Passions: Michael Husted

A spontaneous visit to Val de Vie Polo Club 13 years ago (and some hilarious attempts at hitting a ball, while perched on top of a wooden horse) was Michael Husted’s introduction to polo. Back from holiday, he immediately joined La Estancia outside Budapest and tried to recover the riding skills developed in his childhood. One of the defining factors in polo is that you are never more than one person removed from any other polo player and Michael has been very fortunate to play, and to continue learning, around the world. Michael, is the founder and owner of Performance Polo, a business dedicated to helping players get the most out of their polo. Partnering with Black Bears Polo Club, they are busy opening the first bricks and mortar outlet at the Club in June 2021

What is your biggest passion and why?

Polo, without a doubt! In recent years, this has morphed into a passion for getting the most out of our polo, which a few years ago gave birth to Performance Polo. I’m fascinated by the fact that aside from developing our skills as polo players and investing in better and better horses, there isn’t actually that much we can do to increase performance. Horses are already very efficient machines and their improvement potential is very limited. A chance conversation with Ross Ainsley 7 or 8 years ago opened my eyes to improvement by avoidance. Some of the habits that have developed in polo over the years turn out to be counterproductive and limit the performance of our horses, ourselves or our teams. Ross and I share the conviction that comfortable horses perform better and yet it is, for example, not uncommon to see polo horses in saddles that sit on, or hit, the withers. This horse will try to evade the pain and discomfort, typically resulting in a hollow back and a reluctance to collect – and there goes effective stopping and turning. The remedy is a well fitting saddle, which in some cases can change a horse beyond recognition. A lot of polo saddles spread over time, fitting perfectly on day one, but hitting the withers a few years in. I love to play polo, but just as much to help players around the world realise the full the potential of their horses, themselves and their teams.

What is your all time best polo memory?

Playing the first ever polo tournament in Denmark, my home country. Equestrian sports are incredibly popular in Denmark, but polo had never been played before. Fellow Danish polo enthusiasts, Louise Sandberg and Christian Mellentin organised a ‘polo in the park’ type tournament, the Copenhagen Polo Open, in central Copenhagen in 2013. It was great to play on home soil, and this event spawned Copenhagen Polo Club (Denmark now has two polo clubs).

Who were/are your favourite teammates?

Paul and Sarah Knapp! We played together in the 2017 Mont Tremblant Snow Polo in Canada, what must have been the coldest polo tournament ever played at minus 29C. I thought I was used to cold, but this was something else.

Hardest opponent?

Santi Shanahan, who taught me a valuable lesson: that a ball should never be assumed to go across the line until it has actually done so. Santi came out of nowhere, laid on a hard bump and stole the ball, as I was convinced, I was in the process of scoring a goal.

Favourite film and why?

My Cousin Winnie … just hugely entertaining!

Favourite hobby outside of polo?

Scuba diving … it’s a different world and time slows down 20 metres below the surface.

Most prized possession?

Two Ainsley MVP polo saddles signed by Adolfo Cambiaso (they were lent to him before the 2020 season in the UK.

Best holiday destination & activity

Scuba diving at Sipadan island in the Celebes sea, east of Borneo.

Best pony and why?

Skyblue, my first polo pony, bred by Lucas Labat.

Are you passionately superstitious?

Not at all.

Favourite song/album?

Eric Clapton – Unplugged.

Describe yourself in four words…

There’s a better way.

Favourite food/dish?

Xiao Long Bao as served in Shanghai (dumplings filled with minced meat and soup)… they are delicious!

One thing which would surprise us about you?

I served in the Danish Navy in Greenland waters.