Here is a coloured postcard of uniformed soldiers performing manoeuvres at Niagara Camp in the Niagara Commons. The cavalry in this image are not playing polo but the King’s Dragoons Guards did play the game during their stay from 1838 to 1842. The Royal Canadian Dragoons also played in the 1930s. Although the games were for the spectator’s enjoyment, polo was a training tool for the cavalry to hone their riding skills on the field, carrying a mallet in one hand rather than a sword. In 2024, we get to witness polo again on the historic Commons with the Toronto Polo Club, which will play in support of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum’s Niagara Polo fundraiser. Hope to see you there.