Power of Polo launches new Schools Pilot Programme to transform young lives through polo
Power of Polo is excited to share further details about its pilot Schools Programme, designed to use polo’s unique combination of horses, team sport and social enrichment to catalyse change. The course will give young people who would not normally have access to equestrian sport the opportunity to discover polo, develop new skills and build confidence through horses. In partnership with Druids Lodge Polo Club and St Joseph’s Catholic School, a Local Authority Maintained secondary school in Salisbury, the six-week programme will help pupils to develop confidence, resilience and self-belief through the power of team sport, horses and new environments.
The programme begins on Thursday 5th November, with ten St Joseph’s Year 8 & 9 pupils, aged 12–14, attending a full day at Druids Lodge every Thursday for six weeks. The programme has been funded by a private donor dedicated to providing transformative experiences for young people.
The pupils have been carefully selected as they may benefit from opportunities to build their confidence and broaden their experiences beyond the school environment. Over the six weeks, they will be introduced to polo and horse care, while developing skills and qualities that can support them well beyond the programme.
Alongside riding and polo, pupils will take part in modules covering areas including equine communication, yard safety and horse care, and additional support from Pony Club UK means they will be able to work towards several Pony Club achievement badges. A special feature of the programme will see each pupil ‘adopt a polo pony’ for the duration. This will allow them to develop a relationship with one particular animal while learning about horse care, behaviour and responsibility.
A typical day will combine mounted and unmounted activities such as: bringing ponies in from the field and grooming; riding and polo; unmounted polo skills; classroom-based sessions; and reflective activities. The six-week experience will culminate in a polo tournament watched by family and friends, giving the pupils the opportunity to demonstrate their new skills and celebrate what they have achieved.
Katy Hayward, CEO and Founder of Power of Polo, said: “Polo gives young people an extraordinary opportunity to challenge themselves in an environment that is completely different to the classroom. They are not simply learning how to ride or play a new sport — they are learning to communicate, take responsibility, work as a team and persevere when things don't immediately go to plan. We hope that by the end of the six weeks our participants will have discovered new abilities in themselves and, most importantly, have greater confidence in what they can achieve. I’m so excited that we’ve finally found a way to make this programme happen; it’s been a dream since starting the charity 15 years ago and I want to thank our wonderful funder and our team for making it happen. My hope is that we can eventually roll this out to other polo clubs who want to engage better with their local communities and change more lives through the sport and animals we love.”
Headteacher of St Joseph’s Catholic School, Matthew Higgins, and Kate Snell, Operations and Strategic Director, with one of the Druids Lodge Polo School ponies.
Matthew Higgins, Headteacher at St Joseph’s Catholic School, has welcomed the chance to participate in this pilot programme. “St Joseph's Catholic School is delighted to have the opportunity to work in partnership with Power of Polo, providing our pupils with an outstanding and unique enrichment opportunity. We believe the pupils we have targeted for this pilot can benefit greatly from opportunities that challenge them, build self-belief, and help them develop new skills in a supportive and encouraging environment.
“Many of the pupils selected have limited opportunities to access activities of this nature outside of school due to financial, social, or personal barriers. By targeting this group, we aim to broaden their horizons, raise aspirations, improve self-confidence, and provide positive experiences that support their personal development, wellbeing, and engagement both in and out of school. We believe this programme will help pupils recognise their own capabilities and encourage them to approach future challenges with increased confidence and resilience.”
“We are delighted to be working with Power of Polo and St Joseph’s on this programme.” Robin Ormerod, Director of Druids Lodge Polo commented. “Education has always been an important part of what we do at Druids, and we know that horses and polo can teach young people an enormous amount beyond the sporting skills themselves. The participants will be learning how to care for ponies, communicate with them and take responsibility for their wellbeing, as well as learning a completely new sport. We are looking forward to seeing their confidence grow over the six weeks and, of course, to seeing them put everything they have learned into practice in the final tournament.”
The first Power of Polo Schools Programme runs from Thursday 5 November to Thursday 10 December 2026 at Druids Lodge Polo Club, Salisbury. For more information about this programme, please contact katie.baines@powerofpolo.org.uk