Houston Polo
book of the season 2010
Luxury Redefined
TEXAS HILL COUNTRY
Paula Jo Pierce Hello Houston Polo Club! I am an equestrian enthusiast and excited about becoming a sponsor in the 2010 season. I look forward to getting to know you and also earning your trust in assisting you with your real estate needs. I specialize in luxury real estate throughout Texas where waterfront, ranch or unique property is your desire. Unique Estates require specialized talent in locating and negotiating for my clients and in the marketing plan required to sell these magnificent properties. Allow me to visit with you, to learn about your real estate needs and earn your trust in a partnership in obtaining your desired property or in selling your existing fine home or estate. Happy Riding in your 2010 Season! Contact me at 512-484-1461 or Paula@TurnquistPartners.com
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Contents table of
Board of Directors
7
Staff 2010
8
Tournament Schedule 2010
11
Glory Days
13
Polo Basics
18
Polo Gear
22
Scene at Polo
25
Meet the Players
32
Houston’s Pros
39
If the Shoe Fits
40
Ponies to Remember
44
Wide Open Spaces
46
After Polo
50
www. thehoustonpoloclub.com
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The Sands Treat your ponies to
Publisher and Marketing Director Megan Kozminski megan@poisepublications.com
Editorial Director
Located in western Waller County, The Sands lies adjacent to the Lower Brazos River. The fertile river bottom soil grows lush winter rye grass and coastal hay. Our pastures are a dream come true for polo ponies. Pasture turnout is available year round. Worming, vaccination, supplemental feeding, protein, and individual pastures available upon request. For more information, or a tour of the grounds contact us at: 979.826.2288 • www.thesandsfarm.com
Lisa Muirhead lisa@poisepublications.com
Graphic Design Aubrey Amante
Contributors
Annika Belmar, Rebecca Bollenbach, Penny Dillingham
Photography
Rebecca Bollenbach, David Sanders
Sales and Development
TheSands.indd 1
Annika Belmar
3/14/10 9:27 PM
Cover image
David Sanders, AllProSportsPix.com Published for the Houston Polo Club by Poise Publications Inc. www.poisepublications.com
Printed in Canada by Friesens ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS STATEMENT Poise Publications saved the following resources by printing the pages of this book on chlorine free paper made with 10% post-consumer waste.
polo fit? NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS FOR OPTIMUM ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
CJ & SHEILA LEQUERICA
832-347-0753
BRYAN & CARIN MIDDLETON
858-761-3117
WWW.POLOFIT.COM
GREENHOUSE GASES
TREES
WATER
SOLID WASTE
2
867
53
180
FULLY GROWN
GALLONS
POUNDS
POUNDS
Calculations based on research by Environmental Defense and the Paper Task Force. Manufactured at Friesens Corporation
The Houston Polo Club Book of the Season is published by the Houston Polo Club, 8552 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024 ©2010. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means whatsoever without written permission of the Houston Polo Club. To advertise or submit articles for consideration in the 2011 Book of the Season, contact the Houston Polo Club at 713.681.8571 or visit www.thehoustonpoloclub.com
Steven Armour
Wesley Sinor
Kristy Outhier
Colleen Marks
Paul Hobby
Jeff Hildebrand
John Goodman
Tommy Dorsey
Rebecca Bollenbach George Georgiades
from the
Board of Directors
he Board of Directors welcomes you to the Houston Polo Club 2010 season! As Houston’s oldest sports franchise, we are celebrating our 82nd year as host to the Sport of Kings in Houston. This promises to be a memorable year as we re-focus on positioning the Houston Polo Club as one of the premier polo facilities in the country. From Polo School to 12-Goal polo and up, we are committed to making the Houston Polo Club better than ever. Our improvements for 2010 include restructuring our staff to make the best use of club funds in today’s challenging financial environment, as well as enhancing our polo tournament structure at every level. HPC is excited to welcome Pam Mudra as our new polo manager. With over 15 years of management experience in the polo community, Pam comes to HPC from the Las Colinas Polo Club in Dallas. She is responsible for overseeing multiple aspects of HPC’s operations, including polo organization and scheduling, and working with the rest of the HPC staff in all areas of our operations. We are also excited to welcome Annika Belmar as our new development director. Annika will develop social member events, oversee programming for Sunday Polo, and manage marketing and corporate sponsor relationships. We are thrilled to be hosting several new polo enthusiasts in our Polo School this spring, and encourage every polo fan who has ever considered picking up a mallet to learn the sport at the Houston Polo Club. Instructors Mark Prinsloo, Barlee Flanders, and Eliza Bishop welcome all ages and levels of riding and sporting experience. We offer private and group lessons as well as lease horses to those who are interested in making the transition from polo fan to polo player. The Board of Directors and staff are committed to making 2010 our best year ever. We welcome your feedback, and we look forward to seeing every one of you at the polo field each Sunday!
Steven Armour
Stan Stratton
Steven Armour, President
www. thehoustonpoloclub.com
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Staff
HPC Annika Belmar Director of Development
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Annika has been involved in marketing and sales functions for several years. She continues to work with the Aliana Polo Club and is excited to begin working with the Houston Polo Club as well.
ELIZA L. BISHOP Facilities & Boarding
A native of Beaumont, Eliza mastered riding hunter/jumpers prior to turning her focus to polo. From 1986 to 1996, she managed Memorial Park Hunters. She loves the look of the club’s grounds and stables and getting her hands dirty. She assists the grooms and is a beginner equestrian instructor at the club.
BOB BOUDREAUX Announcer
Bob has returned to the mike to bring fans the minute-byminute plays, after being the voice of Houston polo from 1967 to 1991. A decorated Vietnam War veteran, Bob served Houston’s broadcast industry as an award-winning anchor and reporter for 20 years. He now enjoys acting and directing theatrical productions.
PENNY DILLINGHAM Polo Assistant
Penny, a native Houstonian raised in Midland, came to the Houston Polo Club in 1985 and served as assistant manager alongside Pro/Manager Charlie Flanders. She credits Flanders with teaching her all about the sport of polo and the wonderful ponies it requires. She has made many dear friends throughout her years at the club.
BARLEE FLANDERS Riding & Polo School
Map HPC
Houston Polo Club Campus 8552 Memorial Drive (Just inside West Loop 610) Houston, Texas 77024 • 713.681.8571
A lifelong equestrian lover, Barlee serves as the club’s trainer and instructor. The Illinois native is a disciplined athlete who has taught polo to many club members over the years. While horses and nature may have prominent places in her heart, she still claims her greatest heartthrobs are her children Paige and Will.
8 | houston polo club 2010 book of the season
2010
ESTEBAN GONZALEZ Grounds Supervisor
For nearly two decades Esteban has served as the club’s groundskeeper and muscleman. He and his crew maintain the fields and complete the setups for parties and special events. In his spare time, he does carpentry, paints, and cleans. During Sunday matches, he works the scoreboard. His work is admired by many.
pam mudra Polo Manager
Growing up outside of Chicago, horses have always been a part of Pam’s life. She switched from the hunter/jumper discipline to polo when she fell in love with the sport in Wellington, FL. Her first polo manager job was in 1997, assisting Memo Gracida with his La Herradura tournaments. Pam Mudra has been a polo club manager for over 13 years and has managed the Las Colinas Polo Club in Dallas, Texas for ten. Pam and husband Billy Mudra, a 4-goal professional polo player, have two children, Grace and Will.
MARK PRINSLOO Polo School
Mark is the club’s resident pro and polo school instructor. A native of South Africa, this 3-goal player is celebrating his fifth year in Houston. He loves the people and being able to introduce new players to the sport in the middle of one of the nation’s largest cities.
PAULIN RODRIGUEZ Groom
Paulin has worked at the Houston Polo Club since 1977. Seven days a week, he is dedicated to completing the necessary duties, both inside and outside the stalls and tack room, and preparing the ponies for the players. A proud American, he and his wife Rosie are the parents of two children, Paulin, Jr. and Mary Lu.
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the houston polo club
2010
Schedule
Spring
fall
APR
SEP
USPA Governor’s Cup
4
Lone Star Cup
12
USPA Governor’s Cup Finals & The Van Conover Memorial Trophy
11
Fall Classic
19
Spring Classic Cup
18
Corporate Cup
26
Director’s Cup
25 MAY
OCT Harvest Invitational
3
Houston Cup
2
Bayou City Invitational
10
Mother’s Day: Hats on to Polo
9
Cowboy Cup
17
Cardiac Cup
16
Texas Open
24
Summer Sizzler
23
Texas Open Final
31
Joe Barry Memorial Cup
30 JUN
Aggie Cup Dodge Ram Truck Tailgate Polo
6 13
NOV Founder’s Cup 16th Annual Ladies Polo Invitational
7 14
Schedule is subject to change. Please check the HPC website for updated information.
www. thehoustonpoloclub.com
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Glory Days
The USPA Silver Cup made its home at the HPC from 1998 to 2006.
tanding at the intersection of Westheimer and Post Oak, its difficult to imagine that, if you were on that very spot on a Sunday afternoon in 1925, you would be breathing in the fresh country air, watching a polo match. Located where the Container Store and Oshman’s Sporting Goods stand today, surrounded by the peaceful rugged Texas countryside, were the polo field, clubhouse, stables, and grandstand of the Houston Riding and Polo Club (HR&PC). It was there that the seeds of Houston’s current polo community took root.
The early days Will Cochran and George “Tiny” Dow started the Houston Polo Club on a modest acreage near the intersection of Shepherd and Richmond. When their weekend pick-up games grew to more than just a few friends and horsemen showing up with a pony or two, Cochran and Dow went in search of a larger location farther out of town. Following a heavy rain, the gentlemen would saddle up their horses and ride around the area west of town, looking for a piece of property that was at least 300 yards long and 150 yards wide, with no standing water. It was not an easy task. They finally settled on a plot known as Green Pastures at Westheimer Road and Post Oak Lane.
The owners of this tract were the Voss brothers (for whom Voss Road is named). They had little reason to sell, so were able to drive a hard bargain. Dow’s final offer was $555 per acre, a price he considered egregious. The Voss brothers accepted it, but Dow would complain loudly until the day he died about how the Voss brothers had robbed him. In 1925, the new facility opened for play. Dow and Cochran were far from certain that the project would succeed, so they took three steps to back up their bet. First, they added the name “Riding” to the new club’s title, in hopes of attracting female members who would stable their horses and use the area’s riding trails. Second, they put front and rear doors on the stalls so they could use the barns for dairy cattle if the venture failed as an equine club. Finally, they invited a list of Houston’s “Who’s Who” to join. A number of old Houstonians became founders, including members of the Clayton, Pearson, Hogg, Peden, Pillot, Neuhaus, Sewell, Farish, and Dyer families. One of the most interesting founding members was Miss Minette Thompson, who became Houston’s greatest female polo player of that era. Fortunately, Dow and Cochrane never had to use those cattle doors; polo was on the eve of capturing the American imagination.
www. thehoustonpoloclub.com
| 13
The Houston Polo Club – 1930 (l to r) C. Coyle, Jay Floyd, Tiny Dow, C. Wilkerson, R. Randolph, George Brown, Unknown, Unknown, Harry Cullen, W.S. Farish, C.W. Manford, Captain George, Nick Crow, Slate, Will Coehran, Dick Small, Duke Colter, Bob Farish, Steve Farish.
Coming to America The Golden Age of polo in America started in the Raging Twenties—but the sport of kings itself began more than 2,000 years ago, as a preparation for battle. Originating in central Asia, the word polo is derived from the Tibetan pulu, meaning ball. Polo is the oldest extant team sport in the world. In its earliest and most rudimentary form, mounted warriors practiced war strategies while batting the head of an enemy around the field. By the end of the Middle Ages, polo in various forms was played from Egypt to Japan and everywhere in between. However, the game as we know it today has its roots in India. In the 1850s, the British cavalry, while seeking entertainment while posted in the Raj, adopted the sport of polo and drew up most of the modern rules. When the British military returned to England, polo made its way to England, and from there, to the Americas. Polo arrived in the United States in 1876, when James Gordon Bennett, the father of American polo, caught the bug in England. He knew that Americans would fall in love with the speed and danger of the game. He staged the first match at the Jerome Park Racetrack in Westchester County, New York (which later became the home field of the New York Giants).
14 | houston polo club 2010 book of the season
Early American polo was not a sport of the elite as many perceive it today; rather, it was the domain of ranchers, cowboys, rodeo riders, and cavalry officers. Houston’s greatest polo player for most of the Golden Age, Cecil Smith, was a country boy of modest means who came to town in the mid-1920s with his friend, Rube Williams, seeking employment as a groom at the Houston Riding and Polo Club. Although Williams developed into an excellent polo player, it was Smith who became the true legend, winning five US Open Polo Championships between 1937 and 1960. Smith held his 10-goal rating, the highest handicap a player can carry, for 25 consecutive years (1934–1959), earning him a place in the Sports Hall of Fame. Another cowboy who played at HR&PC when he passed through town was humorist Will Rogers. Never at a loss for words, after winning a high-goal stakes match over a group of wealthy gentlemen, Rogers said, “The hillbillies beat the dudes and took the polo championship right out of the drawing room and into the bunkhouse.” Houston polo flourished in the 1920s, and in 1930, brothers Bob, Steve, and Bill Farish, decided to open their own polo facility and name it Huisache, after the family farm. Team Huisache developed into a powerhouse and won five league titles. In 1938, the Farish brothers moved their
(l to r) J.M. Chittin, Charlie Armstrong, “Horse” Jonsie, Jack Tapen.
Members of the HR & PC raise a championship toast (c. 1930).
A rebirth club to its present location east of the newly incorporated Bayou Club. Renowned Houston architect John Staub designed the prestigious Bayou Club’s beautiful Louisiana plantation-style clubhouse, as well as the stables that stand yet today between the two polo fields. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the resultant Great Depression hit the Houston Riding and Polo Club hard. Members were forced to sell the facility at Westheimer and Post Oak, although the new owners allowed members to continue playing there for some time. Eventually, the Bayou Club allowed HR&PC members to play at the Huisache fields. Despite the difficult times, the Houston teams continued to do well in national contests. In 1933, in East vs. West, one of the most famous matches in polo history, Cecil Smith and Rube Williams led the West team to a 12–6 victory over the East. Houston teams also won the National Inter-Circuit and 12-Goal Championship Cup for five consecutive years. However, World War II sounded the death knell for polo in Houston. Huisache closed its facility and polo faded into obscurity for a number of years.
Polo returned to Houston in the 1960s. The economy had stabilized, and was, in fact, flourishing. Polo caught its wind again thanks in part to a spectacular Texas Children’s Hospital fundraiser at Houston’s “Eighth Wonder of the World,” the Astrodome. Mary Jo Bell of TCH, a polo enthusiast, proposed a fundraiser in the Astrodome with polo as the main entertainment. Luckily, the lack of any structured polo club didn’t mean that there weren’t still some players kicking around. William S. Farish III, the scion of a family who had been actively involved in polo since the 1930s, gave the project his enthusiastic support. In 1965, during a gala polo charity event for TCH, over 32,000 screaming fans packed the Dome to watch the Texas polo team defeat Mexico 17–10. This event marked the new dawn of polo in Houston, but just as importantly, sparked an ongoing relationship between the newlyrevived Houston Polo Club and a large group of children’s charities, which has raised millions of dollars through polo events over the last 40 years. Today, the Houston Polo Club is flourishing on its beautifully landscaped and wooded 26-acre location just west of Memorial Park. It is the oldest polo club in Texas, celebrating its 82nd year in 2010.
www. thehoustonpoloclub.com
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Salute to our
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p r e s e n t i n g
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Polo. The sport that’s good for business. For more information on how to make polo work for your business, contact Annika Belmar at the Houston Polo Club, 8552 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas, 77024. Call (713) 681-8571, or email events@thehoustonpoloclub.com K/O Logo w/ subhead
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Polo Basics the game or the newcomer to Houston polo, understand from the get-go that being PC is a golden rule: polotically correct. Speaking the language of this 2000-year-old game will bring instant camaraderie with the seasoned fans, while shouting things like “Ride ‘em, cowboy,” and “batter, batter, batter” may indicate you’re an outsider and defamer of the religious love of the sport. Either one could slow service from the bar. Actually, talking “polotics” is a lot like talking religion. It comes more easily once you know the key players, figure out the rituals, and understand that it all comes down to how everyone wants to score high in the end. The spectator in polo is watching two teams of four players each try to outscore the other. A team scores by hitting the white ball between goal posts at one end of the field. A man waving a flag over his head indicates the goal is good, kind of like St. Peter giving the thumbs up. After each goal, the teams switch ends. Polo matches are divided into seven-minute periods of play called chukkers. Between each chukker, the players switch horses. While a horse may be played for up to two chukkers in a match, for its own protection, it may not be played in consecutive chukkers. Matches usually have six chukkers, with the possibility of an extra tie-breaker; thus a player must have a minimum of six horses.
The ratings Teams are made up according to players’ ratings or handicaps (skill levels, called goals, run from -2 to 10). Teams are equally matched by taking four players and adding up their goal levels, to balance sums for both teams. Each player is thus assigned to a team not by being who he or she is, but by personal rating. Congress, unfortunately, does not work this way. Should that sum not be equal—say the rating sum for one team is 18 and the other is 17—the team with the
18 | houston polo club 2010 book of the season
lower rating begins the match with one or more points on the scoreboard, as decided by the difference in the two teams’ ratings. There is a “C” (or -2) on the player ratings scale, but nobody talks about it much. A “B” (-1) rating is awarded to beginners and those with a recreational interest in polo. Breakneck, bun-busting polo is not a big priority among “B” players. Should a “B” player have aspirations—aspirations spelled with an “A”—training and practice will lead to advancement. Once advanced, an “A” (0-rated) player may opt to rest on his or her laurels or try for curtain number 1. Behind curtain number 1 is a 1-goal rating. Perfectly acceptable to swagger and brag a bit after receiving news of the promotion. Now, however, the 2-goal rating hangs like the sword of Damocles over the head of a player with ambition. You must ride like the wind, think like a champ, try not to foul, score goals, and play at least three times a week. Once rated 2 goals, you may ask friends to pour champagne over your head. Aspirants for the 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7-goal ratings should probably quit their jobs. It will now be necessary to play seven days a week and three times on Sunday. Only a few dream of the 8, 9 and 10-goal ratings—but the dream holds an almost certain invitation to play with the Sultan of Brunei. Eight, 9 and 10 goal-rated players can usually hop a ride with a patron. Thus, the ratings clearly explained, let’s lift our eyes back to the field and give our complete attention to the chukker at hand. The lingo BALL: With polo’s reputation for being a snooty sport, one would think the little round white thing would be called a gala. In truth, it’s not a snooty sport, and the round thing is called a ball. The point of the match is to wallop the ball down the field towards your goal, and between the posts.
Balls are about 3-1/2 inches in diameter and weigh 4-1/2 ounces. They are made of hard wood or plastic. BUMP: This is a defensive maneuver on the field and is one of the few contact moves allowed. A player attempts to ruin an opponent’s run with the ball by bumping his horse against the other player’s. This bump, which can rattle teeth, is regulated by the angle in which the aggressor attempts it. It can never be more than 45 degrees, and the faster the horses are running, the smaller the angle. CHUKKER: Matches are divided into seven-minute periods of play called chukkers. A whistle or horn sounds at the end of each chukker to let the players know that they have 30 seconds to finish the current play. A second horn or whistle then sounds to end the period. In the final chukker, there is no 30-second warning unless the score is tied. If it remains tied after that, the match continues into a seventh sudden death chukker, which is played until a team scores. DIVOT: Between the third and fourth chukkers, there is an old polo tradition of spectators stomping divots. Divots are chunks of grass on the playing field that the horses have torn out. The holes can cause bad bounces and other problems during play. Many people look forward to getting onto the field to stomp. Many other people stay in their boxes and talk about what the people stomping divots are wearing. No divots have been found there yet, but another tradition is to look for them at the bar. FIELD: This is, of course, the thing into which divots are stomped. It is a fairly important part of polo since, without it, horses and players would stand around a lot. A full polo field is 300 yards by 160 yards. The field is surrounded by a short wooden border called “the boards.” A horse and rider may go outside the boards during play, but should the ball do so, it is out of bounds and play stops. Being on the field while play is going on is a good way to become a divot. GOAL: In polo terms, this is a word with multiple meanings. Physically, it is those two poles at each end of the field that the players keep trying to knock the ball through. These are set eight yards apart and will quickly collapse if struck by a horse or rider. When a player hits the ball between the poles, at any height, it is considered a goal. Goal can also refer to a player’s skill at polo. Rated from -2 to 10 goals (also called a handicap), a 10-goal player is the best there is. A player rated -2 is not the worst, however. It says a player has reached a level good enough to be rated. The United States Polo Association assigns these ratings based on a player’s performance over a season. Finally, matches are rated by goals, as well. The ratings of all four players on a team are added up, and the total gives the match rating. Thus a “high goal” match would have teams with many high-rated players.
HOOK: In an attempt to thwart an opposing player’s intention of hitting the ball, a player may put his mallet out to either hook the opponent’s or simply to block the swing. This is legal, as long as the action is on the same side of the opponent’s horse as the ball is. A player should never be called a hooker, however. LINE: Among the spectators, these are tired old phrases that still get results. On the field, a line is an imaginary path, running the full length of the field, in which the player with the ball is running. One of the most common penalties occurs when one player crosses in front of the one with the ball. This is called “crossing the line,” which often invites collisions and spills. MALLET/STICK: Mallets, which are often called sticks, are 49 to 53 inches long, with a handle on one end and a hardwood crosspiece on the other. The shaft of the mallet is usually made of bamboo. It is used as a defensive tool in hindering another player’s shot, a protest signal by sticking it up in the air after a referee’s impossible call, or occasionally for hitting the ball. The ball is hit with the side of the head, not the tip. PONIES: Polo purists still get a little tic on one side of their faces when one calls polo mounts “horses,” even though that’s what they are and have been for several hundred years. Formally, however, one still cheers on the polo ponies. Most are thoroughbreds and are trained extensively to play the sport. There is no height limit, but the average is 15 to 15.3 hands (a pony is 14.2 or below). Speed, stamina, the ability to speed up quickly, to stop and turn are all key traits for polo ponies. Players, even the boastful ones, say the pony is up to 80 per cent of their ability to play well. POSITIONS: On the field, players assume strategic roles, as reflected by the numbers on their jerseys. The player with number 1 on his jersey is a forward offensive player, which is not to say that the player smells bad or uses the wrong fork. He usually plays downfield and is ready to take the ball toward the goal. The number 2 player is also offensive but remains in the melee and attempts to get the ball to number 1. Number 3 is the most powerful player on the team. He is the pivot player between offense and defense. The number 4 player, or the back, is the one who tries hardest to protect the team’s goal from the other team’s number 1. UMPIRES: There are three referees to make everyone behave. The two riding on the field make most of the calls. Should they disagree, they turn to the third person who is sitting on the sidelines. The third man’s decision is all she wrote, and that’s that. A penalty call results in a variety of punishments, from restarting the play to open opportunities to score. This is determined by the severity of the foul.
www. thehoustonpoloclub.com
| 19
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Gear Polo
mallet head Made of hardwood and angled to allow for full swing flush to the ground.
mallet Shafts made of bamboo or plastic composite. Mallet shaft is flexible and can make a complete arc under pony neck or tail when swung hard. Mallets come in different lengths to accommodate height of pony.
HELMET Clipped Mane Eliminates interference of pony’s mane with the player’s rein band.
BREECHES Always white in polo.
polo pony May be a thoroughbred or part thoroughbred, part quarter horse. Selected for their agility, speed, endurance, and intelligence.
Hard surface, lined and strapped, protects player from swinging mallets and balls traveling at a speed of nearly 100 miles per hour. Face guards can be attached.
POLO SADDLE Differs from jumping saddle which has extra pads.
bridle
PLAITED TAIL
Series of leather strapping, metal or copper bit, and supports to give player steering and stopping control.
Causes less obstruction to mallet in execution of back and tail shots.
draw reins To enhance control of pony.
POLO MARTINGALE To stop pony’s head rising.
breastplate To stop saddle from slipping back during the game
kneepads For the player’s protection
riding boots Always colored in brown. Provides additional protection for the player’s lower leg.
bell boot polo bandage Protective wrapping to shield pony’s legs against contact with ball and other ponies.
22 | houston polo club 2010 book of the season
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NO LE HACE P o l o
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Congratulations to the Houston Polo Club on its 82 nd Season Molly and George Georgiades
Scene Polo at
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4 Andrew Lyos in action in the 0-2 league.
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George Georgiades bumps a determined-looking Wesley Sinor in the 8 goal.
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David Andras shows off a great looking pony in the 8 goal.
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Hunter Andras takes anvantage of the wide open spaces at Jeff Hildebrand’s Tonkawa Farms to practice this golf swing.
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Paul Hobby waits on Sergio Silvestre’s shot in the 8-goal league.
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George Georgiades, Stewart Armstrong, and Bryan Middleton all try to lay claim to the ball in the air.
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Vicki Green makes herself useful by holding spare mallets for the No Le Hace team.
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Nick Cifuni stays on top as his horse trips in the 4 goal.
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12 Chris Williams chases down Jeff Anon in the 4-goal league.
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Colleen Williams stays ahead of Danielle Fernandez in a 0-2 league game.
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Tommy Dorsey gets ready to umpire in the 0-2 league — complete with a cigar.
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Ray Stainback on Rebecca, his young mare and personal polo project.
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Colleen Marks gets a little air during a photo shoot for the Club in 100-degree heat.
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Mason Wroe and Nick Cifuni collide in the 8-goal as Bryan Middleton avoids the wreckage.
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Bryan Middleton, David Marks, and Sarah Prinsloo in action at the Pegasus Ranch.
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Lily Lequerica’s spotted friend doesn’t seem to mind his new hat.
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26 | houston polo club 2010 book of the season
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Scene Polo at
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20 Tiffany Clifton comes off the field with a smile during the Ladies event.
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Leslie and Cody Woodfin’s Jack Russell enjoys a nap on a sunny day at polo.
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The Margarita League, led by players Kristi Wolfhart and Cynthia Mason, won the tailgate competition.
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Sugar Esrkine plays through a rainy finals in the November Texas Open.
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Lara Straussfeld gets serious during the Ladies tournament.
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Troy Lequerica, in his signature orange helmet, hopes for a miss by Lawrance Armour in the 4 goal.
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Kristy Outhier and Agustin Arrayago compete for the ball during a match at Steven Armour’s A-F Pony Farm in Wharton.
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Stan Stratton is easy to spot at Sunday polo in his green helmet.
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Winners
Circle
May 10, 2009: 8-Goal Tournament Winner: Tonkawa Farms (l to r) Jeff Hildebrand, Jimmy Seward, Jamie Mirikitani, Paul Hobby Runner up: Magnolia Springs Farm (l to r) John Alexander, Mark Prinsloo, Steve Krueger, Tom Gose
May 24, 2009: Joe Barry Memorial Tournament Winner: Pegasus (l to r) Hunter Andras, Bryan Middleton, Stewart Armstrong, David Andras Runner up: Magnolia Springs Farm (l to r) John Alexander, Mark Prinsloo, Steve Krueger, Tom Gose
May 31, 2009: President’s Cup Winner: Tonkawa Farms (l to r) Jeff Hildebrand, Jimmy Seward, Jamie Mirikitani, Paul Hobby Runner up: Magnolia Springs Farm (l to r) John Alexander, Mark Prinsloo, Steve Krueger, Tom Gose
June 7, 2009: President Cup Finals Winner: Isla Carroll (l to r) C. B. Scherer, Sergio Silvestre, Christopher Nevins, John Goodman Runner up: Tonkawa Farms (l to r) Jeff Hildebrand, Jimmy Seward, Jamie Mirikitani, Paul Hobby
June 13, 2009: 8-Goal Tournament Winner: Magnolia Springs Farm (l to r) John Alexander, Mark Prinsloo, Steve Krueger, Tom Gose Runner up: No Le Hace Farms ( l to r) Nick Cifuni, Bryan Middleton, George Georgiades, Kristy Outhier www. thehoustonpoloclub.com
| 29
June 20, 2009: 8-Goal Finals Winner: Tonkawa (l to r) Jeff Hildebrand, Sheila Lequerica, Jimmy Seward, Jamie Mirikitani
June 21, 2009: Father’s Day Tournament Winner A: Shamrock (l to r) Jenny Sharrock, Colleen Williams, Chris Williams, Agustin Arrayago, Sergio Silvestre
June 21, 2009: Father’s Day Tournament Winner B: Cinco Canyon Ranch (l to r) Sarah Prinsloo, Jorge Vargas, Mark Prinsloo, David Marks Runner up: Sirius Solutions (l to r) Rebecca Bollenbach, Kourosh Kahkeshani, Cody Woodfin, Steve Krueger
June 28, 2009: Tailgate Finals Winner: Shamrock (l to r): Colleen Williams, Chris Williams, Agustin Arrayago, Sergio Silvestre Runner up: Cinco Canyon Ranch (l to r) Colleen Marks, Daren Livingston, Bryan Middleton, Carin Middleton
September 5, 2009: Ladies Arena Tournament Winner: Charlotte’s Saddlery (l to r) Rebecca Bollenbach, Kristy Outhier, Colleen Williams.
30 | houston polo club 2010 book of the season
October 20, 2009: 8-Goal Finals Winner: No Le Hace Farms (l to r) Paul Hobby, George Georgiades, Brad Blake, Kristy Outhier, Lou Waters
October 25, 2009: 8-Goal Tournament Winner: Pegasus (l to r) David Andras, Bryan Middleton, Mark Prinsloo, Wesley Sinor Runner up: No Le Hace Farms (l to r) George Georgiades, Kristy Outhier, Brad Blake, Paul Hobby
November 14, 2009: Ladies Tournament, Invitational League Winner: Casey Pope Properties (l to r) Sabrina King, Paige Flanders, Jared Land, Sheila Lequerica, Allee Messina
November 8, 2009: Texas Open 12-Goal Finals Winner: Isla Caroll (l to r) John Goodman, Joe Wayne Barry, Sugar Erskine, Hunter Andras
November 16, 2009: Ladies Tournament, WCT League Winner: LAW (l to r) Crystal Cassidy, Alina Carta, Christine Moldvaer, Jared Lang, Kristy Outhier, Jenny Vargas
www. thehoustonpoloclub.com
| 31
Players Meet the
Anne Andras
b
1
a
Mimi and Julio Gracida took Hunter on his first ride and he hasn’t looked back. He flew through the ranks of the Polo School and the Margarita League, and went on to play the 8–12 Goal Series with his dad, David. Hunter is currently a student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
Jeff Anon
a
After completing his studies at Ohio State University, this native New Yorker raced to Houston to give tamales a new look and taste. As a player, he is looking forward to celebrating another wonderful year. “Let it be known. This is the year and the place to be for polo.”
32 | houston polo club 2010 book of the season
Laurance is the latest of the Armour clan to join the Houston polo scene. It was only a matter of time, really, considering the avid involvement of his brother, Steven, and sister, Brooks. Laurance has ridden horses all his life and hopes that his participation in ice hockey and tennis will speed his progress and make up for lost time on the polo field. Laurance runs the family ranching operation in Wharton County and has organized several agri-business ventures.
Steven S. Armour
a
Chrys Beal
a
Chrys has been playing polo since 1999 in Midland, TX and Sheridan, WY, and is currently serving as Governor-at-Large of the USPA. She also serves on the board of the Polo Training Foundation. Her favorite polo experiences include playing with her husband Kelly and in women’s tournaments with any or all of their three daughters.
Although he was born in Baton Rouge, David has been a Houstonian most of his life. A graduate of Texas A&M University, he began riding western, but converted to polo about eight years ago. He has played in Mexico with Memo and Carlos Gracida, and his team, Pegasus, won the 2004 USPA Western Challenge. He serves on the Club’s Board of Directors.
Hunter Andras
b
A native of Lake Forest, IL, Steven was introduced to the sport of polo by his sister, Brooks Diesel, another club player, 15 years ago. He sought out Barlee Flanders and learned the game. Rated 0 goals, he will enter his Shanghai team in the 8-Goal Series. Steve has served 14 years on the Club’s Board of Directors, and as President since 2006.
Anne cheered from the stands until 2002 when she decided she wanted to spend more time with her husband, an avid player. A native Houstonian, she grew up on horses, riding hunter/jumper and western style. Although Anne enjoys play in the 4-goal league, she confesses her real love is dressage. Her daughter Cody and son Hunter often watch their parents play.
David Andras
Laurance Armour
Kelly Beal
x
Kelly is a third-generation polo player from Midland, TX. His polo career with the BTA polo team includes playing in Texas, Florida, California, and Wyoming in tournaments ranging from 4 to 26-goal polo. He also serves as a member of the USPA Handicap Committee.
Rebecca Bollenbach
b
A native of Alabama and a Houston resident since 1998, Rebecca began playing polo in 2000 and is a member of the 4-goal league. She is pleased the intermediate players can improve their game in a fun, easygoing atmosphere. She feels the league at this level is strong due to the club’s commitment to balancing the needs of polo players at all levels, as well as the coaching and assistance they receive from the higher-goal players.
b
Tiffany Clifton
A former golf enthusiast, Charles began playing polo two years ago in response to a challenge posed by friend Jeff Anon. After a few lessons from Barlee and entry into the Polo School, Charles traded his golf clubs for polo mallets. Charles and his beautiful wife Danielle have three sons, all under the age of seven.
Tiffany was born in Plano and raised in the South. She played on Texas A&M’s Intercollegiate Women’s Polo Team for two years. Polo combines two of her great loves: horses and the outdoors.
b
Renee Craig
A native Houstonian, Renee recently returned from Michigan and sought out the HPC in a desperate effort to regain the excitement she felt in the National Show Horse circuit. Having ridden everything from hunter/ jumper to sidesaddle and saddleseat, she discovered a new niche on the polo field. Renee is thankful to her parents for giving her such amazing opportunities to gain the skills necessary to apply to the sport of polo.
Brooks Diesel
a
While living in Europe, Brooks first played polo in England. After attending Princeton University she traveled to Houston to earn a Master’s degree at Rice University and to work on the family’s cattle ranch. She struck up a love for polo 16 years ago when she began taking lessons from Barlee Flanders. Her three children, Elliott, Johanna, and Owen, often watch her play. She also enjoys shooting, traveling, art, and life.
Tommy Dorsey
a
George Georgiades
a
An Aggie through and through, George brings that spirit to the field with aggressive play. A resident of College Station, he makes the trip to the Houston Polo Club 3 or 4 times a week to play polo. For an accomplished player of 25 years, George considers the club one of the best in overall quality of any of the clubs he has played.
Austin Gilbert
b
A native Texan from Angleton, Austin moved to the volunteer state to attend the University of Tennessee. After graduating with his business degree, Austin has spent nine years in Houston working as an employee of Shell. He is a graduate of Barlee Flanders’s Polo School and is currently playing in Mark Prinsloo’s winter league. His interest in polo continues to grow and he looks forward to playing in the Margarita League.
John Goodman
1
This native Houstonian and his team, Isla Carroll, have a collection of trophies from across the world. John’s Isla Carroll team won the 2004 U.S. Open at his fabulous new facility in Wellington, FL, the International Polo Club Palm Beach. He helped bring the Silver Cup to Houston and has supported and played in the Texas Open. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Houston Polo Club as well as the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame.
Tommy Dorsey has returned to polo after a 13-year absence. This former president of the Houston Polo Club (1985–1989) and his wife Sylvia have lived in Houston for 35 years. Tommy enjoys helping Barlee Flanders with the 0–2 goal Margarita League and he also plays in the 4-goal league. He sits on the Board of Directors.
Barlee Flanders
b
Charles Fridge
a
An east coast polo cowgirl, Barlee has taught many of the club’s members how to ride and swing the mallet to win. She has played every coast with the best in America, and you can add Australia and Argentina to the list. Spectators can usually get a glimpse of her riding in with the flags during opening ceremonies. Otherwise, she may be too fast to catch. Her children, Paige and Will, are usually in the stands or on the sidelines.
Thomas Hastey Gose
1
Tom Gose was born into a family tradition of polo that started with his mother’s father, Thomas Watson Hastey. Tom’s father, Steve Gose, founded the Retama Polo Center in San Antonio in 1976. Tom is currently rated 2 goals, having reached a 4-goal handicap. He and Martha, his wife of 29 years, reside on their horse farm near Woodville, TX. They have one married son, Ty, and two daughters, Kate and Clair. www. thehoustonpoloclub.com
| 33
Randall Grace
1
When Randall was about 12, his father began playing cowboy polo in Phoenix. Randall was promptly conscripted as a groom, tacking up and hot-walking horses. In return, he was given the opportunity to ride and stick and ball. As a result, he ended up captain of the Skidmore College polo team in upstate New York. He has played in Houston since 1997 and says it’s the only city in the world where you can leave your downtown office at 5 p.m. and be on a polo field in twenty minutes.
vicky greene
a
Vicki Greene started playing polo in high school. She followed her high school play with four years for the Texas A&M polo team and is an avid Aggie. Since graduating from A&M in 2008, she now works with Merril Lynch in College Station and plays in the 0–2 and 4-goal leagues at HPC, as well as in women’s polo events around the state and elsewhere when she can.
Jeff Hildebrand
a
Josie started playing at the club in 2004. She began with Barlee in the Polo School. Josie owns the River Oaks Book Store, and one of her other passions is traveling. She enjoys the relaxed and fun atmosphere at the club. Look for Josie in the 0-2 league this year.
34 | houston polo club 2010 book of the season
Emily learned to ride 11 years ago when Barlee Fanders instilled in her the love of riding and the sport of polo. Emily has traveled to Argentina, where she spent a summer playing highly completive polo. As a high school senior, Emily played various tournaments with the University of Oklahoma polo team. Emily is one of the club’s youngest polo players and plans to play college polo where she can show off the skills that she has learned in her hometown of Houston, TX.
Ameer Jumanhoy
1
Saeed Kahkeshani
b
Dr. K’s love of polo took root when he took lessons with Barlee in the Polo School. He has continued to dramatically improve through off-season leagues working with Mark Prinsloo. Saeed is also an avid golfer.
1
Polo is—for Paul—the greatest game on earth: a rolling light cavalry engagement in which luck plays a very little part. Paul grew up under the club’s historic oak tree. He served two terms as president. He feels the pure bonus of playing polo is that you get to be around splendid equine athletes, and can buy new legs as you age (which is an increasing problem!). Once President of the Houston Polo Club, Paul now sits on the Board of Directors.
Josie Jones
b
Ameer has played and trained in Argentina, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, and Singapore. He currently plays for the La Sarita polo team in the Malaysian International League in the summer and is on the Singapore national team, where he was voted “Young Player of the Year 2008” as well as “Most Improved Player (Medium Goal) 2009.” Ameer played on the winning team of the 2010 Audemars Piguet International Gold Cup held in Singapore.
After spending countless weekends attending his daughter’s hunter/jumper horse shows with his wife (also a rider), Jeff decided, “If you can’t beat them, join them.” A native Houstonian, he was first introduced to the sport in 2004 through Barlee’s Polo School and Margarita League. Jeff has played in Aspen and feels that no other sport combines the elements of golf and football at 35 mph!
Paul Hobby
Emily Josephs
b
Tim Kelly
a
A native of Montgomery, AL, Tim moved to Texas in 1982. Life before polo included riding western and hunter/jumpers. From the time he began riding at age five, horses fascinated him. Tim has developed Pecan Acres Polo in Simonton and Tim’s Team Lockton/Stanford made it to the finals of the Stanford USPA Silver Cup in 2006.
David King
2
David King is a native Texan who saw his first polo game in 1975 in San Antonio, TX. He started riding at the Houston Polo Club in 1980 and was taught by Charlie and Barlee Flanders and Hector Garcia. His first horse was named Mother Dumper. He has served as HPC President twice—once in the 1980s, and again in the 1990s. With wife Ellen, David is a permanent resident of Crozet, VA, where they founded the Roseland Polo Club.
Liz Lary
b
Liz is a native Houstonian who began playing polo five years ago when she and fellow polo player Danya Bogart signed up for the Club’s Polo School. She has ridden horses all her life, but has found polo to be the most exciting equine sport. She loves the teamwork, the speed, and the incredible horses.
Andrew Lyos
Daniel came to the HPC in 2008, and since his first day in Barlee’s school, has been committed to being a long-term player and member of the Club. His wife Ashley will assist in ensuring the Margarita League will have a cheering section for 2010.
b
Born and raised in Michigan, Andrew made his way to Texas as fast as he could. His passion for polo was born of a combination of respect and love for horses, enjoyment of the collegiality, and the enthusiasm of those involved. He desired to acquire the skills required to play such an elegant sport. He is thankful for the patience and teaching of instructors, Barlee Flanders, Mark Prinsloo, and Daren Livingston. He looks forward improving his abilities and level of play and hopes to instill his passion for polo in his three sons, Alexander, Nicholas, and Sebastian.
Colleen Marks
b
After taking a hint from husband David, Colleen picked up the polo mallet under the guidance of Barlee Flanders and has advanced quite nicely. She is a veteran in the Margarita League and is a proud owner of her first horse trained by Memo Gracida, named Passion. She is playing in the 4-goal league this year.
David Marks
b
The Port Arthur native is a graduate of the University of Texas, Austin, and South Texas College of Law. David developed an interest in polo after taking riding lessons from Barlee Flanders. He and his wife, Colleen, are the proud parents of David Austen and Sarah Elizabeth.
Cynthia Mason
c
Daniel McBroom
b
Mary Austin Moody
As a young girl with a paint pony, Mary rode through Memorial Park from Farish Stables (on San Felipe) to what was then Edgepark Stables (now Houston Polo Club). She came to the Club to take riding lessons from Barlee Flanders, but the next thing she knew she had a mallet in her hand and a horse of her own. Her goal is to stay safe and be able to contribute in the game.
b
Nick Morgan
Nick ended six years of military service in 2006 when he retired from Iraq. After leading America’s finest in combat and living the life of a paratrooper, he needed to find a similar blend of camaraderie and adrenaline. Polo has opened up an exciting new chapter in his adventurous life.
2
Kristy Waters Outhier
In 2000, Kristy became the second woman to make the U.S. Open finals. She began playing the sport in 1995 at Texas A&M University and continued to play all over Canada, Florida, South Carolina, and California. Although polo is her most challenging sport, she and her husband, Mike, who is one of the Top Ten Saddle Bronc riders in America, compete together in PRCA Rodeo events. They are the proud parents of Madison and Ace.
c
Cynthia, a native Hungarian raised in Indonesia, has been riding since the age of 3. She was captain of her high school Equestrian Team in Switzerland, and started playing polo at Texas A&M in 1989. After taking a few years off, she started up again with Barlee Flanders at the Polo School in 2008. In the off-season she enjoys playing in Mark Prinsloo’s winter league. Her interest in the sport is continuously growing. Most recently, she played in the Ladies Tournament and Margarita League.
3
Mark Prinsloo Mark hails from South Africa. He began his career in the United States in Tulsa, OK. Daren Livingston teamed up with Mark first in Tulsa and Norman, OK, then California and finally Houston. Mark is the Club Pro and has been here for seven years. He and Barlee manage our very successful Polo School. Mark is married to the lovely Sarah Prinsloo. www. thehoustonpoloclub.com
| 35
Sarah Prinsloo
a
Sarah received her Master’s degree from the University of Houston, Clear Lake last May and is now working towards her PhD at St. Mary’s in San Antonio. She is a native of San Angelo, TX, and also loves snow skiing, golf, scuba diving, and yoga. Sarah and husband Mark have a great passion for the sport of polo.
Jenny Sharrock
b
Jenny is a native Texan who learned to play polo at Texas A&M and was a member of the 1987 Women’s Team. She enjoys the camaraderie of the game as well as the Club’s commitment to all levels of play. “The Houston Polo Club is one of a kind. There are not too many places where one can build outstanding friendships along with playing an amazing sport.”
Wesley Sinor
Starting polo in 2003, Stan has shown a great knack for the game and is rapidly moving up the ranks as a player. Stan splits his time between the family ranch in Victoria and the HPC. His wife, Hillary virtually grew up under the Red Oak at the club, and the three Stratton boys are certain to follow in Mom and Dad’s footsteps. Stan serves on the Club’s Board of Directors.
Lara Straussfeld
2
jm
Christopher Williams
b
a
A native Houstonian, Chris had never even ridden a horse until he met his wife Colleen. After watching her play, he decided to enroll in the Polo School. Seven years later, Chris enjoys playing polo with his wife and will continue to play to 4–6 goal polo.
Colleen Williams
A native Houstonian, Luisa fell in love with horses shortly after her birth. She began riding hunter/jumper at age 6. In recent years, she found herself warming up her dad’s polo ponies, and that didn’t seem quite fair. She is now a graduate of Barlee and Mark’s HPC Polo School. Her dad, Ray, is proud to watch her play in the Margarita League.
A native Texan, Colleen started playing polo 8 years ago. To her, polo incorporates everything into one sport. She loves the horses, the sports, and the people. It’s the best of all worlds. She also enjoys Arabians and fox hunts.
RaymonD Stainback, M.D. b
Kristi Wolfhart
Ray grew up in the saddle from age 7, but stopped riding as a teen. Polo was simply not on his radar screen until 2005 when his daughter Luisa, began riding with Eliza Bishop. On a lark, he enrolled in Barlee’s spring Polo School and was hooked. He now considers the 0–2 goal Margarita League the ultimate work escape and riding the perfect father-daughter activity. Dr. Stainback is a native of Atlanta. He moved to Houston from the West Coast to practice cardiology.
Kristi is a Michigan native who moved to Houston in 1995. She learned to ride at Culver Girls Academy and expanded her skill at Stephens College. She began taking polo lessons with Barlee Flanders soon after moving to Houston, has played in the Ladies Tournament, and looks forward to the spring season.
36 | houston polo club 2010 book of the season
a
Lara was born in Bochum, Germany, and moved to Houston in 2001. After many years playing club soccer, she and her father attended a Sunday game at the HPC and she immediately fell in love with the sport. She attended Polo School with Barlee and attended Mark Prinsloo’s winter league. Laura now plays in the 0–2 goal league and rides as often as her busy student life allows.
A native Houstonian, Wesley learned to ride and play 16 years ago when he was a member of the Texas A&M Polo Club. After graduating from Texas A&M University and Rice University, he joined the Houston Polo Club. A mechanical engineer rated 2 goals, he breeds horses on his ranch in Simonton and plans to play polo for years to come. Wesley also serves on the Board of Directors for the Club.
Luisa Stainback
Stan Stratton
b
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Pros Houston’s
Bryan Middleton
Wayne Kvalsvig
Mason Wroe
Name
Rating
Home Town
Stewart Armstrong
3
San Antonio, Texas
Agustin Arrayago
2
Buenos Aires,Argentina
Brad Blake
5
Wellington, Florida
Hector Galindo
7
Midland, Texas
Joe Henderson
4
Durban, South Africa
Steve Krueger
3
Argyle, Texas
Wayne Kvalsvig
3
Kokstad, South Africa
Bryan Middleton
3
Waller, Texas
Rodrigo Moran
2
Mar del Plata, Argentina
Chris Nevins
4
Cat Spring, Texas
Kristy Outhier
2
Utopia, Texas
Mark Prinsloo
3
Lothair, South Africa
Jimmy Seward
3
Las Animas, Colorado
Sergio Silvestre
3
Mexico City, Mexico
Joe Wayne Barry
4
Marion, Texas
Cody Woodfin
3
Midland, Texas
Mason Wroe
3
Midland, Texas
Mark Prinsloo and Brad Blake
www. thehoustonpoloclub.com
| 39
Shoe fits if the
ean Wright holds the mare’s left front foot between his knees, feels the hoof wall, and frowns. “See this crumbling here? We’ll need to treat that with some pine tar solution. And that white powdery area? That’s thrush. We need to get some Koppertox on that starting today.” Trimming, fitting, and nailing shoes on ten or more horses is a typical day’s work for Sean, a farrier of 18 years, with experience in shoeing horses for various disciplines, including racing and polo. Polo players rely on experts like Sean to care for what is arguably the most important body part on any horse— the hooves.
The history of the horseshoe As far back as 4,000 BCE, when humans domesticated the horse, they realized the necessity of protecting the horse’s hooves to maximize the animal’s work. Although horses in the wild manage to negotiate a wide variety of terrains, they typically move at a slow pace. In rare cases when they are forced to run for their lives, those hindered by sore feet are easy prey for lingering predators. A thousand years before anyone thought to write about the process, horsemen throughout Asia equipped their horses with booties made from hides and woven from plants. These primitive shoes provided protection for sore hooves and helped guard against future injury. Horseshoe technology advanced after the first century when ancient Romans outfitted their horses with coverings inspired by the sandals strapped to their own feet. These leather and metal “hipposandals” fit over horses’ hooves and fastened with leather straps. However, as the Romans invaded the colder climes up north, the soft, wet ground of Northern Europe softened porous hooves. Horsemen tried various remedies, and by the sixth and seventh centuries, owners began nailing metal shoes onto their horses’ hooves. Since becoming a mainstream practice in Europe around 1000 CE, the art of horseshoeing has continued to evolve and improve. Although it was traditionally a trade that was passed on through direct apprenticeship, modern farriers are frequently graduates of shoeing academies, which teach the most contemporary methods for choosing and fitting the right horseshoe.
40 | houston polo club 2010 book of the season
Most owners rely as heavily on their farrier as they do their vet to identify and treat medical issues in the foot area. Sean explains: “One common issue I see here in the Houston heat is weak hooves from lack of moisture, which can be remedied by applying petroleum-based products like pine tar on a regular basis. Abscesses are another common problem, and when they rupture, the hoof wall can split and cause all sorts of ongoing medical issues. The frog [soft area on the underside of the hoof] can get bruised or even become infected, so we apply various compounds to the frog area to treat or prevent injury.”
The basics
In addition to these pitfalls, horses who have sustained hoof injuries or whose hoof shape is not genetically ideal require what is known as “corrective shoeing.” This process can involve inserting angled pads between the shoe and hoof or re-shaping the hoof over time by trimming it consistently in a certain direction.
The old saying, “If the shoe fits, wear it,” begs the question: what is a good fit if you are a horse? Sean Wright’s mantra reflects the familiar promise of the Hippocratic Oath: first, do no harm. “The goal of horseshoes is to make the horse more comfortable, more sound, and more able to work. If you’re going in the wrong direction on any of those, you’ve got an issue with the shoeing.” Sean asserts that the right or wrong shoe set dramatically affects the way that the horse’s weight is distributed across all four feet. Horseshoes can be used to mitigate problems ranging from navicular disease (a degenerative disease that affects the navicular bone in the foot) to supporting the healing of tendon and leg injuries. “Horses stand 22 hours a day, so it’s critical that the shoes distribute weight appropriately and comfortably across the feet.”
A horse’s shoes must be up for the task at hand. Polo horses are fitted with specific polo shoes that control and reduce the waste of the hoof during play, and increase the horse’s traction and breakover on the field. A typical polo horse will require new or reset shoes every six weeks, at a cost of $80 to $120 per full set (front and back shoes). Not only is proper horseshoe maintenance important for your horse’s health, the right shoe on the right horse is crucial if you’re going to raise that flag on game day.
www. thehoustonpoloclub.com
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42 | houston polo club 2010 book of the season
THE PEGASUS POLO TEAM MAY THE 2010 POLO SEASON BE
good to the last drop!
Best wishes from the Pegasus Clan David, Anne, Cody and Hunter Andras
Pegasus.indd 1
2010 PALM BEACH POLO SEASON AT THE INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB PALM BEACH EVERY SUNDAY | JANUARY 3RD-APRIL 18TH Box Office and Further Information 561.204.5687 or internationalpoloclub.com
International Polo Club Palm Beach 3667 120th Avenue South Wellington , FL 33414 POLO PLAYER BRANDON PHILLIPS & WIFE ERICA
3/14/10 9:08 PM
Polo Ponies to remember any spectators may not realize it, but in any given 6-chukker polo match, 48 different horses will take the field for the eight players. What is it that makes a few of these polo ponies so memorable? For those ponies recognized as the sports superstars of the polo world, it is their incredible speed, agility, intelligence, and athleticism that set them apart. For others, it is their ability to play well for many different individuals with varied riding styles—ponies gifted with the equine equivalent of speaking ten foreign languages. And for still others, sheer personality stands out. All polo players have a special horse or two that will always remain close to their hearts, each a stand-out with its own remarkable story.
Josephine Kristy and Mike Outhier Josephine’s story is the classic American tale of an underdog who just needed her break to soar to great heights. In 1998, Kristy Outhier bought Josephine as a seven-year-old made polo pony. A little black thoroughbred mare, Josephine had been passed up by many other players due to her smaller size, and was up for sale at a bargain-basement price. Once she played her, Kristy immediately recognized that Josephine’s agility and speed were something very special. “You never feel like you’re at the top end of her speed,” says Kristy. “There’s always another gear there.” Kristy took Josephine on the road to play her in medium- and high-goal polo in Aiken and Florida. There, she caught the attention of Adam Snow, the famous 10-goal American pro. Adam purchased Josephine—and she went on to play in the U.S. Open, winning several Best Playing Pony Awards at the 22-goal level and up. She was in the company of an elite group of horses who have shared what is considered to be the highest honor a polo horse can achieve in the U.S. Like many greats in equine sports, Josephine eventually retired from competition for the equally important job of breeding the next generation of high-goal horses. She was bred to River Dance, Owen Rinehart’s well-known stallion, and was sent back to Kristy to raise her new foal, Snowy River, in Texas. Outhier and Snow, who are partners in her first colt, are both optimistic that Josephine’s talents will live on in Snowy River and future foals to come.
44 | houston polo club 2010 book of the season
Jackson Colleen & David Marks In late January 2010, Colleen Marks received a call. It is the call that all horse owners who have loved, played, and retired a pony know will come someday. Jackson, Colleen’s favorite gelding, had gone to horse heaven at a very respectable 24 years of age. Jackson had been enjoying a welldeserved retirement after over 15 years of polo, during which he taught dozens of players to hit and ride. A big bay thoroughbred originally bred for the racetrack, Jackson was famous for his gregarious personality, and particularly for his trademark “smile.” Whenever he saw a camera, Jackson would open his mouth in a wide grin and mug for the photographer. Jackson was so photogenic, in fact, that he was given a cameo in the Marks family Christmas card. He wasn’t always an angel, but Jackson always kept his rider in place, even when he felt like misbehaving. “He was such a character and everyone knew him. When I bought Jackson, I almost felt like I’d bought a car that Elvis used to own. He was that famous! And like an Elvis ride, he was definitely a Cadillac sort of horse—smooth, big, comfortable, and classy,” recalls Colleen.
Touchdown Anne and David Andras Touchdown, a little bay mare with a white stripe, is probably one of the best-known equine veterans of HPC. Touchdown was born and raised at Estancia La Fortuna, in Coronel Swarez, Argentina. Wayne and Bea Kvalsvig, who were working as horse trainers in Argentina for Tommy Wayman, noticed “Dorita” (her name at the time) during their annual search for polo prospects at the ranch. Wayne asked one of the young grooms to show him the mare’s moves on the field. Unfortunately for the groom, she wasn’t in the mood to be ridden that morning—she catapulted him straight through the goal posts like a football, prompting the onlookers to yell “Touchdown!” The name stuck. Touchdown came to the U.S. shortly thereafter, and was instrumental in training many players at HPC, including Jeff Anon, Tim Kelly, and all three Andras polo players: David, Hunter, and Anne. Touchdown never gave up her naughty streak, however, and could be counted on for at least one good bucking round at the beginning of each season. After giving her all for over a decade of competitive polo, Touchdown is now retired at Pegasus Ranch in Brenham.
Discover experience remember 713.961.0911 www.corDua.com Cordua.indd 1
3/14/10 7:40 PM
Wide Open Spaces:
Conserving Houston’s
urban green space
Pine trees tower more than 100 feet above the park’s trails.
n the outskirts of Houston’s bustling downtown lies one of its most magnificent and surprising destinations: the lush Memorial Park. Celebrating its 85th anniversary, Memorial Park’s 1,503 acres of trails, fields, forest, and green space awe millions of visitors each year. The planning, protection, and preservation of the Park are largely the work of the Memorial Park Conservancy, a non-profit organization whose mission is to conserve this special natural habitat.
A legacy of conservancy In early 1917, as the United States entered the First World War, the War Department leased 7,600 acres of forest land on Buffalo Bayou. They turned it into a training camp called Camp Logan and 25,000 soldiers trained at the facility. In 1923, when the camp hospital closed, Catherine Mary Emmott wrote to the Houston Chronicle, suggesting that “the city buy some of the land and turn it into a park in memory of the boys.” In late 1923 and early 1924, Will and Mike Hogg, with minority owner Henry Stude, bought two tracts of former Camp Logan land and sold the 1,503 acres to the city at cost. In May 1924, the City of Houston officially established Houston’s Memorial Park in memory of the soldiers who had trained there.
The park is home to a host of wildlife, including squirrels, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, snakes, and birds of all types.
Soon thereafter, nationally acclaimed landscape architects Hare & Hare were hired to sketch out a plan for the park. Initial plans called for an 18-hole golf course, scenic drives, trails for hikers and nature students, bridle paths, and an amphitheater. Beautification was simply to involve existing vegetation. One newspaper reporter wrote, “Memorial Park [. . .] is to be kept in the wild state, almost entirely, and made a sanctuary for birds, small game, wild flowers, holly, and whatever else needs protection against man.”
46 | houston polo club 2010 book of the season
The Houston Polo Club’s connection to Memorial Park A large portion of the land that the Houston Polo Club occupies is actually a part of Memorial Park. HPC and Memorial Park work together to ensure that any property changes or improvements made have minimal impact on the park and its wild occupants. Horseback riders on the Memorial Park trails that are adjacent to the polo club frequently get a glimpse of the variety of wildlife that inhabit the park, including raccoons, opossums, owls, snakes, rabbits, and even coyotes. Trail riders often catch a glimpse of the coyotes that live in the park.
Something for everyone Encompassing over 1,500 wooded acres, Memorial Park is larger than New York City’s Central Park and is unique among urban parks in its size, location, and quality of natural features. Today, the park represents just over 7 per cent of the city’s parkland and has a current value estimated at close to $1 billion. It is widely recognized for its wooded character, highly regarded golf course, and as the premier running facility in the city. In addition, it has active tennis, swimming, walking, bird watching, cycling, fitness, and sports communities.
Several members of the Houston Polo Club are also involved in the preservation of the park through the Memorial Park Conservancy. Paul Hobby, a long-time member of the Houston Polo Club Board of Directors, explains, “The Memorial Park Conservancy and the Houston Polo Club have always been of one mind about how the park fits into Houston’s urban matrix, so its not surprising that we have had a lot of overlap over the years. We share a sense of stewardship with the other various constituencies of Memorial Park. The original vision of the park included equestrian activity, and we love carrying on that tradition.” Through the diligent efforts of the Memorial Park Conservancy, Houstonians and visitors can look forward to enjoying another 85 years of wide open spaces in the heart of Houston.
Memorial Park’s riding trails are frequented daily by polo club members. To learn more about the Memorial Park Conservancy, including opportunities to volunteer or donate to its mission, please visit www.memorialparkconservancy.org. www. thehoustonpoloclub.com
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Wishes the Houston Polo Club and all of the players a most successful 2010 season.
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Saluting the Houston Polo Club on its 82nd Anniversary DMI Services, LLC 919 Milam Street Suite 1900 • Houston, Texas • 77002 Stan Stratton (O) 713.739.9990 (M) 713.201.4669
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3/14/10 8:23 PM
Play
Learn to
Polo! The Houston Polo Club offers an 8-week instructional course in the sport of polo. Individuals who have never played polo will learn everything necessary about the game, while enthusiasts of all levels can sharpen their skills. The Houston Polo Club offers riding lessons for individuals who have never ridden.
The instructors: n Barlee Flanders – a player and instructor for the Houston Polo Club for over 20 years n Mark Prinsloo – a 3 goal professional player and an instructor with the club for 10 years
The instructional course includes: n Proper horsemanship n Game strategy n Swinging instruction n Practice in a hitting cage n Classroom discussion n Video viewing n Foot mallet experience
The Houston Polo Club provides: n Instructors n Horses n Tack n Mallets
The students require: Minimum riding experience n Helmet n Boots n
The Houston Polo Club Polo School meets twice weekly for two hours, rain or shine. Courses are offered in Spring Season (April-June) and Fall Season (September-November). For more information on the Polo School and riding contact Eliza Bishop at 713-688-7752 or HPC at 713-681-8571. You can also visit our website at www.thehoustonpoloclub.com. www. thehoustonpoloclub.com
| 49
After
polo
Before High Goal Sunday polo, enjoy High Goal Sunday brunch at Américas—voted the city’s best brunch by the Houston Chronicle. Michael Cordúa offers inspired New World cuisine to Houstonians at this renowned eatery, where the finest Latin American ingredients are prepared with the disciplined techniques of European cooking. The ideal pre- or post-polo destination, complete with warm Latin hospitality, plantain chips, and near-perfect paella. www.cordua.com Américas Post Oak • 1800 Post Oak Boulevard (in the Pavilion Mall) • 713.961.1492 Américas The Woodlands • 21 Waterway Avenue • 281.367.1492 Américas River Oaks • Fall 2010 This renowned Mexican bistro offers great food, attentive and friendly service, and renowned margaritas. A long-time destination for lovers of enchiladas and entourages, the warm décor and energetic atmosphere of Armondo’s make it ideally suited for the hungry, thirsty polo crowd. Don’t miss out on the Queso Flameado, Ceviche, or Top Shelf Margarita. www.armandosrestaurant.com 2630 Westheimer • 713.520.1738 Creative cuisine and a newly renovated interior make Churrascos one of the top 20 places in America for great steak, according to Esquire magazine. Inspired by Latin American cuisine and high-quality regional ingredients, this dreamy culinary destination is located just minutes away from the polo club, and is open for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. Upscale, welcoming and mouth-watering best describe this favorite destination of players and polo fans alike. www.cordua.com Churrascos River Oaks • 2055 Westheimer (at Shepherd) • 713.527.8300 Churrascos Westchase • 9705 Westheimer (at Gessner) • 713.952.1988 Experience the luxury of a fine, wet-aged steak paired with the perfect glass of wine as you sink into one of Mo’s leather chairs and experience one of Houston’s best meeting places. Luxury starts at the door with friendly valet service, and ends with Mo’s Signature Bread Pudding, oozing with warm chocolate. Take in the bustling social scene in the lounge while you wind down over cocktails with friends, or rent a private room for a meeting or large group—Mo’s is the place for more than just steaks. www.mosaplaceforsteaks.com 1801 Post Oak Boulevard, #1E • 713.877.0720 The perfect spot to linger with friends, food, and wine in your post-game whites, or your Sunday best. A comfortable atmosphere, impeccable food and wine, and attentive service define this Houston establishment. Located in Fulshear, Ray’s Gourmet prides itself on high-quality seasonal and organic ingredients from local farmers and ranchers, as well as cooking classes, wine tastings, live music, and Sunday brunch. www.raysgrill.com 8502 FM 359 Fulshear • 281.533.0099 50 | houston polo club 2010 book of the season
For forty years,
Currie Equine has been serving members, families and friends at the Houston Polo Club. Thank you for trusting your equine partners to our expertise in sports medicine, reproduction, lameness and wellness care. We are looking forward to the upcoming polo season and wish the best of luck to all of our polo players and teams.
Dr. Andrew K. Currie and Sandy Currie Andrew K. Currie, VMD Gustavo DeCillo, DVM HEMPSTEAD, TEXAS • TELEPHONE: 979-826-2852 • WWW.CURRIEEQUINE.COM
BEHOLD THE 2010 MOTOR TREND TRUCK OF THE YEAR.速 A 10-GOAL RATING IF THERE EVER WAS ONE. As a company with a pedigree and history of supporting equestrian events, Ram is proud to be associated with the Houston Polo Club. From tailgating to towing, the All-New Ram Heavy Duty plays as hard as it works.
THE ALL-NEW 2010 RAM HEAVY DUTY PROUD SPONSOR OF
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