THE MAGAZINE
1957 NATIONAL 20 GOAL Left to Right: Bob Beveridge, Fred Beveridge, John Armstrong, Don Beveridge, Jack Ryan, Robert Uihlein Jr., Harold L Barry, Wayne Brown
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contents People of Polo
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We spotlight a handful of Sarasota Polo Club partners and learn how they fell in love with the fastest and most technical sport played today.
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Dogs of Polo: “Man’s best friend” brings a certain happiness and independence to the Sarasota Polo Club The Rise of the Women: The “sport of kings” is now brimming with queens. A Catalog of Breathtaking Images: Renown photographer Neil Egerton shares his unique way of capturing the sport of polo.
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A History of the Club
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On the 30th anniversary of the inception of the Sarasota Polo Club, which was sparked by brothers Robin and Jamie Uihlein, we take a look at how the Sarasota Polo Club has evolved.
The Cats Meow: MCAS offers a program that helps homeless and feral cats secure jobs on local properties. The Consummate Caretaker: Juan Carlos Luna epitomizes the groom lifestyle. Salute Our Players: A tip of the cap to the players who will entertain us during the 2021 Season of Sarasota Polo.
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Life as a Polo Horse
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Told from the perspective of a polo pony living at the Sarasota Polo Club, this feature focuses on the training, grooming and contentment of a polo player’s partner in competition.
FEATURES & DEPARTMENTS Credits..................................... 10 Welcome Letter.......................12 Who’s on the Cover?............... 14 Season Schedule...................... 16 Learn the Polo Basics..............20 Polopedia.................................22 Tools of the Trade...................24 The Brain Health Initiative...26 What Is That?.........................36 Sunset Polo Happy Hour.......58 Equine Therapy......................70 Polo Lessons............................82
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Meet the Announcer..............95 Meet the Staff..........................96 Sidelines...................................98 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow...102 Action....................................107 2020 Winner’s Circle............ 114 2020 Best Playing Ponies...... 118 Compendium of Polo...........120 Grounds Map........................124 Championship Field Map....126 Magazine Timeline...............128
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credits Sarasota Polo Magazine is the official annual publication of the Sarasota Polo Club. Sarasota Polo Club 8201 Polo Club Lane Sarasota, FL 34240 941.907.0000 SarasotaPolo.com Director of Operations
Paige Lautzenheiser
Director of Food & Beverage
Anthony Maniscalco Director of Polo
Mason Wroe
Director of Sales & Marketing
Ron Trytek
Director of Maintenance
Bryan Zdancewicz
Director of Turf & Irrigation
Zac Fuesser
Sarasota Polo Magazine Co-Editors-in-Chief
Ron Trytek Paige Lautzenheiser
Project Management Partner A.E. Engine, Inc. 23110 State Road 54 Suite 293 Lutz, FL 33549 727.209.1750 Publisher
Craig Baroncelli Art Director
Joe Rabuck
Managing Editor
Dan Guttenplan Traffic Coordinator
Nicole Cooper
Contributing Writers Abby Weingarten Paige Lautzenheiser Dan Guttenplan Daniel Paulling Photographers Julio Aguilar Neil Egerton Joe Rabuck Eric Nalpas
Sarasota Polo Magazine specifies that post-press changes may occur to any information presented in this publication and takes no responsibility for goods or services advertised. sar asota polo
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Life Should Take Your Breath Away ...Not Your Pain.
SARASOTA SPORTS MEDICINE AND OPTAMIZ NUTRITION work together to provide solutions for YOUR body. We listen to your concerns and work together until you achieve peak performance. Whether you’re struggling with shoulder pain and arthritis or food sensitivities and gut issues, we’ve got you covered. All testing is based around science, so we eliminate the guesswork and provide facts. We love life and want nothing more than to help you live yours to the fullest. IF YOU ARE: • Confused by contradicting info from “Dr. Google” and “Nurse WebMD” • Tired of sitting on the sidelines or told to stop doing the sports and activities you love • Scared you may need surgery • Struggling with low energy, yet wanting to achieve peak performance • Overwhelmed by the inconsistent information on fad diets, gluten, and food sensitivities • Tired of prescriptions and being talked AT by doctors that don’t listen • Bloated too much and poop too little • Wondering why you can’t get pregnant ...WE CAN HELP! Our mission is to help you achieve physical success and live your best possible life. Our tagline, and personal belief is, “YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A PRO TO BE TREATED LIKE ONE.” Visit us and you’ll see the difference. 1400 CATTLEMEN ROAD, SARASOTA
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Welcome Sarasota Polo Enthusiasts!
O
n behalf of Misdee and our dedicated staff, I am relieved to welcome you to the 30th Season of the Sarasota Polo Club! The COVID-19 pandemic that led to our first-ever shutdown this past season has sadly not gone away; however, with 9 months of experience adjusting to this virus, we are anxious to restore normalcy to the unique sport of polo. Thank you for choosing our facility to celebrate the expansive Florida outdoor life filled with clean, fresh air and lots of sunshine! We wish you a safe and enjoyable season and ask that you please respect the common concerns of COVID-19 while enjoying your leisure time with us at the Sarasota Polo Club. Established in 1991 as the first development in Lakewood Ranch, the Sarasota Polo Club has a remarkable legacy filled with memories of SMR cowboy polo transitioning to the “sport of kings” as we know it today. Misdee and I are honored to continue this legacy for another season and we promise that it will be even greater than last year. We are devoted to developing a growing base of passionate Sarasota polo players and fans by providing exciting experiences and exhilarating matches! This season, we have made some adjustments as our community continues to navigate the ever changing COVID-19 obstacles. We are sensitive to appropriate social distancing and mask protection, and may from time to time remind our guests to please be considerate of local, state and federal guidelines. We continue to develop more variety with our seating options while helping all of us enjoy our experience, knowing that COVID-19 guidelines will be a factor for the majority of this season. Our partnership with Lakewood Ranch Communities continues, as we will be hosting multiple food truck rallies with live music every Wednesday beginning mid-season. Also beginning mid-season, we will resume Sunset Polo Happy Hour on Thursday evenings. Please check our social media platforms and weekly game day programs for timely announcements. I also encourage you to connect with us on Facebook (@SarasotaPoloClubatLakewoodRanch) and Instagram (@SarasotaPolo) for live updates! Finally, we are more than just polo! Our Club’s outdoor facilities and venues are home to a variety of community and social events including concerts, festivals, sporting events, corporate meetings, charity fundraisers and elegant weddings. We thank you for your continued support. Misdee and I are thrilled to be sharing another fun-filled season with our fans, friends, neighbors and guests from around the globe. Have a wonderful time. We hope that you will come back and see us!
James M. Miller
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WHERE LIFE MEETS STYLE
On the 2021 Sarasota Polo DON
JOHN
ARMSTRONG
ROBERT
BEVERIDGE FRED
BEVERIDGE
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BEVERIDGE
Magazine Cover ROBERT
UIHLEIN JR.
WAYNE
HAROLD L.
BROWN
BARRY
JACK
RYAN
Some of the best polo players of the 1950s grace the cover of the 2021 edition of the Sarasota Polo Magazine. Those players include, from left: Robert Beveridge, Fred Beveridge, John Armstrong, Don Beveridge, Jack Ryan, Robert Uihlein Jr., Harold L. Barry and Wayne Brown. Armstrong was vice chairman of the U.S. Polo Association from 1960 to 1962. Combined, the cover subjects have won a total of 18 U.S. Open Polo Championships. ▶▶ Robert Beveridge, who became a 7-Goal player in 1967, won the U.S. Open Polo Championship in 1957, 1963, 1971 and 1973. ▶▶ Don Beveridge won U.S. Open Polo Championship titles in 1954, 1955, 1957, 1960 and 1961. ▶▶ Robert Uihlein Jr., who co-founded the Milwaukee Polo Club, won the U.S. Open Polo Championship in 1951 and 1961. ▶▶ Harold L. Barry won the U.S. Open Polo Championship in 1954, 1957, 1960, 1963, 1966 and 1970. ▶▶ Wayne Brown won the U.S. Open Polo Championship in 1960.
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2021 Polo Schedule DAY
TOURNAMENT
Dec. 13
Season Opener 10-12 Goal
Dec. 20
Pro-Am 6-8 Goal
Dec. 27
Pro-Am 6-8 Goal
Tailgate THEME
Christmas at the Green Beach
Jan. 3
6-8 Goal USPA Governor’s Cup Final
Jan. 10
8 Goal Wayne Brown Memorial
Jan. 17
8 Goal Wayne Brown Memorial Final
Pajama Slumber Party
6 Goal USPA Gerry Aschinger Memorial
Super Hero Sunday
Jan. 24
Jan. 31
8 Goal USPA Officer’s Cup
Feb. 14
8 Goal USPA Officer’s Cup Final
Feb. 21
Sunday Polo
Feb. 28
Sarasota Women’s Challenge
Saddle Up With Santa, Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest
Stick Pony Barrel Races
6 Goal USPA Gerry Aschinger Memorial Final
Feb. 7
HALFTIME
Super Hero & Super Villain Costume Contest Woofminster Dog Show
Valentine’s Day at the Green Beach
DAY
TOURNAMENT
Tailgate THEME
HALFTIME
Mar. 7
10 Goal USPA National Inter-Circuit Championship
Mar. 14
10 Goal USPA National Inter-Circuit Championship Final
St. Patrick’s Day
Mar. 21
10 Goal USPA Commander-InChief Cup
John’s Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Kid’s Day
Mar. 28
10 Goal USPA Commander-InChief Cup Final
Spring Break at the Green Beach
Limbo Contest
Apr. 4
14 Goal Sarasota Polo Club Invitational
Easter Eggstravaganza
Helicopter Easter Egg Drop at Half Time
Apr. 11
14 Goal Sarasota Polo Club Invitational Final
Apr. 18
Pro-Am 6-8 Goal
Apr. 25
Pro-Am 6-8 Goal
Crossfire Cowgirls Half Time Performance
SUNSET POLO HAPPY HOUR
Think Pink
Every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. from March 18th to April 22nd
S
unday Polo matches are open to the public every Sunday at 1PM beginning December 13th, 2020 and running through April 25th, 2021. The gates open at 10AM. Fieldside general admission tailgating, reserved midfield premium seating and VIP midfield boxes are available. Adult general admission Sunday Polo tickets are $15 per person, and children 12 and under receive free
admission. Come join us for exciting polo action, an opening parade, a live national anthem performance, fun tailgate themes, halftime entertainment, food, drinks and divotstomping. Dress comfortably and for the weather. Remember, you will be walking on grass! Well-socialized dogs are welcome on a leash. Sunday Polo at the Sarasota Polo Club is the perfect setting for any family and friends outing.
To purchase tickets, visit SarasotaPolo.com
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Polo: a Sport That’s Good For Business! sar asota polo
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Our Season of 2021 Sponsors Sponsors
communications communications
2021 2021 Corporate Corporate Sponsors Sponsors A.E. Engine • • A.E. Engine • Allstate • Allstate • Animal Network, Inc. • Animal Network, Inc. Atypical Kitchen • • Atypical Kitchen • Bayside Pet Resort • Bayside Pet Resort Brain Health Initiative • • Brain Health Initiative • Couture Real Estate • Couture Real Estate • Dimmitt Automotive Group • Dimmitt Automotive Group • Dinan Group • Dinan Group • Everglades Equipment Group • Everglades Equipment Group • Florida Shower Doors • Florida Shower Doors • Florida Vein Center • Florida Vein Center • Foremost Fence • Foremost Fence • Fred Bargar • • Fred Bargar Fuller Group • • Fuller Group Gold Coast Eagle Distributing • • Gold Coast Eagle Distributing Grapevine Communications • Grapevine Communications
• • Minuteman Press of Bradenton Minuteman Press of Bradenton • • Modus Builders Modus Builders • • Mosquito Mist Mosquito Mist • • Music Compound Music Compound • • Neal Signature Homes Neal Signature Homes • North South Wealth Management • North South Wealth Management • Observer Media Group • Observer Media Group • Orangetheory • Orangetheory • Pandora Store, University Town Center • Pandora Store, University Town Center • Parkstone Travel • Parkstone Travel • PetSuites of America • PetSuites of America • Planet Stone Marble & Granite, Inc. • Planet Stone Marble & Granite, Inc. • Plunkett Raysich Architects, LLP • Plunkett Raysich Architects, LLP • PostNet PostNet • • Premier Sotheby’s International Realty • Premier Sotheby’s International Realty • Remi Lange Remi Lange • • Roofing by Curry • Roofing by Curry
Grove • • Grove • • Helene Buckley Helene Buckley • • INVESTUS Realty INVESTUS Realty J.P. Morgan Private Bank • • J.P. Morgan Private Bank Jax Kar Wash • • Jax Kar Wash • Jennette Properties • Jennette Properties • Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital • Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital • Lakewood Ranch • Lakewood Ranch • Lakewood Ranch Dental • Lakewood Ranch Dental • Lakewood Ranch Medical Center • Lakewood Ranch Medical Center • Libby’s Neighborhood Brasserie • Libby’s Neighborhood Brasserie • Living Vogue Real Estate • Living Vogue Real Estate • Mauldin & Jenkins, CPAs & Advisors • Mauldin & Jenkins, CPAs & Advisors • McCarver & Moser Jewelers • • McCarver & Moser Jewelers Medallion Homes • • Medallion Homes Merrill Lynch, Adamchak, Bordes & • Associates Merrill Lynch, Adamchak, Bordes & Associates 19
• Rudd International, Inc. • Rudd International, Inc. • Sarasota Paradise Group / Fine Properties • Sarasota Paradise Group / Fine Properties • Sarasota Sports Medicine • Sarasota Sports Medicine • Sirius Day Spas • Sirius Day Spas • Sisterhood For Good • Sisterhood For Good • The Don CeSar • The Don CeSar • The Lake Club • The Lake Club • The Out-of-Door Academy • The Out-of-Door Academy • The Players Centre for Performing Arts • The Players Centre for Performing Arts • Thomas Arbuckle, Realtor • Thomas Arbuckle, Realtor • Toale Brothers • Toale Brothers • U.S. Polo Assn. • U.S. Polo Assn. • Waterside at Lakewood Ranch • Waterside at Lakewood Ranch • Willis A. Smith Construction • Willis A. Smith Construction • Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming • Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming • Wrigley Media Group • Wrigley Media Group • Your Personal Estate Steward • Your Personal Estate Steward
Learn the Polo Basics A viewer’s guide to one of the fastest growing sports
The 2,500-year-old game of polo is one of the fastest and most technical sports played today. It is gaining increasing popularity as a premier spectator sport and can be an easy game for the first-time spectator to enjoy. Here are a few basic facts to help you watch the game: GAME BASICS Polo is played on a 10-acre grass field, 300 yards in length by 160 yards, which is the approximate area of 10 football fields. Goal posts are set eight yards apart on either end of the field. The object of the game is to move the ball downfield, hitting the ball through the goal for a score. Teams change direction after each goal. The team with the most scores at the end of the match is deemed the winner. Two teams, made up of four players each, are designated by shirt color. The players wear high boots, knee guards, and a helmet. The ponies wear protective bandages and boots to shield them from the ball or the mallet. By tradition, players wear white pants in tournaments. The mallet, made of a bamboo shaft with a hardwood head, is the instrument used to hit the polo ball.
The polo ball was formerly made of wood but is now plastic. It is about 3 to 3 ½ inches in diameter and 3 ½ to 4 ½ oz. in weight. In fact, the English word “polo” is derived from the Tibetan word “pulu,” meaning ball. The surface of a polo field requires careful and constant grounds maintenance to keep the field in good playing condition. During halftime of a match, spectators are invited to go onto the field to participate in a polo tradition called “divot stomping,” which was developed to not only help replace the mounds of earth (divots) that are torn up by the horses’ hooves, but to also afford spectators the opportunity to walk about and socialize. There are six periods, or “chukkers,” in a match. Each chukker is seven and a half minutes long. Play begins with a throw-in sar asota polo
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of the ball by the umpire at the opening of each chukker and after each goal. Only penalties or injuries may stop play as there are no timeouts or substitutions allowed (except for tack repair). The four basic shots in polo are distinguished by the side of the pony on which strokes or shots are made. That is “near-side” (left side of the mount) and “off-side” (right side of the mount). This creates the near-side forward, and back shot, and the off-side forward, and back shot. Shots can also be made under the pony’s neck, across his tail, or the difficult under-the-belly shot, all variations of the basic shots. A team is made up of four players, each wearing a jersey numbered 1 through 4, which corresponds to their assigned position. No. 1 is the most offensive player, concentrating on opportunities for scoring. No. 4 is the defensive player, primarily responsible for defending his team’s goal. Usually, the most experienced and highest-rated players are at positions 2 and 3, with the pivotal player being No. 3, who must serve as an effective field captain, or quarterback. The No. 3 coordinates
elements combined make the fast-paced action of polo one of the most exciting and demanding sports in the world. PLAYER HANDICAPS Each player is assigned an individual handicap on the ascending basis of C, B, A (-2 through 0) and 1 through 10. This handicap reflects the player’s ability and his value to the team. The higher the handicap, the better the player (which is opposite to golf). There are only a few 10-goal players in the world. The team handicap is the combined handicaps of the four players. The team with the lesser handicap is granted the difference in goals (or points) prior to the start of the match. For that reason, a match may well have a “score” prior to the start of the game based on team handicaps. Player handicaps are evaluated and revised annually by the United States Polo Association. Handicapping is a subjective evaluation of the individual’s horsepower, game sense, hitting ability, and overall value to a team. PONIES The polo ponies are central to the success of any team. They are primarily Thoroughbreds, often with race track experience, and considered the most athletic of equine performers because of the requirements to sprint, stop, turn and accelerate to open speed for seven minutes in duration. Although they are called “ponies,” they are actually small horses (average height 15 to 16 hands high). Players must change mounts after each chukker due to extreme demands placed on the ponies. Therefore, a team usually has a minimum of 24 horses available during the match. Most horses can be trained to play polo, however training horses to learn the game should only be taken on by experienced polo players. Beginner and intermediate players are much better off buying an already trained polo pony.
the offense, and passes the ball upfield to his teammates as they press toward the opposition’s goal. Each player is also assigned an opponent to cover on defense and must be prepared to shift offensive and defensive modes and to make any play that will benefit his team. THE RULES Although there are many rules to the game of polo, the primary concept to which all rules are dedicated is safety – for the player and his mount. The right-of-way rule is defined by a player’s position relative to the direction of travel of the ball when hit. Once hit, an imaginary line is drawn from the player to the ball, and extended ahead of the ball in the direction it is traveling. This imaginary line can not be crossed by other players. In general, play will flow backward and forward, parallel to the imaginary line extended ahead of, and behind, the ball. This rule creates safe traffic patterns that enable the participants to play at top speeds and to avoid dangerous collisions. The line of the ball may not be crossed except under special circumstances and only in such a way as to legitimately gain control of the ball. When a player has the line of the ball on his right, he has the right-of-way. This can only be taken away by “riding off” and moving the player off the line of the ball by making shoulder-to-shoulder contact. Strategy and anticipation are two of the most important elements in polo and usually come with experience. For the spectator, keep an eye on the horses. The speed and athletic abilities of both the horse and rider are spectacular. All of these 21
Polopedia Basic Definitions to add to Your Polo Watching Enjoyment Back Shot: A shot that can be hit from either side of the horse. Chukker: There are six chukkers in a polo match, each one lasting 7 ½ minutes. Between each chukker, players change horses. Divot Stomping: An activity that incorporates spectators into the game. During halftime, spectators are invited to go onto the playing field to replace pieces of turf that have been dug up by the horses. Double-Chukkered: This term means that the same horse has been approved to be played again in a later chukker. Field: The polo field is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide (10 acres). The goal posts have an 8-yard span. Game: The game of polo consists of either four or six chukkers, depending on the number of available horses, the level of play, and/or the nature of the tournament. Goal: A goal is scored when the ball crosses the line between the goal posts. The team’s goal changes each time a goal is scored. Handicap: USPA-registered players are rated on a scale of -2 through 10 (the higher the better). -2 through 1-goal players can go up in half-point increments. Hook: This is an extremely effective
defensive technique. A player may use his mallet to interfere with his opponent’s swing. Knock-In: Should a team, in an offensive drive, hit the ball across the opponents’ backline, the defending team resumes the game with a free hit from the backline. Line-of-the-Ball or Right-of-Way: This imaginary line follows the path that the ball takes. On each side of this line is a lane, and these two lanes determine the right-ofway of the player in possession of the ball. Mallet: The shaft is made of bamboo cane with a hard-wood head. The head is beveled on one end to allow a full swing flush to the ground. The mallet is highly flexible and varies in length. Near-Side Shot: This type of shot is made from the left side of the horse. A near-side shot can either be a forehand or backhand shot. Neck Shot: A ball which is hit under a horse’s neck from either side. Off-Side Shot: The off-side is the right side of the horse. It is the most commonly used shot in polo. Penalty: A penalty is a free hit towards the goal from a set distance. The severity of the foul committed determines what penalty will be awarded. sar asota polo
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Positions: Each of the four team members play a distinctly different position. Players may momentarily change positions, but they try to stay at their initial spot. Player No. 1 is the most forward offensive player. No. 2 is just as aggressive, but plays deeper. No. 3 is the pivot between offense and defense and tries to turn all plays to offense. No. 4, or the back, is the defensive player whose principle role is to protect the goal. Ride-Off: A ride-off occurs when two riders attempt to push each other off the line of the ball. Tail Shot: A tail shot involves hitting the ball behind and under the horse’s rump. Third Man: This refers to the referee who sits off the field. If and when the two umpires on the field are in disagreement, the third man breaks the tie and makes the final decision. Throw-In: A chukker begins and many plays resume with the umpire bowling the ball between the two ready teams. Umpires: Two mounted umpires on the field consult each other after each infringement and impose a penalty only if they agree. If they do not agree, they confer with the third man. They also monitor safety for the players and horses.
TRUST
Photo by Diane C. Nicholson Photo by Diane C. Nicholson
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Tools OF THE Trade
The rules for equipment vary in details between the hosting authorities, but are always for the safety of the players and their mounts.
Polo, also known as the “sport of kings,� is a pastime that demands a kit to match. A polo player’s equipment is very important not only for safety, comfort and performance, but also to demonstrate the right attitude to playing the game.
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Polo Boots For the same reasons that knee pads are essential to a polo player’s safety during a match, top quality riding boots are a must. Ideally, these made-forpolo boots should be thick, high quality leather with a good sole and ankle support.
Polo Bags Bags help carry each player’s equipment, including their boots, knee pads, gloves, helmet, spurs, and more.
Polo Whip Used to help a rider urge their horse forward during a match, the whip should have a good, solid leather grip so that the rider does not lose it.
Protective Helmet Polo was once a form of training for cavalry - a mentality that is easy to understand when you dress for a polo match today, with its own special protective equipment. Most important in this regard is the helmet to insure the player against any glancing blows from the polo ball, stray mallets and other potential hazards of the sport. When choosing a helmet, it is always best to choose a product which has been approved by NOSCAE (the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment).
Polo Balls Different playing conditions can require different polo balls, so it’s best to consider which best suits your circumstances. In situations where weather conditions limit visibility, red balls can ensure a match goes ahead. The standard ball for outdoor polo is made of bamboo or willow root, measures about 3 ¼ inches in diameter and weighs about 4 ounces.
Polo Gloves The best modern polo wear is designed not just for protection, but also comfort and challenging conditions. Good quality gloves can offer extra grip in slippery conditions and low temperatures, meaning a good pair can be the difference between success and failure in the key moments of a match.
Polo Knee Pads Knee pads are also an essential part of the kit, with a player’s legs very exposed to the rigors of the match in the saddle. Different players may favor different variations of polo knee pads, including either two or three straps (the third helping to further secure the pad if necessary).
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Regulation Spurs Pair solid boots with some reliable spurs, as without a strong, preferably stainless steel pair, any issues with this will affect the player’s balance, and even safety, during the game.
Saddles Saddles are English-style with deep seats like jumping saddles.
Polo Mallets and Sticks At the business end of your polo game, the polo mallet and stick needs the right specification for you. The weight of the mallet and the length of the stick are both customizable to ensure this instrument suits the height of the pony, as well as the rider’s playing style. The mallet has a rubber-wrapped grip with a webbed thong for wrapping around the hand and a flexible bamboocane shaft with a bamboo head 9 1/2 inches in length- the whole weighing about 7 ounces and varying from 48 to 53 inches, depending on pony size and length of a player’s arm. The ball is struck with the side of the mallet, not the end.
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Healthy Lifestyle Makes a Difference ealthy Lifestyle MakesBrain a Difference Brain Healthy a Difference Brain HealthyLifestyle LifestyleMakes Makes a Difference STRESS RESILIENCE Brain Healthy Lifestyle Makes aSTRESS Difference RESILIENCE NUTRITION NUTRITION NUTRITION NUTRITION STRESS RESILIENCE PHYSICAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ACTIVITY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY NUTRITION SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SOCIAL CONNECTION SOCIAL CONNECTION SOCIAL CONNECTION SLEEP SOCIAL CONNECTION EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING SOCIAL CONNECTION WELL-BEING HOME,EMOTIONAL NATURE & ENVIRONMENT HOME, NATURE & ENVIRONMENT HOME, NATURE & ENVIRONMENT EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING MEANING AND&PURPOSE HOME, NATURE ENVIRONMENT MEANING AND PURPOSE NATURE & ENVIRONMENT MEANING AND HOME, PURPOSE COGNITIVE MEANINGSTIMULATION AND PURPOSE COGNITIVE STIMULATION MEANING AND PURPOSE COGNITIVE STIMULATION GENERAL HEALTH COGNITIVE STIMULATION COGNITIVE STIMULATION GENERAL HEALTH GENERAL HEALTH POSITIVE IMPACTS GENERAL HEALTH GENERAL HEALTH POSITIVE IMPACTS POSITIVE IMPACTS FUTURE PROTECTIVE FACTORS POSITIVE IMPACTS POSITIVE IMPACTS FUTURE PROTECTIVE FACTORS FUTURE PROTECTIVE FACTORS FUTURE PROTECTIVE FACTORS FUTURE PROTECTIVE FACTORS STRESS RESILIENCE
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COVID -19
Know the symptoms. Help slow the spread. Evidence has shown that certain neurologic signs can appear before the virus's most common symptoms and often have more severe outcomes.
OFTEN OVERLOOKED SYMPTOMS
DO YOUR PART. WEAR A MASK. At work, in restaurants, when you’re shopping. It’s the right choice to help
protect those around you—and encourage others to do the same. We can all help our community stay healthy.
Headaches
Loss of smell and taste
MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS
? Fever
Muscle aches
Mental fog/ confusion
Shortness of breath
Cough
Symptoms can range from mild to severe and some can appear sooner than others. That's why it's important to let your doctor know if you experience any of these symptoms—and to self-isolate and monitor your condition if you think you could be sick.
ABOUT THE BRAIN HEALTH INITIATIVEon neurologic and Visit brainhealthinitiative.org/for-community for information mental symptoms associated COVID-19. The Brain Health Initiative (BHI)health is a cutting-edge, new approach to with protecting brain health, optimizing brain
performance, and fighting brain illness across the lifespan. The BHI works collaboratively with Massachusetts General Hospital, a Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital, and the Academy for Brain Health and Performance to build brain healthy communities through education, collaboration, research, innovation, and action, with a specific focus on brain health promotion, prevention, early detection, evidence-based intervention and optimization of performance. The BHI is creating a culture that promotes brain health protective factors and decreases risk factors, thereby improving brain health and optimizing brain performance outcomes for the Florida Suncoast region and beyond. Join the brain health movement, because brain health matters, and lifestyle makes a difference.
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People of Polo
Joe & Olga Zarlenga North South Wealth Management, Private Wealth Advisor
of P O PLE O
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PE
By Dan Guttenplan
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he sight of a polo match at the Sarasota Polo Club is almost too tempting for Olga Zarlenga. The active show jumper and former jumping manager at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, cannot help but imagine herself making the leap from spectator to player as she used to play polo in Greece. “Being on the sideline and watching is very exhilarating,” Olga Zarlenga said. “I want to jump up and throw one of the players off and start playing myself. I don’t think that would go so well. It’s lots of fun seeing the younger generation coming to the Sarasota Polo Club with their families. We’re grateful to be a part of it.’ Olga, a lifelong lover of horses, established a connection with the Sarasota Polo Club through her husband, Joe, a Private Wealth Advisor with North South Wealth Management. This year, North South sar asota polo
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Wealth Management is the Presenting Sponsor of the Sunset Polo Series at the Sarasota Polo Club, every Thursday evening at 5:30pm beginning March 18, 2021 through April 22, 2021. The Zarlengas live nearby in an equestrian community in Panther Ridge, where they own several horses, including one miniature and another that competes in show jumping. “I’ll need other horses on top of what I have if I start playing polo again,” Olga said. “We’ve rescued three horses from slaughter and inherited others. Polo is a different game because you have to have a lot of horses under you.” Joe and Olga took different paths to their love of the sport of polo. Joe, a native of Chicago, visited his grandfather’s horse farm as a child and rode. Seven years ago, he moved Olga and his two sons (Alexander, 10 and Phillip, 9) to Florida in pursuit of more favorable weather, undeniable tax benefits 28
Opposite: The Zarlenga family, Joe, Olga, Alexander, 10; and Phillip, 9 Top: The Zarlenga property has access to 15 miles of trails for riding. Left: The Zarlenga home in Panther Ridge
and more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. He now rides his horse, Buckwheat, and has developed a renewed respect for equestrianism. His Panther Ridge property includes 10 acres of land with 15 miles of accessible trails for riding. In 2019, Joe received tickets to a Sarasota Polo Club match, and it was love at first sight. He later met second-generation Sarasota Polo Club professional player Stuart Campbell, a native of South Africa, who is one of the club’s most prolific athletes, and gained a better understanding of how the game is played. “It’s amazing seeing these horses go from a dead stop to a full gallop,” Joe said. “And you see how the players position themselves. If the horse and rider aren’t in complete unison, they’re going to have a long day.” Olga has a worldly journey to the sidelines at the Sarasota Polo Club. She was born in Greece, grew up in Africa, went to boarding school in France, and then ventured to Switzerland. “One thing that I found that connected every place I went was horses,” Olga said. “When I saw a polo match, I saw that
it connects the people inside of the game with the people outside of the game. It’s seen all over the world.” In recent years, Joe has taken it upon himself to share his love for horses with his clients at North South Wealth Management. He regularly hosts clients on his ranch at Panther Ridge, and also invites them to polo matches at the Sarasota Polo Club in an attempt to build the sport’s spectator following. “I think it has to do with the family aspect,” Joe said. “We help families take their dreams and goals and make it a reality by managing wealth and saving on taxes. We improve the quality of life for our clients. And that’s what the Sarasota Polo Club does -- it improves the quality of life for everyone that is involved. We’re all about family and working with our clients, their kids, the kids’ grandparents. We’re a good fit because of the family aspect.” Olga’s initial attraction to Joe stemmed from his emphasis on family values and his generosity toward his clients. “I was impressed he’d been with the same company for 29 years; I couldn’t believe somebody would be so loyal in this day and age,” Olga said. “On Valentine’s Day, he would invite all of the widowers to a beautiful lunch, and I thought that was really cool. Now, they’re invited to polo matches.” “[Polo] is an exciting sport, and you want to be a part of something fun with long roots. It’s a family tradition, and that’s what Joe is all about.”
SUNSET
POLO
Presented by
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People of Polo
of P O PLE O
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Orangetheory Fitness
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Tammy Wyman & Mark Flannagan By Dan Guttenplan
Tammy Wyman has found a fitness routine that helps her feel more confident on a horse during a polo match. It just so happens to be the fitness routine that she and her husband, Mark Flannagan, offer out of four locations in the Sarasota region -- Orangetheory Fitness. Wyman plays in the Sunshine League and the Sarasota Women’s Challenge tournament at the Sarasota Polo Club, as well as in other women’s tournaments at clubs throughout the state of Florida. “I think Orangetheory Fitness has definitely brought my playing ability to another level,” Wyman said. “My core ability, my endurance, and the distance that I can hit the ball have improved. Because Orangetheory is an endurance and strength workout, it’s a perfect combination that fine-tunes me for the sport.” Wyman took her first lesson at the Sarasota Polo Club approximately seven or eight years ago. Around the same time, Flannagan was introduced to Orangetheory Fitness, and the entrepreneur made the decision to invest in a studio to host trainer-led group workouts. “About seven years ago, my daughter said, ‘Dad, you’ve got to try this workout’,” Flannagan said. “I rolled my eyes at first, but I’d never done a workout like it. I ended up going sar asota polo
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four times a week, and within a few months, I lost four inches in my waist. I had such great results, I ended up buying a studio.” Flannagan and Wyman have since opened three more Orangetheory Fitness locations in the Sarasota area. Wyman believes that polo and Orangetheory have similarities in both the physical demands as well as the camaraderie and spirit of the athletes who are participating. She has been encouraged by the rise in popularity of the sport of polo amongst women. “Women in polo can’t be stopped,” Wyman said. “Most of the women that I play with are driven and competitive. What I love about the sport is the competition and friendships that I’ve made throughout the years. I’m a lover of horses and such an equestrian fan. It all goes together, and it’s a great mix.” For Flannagan, it is no surprise that his wife has become more confident on her horses through her Orangetheory training. The one-hour workouts are backed by science and technology. Each athlete wears a heart rate monitor and completes the group workout prescribed by an Orangetheory-certified coach and trainer. After the workout, each athlete receives an email sharing the results. “It’s the best workout in the country,” Flannagan said. “I had no core when I started. I thought I was in shape, but all I did was lift weights. My core got strong, and that’s exactly what Tammy found as well. You need a super strong core to play polo, and this is the perfect workout for that.” Orangetheory Fitness classes also help to eliminate the inevitable monotonous, half-hearted workout days that most gym-goers encounter. One step into a studio with the music cranking and coach providing words of encouragement can help snap any athlete out of a malaise. “It’s a great workout with great music, great coaching and great members,” Flannagan said. “Most importantly, you’ll get great results. It’s that simple.”
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People of Polo
of P O PLE O
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Lakewood Ranch Dental
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Dr. Michael Kanter By Dan Guttenplan
For almost 20 years, Dr. Michael Kanter has held the distinction of being “The Official Dentist of the Sarasota Polo Club.” It is a badge of honor that he still displays in advertisements for his practice, Lakewood Ranch Dental. “I still cherish that distinction to this day,” Kanter says. “A lot of people who come to the office are from the [Sarasota Polo] Club and know us from the club. It’s always been a natural fit for us to continue supporting the club. It’s a fun scene and always filled with nice people.” Dr. Kanter and Dr. Richard Miron offer the finest state-of-the-art practice in the region, with cutting-edge technology, such as skin rejuvenation, as part of Care Esthetics (www.care-esthetics. com). The longtime Sarasota Polo Club season ticket holder grew up in Miami before enlisting in the U.S. Army. After serving the country, he attended dental school at the University of Florida. He graduated in 1983 before relocating to the Lakewood Ranch area. Not long after settling into the community, he discovered the Sarasota Polo Club. “Some people like going to watch tennis or football,” Kanter said. “Polo was an exciting thing sar asota polo
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that I enjoyed a lot. I continued to do it and made it a regular weekend event.” While Kanter has great respect for the precision and athleticism on display inside the boundaries of the “Green Beach,” as the Sarasota Polo Club is nicknamed, he also enjoys the tailgate scene from the sidelines. “The skill and precision of the players and horses competing is spectacular,” Kanter said. “It’s exciting to be right up on the field; you always meet new people. There’s a lot of camaraderie and friendship; it doesn’t matter if the person next to you is rooting for another team or another player. Everybody gets along great, and it’s a great way to spend a weekend.” The Sarasota Polo Club sidelines always offer an eclectic look at the way in which the sport is appreciated, and Kanter enjoys experiencing every inch of it. “You can go 10 feet down, and people are hanging on every little move on the field,” Kanter said. “You can go another 20 feet down, and it’s a big tailgate with people barbecuing and having a good time. You can make it however you want. It’s not assigned seating, so you walk around and get to know different groups in different areas.” For Kanter, the view of children stomping divots on the field during halftime can be just as fulfilling as a particularly electric play in a match. “Part of the philosophy of my office is to involve ourselves in community affairs to strengthen the bond we have with the community,” Kanter said. “Being a part of the [Sarasota Polo] Club has been a big part of that. It has always been a first-class operation that offers a great family experience.”
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People of Polo
of P O PLE O
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Sirius Day Spas
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Karen & Richard Medford By Dan Guttenplan
Karen Medford knows something about beauty. As the owner of two local spas, each measuring 3,800 square feet in size in the Lakewood Ranch area, she has made a living out of bringing beauty out of all subjects. So, we will take her at her word when she says that a Sunday at the Sarasota Polo Club is a sight to behold. “It’s an incredibly beautiful sport,” Medford said. “It’s the entire process, from the chukkers, to the kids getting involved on the field at halftime, to the actual competition. What amazes me is the story behind it, the number of horses it takes to put on a match, the difficulty involved, and the way the horses and riders perform so eloquently. Seeing how it all works together is fascinating to me.” Karen, a native of Massachusetts, and her husband and business partner, Rich, a native of Indiana, are enthusiastic polo fans as well as supporters and sponsors of the Sarasota Polo Club. They spend many Sunday’s along with their two children (Ava, 8 and Mya, 5) taking in the scenes from the Sarasota Polo Club sidelines. “The main thing is the community,” Karen said. “We care about community the same way that the Sarasota sar asota polo
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Polo Club cares about community. That’s why we are aligned in our ideas. They care about the same things that we care about. Our kids always come with us to polo, and they get excited about the whole experience.” The Medfords are relative newcomers to the sport of polo. The family resided in New York at the time of Ava’s birth and then moved to Virginia before Mya was born. They moved to Lakewood Ranch in 2016 and received their first exposure to polo soon after. “We never looked back,” Karen said. “It was the most amazing experience for my family. It was so incredibly regal and patriotic, just fantastic to watch.” Sirius Day Spa has rebounded after a brief shutdown at the start of the pandemic, and is currently offering over 100 services for their clients, including a hair salon, nail salon, serenity lounge with complimentary drinks, massage chairs, treatment rooms, couples rooms, medical spas with botox and fillers, massage therapy, facials, advanced skin care treatments, teeth whitening, make-up, B12 shots, waxing, eyelash extensions and other aesthetic services. Sirius Day Spa and the Sarasota Polo Club are also aligned in several charitable efforts, including the Sarasota Women’s Challenge, Toys for Tots and the Sunshine Kids Foundation. “Whenever they need help with a charitable event, we want to provide support,” Karen said. “One very important to my heart and to the Sarasota Polo Club is the Sunshine Kids Foundation. We offer spa treatments for no charge to those kids who are in treatment for cancer. As a family business, we’ve made it a priority to be active in the community. The Sarasota Polo Club has been a big part of that mission, and we plan to continue to grow that relationship.”
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What is That? Key Terms and Definitions
a
Bandages Protective wrapping that shield ponies’ legs against contact with ball.
b
Braided Tail
c
Knee Pad
Prevents interference with the mallet
For knee protection.
d
Breeches
e
Helmet
f
Number
g
Polo pants, always white in polo.
Hard surface, lined and strapped. The helmet protects the player from swinging mallets and balls traveling at a speed of nearly 100 mph.
Each player wears a number 1-4. Every team member has a different role in the game
Reins To enhance control of the pony
h
Bridles
i
Breast Plate
j
Mallet
This series of leather starrings and supports give the player steering and stopping control
Stops the saddle from slipping back
Made of Bamboo or plastic composite shafts. Mallets come in different lengths depending on the height of the pony
sar asota polo
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REFLECTING ON
30 YEARS The History of the Sarasota Polo Club By Daniel Paulling
L
ook over the Sarasota Polo Club’s 160 perfectlymanicured acres, replete with 42 private equestrian estates and seven Bermuda grass polo fields, and you would be hard-pressed to imagine what the site looked like when the club was taking shape only 30 years ago. Brothers Robin and Jamie Uihlein played polo together on the grounds one weekend in 1990 and loved their experience so much that they encouraged other avid players in the area to get together and start their own club. The idea seemed like a good idea to all that were involved, and so began the lengthy process of developing the plans and pursuing the permits that were required in order to build one of just a handful of polo clubs in Florida, one that has fit perfectly into the SarasotaManatee community. “We took 640 acres on Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, and sar asota polo
we designed what we hoped would be a good polo club,” says John Clarke, a longtime member who was with the club during its inaugural season of 1990-1991. “We put about 160 acres into fields and exercise tracks and things of those sorts, and the balance was cut into 5- or 10-acre lots for people to build a house and build a barn to keep their horses. It looked very good.” But the real question remained: Would people show up? Three decades ago, University Parkway was just a dusty shell road, not a six-lane, perpetually clogged thoroughfare, and Lakewood Ranch was still four years away from breaking ground. There were not many reasons for residents of either Sarasota or Manatee counties to head inland. Until the birth of the Sarasota Polo Club. “We would hold events like the Ringling Cup and some big charity events, and it was pretty incredible to watch [former 202 1
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The Sarasota Polo Club has 160 acres of land, with 42 private equestrian estates and seven polo fields. The inaugural polo season at the Sarasota Polo Club was 1990-91.
something the Uihlein family, which founded Milwaukee’s Schlitz Brewing Company, could get behind. Since its founding, the Sarasota Polo Club has mirrored its surrounding community. Ground broke on Lakewood Ranch in 1994, leading to explosive growth in the area. “The Ranch,” as it is sometimes called, is now home to more than 39,000 residents and has ranked among the best-selling master-planned communities in the United States for the past few years. The Sarasota Polo Club, the first development in Lakewood Ranch, can be credited for helping spur that impressive growth. “Schroeder-Manatee Ranch was not just another attraction for Lakewood Ranch,” Clarke says. “People from Sarasota who thought nothing happened east of the interstate came to watch the polo and see the fun that was going on at the polo grounds. The polo initially was a huge marketing tool for SchroederManatee Ranch for their Lakewood Ranch development.” Members, including Clarke, flooded to the Sarasota Polo Club. He says that one of the things that he most remembers about the early days of the Sarasota Polo Club was the “great characters” with “wonderful personalities.” One of the people that fit this description is Tim Gannon, who co-founded Outback Steakhouse and began playing polo in 1992. He impressively won five U.S. Open Polo Championships in less than a decade. Clarke also fondly recalls the many parties thrown by the club members, especially the one that followed one of his favorite events of each season: the Ringling Cup. “Gol-ly,” he says, drawing out the word and laughing.
Sarasota Polo Club CEO and Schroeder-Manatee Ranch chairman] Mary Fran Carroll get people to come out,” Robin Uihlein says. “They’d scoff and say, ‘Come on, there’s nothing east of the interstate!’ She’d say, ‘Oh, yes there is. Trust me!’ “So people would come in their fancy cars and fancy clothes and drive down this dirt road, stuff would be flying everywhere. We started out small, just two fields, but the people came.” This rough-and-tumble origin of the Sarasota Polo Club fits perfectly with the history of the land that it inhabited. The Uihlein family acquired a 28,000-acre timber ranch in Sarasota in 1922, and the cowboys who worked the ranch spent their free time playing polo. They rode with stock saddles using makeshift equipment and, knowing very little about the sport itself, played by their own rules. Their first rule? The first rider to fall off of his or her horse buys beer for the rest of the members of their team. That was 39
The 2021 season at the Sarasota Polo Club is expected to draw upwards of 45,000 spectators. The Sarasota Polo Club’s 20-week season kicks off in mid-December.
“That was a big tournament, and people came in from lots of different places. There was always an excellent party and dance.” Clarke, now in his 80s, retired from polo in 2000. But he was happy for the opportunity to play a sport that he enjoyed so close to home. He was even happier that his family followed him into the sport. His son, James, recently stopped playing because of limited personal time, but still lives within the Sarasota Polo Club, and Clarke’s son-in-law, Stuart Campbell, also lives in the club and plays professionally. Campbell’s children, Pippa and Ian, are emerging players, and another of Clarke’s grandchildren, Sophie Cottrez, plays arena polo but concentrates more on dressage and show jumping. “It went beyond just a place for me to play [polo],” Clarke says. “Once you build something like that, you do hope there will be 30 [seasons]. We would’ve been devastated if it had to close down for any reason. There was a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of very good people—we absolutely believed it would keep running.” sar asota polo
Around 2005, about the midpoint of the Sarasota Polo Club’s history and five years after Clarke finished his playing career, James Uihlein, son of Jamie Uihlein, joined the club. Membership had exploded, and there were multiple levels of tournaments being played, including 4-Goal, 6-Goal, 8-Goal, 12-Goal, and 14-Goal. This variety helped attract members, as the club began to offer something for practically everyone. Unfortunately, the great recession had a negative impact on the sport of polo, in Sarasota and beyond. “2008 was a tough time for a lot of people, especially in polo,” Uihlein says. “That was the first thing that a lot of people stopped doing was playing, and as a result, we lost a number of our players and the sponsors who were putting teams in and keeping the club going. It’s been really fairly difficult to recover from that in the years since.” Uihlein says the number of players has not reached the levels it was at before, and that the future of the club was in question until just a few years ago. Leading Lakewood Ranch through its explosive growth took plenty of time, leaving less for the Sarasota Polo Club. Schroeder-Manatee Ranch made the difficult decision to put the club up for sale. In an attempt to save the club from future development, James and Misdee Miller stepped in and purchased the club in June of 2018. The Miller’s are well-regarded in the equestrian world. James is a 2-Goal polo player who has successfully played polo around the world. His wife, Misdee, is a fourth-generation equestrian and a world champion in the Saddlebred world. Misdee is 202 1
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When the world changes, we’re here to help We are proud to support the Sarasota Polo Club at Lakewood Ranch. Supporting your community is important to you — and to us. That’s why we’re committed to helping you make a difference. Adamchak, Bordes & Associates Joseph M. Adamchak, CPFA Senior Vice President Senior Financial Advisor Portfolio Manager Ryan D. Adamchak, CFP® Financial Advisor Portfolio Advisor Paul D. Lavezzoli, CFP® Financial Advisor Merrill Lynch Wealth Management 6311 Atrium Drive Suite 100B Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941.364.5654 fa.ml.com/abwm
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also one of the most accomplished competitors in both pleasure driving and combined driving, having most recently won the team gold medal for the United States at the World Equestrian Games in 2018. After the purchase of the Sarasota Polo Club, James and Misdee immediately got to work updating the club. They improved the quality of the playing fields to make them safer for both horses and riders, and made multi-million dollar improvements to the Pavilion, the Clubhouse, and the exercise track in just two years of ownership. James has spent a significant amount time learning about grass and irrigation in a hands-on effort to help his club grow. They have done all of this while hanging on to what made the club great from the very beginning. “There are polo clubs all over the country,” Uihlein says. “I think there are a few things that make this club special. One of them is the emphasis on fair play and gentlemanly, respectful behavior on the field. Of course, sometimes things get heated, but that’s one of the core staples the club was founded on and has made it really a fun environment for people to come play here. “I think the club camaraderie is a pretty unique thing for this club. Really, all the players and the members all get together after the games, during the games, during the week at times. Having that atmosphere makes it a lot of fun for the families and the people that travel here from out of town and spend five or six months. It creates an atmosphere they feel welcome in.”
This welcoming atmosphere can be felt along the edges of the playing field every Sunday during polo season, where the number of fans that can be found enjoying the matches has remained high. The 2021 Season is expected to draw upwards of 45,000 spectators during the 20-week season that begins in mid-December. The Lakewood Ranch area has been found to be one of the most enthusiastic polo communities in the world. These fans, who line the fields week after week, make the Sarasota Polo Club the special club that it is. “I think it’s pretty special that the club’s been around for 30 years,” says Uihlein. “It’s a great legacy for the area and for the folks that started it. Having it pass on to another group that’s going to uphold the traditions and the fun atmosphere and the great playing surfaces and really just add to it and put their own twist on it is very exciting. For me to kind of have been through the transition, it’s fun to think about what the next years are going to look like. Uihlein is looking forward to playing this season and many more at the Sarasota Polo Club. “It’s been great not only for the players and the members, but also the community. It’s a really exciting time. The club and polo should be here for a long time, hopefully 30 more years. sar asota polo
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This marks the 30th season of polo at the Sarasota Polo Club.
With the largest reach in Lakewood Ranch, the Observer is the most effective source in helping Sisterhood For Good get our message out.� Angela Massaro-Fain Sisterhood for Good Lakewood Ranch
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The
Dogs of Polo No polo match is complete without our loyal sidekick, the dog. Big or small — they come in all sizes and most of us have more than one. Some are barn mascots, others are socialites, and often they’re more famous and recognized around the polo circuit than movie stars. PRESENTED BY
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The Rise of
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the Women Polo Attracting More and More Female Players By Abby Weingarten
P Dawn Jones (center) has been a major driving force behind the global women’s polo movement.
roving that women’s polo is on the upswing, a major tournament in Sarasota, Florida turned the tide two years ago and is now paving the way for female polo players. The “sport of kings” is now brimming with queens. In February and March of 2019, the Sarasota Polo Club and the Women’s International Polo Network (WIPN) presented the first ever Sarasota Women’s Challenge. The tournament became an annual tradition, continuing when nine teams from across the United States participated in the three-day tournament, running just prior to the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida. One of the athletes, Dawn Jones - wife of actor Tommy Lee Jones - has been a major driving force behind the global women’s polo movement. In 2018, Dawn helped establish the WIPN—a nonprofit organization designed to enhance women’s polo around the world through an online community of detailed player profiles (similar to LinkedIn) and a comprehensive worldwide calendar of women’s polo tournaments. Why is it beneficial for women to have representation in organizations like the WIPN and participate in events like the Sarasota Women’s Challenge “There are many benefits to having more women’s [polo] tournaments. The Sarasota Polo Club has been very supportive of women’s polo. And that is what it takes—a club that is interested in seeing that sector of polo growth,” says Dawn. It is important to promote women’s [polo] tournaments in order for us to cultivate more local talent that could potentially compete in international [polo] tournaments.”
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The Sarasota Polo Club hosted the first-ever Sarasota Women’s Challenge in 2019.
The Sarasota Women’s Challenge has helped further women’s progress in the sport of polo. Dawn, who is a professional photographer and a recreational polo player, says that, before the WIPN was established, polo players did not have a resource where all of the female athletes could come together, get organized, and ultimately compete in global women’s polo tournaments. Tournaments like the Sarasota Women’s Challenge not only help to further women’s progress in the sport of polo; they also increase community visibility. For example, the inaugural 2019 Sarasota Women’s Challenge benefited Just for Girls, a childcare service that is based in Manatee County and aims to provide local girls an educational program that is designed for their needs, in an environment that fosters success. In 2020, the Sarasota Women’s Challenge partnered with Paradise Dermatology and Grapevine Communications, both of which are female-owned businesses. The goal? To inspire the female spectators at the Sarasota Polo Club to get involved with the sport of polo, whether it is here in Sarasota or at any other club around the world. “I think development at local clubs is key to helping U.S. women’s polo continue to advance. [The Sarasota Polo Club’s] willingness to host a women’s tournament and to cultivate women players is important in this bigger picture,” Dawn says. Any new opportunity that allows the promotion of women’s polo will help to continue to break the gender stereotypes that are common in polo. Throughout history, polo has generally been considered a male-dominated sport. Women were not officially welcomed into the United States Polo Association (USPA) until 1972, when polo pioneer Sue Sally Hale became the first official female member. sar asota polo
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The 2019 Sarasota Women’s Challenge benefited a Manatee County childcare service, Just for Girls.
16 GOALS 8 GOALS
B FLIGHT
AVALON FARM
SAN SABA
Kylie Sheehan 5 Goals Alyson Poor 4 Goals Meghan Shader 2 Goals Margaux Buchanan 2 Goals
Dawn Jones 6 Goals Clarissa Echazarreta 6 Goals Kendall Plank 4 Goals Taylor Scilufo 0 Goals
CAVALIA POLO
FIRST ON SITE
Courtney Asdourian 5 Goals Malacia Von Falkenhouse 2 Goals Sydney Jordan 2 Goals Ariel Fletcher 0 Goals
INVESTUS
4 GOALS
C FLIGHT
Up until 1972, Hale disguised herself as a male polo player in order to allow herself the opportunity to play in polo tournaments in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Hale’s audacity paved the way for future female polo enthusiasts. Today, women make up the fastest-growing segment of polo in the United States. For more than two decades, Dawn has watched the evolution of women’s polo—the leaps and bounds, and also the setbacks. She started playing the sport herself to bond with her husband Tommy, a polo aficionado, who she met 27 years ago. The time that Dawn and Tommy spent together playing polo has “been one of the healthiest components of our marriage,” she says. It was evident from the beginning, however, that—in the grand scheme of the sport—the playing field was not exactly equal. “Because I am 56 and I started playing when I was 32, there were not a lot of women-specific polo [tournaments] at all back then. If there was any event that was put together, it was not very well organized,” says Dawn.“There were a lot of male umpires who did not want to umpire women’s polo 15 or 20 years ago. Now, though, it has completely changed. Since I have been involved, women’s polo has evolved into a more professional, athletic, and competitive sport.”
A FLIGHT
Sarasota Women’s Challenge Players
Laura Straussfeld Uli Link Camille Ricaud Sabrina Straussfeld
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4 Goals 2 Goals 1 Goal 1 Goal
OCALA MAGNA WAVE 3 Goals 1 Goal 0 Goals 0 Goals
Kimberly Von Stade Sue Doyle Kim Smith Ellen Sprowls
4 Goals 0 Goals 0 Goals 0 Goals
Izzy Parsons Paige Boone Kelly Beck Eliza Jacobellis
ONEMAGNIFY Kimberly Von Stade 4 Goals Laura Wilson 3 Goals Loryn Butterworth 2 Goals Lisa Scott 1 Goal
ORANGETHEORY Brandie Joy Jaymie Klauber Ashlie Osburg Tammy Wyman
2 Goals 2 Goals 0 Goals 0 Goals
Courtney Asdourian 5 Goals Irene Lis-Planells 0 Goals Janis Pascarella 0 Goals Lauren Proctor-Brown 0 Goals
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2 Goals 1 Goal 1 Goal 0 Goals
Kimberley Von Stade 4 Goals Hanna Hornung 0 Goals Katelyn Hornung 0 Goals Linda Llosa 0 Goals
All handicaps shown are based on the USPA Women Only Handicap system.
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7 Goals 5 Goals 2 Goals 2 Goals
D FLIGHT
TINICUM Cheryl Arnold Loryn Butterworth Ann Oniskey Mary Phipps
Meghan Okerlund Eliza Jacobellis Jocelyne Groulx Ashlie Osburg
TEN OAKS
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Women were not officially welcomed into the United States Polo Association until 1972.
Polo pioneer Sue Sally Hale continued her impact on women’s playing at the higher level possible, which helped to attract more polo through her daughter, Sunny Hale, who became the first women to come and join the sport. woman to play on a team and win the U.S. Open Championship. “Women now make up 40 percent of the USPA membership Sunny also was the first woman to be named the most valuable base; we have gone up by two percent in just the past two years,” player of multiple top-flight Dawn says. “So, when clubs like the tournaments, and the first woman to Sarasota Polo Club host events like “Women have become top-quality players receive a 5-Goal handicap - a rating the Sarasota Women’s Challenge, that placed her in the top tier of that is an integral part of changing more than ever. It inspires women of all the sport’s American professionals. the way things are in this sport.” ages when they go to watch a game and But not all female players were “Women have become top-quality as successful. With the standard players more than ever. It inspires they think, ‘You know what? I want to handicapping system, many woman women of all ages when they go to try that!” -DAWN JONES were rated between -2 and 1 Goals, watch a game and they think, ‘You which made it difficult to play in the know what? I want to try that!,” higher levels of polo. Dawn says. “And that generates interest and income for the In 2014, with the help of Sunny Hale, the USPA introduced club that is hosting the tournament. If I can give a little time the addition of women’s handicaps. This involved converting in the scope of a lifetime, and inspire other women to pick up standard handicaps to help alleviate the compression that was that baton and keep going, I can move the needle in the right being seen amongst the women’s standard handicaps. direction. If there is anything we can do to recruit more women This was a pivotal moment in women’s polo, as it made in polo, we absolutely should.” sar asota polo
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@USPOLOASSN
OLO P T E S SUN
2021
SCHEDULE March 18
Every Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
March 25
from March 18th to April 22nd Join the party for Sunset Polo Happy Hour at the Sarasota Polo Club on Thursday nights from March 18 through April 22 at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy exciting polo action, tailgating, food, drinks and divot-stomping against a backdrop of a breathtaking sunset. Tickets are complimentary courtesy of North South Wealth Management.
April 1 April 8 April 15 April 22 Presented by
NEIL EGERTON
Neil Egerton (The Edge) served 12 adrenalin-fueled years in the Royal Marine Commandos, before pursuing his other true passion – action sports photography. That was 30 years ago. Having covered almost all sports imaginable, from lawn mower racing in Sussex to the World Aerobatic Championships in South Africa, Neil’s sports photography has taken him far and wide, covering local and international events, including The Commonwealth Games and two Olympic Games. Twenty years ago, he was struck by the combination of the skilled horsemanship and unquestionable grace that can be found on every polo pitch and in every polo match across the globe. It was and remains an inspiration in his endeavor to capture the ‘sport of kings’ – illustrating the magic and mystery in an honest and representative exposure. He has travelled around the world with this wonderful sport, from the hallowed green fields of the English countryside to the sun-drenched pitches in Australia and Spain and beyond, to the snowy grounds of Switzerland and China. He has been privileged to capture the flair of many of the greatest polo players of our time, including Adolfo Cambiaso, Piki Alberti and J.P. Clarkin. He has been asked by HRH Prince Charles to take the first polo images of the young royals Prince William and Prince Harry. Egerton has spent time spotting new talent and capturing their development as they have progressed from grooms to players to forces to be reckoned with, including the exceptional Alicia Gariador. Neil gave his time to the British military charity, Help for Heroes, as their official photographer at the Warrior Games in both New York and Chicago, supplying images to raise awareness of our wounded veterans. As an ex-Royal marine who saw many years of active service, this is a charity that is close to Neil’s heart and a way in which he felt he could give something back to those who have bravely served their country. Home for Neil is wherever his beloved wife, Sara, and their adorable but cheeky Miniature Schnauzer, Boken, are.
WEB:
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EMAIL:
neil@poloartimages.com
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The Cats Meow MCAS PLACES HOMELESS CATS AT THE SAR ASOTA POLO CLUB By Abby Weingarten
B The Manatee County Animal Working Cat Program has helped more than 50 cats get adopted, while also keeping them housed and fed.
arn cats are furry little superheroes—the best friends that any busy horse farmer and rider can have. These resourceful felines trap mice, keep the ponies company, and adore their owners for giving them happy and safe homes. For the past two years, Manatee County Animal Services (MCAS) has offered a very unique program that helps homeless and/or feral cats secure jobs on local area properties. The program, called the Manatee County Working Cat Program, has already saved numerous feline lives, while helping farm owners keep their coveted land protected from pests. The program evolved when a large quantity of community cats had inhabited an area where they were unwanted, and consequently had to be confiscated and re-homed, says Sarah Brown, the chief of the Animal Services Division for MCAS. “This forced us to be creative, as we are about lifesaving options, so we needed to find another option for these cats,” explains Brown. MCAS was able to do just that. Since then, the staff at the MCAS Program have since worked with barns and farms throughout the Tampa Bay area sar asota polo
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to help appropriately match cats with owners. So far, approximately 50 cats have been successfully adopted with the help of the MCAS Program. “We found that, occasionally, a community cat cannot be returned to their colony. When this is the case, MCAS will sometimes designate these cats as ‘working cats,’” Brown says. “Since they are not ideal [house] pets, we put them to work in local businesses doing what they do best. A working cat deters vermin, such as rodents.” These special cats are commonly matched with owners of property where pest control is needed, like working farms, factories, warehouses, stores, churchyards and private properties. “Working cats are safe alternatives to toxic pesticides. Plus, they are less expensive and more effective. Additionally, this assists overburdened shelters with cats that would be otherwise deemed as not adoptable,” Brown says. “This is a lifesaving avenue for these community cats. And if you are not a cat person, that is okay. Don’t worry; it is likely mutual; these cats are not always exactly the cuddling type. All some of these cats need from you is shelter and food. Otherwise, they will do their jobs and mind their own business.” Other cats thrive off of human attention, and are capable of 68
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becoming part of your family while still keeping your property free of pests. That is why matching each cat with the appropriate forever home is so important. Those who are interested in adopting a working cat (or even multiple working cats) are first required to fill out an adoption application. There are several factors that are taken into consideration when screening an application for a working cat: predation, proximity to busy roads, available shelter, facility type, and the caregiver’s willingness to feed and provide medical care to the cat(s) he or she is looking to adopt. The main objective of the MCAS Program is to keep the cats fed, housed and thriving. There is no adoption fee for anyone interested in adopting any of the working cats. “A big goal in the animal community is to help save lives, and this program does just that,” Brown says. “In addition to saving lives, you have active-duty working cats, working to keep your barns free of pests.” “The MCAS Program is just one aspect of 69
keeping local homeless cats safe and off of the streets”, says Pam Freni, the president of Animal Network, Inc. in Bradenton—a nonprofit organization that funds and participates in lowcost/no-cost clinics that offer spay/neuter surgeries and microchipping. Animal Network also offers an education program that encourages responsible pet ownership and offers vouchers for veterinarian services to assist with the cost of providing necessary medical care to adopted animals. The current Manatee County Animal Shelter has a capacity of about 80 dogs and about 50 cats. But some days, it is tasked with housing more than 160 dogs and 100 cats, Freni explains. There is simply not enough room to contain all of the animals, which is why the MCAS Program is so essential to the county. “The sheltering area still remains too small and old to support the county’s current needs,” explains Freni. “Animal Network began working with the Manatee County Commissioners a couple of years ago, supporting our dream of building an entirely new and modern shelter that is more centrally-located within our community of Lakewood Ranch.” In April of 2019, the Commissioners voted to allocate $8 million for the construction of a new shelter, while also asking Animal Network to support the facility with a capital campaign of $2 million, ensuring that the fully-estimated requirement of $10 million would be available for construction, Freni stated. “The Animal Network’s Shelter Manatee Capital Campaign is our response to this request,” says Freni. “We have already raised over $200,000 and are offering Manatee County businesses and citizens opportunities to continue donating to cover the remaining amount of $1,800,000.” Freni strongly believes that it is an undoubtedly worthwhile cause. “We strongly believe that everyone wants our stray, lost and relinquished pets to be housed in quality surroundings while new forever homes are sought for each of them,” Freni says. “Each time that someone donates [to the campaign], this dream comes closer to reality.” For information on the Shelter Manatee Capital Campaign, or to donate, visit sheltermanatee.com. For information on the Working Cat Program, call (941)-742-5933, email adoptions@mymanatee.org or visit mymanatee.org.
Providing a New
Through hippotherapy, many youth and adults with disabilities gain physical strength as well as social and emotional skills. Both organizations service clients with autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, varying speech impediments, and/or physical and emotional challenges. SMART Executive Director Rebecca Blitz is constantly blown away by the gains clients make through their experience at the Bradenton farm. “I saw a girl who had never said a word before, and literally the first word she said was ‘horse’,” Blitz says. “She had never spoken a word in her life. It brought her family to tears. I have seen people drive an hour to come here. One gentleman said he was having the worst day when he came here. After an hour of grooming a horse, he said, ‘I needed this.’ It is the best mental health boost.” InStride Therapy and SMART have slightly different business models. InStride therapists are independent contractors with ESSWFL. Clients can receive physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy in addition to the Therapeutic Riding and Equine Assisted Learning Programs. InStride also offers a veterans program, in partnership with Operation Warrior Resolution.
Lease on Life Many Locals Benefit From Equine Therapy By Dan Guttenplan
Tom Waters has seen the way in which equine therapy can change a life. The CEO of InStride Therapy can think of no better example than a boy named E.J., who was diagnosed with autism at an early age. E.J. connected with InStride Therapy through the recommendation of an early intervention specialist, and began equine therapy with a horse named Grace. “E.J. went down to [the Nokomis farm] for the first time and was a little like, ‘Uh oh,’” Waters says. “Eventually, he bonded with Grace in a unique way. When he first came to us, he would not put anything in his mouth because of sensitivity issues. His sensitivity downgraded to such a degree, he is now able to go to the dentist and do other things that he had never done before. He has the ability to live life and go to school.” Through a partnership with Easterseals Southwest Florida (ESSWFL), InStride can provide a seamless transition for clients who receive therapy. InStride is one of two equine therapy operations that the Sarasota Polo Club proudly supports, along with Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy (SMART).
InStride therapy sessions take place on 62 acres of farm land at the Nokomis facility.
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Through a partnership with Easterseals Southwest Florida (ESSWFL), InStride can provide a seamless transition for clients who receive therapy. SMART services 600 participants per year for riding programs and lessons.
All of this is accomplished within their 62 acre Nokomis facility. SMART services 600 participants per year for riding programs and lessons. Set on a 23-acre farm in Bradenton, SMART owns 15 horses. The nonprofit organization relies on its many dedicated volunteers who help clients learn to ride horses. In a typical year, SMART volunteers give more than 14,000 hours of their time. All of the SMART therapists are certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH). SMART also offers a carriage driving program for veterans or other clients who have physical disabilities, and might not be able to ride. “I constantly sit in awe and amusement of what I see here,” Blitz says. “I saw the smallest little girl befriend the biggest horse on the farm. People come in stressed out, and because the energy of the barn is so peaceful, they leave in a much better place. It’s that connection with the horse -that bond. It’s an underlying communication.” The benefits of therapeutic riding extend well beyond a lift in spirits. Waters has seen children gain physical strength and learn to operate independently, all with the help of hippotherapy. “The horse’s pelvic movement is so similar to a human, and it creates a strength and stretching of the muscles that we couldn’t do without horses,” Waters says. “The other secret sauce is that the therapist is watching the client and helping to develop that core strength. We have children who come to us and can’t even sit up. After a few months, they not only are able to sit up, but they can also turn around on their horse. The whole body strength is enhanced sar asota polo
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tremendously.” By strengthening the core, a client then learns to expand his or her lungs. That helps many clients to overcome speech issues. “When the lungs are wide open, it gives them enough air to breathe and speak,” Waters said. “Oftentimes, they didn’t have the core strength to breathe oxygen and speak clearly. The horses are the tool that allows our therapists to monitor and strengthen these children. We match those two and have beautiful results.” That brings us back to E.J., the child that Waters cites as the greatest example of the way in which equine therapy can change a life. Through his participation with InStride Therapy, E.J. became stronger and more vocal. He became more comfortable in new surroundings, and did not hesitate to share his feelings when he was uncomfortable. One day, on the way home from his InStride therapy session at the Nokomis farm, E.J. asked his mother how he became lucky enough to get a chance to befriend his favorite horse, Grace. His mother told him that equine therapy was expensive, and he was lucky to have access to those services through InStride Therapy and the numerous generous donors that support the organization. Inspired to give back to those who have given so much to him, E.J. decided to start saving his weekly allowance from doing chores, with a goal of repaying InStride Therapy for all that he had been given through his hippotherapy sessions. When he finally saved $5, he walked into the manager’s office at InStride Therapy, placed the $5 bill on the desk, and requested that the money go to care specifically for Grace. “It infected his personality in a profound way,” Waters said. “That’s why we do this.” |
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Proud Sponsor of Sarasota Polo Club’s 30th Anniversary Season
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USE OUR TIME FOR LIFE’S TRIVIAL TASKS, NOT YOURS Please Visit Us At www.YourPersonalEstateSteward.com
Straight From the Horse’s Mouth:
My Life as a
Polo Horse By Abby Weingarten & Paige Lautzenheiser
M
y morning activity kicks off just before daybreak, around 6 a.m., when I—a polo pony—am brought into the barn from my pasture by my human caretaker so that I can eat my breakfast. When the headlights pull into the driveway, I can hardly contain my excitement. I cannot help but call out to her. She is two minutes late. My stomach has been keeping track. She slowly gets out of her car, a cup of coffee in her hand, and makes her way into the barn. She sets her coffee down on the table, grabs a bunch of halters and lead ropes, and then heads towards us. My friends and I are all standing at the gate, eager to be the one she chooses to bring inside first. The sooner we get caught, the sooner we get fed! My human grabs a few of us at a time, and leads us toward our individual stalls. I accidentally break into a jog on the way to my stall, excited for the breakfast that awaits me, and am immediately reprimanded for rushing her. I do know better, but I just cannot help myself. I love breakfast time - or really any time that involves food. Once my friends and I are all settled into our individual stalls, happily munching on our delicious breakfast of hay and grain, my human bustles around the barn, continuing to take care of us. She makes sure that our water buckets are topped off, and that our stalls are neat and tidy. When she drops by my stall, I break momentarily from my feast to give her a nuzzle, a sort of ‘thank you’ for taking care of me. I love my human, and she loves me. When all of the morning chores are complete, my trusty human begins the process of grooming us and preparing us for our morning round of exercise. She carefully inspects each of us, making sure that we did not injure ourselves or lose a horseshoe while we were out in the field overnight. I tend to mind my own business and not get into arguments when I am turned out in the pasture with my friends, but some of my friends are trouble makers. They constantly are arguing about who gets to drink out of the water trough first, and who gets to eat which section of grass. Every once in a while, the argument gets heated enough that someone gets hurt - but this does not happen often luckily. After we are inspected, our human delicately brushes all over us, making sure that our bodies are free of dirt, our manes and tails are free of tangles, and our faces are nice and pretty. My favorite part is when
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she scratches behind my ears. Oh! That feels so good. My head drops lower and lower, and my lips quiver with happiness. I never want her to stop, but eventually she does because she has to move on to the next stall. Before she leaves, she coats my body with fly spray, to help protect me from those pesky flies that like to bother us constantly. Once everyone is groomed, she decides who she wants to ride and who she wants to pony alongside. It changes every day. Today, she chooses to ride me. She carefully wraps my legs with bandages to support and protect them while I exercise. She places a saddle pad on my back, and then the saddle. The martingale goes around my neck, and sits comfortably on my chest. The girth is tightened around my waist so that the saddle stays nice and secure on my back during the ride. And, then, she places the bridle on my face. I munch happily on my bit while I wait for her to put on her helmet. I follow her out of the stall and we collect four of my friends to join us, and then we head to the mounting block so that she can hop aboard. And then, it is time to exercise! Some of my friends hate this part. All they want to do is lay down in their stalls and sleep all SHE FINALLY GETS TO MY STALL day. But I actually like to get out and stretch my legs, AND THROWS A FLAKE OF HAY and see my surroundings.
INTO THE CORNER. I RUSH OVER AND START HAPPILY MUNCHING. AH! WHAT COULD BE BETTER?
We take a nice long walk from the barn to the exercise track. We pass other sets of horses that are going to and from their exercise routine. It is a busy time of day. When we get to the track, we pick up the speed for a few laps. Sometimes, my friends get angry at me for getting ahead of them, but today, we all seemed to get along just fine. And, when my human was satisfied with our work, we got to exit the track and head for home. I really cannot complain much about this life, if I am being honest. Although, if someone could remove the trash can that sits at the end of the driveway occasionally, that would be great - that thing is terrifying! Who knows what monster could be living in there! My human laughs at me whenever I spook at it, and I wonder what she knows that I do not know. But I do not dare get closer to it and try to find out. Once we are back at the barn, my human dismounts and first puts my friends back in their stalls. And then she proceeds to untack me and lead me to the wash rack so that I can have a nice cool shower, which feels so good. When my human is done bathing me, 75
A polo horse typically has two rounds of exercise each day -- each followed by a cool shower.
she puts me back in my stall so that I can rest and rehydrate, and she goes about washing my other friends too. For the next few hours, we get to enjoy some down time while my human takes care of other things around the barn. I personally prefer to lie down and take a nice nap in my soft bed of shavings, so that is exactly what I do. I am awakened by the faint smell of hay. I must have slept all of the way until lunch time! I hurriedly get up and walk to the front of my stall, sticking my head out as far as I can in search of that scrumptious aroma. But I do not see my human. She must be on the other side of the barn. I can hear the wheelbarrow being moved slowly down the aisle, stopping at each stall so that she can feed each of my friends, and then it appears! I immediately start whinnying and pacing my stall in excitement. She finally gets to my stall and throws a flake of hay into the corner. I rush over and start happily munching. Ah! What could be better? We get some more down time after lunch, but this time I do not lay down. Instead, I just stick my head outside of the front of my stall and just
enjoy the view. My human leaves for a bit, probably to feed herself and, when she returns, it is time for us to complete our second round of exercise. This time, she chooses to ride my neighbor and pony me instead, which is fine. Although I am not particularly a fan of him. He can be rather bossy, and today is no different. When we get to the track, he has a hard time keeping up with me - and he does not like that. He nips at my neck, and I try to bite him back but my human scolds me before I can. I do not like it when my human gets angry at me, so I try my best to behave. We make it back to the barn without any more scuffles, and my human takes care of us again just like she did this morning. When everyone has been washed, she goes around the barn and feeds us our hay and grain. While we munch on our dinner, she makes sure that our pastures are ready for us to spend the evening outside. As we finish our dinner one by one, we stick our heads outside of our stall doors and let her know that we are ready to go outside. She leads us one by one to our respective pastures, where we get to hang out for the evening. Tonight is like most nights - the sunset is gorgeous, the heat is wearing off, and I am one happy polo pony. I look forward to what tomorrow brings. sar asota polo
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THE CONSUMMATE
CARETAKER
Juan Carlos Luna Epitomizes the Groom’s Lifestyle By Abby Weingarten
F Juan Carlos Luna has seven years of experience as a groom. Juan Carlos Luna’s boss, Francisco Losa, is based in Kentucky and Sarasota.
or every show-ready horse at the Sarasota Polo Club, there is a hardworking groom behind the barn doors, preparing the animal to be the great athlete that it is capable of being. Juan Carlos Luna is one of these dedicated caretakers. A lifelong lover of horses, Juan Carlos is responsible for keeping the polo horses that are in his care strong and fit, making sure their stables are safe and secure and tidy, and preparing the animals for game day. Juan Carlos’ workweeks are long, but his patience is longer—and that is undoubtedly key in his profession. The job of a groom is not for the faint of heart. It is a tedious, time-consuming position that requires long hours and ample patience, but the men and women who accept the challenge prove their enduring passion for the profession. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Juan Carlos has been employed as a groom for seven years, spending the summers in both Kansas and Kentucky, and the winters in Sarasota, Florida. Horses have been his passion since he was just a little boy. “In the Dominican Republic, my father, when he was young, used to be a jockey and then a polo player, so I grew up around horses,” Juan Carlos says. “I would go sar asota polo
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with him to the polo field when he played. I loved polo. I still love the connection with the horses.” Juan Carlos started working within the Sarasota Polo Club in 2015, and he now takes care of about 25 horses on a daily basis. He typically spends six days a week tending to his animals and their habitats—tackling the daily care (brushing and bathing), training, exercising, and feeding. His morning routine begins at 6 a.m., when Juan Carlos feeds his horses their breakfast of grain and hay, while checking them for any scrapes or injuries that may have occurred while they were turned out in their pastures overnight. He then proceeds to clean up the stalls, and makes sure that all of the tack and equipment is prepared for any matches that might be coming up. He then takes time to groom each horse individually and, once they are all clean, he tacks them up and takes them out in groups for some exercise around the Sarasota Polo Club’s all-weather track. Because the sport of polo requires the use of so many horses - most players use approximately eight horses per game and keep upwards of 10 to 12 horses in active work during the playing season - exercising polo horses can be a serious juggle. To reduce the amount of time that is spent exercising these |
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“My life has been all about horses and it is what I enjoy.” -JUAN CARLOS LUNA
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horses, the most common form of exercise is called a “set” - a task which involves riding one horse while leading or ponying up to four other horses at the same time. Exercise-wise, the horses participate in a 20-to-25-minute walk to warm up, followed by a 12-minute jog, and a 12-minute “cool-down” walk. Sometimes, instead of taking a set of horses to the track for their morning workout, grooms may take each horse one by one to the Sarasota Polo Club’s arena to school them individually. Or, the horses might Juan Carlos Luna takes care of be taken to the field to do what about 25 horses is called “stick-and-balling,” on a daily basis. where the rider carries a mallet and taps a ball around the field at a leisurely pace to help keep the horse prepared for the action of an upcoming match. Deciding what form of exercise each horse receives each day all comes down to the needs of the individual horse, and what exciting events are coming up in the near future. Regardless of what form of exercise the day requires, Juan Carlos says that he usually finishes up by mid-morning and, when he is done, he accomplishes some other tasks that are required of his position. The tack (saddles, bridles, boots, etc.) that were used to exercise the horses all need to be cleaned in order to keep them in good condition. There is also always laundry to do, and stalls to keep neat and tidy. Around 5 or 6 p.m, the horses are fed their dinner of hay and grain, and then turned out in their pastures for the evening. “The most difficult part of the day, for me, is when I am riding a horse while leading four other horses, and something frightens one or more of the horses and you don’t know what to do because the horses are all frightened. That has happened,” Juan Carlos says. “Also, the work schedule can be hard. We have off on Monday’s, but we have to come in in the early morning that day and still look at the horses to make sure they are okay, feed them (that takes an hour), and then come back at 5 or 6 in the evening and feed them again. So it is not really a full day off.” Juan Carlos has a close connection to his two employers (Francisco Llosa is based in Kentucky and Sarasota, and Teresa Mull is based in Kansas). “I feel like a part of the family with both Francisco and Teresa,” Juan Carlos says. And the horses are like family, too. “I grew up in the country and I had a barn three minutes from my house,” Juan Carlos says. “My family used to ride horses and play polo; that was just what I did every day all day.” It seemed only natural for Juan Carlos to pursue a career as a polo groom. sar asota polo
But what is a groom, exactly? It is a profession that dates back centuries. The meaning of the word groom (“a man servant who attends to horses”) was coined in 1667. A groom is traditionally responsible for the management of the horses and the care of the stables—which involves doing everything from brushing horses to washing helmets to polishing boots. Not all grooms have polo backgrounds (although it certainly helps), but grooms do need to know how to ride and control the horses effectively. Grooms work outdoors in extreme weather and rarely take vacations—working between 40 to 60 hours each week, including evenings, weekends and holidays. They are often employed at racing and showing stables, riding schools, boarding and breeding farms, polo clubs and equine veterinary clinics. Grooms are integral to game-day success, too. About two hours before game time, the groom will hook up the truck and trailer and load up the ponies and the tack, and then head over to the field to continuing preparing for the game. Grooms use their trailers as hitching rails and mobile tack rooms so that they can conveniently park and work by the side of the field. Between chukkers, grooms will untack and rinse off the horse that has just been played, and tack up the next horse and lightly exercise it to get it warmed up. The groom may also need to hold onto a spare horse and mallet at one end of the field just in case the playing horse gets tired or a mallet breaks. Because so much needs to be done at once, grooms tend to bring extra help on for game days to help them accomplish everything successfully. Being a groom—in all its unglamorous and tedious moments—is no easy task, but Juan Carlos would not have it any other way. He savors the work, and his adoration of the animals makes it all completely worth it. “I love the horses. I have always loved the horses,” Juan Carlos says. “My life has been all about horses and it’s what I enjoy.” 202 1
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Teaching a Lifelong Passion Osburg couple shares love for polo By Abby Weingarten
C
ultivating a connection with polo starts with Boulder, Colorado while spending the summers there with his a stellar teacher, and the instructors at the family. In Clearwater, Neil spent time playing at a local private Sarasota Polo Club know just how to spark polo club. After he graduated from high school, Neil started his that passion in their students. career as a professional polo player and a trainer for polo horses. Some of the Sarasota Polo Club’s latest Ashlie, who hails from Chicago, started riding horses when mentors are Ashlie Osburg, a dedicated she was just seven years old. She grew up doing dressage and riding instructor; and her husband hunter jumpers, and trained horses while Neil Osburg, a professional polo player she was in high school, before studying “I started playing polo in college and, and polo instructor. Since last season, equine science at the University of the husband-and-wife couple has been Kentucky. She met Neil at a polo club in as soon as I picked up a mallet, I was offering both polo and riding lessons Wellington while she was in town riding hooked. So I love sharing that passion for people of all ages and skill levels as and training horses. with my students and seeing them part of the Sarasota Polo Club’s Step-Up “I have been into horses my entire Program. life,” Ashlie says. “I started playing polo have that experience.” -ASHLIE OSBURG “We are able to help everyone from in college and, as soon as I picked up a super beginners to people who have done mallet, I was hooked. So I love sharing other equestrian disciplines. We are fun, family-friendly and that passion with my students and seeing them have that encouraging of all walks of life,” Ashlie says. “I do most of the experience.” riding lessons and Neil does the polo lessons.” At the Sarasota Polo Club, students learn basic horsemanship, The Osburgs draw from their extensive and varied equestrian swing mechanics and the rules of the game. The Step-Up backgrounds. Neil, who is originally from Clearwater Beach, Program allows its students to begin with lessons in the arena, has been playing polo since the age of 10. His first riding progress to arena chukkers, and then graduate to the grass for experiences and polo chukkers were at the Boulder Polo Club in Sunshine League chukkers. Lessons include the use of a horse, sar asota polo
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Join Neil and Ashlie each Sunday at halftime on our hitting horses, to learn what it’s like to play polo! At the Sarasota Polo Club, students learn basic horsemanship, swing mechanics and the rules of the game.
tack, polo helmet, mallets and balls. Sessions are typically an hour long and are available any day of the week. “All of our horses are super safe, and we have a horse for every person and every level,” Ashlie says. “I have one student who had a little bit of a polo background, played in college, and had a few chukkers here and there. She had so much fun at our lessons that she has plans to play in the Sunshine League this season. That was great to see.” Watching students take polo from an occasional recreational activity to a serious commitment is rewarding for Ashlie. She teaches some students once a week, while others may see her three times a week or more. “There is a competitive aspect to the sport, and it is super addictive, and you always want to get better,” Ashlie says. “If you are a lover of horses already, you get that bond with the animal.” When students arrive for a lesson in their jeans or breeches and solid boots, Ashlie first reviews the basic rules of the sport before delving into the physical lesson activities. sar asota polo
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“A riding lesson is geared toward polo, but if someone has never ridden a horse before, we will give them a rundown of safety, and get them in the saddle before they pick up a mallet,” Ashlie says. “Then the riding starts. You start at a trot, then a canter, and work on your swing mechanics, some penalty shots, some game techniques. If students want to tack up or bathe the horse afterwards, we love giving people that time to unwind.” Ashlie loves being a part of the whole experience. “I love being around the horses all day. I love taking care of the horses and seeing them thrive, and seeing them with their people,” she says. “I really enjoy teaching. Watching a student get over a mental block and a fear, and seeing them accomplish so much, is cool. We also love the Sarasota Polo Club, and the community has so much to offer. We are looking forward to having many more students this winter, and we cannot wait to teach them.” For more information or to schedule a lesson, please email Info@SarasotaPolo.com or call (941)-907-0000. 84
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2021 PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
We Salute Our Players It is through the players’ dedication and commitment to the sport that the Sarasota Polo Club is able to provide residents of the Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota areas with the most exhilarating sport played today.
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6 GOALS
5 GOALS
5 GOALS
5 GOALS
Oak Point, TX
Santa Barbara, CA
Argentina
Mauk, GA
Pelon Escapite
5 GOALS
Costi Caset
Toto Collardin
Alan Martinez
4 GOALS
4 GOALS
4 GOALS
Wellington, FL
South Africa
Farmington, CT
Guillermo Agüero
4 GOALS
4 GOALS
4 GOALS
3 GOALS
Argentina
Open Door, Argentina
Cat Spring, TX
Wellington, FL
Felipe Segret
Hernan Tasso
Stuart Campbell
Marcos Onetto
Juan Martin Obregon
Wellington, FL
Mason Wroe
Agustin Arellano
3 GOALS
3 GOALS
3 GOALS
3 GOALS
Marion, TX
Sealy, TX
Aiken, S.C.
Ocala, FL
Joe Wayne Barry
Cody Ellis
Luis Galvan
Nick Johnson
3 GOALS
3 GOALS
3 GOALS
3 GOALS
Argentina
Pila, Argentina
Point Clear, AL
Dominican Republic
Francisco Llosa
Charly Quincoces
sar asota polo
Herndon Radcliff
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Dennys Antonio Santana
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T H E CLU B NOW I S T H E T I M E
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2 GOALS
2 GOALS
2 GOALS
2 GOALS
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Lexington, KY
Wellington, FL
Winchester, KY
Leandro Berrios
2 GOALS
James Miller
Trevor Niznik
Neil Osburg
2 GOALS
2 GOALS
2 GOALS
Versailles, KY
Wichita, KS
Lakewood Ranch, FL
Buck Schott
1.5 GOALS
1.5 GOALS
1.5 GOALS
1 GOAL
Tallahassee, FL
Sharon Spring, NY
Sioux Falls, SD
Louisville, KY
Jon Luke Beck
Josh Shelton
James P. Uihlein
Dennis Santana
Dominican Republic
David Eldredge
Meghan Okerlund
William Boland
1 GOAL
1 GOAL
1 GOAL
0.5 GOALS
Abilene, TX
Crowell, TX
Charleston, SC
Newport, R.I.
Roger Morrow
Tommy Polk
Thomas Ravenel
Samuel Clemens
0.5 GOALS
0.5 GOALS
0.5 GOALS
0.5 GOALS
Lakewood Ranch, FL
Frenchtown, NJ
Charlottesville, VA
Winchester, KY
Raymond Guest
Mark Mulligan
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Tucker Reback
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Slade Sharpsteen
LIVING local Download our new LAKEWOOD RANCH app Connect with all things LWR: events, amenities, community info, businesses & more!
0 GOALS
0 GOALS
0 GOALS
0 GOALS
Lakewood Ranch, FL
Tallahasee, FL
Sarasota, FL
Sarasota, FL
0 GOALS
0 GOALS
New Hope, PA
Scott Doyle
0 GOALS
Sarasota, FL
Tim Cheromcka
0 GOALS
Siesta Key, FL
Sarasota, FL
0 GOALS
0 GOALS
0 GOALS
0 GOALS
Quebec, Canada
Lakewood Ranch, FL
Louisville, KY
Wichita, KS
Linda Allard
Holly Chamberlain
Jocelyne L. Groulx
Anneke Beck
Brent Hamill
Ian Campbell
Dan Lanham
Pippa Campbell
Wadi Gomero-Cure
Teresa Mull
0 GOALS
0 GOALS
0 GOALS
0 GOALS
Lakewood Ranch, FL
Wichita, KS
England
Dallas, TX
Larry Robinson
Cash Shelton
Roger Stainton
Don Stemaly
-0.5 GOALS
-0.5 GOALS
-0.5 GOALS
-0.5 GOALS
Tallahasee, FL
Tallahasee, FL
Louisville, KY
Lakewood Ranch, FL
Kelly Beck
Mike Beck
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Brent Boland
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Jaymie Klauber
Theplacenewest to be Pedestrian-friendly streets, paseos, plazas, and open spaces | Ground-floor restaurants and retail space with offices above Marina with water taxis linking to nearby neighborhoods | Players Centre for the Performing Arts, with 300+ annual performances Large, 8-acre island park with trail and entertainment venues | Merchants’ Park for community gatherings and festivals | John Olson Nature Center
CO M I N G 202 1 | LW RWAT E R S I D E .CO M
-0.5 GOALS
-0.5 GOALS
-1 GOAL
-1 GOAL
Oswego, IL
Nantes, France
Lexington, KY
Tallahasee, FL
Ashlie Osburg
-1 GOAL
Vincent Ricaud
Dana Aschinger
Jillian Beck
-1 GOAL
-1 GOAL
-1 GOAL
Sarasota, FL
Lakewood Ranch, FL
Lakewood Ranch, FL
Arthur Hiscox
-1 GOAL
-1 GOAL
-1 GOAL
-1 GOAL
New Hope, PA
Lakewood Ranch, FL
France
Sarasota, FL
Barclay Knapp
Sylvia McNichol
Katelyn Hornung
Hannah Hornung
Mary Pat Guest
Lakewood Ranch, FL
David Meunier
Jim Moss
-1 GOAL
-1 GOAL
-1 GOAL
-1 GOAL
Nantes, France
Wichita, KS
Lakewood Ranch, FL
Bradenton, FL
Camille Ricaud
Amanda Shelton
Raj Singh
JT Taylor
-1 GOAL
-1 GOAL
Lakewood Ranch, FL
Sarasota, FL
Tammy Wyman
Denny Woodruff
sar asota polo
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Meet the
Announcer Dale Gavitt has been the game-day announcer at the Sarasota Polo Club since the 2018 season. He recently joined the Sarasota Polo Club for a Q&A. In addition to serving as the game-day announcer at the Sarasota Polo Club, Dale Gavitt is an equine dentist.
How did you get involved with the sport of polo? “I have been around the sport for nearly 40 years. I grew up in a little town in upstate New York. We had a polo club there. I have seen and done a little bit of everything - from grooming, to riding, to playing polo a little bit, and even maintaining the polo fields. I have spent time working for professional polo players, and even went over to England and worked in the sport of polo there for a season.” How did you end up behind the microphone? “Basically, the reason that I got into announcing [polo] is because I worked for polo players in my other job; I am an equine (horse) dentist. I travel around the nation taking care of horses’ teeth. It goes hand in hand with polo, because maintaining the teeth is important for the animal’s health and performance. I was working for polo players doing that. I started announcing in New York one summer about five years ago. And then I started announcing at The Villages [Polo Club] in the spring and fall seasons. Then, obviously, I got involved with the Sarasota Polo Club in 2018 and started announcing there during the winter.” Do you find it difficult to keep up with the pace of play when you’re announcing? “What is very helpful is my background of
knowing the sport and what it takes to get onto the field. It’s a very fast sport and a very large field. Luckily, I know the majority of the players that are actually playing, so that makes my job much easier in terms of distinguishing one player from another.” How would you describe your announcing style? “I grew up listening to baseball on the radio. You can close your eyes and visualize the game that is in front of you. I try to announce in that style -- so you can visualize what is happening without being right there. It is different from a radio broadcast though because the audience is watching the action live.” 95
Meet the Staff Mason Wroe Director of Polo Mason joined the club as Director of Polo in 2019, to cultivate and grow the sport both on and off the field. Mason enjoys bringing fun, competitive polo to the Sarasota Polo Club and Lakewood Ranch communities.
Paige Lautzenheiser Director of Operations Paige joined the Sarasota Polo Club staff in 2018, and was promoted to Director of Operations in 2019. You can find her running around on Sundays, but don’t be afraid to stop her and introduce yourself!
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Ron Trytek Director of Sales & Marketing
Zac Fuesser Director of Turf & Irrigation
A Chicago native, Ron grew up riding racehorses on a thoroughbred farm in Barrington Hills, Ill. He has spent much of his career working at Ritz-Carlton hotels throughout the world. Ron joined our team in 2018. He is passionate about promoting the Sarasota Polo Club.
Zac joined the club in 2018 and was promoted to Director of Turf and Irrigation in 2020. He works hard to make sure the fields are in tip top shape for our players and their equine partners.
Bryan Zdancewicz Director of Maintenance
Jason (Poncho) Davis Field Staff
Bryan joined the crew in 2018, and was promoted to Director of Maintenance in 2019. He is passionate about his work and eager to solve all kinds of challenges.
Jason joined the Sarasota Polo Club Field Staff in 2018. Poncho, as most people call him, is often found flagging the game on Sundays ...barefoot!
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Tony Maniscalco Director of Food & Beverage Tony joined the team in the fall of 2020. He is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University with a degree in culinary arts. He is happily married to Dr. Danielle Martin, and they both enjoy spending as much time as possible with their 1 ½ year- old daughter, Sofia.
Nicholas Chavez Field Staff Nick joined the Sarasota Polo Club Field Staff in 2012, and has been an integral part of the crew since then. On Sundays, you can likely find him in the end zone, flagging the polo match!
Sidelines Thousands of spectators congregate on the sidelines each Sunday at the Sarasota Polo Club to cheer on our players and tailgate with friends and family.
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The Legend of
Sleepy Hollow Beginning in 2017, each year in October the Sarasota Polo Club has welcomed Ichabod Crane, Katrina Van Tassal, the Headless Horseman and The Players Centre for Performing Arts for their theatre in the field production of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.� To learn more about The Players Centre for Performing Arts and their planned move to Waterside Place at Lakewood Ranch, visit: https://www.theplayers.org/.
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TAILGATING MADE EASY New for the 2021 Sarasota Polo Season, we invite you to pre-order your favorite foods and beverages and we will have it ready for your party when you arrive. Choose from a number of Sarasota Polo Club fan favorites including champagne bottle service, beverage buckets, charcuterie platters, sandwiches, wraps and more.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SHOW UP AND HAVE FUN. All food items must be pre-ordered a minimum of one week in advance.
MENU
Champagne BOTTLE SERVICE
$15 per person
Be a part of the full Sarasota Polo Club experience with a tailgating Champagne Bottle Service. Indulge in a crisp, refreshing bottle of your favorite bubbly with your friends and family. Choose from our selection of Champagne or pre-order your favorite.
High-quality selected cured meats and cheeses, fresh fruits, olives and pickles, assorted nuts, seasonal spreads or dips, and crackers & sliced fresh baguettes.
VEUVE CLICQUOT ........................................................................... $90 MOET & CHANDON.........................................................................$65 THE CLUB CHAMPAGNE ................................................................. $25
SARASOTA POLO CLUB CHARCUTERIE BOARD
SARASOTA POLO CLUB WRAP & SANDWICH PLATTER
Per Bottle
All bottle service comes with 4 champagne flutes. Add Orange Juice or Fresh Fruit for an additional charge of $2.50 per person.
$15 per person
Assorted fresh-made sandwiches and wraps with homemade condiments and assorted chips.
SARASOTA POLO CLUB CRUDITÉS $10 per person
Fresh selection of seasonal vegetables with assorted dips and condiments.
Beverage Buckets Per Bucket
5 DOMESTIC BEERS.......................................................................... $16 5 PREMIUM BEERS........................................................................... $20 5 WHITE CLAWS................................................................................ $20 5 HIGH NOONS................................................................................. $25 1 BOTTLE HOUSE WINE................................................................... $20 1 BOTTLE PREMIUM WINE.............................................................. $35 5 WATERS/SODAS............................................................................. $10
CONTACT US For more information or to place your order, please call (941) 907-0000 or email Tony@SarasotaPolo.com
Siesta Key Campus: Pre-K - Grade 5 | Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch: Grades 6 - 12
CUSTOMIZED COLLEGE COUNSELING
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There’s a reason polo is called the “fastest game on four feet.” Since 1991, the Sarasota Polo Club has been providing exhilarating polo matches every Sunday through the winter. With exciting tailgate themes, halftime entertainment, tailgating, and divot stomping, the Sarasota Polo Club is the perfect place for a family outing.
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6-Goal
Ringling Cup WINNER PDM/SOUTHSIDE
Holly Chamberlain, Charly Quincoces, Francisco Llosa, Raymond Guest
QUINCOCES MVP CHARLY PDM/SOUTHSIDE
8-Goal
wayne brown Memorial WINNER TITO’S/REGENT
Stuart Campbell, Joe Wayne Barry, James P. Uihlein, Kelly Beck
P. UIHLEIN MVP JAMES TITO’S/REGENT
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2020
WINNERS CIRCLE
6-Goal
uspa Officers Cup WINNER BROOKLAND PLANTATION/ LA ESTAMPIDA
Pelon Escapite, Luis Galvan, Thomas Ravenel, Scott Doyle
ESCAPITE MVP PELON BROOKLAND PLANTATION
8-Goal
Constitution Cup WINNER WRIGLEY MEDIA GROUP
James Miller, Mason Wroe, Neil Osburg, Pippa Campbell
OSBURG MVP NEIL WRIGLEY MEDIA GROUP
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Sarasota Womens Challenge WINNER TEN OAKS
Paige Boone, Izzy Parsons, Eliza Jacobellis, Kelly Beck
BOONE MVP PAIGE TEN OAKS
12-Goal
Uspa National Inter-Circuit WINNER BAREFIELD
Hernan Tasso, Juan Martin Obregon, Agustin Arellano, Mark Mulligan
TASSO MVP HERNAN BAREFIELD
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2020
WINNERS CIRCLE
6-Goal
uspa governor’s Cup WINNER SHARP PRINTING/LA BOURGOGNE
Stuart Campbell, Luis Galvan, Slade Sharpsteen, David Meunier
CAMPBELL MVP STUART SHARP PRINTING
6-Goal
uspa sportsmanship Cup
WINNER BROOKLAND PLANTATION / LA ESTAMPIDA
David Meunier, Thomas Ravenel, Dennys Antonio Santana, Luis Galvan
ANTONIO SANTANA MVP DENNYS BROOKLAND PLANTATION
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BEST PLAYING PONIES
PRESENTED BY
6-GOAL | RINGLING CUP
6-GOAL | USPA SPORTMANSHIP CUP
8-GOAL | USPA CONSTITUTION CUP
8-GOAL | USPA OFFICERS CUP
Tar baby | charly Quincoces
Gypsy | luis galvan
Rafaja | james miller
dreamer | Pelon escapite
8-GOAL | WAYNE BROWN MEMORIAL
12-GOAL | USPA NATIONAL INTER-CIRCUIT
SARASOTA WOMENS CHALLENGE
6-GOAL | GOVERNOR’S CUP
mucea | james p. uihlein
mac pie | juan martin obregon
Viru | Paige Boone
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cuate | meghan okerlund 202 1
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MAIN HEADQUARTERS 1751 Cattelmen Rd Sarasota, FL 34232 MAIN HEADQUARTERS 1751 Cattelmen Rd Sarasota, FL 34232
MAIN HEADQUARTERS: 1751 Cattlemen Rd, Sarasota, FL 34232 MAIN HEADQUARTERS: Cattlemen Sarasota, FL MAIN HEADQUARTERS: 17511751 Cattlemen Rd.,Rd,Sarasota, FL34232 34232 DOWNTOWN SARASOTA: 801 Apricot Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237 DOWNTOWN SARASOTA: Apricot Ave,Sarasota, Sarasota, FL 237 DOWNTOWN SARASOTA: 801 801 Apricot Ave., FL 34 34237
YOUR FAVORITE WEEKDAY HANGOUT WITH A TWIST!
VISIT SARASOTAPOLO.COM FOR DATES & TIMES
Compendium of Polo A Brief History and Trivia of the Sport of Kings
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Just like in other sports, polo players can draw a foul if they act in a way which the umpire deems dangerous to the play. Typically, a penalty shot is given to the opposing team. Depending on the severity of the foul, the penalty shot may be taken from several locations, with the closest penalty shot being awarded 30 yards away from the goal line.
29 28
On average, a 1,000-lb. horse will eat approximately 29 pounds of hay a day.
The first cup of the Americas, involving the United States and Argentina, was played in 1928 at Meadow Brook. 100,000 spectators were in attendance. The U.S. won, and won again in 1932, but Argentina has been victorious in every other meeting since.
27 26
The average speed a horse can gallop is 27 miles per hour (44 kilometers per hour).
The average number of teeth a horse has is 26. Within the first two weeks of life, foals erupt 12 baby teeth. By nine months of age, 12 more baby teeth have erupted. Canine (or bridle teeth) erupt at about 4-5 years in male horses. They also erupt in about 20-25 percent of mares and are usually smaller than those found in males.
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Horses drink at least 25 gallons of water a day. Those in hotter climates, like Florida, or those in active competition, like polo, will likely drink much more than that. Polo was an Olympic sport from 1900 to 1936. In the Olympic Games held in Paris, France in 1924, Argentina won the first gold medal in the country’s history. Michael Jordan, one of the best basketball players ever, wore the jersey No. 23. His polo equivalent, Adolfo Cambiaso of Argentina, is currently ranked first in the world with a 10-goal handicap rating.
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An adult horse’s brain weighs on average 22 ounces, which is about half the weight of a human brain.
Horses’ heights are measured in a unit known as “hands.” One hand is equivalent to 4 in. The tallest horse on record is a Shire named Sampson, who was 21.2 hands tall. The British are credited with spreading polo worldwide in the early 20th century. When polo arrived in the United States, polo changed to become a high-speed sport, differing greatly from the game in England, where it involves short passes to move the ball towards the opposing goal.
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The world’s largest horse is a purebred Belgian stallion named Brooklyn Supreme. He stood 19.2hh (6’6”) at his withers and weighed more than 3,200 pounds. He is currently entered in the Guinness Book of World Records.
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The first polo club was established in the town of Silchar in Assam, India, in 1833. The smallest recorded horse is Thumbellina, a miniature horse standing at 17 in. (4.25 hands) tall. Polo is played professionally in 16 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Iran, India, New Zealand, Mexico, Pakistan, Jamaica, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
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The game of polo has had a strong presence in the northwestern areas of present-day Pakistan (including Gilgit, Chitral, Hunza, and Baltisan) since at least the 15th century.
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Any horse shorter than 14.2 hands (58 in. tall at the withers) is considered a pony. On May 13, 1876, the Jerome Park Racetrack in Westchester County (now Bronx County) was the site of the first American outdoor polo match. sar asota polo
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It takes an average of 12 months to re-grow an entire horse hoof from start to finish. That’s why it’s so important to take care of their feet! The human heart weighs about 11 oz., and is about the size of a clenched fist. A horse’s heart typically weighs close to 11 lbs., and is about the size of a basketball. Argentina is notably the country with the largest number ever of 10 handicap players in the world.
The mallet head is generally made of a hardwood called tipa and is just over 9 in. long. The number of chukkers in a polo match varies, but the maximum number is 8. The minimum number is 4.
In Manipur, polo is traditionally played with 7 players on each team. The players are mounted on the indigenous Manipuri pony. There are no goal posts; a goal is made simply by hitting the ball over the end line of the field. Players strike the ball with the long side of the mallet head, not the end. Players are not permitted to carry the ball, although blocking the ball with any part of the body except the open hand is permitted.
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Polo ponies reach their peak of athleticism and training at the age of 6. However, without any accidents, polo ponies have the ability to play until they are 20 years old. Cowboy polo, which is played almost exclusively in the western United States, involves teams of five riders on a dirt surface. Teams of three riders are required for beach and snow polo.
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The player who wears the No. 4 jersey is the primary defense player. They are allowed to move anywhere on the field, but they usually try to prevent the other team from scoring.
3
The player who wears the No. 3 jersey is the tactical leader, and must be a powerful hitter to feed balls to player Nos. 2 and 1. Player No. 3 must also be a solid defenseman. Typically, player No. 3 wields the highest handicap of the team, and tends to be the overall best player of the team.
2
The player who wears the No. 2 jersey plays an important role in offense, either running through and scoring themselves or passing to player No. 1 and getting in behind them. Defensively, player No. 2 will cover the opposing team’s No. 3.
1
The player who wears the No. 1 jersey is the most offenseoriented player. Defensively, player No. 1 will generally cover the opposing team’s No. 4.
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Supports Sarasota Polo
LEASING DISTINCTIVE PROPERTIES TO EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE 941.953.6000 941.359.3435 941.792.6900 SARASOTA univ pkwy/lwr bradenton
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In honor of the 30th Anniversary Season at the Sarasota Polo Club, we are proud to show our support for “the fastest game on four feet.”
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LIBBY’S LAKEWOOD RANCH | 941.357.1570 8445 LORRAINE ROAD, LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL
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GROUNDS MAP
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Field 6
Field 5
Field 4
Field 3
Barn B
Field 7
Barn A
Club Barns
hip Champions Field 1
Arena
Exercise Track
Barn C
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CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD MAP N
2 er ch ea Bl
VIP Cabana
Scoreboard
Clubhouse A
VIP Sponsor Tent
VIP Tent
Trophy Stand
Pavilion
Gift Shop Patio
B
VIP Sponsor Tent
Ble a ch er 3
4 er ch ea Bl
VIP Members Entrance Gift Shop
Fieldside Drive
Chukker Lane VIP Cabana
Restrooms
Main Entrance
General Admission Entrance Concessions
First Aid
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peripheral field narrows and we can be peripheral unaware field of vehicles narrows and Unfortunately, unexpectedor events evaluation to help older drivers stay safe on the road. not everyone well.alsothe pedestrians coming from the left or right. pedestrians Aging coming eyesplans are from Director Sarasota Guardianship Program, 941-358-6330.
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PRESENT
Wishing Ponies & Players Safety & Speed Compliments of
Helene Buckley
LADIES & GENTS... DEAL YOURSELF IN Friday ~ January 15, 2021
Sarasota Polo Club ~ 8201 Polo Club Lane ~ 6:00 to 9:00 We’re Expecting a Full House ~ so buy your tickets now: $ 120.00 each ~ when purchased on or before December 15, 2020 $ 140.00 each ~ when purchased from Dec. 16, 2020 - January 15, 2021 Sponsorships: events@SFGflorida.org or call 941.730.7900
Tickets online at www.SisterhoodForGood.org/VEGAS
Many Thanks to All Our Sponsors ! SISTERHOOD FOR GOOD, INC. IS AN ALL-VOLUNTEER REGISTERED 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT CORPORATION. FOR A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION & FINANCIAL INFORMATION: DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES AT TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 (or 1-800-352-9832 en Español) OR ON THE WEBSITE WWW.800HELPFLA.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. 100% OF THE DONATION IS RECEIVED BY SISTERHOOD FOR GOOD. REGISTRATION NO.: CH #57279. Benefits SFG’s 2021 Annual Grants Program.
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just as you imagined. Our thoughtfully-designed communities incorporate beautiful landscaping, luxury home finishes, awardwinning floor plans and desirable locations that come together to strike a perfect balance. Guided by your personal team, every homeowner receives our focus and dedication. You will create memorable Signature Moments each step of the way.
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