Rule 13 · USPA 2026 Arena Rules
What riding and conduct is dangerous or improper in the arena, from ride-offs and the walls to delay of game, handling the ball and the use of whips and spurs.
On even terms, a player may ride off an opponent or may interpose the player’s mount between an opponent and the ball, but he or she may not ride dangerously. Conduct that may qualify as dangerous riding is listed below. Consistent with the statement in subparagraph (a) below that “[w]hat is a dangerous ride-off is left to the discretion of the Umpire,” the Umpire(s) have the discretion to call a foul for conduct of the kind described in subparagraphs (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) or (j) below but deem it not to be Dangerous Riding, thus not resulting in an automatic yellow card for Dangerous Riding, if it is in their judgment neither deliberate nor unduly dangerous:
Riding off in a manner dangerous to a player or mount; i.e., with undue force. What is considered a dangerous ride off is left to the discretion of the Umpire. Whenever a mount is knocked off balance, whether it falls or not, a dangerous ride off has occurred, and the mere fact that some of the dangerous factors listed below were absent does not mean that a foul should not be called. The following factors, among others, should be taken into consideration:
Relative speeds of the two mounts. It is very dangerous to ride off an opponent if you are not moving at approximately the same speed whether it be fast or slow.
Relative sizes of the two mounts.
Relative positions of the two mounts. It is dangerous if either mount is more than a foot or two ahead of or behind the other.
The angle at which the mounts converge. At high speeds, angles which might be safe at slower speeds become extremely dangerous.
States of fatigue of the mounts involved.
Lack of readiness of an opponent for the ride off (blind-siding).
Zigzagging in front of another player riding at a gallop.
USPA Arena · USA · Arena Rules 2026
Foul
Foul on White 2. The arena rules list zig-zagging in front of another player riding at a gallop as dangerous riding, and White 2 weaves across Blue 1's path several times just in front of him. The umpires may still call the foul without ruling it dangerous riding, and so without its automatic yellow card, if they judge it neither deliberate nor unduly dangerous.
Rule 13 · 13b — United States Polo Association
Pulling or sliding across or over a mount’s fore or hind legs in such a manner as to risk tripping either mount.
Riding an opponent across or into the Right of Way of another player at an unsafe distance.
Exhibiting a lack of consideration for the safety of one’s self, one’s mount, or for another player or mount.
Two players of the same team riding off an opponent at the same time whether or not on the Right of Way. However, it is not necessarily a foul for a player to hook or strike an opponent’s mallet while the opponent is being ridden off by a teammate of the player hooking or striking.
Riding at an opponent in such a manner as to intimidate and cause the opponent to pull out or miss the stroke although no entry or cross of the Right of Way actually occurs.
Deliberately riding one’s mount into the stroke of another player. For the purpose of this Rule, a “dribble”, in which the mallet head is not raised above the mount’s hock or knee, is not considered a “stroke”.
Running the head of a horse into an opposing player.
Riding an opponent’s mount dangerously into the side or end walls.
Delay of Game: A player in possession of the ball, marked approximately 2 horse lengths or less by an opposing player, must keep moving. Should the player in possession of the ball either stop or reduce his speed to a walk or walking speed, the player (and or any member of the player’s team) will have 5 seconds to either hit away or run with the ball. An infraction of this rule will result in a penalty against the team in possession of the ball. If the infraction occurs between the center line and goal being defended by the team in possession of the ball, a Penalty 5.b should be awarded to the other team.
A player shall not strike the ball or interfere in the game when dismounted.
A player shall not seize with the hand, strike or push with the head, hand, arm or elbow, an opponent, but a player may push with the shoulder, provided the elbow is kept close to the side.
A player may not hold the ball in the hand, arm or lap; nor kick or hit at the ball with any part of the person in such a way as to direct its course. The ball, however, may be blocked with any part of the person or mount.
A player may not intentionally dismount while the ball is in play; but may request the Umpire(s) permission to do so at any time play is stopped under Rule 16.
Artificial aids (i.e., riding crops and spurs) may not be used unnecessarily or excessively. A player may not:
Use artificial aids with any force when the ball is out of play or dead.
Use artificial aids unnecessarily or in excess at any time.
Intentionally strike another player or another player’s mount with his or her riding crop.
No player may intentionally strike a mount with any part of the mallet.
A “stroke is defined as the mallet head in motion toward the ball. A “dribble”, where the mallet head is kept below the level of the mount’s hock or knee, is not considered a “stroke”. The wind-up is not part of the “stroke”.
Red #3, closely followed by Blue #2, turns the ball to the right. Blue checks, turns inside Red, and as Red dribbles around the turn, Blue executes a firm, but fair, shoulder-to-shoulder ride-off and comes up with the ball. No foul. Blue #3, with the ball in front, leans forward and dribbles the ball down the arena. Red #2 reaches under his mount’s neck to hook and puts the mount’s head in Blue’s lap. Foul Red for a dangerous ride-off, but not for riding into the dribble. Blue #2 carries the ball. Red #3 rides from Blue’s right, at an angle, and reaches under his mount’s neck to successfully hook Blue’s stick. As Red completes the hook, his horse travels over the ball, makes solid, shoulder-to-shoulder contact with Blue’s horse, rides Blue off, and permits Red to execute an offside tail shot. No foul. The hook was fair; and, once hooked, Blue was no longer swinging at the ball when Red’s horse crossed the line of the ball and executed the legal ride-off. As Blue #4, with the Right of Way, begins his backswing for a forward shot, Red #1 bumps him on the mallet side. No foul - the mallet head was not in motion toward the ball.
The purpose of this rule is to keep the play moving. If the player stops or checks because an opponent has infringed or entered the right of way, a foul should be called against the opponent.
For purposes of enforcing the excessive artificial aids rule, the Umpires shall consider the force applied when using the riding crop even once to be as significant as the number of times the riding crop is used. A single use of the riding crop that makes a noise loud enough for a spectator to hear it may be penalized, even if there are no spectators present. The Umpires shall also consider whether the artificial aid is used in order to assist the player in reaching a play or making a play, which is allowable if not excessive, or the artificial aid is used away from the play, in frustration, or on a horse that is laboring, which are excessive by definition and thus not allowable uses. Umpires may penalize violations of the excessive artificial aids rule by awarding a Penalty 5.a or 5.b at a minimum, and they may also issue the offending player one or more yellow cards. The excessive artificial aids rule applies before, during and after a game to players and members of a team organization who are located anywhere within the arena or in close proximity to the arena.