2024 Texas Arena League Program

2024 PROGRAM

TEXAS ARENA LEAGUE

is made possible through USPA Polo Development Initiative (PDI) and support from the USPA Arena and Armed Forces Committees and USPA Umpires LLC.

We also want to thank our generous sponsors for making 2024 Texas Arena League a great year!

TEXAS ARENA LEAGUE

2024 Host Clubs:

Brookshire Polo Club

San Antonio Rose Palace

Legends Horse Ranch

Dripping Springs Ranch Park

TAL Committee:

Bradley Biddle

Nacho Estrada

Megan Flynn

Karl Hilberg

Robin Sanchez

Gal Shweiki

Photo Credits:

Murrellphoto.com

David Murrell

Debra Murrell

RHS Aerial Images

Robin Sanchez

www.Texasarenaleague.com

Chukker A period of play. We play 4 chukker games in Arena Polo.

Ride-Off A defensive maneuver where players uses their horses to move an opponent off the ball or away from the play. This must be done at matching speeds and very little angle to keep it safe. Similar to checking in except the players are much larger.

Hook Another defensive maneuver; a player uses their mallet to block an opponents shot.

Throw-in or Bowl-in Players line up on either side facing the umpire to start the chukker or after play has stopped for some reason other than a foul. Similar to a face -off in hockey.

Penalty or Foul Shots

Penalties 2,3 and 4 are taken from the 15 or 25 yard lines. Penalties 2 and 3 are undefended, Penalty 4 is defended. If the ball misses the goal and rebounds, the defending team allowed the first play on the ball. Penalty 5 can be from the spot of the infraction or from the center line. Penalty 1 is a goal awarded to the fouled team and a throw -in on the 15 yard line.

Right Of Way

The ball creates an imaginary line every time it is hit. This line indicates the Right Of Way which is similar to lanes on the highway. Anything that would get you honked at on the road is probably a foul in polo.

Tournament conditions and TAL format can be found at texasarenaleague.com

Email: manager@texasarenaleague.com with any questions

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It’s All Relative Texas Arena League features family combos It’s All Relative

Texas Arena League features family combos

Photos by Murrell Photo

There are few sports that parents and children, husbands and wives and siblings can compete on the same teams. The Texas Arena League features all types of family combinations battling together on the field. By and large, the family members enjoy the opportunity to play with each other, most saying the only downside is never seeming to have enough horses.

Four different levels are offered in the league. C Flight, for beginner players, is held on Fridays, as is the 6- to 9-goal Flight. The 0- to 3-goal Flight is played on Saturdays and the 3- to 6-goal Flight is held on Sundays. Individuals and teams can earn points at each event that go toward end-of-season awards. A variety of awards are also given at each event. This year, the league was played over four weekends from January to March. Two weekends were held at Legends Polo Club in Kaufman, outside Dallas, while two weekends were held about 220 miles away at Brookshire Polo Club in Brookshire, outside Houston.

Meet some of the families joining in on the fun:

Kyle and Beverly Greenwood

Beverly Greenwood, née Cooper, grew up on a cattle and goat ranch in West Texas. She had ridden most of her life and when her family moved to College Station, home of Texas A&M University, she would see the polo practices in front of campus. She wanted to give it a try and years later when she attended the university, she signed up to play. At the first informational meeting, she saw senior Kyle Greenwood. Little did she know they would eventually marry. He came from a different background, having grown up in the city, learning to ride and play while at school.

The wedding waited until after Beverly graduated. They took a break from polo while getting settled, building their business and homestead and starting a family. They came back into the game for a few years but got busy with their three kids and didn’t have as much time for polo. While they weren’t playing competitively, they would invite college students out to their ranch to stick and ball. “We just always had a turnstile of kids from collegiate programs that come play out here and hang out with us,” Beverly explained. “I needed to focus on my children and family, so it was fun having those groups come out here and learn.”

Two sisters from Thailand who were attending Texas A&M wanted more opportunities to stick and ball so

they started coming out to the Greenwood’s ranch. Beverly wanted to get them some more experience, so she investigated the Texas Arena League. The sisters play the C Flight with Kyle Greenwood, and Kyle and Beverly play the 0 to 3 goal together.

The sisters help groom for Kyle and Beverly when they play, and Beverly coaches and grooms for Kyle and the sisters when they play. The Greenwood’s 13-year-old daughter Grace, who competes with reining horses, also lends a hand sometimes.

Kyle concedes Beverly has much more riding and polo experience than he does, so she picks out the horses for him and helps direct him on the field.

“She knows the game much better than I do and we both want to win, so I have no problem taking instruction from her,” Kyle said. “It is not about ego; it’s about going out, having fun and playing the game.”

Beverly admits the competitive collegiate player in her sometimes comes out and she doesn’t like to lose. “[Kyle] is a good sportsman. … He grounds me and reminds me that it is just a game and that we are doing it for fun,” she explained.

The couple works together running their own business, so they know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and complement each other well. For them, polo is a stress-reliever.

“We are defense contractors. With everything that is going on in the world and all the stress we have in our business, [when we play] for that brief moment of time, that is all we focus on. You can’t think of anything else but what you are doing during that time,” Beverly explained. “I love being able to do something with him where we can drop all our worries at the gate and enjoy a competitive sport on animals we love. It is just such a blessing.”

For Kyle, playing with his spouse is a benefit. “You know them and how they play, so it makes it a lot more fun. It is something that the two of us love to do and getting to do that with your best friend is just really rewarding,” he said.

Caroyln and Russell Stimmel

Russell Stimmel grew up in a polo family, with both parents seasoned players. Russell and his three brothers competed in interscholastic polo, and he and brother Jake won the National Interscholastic Championships together for Midland in 2009.

His mom Carolyn grew up loving horses and team

sports so for her, polo was a given. It was just natural her four sons would follow suit.

Carolyn’s experience with the arena has been limited to working horses, coaching, giving lessons and occasionally playing when they get rained out on the grass. She found out she was playing in the TAL when a friend called to ask about her team. Later, Russell called to say a player dropped out and he needed her to play.

“I wouldn’t have done it had it not been Russell asking me. The way it all came together, it was just right. Let’s show our family we’ll back each other up,” Carolyn explains. “We might complain a little, but we’ll help each other out. … So, I love that.”

“Knowing each other so well is a big benefit. You know where her shots are going to go and you know her temperament,” Russell explains. “You know she’ll never give up and what kind of player she is or isn’t, and that goes for any family member. Another reward is before and after the game, you are together as a family and then you are together as teammates. That’s really special.”

Carolyn enjoys the time with Russell and his family. “We do fun things together. We cook out, play games, we love to play pickleball, card games, stuff like that,” she said.

“Russell is married, he has a child now and he’s captain of the team. It is great,” she says. “I’m getting older and slowing down, but it’s just fun. He’ll say, ‘OK, now you’ve got a mean backshot, put more angle on it.’ So, he’s still able to carry us and build us up, which is fun,” Carolyn explained.

Russell said, “It can be challenging at times if you get down by some goals or frustrating calls happen, but the good thing about my mom is she really motivates

me, keeps me pumped up and levelheaded.”

Carolyn says she’s seen a lot of games go down the tubes when people start yelling at each other. She recalled one TAL game they played when Russell got frustrated.

“He mouthed off at the umpire, he mouthed off with a team member so I rode over and said, ‘Russell, just let it go. You’re fine, it’s no big deal. It’s in the past,” she said. “We always used to tell each other it’s in the past, like in the Lion King. He got down on himself and I just sort of talked him out of it.

“It wasn’t like I was his mother, I was his teammate. All I knew is negative energy doesn’t do you any good. It was real nice because he thanked me later.”

Russell said she’s played a lot more polo than he has. “She’s very easy to read, and hits classic backshots. She turns for your backshots and always knows where you are going to be,” he said. “I didn’t realize the experience my mom had until later in life. She started telling me stories about her high-goal experience in California. She’s really played a lot of polo.”

When the two are together, they enjoy talking horses. “I’ll show him what we’re doing and he’ll ask me questions on horse training,” Carolyn said. “We have a lot of respect for each other. I just love talking about training and methods.”

Mother and son each have their own strings but share horses sometimes. “She’s got some younger horses that I’ve been able to play for her and give them more experience; and I’ve got some older horses that she made when they were young, 15 years ago,” Russell said. “It’s been fun to see her play horses that were so good to me in the last couple of years and then she’s gotten to circle back and play them in the arena league.”

One weekend of the TAL, both Russell and his mom played one of his horses one period each. The mare ended up winning Best Playing Pony, making the weekend all the sweeter.

Russell’s dad and Carolyn’s husband Harley coaches, drives Carolyn’s truck and helps at the trailer, and when Russell’s brothers are around, they lend a hand too. Russell is playing in the 6- to 9-goal Flight as well, so his parents help him out when he plays on Fridays.

After an early loss, the pair ended up as the wildcard team and earned a spot in the 3- to 6-goal final. It’s satisfying to win, but they don’t lose sleep over losses.

“When you win, it’s very rewarding, especially given the amount of time and effort we put into the horses and practicing,” Russell explained. “My mom works day and night with her horses and helps me as much as she can with my horses, so when you win it obviously feels good. When you lose with family members, it might go down a little smoother because they are your family, and no matter what, you can’t quit them.”

Ashley and Emrey Owen

Ashley Owen got her start in polo at Texas Tech, where she now coaches. Her brother’s friend was on the school’s men’s team. She was looking at colleges at the time and after seeing a match, decided that was what she wanted to do. She met her future husband at the polo club rush event, where new players are recruited. Like many others, she took a break from the sport after college to raise a family.

Her husband Ryan played in TAL in 2020, but decided it took too much of a commitment. The past two years Ashley and their 11-year-old daughter Emrey have competed, just not on the same teams. Ryan and their two other children came the first weekend to cheer them on, but the kids have other sports commitments so Ryan shuttles them to games and holds down the fort, taking care of the horses that don’t go to the games.

Emrey, as the youngest player in the league, plays in the C Flight, while Ashley competes in the 0 to 3 goal and the 3 to 6 goal. When Emrey plays, Ashley is grooming for her and is on the sidelines videoing, coaching and helping. Last season Emrey won the Most Improved Player award.

“The team came together organically. It really worked because the season before there were two beginner members from Midland, a mother and son, and they played with my daughter,” Ashley explained. “I drove

her truck and trailer and we all piled into one [vehicle] for the trips.” The mother and son couldn’t play this year, so TAL organizers found a team for Emrey, including a mom of college-aged kids just getting back into the sport and a Texas Tech alumnus.

“They really did well at helping each other out and working well as a team. Everyone played a different role on the team, so they did well and had a lot of fun,” Ashley said.

When the league first started, a C Flight wasn’t offered but Emrey still came along to help her mom. She was so young then, USPA Arena Committee chair Robin Sanchez would call Emrey the “pint groom.” This year, Ashley said she had considered hiring a groom, but Emrey insisted on doing it herself, and she has really stepped up.

“She can untack all my horses, help me in between chukkers, get my horses, help me get ready and I can even hear her on the sidelines cheering, ‘Go, mom!’ She is both a groom and a cheering section for me,” Ashley said.

The pair travel a distance to some of the TAL venues so they make a weekend of it. “It is such an incredible experience and I treasure this time and these moments that I get to have with her because it is very unique,” Ashley said. “It is funny, even as young as she is, to have an outside perspective. We’ll make notes about the horses … and even discuss strategies that we are doing for an advanced team that’s above her level.”

Ashley said Emrey is learning a lot through their conversations and by watching too. “For her to be able to observe and see how we go to plays and make a play at the wall, and just to have the advantage in positioning …” she explained.

But it’s not all polo talk. “It is a very long drive, so we also have silly ones. And she gets to talk to me about school because each of those drives--we’ve had two trips to Houston-- … can be up to an eight-hour drive,” said Ashley.

Having a child with you for competitive games isn’t always easy. “As a mother, I constantly have to remind myself I am a mentor. It keeps me in check, making sure I am being a good role model, and showing that win or lose to have a good attitude,” Ashley said. “You are not going to win every single polo game. When you don’t have a good game, you shake it off and keep your head up and move on … and the same with winning. … stay humble and kind. I can show her you win gracefully and lose gracefully.”

Ashley said Emrey is also understanding more about horsemanship and that taking care of the ponies and making sure they are OK is also an important part of the sport. School limits her time with the ponies at home, but Ashley said she definitely pulls her weight with her one pony, riding it and taking care of it.

Playing and traveling with a child can be challenging for some, but Ashley and Emrey make the most of it. “You don’t let the sport get between you, allow the sport to bring you together,” Ashley said.

Stephanie Colburn and Amanda Massey

Amanda Massey and her sister Stephanie Colburn were horse-crazy little girls, riding cut-out cardboard horses around the house. They were living in Indonesia at the time and the whole family ended up taking riding lessons at a local stable. Their dad’s coworker was involved with a polo club, so the family eventually made the transition. When the family moved back to Texas, the first thing they did was find a polo club to join.

“Polo has always been something that has brought our family together,” Stephanie said. “We would always go out to the Dallas Polo Club, it seemed like every weekend, and ride the horses and play together.”

In high school, the girls attended a polo camp run by Cissy Jones at Brushy Creek Ranch. They got hooked on interscholastic and arena polo and formed an interscholastic team. The sisters played together, while their mom coached. They moved on to Texas A&M from there, playing collegiate polo together.

Both women sought careers involving horses--Stephanie as a veterinarian and Amanda as a chiropractor for both humans and horses. Stephanie settled in Houston, while Amanda made Austin her home.

“Robin Sanchez helped a lot with Stephanie’s and

my college careers because we would go up to Brushy Creek to play a lot,” Amanda explained. “When she had this idea [for TAL], we all jumped on it. We were really excited to play in the arena because it was just so much more affordable than playing [outdoor] for people trying to get back into polo after college.”

Their parents live about an hour from the Legends facility so during the league weekends, they spend time together at their parents’ house.

“With us being so spread out, we don’t get very many opportunities to practice for the Texas Arena League. It’s nice to have this history together. We’ve played and practiced so many times together so we really know each other,” Stephanie explained. “We balance each other out very well in that we know our strengths and weaknesses. A big part of playing with other people is knowing what they are capable of so you can anticipate what’s going to happen.”

When asked how the sisters got along over the years, Stephanie quoted Charles Dickens. “It was the best of times and it was the worst of times,” she joked.

When the girls would practice against each other, Stephanie recalls Amanda playing pretty rough. “She’s always been a strong hitter and had a big running game. She really liked to utilize that bump. [I] and my other teammate would tell her she was playing too rough and to save it for when we actually played,” she said. “A few times I got pretty mad at her and one time, I put a dead field mouse in her helmet just to surprise her. Another time, she was bumping too hard, using elbows … and just kept on. I had my whip and just cracked her across her thigh and that stopped it.”

This physical distance between their homes, age and maturity has helped them appreciate each other more and settled them down a bit.

“When we were younger, we would definitely fight more during polo matches, but we’ve calmed down a lot over the last few years,” Amanda said. “We are on a different level now. We care more about making our horses nice, keeping our horses safe, enjoying the game and coaching other players that play with us than winning games at this point. But at A&M, we were definitely in it to win it.”

The sisters agree Stephanie is the more competitive of the two, but neither likes to lose. Both referenced the 2010 National Intercollegiate Championship against the University of Kentucky.

Amanda said, “Probably one of the most painful

games we’ve ever lost together was when we were in the intercollegiate nationals … we lost to Kentucky by one point and even though it was like 15 years ago, it still hurts.”

Stephanie added, “That is just something we worked so hard for, basically all of our college careers, and were never able to get that national title and it still hurts.”

Amanda says the Texas Arena League is as competitive as you want to be. “If you are in it to win it, you can, and you can be competitive, but it is also a great outlet to play polo without being super competitive. I enjoy the social aspect of it probably more now,” she said.

“When you step back and look at the big picture, your wins and losses don’t really matter,” Stephanie said. “For us, it is being able to spend that quality time together as friends and family and [having] something positive to work towards.”

Their styles seem to complement each other. “I like to play defensively, and Stephanie is more of the high-scoring member of the team,” Amanda said. “Typically, Stephanie gives me directions. It’s very simple but brilliant advice and is usually in regard to riding horses … that’s been a really great thing to have Stephanie on my team to help me with.”

Stephanie admits Amanda is a strong communicator, almost to a fault, while it is one of her weaknesses.

“It is something I’ve tried to work on, having better directions and communication. It is something we’ve both worked on--toning hers back a little bit and getting mine ramped up,” she said.

The sisters are playing in the 0- to 3-goal Flight and have qualified for the consolation final. They’ve had a lot of success, losing only one game by a goal to Ashley Owen’s Blue Star. The first weekend, they beat one of the eventual finalist, the Osburn’s Bar Spur team. They have both picked up MVP awards during the season and one of Stephanie’s horses was Best Playing Pony.

Their parents and Stephanie’s husband Ben are very supportive and come cheer them on when they can. Stephanie is hoping Ben will play with them one day so they’ll have a true, all-family team.

Mark and Amanda Osburn

The Osburns also met in college while attending Texas Tech University in Lubbock, and both were members of the school’s polo club. Mark had grown up on a ranch so he had plenty of horse experience, but Amanda’s experience began at Texas Tech. After college, they moved to Mark’s family’s ranch. They were starting careers and a family so they stopped playing. Some 16 years later, Mark was invited to play in the Texas Arena League and decided to do it. As soon as he was back into the sport, he was hooked again.

About two years ago, Amanda decided to join in on the fun. “[I like polo] because of the friends you make, and the fact it doesn’t matter your gender, age or anything. Everyone plays together,” she said.

Amanda started out in C-Flight and this year is competing with Mark in the 0- to 3-goal Flight, while Mark plays in three different levels. Amanda grooms for him when she is not playing and when they both play, they hire local college students, who are happy to make some extra money.

The couple has 10-year-old twins, Myra and Gus, who travel with them to games.

“There is no way I would be able to [play] if [Mark] wasn’t into it. … It’s nice and when we go, it is almost like a vacation on the weekends,” Amanda explained. “We go with the kids. It’s time we spend together that maybe you wouldn’t do if everybody is going in different directions. We are always together. I think that is one of the best parts.”

Mark agreed, “It is really fun for us as a couple. We enjoy going and playing. It is something we can do together that we have fun at.”

Mark said Amanda helps make it possible for him to play. “This is the first year we’ve taken care of our own horses. With my work schedule, I don’t have time to ride every day,” he said. “She does a lot of sets, taking

care of the horses and doing what I can’t get around to. Without her help, I wouldn’t be able to play or my horses wouldn’t get out as much as they need to.”

Amanda appreciates Mark’s guidance on the field. “I take any and all instructions. It’s a whole different deal out there. We are on a team out there. If one of us yells at each other, it is all just in the game,” she said. “It has nothing to do with being mad or bossing anyone.”

Mark admits he must make an effort to communicate better on the field. “I am working on being more vocal. A lot of times, I get in my own head, more focused on what I am doing than what I need to be,” he said. “All good players talk to their teammates, so I am trying to do that.

“[Amanda] is really hitting well and getting to the ride-offs quicker. She has really helped us as a team. She got several goals this last weekend just being in the right spot. I got hooked in front of the goal and she was there to put it in. We only won by three goals so without her, we probably wouldn’t have won.”

Sharing the field with a family member is a benefit. “Any win is a good win and any loss is hard, but after the game, we can talk for hours over every little play during the game and go over it afterward,” Amanda said. “Other teammates go off and go home. That’s our advantage, we can go over the game together and just discuss it.”

Their kids have gotten to watch polo so much, they are beginning to learn the rules. Their son got a mallet for Christmas and is beginning to pick it up. Their daughter fell while riding last summer and broke her wrist, so they are letting the kids develop at their own pace.

“I like playing with my family. I hope Myra moves along with it too, but I can’t wait for the day Gus and I are playing the 3 goal,” said Mark. “Give him four or five years and maybe by that time, I’m a little better and a better coach. I’d surely love to have Amanda and Gus on my team. What is better than playing with the people you love?”

Jack and Trey Crea

Trey Crea was born into a polo family with players on both sides. His maternal grandfather was polo Hall of Famer Ray Harrington, while his paternal grandfather and great uncle played back in the 1940s. His dad and uncles also played. Crea remembers grooming for his father Jack Crea and his uncles David and Tom at Retama Polo Center in San Antonio. When polo died

down in the area, the Creas got away from the sport for some time.

Jack said he played in practice games and a few tournaments with his father when he was growing up, but his dad passed away relatively young, so he learned from Roy Barry Sr., who worked with their horses, and other players that were around.

“It wasn’t any formal education, it was just somebody sees you doing something wrong ... and they would just speak out and tell you to do something a little differently,” Jack explained.

Jack took a break from the sport after having kids and didn’t get back into it until the kids had gone off to college. But he’s always enjoyed the sport.

“I’ve played pretty much every sport but there is really nothing like polo. [It’s] the horses, the speed and the athleticism that’s required to play the game, it’s just a fun game to play. Everybody is like you, they are all horse people and they’re all thinking the same way as you do,” he commented.

Trey learned to play as an adult from his uncle, whom he was working for when they were both living in Houston. Since then, he’s had opportunities to play with his dad outdoors at the San Antonio Polo Club after it was resurrected. Trey’s uncle David plays at the Brookshire Polo Club, so he and his dad get to play with him every now and then as well.

Jack joined the Texas Arena League about five or six years ago, even though he had little-to-no experience in the arena. He has played each year since.

Trey filled in for another member in the TAL a couple of times, but this year is his first time playing the full season. It just worked out that father and son were able to play together in the arena this season, competing in the 3- to 6-goal Flight. They are also playing on different teams in the 0- to 3-goal Flight.

“I’m kind of new to arena polo, but I’m learning,” Trey explained. “[My dad] hurt his shoulder a couple of years ago so he doesn’t hit quite as well as he used to, but he’s got the experience. He gets to direct things a little bit. He was a referee back in the day, so he knows the rules really well and is really good at observing the game and anticipating.”

Father and son live about an hour from each other, so they don’t get to see each other as much as they’d like, but when they do get together, most of their time is centered around horses.

“[Polo] is definitely a good opportunity to bring us together ... and be able to spend time together,” Trey said.

Jack added, “[Playing together is] kind of like playing with your wife; sometimes, you know them too much and it can be testing. But for the most part I do enjoy it. ... I didn’t get to play as much with my father as I wanted to, so it is nice being able to play with my son.”

Aside from spending quality time together, there is another benefit to playing with a family member.

“Being able to anticipate what each other is going to do is probably the biggest factor,” Trey said. “Arena is fast-paced, so knowing what kind of shots your teammate can hit and which ones they don’t hit definitely helps [you] anticipate a little bit.”

Before they got back into polo, the pair played soccer together, so they learned to communicate well.

Jack explained, “It’s kind of funny how much the feint, the deceptive play, that kind of stuff can come into it. ... With just a look he knows kind of what I want him to do or what he wants me to do. Quite a lot of that is all the same. It’s a lot easier if the other team doesn’t know what you are doing, and your team does.”

“We played soccer together also and soccer is a really vocal sport,” Trea said. “It’s funny when we started playing polo, we were both kind of telling each other what to do. I learned pretty quickly, I need to just be quiet and listen to what he tells me.”

Jack admitted they can get hot on occasion. “It’s just the heat of the moment, the passion and everything that goes with competitiveness,” he explained. “You try and just walk away from it and cool down. It can happen with your best friends too.”

Their respect for each other shined through last week when Jack had to umpire Trey’s game in the 0- to 3-goal flight.

“Talk about a situation that could have been bad, but it was all good,” Jack said. “[Trey] understood everything.”

Part of playing together includes strategy sessions before and after matches.

“We always go over the teams before we play them and of course, we have several phone calls about how we’re going to line up,” Trey explained. “And then of course, always after the game there is always some highlights and some points that we talk about.”

Despite the preparation, and though winning is more fun, they both admit the outcome doesn’t matter much.

“The losses don’t really bother us,” Jack said. “It is more of a learning experience and an appreciation for how good the game can be played by someone who knows what they are doing.”

“We are out there for fun, so it’s not a big deal either way. We are just out there to spend time together and get on some horses and have some fun,” Trey said.

Jack added. “We’re probably more experienced at losing than we are at winning, but I don’t know that it really matters much. ... I do like seeing [Trey] improve, getting better, because he did go up this year in handicap. He is still getting better so that is good to see.”

These are just some of the family combinations playing together on the 40-plus teams in the Texas Arena League this season. Sanchez, who often umpires the matches, said, “I was commenting the other day how fun it is to umpire games when you hear players say, ‘Good shot, dad,’ or ‘Follow my mom.’”

The Polo Training Foundation is a proud supporter of the Texas Arena League

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