Thai Polo & Equestrian Club
Overview
Thai Polo & Equestrian Club is the largest multi-functional polo and equestrian operation in all of Asia — a 2,000+ rai (250 hectares / approximately 618 acres) facility 25 minutes north of Pattaya near Mabhrachan Lake (Mabprachan Reservoir) that opened in 2005 and has grown into arguably a unique facility in all Asia and Australasia. The club operates 3 full-sized international-standard polo playing fields, 2 practice grounds, stabling for over 250 horses, an international-standard endurance course, an international Derby facility, and second-to-none veterinary and quarantine facilities under the leadership of an Argentinian vet serving as general manager with Argentinian, French, British, and local farriers, trainers, and stable staff.
The club's founding is the joint vision of Harald Link (President of the Southeast Asian Equestrian Federation, also known as the Chairman of B.Grimm Group, one of Thailand's largest conglomerates) and Mrs Nunthinee Tanner (considered the first female polo player in Thailand). Together they built what is now Asia's preeminent polo and equestrian destination — hosting international tournaments, regional championships, FEI events, polo internationals, and equestrian training at every level from beginner to Olympic.
For polo enthusiasts, equestrian sports professionals, dressage / show jumping / endurance / Derby competitors, and even casual horse-loving visitors who want to experience a polo match or take a riding lesson at world-class facilities, Thai Polo & Equestrian Club is genuinely the most distinctive equestrian destination in Asia and one of the most ambitious globally.
Position in the Pattaya / Asian Equestrian Market
Equestrian facilities in the Pattaya area:
| Facility | Distinction |
|---|---|
| Horseshoe Point Resort & Country Club | 1,500-acre adventure resort + 100+ horses + paintball/zipline/MTB/multi-sport |
| Thai Polo & Equestrian Club | Largest polo + equestrian in Asia — 250 hectares + 250+ horses + 3 polo fields |
| Various smaller riding stables | Local Pattaya / Bang Lamung area |
Thai Polo specifically excels at competitive polo and high-level equestrian sport — distinct from Horseshoe Point's adventure-resort family-friendly positioning.
The 2005 Founding & Vision
Harald Link
Harald Link is a major Thai-German businessman and equestrian patron:
- Chairman of B.Grimm Group (Thailand's largest power conglomerate)
- President of the Southeast Asian Equestrian Federation
- Major financial backer of Asian equestrian sport
- Long-term polo player himself
- International equestrian community active across Europe and Asia
Link's vision and resources enabled the construction of Thai Polo & Equestrian Club at a scale that private investment normally cannot support — competition-grade infrastructure that requires substantial ongoing operational investment.
Mrs Nunthinee Tanner
Mrs Nunthinee Tanner is considered the first female polo player in Thailand:
- Pioneer for women's polo in the country
- Long-term polo player and competitor
- Co-founder vision for the club's growth
Together with Harald Link, the founders established a polo and equestrian destination matching international standards in a region where polo had been mostly absent.
The 250-Hectare Facility
Scale Comparisons
- Thai Polo & Equestrian Club: 250 hectares (618 acres)
- Horseshoe Point Resort: 1,500 acres (607 hectares)
- Pattana Sports Resort: 400 acres (162 hectares)
- Standard polo field: 270m × 150m (~10 acres)
So the Thai Polo property is larger than 60 standard polo fields in total area — most of it dedicated to fields, stables, training infrastructure, and supporting amenities.
Multi-Use Layout
The 250-hectare property accommodates:
- 3 full-sized international polo fields
- 2 practice grounds
- Stabling for 250+ horses
- Endurance riding course (international-standard)
- Derby facility (international)
- Veterinary clinic and quarantine
- Farrier and tack shops
- Clubhouse and dining
- Member accommodation
- Training arenas
The 3 International-Standard Polo Fields
Why Polo Fields Are Demanding
Polo fields are the largest sports surfaces in any sport:
- 270m × 150m — full-size FIP (Federation of International Polo) standard
- Approximately 4 hectares per field
- Pristine grass surface required — divots repair after every match
- Drainage and irrigation intensive maintenance
- Field rotation to allow recovery between matches
- Multiple fields needed for tournament play
Maintaining 3 international-standard fields requires substantial ongoing investment — Thai Polo's commitment to this level reflects the founders' ambition.
What Happens on the Polo Fields
- Regular polo matches between member teams
- International tournaments — visiting teams from UK, Argentina, USA, India, Germany
- Charity polo events — high-society Pattaya / Bangkok scene
- Polo lessons for members and guests
- Polo clinics — instructional intensives
- Practice play for members
250+ Horse Stables
Why 250+ Horses?
- Polo ponies — competitive polo requires multiple horses per player per match
- Showjumping horses — for FEI-level competition
- Dressage horses — discipline specialists
- Endurance horses — long-distance specialists
- Lesson horses — for member and guest instruction
- Member-owned horses — boarding facility for private owners
- Quarantine animals — international imports/exports
The stable inventory makes Thai Polo a horse-care institution at scale — most equestrian facilities in Asia have 30-100 horses, while Thai Polo's 250+ exceeds even major European riding centers.
International-Standard Endurance Course
What Endurance Riding Is
Endurance riding is the long-distance equestrian discipline:
- Distances: 40 km, 80 km, 120 km, 160 km races
- Multi-stage: veterinary checkpoints throughout
- Horse welfare priority — pulled if vet finds fitness issues
- Multi-hour to all-day events
- FEI international competition at top level
Thai Polo's international-standard endurance course allows the club to host FEI-sanctioned endurance events — bringing international competition to Thailand.
International Derby Facility
What Derby Riding Is
The Derby in equestrian context is a long-format showjumping or cross-country event:
- Includes natural obstacles alongside artificial jumps
- Banks, water, ditches, hedges integrated
- Multi-discipline test for horse and rider
- Royal Hickstead Derby in UK is the most famous
Thai Polo's Derby facility allows international Derby competition — yet another distinct discipline hosted at the club.
Veterinary & Quarantine Facilities
Argentinian Vet General Manager
The decision to install an Argentinian vet as general manager signals ambition at international polo standards:
- Argentina is the world's #1 polo nation — produces the best polo ponies, players, and horse care
- Argentinian vets specialise in polo horse medicine
- International recognition of credentials
- Network access to global polo and equestrian community
International Farriers
Farriers from Argentina, France, and Britain alongside Thai farriers:
- Argentinian farriery — polo specialists
- French farriery — show jumping / dressage specialists
- British farriery — eventing / racing specialists
- Multi-tradition expertise within the same facility
This diversity of professional expertise is rare globally — most equestrian facilities work with one farriery tradition.
Member Programs & Activities
Polo Programs
- Beginner polo lessons
- Intermediate progression
- Advanced match play
- International coaching at clinics
- Ladies' polo programs
- Junior polo development
Other Equestrian Disciplines
- Show jumping lessons and competition
- Dressage programs
- Eventing training
- Endurance training and racing
- General riding for guests
Member Benefits
- Stabling for owned horses
- Veterinary care access
- Training grounds access
- Social events at the clubhouse
- International tournament hosting
Asian Championship Hosting
The club has hosted the Asian Championship (acpattaya2019.com URL confirms) — meaning regional Asian polo championships have been competed at Thai Polo & Equestrian Club. This places the venue alongside the major polo destinations globally that host top-flight competition.
Pricing — Premium Tier
Indicative Costs
Thai Polo operates at the highest tier of equestrian pricing in Asia:
- Member dues: likely ฿100,000-500,000+ annually
- Boarding for owned horse: ~฿15,000-30,000+/month
- Polo lessons: ~฿5,000-10,000+/hour with polo pro
- Riding lessons (other disciplines): ~฿2,000-5,000/hour
- Tournament entry fees: variable
- Spectator events sometimes free or modest fee
For non-members wanting to try polo or take a lesson, packages are available — direct contact via thai-polo-club.com.
Pros
- Largest multi-functional polo + equestrian operation in Asia
- 250 hectares — exceptional scale
- 3 international polo fields + 2 practice
- 250+ horse stables
- International-standard endurance course
- International Derby facility
- Argentinian vet general management
- International farriery team
- Founded by Asian equestrian patrons (Harald Link + Nunthinee Tanner)
- Asian Championship hosted
- Multi-discipline training — polo + jump + dressage + endurance + Derby
- Mabprachan Lake area — picturesque countryside setting
- 25 minutes from central Pattaya
Cons
- Premium pricing — among the most expensive in Asian equestrian sport
- Members + invited guests primarily — limited casual access
- Polo is steep learning curve — not for one-shot tourists
- Distance from Pattaya — 25 minutes, requires transport
- Less family adventure-park feel than Horseshoe Point
- Spectator events scheduled — daily access not always available
- Competitive culture may intimidate beginners
Best For
- Polo players of all levels
- Equestrian sport professionals
- Members of Asian equestrian / polo community
- Tournament participants and spectators
- Horse owners seeking premium boarding
- Multi-discipline equestrian athletes
- High-society Pattaya / Bangkok
- Visiting international polo / equestrian travellers
Not Best For
- Casual one-time tourists wanting horse photos — go to Horseshoe Point
- Family adventure-park seekers — Horseshoe Point delivers this
- Pure budget travellers — premium pricing
- Beginners with limited time — riding skill takes years to develop
- Walking Street based travellers — too far from central Pattaya
Quick Reference Card
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Address | Banglamung, near Mabhrachan Lake, Pattaya |
| Opened | 2005 |
| Land area | 250 hectares (618 acres) |
| Polo fields | 3 international + 2 practice |
| Horses | 250+ stables |
| Endurance | International-standard course |
| Derby | International Derby facility |
| Founders | Harald Link + Mrs Nunthinee Tanner |
| Veterinary | Argentinian vet general management |
| Distance from Pattaya | 25 minutes north (Mabprachan Reservoir area) |
| Verified | 2026-04-27 |