Polo is likely to feature in next year’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) following the signing of a formal agreement between the sport’s governing body and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).
A memorandum of understanding between the Federation of International Polo (FIP) and the FEI was signed by FIP president Patrick Guerrand-Hermès and Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, FEI president, in Switzerland on 31 March.
It is the first such formal accord between the two bodies, and paves the way for increased cooperation between polo and other horse sports.
“The opportunity to share knowledge and experience with such a traditional and flourishing modern sport will benefit us all,” said Princess Haya.
Mr Guerrand-Hermès described the join-up of the two organisations as “historical”.
The first major development is likely to be inclusion of polo in the 2010 WEG in Kentucky.
Read this news story in full in the current issue of Horse & Hound (9 April, ’09)