Archaeologists discover polo was played on donkeys in China 2,400 years ago

Polo is known as the sport of kings and is one of the most prestigious events associated with equestrian.

But when and where did the idea of, to put it simply, hitting a ball with a stick from horseback come from?

New research published by National Geographic shows that polo was played in ancient China on donkeys.

Archaeologists have discovered there was a predecessor to the sport played 2,400 years ago.

Presumably, the stature of most donkeys may have made reaching for the ball a lot easier, but those donkeys may have been built differently compared with modern donkeys. 

Following a boost in popularity during the Tang Dynasty from A.D. 618-907, the sport grew across centuries and continents into the sport we know today.

Read the full National Geographical article and research findings here.

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