TALK
HORSES FOR COURSES
Pairing a man passionate about polo with tourists who want to try it for themselves was a match made in heaven, says Fernando Nieto
When it comes to polo, Buenos Aires is the most important place in the world. As the city attracts so many international visitors every year, I thought it would be interesting for them to learn about our national sport. I founded Polo Elite in 2008. Since then, we have served more than 4,000 customers from around 80 countries. Three quarters of them have taken polo lessons with us and played stick-and-ball and chukkas, and the rest have joined us to watch games. Initially, they were mostly young people – travellers staying in the city’s hostels. They were fascinated to learn about a sport about which they knew little or nothing, and enjoyed spending a day in the Argentine countryside, plus, of course, the drinks and music after the match – the perfect combination. Soon, these spectators started asking if they could play a more active role and where they might sign up for a lesson. There were no places available, however, because all the farms focused solely on players who were coming for a longer stay and not just a one-day experience.
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hurlinghampolo.com
03/02/2016 13:50
