An Amateur’s View of Polo

Below Learning to spin in the Atlas Mountains Left Eve with a cashmere goat; the fibre is used for garments

Eve Branson heads to a polo match, and plans one for her own charity foundation

You must be somewhat perplexed as to what part polo plays in the Eve Branson Foundation. Let me explain the connection.

It started in 2006, when I persuaded my son Richard, to buy a magnificent kasbah in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains. He consented, but only on one condition, that I look after all the poverty-stricken surrounding villages. Most of the villages are without water and electricity, with high illiteracy rates. Girls leave school at 13 with few job or life prospects.

The Berber villagers set great store by selfreliance. So I decided to teach them to make crafts that we could sell, then gradually they would not only become independent, but be able to pass their skills on for generations to come. The mud-baked brown village opposite the hotel looked like a good place to start.

Despite the hotel manager’s fears that we’d not be welcome, the next day, with an Arabic-speaking friend, we ventured over the river, passing only a toothless granddad. His smile seemed kind enough as he led us to his wife, who welcomed us into her house; hens scurrying by, a cow tethered in her kitchen. Hospitality abounded as we sat on her floor drinking mint tea.

Would any of the girls like to learn to knit? Her face lit up. ‘Three girls at least!’

I hastened home to teach myself ‘one plain, one purl’! Three girls have now turned into 30. Similarly we have taken on more impoverished local villages. To date, the enterprises we have set up include a carpet workshop and a craft house run by local villagers.

During this period, ex-polo player Roy de Lisser, invited me to the Gold Cup at Cowdray. I was fascinated but glad to have my friend and member of Windsor Guards explain the intricacies of the game, an even better idea was to invite me to a match at Windsor.

Hence I found myself watching not just the odd game of slovenly dressed polo players riding sluggish ponies – oh no, there were handsome, virile young men dressed in white jeans with high shiny leather boots! Their Argentinian polo ponies were equally immaculate – perfectly groomed, skin glistening, ankles bandaged and tails plaited.

The whistle blew and they were off; full gallop, hooves pounding, voices shouting while another chukka played on.

Meanwhile, I sat watching from my polo player’s car – he called me his ‘Stick Chick’! I’d hoped this was an endearing name, until I realised I was in charge of his numbered sticks – a frightening responsibility, lest I handed him the wrong one!

But how wonderful on that hot May day to witness this dangerous, extravagant sport. Inside the car was my briefcase, bulging with all the details of the great match that I’m hoping to organise in October: The Moroccan Guards v Windsor Guards. However, Richard’s last words before he left the country were ‘DON’T do anything until you find a sponsor.’ To date, no sponsor!

Having forgotten my field glasses that day, I was unable to cheer on the winner. So I wandered off to see what went on nearby – row upon row of smart horseboxes, ponies pawing the ground impatient for their grooms (who shouted at each other in a variety of languages and bandaged their ponies’ legs). The whistle blew – a rider was down, lying motionless and the ambulance advanced – the rider was soon up and another chukka took place.

Game over, ‘Stick Chick’ was out of a job, while the ponies were led back to their enclosure –bandages off, tails unplaited, a wash down and a drink, before being taken back to their stables anxious for yet another day!

It was a day to remember indeed! But now my priority is to organise The Moroccan Guards v Windsor Guards. We are hoping for sponsors galore and ‘Stick Chick’ will once more be at the ready to perform whatever the riders may want!

This match is planned to be held at Jnan Amar Polo Resort, 15 minutes outside Marrakech, on 6 and 7 October 2012. It should be a great match which we are hoping will become a yearly event. Not only will it be fun, but it will also help the villages in the Atlas Mountains. For more on the Eve Branson Foundation, email info@simonliebel.com or call 020 7731 4366