Polocrosse was developed in Australia in 1938 by Mr and Mrs Edward Hirst of Sydney . It was inspired by an indoor exercise seen in England which used old polo sticks with squash racquet heads and a shallow string net to replace the mallet on the end of the stick. From the outset it was intended to be a game which allowed the inexpensive enjoyment of one’s horse. Hence the rule of one horse one player and the playing of alternate chukkas. The whole team of six could travel in one cattle truck as petrol was rationed and people did not travel far in 1945. Trains and single floats were also a popular way to transport horses to carnivals during the early days.

Today polocrosse in Australia has over 6,000 players nationally, and is played in 8 countries. It is a combination of polo, lacrosse and netball. It is played on horseback, each rider using a cane stick, made up of a polo-stick shaft to which is attached a squash racquet type head with a loose twisted-thread net in which the ball is carried. The ball is made of thick-skinned sponge rubber and is 100mm-130mm in diameter. Each player is permitted only one horse in a tournament.

Polocrosse is unique in its involvement of the whole family. Children start playing from as young as 6 years, and there are many players who are in their 60’s – so it is not uncommon to have children, parents and grandparents playing, and to have brothers, sisters, Mums and Dads all in the one team! In this way polocrosse becomes a shared passion of the whole family, and is a valued pursuit in binding families together and conveying shared values. The only downside to this is that it can be difficult for parents to accept the superior polocrosse skills and ability of your 12 year old son or daughter, or on the other side of the coin, the superiority of a 60 year old over a strapping teenager a third his age!

A team consists of six players, divided into two sections of three. These sections play alternate chukkas of six to eight minutes each, with normally four chukkas comprising a match although at times up to eight chukkas are played. The three players in each section are numbered – No. 1 is the attack, or goal scorer, No 2 is the centre, and No 3 is the defence. The playing field is 146.5 m long and 55m wide, with goal posts at each end. Players pick up the ball from the ground, pass the ball, bounce the ball and carry the ball in endeavouring to take it into their scoring area and scoring a goal.

Horses are generally up to 15.2 hands. Australian Stock Horses and thoroughbreds are commonly used. The game requires the horse to be able to stop and turn extremely fast, to accelerate quickly, to have stamina and to push and ride-off other horses.

A high priority has always been given to the safety of both horses and players, and this is ensured through a well organised system of umpiring. Umpires are graded on their ability for practical application of the rules of the game.