Polo Myth Busting with Coach Tiger Kneece

Setting the record straight on polo—access, rules, and the athleticism behind the pony

Tiger Kneece is a celebrated polo player and coach based in Aiken, South Carolina. A former 7-goal professional, he has won every major tournament in North America and now manages the historic Aiken Polo Club, where he oversees practices, events, and youth programs. Kneece also coaches multiple interscholastic and collegiate teams, helping grow the sport locally and nationally.

Q: What’s the biggest myth people have about polo—and why is it wrong?

A: That it’s a sport reserved for only the rich and famous. Polo can be taken up by anyone these days through polo schools across the country.

Q: What is the most misunderstood part of the sport? 

A: While it is an expensive sport, it’s more about the love of horses and the game.

Q: Polo didn’t start as a country-club game. What do most people not know about its origins? 

A: It was used in military in many countries to teach people how to ride.

Q: People assume polo horses are interchangeable. Why couldn’t that be further from the truth? 

A: Polo ponies are unique to polo. They are competitive and love to play the game and are amazing equine athletes.

Q: From the sidelines, polo can look chaotic. What structure or rules do spectators often miss? 

A: Most first-time spectators don’t have an understanding of the line of the ball, which is the most important rule of the game. Simply put, every time the ball is hit a new line is created, and that line cannot be crossed. This is what brings about the flow of the game—and keeps it safe for both riders and their horses.

Q: Why does the “sport of kings” label still stick—and what does it get wrong? 

A: Polo is played in many small backyard clubs across the country by people who love horses and have a true passion for the game. This isn’t what we read about or what gets attention; so the average person still believes it's reserved for the wealthy. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Q: What’s one fact about polo that always surprises first-timers? 

A: The polo pony and how they are such amazing gentle, yet fiercely competitive, equine athletes.

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