Seeking a polo position in growing sports market

The game of polo is attracting increasing numbers of Chinese. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Xia's interest in horses began in 1996, and he was engaged in show jumping and leisure riding at first. He moved to polo in 2004 after he read a book about the game in China.

Although there are different versions about the origin of polo in China, the sport was enjoyed by emperors such as Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (AD 619-907) and was popular among ordinary citizens, too, as seen from art of the period.

"I was fascinated by the sport after seeing many historical accounts of the game," says Xia.

To him, polo is faster and involves more technical skills than other equestrian events, and it is more demanding when it comes to a rider's flexibility.

"The sport is about teamwork between the horse and the rider and among the riders," says Xia.

Xia has devoted himself to the development of polo ever since he took up the sport.

His club covers 133.3 hectares, including professional polo fields, and he has 160 polo horses.

Polo horses do not cringe from the swinging mallet or jump when the ball hits them, which ensures the riders' safety, says Xia.

Many homebred and hybrid horses can be used for polo, such as the Yili horse from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Also, crossbreeding using UK thoroughbreds and domestic mares is a common practice now, since the UK horse performs better when it comes to abruptly changing direction and halting, he says.