler and his son, Austin, have been upholding the family tradition of playing polo for 20 years. Spectators from across Indiana come to the Whitestown venue to see a Friday evening match.
It’s polo at sunset. The field is big — nearly nine football fields big — allowing the horses to stretch and run as players whack a ball the size of an apple. Veterans and beginners alike take to the field as spectators line the pitch in their cars.
Each team consists of four players. Seven chukkers, the term of a designated period in the sport, make up a match. At half-time, spectators are invited to walk the field and replace the divots torn up from the horses, stomping down chunks of dirt.
Hickory Hall Polo Club gives spectators a chance to experience a unique sport and witness the connection between the player and their horses.