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April/May 2016
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April/May 2016 • VOLUME XVI NUMBER 3
from across the South East
In the Spotlight: Badminton Bound Jo Thomas
04
Localrider Magazine
ENDURANCE • POLO • SHOWJUMPING • EVENTING
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Snow Polo in St Moritz COVERING KENT, SUSSEX, SURREY, HAMPSHIRE, BERKSHIRE & THE ISLE of WIGHT 01-covernew_lrapril16.indd 1
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FEATURE Team Perrier Jouet and Team Cartier playing on the frozen lake of St Moritz.
Snow Polo:
Cartier World Trophy St Moritz 2016 The riders change horses several times during the match. Louise Siggers-Solheim
Louise Siggers-Solheim was in St Moritz with her camera for this fabulous tournament. Here we share her informative report and spectacular pictures too… The action is fast and furious.
The ponies are kept in temporary stables on the snow.
S
et some 1800 metres above sea level on a frozen lake 80 metres deep, St Moritz plays host to the “Snow Polo World Cup” tournament played over the last weekend in January. This fantastic event was created by Reto Gaudenzi the Founder of the exclusive Selective Hotels and Residences Group. His dream and vision to turn the lake into a polo pitch became a reality in 1985 and has now been going strong for 32 years. It is quite a mammoth task, the first stop in the proceedings is hoping that Mother Nature freezes the lake to a level that is safe and only once in the tournaments history has it had to be cancelled. There are four teams of four players representing Cartier, Maserati, Badrutt’s Palace Hotel and Perrier Jouet so approximately 100 ponies make the journey each year. They arrive on the Monday before giving them time to train and adjust to the altitude. The rarified atmosphere which has the same effect on them as humans: swinging from feeling tired to hyper over the first couple of days and then settling comfortably. On the Friday and Saturday all the teams play against each other culminating in the play off for third and fourth place for the La Martina Cup on Sunday followed by the top two teams in the final hoping to win the coveted Cartier Trophy. Each match consists of four chukkas of seven minutes each, during which the riders change ponies several times. So having a super groom waiting in the wings is an imperative. Grooms do a great job having the ponies all tacked up, legs bandaged, warmed up and ready to go. They are the unsung heroes.
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The ponies enjoy playing on the snow too
Chris Hyde leads the charge for Cartier.
To stop them slipping the ponies have a hoof grip inserted between the horse’s hoof and shoe.
How do they play on snow?
The first question I have been asked repeatedly by both horsey and non-horsey folk is “how do they stop the ponies slipping on the snow?” The answer to this is that 40 years ago a local farrier to St Moritz designed what is known as the “hoof grip”, a piece of plastic that fits between the horse’s hoof and shoe. This stops the snow packing into the foot causing them to slip. Studs are also fitted and the end result is amazing. It is evident the ponies love their job, waiting patiently in the wings with ears pricked for their turn. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Engadin mountains the atmosphere was electric for the final. Team Cartier, having held the title for the last three years pulled out all the stops in a nail biting finale. Unable to retain the Cup once again this year’s winners were the Maserati Team. I spoke to local rider and England team player Chris Hyde. One of only two arena 10 goalers (goals refer to the handicap in polo) and the first ever English 10 goal arena player I asked him how he felt about this year’s tournament for team Cartier: “I’ve been playing snow polo in St Moritz for around nine years now and it still amazes me when we get there, just the amazing scenery and that we can actually play on a frozen lake. It really is one of the best tournaments to be fortunate to play in – after winning it for three years in a row we were a little unlucky not to win this year but will be back next year to claim the title for Cartier again.” I was privileged to be issued a Media Pass and get a close-up view of everything – including the champagne!
Local rider and England team player Chris Hyde, was playing for Cartier. How’s that for a view?
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