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Three roda polo players riding e-wheels towards ball in foreground

Off your high horse: Argentina’s new sport of e-wheel polo – in pictures

This article is more than 1 year old

Roda polo, which started during the Covid pandemic in Argentina, replaces horses with electric wheels, so it is cheaper and no animals are harmed. These photographs were taken in Pilar, near Buenos Aires, the world’s polo capital

Roda polo players near Buenos Aires, where the sport took off. Photograph: Irina Werning
Irina Werning
Fri 17 Jan 2025 02.00 EST
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A group of roda polo players crowding the camera
Roda polo is booming among young people in Argentina as it offers a fun, fast-paced and accessible way to enjoy the excitement of poloPhotograph: Irina Werning
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Students on grass with e-wheels
Rodders Academy in Pilar offers a two-week course on mastering the e-wheelPhotograph: Irina Werning
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Players moving their e-wheels
Children get ready to play in a tournament in Buenos Aires, where the sport is gaining popularityPhotograph: Irina Werning
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A group of young roda polo players sitting on grass
A group of young roda polo players watch as prizes are given out at the tournament, organised by Javier Tanoira, a former polo player who invented roda poloPhotograph: Irina Werning
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Three children ride e-wheels around a swimming pool
Players also use their e-wheels to get around and for funPhotograph: Irina Werning
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Girls doing handstands on the pitch
Roda polo players enjoy the informal nature of the sportPhotograph: Irina Werning
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Two players with e-wheel and horses in background
There two girls who play traditional polo as well as roda polo say they enjoy the inclusivity of the new sportPhotograph: Irina Werning
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A group cheers at a tournament
As e-wheel technology gets cheaper, roda polo is reaching more young peoplePhotograph: Irina Werning
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Players of both horse and e-wheel polo at a tournament
From a young age, boys and girls can compete together in roda polo. Traditional polo often separates them due to the physical demands of riding horsesPhotograph: Irina Werning
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A car packed with e-wheels, helmets, and mallets at a traditional polo game
A car packed with e-wheels, helmets, and mallets at a traditional polo gamePhotograph: Irina Werning
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A group of friends at a polo tournament in Pilar
A group of friends at a polo tournament in PilarPhotograph: Irina Werning
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Children doing stretches on grass
Children learning roda polo at an academy after schoolPhotograph: Irina Werning
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Boys with e-wheels and horses
A boy takes horses back to their truck after a day playing traditional and roda poloPhotograph: Irina Werning
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When hitting the ball or making a challenge in order to gain possession, players must have both feet on the pedals. When a foot is placed on the ground the player is forbidden from carrying out any action.
When hitting the ball or making a challenge in order to gain possession, players must have both feet on the pedalsPhotograph: Irina Werning
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A team celebrates a goal in roda polo
With teams of four, the sport emphasises teamwork and quick reactions, creating an exciting and dynamic atmospherePhotograph: Irina Werning
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Person rides e-wheel past a horse
At some tournaments, e-wheels now outnumber horses, highlighting the growing popularity of roda polo alongside the traditional sportPhotograph: Irina Werning
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Young players on their e-wheels
The new variant of polo is already recognised by the Argentine Polo Association, officially sharing the same game rules with adjustmentsPhotograph: Irina Werning
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Gear lying on grass
Roda polo equipment comprises an e-wheel, a short mallet, a tennis ball and a helmet, making the sport easily accessiblePhotograph: Irina Werning
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Player putting traffic cone in place on grass
A player prepares the field for roda polo, setting up the goalposts. One traditional polo field can fit three roda polo fieldsPhotograph: Irina Werning
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A group of kids arrives at a Roda Polo academy in a pickp truck
A group of children arrives at a roda polo academyPhotograph: Irina Werning
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Children crowding around to receive a hotdog
Time to be fed after the gamePhotograph: Irina Werning
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A group of kids in traditional polo gear
Roda polo is thought to help young players develop their regular polo skillsPhotograph: Irina Werning
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