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Table of Contents
6
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
11
MARGARITA LEAGUE
37
2015 POLO SCHEDULE
12
JUNIOR POLO
39
A SALUTE TO THE 2015 SEASON SPONSORS
13
NATIONAL YOUTH TOURNAMENT SERIES
40
WELCOME TO THE HOUSTON POLO CLUB
14
POLO SCHOOL
42
HOUSTON POLO CLUB STAFF
18
WINNER’S CIRCLE 2014 SEASON
44
POLO FAQ
20
56
POLO GEAR
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A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A POLO PRO: JOE WAYNE BARRY HOUSTON POLO CLUB PROS
61
GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME: PERFORMANCE PSYCHOLOGY IN POLO
26
MEET THE PLAYERS
62
2014 USPA WOMEN’S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP®
30
ON THE FIELD
69
CLUB LEAGUE
34
SCENE AT POLO
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HOUSTON POLO CLUB
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PUBLISHER AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Lisa Muirhead lisa@poisepublications.com
ART DIRECTOR Ryan Germain
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EXECUTIVE BUSINESS DIRECTOR Tammy Beeson ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE Tammi Galloway-Serna PHOTOGRAPHY Kaylee Scherbinski www.kayleescherbinski.com
CONTRIBUTORS Tammy Beeson, Tammi Galloway-Serna, George Georgiades, Megan Kozminski, K.C. Krueger, Pam Mudra,Vanessa Shapiro
Š 2015 Houston Polo Club Printed in Canada by Transcontinental Published for the Houston Polo Club by Poise Publications Inc. 101-478 River Ave, Ste 707 Winnipeg, MB R3L 0B3 www.poisepublications.com
A Letter from the President On behalf of our staff and Board of Directors, I am honored to welcome you to our 88th year at the Houston Polo Club. Your continued support is greatly appreciated and necessary as we begin another year as the largest polo club in the United States, per playing members. The Houston Polo Club offers facilities and programs for all skill levels and interests. As a nationally recognized USPA Regional Polo Center, we offer an 8-week Polo School and polo clinics, Junior Polo, and Margarita League for up and coming players.We have several other levels of play from Club League up to 12 goal. We are also proud to host several national-level USPA events, including the Southwest Regional Classic, the Masters Cup, the Western Challenge, the National Youth Tournament Series and the prestigious U.S. Open Women’s Championship®. In addition to polo, Houston Polo Club offers full equestrian facilities, which include onsite boarding and riding lessons for children and adults. Our 26-acre setting provides the perfect environment for horse lovers to develop their riding skills. The Houston Polo Club would like to thank our corporate sponsors, whose participation is necessary to preserve our beloved sport of polo here in Houston. We would also like to thank our members, players, and spectators for another great year of polo. We hope to see you at Sunday Polo. Here’s to another safe and successful spring and fall season!
George Georgiades President of the Board of Directors Houston Polo Club
2015 Houston Polo Club Board of Directors Steven Armour
George Georgiades
Kristy Outhier
Rebecca Bollenbach
Jeff Hildebrand
Carl Price
Tommy Dorsey
Paul Hobby
Wesley Sinor
Crystal Cassidy
Tim Kelly
John Tasdemir
Colleen Marks
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2015 Polo Schedule Spring Season April 5 12 19 26
Opening Game: Van Conover Memorial Cup (Easter Sunday) Bluebonnet Cup Spring Classic Prairie Cup
May 3 10 17 24 31
Land Rover Houston Central Cup Ponies and Petals Cup (Mother’s Day) Red Oak Cup Texas Classic Player’s Cup
June 7 14
Vaqueros Classic Season Finale: 2015 USPA NYTS Junior Tournament and Joe Barry Memorial Cup
Fall Season September 13 20 27
Opening Game: Fall Classic Cowboy Cup Hendrick’s Gin Cup
October 4 11 18 25
Caballero Cup Houston Cup Champagne Cup Malbec Cup
November 1 8 15 12
Bayou Classic Harvest Cup Season Finale: USPA US Open Women’s Polo Championship
HOUSTON POLO CLUB
A Salute to the 2015 Season Sponsors
HOME & COMMERCIAL SERVICES Pest • Pool • Lawn • A/C • Heating • Security
THEHOUSTONPOLOCLUB.COM
13
Welcome to the Houston Polo Club Join
us for:
• International polo competitions • Champagne divot stomps • Holiday events
Come for the day, bring your VIP guests, or invest in box seating for your family, friends or corporation for the season! General admission,VIP seating, and sponsor boxes available. The Houston Polo Club is the perfect location to host corporate, private, fundraising or social events. For more information about visiting the Houston Polo Club for a game or special event, visit www.thehoustonpoloclub.com or call 713.681.8571.
Established in 1928, the Houston Polo Club is ideally situated on 26 acres in the heart of the city. Every year, the Houston Polo Club welcomes more than 10,000 visitors and over 150 players to its metropolitan location, adjacent to Memorial Park, just inside West Loop 610.
Join us for exciting polo events throughout the 2015 spring and fall polo seasons!
Spring Season: April 5–June 14
Fall Season: September 13–November 15 Please consult the 2015 Polo Schedule on page 12 for tournament dates.
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HOUSTON POLO CLUB
Join us for Sunday Polo! ANNUAL BOX HOLDERS enjoy:
Polo tournaments are played throughout our spring and fall seasons, with final matches open to the public on Sunday afternoons. Tickets can be purchased on our website at www.thehoustonpoloclub.com/ sunday-polo/tickets
Houston Polo Club Box Seats Becoming a Houston Polo Club Box Seat holder is a great way to spend quality time with family and/or entertain clients.You and your guests will be provided service by the professional wait staff from our onsite concession, Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
• Seating for six, for both our spring and fall polo seasons • One complimentary VIP parking pass • Your family and/or company name affixed to the box • Invites to Houston Polo Club social events and our occasional, exclusive Thursday night polo matches To purchase an annual box or for additional information, please email events@thehoustonpoloclub.com or call 713-997-8375. BOX BY THE DAY: For those who would like to entertain clients or friends without an annual commitment, boxes are available by the day, based on availability. If you have a large group, you can reserve one of our new large boxes for 8–20 guests. Reservations for Boxes “by the day” must be made online: www.thehoustonpoloclub.com/sunday-polo/tickets
THEHOUSTONPOLOCLUB.COM
15
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Houston Polo Club Staff 2015
Pam Mudra
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Tammy Beeson
Executive Director
Executive Business Director, Sponsorships, Event/Box Sales, Marketing
K.C. Krueger
Merrily Quincoces
Stephanie Burton
Tammi Galloway-Serna
Director of Business Relations
Account Representative
Amy LeRoy
Mark Prinsloo
Assistant Polo Manager
Riding Director/ Barn Manager
Assistant Riding Instructor
RPC Manager and Senior Polo Instructor
Barlee Flanders
Paige Flanders
Senior Polo and Riding Instructor
Assistant Polo and Riding Instructor
Esteban Gonzales
Marty Salinas
Grounds Supervisor
Announcer
HOUSTON POLO CLUB
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Polo FAQ
W
atching your first polo match is so thrilling—but it can also be very confusing! Polo is an incredibly fast-paced game. Players and ponies pound up and down the polo field at speeds of up to 35 mph in an effort to drive what seems like an impossibly small ball through the goal posts at either end. Until you have some of the lingo and rules down, what happens on the field can seem like disorganized chaos. Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions we hear floating around the spectator boxes. How big is that field? It’s huge. In fact, it is a little bigger than the size of nine football fields. Polo is played on a 300 x 160 yard (9 acre) field to accommodate the intense speed and pace of the game. Horse and player traffic can extend just outside of the low wooden border, but as soon as the ball leaves the field, it is out-of-bounds.
Horses can step out of bounds during play, but the ball must stay inside.
What is a chukker? A chukker (also called a chukka in some polo-playing countries) is what we call a period of play in polo. In a low- or medium-goal game, players have four 7½ minute chukkers in which to score, and in a high-goal game, there are six 7½ minute chukkers. Players have four minutes in between each chukker to change ponies. What is a goal? Now, this seems like such a simple question, but, in polo, the term “goal” can refer to several things. First, there is the kind of goal that indicates that a point is scored. A point is scored when a player hits the ball between the two goal posts at any height, and that goal is confirmed by the flag bearer standing behind each goal. After each goal, the teams will change directions in order to equalize playing conditions. The second kind of “goal” that is important in polo refers to a player’s handicap rating. Players in North America are assigned goal ratings by the United States Polo Association, based on their experience and skill on the field. Beginners are assigned a C (or -2) or B (or -1) rating. From there, as skills improve, the players are rated from A (or zero) to the top rating, a 10-goal player.
Ride-off or Bump: A horse’s shoulder is pressed into the shoulder of another player’s horse in an attempt to drive him or her off the line of the ball. Legal bumping of an opponent’s horse takes place at no more than a 45-degree angle.
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HOUSTON POLO CLUB
Players’ goal ratings also determine the make-up of their teams. Opposing teams are equally matched by adding up the rating numbers of each of their players. For example, a team competing in a 4-goal tournament must have a total handicap of 4 when all players’ ratings are added up (for example, they could field two 0-goal players, a 3-goal player and a 1-goal player, to add up to a total of 4 goals).
What are the rules governing play? The primary focus in polo is the safety of the horses and of the players. The most significant rule governing play is “right of way,” as designated by the “line of the ball.” Players can hit the ball from either side of their mounts (though they can only use their right hand to hold the mallet), and once the ball is in play, the “line of the ball” is established. The player who is closest to the ball with the narrowest angle has the right of way. Opposing players cannot cross the line too closely to the “on-line” player, nor can they approach the player at too sharp an angle, or they risk a foul and subsequent penalty. The severity of the penalty depends on how dangerous the infraction was to the horse or player. A foul is called by one of two on-field umpires, who must agree on its severity in order to award the appropriate penalty to the opposing team. In the case of a dispute between the umpires, there is a referee (Third Man) on the sidelines who will determine the call.
Player numbers designate their position and strategy on the field.
How can I get started? When you get tired of sitting on the sidelines, it’s time to check out the offerings of Houston Polo Club’s Regional Training Center. Polo players come from all backgrounds—some bring riding experience, others bring a great golf swing. Regardless, the adrenaline of combining horsemanship with hand-eye coordination hooks hundreds of players a year. Lessons can be a rigorous start to your polo career or a casual weekend pastime for family and friends. No matter your level, interest, or ability, no one ever regrets their first polo lesson, and rarely do they only show up for just one! Visit www.hpcstepupprogram.com for information on programs for players of all levels. Hook: A defensive tactic in which a player hooks the mallet of an opposing player or blocks his or her swing.
What is the difference between a polo pony and a horse used in other equestrian sports? Polo ponies are thoroughbreds or part thoroughbred and part quarter horse, selected for their agility, speed, endurance, and intelligence. It takes two to three years to train a green pony, whose polo career can last over 15 years. The average polo pony stands 15.2 hands high, or 62 inches from the ground to the top of the withers (the base of pony’s neck). Their manes are roached (clipped short) and their tails are braided for their safety—so they don’t get caught up in the play. Polo players should have a string of at least one pony per chukker (those ponies work hard out there!). A day at Sunday Polo is a day well spent.
THEHOUSTONPOLOCLUB.COM
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Polo Gear
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2
6 3 9
7
6 4
8
5
THE PLAYER
THE PONY
1. POLO MALLET: Polo mallets have bamboo or plastic shafts that are f lexible and can make a complete arc under the pony’s neck or tail.
5. BANDAGES AND BOOTS: These protective wraps shield the pony’s legs against contact with the ball or other ponies.
2. HELMET: Hard, lined helmets protect players’ heads from swinging mallets and balls traveling up to 100 mph. 3. BREECHES: Polo players always wear white breeches. 4. RIDING BOOTS AND KNEE PADS: Leather polo boots and knee pads provide protection for the player’s lower legs and knees.
6. ROACHED MANE AND PLAITED TAIL: Polo ponies have plaited tails and clipped manes so they don’t get tangled in the action around them. 7. SADDLE AND BREASTPLATE: Polo saddles have little padding under the leg, allowing for maximum movement, and the breastplate prevents the saddle from slipping during the game. 8. POLO MARTINGALE: This leather strapping encourages proper head carriage. 9. DRAW REINS AND BRIDLE: This series of leather strapping, metal bit, and supports gives the player steering and stopping control.
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HOUSTON POLO CLUB
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GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME: PERFORMANCE PSYCHOLOGY IN POLO
P
olo is an incredibly physically
The Player
demanding sport on both the players
Sports psychologists, or performance psychologists, can work with a polo player on his or her game at several different levels. The first level is with individual players. Miranda Banks, a 15-year veteran in performance psychology, has worked with polo players and teams of all goal levels to optimize their performance on the field. She concedes that working with an individual player is a great starting point: “I can work with a player over an extended period of time: setting goals and pathways for goal achievement that span sufficient tournaments to create real and sustainable improvements.” That goal setting and progress is measurable, allowing a player to set objectives and track their progress.
and the ponies. However, any player
will also tell you that the mental game is as important, if not more so, than the physical game. Performance psychology involves assessing where a player’s head is and where they need to get to in order to excel at their sport. Polo presents many unique challenges that don’t exist in other sports, including the ponies’ personalities and the ever-changing make-up, skills, and strategies of teams across seasons and tournaments.
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HOUSTON POLO CLUB
The first step in working with a performance psychologist is evaluation and analysis. According to Banks, initial goals could include technical, physical and mental development, as well as specific goal setting for handicap development. As a big part of the initial assessment, as well as ongoing analysis, Miranda likes to observe a player during games, practices and training sessions. Performance psychology doesn’t end at preparation, however. When you work with a sports psychologist, you analyze how you
approach and react to every aspect of your game, including how you mentally prepare for a game; how you operate within your team; and how to move on from a particularly difficult game, chukker, or even play. A player who uses psychological techniques successfully will be able to consistently use the skills they have mastered in different situations as well as adapt them in new and unusual circumstances. The more practice a player has with techniques, the more automatic they become when reacting not only to the play, but also to the ponies.
Performance-Enhancing Techniques Goal setting: Goal setting is a powerful tool for enhancing motivation, focusing on particular skill development or facilitating rehabilitation from an injury. Set realistic goals with consistent steps that are precise, measurable, and in line with the abilities and skills you have mastered. Visualization: Imagining your performance in vivid detail with a specific focus on sights, smells, kinesthetic (muscular) movements and proper timing can help you achieve those goals through mental preparation, anxiety control, and focus. Relaxation: Being able to access techniques that relax you in the midst of a frenetic game is invaluable to maintaining your focus. Polo is incredibly fast-paced, and you need to be able to make good, focused decisions while keeping your mental and physical energy piqued. Use down times when the action isn’t as intense to practice rituals that can help you relax, refocus, and reduce unproductive anxiety.
The Ponies Polo isn’t just about setting goals as an individual—there are many more moving parts than that! When you are playing polo, you essentially have two levels of teamwork that you need to focus on. The primary partnership is between the player and the pony. Most serious polo players will have a string of four to eight ponies for a game. In order to be productive on the field, a player must understand each pony’s unique disposition and apply specific riding skills, communication techniques, and game strategies according to each pony’s specific strengths and weaknesses. Managing a pony effectively is not the only focus on the field. As Banks explains, horses are keenly perceptive animals that react to emotions: “Anyone who rides is aware that horses pick up on the smallest changes to their rider’s behavior. When a
Pre-performance routines: Not to be confused with superstitious rituals that some athletes practice, these routines are techniques that athletes can use consistently to mentally prepare for a game to avoid distraction and focus. These routines can include checklists, mental rehearsals, breathing techniques or even listening to music. Team-building: Team-building techniques focus on improving communication among players, setting group objectives, and building trust and respect.
THEHOUSTONPOLOCLUB.COM
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player is nervous in the saddle, non-verbal signals, to which a pony is constantly tuned, are often conflicting and inconsistent, meaning that the pony—who is looking to their rider for clear leadership—is confused about what they are meant to do and where they are meant to do it.” The relationships you have and are building with each of your ponies are important to consider when you are looking at setting your performance goals.
This fluid quality to club teams can make long-term goal setting more challenging, because it is difficult to observe sustainable improvement over time. Each time a player changes, it changes the skills, strategy, and dynamic of the team. However, each team can still work on general goals that will translate to any team they work with, including game strategy, team dynamics, open communication, active listening strategies, and leadership on the field.
The Team Once you have set goals for yourself and your ponies, it is time to look at the bigger picture of how your team can improve as a unit. This can be especially challenging at the club level because your team composition can change frequently—not just from season to season, but even from tournament to tournament. “Unless it is a high goal team that is consistently together for the season across a number of tournaments,” Banks explains, “it is difficult to have enough time with a single team to create sustainable improvement. Since there are only four players on a polo team, if you change one player, you change 25 per cent of the team—which is a huge difference.”
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The 2014 USPA U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship®
I
n November 2014, 12 teams composed of some of the world’s best women polo players came to the Houston Polo Club to compete in the nation’s premier event in women’s polo tournaments. The U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship® is a 6-goal tournament that is the only national-level USPA title in women’s polo in the United States. Running concurrently is the 2-Goal U.S. Women’s Handicap tournament. The title tournament was resurrected in 2011 after a 21-year hiatus, marking the continuing growth of women’s polo and the Houston Polo Club’s commitment to developing the sport in the United States and internationally. Four teams competed in this year’s U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship®, showcasing the best in women’s polo. Following a first round loss to BTA in overtime, Northern Trust fought hard to defeat San Saba/Shanghai by a goal in the
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second round to tie the two with a 1–1 record, and then win the shootout against that same team to advance to the final. It was déjà vu for Northern Trust (Maureen Brennan, Julia Smith, Sarah Wiseman, and Claire Brougham) in the final against BTA (Brianna Galindo, KC Krueger, Sheila Lequerica, and Lia Salvo). This time Northern Trust edged BTA out in overtime 5–4 on a penalty #2 goal by Julia Smith. MVP in that game was awarded to Sarah Wiseman of Northern Trust. This year’s U.S.Women’s Handicap tournament saw eight teams competing, with tournament play at ERG arena and the finals held at the Houston Polo Club’s Flanders Field. The final saw Pegasus (Ann Andras, Rel Mazur, Sheila Lequerica, and Lia Salvo) defeat Lazy 3 (Louisa Fikes, Molly Musselman, Caroline Stimmel, and Isabella Wolf) with a score of 11–3. MVP in that final game was awarded to Lia Salvo of Pegasus.
THEHOUSTONPOLOCLUB.COM
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I want to be YOUR Realtor!
ANDREA BAUER REALTOR ASSOCIATE - CNE, ALHS
713.817.8887 abauer@marthaturner.com marthaturner.com
Houston Polo Club As a member of the
I am proud to give my ongoing support.
Andrea Bauer, riding Luna.
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Club League
The Club League was designed for polo players who have some experience playing at the lower competitive levels and wish to develop their skills in a relaxed environment. This 4-goal level of polo is a great place to transition between leagues.Taking a season to play in the Club League helps set a solid foundation for players who are looking to grow and improve in the sport. Its structure will nurture players’ skills to prepare them to play faster and more competitive polo.
CLUB LEAGUE PLAYERS Anne Andras David Andras Laurance H. Armour Amy Burgert Reid Cox Tom Dorsey Nick Dunbar
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Carol Farnsworth Maria Hartley Mike Heitman Liz Lary Fay Lewis Shuman Majumbder Al Pepi
HOUSTON POLO CLUB
Wallace Pepi Andrea Russo Jenny Sharrock Candace Smith Nick Stefanakis John Tasdemir
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Margarita League
The Margarita League is a coaching league for graduates of the Houston Polo Club Polo School. Played on a smaller field or in the polo arena, an instructor is placed on each team to coach players up to a competitive 2-goal league level.The Margarita League runs in both the spring (April to June) and fall (September to November) seasons. Horses are available for lease for this program. For more information on the Margarita League, contact Mark Prinsloo at polo@thehoustonpoloclub.com.
MARGARITA LEAGUE PLAYERS Bonnie Baldwin James Beeson Abby Benton Fox Benton Will Brown Peter J.S. Cooper Barbara Jane Dinney Yusuf Farrukh Fay Fitzsimons Fred Gallucci Karisa Gallucci Kari Gonzales Nicola Hasling
Brandey Heckeroth Martha H. Hirsch Michail Issa Joanie Jackson Cara Kennedy Lauren Levicki Elizabeth Magyar Allison Riordan Riccardo Scionti Kian Tavacaoly John C. Womble Monica Younghusband
THEHOUSTONPOLOCLUB.COM
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NANO始S POLO MALLETS
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Junior Polo Do you have a young horse enthusiast who is raring to get on the polo field? The family-friendly Junior Polo program at the Houston Polo Club focuses on teaching young players about teamwork, horsemanship and responsibility on the polo field. As kids grow and become more experienced and their playing abilities improve, HPC offers Interscholastic teams for junior high and high school players, which participate in regional and national arena tournaments.
• Open to junior players ages 8 to 18. • Indoor and outdoor leagues are offered in spring, fall and winter sessions. • Outdoor tournaments are organized by skill level, including Lead Line,Walk Trot, Intermediate Division, and Advanced Division. • Students should have a mallet and helmet. Horses and tack are available for lease. For more information on junior polo programming, contact Merrily Quincoces, polo@thehoustonpoloclub.com
National Youth Tournament Series 2014
The 2014 National Youth Tournament Series took place on June 14 and 15 at the Houston Polo Club. The tournament hosted 12 teams of polo players under the age of 19. Four levels of junior players competed, including Lead Line, Walk Trot, Intermediate and Advanced National Youth Tournament Series teams. The tournament provided Houston’s young players an opportunity to showcase the skills they have learned
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HOUSTON POLO CLUB
participating in the Junior Polo Program at Houston Polo Club. On the Saturday night, the Price family and Russo’s New York Pizzeria sponsored a party for the young athletes at the Rockin P Ranch. For details on the 2015 NYTS, please contact Amanda Snow, asnow@uspolo.org
Advanced NYTS
Intermediate NYTS
WINNER
WINNER
ROCKIN P: Lauren Rae, Grayson Price, Grayson
HORSEGATE: Al Hunt, Mikail Wijesekera,
Greening, Nico Escobar/Lucas Escobar
John Womble, Morgan Parker
WALK TROT
LEADLINE
Christian Fridge, Carter Fridge, Clare Bogart, Pipa Harris, Molly Hennessy
Ava Seward, Xia Tabanou, Mimi Bogart, Ulysses Escapite, Uma Villanueva
THEHOUSTONPOLOCLUB.COM
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Polo School at the Houston Polo Club Many of our spectators attend a Sunday match and leave with a desire for more. The Houston Polo Club invites you to join the fun and learn to play the exciting sport of polo. All levels, skills, and ages from juniors to adults are welcome! Sign up for Spring Polo School and receive these extra perks: • • • •
A $200 HPC Tack Shoppe credit towards boots or a helmet 2 tickets to every 2015 Sunday Polo match A member parking pass for Sunday Polo An HPC Polo School shirt
WHAT WILL I LEARN? • • • • • • • •
Proper Horsemanship Game Strategy Swing Instruction Hitting Cage Practice Classroom Discussion Game Video Viewing Foot Mallet Experience Horse/Tack/Mallet Provided
Email polo@thehoustonpoloclub.com for more information or to reserve your spot.
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HOUSTON POLO CLUB
POLO SCHOOL 2015 Spring: April 21 – June 13, 2015 Fall: September 15 - November 10, 2015 Tuesdays 6 to 8 pm Saturdays 9 to 11 am $3,500 per season (includes $2,200 instruction and $1,300 horse rental)
Private lessons are also available through the Polo School. Email polo@thehoustonpoloclub.com for more information.
Currie Equine Clinic dedicates the 2015 season to: • Compassion & loyalty • Good horses & good friends
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Winner’s Circle 2014
Winner’s Circle 2014 Van Conover Memorial Cup (6 Goal) WINNER LANTIC BAY/SIPSMITH: Tom Earl, Ricardo Silvestre, Mark Prinsloo, Marcos Villaneuva
RUNNER UP GHURKA: Fox Benton, Chris Williams, Drew Luplow, Chris Nevins
Spring Cup (2 Goal) WINNER DECK MY ROOM: Fay Lewis, Kendall Plank, George Krabbe, Cody Woodfin
RUNNER UP SHAMROCK CCG FARMS: Sarah Prinsloo, Mark Prinsloo, Colleen Williams, Stephanie Sneyd
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Winner’s Circle 2014 USPA Southwestern Regional Classic (12 Goal) WINNER FAIRPLAY: Tano Vial, Remy Muller, Cote Zeggers, Esther Kane
RUNNER UP ROCKIN P/LOCKTON: Carl Price, Carlucho Arellano, Marcos Villanueva, Hernan Tejera
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Winner’s Circle 2014 USPA Keleen & Carlton Beal Cup (12 Goal) WINNER EUREKA: Jeff Hall, Jorge Cernadas, Rene Campos, Agustin Arellano
RUNNER UP WHITEHALL RANCH: Miguel Torres, Bill Lane, Marcos Alberdi, Luis Escobar
Joe Barry Memorial Cup (12 Goal) WINNER BTA: KC Krueger, Steve Krueger, Ulysses Escapite, Joe Wayne Barry
RUNNER UP FAIRPLAY: Tano Vial, Cote Zeggers, Remy Muller, Esther Kane
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Winner’s Circle 2014 USPA Master’s Cup (4 Goal) WINNER BAD LUCK & TROUBLE/ DUNBAR CAPITOL: Bryan Middleton, Peter Blake, John Tasdemir, Nick Dunbar
RUNNER UP LATINO POLO: Jared Sheldon, Felipe Bayon, George Krabbe, Sarah Prinsloo
USPA Western Challenge Cup (12 Goal) WINNER BTA: Kelly Beal, Steve Krueger, Ulysses Escapite, Joe Wayne Barry
RUNNER UP FAIRPLAY: Esther Kane, Remy Muller, Carlucho Arellano,Tano Vial
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Winner’s Circle 2014 USPA National Cup (8 Goal) WINNER BTA: Shane Rice, KC Krueger, Brianna Galindo, Steve Krueger
RUNNER UP ROCKIN P: Juan Martin Obregon, Marcos Villanueva, Carl Price, Courtney Price, Grayson Price
Autumn Classic (4 Goal) WINNER ARROYO ESCONDIDO: Robert Orthwein, Cristi Payan, Taylor Freeman, Reid Cox
RUNNER UP SHANGHAI: Steve Armour, Casey Woodfin, Tiamo Hudspeth, Cody Woodfin
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Polo and The Palm. The Perfect Match.
Comfortably casual elegance. Premiere service. A menu worthy of any post-match appetite. Perfectly crafted cocktails to toast a win, strategize the next match, or simply relax. Join us at the recently renovated Palm Restaurant Houston — what better way to keep the spirit of the game going?
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Winner’s Circle 2014 Texas Open (12 Goal) WINNER EUREKA: Agustin Arellano, Jorge Cernadas, Jeff Hall, Rene Campos
RUNNER UP WHITEHALL RANCH: Bill Lane, Marquitos Alberdi, Miguel Torres, Martin Ravina
Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Senior’s Cup (5 Goal) WINNER LOS VIEJOS: Jeff Hildebrand, George Georgiades, Miguel Silvestre, David Andras
RUNNER UP SAN ANTONIO VIEJO: Steven Armour, Wayne Kvalsvig, John Alexander, Joe Fitzsimmons
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Winner’s Circle 2014 USPA U.S. Open Women’s Championship® (6 Goal) WINNER NORTHERN TRUST: Maureen Brennan, Julia Smith, Sarah Wiseman, Claire Broughham
RUNNER UP BTA: Brianna Galindo, KC Krueger, Sheila Lequerica, Lia Salvo
USPA U.S.Women’s Handicap (2 Goal) WINNER PEGASUS: Sheila Lequerica, Lia Salvo, Rel Mazur, Anne Andras
RUNNER UP LAZY 3: Louisa Fikes, Molly Musselman, Caroline Stimmel, Isabella Wolf
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Winner’s Circle 2014 USPA Player’s Cup (4 Goal) WINNER LANTIC BAY/CASCARES: Tom Earl, Peter Blake, Bryan Middleton/Jared Sheldon, Andrew Lyos
RUNNER UP HORSEGATE: Sloan Stefanakis, Ariel Mancebo, Daniel Fernandez, Mustapha Fasinro
USPA Regional President’s Cup (8 Goal) WINNER BTA: Chrys Beal, KC Krueger, Steve Krueger, Shane Rice
RUNNER UP TEAM TEJAS: Charles Fridge, Chad Bowman, Billy Mudra, Joe Wayne Barry
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A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A PRO:
G
JOE WAYNE BARRY rowing up in a polo family, Joe Wayne Barry is used to life on the road. While his family had a
home base at their ranch in San Antonio, Joe grew up traveling between California,Texas and sometimes Florida, following the career of his polo pro father. Joe started playing polo at the age of 10 and played his first game as a pro at the age of 15.The life of a polo pro involves a lot of hustle to find sponsors for each season, constant vigilance growing and maintaining your string of ponies, and a good storage locker to keep your non-polo life safe as you spend your days either on the field or on the road. It is a life that Joe wouldn’t trade for anything.
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How did you get started as a young pro? My first pro experience was as an alternate for Glen Holden on the U.S. Open Team when I was 15. Memo [Gracida] was the captain. Because I was the alternate, I got to work with the team a lot, and Memo asked me to come to Florida and play with him. I spent my first three years as a pro in Florida with Memo. I had 13 horses, and I would play them and groom them myself. All of our practice games were 30+ goals. It was a lot of work, but it was awesome. When I was learning the game, I would look for players that were built like me, and if I admired something about their game, I would ask them about it. I wouldn’t ask them a whole bunch of questions; I would just ask them about that one shot. Then I would try the technique out and see what worked. I think my style is a mixture of 10 players—I just took a different piece from each of them. As a young pro, how did you go about getting work? When I started, there wasn’t much in place to help a young player. I just looked around, saw who was playing, and then I would figure out who they were going to use for the next year. If I didn’t know the manager, I would just call them up and introduce myself. I would say: “I know you guys are looking for a two-goaler next season, and I just wanted to let you know I am looking. I have this many good horses, and I would be really interested in playing, so keep me in mind.” I would just call everybody I knew that had a slot.
Now, there is a great system for young players.You can get some help through USPA to at least get you in the door, to see if you have some talent. Before, I couldn’t even get horses together or pay the entry fee.The only mentoring I got was when I went up and bothered pros. And I was lucky: because my dad was a wellrespected polo pro, a lot of people would take time when I asked them, but they were intimidating! When you’re starting out, you always have to be around. You have to be where everybody sees you all the time. The more charismatic you are, the better. The more you’re willing to go up and talk to people, the more they are willing to hire you. Everybody will talk to you, but you have to go ask. What is the most challenging aspect of being a pro? The hardest thing now is just keeping a steady sponsor. Usually, when you get to my age, you have built up some nice horses. But when you’re carrying so many horses, you need to keep a steady job. I have been really fortunate. I have had incredible luck with sponsors—long-term, really nice, good people. I have been with my sponsor for 11 years, and I play winter and summer with him. So I only have 4 or 5 months a year where I freelance.
Now that you have some experience under your belt and a steady sponsor, do you have typical year? It’s pretty typical right now. I get to Sarasota, Florida in midDecember, and I stay there and play until the first week in April. I usually come back to the Houston Polo Club for April, May and half of June. In July and August, I play at Flying H in Wyoming with my sponsor. I usually come back to Houston and play September and October, and then I take November off. This season, I am probably going to stay in Florida until May and then go to Sheridan,WY. And then I think I might go to Minneapolis and Chattanooga. My Florida sponsor wants to play a charity game out in Chattanooga, so this year I am going to go and do that with him. It changes every year. I used to go to New York in the summer. I’ve been everywhere: Palm Beach, Texas, Aspen, Santa Barbara. Is it difficult traveling as much as you do as a polo pro? No! Being on the road is awesome. I get cabin fever if I’m somewhere longer than a few months. I need to get out. I’m almost like a carnie, on the road all the time. You just think differently when you’re on the road. I always drive my own
Thank You to All of the Great Southwest Equestrian Center 2015 Texas Winter Series Exhibitors
Congratulations to Trapp O’Neal and Capitano Grand Prix Winners of Week 1 Texas Winter Series
horses. I drive a big rig and I have my car shipped to where I am going. Two weeks before I go, I just order everything up and then I ship everything out and pick up at the next place. I have a storage unit where I put all my stuff. I don’t know anything else but that—that’s how I grew up. We would arrive somewhere and my parents would just let me loose at the polo club. I think if you’re used to it, and born into it, it doesn’t affect you at all. Being a polo pro, I get to go to a job every day that most people would only dream of doing. It’s just amazing: the travel, never being in an office. I am very proud that I have never stepped inside an office in my entire life. What advice would you give to an up-and-coming player who would like to become a pro? Any time you have a chance, buy a horse or improve your string. That’s the biggest battle.Try to improve your string and just ask as many questions as possible. Ask everybody anything. Everybody I asked helped me get to where I am in my polo career. People will help you—you just have to ask them.
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Houston Polo Club Pros
Name Kerstie Allen Carlucho Arellano Stewart Armstrong Agustin Arrayago Joe Wayne Barry Brad Blake Jeff Blake Peter Blake Marcos Bignoli Chad Bowman Hamish Bray Tiffany Busch Jorge Cernadas Nick Cifuni David Crea Jason Crowder Jose Donoso Sugar Erskine Daniel Fernandez Taylor Freeman Carlitos Galindo Carlos Galindo Hector Galindo Nicolai Galindo Jeff Hall JW Hall
Rating 1 5 3 2 4 4 6 2 4 2 3 2 4 3 1 6 6 6 3 1.5 3 4 5 4 7 3
Hometown Brookshire, Texas Wellington, Florida San Antonio, Texas Pierce, Texas Brookshire, Texas Wellington, Florida Wellington, Florida Burleson, Texas Wellington, Florida La Grange, Kentucky St. Louis, Missouri Wellington, Florida Dallas, Texas Denver, Colorado Houston, Texas Santa Barbara, California Middleburg,Virginia Wellington, Florida Houston, Texas Aiken, South Carolina Thermal, California Thermal, California Wellington, Florida Thermal, California Sealy, Texas Sealy, Texas
Name Tiamo Hudspeth Steve Krueger Wayne Kvalsvig C. J. Lequerica Sheila Lequerica Drew Luplow Bryan Middleton Billy Mudra Remy Muller Martin Munoz Christopher Nevins Robert Orthwein Neil Osburg Kristy Outhier Mark Prinsloo Charly Quincoces Shane Rice Jimmy Seward Jared Sheldon Hernan Tejera Neels Ulys Jorge Vargas Felipe Vercellino Marcos Villanueva Cody Woodfin Mason Wroe
Rating 1 3 2 1.5 1 1.5 3 3 2 2 4 3 1.5 2 3 4 4 3 3 3 1 1 3 4 2 4
Hometown Wharton, Texas Argyle, Texas Brookshire, Texas Sealy, Texas Sealy, Texas Banner, Wyoming Waller, Texas Bellville, Texas Lockeford, California Brookshire, Texas Cat Spring, Texas St. Louis, Missouri Clearwater Beach, Florida Utopia, Texas Brookshire, Texas Wichita, Kansas Bellville, Texas Brookshire, Texas Poway, California Fulshear, Texas Sealy, Texas Fulshear, Texas Middleburg,Virginia Fulshear, Texas Wharton, Texas Columbus, Texas
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Meet the Players
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John Alexander, 1
Anne Andras, B.5
David Andras, 1
Jeff Anon, A
Pierce Anon, B.5
Laurance Armour, A
Steven S. Armour, A.5
Brooks Armour-Diesel, A
Felipe Bayon, B.5
Chrys Beal, A
Kelly Beal, 1
Fox Benton, A
Rebecca Bollenbach, B.5
Will Brown, B
Andrea Brucculeri, B
Grace Burgert, B
Rene Campos, A.5
Crystal Cassidy, A
Joe Chandler, B.5
Tiffany Clifton, A
HOUSTON POLO CLUB
Meet the Players
Peter Cooper, B
Tommy Dorsey, A
Martha Davis, B
Nick Dunbar, B.5
Tom Earl, A
Cynthia Ernyey, B
Mustafa Fasinro, 1
Asa Fitzsimons, A
Joe Fitzsimons, 1
Charles Fridge, A
Carol Farnsworth, B
Cathy Freitz, A
Fred Gallucci, B
George Georgiades, 1
Vicky Greene, A
Wil Harris, A
Maria Hartley, B
Mike Heitmann, B
Jeff Hildebrand, A.5
Paul Hobby, 1
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Clare Jackson, B
Joanie Jackson, B
Josie Jones, B
Saeed Kahkeshani, B
Philipp Kampshoff, 1
Sylvia Kampshoff, A.5
Esther Kane, B
Tim Kelly, A
Cara Kennedy, B
K.C. Krueger, 1.5
Bill Lane, A
Liz Lary, B.5
Lauren Levicki Courville, B
Philip Limon, B
Andrew Lyos, A
Liz Magyar, NR
Shuman Majumder, B
Colleen Marks, B.5
David Marks, A.5
Wick McKean, A
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Meet the Players
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Mary Austin Moody, B
Anson Moore, B.5
Cristi Payan, A
Kendall Plank, A
Kelly Plato, A
Carl Price, A.5
Courtney Price, B
Grayson Price, B.5
Sarah Prinsloo, A
Kristy Outhier, 2
Lauren Rae, B
Megan Rahlfs, B
Marty Salinas, NR
Jenny Sharrock, B.5
Debbie Shelton, B
Wesley Sinor, 1
Raymond Stainback, A
Nick Stefanakis, B
Sloan Stefanakis, A.5
John Tasdemir, A
HOUSTON POLO CLUB
Meet the Players
Chris Williams, A.5
Colleen Williams, B.5
Jeff Wood, A
Scott Wood, A.5
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The Houston Intercontinental Chamber of Commerce (HICC) is one of the most unique chambers in Texas! HICC has been the organization that motivates, organizes and directs the efforts in our business community for 30 years. HICC members range from small entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies, which consist of thousands of employees. Our membership also includes several foreign consulates and members from numerous countries such as Mexico, China, Malta, Canada, Japan, and England, just to list a few. What makes us unique . . . The following ON-SITE services: Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council Business Incubator Offices Executive Suites for Office Rental Texas Workforce Commission Office Training & Conference Rooms US Department of Commerce Office Malta Commercial Office SBA – Small Business Development ProMexico Commercial Office Marketing Call Center Multi-location Video Conference Room Passport & Travel Visa Processing Certificates of Origin & Notary Service SBA – Small Business Development Center Office
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On the Field
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Horses have done so much for you. Now they’re asking for your help.
Habitat for Horses is a non-profit 501.c.3 equine rescue, rehabilitation, adoption, retirement and therapy center. Since 1998, over 5,000 equine have passed through our gates, each seeking rehabilitation, retraining and adoption to a better life. Through their magic, we now offer equine psychotherapy programs to kids and adults. Healing horses and people together.
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Ready for another great season at the Houston Polo Club.
NO LE HACE POLO TEAM
Molly and George Georgiades
Houston Polo Club
ank you to our students and parents for helping make our English Riding
Program such a success. We look forward to helping you accomplish all of your riding goals. Good Luck to our 2015 Show Team! Merrily & Amy
832-567-3202 Ridinglessons@thehoustonpoloclub.com
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