AFTER THE WAR, POLO BECAME A PLATFORM FOR REBUILDING SHATTERED GERMAN-BRITISH RELATIONS

on the historic Maifeld in Berlin. Swiss-born Reto Gaudenzi – who had already caused a worldwide sensation in 1985 when he turned the frozen lake in St Moritz into a polo eld, thus inventing “Polo on Snow” – brought the World Championship to the German capital. The 2nd Polo World Championship took place from 11-20 August 1989, organised by the St Moritz Polo Club.

Since 2000, the German Polo Association (DPV), founded in 1972, has also been an af liated member of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), the governing body of British polo. But despite its riding tradition, Germany remains a small polo nation in international terms. However, the UK has set a good example for youth development.

In the summer of 2003, under the direction of Dr Inge Schwenger-Holst, Germany started its rst youth polo camp, the Berlin Polo Club; followed in 2004 by its rst German Youth Championship, held in the capital. Since 2006, the FIP Youth Polo Camp in Hamburg, coached by Thomas Winter, has welcomed a growing number of young talents every year.

In September 2023, the FIP European Polo Championship will be held in Germany for the third time at the Polo Club Düsseldorf (following on from 2008 at Gut Aspern and 2016 at the Maifeld in Berlin).

The German Polo Association, under president Oliver PJ Winter, currently has 27 clubs and 400 personal members.

With great enthusiasm the DPV celebrates its 50th birthday and looks forward to a future where it continues to play its role in European polo.