Introducing hoofball: Soccer for horses

Tamahere horse rider Mary Torok is on a mission to introduce hoofball into New Zealand.

Hoofball is basically soccer for horses.

"There are four on a team, two offence and two defence."

The riders are not allowed to touch the ball, and it is up to the horse to get the ball into the goal.

Mary's husband was in the US when he saw some horses playing with big balls and thought he would check out what they were doing.

"It was actually the mounted police, they use the balls to teach the horses how to push the crowds.

"When I got a horse, a lot of my friends were playing polo crosse, and I decided that's mad, they're mad."

That's when hoofball came about.

"You play it at a trot so it's a lot more sedate.

"It's a fun sport and the horses really like it."

Mary imports the large balls needed for hoofball from China.

"We first imported the balls from the States but now we get them manufactured in China.

"It saves us a bucket-load of money.  It costs $150 for the softer ball and $199 for a more heavy duty ball."

If you are looking for a fun, relaxing sport, or even if you are a beginner rider, hoofball will suit you just fine.

"If you've got green riders, they tend to focus more on the ball and forget what they are actually doing."

Mary says they do not have any dedicated teams yet, but they are working on making it happen.

"There are a lot of riding and pony clubs that are starting to get into it."

- THE WAIKATO INDEPENDENT