J F Polo Academy

J F Polo Academy is widely regarded as the UK's leading polo academy and claims the distinction of being the first facility in Cheshire West and Chester to hold a council riding licence with a five-star rating for three consecutive years. Located in the Cheshire countryside, it operates on a pay-as-you-go or bundle basis, no membership is required to play.

Tuition runs from absolute beginners through to professional players. A typical beginner lesson starts on hand mallets, progresses to Woody the wooden horse for swing technique, then moves to polo ponies for a first experience of moving stick-and-ball work before joining chukkas with the group. The structured academy programme, known as the Zero to Hero course, takes riders from a -2 handicap foundation through rules, riding, hitting and tactics with a formal assessed syllabus and check sheet.

Polo ponies are available to hire. The academy also offers livery and schooling services, polo clinics, experience days, and can provide professionals for tournaments and tailor-made exhibition matches for private and corporate events. Beginner group chukkas run at £60 per session on a hired horse.