Let’s Play Polo

Canine Companions Cup is a hopeful, celebratory event

By Chloe McGowan and Claire Miller

Animals and humans have the capacity to form special bonds. Dogs and horses in particular have a long history of working and playing with humans, and both of those relationships will be on display Sept. 4 for the Canine Companions Cup, all in support of a good cause.

Canine Companions will host the charity cup in partnership with Play Polo Club at Bryn Du Mansion in Granville. It’s the fourth event of its kind the two organizations have held together, but the first at the Granville location.

“We do the polo and they do the party,” says Play Polo Club co-owner Tina Henriot, who also announces the matches at the cup. “It’s an amazing volunteer staff and people that come out with the hero pups. The dogs that are there, it’s just such a special thing they do to change the lives of individuals and families.”

Canine Companions serves the New Albany community and 14 states in

Canine Companions Cup participants in 2021.

Room Additions • Whole House • Gourmet Kitchens • Luxurious Baths • Master Suites • Basements • Wine Cellars

Canine Companions volunteers with pups in training.

the Midwest by providing trained service dogs free of charge for children, adults and Veterans who need them. Dogs are trained and paired with individuals and receive ongoing support for their working life, says Elaine May, a long-time Canine Companions North Central Region volunteer on the pups and polo committee.

“We are looking to increase awareness about the mission of Canine Companions and service dogs,” May says. “September is Service Dog Awareness month, so this event is a great way for us to connect with our community and learn about the important work of service dogs while enjoying a polo match.”

The game of polo itself is family-friendly and fairly easy for new spectators to understand, which makes it a great opportunity for a charity event, says Horace Henriot, co-owner and head pro for the Play Polo Club.

Henriot says the City of Granville has embraced the game of polo in the last 20-30 years. Members of his club play at the Bryn Du Mansion every Sunday and participate in several events during the year. Having a charitable tie-in is just part of the game.

“Most polo games are played for honor,” Henriot says. “There’s a cup, but if there’s money to be made, that all goes to the charities.”

Polo is also unique in that it’s easy to learn and inclusive of differing athletic abilities. Polo players can be of any experience, age or gender, Henriot says.

“One of the things that makes the sport really exciting is that the real athlete is the horse, it’s not really the player,” he says. “I have people that are 60 years old and just started the sport. So, you don’t actually have to be in great shape to actually be able to participate.”

Although the goal of this event is to raise money for Canine Companions, Henriot says he also hopes this event will expose more people to the game of polo.

“We really value being able to do charity events because it is a way to not just play for yourself, but to allow people to enjoy it and play for a cause,” he says. “If there’s a way that funds can be raised for a good cause while we enjoy playing polo, that’s a win for everybody.”

Spectators watch the action on the polo field.

Chloe McGowan is an editorial assistant and Claire Miller is an editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at cmiller@cityscenemediagroup.com.