By Shaun Summerfield
Polo's headquarters might be in Beverly Hills, but this week the sports stars are playing below the Bombays at the New Zealand Open.
Recognised as one of the best polo players in the world, Kiwi John-Paul Clarkin is very much the man to beat.
“I have a cross on my head most days I go out...you’ve just got to grin and bear it,” says Clarkin.
Polo is still considered the sport of kings, or the sport of princes in the case of Cody Forsyth.
He spent nearly three decades at the top level, including two years playing alongside Prince Charles, who he says is a nice guy.
“Away from all the hype that’s associated with being a royal, he's actually a nice guy,” says Forsyth.
However, for up and coming player Daniel Worker, it is less about royal lines and more about fencing lines.
When he is not in the number two shirt, he is working with number eight wire as a fencing contractor.
“It's a pretty tough sport, you can see by the condition of the horse. You're knackered too, yeah it's takes a lot out of you,” says Worker.
In New Zealand, polo is likened to rugby on horse back.
The sport was invented more than 2000 years ago to train the Persian cavalry for battle.
The New Zealand open continues until Sunday.
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