How we recommend
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Get trained
This page explains the principles. It is not a substitute for lessons from a qualified polo instructor or club, and it does not replace the rules of your governing body, club or tournament.
The St. Moritz Snow Polo World Cup programme (2023) explains why players wear knee guards: the knees are exposed in ride-offs. The rules set the minimum, and they do not all say the same thing, so start there.
What the rules require
| Item | HPA 2026 (Part 2 Rule 2.3d) | USPA 2024 Outdoor (Rule 4) | Pony Club 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boots | Polo boots must always be worn during play | Boots, or boots and half-chaps, covering the calves (Rule 4c) | Standard riding, polo or jodhpur boots with a fairly smooth thin sole and a well-defined square-cut heel; plain black or brown half chaps with jodhpur boots |
| Knee guards | Protective kneepads must always be worn during play | No kneepad requirement in Rule 4; studs on boots or knee guards are not allowed (Rule 4e) | Compulsory in all sections except HX, JOPPS and JOR, where strongly recommended |
| Trousers | White jeans or breeches for matches | White pants or breeches in USPA Events (Rule 4d) | Not recorded in our research |
| Projections | No equipment with sharp projections that might injure another player or pony | No sharp spurs or protruding buckles (Rule 4e) | No tassels or fringes; interlocking boot soles and stirrup treads banned |
| Elbow pads | Recommended | Not covered in Rule 4 | Recommended |
SUPA, which runs UK schools and universities polo, notes that knee pads are mandatory under HPA rules but that players may warm up without them. Clubs can set their own rules for lessons: Singapore Polo Club's 2019 lesson rules require polo boots or short riding boots with mini-chaps, and let instructors turn away students who are not properly dressed. The USPA revises its rules each year and its 2026 book was not reviewed for this site, so check the current edition. We found no FIP or AAP rule on boots or knee guards.
Our picks by category
Polo boots
The St. Moritz programme describes polo boots as knee-high leather in dark brown or black, usually with a long front zip, some reinforced on the outer sides. SUPA recommends full-length riding boots over chaps or ankle boots. For Pony Club, check the sole and heel against its rules.
Best for: Players under HPA rules, and anyone who wants full-length boots
Polo knee guards
The St. Moritz programme describes padded leather guards with Velcro straps, sometimes with extra silicone or padding at key points. Under the USPA's 2024 rules, a knee guard with studs is not allowed. Have a coach or experienced player check the fit over your boots.
Best for: Every player in HPA and most Pony Club play
Riding gloves
None of the rulebooks we read requires gloves, but the St. Moritz programme says nearly all players wear them for grip and protection, many now with built-in carbon fibre protection, and some add an under-glove for warmth in the cold. The South African Polo Association says gloves protect the hands and improve grip on the mallet.
Best for: Grip on reins and mallet
How to choose
Match the rule you play under
An adult HPA player needs polo boots and knee pads. A USPA player needs boots that cover the calves and no studs on boots or guards. A Pony Club player has the most detailed footwear rules: a fairly smooth thin sole, a well-defined square-cut heel, half chaps with jodhpur boots, and no interlocking soles. If you play under more than one body, buy to the strictest rule that applies to you.
Colour
Sources disagree. The South African Polo Association's guide says polo boots are always brown; the St. Moritz programme says dark brown or black; the Pony Club allows black or brown. None of the adult rulebooks we read sets a colour, so check your club's custom if it matters to you.
Boots and stirrups go together
The Pony Club's 2026 rulebook requires stirrups to leave about 7 mm of clearance either side of the boot, and strongly recommends a stirrup design that releases the foot easily in a fall. The St. Moritz programme says polo stirrups are wider than in other equestrian sports. When you change boots, check the fit in your stirrups too; the saddles page covers stirrups.
Nothing sharp
The HPA's 2026 rules ban any equipment with sharp projections that might injure another player or pony, and the USPA's 2024 rules ban protruding buckles. Check buckles and straps on boots and guards before you buy. Spurs have their own rules; see spurs and whips. The Pony Club bans spurs in every section.
White trousers for matches
Both the HPA's 2026 rules (for matches) and the USPA's 2024 rules (in USPA Events) call for white jeans, pants or breeches. The St. Moritz programme says white polo jeans are closer to jeans than jodhpurs in style.
Other padding
Elbow pads are recommended, not required, under the HPA's 2026 rules and the Pony Club's 2026 rulebook. The Pony Club says body protectors may be worn in polo; its rulebook requires a BETA 2018 Level 3 body protector only for cross-country and pony racing.
Before you play, check the current rules of your governing body, club and tournament, and follow the maker's guidance on fit.
Sources
- Hurlingham Polo Association, Rules and Regulations for Polo 2026 (Polo South Africa copy, PDF)
- United States Polo Association, 2024 Outdoor Rules (PDF)
- The Pony Club, Polo Rulebook 2026 (PDF)
- SUPA, rules for universities
- Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, equipment explained (2023, PDF)
- South African Polo Association, polo equipment guide
- Singapore Polo Club, polo lessons rates and rules (2019, PDF)