Polo is a contact sport played at speed on a half-tonne horse. The ride-off , shoulder-to-shoulder, knee-to-knee, at 55 km/h, is not an occasional collision but the game’s central tactic. The polo ball can reach 175-180 km/h. Mallets swing in full arcs within centimetres of bodies. And when a player falls, they land from 1.6 metres onto hard ground, instinctively using their arms to break the fall.
Against that backdrop, body protection in polo breaks into two clear categories: knee guards (which are mandatory under the rules and universally worn) and elbow guards (which are strongly recommended but optional , and, despite compelling injury data, still under-adopted across the sport). This guide covers both.
By the end, you will know exactly what the rules require, what the injury evidence shows, how the leading protection technologies compare, how to size and care for each item, and what to buy at every stage of your polo career.
1. Why protection matters: What the injury data shows
Polo has a relatively low injury rate compared to other contact sports , roughly 5–8 injuries per 1,000 player-game-hours, versus 45 for rugby and 17 for soccer. But when an injury occurs, it is usually significant: two out of three polo injuries are classified as major, meaning the player is out of competition for a while.
The critical finding: the upper limb is the most injured region in polo. Peer-reviewed studies consistently place upper-limb injuries at 39–48% of all polo injuries , the single largest category by body region. The lower limb accounts for 25–31%, the head and face 11–19%, and the trunk the remainder.
The peer-reviewed evidence
| Study | Sample | Upper Limb % | Key Finding |
| Costa-Paz et al., BJSM 1999 | Prospective, Argentina | 39% arms | 64% of injuries were major (>30 days out) |
| Neumayr & Schmitt, DZSM 2019 | 103 players, Germany/Switzerland | 42% upper extremity | Shoulder 20%, forearm 9%. Falls caused 44%. |
| Inness & Morgan, Sports Med Open 2015 | Multi-country survey | Shoulder + wrist dominant | 49.4% chose helmets on appearance, not safety |
| PMJ Oxford Academic 2025 | 236 players | 47.9% limbs overall | Eye injuries = #1 cause of hospital treatment |
How players get hurt. Falls from the horse are the leading mechanism (44% in the Neumayr study), followed by ride-off collisions, being struck by the ball or mallet, and overuse. When a player falls, the arms are used instinctively to break the fall , concentrating force through the elbow, wrist and shoulder. In a ride-off, the knee takes direct knee-to-knee impact while the elbow is exposed to mallet hooks and stray swings.
The implication is clear: knee guards protect the joint most exposed in a ride-off, and elbow guards protect the joint most exposed in a fall and a mallet hook. Together they cover the two most frequent contact zones on the player’s body below the head.
2. Polo knee guards: Mandatory protection
2.1 The rule: knee guards are compulsory
The HPA Rules of Polo state plainly that polo boots and protective kneepads must always be worn during play. This applies to all match play and tournament fixtures sanctioned by the HPA, USPA, FIP and affiliated associations. University and schools polo enforces it explicitly. There is no exception for practice chukkas at most organised clubs.
2.2 History and evolution
Knee protection has been part of polo kit for more than 80 years. Early designs were small and light because the primary risk was being hit by the ball. As the modern game became faster and more physical , with contested ride-offs becoming a central tactic , knee guards grew thicker, wider and more protective. All polo kneepads , traditional and modern alike , are made of leather throughout. What has historically varied is the padding at the kneecap and sides: traditional kneepads use ordinary foam in these impact zones. What’s changed is that this foam is increasingly being replaced with more technical, performance impact-absorbing materials , such as D3O , along with carbon fibre reinforcement in those same areas. So the leather construction hasn’t changed; it’s the protection technology built into the kneecap and side panels that has evolved..
2.3 Construction types
Almost every polo kneepad on the market , from entry-level to high-goal , is leather throughout. What separates one model from another isn’t the base material but two other things: how the pad fastens to the leg, and what kind of impact-absorbing technology sits behind the leather at the kneecap and sides.
By closure type
Velcro: the most common fastening, offering quick adjustment and a snug fit. Favoured for ease of use between chukkas.
Buckle: a more traditional fastening, often associated with the classic Argentine style, giving a firmer, more deliberate fit that some players prefer for security during a ride-off.
By impact-zone technology
Standard foam: the traditional approach , ordinary closed-cell foam padding sewn into the leather at the kneecap and sides. Reliable and time-tested, still found on many entry-level and mid-range kneepads.
D3O and similar smart foams: a newer generation of impact material that stays soft and flexible during normal movement but locks rigid on impact, dispersing force more effectively than standard foam. Casablanca’s Velcro and Buckle Kneeguards both use this in their impact zones.
Silicone panelling: ribbed, contrast-coloured silicone built into the leather at the impact points, offering a different style of shock absorption. La Martina’s LM Pro Knee Pad uses this approach.
Carbon-finished gel: premium gel technology finished with a carbon material over the impact zones, combining cushioning with a harder outer surface. Found on Stephens Polo Knee Guards, used by high-goal players.
The leather construction is the constant across all of these. What’s evolved over the past decade isn’t a move away from leather , it’s the sophistication of what’s engineered into it at the points that take the hardest hits.
2.4 How polo knee guards differ from generic knee pads
Generic sports knee pads (skateboarding, volleyball, construction) cushion the front of a kneeling joint. Polo knee guards are built for lateral, side-on impact during ride-offs , protecting the inner and outer knee that is exposed when two players ride knee-to-knee at speed. They also shield against mallet and ball strikes while the leg is wrapped around the saddle. The design wraps further around the leg than a front-only pad, and premium leather models are traditionally colour-matched to the player’s boots.
2.5 Key brands and price ranges
| Brand | Construction | Price Range |
| Casa Fagliano | Bespoke | £300+ |
| Casablanca | Hard leather, Argentine made, kids/ladies/men’s sizes, 2-3 straps options | £260–£290 |
| PoloGear USA | Prime leather, 8/10/12-inch, 2 or 3 strap | £140-£164 |
| La Martina | LM Pro Knee Pad, rubber-insert leather | £275-£450 |
| Krono Polo | Buffalo leather, kids/ladies and men’s sizes | £225–£250 |
| Stephens | Italian leather with HKT/Gel, one size only, 2 straps | £166 |
2.6 Sizing and fit
Knee guards are sized by build (kids, ladies, men’s) and strap count. Two-strap models are marginally lighter and lower-profile; three-strap models cover a larger area of the joint and leg. The guard should sit flush over the kneecap, wrap without gapping at the sides, and fasten snugly without restricting circulation. When mounted, the guard should stay centred as the knee flexes and straightens.
3. Polo elbow guards: The most under-used protection
3.1 The rule: recommended, not mandatory
Elbow guards are not compulsory under HPA or USPA rules. The HPA explicitly lists goggles, elbow pads and gum shields as “recommended.” The USPA treats elbow pads as personal preference. Despite this, the injury data makes a compelling case for wearing them: the elbow is directly exposed in the three most common injury mechanisms , falls (where the arm breaks the impact), mallet hooks (where the elbow catches an opponent’s swing) and ball strikes (where the elbow is hit directly during play).
3.2 A young product category
Polo-specific elbow guards are made by several specialist brands, each with a different approach to impact protection.
Ona has produced dedicated polo elbow pads since at least 2014. Its elbow pads use multi-density foam cores with reinforced outer shells, and meet the EN 1621-1 Level 2 motorcycle safety standard for impact protection , a benchmark borrowed from another high-speed contact sport.
La Martina’s Rheon elbow guards, launched in 2020, were the first elbow guards in the world to receive CE approval specifically for polo. They use Rheon’s active-polymer technology, which stays soft and flexible in normal wear but hardens instantly on impact, in a long-sleeve, non-slip design.
Krono’s elbow guards combine a pre-curved ergonomic shell with perforated neoprene and abrasion-resistant stretch Kevlar over the elbow itself, fastened with elastic straps and Velcro for a slip-on fit.
Casablanca’s HS Elbow Pads pair a hard-shell elbow cup with D3OÒ impact material, built on a perforated neoprene base for breathability, with a silicone-detailed inner lining to help the pad stay in place during play.
Across these four, the common thread is multi-layer construction: a flexible base material for comfort and fit, paired with a distinct impact-technology layer (foam meeting a motorcycle standard, an active polymer, Kevlar reinforcement, or a hard shell with D3OÒ) at the point of contact. None of these is a single-material product, and none of the brands treats elbow protection as an afterthought , the differences are in which technology each has chosen to engineer in, not in whether the category itself is mature.
3.3 Materials and construction technologies
Hard shell + viscoelastic foam (Ona): Interior viscoelastic foam that reacts immediately on impact, an interior hard cap over the elbow point, and an abrasion-resistant Kevlar outer panel , all on a neoprene body treated with Polygiene anti-odour technology. Buffer pads above and below the Kevlar shield extend coverage. A Double Retention System™ (two silicone interior rings plus an adjustable strap) keeps the guard in position through a full mallet swing.
Rheon® active polymer (La Martina): Rheon is an active polymer that is soft and malleable at rest but hardens immediately and temporarily upon impact , absorbing and dissipating energy before returning to its flexible state. It is waterproof, cooling and lightweight, and CE-certified to the EN1621-1 motorcycle-armour standard. This was the first CE-approved polo elbow guard in the world (2020).
Neoprene + Kevlar (Krono): Pre-curved ergonomic slip-on design with integrated plastic elbow coverage, perforated neoprene for breathability, abrasion-resistant stretch Kevlar over the elbow, and two elastic Velcro straps. A practical, breathable option for warm-weather polo.
D3O® smart material (Casablanca): A rate-sensitive polymer that is flexible at rest and stiffens under sudden force, certified to EN1621-1. D3O dominates motorcycle and mountain-bike elbow armour and represents the closest analogue to Rheon, though it is not yet a mainstream polo-specific product.
3.4 Key brands, models and prices
| Brand | Construction / Key Feature | Price (pair) | Sizes |
| Ona Polo | Kevlar hard shell + viscoelastic foam + Polygiene neoprene. Double Retention System™. | £186 / $248 | S, M, L |
| La Martina | Rheon® active polymer. First CE-approved (EN1621-1) polo elbow guard. Built-in captain’s armband. | £185 / $248 | S, M, L, XL |
| Krono Polo | Kevlar + perforated neoprene slip-on. Multiple colours incl. La Natividad edition. | £115 / 155 | S, M, L |
| Casablanca | Hard-shell elbow pads with D3OÒ | £195 / $195 | S, M, L, XS, XL |
3.5 Ambassador perspective
“My must-have Ona item are the elbow guards , I have no idea why not every single person who plays polo doesn’t use them. They are so comfy and you don’t even feel them, and so important as your elbows are so vulnerable during a game.” , Hazel Jackson, Ona Polo ambassador, 10-goal women’s player.
3.6 Sizing and fit
Elbow guards are sized by arm circumference, measured approximately 8 cm above and below the elbow with the arm slightly bent. The guard should sit centred over the elbow point and stay in position through a full mallet swing without sliding down. If between sizes, size up for mobility. Look for guards with silicone interior grips or a double-strap retention system to prevent migration during play.
3.7 The adoption trend
Whether this counts as a genuine adoption trend is still hard to call. Younger players increasingly wear elbow guards as a matter of course, and uptake among amateur adults has grown too. At the professional level, though, the picture is far more divided , some high-goal players have taken to them readily, while others still resist wearing them, even knowing the risk.
“I’ve seen and heard a ball strike a player’s elbow joint dead-on in the middle of a high-goal match many times, and even after that, it’s still a hard habit for a lot of pros to break , getting used to playing with them on.” , Alejandra Falkinhoff, founder of Ona
4. Knee guards vs elbow guards: side-by-side comparison
| Knee Guards | Elbow Guards | |
| Mandatory? | Yes , HPA, USPA, FIP | No , recommended by HPA |
| Primary threat | Ride-off knee-to-knee contact, mallet/ball strikes | Falls onto arm, mallet hooks, ride-off elbow contact, ball strike |
| Typical material | Thick leather over closed-cell foam | Neoprene body, hard shell + viscoelastic foam, Kevlar, Rheon®, D3OÒ |
| Closure system | 2–3 Velcro or buckle straps | Slip-on + strap, or silicone retention rings + 2 straps |
| Sizing method | Kids / Ladies / Men’s, or S–L by leg build | Arm circumference above and below elbow, S–XL |
| Price range | £140–£300+ | £115–£195 |
| Adoption level | Universal (mandatory) | Growing rapidly but not yet standard |
5. Arena Polo vs Outdoor Polo: Protection differences
The baseline requirement is not identical across the two governing bodies, and the differences matter most for the two products this guide covers. Under HPA rules, kneepads sit in the same mandatory tier as boots and a helmet , polo boots and protective kneepads must always be worn during play. Elbow pads, by contrast, are explicitly listed as recommended rather than required. As of 2026, the HPA has also made eye protection compulsory for all play, satisfied by sports glasses, goggles or a face guard, closing what had been the one gap in its equipment rules.
The USPA’s written rules tell a different story. A NOCSAE-certified helmet and boots (or boots with half-chaps covering the calves) are mandatory for every player. Eye protection is mandatory only for players under eighteen; adults are strongly encouraged to wear it but are not required to. Knee guards don’t appear in the USPA’s mandatory equipment list at all , the only rule that mentions them is one prohibiting sharp spurs, buckles or studs on a player’s boots or knee guards, which assumes they’re commonly worn but doesn’t actually require it. In practice, almost every USPA player wears kneepads regardless, but it isn’t written into the rule the way it is at the HPA.
Elbow guards occupy similar ground in both codes: neither body requires them. They’re recommended by the HPA, unmentioned in the USPA’s equipment rule, and left entirely to the player’s judgement in both. That makes them the one piece of protection in this guide that’s adopted purely on merit rather than compliance, which is worth keeping in mind when weighing whether to add a pair to your kit.
The practical injury profile shifts somewhat between arena and outdoor polo, though the data here is thin. Arena polo is played three-a-side in an enclosed space with a larger, softer inflated ball, generally at lower speeds than outdoor polo. The enclosed sideboards add a collision surface that doesn’t exist outdoors, and the ball’s unpredictable bounce off the boards is one reason some clubs and schools place extra emphasis on eyewear and face guards for arena play specifically. Whether arena polo produces more frequent body contact than outdoor polo isn’t something the available data confirms , it’s a plausible hypothesis given the tighter space, not an established finding. If you play primarily in the arena, the board contact and unpredictable bounce are reasonable grounds on their own to consider elbow guards, independent of any broader claim about contact frequency.
6. Care and maintenance
| Item | Care Guidance |
| Leather knee guards | Wipe with a damp cloth after play. Condition periodically with neutral leather conditioner. Never dry-clean or apply direct heat. Air-dry away from radiators and sunlight. Store flat in a cool, dry place. Inspect straps, stitching and buckles regularly. |
| Synthetic / neoprene elbow guards | Hand-wash with mild soap in lukewarm water, or machine-wash in a garment bag at 30°C. Air-dry away from direct sunlight. Store in the supplied bag in a cool, dry place. Polygiene-treated models (Ona) resist odour and reduce wash frequency. |
| Rheon® / smart-polymer guards | Follow the manufacturer’s specific instructions. Rheon is waterproof and can be wiped clean. Do not expose to extreme heat, which may affect polymer performance. |
| All protection items | Replace after a significant impact, when foam no longer rebounds or feels compressed, when the shell cracks, or when straps and silicone grips lose hold. Inspect at the start of each season. |
7. What to buy first as a beginner
Protection equipment should be purchased in a specific order that reflects both the rules and the injury evidence:
1. Certified helmet (mandatory – HPA: helmets must always be worn during play and must meet one of several accepted standards (PAS015:2011, VG1 01.040 2014-12, UTAC/CRITT 04/2015, NOCSAE, or EN1384:2017/2023), plus carry a QC Mark for factory inspection and audit. A general equestrian helmet meeting these standards is fine , it doesn’t need to be marketed as a “polo” helmet.
USPA: a helmet with a chin strap is mandatory for every player, and since May 2021 it must specifically be certified to the NOCSAE ND050 standard , no other standard qualifies, and no club or tournament can waive this rule.
2. Polo boots (mandatory , knee-high leather for leg protection and riding stability).
3. Knee guards (mandatory HPA common use USPA , you cannot play organised polo without them).
4. Polo gloves (essential for grip, blister prevention and knuckle protection).
5. Polo eyewear (mandatory HPA and strongly recommended USPA , eye injuries are the leading cause of hospital treatment in polo).
6. Elbow guards (add these once you begin regular chukkas and contested ride-offs).
When to add elbow guards
The ideal time is when you move from lessons to regular club chukkas , the moment ride-offs become a real part of your game. Many players delay until after their first painful elbow contact; the smarter approach is to adopt them during practice and break them in before they are needed. At approximately £115–£195 per pair, they represent one of the highest-value protection investments in the sport relative to the risk they mitigate.
Common beginner mistakes
Choosing on appearance, not protection: The Inness & Morgan study found that nearly half of surveyed players chose helmets based on how they looked rather than their safety certification , prioritise construction and fit over aesthetics.
Buying ill-fitting guards: A knee guard that gaps at the sides or an elbow guard that slides down the arm during play provides a false sense of security. Measure carefully and follow the brand’s size chart.
Giving up after one awkward session: Elbow guards feel restrictive the first few times out, and many players try them once, decide they don’t like the feel, and never put them on again. That initial stiffness is an adjustment period, not a verdict on the product , even professional high-goal players who’ve witnessed serious elbow injuries on the field describe it as a habit that takes real time to build. Give a new pair several chukkas before deciding whether they work for you, not one.
Skipping elbow guards entirely: The most common regret among club players is not wearing elbow protection until after an injury. Given that ~40% of polo injuries strike the upper limb, this is a preventable risk.
The logic of polo body protection is straightforward: knee guards are compulsory (HPA) and/or universally worn; elbow guards are recommended and rapidly becoming standard. The injury data is unambiguous , approximately 40–48% of all polo injuries strike the upper limb, with the elbow exposed in falls, ride-offs and mallet hooks. An investment of £115–£195 in a well-fitted pair of elbow guards addresses the single largest unprotected risk zone on a polo player’s body.
Whether you are buying your first pair of knee guards or deciding to add elbow protection to your kit, the principles are the same: prioritise certified, polo-specific construction; size carefully; and replace after significant impacts. Protection that does not fit or has lost its energy-absorbing properties is protection in name only.
Frequently asked questions
Are knee guards mandatory in polo?
Yes. The HPA Rules state that polo boots and protective kneepads must always be worn during play. This is enforced across HPA, USPA, FIP and affiliated national associations.
Do polo players wear elbow pads?
Some do, particularly younger and amateur players, but they’re not mandatory under either the HPA or USPA , the HPA only recommends them, and the USPA doesn’t mention them at all. At the professional level, adoption is genuinely split , some high-goal players wear them readily, others struggle to get used to the feel even after seeing serious elbow injuries first hand.
What are the most common injuries in polo?
Upper-limb injuries (shoulder, wrist, elbow) account for 39–48% of all polo injuries across peer-reviewed studies. Falls are the leading mechanism, followed by ride-off collisions and being struck by the ball or mallet.
What are polo knee guards made of?
Almost all polo knee guards , traditional and modern alike , are leather throughout, typically hand-sewn cow hide or calf leather, fastened with Velcro or buckle straps. What varies isn’t the base material but the impact-absorbing technology built into the leather at the kneecap and sides: older designs use ordinary closed-cell foam in these zones, while premium modern models use smart materials like D3O (which stays soft in normal wear but locks rigid on impact), ribbed silicone panelling, or gel padding finished with a carbon material. Genuinely leather-free designs , moulded synthetic or full neoprene shells , exist in theory but are not common in the current market; the real evolution has been in what’s engineered into the leather rather than a move away from it.
What size elbow guards do I need?
Measure your arm circumference approximately 8 cm above and 8 cm below the elbow with the arm slightly bent. Match to the brand’s size chart (typically S–XL). If between sizes, choose the larger for better mobility.
How do I clean leather polo knee pads?
Wipe with a damp cloth after play. Apply neutral leather conditioner periodically. Air-dry away from direct heat. Never machine-wash or dry-clean leather.
Should I wear elbow guards for arena polo?
It is strongly recommended. Arena polo involves tighter spaces and more frequent close-quarters contact than outdoor polo, which increases the risk of incidental elbow strikes. Some clubs mandate additional face protection for arena play.
How often should I replace knee guards and elbow guards?
Replace immediately after a significant impact, when foam no longer rebounds, when the shell cracks, or when straps lose hold. Inspect all protection equipment at the start of each season.
