Rivals Polo Training with Danny Dyer, Luca Pasqualino & Alex Hassell

Some jobs are easier than others.

This one involved two months of learning how to play polo at speed, trying to look like I belonged there, and staying on a horse while several excellent actors charged towards me.

For the opening episode of Rivals, I had the pleasure of filming alongside Danny Dyer, Luca Pasqualino and Alex Hassell in what becomes a fast, competitive and brilliantly chaotic polo match that sets the tone from the very start.

Two Months of Polo Training

What appears on screen for a few minutes often takes weeks — or in this case, months — to prepare.

Before filming began, we spent two months training properly for the polo scenes. That meant early starts, sore muscles, learning control, balance, timing and how to handle the pace of the game while making it all look effortless.

Needless to say, the horses were more professional than the actors.

Filming the Opening Episode of Rivals

The first episode wastes no time. The polo sequence is exciting, aggressive and full of energy, which made it enormous fun to shoot.

There’s always something special about scenes where everyone is fully committed. Add horses, rivalry, speed and a strong cast, and you have the ingredients for a memorable opening.

Working with Danny Dyer, Luca Pasqualino and Alex Hassell made it even better. A talented group, great fun on set, and exactly the sort of atmosphere you hope for on a production like this.

Behind the Scenes

From the outside, these scenes can look polished and effortless. Behind the scenes, it’s a mixture of preparation, repetition, mud, concentration and hoping your horse likes you.

Fortunately, mine (Farrel) tolerated me.

Streaming 15 May 2026

I’m delighted for people to finally see it when Rivals releases on Disney+ and Hulu from 15 May 2026.

Keep an eye out for the opening episode — and if you enjoy the polo, spare a thought for everyone who discovered muscles they didn’t know they had.

More from Brendan Patricks

You can read more about me and my recent acting projects on the About Brendan page. And for live events, I also perform as a London magician for weddings, private parties and corporate events.

Thanks for reading — more behind-the-scenes stories soon.