2016 season BIG HORN WYOMING 1
TABLE
of contents
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Welcome to the Season
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Summer Schedule
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Taking Care of Downtown
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Field Facts
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Social Pages
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Welcoming the Dukes
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Players of 2016
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Tack and Equipment
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ERA Rodeo
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Measuring Community Benefits by the Decade
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The Lure of the West
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Rules of the Game
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Elks Youth Rodeo
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Team USPA
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Numbers & Positions
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Naturally West
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Polo Terms and Definitions
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Big Horn, Wyoming
Location Flying H Ranch 79 Bar 13 Road Big Horn, WY 82833 T: 307-674-9447 F: 307-674-1865
www.flyinghpolo.com Contributors Flying H Office Manager Cara Platt
We Know Wyoming...
Program Designer Stacie Beckman Coe Design & Communications
Serving Wyoming’s business, agricultural, and governmental communities since 1949.
Kim D. Cannon John C. McKinley J. Mark Stewart, PE
Advertising & Editing Cara Hopcraft Jimmy Newman Bobbi Stribling Photographers Kris Bowman Kim Campbell Kristine Dalton Elizabeth Hedley Gillian Johnston Vicki Jorgenson Dawn Pilot Cate Sheehan Bobbi Stribling
Hayden F. Heaphy, Jr. Clint A. Langer Amanda F. Esch
Codie D. Henderson Shaina A. Case Leah C. Schwartz Benjamin N. Reiter of counsel
Richard M. Davis, Jr.
Charles R. Hart
On the web at www.davisandcannon.com
40 South Main Street 422 West 26th Street P. O. Box 728 P. O. Box 43 Sheridan, WY 82801 Cheyenne, WY 82003 (307) 672-7491 (307) 634-3210 4
This annual tournament allows our young players the opportunity & experience to play with the best and allows spectators to watch and support our up-and-coming talent.
210 S. Warren Ave.
Gillette, WY 82716 (307) 682-1246
JOIN US AUGUST 7th TO SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF POLO
Articles Stacie Beckman Kris Bowman Kim Campbell Roni Duke Beth Holsinger Colin Betzler Mr. S.K. Johnston Sam Morton Jimmy Newman Shawn Parker Gayle Smith Shannon Whittle Printers Quick Printing, Sheridan, WY Cover photograph Kim Campbell 5
welcome to our
2016 season
We are looking forward to another wonderful summer of not only great polo, but beautiful scenery, weather, and camaraderie with a great group of people. 2016 is the 12th year for the Flying H Polo Club. Our 8 week season will run from Thursday, July 9th through Saturday, August 27th. As in the past, each week will be a new tournament. Teams will be changed each week to give players a chance to play with as many different people as possible and create a level playing field. This format has proven over the years to insure a friendly but competitive spirit. Of course the Flying H Polo Club will once again work closely with our neighbor, the Big Horn Polo Club as many of our members also play there. Together, the Big Horn Polo Club and the Flying H Polo Club offer the full polo package. From lessons to green horse training, these two clubs together make Big Horn, Wyoming the U.S.'s premier medium goal polo destination. – JIMMY NEWMAN
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Wilcox
UPCOMING
SUMMER
Abstract & Title Co.
307 West Burkitt Sheridan, WY 307-672-0768
schedule
Tom Kinnison Brian Kinnison Jodi Ilgen Kelly Camino Mary Zemski
Title Insurance Real Estate Closings 1031 Exchange Mineral Research
Specializing in Wildlife Management & Habitat Development
• • • • • •
Wildlife Management & Habitat Development, including upland game, big-game, waterfowl, & fisheries Ranch Brokerage & Absentee Management Rangeland Management & Grazing Plan Design Noxious Weed Inventory, Mapping, & Control Energy Industry Wildlife & Range Inventory, Mitigation, & Compliance GIS Mapping and Database Management Duffy Brown President/Broker, Wildlife Resources, LLC
P.O. Box 247 | Big Horn, WY 82833 | Office: 307-674-7377 | Cell: 307-674-4958
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SEE YOU THERE . . .
2016
DATE
TOURNAMENT
TEAM SPONSOR
CONSOLATION SPONSOR
MVP SPONSOR
JULY 9TH
Oliver Wallop Cup
Canyon Ranch/Wallops
JULY 16TH
Skeeter Johnston Memorial Cup
Leslie & Lousia Johnston
JULY 23RD
Moncreiffe Cup
Big Horn Beverage
JULY 30TH
Cloud Peak Cup
Powder Horn
JULY 31ST
Goose Creek Cup
Downtown Sheridan Association
AUGUST 6TH
Bozeman Trail Cup
Bozeman Trail Gallery King’s Saddlery
AUGUST 7TH
Archie MacCarty Cup
Big Horn Smokehouse
Wendtland and Wendtland
AUGUST 13TH
Gallatin Ranch Cup
Mirr Ranch Group
Peak Powersports
AUGUST 20TH
Bradford Brinton Memorial Cup
Bradford Brinton Museum
Kilpatrick Creations
AUGUST 27TH
Skeeter Johnston Sportsman of Season
Davis and Cannon
AUGUST 27TH
Flying H Cup
Coca-Cola
AUGUST 27TH
Glen Hart Horse of the Year
Wildlife Resources
AUGUST 27TH
Bob Tate Best String Award
Johnston Family
BEST PLAYING PONIES
All Tournaments
Perk’s Horspital
Peak Powersports
Chase Brothers Properties
Alpine Climate Control
Big Horn Smokehouse
Heartland Kubota
Prestfeldt Surveying
Downtown Sheridan Association
Wyoming Roofing
Heritage Woodworks Inc.
Big Horn Smokehouse
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2016 CALENDAR OF EVENTS ! n w o t n e Dow
Com
www.downtownsheridan.org
3rd thursday street festival June 16th, July 21st, August 18th, September 15th from 5pm to 9pm on Main Street in Sheridan. Come downtown for live music, food, fun, and tons of vendors
dsa taking care
rodeo week
July 15th-10am Parade down Main Street in Sheridan July 15th and 16th-10:30pm Street Dance on Main Street
of downtown
Sheridan Farmers’ Market
July 7th-October 8th-Every Thursday from 5 to 7pm Grinnell Plaza in the heart of Downtown Sheridan
the downtown sheridan association (dsa) is approaching it’s 30 year anniversary!
Goose Creek Polo Cup
T
he Downtown Sheridan Association (DSA) is approaching its 30 year anniversary! The payoff for all of the many years of hard work by a few dedicated staff and the many committed volunteers are awards like the USA Today’s “Most Picturesque Small Town” in Wyoming article published in the October 28, 2015 issue.
Highest rated polo game played in the USA this summer! July 31st-Gates open at 3pm 4 chukker polo game begins at 5pm Flying H Polo Club on Bird Farm Road in Big Horn Tailgating, games, food, fun, and champagne!
CRAZY DAYS
Massive summer blow out sale on Main Street! August 4th, 5th, and 6th
Questions? Call the Downtown Sheridan Association 307-672-8881
The DSA mission is to enhance and preserve Historic Downtown Sheridan to ensure economic prosperity. By placing public art, adding beautiful streetscapes that complement our Historic Downtown, providing green space, supporting stream restoration and pathways leading to and from downtown, as well hosting events on Main Street and Grinnell Plaza we have been strategically placemaking for over a decade! Utilizing the National Main Street Four Point Approach, DSA board members and community volunteers meet monthly to discuss promotions, design and economic restructuring of our Historic Downtown. These committees help organize people of all ages who volunteer and give back time and effort to make Sheridan the
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By Beth holsinger, Executive Director, DSA
community we all cherish. Whether gathering at 7 a.m. on a cool spring morning to transplant flowers and hang up over 219 flower baskets on Main Street; participating in set up and tear down at all of our downtown events including the 3rd Thursday Street Festival and Farmers’ Markets or helping to organize and promote shop local campaigns; in the past year, our Main Street volunteers and staff have reinvested over 3500 volunteer hours and $100,000 into our preservation and economic development efforts. Historic Downtown Sheridan is a vibrant place of commerce and celebration. We love to live, work, play and shop downtown! Some of the buildings in Downtown Sheridan are over 100 years old and are genuine landmarks of Sheridan’s rich history & culture. The Downtown Sheridan Association Board of Directors and staff are passionate about Historic Downtown Sheridan and committed to helping you imagine the possibilities of your Main Street business or historic property. For more information or to support our efforts by becoming a member or volunteer, call our office (307)672-8881. 11
Join us for the 7th
DOWNTOWN SHERIDAN ASSOCIATION GOOSE CREEK CUP
Donated by the Johnston Family and Flying H Polo
PRIVATE CATERED SPONSORSHIP TENTS AVAILABLE!
Sunday, July 31 at 5:00pm Gates open at 3:00pm
CALL JILL AT 3076728881
Flying H Polo Club, Bird Farm Road, Big Horn
• $10/car • 4 Chukker Game • Long Ball Contest • Champagne Divot Stomp
• Food and Beer available for purchase • Fun Activities for the Kids • Player Calcutta
HIGHEST RATED POLO GAME PLAYED IN THE USA THIS SUMMER!
COUNTRY
PET
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your dog’s choice to stay while you’re away
controlled kennels in a quiet country setting
Providing professional dog boarding, daycare and bubble baths
Schedule an appointment in your PJ's by visiting
AlpineClimateControl.com or call 307-672-9748
Animal Planet and soothing music throughout the day
7 fenced outdoor grass yards for play
Located on 10 acres with room to run, just 8 miles from downtown Sheridan
COME .
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87 BEAVER CREEK RD. SHERIDAN, WY 307-674-8582 WWW.COUNTRYPETINN.COM
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twitter.com/BigHornBeverage facebook.com/bighornbeverage instagram.com/bighornbeverage 479 Fort Road/Sheridan WY
Your Home and Small Business Service Specialist
Clean and climate-
DRINK RESPONSIBLY
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combination of grasses seems to work well in that it is able to hold a polo ball up off the ground. The fields are mowed with reel mowers that make a cleaner cut on the blades of grass than a conventional blade mower, which is more apt to tear the grass with its spinning blade. The grass is normally cut 3 times a week. The grass is cut so often to keep the plants healthy by not cutting off too much of the plant at one time and to keep the clippings from building up.
MAINTENANCE
EXPLANATION OF
FIELD
facts for the spectator
FIELD The present club ground was an alfalfa field under a pivot in the summer of 2004 and by the summer of 2005 there stood three tournament polo fields, two 32 stall barns, a shop and numerous paddocks. Two of the fields were leveled and had sprinklers installed and were seeded just in time for the grass to take root and make it through the winter. The third field was leveled and had most of the sprinklers in the ground before snow stopped progress until spring. A practice field and two more barns were added later. More paddocks and larger turnouts were added to accommodate all the horses. The Flying H Polo Club now houses 6, 32 stall barns, 3 tournament fields, 2 practice fields, 1 stick-and-ball field and 2 exercise tracks.
TURF The type of grass that was used when planting the polo fields was primarily Tall Fescue and a small amount of Kentucky Bluegrass . The tall fescue is a wide bladed grass that is cut at a height of three quarters of an inch. This 14
The roots of the Tall Fescue can go down to a foot below the surface. This helps with maintenance by being able to use less water than a grass with a shallower root system. We are able to give it a deep soak less often than other turf grasses. We normally put one and a half to two inches of water on a field in the heat of the summer. There are approximately 435 sprinkler heads on the 3 tournament fields and they shoot a distance of about 75 feet. The irrigation system is all gravity flow and it can build up over 120 psi. The water comes from an irrigation ditch and is piped down a hill and through a media filter that removes anything that might plug up a sprinkler head. The fields are fertilized once a month during our 4-month growing season. This keeps the grass growing fast and can help with the stress on the plants that the polo games cause.
SANDING Sand helps with the footing on the fields. There is roughly a three inch base of sand that has been put on over the lifetime of the fields. The ranch purchased its own screening and wash plant and was able to produce washed sand that was suitable for the polo fields. Now that we have an established base, we are able to put on a quarter inch of sand a year on the 5 fields. If you’re wondering how much sand it takes to layer a quarter of an inch on a field, it is roughly 400 yards. Sand spreaders are used to spread the sand on evenly and the sprinkler heads are on swing arm joints so they can be raised every two to three years to compensate for the change in ground height.
A polo field, the size of nine football fields, is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide. There are goal posts on each end of the field that are 24 feet apart. There are lines at 30, 40 and 60 yards out from the goal line that are used for penalty shots.
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The Flying H Polo Club in tiny Big Horn, Wyoming might be one of the better-kept secrets in North America, but native Texans Roni and Craig Duke can be accused of nothing less than contributing to the singularity of world-class polo played against this magnificent green and blue mountain backdrop with well-developed passion for the game, as well as something a bit more exotic: the unexpected presence of their parrots, Pearl and Rebecca. The idea of parrots at polo, let alone in Wyoming, might give a person pause, but it’s true that they can be found whenever the Dukes are playing, either perched in the trees Skey Johnston has so thoughtfully provided for the Flying H, or stalking horses and grooms in the barns, as parrots are wont to do… The official mascots of Roni’s Parrot Heads team, Pearl and Rebecca are long-time polo aficionados, with chukker horn mimics accurate enough to catch the unwary player off-guard. Summer weather in Big Horn is ideal for them, neither too hot nor too cold, and they are well-loved additions to the family atmosphere of Flying H polo.
Roni and Craig Duke are life-long equestrians, although neither grew up playing polo. Since beginning the sport, they’ve played all over the world; from New Zealand to Argentina, Mexico, Africa, and a smattering of states in North America: California, Florida, Tennessee, New York, Kentucky, Alabama, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas, and Wyoming. The Dukes spend much of the year in Midland, TX, but call Wyoming their second home, praising Big Horn’s restaurants, vistas, and small-town, friendly atmosphere. Roni Duke was born and raised in Austin, Texas, graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in accounting and finance. She received her Assistant Instructor (AI) certificate and Equine Science degree in Ireland, and her Intermediate Instructor (II) certificate in England. Roni continued on to Germany to study with gold medalist show-jumper Hans Winkler, before returning to the United States to ride, show, and teach. Roni credits Chrys Beal with what has become a passion for polo; back in Midland and having tired of the show circuit, Roni began watching polo with several friends.
Welcome to the dukes
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Chrys strongly encouraged her to take lessons, lending Roni a horse, helmet and mallet. Roni began immediately with instructors Carolyn Stimmel and Lizzy Beer. For Chrys’s introduction and encouragement Roni owes “A world of thanks.” Roni’s love of the game is a given, years of dedication clearly demonstrate this. But it is her underlying passion for the ponies that is remarkable. When asked about picking a favorite, Roni replied, “I have loved each of my ponies in different ways. Not all are equally gifted, but as long as they do the best that they can do, I am thrilled. There is just nothing better than to kiss a horse’s nose. It’s a wonderful smell, and makes me feel that all is ok.” Her list of most-desired attributes in a polo pony are familiar to many, “Medium to tall, good stop, good turn, soft mouth, fast but not too fast, easy to hit off of, kind, good attitude, easy keeper- Just what everyone wants!”
Duke hosted. The Dukes have more recently spent Spring and Fall seasons in Fairhope, Alabama, with Chip and Kim Campbell, and Curtis and Dawn Pilot; friendships that began here in Wyoming. Her advice to potential newcomers is to “Remember you lose a lot more than you win, so enjoy the journey, not just the destination.” Good counsel that covers far more than just polo… Rebecca and Pearl enjoying polo
Craig Duke was born in Pecos, Texas, and began his polo career later in life as well. Craig credits Kelly Beal and Henry Musselman as mentors, and is quick to mention his love of the horses as the primary motivator of his passion for polo. His favorite pony was a grey thorough-bred mare named Poquita. Why? “By far the best horse I’ve ever owned. She could do it all!” When choosing admirable qualities in polo players themselves, Craig points to Joe Barry and Hector Galindo: “True gentlemen, on and off the field.” Roni credits Julio Arellano with gentlemanly behavior as well, patience, and the ability to keep everything in perspective. Love of the game and the pony; agility, speed, talent, performance, sportsmanship, and most importantly, camaraderie. Those are the qualities that draw both Roni and Craig to polo in general, and the Flying H Polo Club in particular, and we are honored to have them for the 2016 season.
The highlight of Roni’s polo-playing career was a decade in Florida, she fondly remembers playing in Boca, Gulf Stream, the Flying Cow, WCT Finals and President’s Cup Finals, as well as several tournaments she and Craig Roni jumping Casanova in 1992
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40 East Works Street Sheridan, WY 82801
Each office is independently owned and operated
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Welcoming
players
of
2016
to the Flying H Polo Club
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Carlucho Arellano
Julio Arellano
Bradford Blake
Camp campbell
Chip Campbell
Steve Dalton
Handicap 5 Carlucho was born in Nicaragua and came to the US when he was 1 year old. Carlucho grew up in Wellington, FL as a middle child of six, always watching his older brother play polo. In 1998 he played the FIP for the United States in Santa Barbara. Again in 2001, he represented his country in the FIP in Australia. Since then, he has travelled the polo circuit as a professional. In 2003 he married his wife Agustina Obregon; she is also from a large polo family. He looks forward to sharing his passion for polo with his children.
Handicap 8
Handicap 4 Brad is from Cold Spring Harbor LI NY and lives in Wellington, FL. His tournament victories include: Gold Cup of Americas [26], CV Whitney [26], Sterling Cup [22], Canadian Open [20], North American Cup [20], Mercedes Challenge Cup [20], Bronze Cup [12] His past teams include: Outback, White Birch, Millerville, Bud Light, La Lechuza, Grant's Farm, Santa Clara.
Handicap 1.5 Camp is a recent graduate of LSU in Petroleum Engineering. Camp intends to move to New Mexico in January 2017 to begin his business career with Matador Resources. Camp looks forward to improving his polo skills this summer. He also enjoys hunting with his Lab, Gunner.
Handicap 2 Chip divides his time between Point Clear, AL and Shreveport, LA. Chip’s business interests revolve around real estate, oil and gas, and timber. Chip is married to Kim Campbell (28 years) and has two children, Camille and Camp, who are both Petroleum Engineers graduates from his alma mater, LSU. Chip is currently President of the United States Polo Association.
Handicap 2 Steve is married to Kristine and they have a daughter, Stella who is 6 years old. Steve has been playing polo with Wayne Garrison and the Jan Pamela Polo Team for 11 years.
Julio Arellano, currently the highest rated American polo player, was born in Nicaragua in 1972 and came to Florida at the age of seven. He grew up in Wellington, Fl and attended college at FAU in Boca Raton, FL. Julio started playing polo at the age of nine and knew that he wanted to do it for a living at age 14. Julio is married to Meghan Murphy and has three children Agustin, Lucas, and Hope.
Miguel Novillo Astrada
Joe Wayne Barry
Fransisco Bilbao
JEFF Blake
Gonzalo De La Fuenta
Craig Duke
Roni Duke
Sugar Erskine
Handicap 9 Miguel is from Argentina and comes from a big polo family. He won the Triple Crown in Argentina with his three brothers. His Father Taio, played in America with Skey Johnston for many years during the 80’s. Miguel has been playing in the United States since 1997. Miguel achieved 10 goals when winning the US Open in 2002 with Gillian Johnston for the Coca Cola Polo Team. Miguel is married to Marina and has 5 children, Mia, Tonia, Miki, Azul and Mora. He has been coming to Big Horn since 2005.
Handicap 4 Joe Wayne began playing polo at age 11 in Indio, CA. Joe Wayne is a third generation polo player and plays professionally for the Uihlein’s “Little Owl” Polo team. He plays in Sarasota, FL in the winters, in Sheridan, WY in the summers and the rest of the time at his home in Houston, TX.
Handicap 5 Frankie was born in June 1970 in Trenque Lauquen, Argentina. He started playing polo at the age of 14 and began traveling at age 20 to groom and play. Frankie reached 6 goals in 2001 and has played all over USA and Canada. He currently plays in Point Clear, AL in the spring and fall months and Wellington, FL in the winter. He is married to Martina and has two sons, Mateo and Cruz.
Handicap 6 Jeff is currently a resident of Wellington, FL. He grew up in Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, NY. He loved playing ice hockey. He is currently 6 goals and 7 in the arena. He has won the US OPEN 3 times. Twice with Tim Gannon's Outback Polo Team in1996 and 1999 and again in 2008 with Crab Orchard. He played the US Open in 2008 with Nachi Heguy, Adolfo Cambiaso, George Rawlings. Jeff received MVP that year at the Open as well.
Handicap 3 Gonzalo is a manager, horse trainer and polo player. He lives in both Point Clear, Alabama and Trenque, Argentina. Gonzalo is the manager for Sonny Hill Polo operations in the US and the horse breeding operation in Argentina. Gonzalo has played all over the US and is currently playing in Denver, Sheridan, Point Clear, and Pilar, Argentina. He is married to Ana and they have two children, Josefina and Benjamin.
Handicap A Craig patron for the NoTrees Polo Team out of Midland, TX. He has played polo for the last 30 years in various locales including West Palm Beach, Palm Desert, Santa Barbara, Jackson Hole, Nashville, Lexington, Santa Fe, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Africa, & Argentina. This is his 3rd year back in Sheridan as he loves the ambience of the polo here and the people of the area.
Handicap A Roni is the captain of the Parrotheads Polo Team out of Midland, Texas. She has played polo for 12 years, ever since her marriage to Craig. You can usually find her field-side with her team mascots, Pearl & Rebecca, two African Grey Parrots. The African Greys attend most games as they are polo celebrities in their own right. They get to visit their favorite polo people here in Sheridan.
Handicap 7 Sugar grew up in South Africa. He came to the US to play polo after completing school. He was fortunate to be helped by many giving people. He is married to Brigitte and they have two sons, Caiden and Ashe “Peanut”. He has been on winning teams in the US Open, Camara, Gold Cup, Pacific Coast Open,East Coast Open, Yillvasaca, Joe Barry and Silver Cup. He says that winning is nice, but being involved with the many great organizations that he has come into contact with is the most gratifying.
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Carlos Galindo
Hector Galindo
Wayne Garrison
Jim Parr
Curtis Pilot
Shane Rice
Gonzalo Teves
Handicap 4 Carlos Galindo has been involved with polo for over 35 years. He started out in Midland, TX where his father worked at the Midland Polo Club. Carlos worked & trained horses for Bart Evans for several years until he met & married his wife Stacey. Together they have raised 4 children who also are involved with polo. Carlos reached 5 goals and had a successful polo career in Southern
California while also raising, training and selling horses to play polo. He is currently rated 4 goals, still raising & training horses as well as being involved with the USPA professional umpire program.
Handicap 5 Hector started playing polo at the age of 12 in Midland, TX. He quickly rose to 9 goals and has played polo all across the world from Europe to Africa to South America. Hector plays in Palm Beach, FL in the winter time and in Sheridan, WY in the summers.
Handicap A Wayne Garrison is a polo player from Big Horn, Wyoming. He has played at Lexington, Kentucky, Midland, Texas, Norman, Oklahoma, Indio, California, Wellington, FL, Argentina, Jackson, Wyoming, but his very favorite location is Big Horn. He is married to Pamela. They have one child, Alexandra.
Handicap 1 Jim Parr has been a USPA member since 1986 and is a USPA Delegate for The Villages Polo Club. He is the Institutional Consulting Director for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. He is a graduate of Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC and is married to Jennifer Parr. They have 6 children. Jim owns Red Path Ranch in Story, Wyoming and enjoys fishing, hunting and ranching.
Handicap A Curtis Pilot lives in Point Clear, Alabama and is Patron of Sunny Hill Polo team. Curtis has been playing polo for 7 years. He currently plays in Denver, Pilar, Argentina, Point Clear, Sheridan and Argentina. He is a CEO of Pilot Catastrophe, based in Mobile, AL. Curtis and Dawn have three children. Daughter Nikki and Maury Carlisle and grandson Pilot “Salem” Carlisle. Their son, Hunter is married to Spencer and their youngest daughter, Courtney.
Handicap 4 Shane Rice hails from Poway, CA, but now calls Sealy, Tx home. Born into a polo playing family, he won two national interscholastic championships with his sister and cousin, and was then named the 2002 PTF Interscholastic Player of the Year. He then went on to begin his professional career, whose highlights include playing the 20 goal season in Wellington.
Handicap 4 Gonzalo is from Santa Fe, Argentina. He resides in Point Clear, Alabama with his wife Carolina, and their two sons, Santos, who is 6 years old and Felipe, who is 1 year old. Gonzalo plays for Clearwater Polo Team in Point Clear, Alabama.
Tom Gose
Gillian Johnston
Francisco Lanusse
Paige mccabe
James P. Uilein
mason wroe
Handicap 1 Tom Gose is a two time winner of the U.S. Open, once with his father in 1984 and in 1986 with the last all American team to win the event. He is a former winner of the 26 goal Intern’l Cup, and was selected to represent the US team in the first FIP World Championships. Additionally, he has won the Silver Cup and the Chairman’s Cup (National 12 goal) amongst other tournaments. He and Martha, his wife of 33 years, have a son, Ty, who is married to Shawna and two daughters Kate and Clair and their new grandson, Grady.
Handicap 2 Gillian grew up in Chattanooga, TN and began playing polo at the age of 12. She currently divides her time between her home in West Palm Beach, FL and the Flying H Ranch in Big Horn, WY. Gillian is the patron for Bendabout Polo Team and credits her 2002 U.S. Open win as the highlight of her career.
Handicap 6 Francisco is married to Mariana Neuss, they have 2 children, Francisca 11, Jesu 10 and Florencio 6. They all ride and play kids polo at home. For the last 6 years, Francisco played in Mashomack every summer and Argentina from October to April. From 1998 to 2008 he played in Florida. He has also played many years in Aiken, Santa Barbara and Long Island. Currently he has a small farm in Pilar and plays at the Centauros polo Club when in Argentina.
Handicap 1 Paige was born in The Villages, FL and started playing polo when she was a young teen. She went to CSU. to play polo for a year, but graduated from Stetson University in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Spanish. Paige began working at The Villages Polo Club following graduation. Her parents, Jim and Jennifer Parr, bought a ranch in Story, WY and she has been spending her summers out here ever since. Paige married
Handicap 2 This will be James' 3rd summer playing at the Flying H Club. He plays winter polo in Sarasota, Florida, where he resides with his wife, Christie and daughter, Emma James. Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, James is a third generation polo player, following in the footsteps of his father, Jamie Uihlein and grandfather, Robert Uihlein, Jr. James began playing polo in 2005.
Handicap 4
Ryan McCabe in December 2015.
Horses have always been a constant in my life growing up in Midland, TX. I began riding jumpers with my mom at a young age, and then switched to polo with my dad. After receiving a marketing degree from Texas A&M, I decided to play polo full time. Polo has allowed me to travel around the U.S. and the world, playing in China, India, and Chile to name a few. I've also been privileged to play with some of the best organizations in polo, Coca Cola, Orchard Hill, and Tonkawa. I have represented my country in two FIP tournaments, 2011 and 2015. I currently live with my wife, Kaylee, on our farm in Cat Spring, TX.
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Our Brand is Our Reputation 45 East Loucks Ste 011, Sheridan Wyoming
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SHERIDAN, WY - $26,500,000 - 2,187 deeded acres - Unspoiled legacy ranch in Big Horn Mountain Foothills 6 ponds, 2 with large trout and bass - Good water rights and irrigation system - Productive meadows currently used for grass hay - Owner grazes 150 cow-calf pairs without overusing the ranch - Ranch is predominantly set up for wildlife - Wildlife consists of elk, mule deer, white-tail deer, occasional moose, bear, lion, bobcats, coyotes, fox, Hungarian Partridge, turkeys, grouse, hawks, eagles, songbirds - Improvements include a custom-built owner’s residence and guest home, 2 manager’s homes, barns, corrals and others, all in excellent condition - 5 minutes from Big Horn, WY - 15 Minutes from Sheridan, WY - 15 minutes to polo fields at Big Horn Equestrian Center or Flying H Polo Club - Wyoming ranks #1 for most favorable state business tax climate, according to TaxFoundation.com - Wyoming has no state capital gains tax, no state personal or corporate income tax. - Wyoming is a “Tax Friendly State" - Opportunity for a polo development
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Sheridan, WY $10,500,000 11,071 acres (9,323 deeded), 600 AU, 600 acres water rights, great hunting, only 10 minutes from Sheridan, can be purchased turn-key with 500 black cows and equipment if desired
Ranchester, WY $3,680,000 Featuring over 1 mile of Tongue River and 1,963 +/- deeded acres of quality land for agriculture and hunting, 164 ac irrigated.
www.chasebrothersproperties.com info@chasebrothersproperties.com | 307-675-1964 28
At D.A. Davidson, we offer straightforward advice, personalized solutions,and industry expertise – an approach rooted in the values of a company that is as independent as you are.
CUSTOM SCREENPRINTING, EMBROIDERY & PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS 39 East Brundage St. Sheridan, WY 307-672-0120 307-672-0969
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307.674.6288 | 800.406.7333
2 North Main St., Suite 102, Sheridan, WY
D.A. Davidson & Co. member SIPC | www.dadavidson.com
* Fundraising Apparel & Accessories * Promotional Products Pens, Bottles, Key Tags email: kcoffice@fiberpipe.net
Tracy Swanson, CWS® Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor, Branch Manager
Karen Ferguson, CFP® Vice President, Financial Advisor
Frank Boley, CFA, CFP®, CIMA®
Vice President, Financial Advisor, Assistant Branch Manager
Susie Ponce, CWS®
Senior Financial Advisor
29
1
The Helmet and its padded lining is used to prevent trauma by absorbing a shock to the head resulting from hitting the ground or from the impact of a ball or mallet.
2
The polo bridle is typically made up of two sets of reins (draws and straight), brow band, nose band, drop nose band, standing martingale and bit. All these components allow the rider to communicate direction and speed to the horse.
3
The whip is made from fiberglass and wrapped with nylon. It is used to propel the horse in a forward motion.
5
The polo saddle is a supportive structure for the rider. It characteristically has a relatively flat seat and saddle flaps are long and fairly straight. There is very little or no padding on a polo saddle allowing the rider to have maximum freedom of movement.
7 8
30
tack and
equipment
Players usually wear a riding glove on their mallet hand. Some wear gloves on both hands for better grip and protection on the reins and mallet. Knee guards provide protection to the knees of the rider during play. Riding boots not only protect the legs from wayward balls, bumps and potential bruises but come high enough up the leg to prevent the leathers of the saddle from pinching the leg of the rider. The boot has a distinct heel to prevent the foot from sliding through the stirrup.
1
a spectators guide EVERY LITTLE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT HELPS IN THE GAME TOWARDS A WIN!
The cane of the mallet is made from Manau cane, a thorny member of the palm family. The head is cut from the Tipa tree, a durable, close grained wood. The ball is hit with the side of the mallet. Players generally have their initials stamped on the heads of their mallets.
4
6
EXPLANATIONing
3
2 6 4
5
7 8
9
Splint or tendon boots protect and support the horse’s tendons/legs from impact from the mallet or another horse’s legs. They are usually fitted to the leg over the wraps.
9
10 With a diameter of 3 to 3½ inches and a weight
of 3½ to 4½ ounces, the polo ball is made of solid, hard, high-impact plastic, unlike the former wooden balls used in the “good ol’ days!”
10
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A
new era of rodeo is coming to Sheridan.
This Labor Day Weekend, the Elite Rodeo Athletes Premier Tour rides into town as Sheridan hosts the inaugural Cowboy State Elite Rodeo. In December, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo board made the decision to organize an ERA event in hopes of increasing tourism over Labor Day Weekend in Sheridan and building the sport of rodeo as a whole for future generations — which is the ERA’s major objective. “We’re thrilled to host a rodeo on the new ERA circuit here in Sheridan,” said Cowboy State Elite Rodeo president Nick Siddle. “Fans here have been great to the sport of rodeo for years, and we think it’s great that the athletes are working so hard to pay them back. This new brand of fan-and-athlete-centric rodeo in small-town Wyoming is what the sport is all about, and this will be one of the higestquality rodeos you’ll find anywhere.”
Cowboy State Elite Rodeo is one of 15 events on eight stops across the U.S., and will be nationally televised on FOX Sports 2 as part of the multi-million dollar deal. Sheridan stands out as the only Wyoming city and the only outdoor venue on the schedule. The FOX Sports 2 deal makes the ERA Premier Tour the largest household network audience in the sport of rodeo, and Sheridan’s event will be televised on Sept. 7 in primetime. Sheridan marks the fifth stop on the tour, following rodeos in Redmond, Ore., Boise, Idaho, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque and preceding the final events in St. Louis, Atlanta and New Orleans. The ERA circuit culminates Nov. 9-13, 2016 with a five-day World Championship at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Payouts are expected to exceed $4 million.
Sheridan’s event will bring the top 87 cowboys and cowgirls in the world to town for one night on
ELite
Saturday, Sept. 3. The
rodeo
athletes
premier tour
Cowboy State Elite Rodeo on the Elite Rodeo Athletes Premier Tour set for Labor Day Weekend in Sheridan 32
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Due to a dispute with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, ERA athletes will not participate in PRCA events this year. That means the ERA circuit and the Cowboy State Elite Rodeo provide the only chance to see the sport’s top athletes, including: 23-time World Champion Cowboy, Trevor Brazile; 11-time World Champion barrel racer, Charmayne James; four-time World Champion bareback rider, Kaycee Field; five-time World Champion steer wrestler, Luke Branquinho; three-time World Champion calf roper, Tuf Cooper; eight-time World Champion calf roper, Fred Whitfield and World Champion barrel racer, Fallon Taylor. As the ERA works to pull back the curtain for rodeo fans and make stars out of its athletes, Wyoming’s ERA participants will be at the forefront of the Cowboy State Elite Rodeo as well, including team roper Jhett Johnson of Casper, barrel racer Ashley Schaefer of Yoder, bull rider Kanin Asay of Powell and saddle bronc rider Chet Johnson of Sheridan. ERA athletes will gather for an autograph session at 2:30 p.m., on the arena grounds prior to the Cowboy
State Elite Rodeo on Saturday. The pre-event will be open to all Cowboy State Elite Rodeo attendees. On top of that, ERA cowboys and cowgirls will be in town early on Friday night (Sept. 2) for a fan and athlete meet and greet on Grinnell Plaza. Rodeo action starts at 4 p.m. at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds. Visit sheridanwyorodeo.com or eraprorodeo.com to purchase tickets.
It’s bigger
than banking. It’s the confidence to be strong and sensitive at the same time. That’s banking at its best. It’s you and together.
PHOTOS ARE COURTESY OF THE ERA
PROUD TO SUPPORT THE FLYING H POLO CLUB
firstinterstate.com
Name: Size: Color:
Flying H Polo Club sponsorship 7.5”W x 4.75”H Full Color
FLYING H RANCH RAISED THOROUGHBREDS ON THE MARKET SEASONED IN WYOMING, SOUTH CAROLINA & FLORIDA G STRING POLO OFFERS PONIES OF ALL LEVELS LOOK FOR THE FLYING H
Contact: Gillian Johnston
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Julio Arellano - 561-379-3322
Brendon Whittle - 307-751-4983
Francisco Bilbao - 561-889-6603
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Red Grade Trails are a great option for all ages with minimal grade and 2 miles of looping trails accessed from Red Grade Road seven miles from the community of Big Horn.
sheridan
community
land trust by colin betzler
changing the look and feel of the landscape west of the City of Sheridan. We are often asked to explain what the Sheridan Community Land Trust does – what our mission is and how we accomplish the goals outlined in our strategic plan. While our methods and explanations have improved through time, we still find that the most effective way to convey what we do is to get people out on the land and let our projects speak for themselves. The term “conservation” finds meaning when gazing across hundreds of acres that will never see a house built or a road constructed. The benefits of recreation can be heard in the enthusiastic chatter from a family out experiencing nature on the trail. Preserving and interpreting the last physical remnants of a townsite makes history come alive for today’s students who will be tomorrow’s leaders. SCLT’s projects could never have happened without many dedicated people and partners who have continually invested in our work these past ten years. We are thankful for our forward-thinking community, one that possesses enormous social capital. These folks understand the qualities that make Sheridan County special and can offer unique perspectives and skillsets to help our community plan for a bright future. Our Board of Directors have been and continue to be the stewards of our community-driven mission. Their dedication and volunteer service represents tens of thousands of hours spent vetting projects, refining goals, developing strategies and finding investors who see the value in our collective vision.
As we look ahead to the next decade of challenges and opportunities, we agree with Wallace Stegner who may have captured it best: "One cannot be pessimistic about the West. This is the native home of hope. When it fully learns that cooperation, not rugged individualism, is the quality that most characterizes and preserves it, then it will have achieved itself and outlived its origins. Then it has a chance to create a society to match its scenery." Sheridan Community Land Trust works to preserve open spaces, working ranches, wildlife habitat, healthy rivers and streams, and historic sites, while expanding non-motorized recreation opportunities to connect people with the places they love. To learn more about our work please visit: www.sheridanclt.org and sign up to receive updates on our current projects. Non-motorized recreation continues to climb higher in national surveys as another means to measure a community’s quality of life with wide reaching positive benefits.
A paddler enjoys an afternoon floating the scenic Tongue River just north of Sheridan at the Bureau of Land Management’s Welch Recreation Area.
Measuring community benefits by the decade It’s a calm morning and spring is bursting around us as we make our way along Soldier Ridge Trail just west of Sheridan city limits. The meadowlarks perch and sing from nearby sagebrush while some antelope examine us from across the hillside. It all makes for an iconic western backdrop and the best part is we’re just 10 minutes from the house. Were it not for generous landowners and visionary community partners, this morning hike along Soldier Ridge could have looked much different. We would have been walking on private property, through subdivision lots putting a price on some of the best views around while permanently 36
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BOZEMAN TRAIL GALLERY
SPECIALIZING IN 19TH - 20TH CENTURY FINE WESTERN ART & COLLECTIBLES 190 North Main Street • sheridan Wyoming 82801
Phone (307) 672-3928 • Fax (307) 672-2616 website: www.bozemantrailgallery.com • e-mail: btg@bozemantrailgallery.com
Lower Diamond Bar Ranch | Cody, Wyoming
FEATURING A VARIETY OF NOTABLE WESTERN ARTISTS INCLUDING : C.M. Russell E.W. Gollings Frederic Remington F.T. Johnson Edward Borein J.H. Sharp Joe De Yong Hans Kleiber Stanley Galli W. H. D. Koerner
Nick Eggenhofer C. Rungius Bruce Graham D. Michael Thomas Brett Smith Joel Ostlind E. Denney Neville Glenn Dean P. Tognazzini Logan Hagege
PRE - 1920 AMERICAN INDIAN BEADWORK NAVAJO RUGS & BLANKETS Andre Kohn: “Favorite Time of Day”, Oil on canvas, 24” x 24”
•
Sales
•
Service
2450 Heartland Dr. Sheridan, WY 82801
38
William L. King & Hanna K. Ehrmantraut
•
Parts
307.672.8011
•
Rentals
•
www.heartlandkubota.com
SEVEN DIAMOND SEVEN RANCH
KIRVEN RANCH
NORTH RIDGE EQUESTRIAN RANCH
BUFFALO, WYOMING
SHERIDAN, WYOMING
BUFFALO, WYOMING
Located 3 mies from Buffalo this 5,586± acre ranch with comfortable operating improvements includes beautiful hay meadows and frontage on Clear Creek together with thousands of acres of exceptional summer range and elk habitat.
Just minutes from the polo grounds, this 2,237± acre (1,557± deeded) modestly improved working ranch gives one an opportunity to own a highly productive operating ranch near Big Horn and Sheridan, Wyoming.
565± acre equestrian estate nestled under the Bighorns west of Buffalo includes impressive 4,800 sq. ft. log home, guest house and 150’ X 86’ indoor arena building that includes 9-stall barn and shop.
$6,900,000
Reduced to $4,950,000
$2,490,000
BOBCAT RANCH
LOST CREEK MOUNTAIN PROPERTY
MOTE RANCH
BIG HORN, WYOMING
TEN SLEEP, WYOMING
KAYCEE, WYOMING
The ranch is located 5± miles southeast of Big Horn, Wyoming. The 150± acre ranch is a mix of native range, hay meadow and creek bottom. The 3,760± sq. ft. home enjoys dramatic views of the Bighorn Mountains.
2,575± acre summer grazing ranch south of Ten Sleep with excellent big game hunting on the southwest corner of the Bighorn Mountains. Terrain includes timbered mountain ridges, creek drainages, and open rangeland.
Located 13 paved miles east of Kaycee, this 512± deeded acre ranch includes nearly 2 miles on both sieds of the Powder River, 125± irrigated acres, 2 nice homes, a barn and a multipurpose steel building.
$1,950,000
$1,900,000
Reduced to $1,575,000
S A L ES
|
AU CT I O N S
W W W. H A L L A N D H A L L .C O M
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FINANCE |
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A P P R A I S A LS
I N FO @ H A L L A N D H A L L .C O M
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M A N AG E M E N T |
4 0 6 . 5 8 7. 3 0 9 0
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“Moncreiffe Field ” Elsa Spear Byron Collection, THE Wyoming Room - Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library
the Lure of the west By Sam Morton
Malcolm Moncreiffe in Big Horn had begun his polo breeding operation by the turn of the century. In 1911 New Yorkers Goelet and Edith Gallatin established the Circle V polo company in in Little Goose Canyon with over one hundred brood mares.
The Flying H polo club is a unique blend of what polo was intended to be; a game of sportsmen with a passion for horses. The rotating rosters from week to week make for a competitive venue that stresses teamwork and comradery.
By the 1930’s Oliver Wallop whose father, The Earl of Portsmouth had raised thousands of horses on the open range took over Moncreiffe’s polo ranch. The Forbes brothers, Cameron and Waldo from Boston established a ranch eight miles northwest of Big Horn. At his retirement as Governor of the Philippines and ambassador to Japan, Cameron established a polo breeding operation called Neponsit Stud Farm in Beckton Wyoming.
The offspring of this is many folds; polo horses have sold at a pace never seen in the area and several families have purchased land here for summer homes. Evans, Beal, Parr, Fitzsimmons, Duke, Von Gontard, Boyle, Scherrer, Wollenman, Wayman, have all invested in the area as a direct result of polo. Recently Wayne and Pam Garrison renovated the original Moncreiffe Polo Ranch back to its original state giving the area yet another venue for polo.
Between Moncreiffe, Forbes and Gallatin serving as summer hosts, polo players from the four corners made Big Horn a destination. The Hitchcock’s, Milburn’s and polo playing Army officers from several countries travelled to Big Horn to play polo at the mouth of Little Goose Canyon.
The Big Horn Polo club has counted up to 75% of their membership in the past as overflow from the Flying H. The Goose Creek Cup benefitting Downtown Sheridan Association is the biggest event of the year and usually features the highest rated summer polo game in the United States. The Archie MacCarty memorial exposes young players to a high level of the sport that few are privilege to.
In the late 1940’s Neponsit Stud Farm team of Schiffer, Long, Gardner and Fink won the National 12 goal Polo Championship in Colorado Springs featuring a dozen teams from Texas, Massachusetts and California. By now the entire face of the Big Horns from the Crow reservation in Montana to Kaycee, Wyoming was dotted with Ivy League graduates that had taken up ranching in the area. From this base a polo community flourished including merchants, cowboys and equestrians from all aspects of life.
Polo has been a part of this community since the Scots and English settled Little Goose Canyon.
In a long series of ebb and flows since the 1890’s the sport has entertained an assortment of equestrians in a variety of venues. The clean air, mountain views, unlimited fishing combined with big game and bird hunting has attracted sportsmen worldwide.
When Skey Johnston and his late son Skeeter brought their experience in polo to create the Flying H polo club, the polo community in Big Horn grew to one of the largest in the United States. Competing in several US Opens in different cities and playing internationally, the Johnstons took the best aspects of the sport and brought it to Big Horn in 2005.
Hundreds of players have made the pilgrimage to Big Horn and a few years back, a roll was taken of one hundred and twenty eight riders playing, making Big Horn the largest out of two hundred clubs in the US. With wives, grooms, and kids, that doubles the town’s population. With Gill and Skey Johnston as our hosts in one of the most pristine locations on the globe, the lure of the west has brought yet another group of equestrians to Big Horn from spots all over the globe. Enjoy your summer. Sam Morton is the author of Where the Rivers Run North and Land of the Horse: The Art and Photography of Absaraka
The Flying H Polo Club, Big Horn Wyoming
The grasslands that once fed Indian pony herds gave way to British ranchers that bred hundreds if not thousands of thoroughbreds from Big Horn to Miles City Montana. Polo began in Sheridan in 1893 as part of a fair and rodeo, officiated by a Polynesian Indian Scout with British Army officers taking on local cowboys and businessmen. In an ironic twist, a member of the British army team that first brought polo to England from India was also present for the first game in Sheridan. 40
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PAREJO
GETE LUNAREJO PATA
PUCARA LUNA
Gete Lunarejo sired numerous horses who played the Argentine Open: Guri Silvina Luna (played by Agustin Merlos) and Guri Guarra (played by Sebastian Merlos) PAREJO: Played by Lucas Criado in the 2007 Argentine Open for Indios Chapaleufu II Polo Team Played by Lucas Criado from 2008 to 2012 in the U.S. Open for Orchard Hill Polo Team 2012 BPP - Bobby Barry Memorial 2012 BPP Joe Barry Memorial 2012 Polo Pony Show Grand Champion SHIPPED SEMEN AVAILABLE
Jan Pamela Polo Ranch For breeding fees & more information contact: Breeding Manager, Sebastian Mariani at 307-763-1094 or sebastian.mariani@live.com 42
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30 yard line
60 yard line
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30 yard line
60 yard line
U
learing the
rules of
1
09
Each of the 4 players on a team wears a jersey with the number 1, 2, 3 or 4 on his/her back. Each number corresponds to their assigned position.
All players on the field are able to score goals.
Polo is a team sport, with each of the 4 team members playing a specific position, yet supporting the entire team in both offense and defense.
the game a spectators
02 The line of the ball is created once the ball is struck and does not change until it is struck again, sending the ball in a different direction. The line of the ball is used in many ways, most importantly to act as an imaginary buffer to avoid collisions when two or more players ride to the ball. The players must hit the ball to their right side (the “off side”) and may not cross the line of the ball. Doing so would cause a hazardous situation.
guide
2
1
1
01
THE RULES OF POLO ARE WRITTEN 2 AND ENFORCED TO KEEP BOTH PLAYER AND PONY SAFE ON THE FIELD. UMPIRES ENFORCE THESE GUIDELINES BY BLOWING WHISTLES WHEN PENALITIES OCCUR.
10 There are degrees of dangerous and unfair play and penalty shots are awarded depending on the severity of the foul and where the foul was committed on the field.
11 A player can interfere with another’s shot by putting his mallet in the way of the striker’s swing. However, it is a foul to hook too high or reach over the player’s horse.
12 Ponies are typically switched out at the end of each chukker.
03 At the start of a game, the umpire bowls the ball by hand firmly between the line-up of the two teams.
04 Teams change direction in which they are playing after each goal is scored and/or after each chukker. Switching sides allows each team an opportunity to start with the ball being bowled in on their right-hand-side.
09
05 All players must play right-handed.
06
3
4
All players registered with the U.S. Polo Association are rated from -2 goals (novice) to 10 goals (the best). Handicaps are a scale of skill. A team’s handicap is the total sum of its players’ ratings.
11
07 Penalties and/or injuries may stop play, as there are no time-outs or substitutions allowed, except for tack repair.
08 A player may “ride-off ” his opponent in order to spoil his shot. The angle of the collision or bump must be slight and pose no serious danger to rider or horse. 5
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8
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LONABAUGH AND RIGGS, LLP 50 East Loucks Street, Suite 110 Sheridan, Wyoming 82801 Telephone: (307) 672-7444 www.lonabaugh.com
, LLP
Serving the Community Since 1890 Dan B. Riggs Jeffrey J. Gonda Robert G. Berger Haultain E. Corbett -----------Molly Hoon-Hanks 184 North Main, Sheridan, Wyoming ~ tel: 1800-443-8919 or 307-672-2702 or 307-672-2755 fax:
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CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Everett Mohatt - Michael Johnson - Daniel Godwin PH: 307-672-6494 | FX: 307-672-6814
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LAST CHANCE BAR Big Horn, WY 674-8369
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Strauser, who serves as Elks Youth Rodeo chairman, said the Elks Youth Rodeo enables children under 17 years of age to compete for substantial prizes that many other rodeos don’t offer. In a letter to sponsors, Strauser wrote, “(The Elks Lodge #520) noticed that children who were involved in rodeo worked and practiced just as hard as the adults and their expenses were as high as adults, but they never got to compete for substantial prizes. Usually, their prizes were just ribbons and belt buckles.” The group decided to organize a youth rodeo that was open to all youth, not just ones in specific organizations. They also found enough sponsors to enable them to offer prizes substantial enough that they hoped children would spend their summers practicing hard for the event. Other goals were to keep entry fees low so most children could afford to compete and, most of all, make the event fun and enjoyable for the youth. With the help of many sponsors, Strauser was able to organize the first Elks Youth Rodeo in 1993. The first rodeo was attended mostly by local children, although they offered a year’s use of a bumper pull trailer and $1,000 and $500 scholarships as prizes. By the next year, the event had caught on and attendance nearly doubled. Competitors came from Montana and South Dakota to compete in the event, although most competitors were still local. Since then, the event has continued to grow.
ELKS youth rodeo
Elks Youth Rodeo draws in contestants from several states. By Gayle Smith Nearly 24 years ago, Bob Strauser was at loose ends. His daughter, who had just turned 16, borrowed her mother’s car and headed of f to compete in numerous rodeos around their home state of Wyoming. Feeling left behind, Strauser had lost his chauffer job, missed the rodeo way of life and didn’t have anything else to do, so he approached the Sheridan Elks about starting a youth rodeo. The Elks group gave the go ahead and Strauser launched into organizing what has become a premier event that draws competitors from several states. 48
competitors from all over is the opportunity to win a year lease on a new Ford F250 four-wheel drive XLT crew cab powerstroke diesel pickup, which is awarded to the senior all-around champion. The use of the pickup is provided by Fremont Motors. Prime Rate Moros/Jackson Trailer Sales donate a trailer for the youth all-around winner. Strauser said juniors, intermediates and seniors are all eligible to win the trailer, with is determined by the total points each contestant earns. “We’ve had eight-year-olds win the horse trailer and we’ve had seniors win the horse trailer,” Strauser said. Contestants between seven and seventeen are eligible for the all-around youth award, Strauser said. The winner will receive the loaded Jackson three horse slant load gooseneck trailer with a walk-in tack compartment. The reserve champion will receive a $2,000 scholarship and the reserve runner-up will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
To be eligible for the all-around youth award, the contestant must designate at least two and up to five events on their entry form to be accumulated for points. These points will be awarded on a one rider, one horse basis. Points from both go arounds will be combined. Strauser explained they went to a point basis in a maximum number of 5 events for the all-around to make In 2015, Strauser said the rodeo had 26 events and the contest fair for all age groups. Since the seniors can attracted contestants from 12 states. They averaged 994 compete in 10 events, intermediates in 8 events and entries each day and gave away cash and awards of $71,896 juniors in 5 events, seniors would have an advantage in to the contestants. the all-around competition if points were accumulated in every event a contestant competes in. This year’s event will be the 24th annual rodeo. It is scheduled for August 27-28 at the Sheridan County All-around awards will also be presented to each age Fairgrounds in Sheridan, Wyoming. “Over the years, we’ve group from a two-day accumulated total. The senior added events and managed to increase the awards, ” all-around winner will receive the pickup. The reserve Strauser said. “We have also increased the participation.” senior all-around will receive a $2,000 scholarship and In 2008, they also added a saddle as an award in the the reserve runner-up will receive a saddle. The peewee division in hopes of getting more youth to compete intermediate and junior all-around winners will receive in that division. “Suddenly, we had twice as many peewee saddles. The reserve champion winners in those competitors,” he said. “We feel it is important to keep the divisions will receive custom made breast collars and peewees interested in rodeo because we don’t want to run headstalls with a Tom Balding custom bit. The reserve out of seniors competing in the event someday. We really runner-ups will receive belt buckles. cater to the peewees.” Strauser noted that children as young as two and a half competed in the peewee division. Strauser said day money will also be awarded in all events for each go around for junior, intermediate and A couple of the highlights of the rodeo that draws in senior age groups. 49
For participants under age six, every contestant will receive a participation ribbon. The winner in each event will receive a trophy. A large trophy will be presented to the all-around winner. Strauser said this will be repeated in the second go around. A saddle will be awarded to the two-day all around winner, and a buckle to the runner-up based on total points for both days. Peewee events are polebending, barrel racing and goat tail tying. Junior events are pole bending, barrel racing, goat tail tying, flag race and ribbon race. Intermediate events are pole bending, barrel racing, goat tying, flag race, ribbon race, breakaway roping, daily team roping and steer stopping. Senior events are pole bending, barrel racing, goat tying, flag race, ribbon race, breakaway roping, daily team roping steer stopping, ribbon roping and tie down calf roping. All of the events are open to both boys and girls. Teams can be any combination – girl-girl, boy-boy, or boy-girl. Entry fees are $7 per event for peewees and $28 per event for juniors (age 7-9), intermediate (age 10-13) and seniors (14-17). There are additional fees for stock charges, stalls, office and fairgrounds use. Entry forms for this year’s event can be downloaded from the Elks Youth Rodeo website: www.sheridanelks.org/rodeo/index.htm They can also be ordered by mail: Elks Youth Rodeo P.O. Box 624 Sheridan, Wyoming 82801 Entry forms can be picked up at Fremont Motors in Sheridan, Western Services in Gillette, KLGT_KIX Country in Buffalo and Prime Rate Motors in Sheridan. Entry forms need to be postmarked by August 19, 2016.
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FOR SALE ON POLO FIELD
OPEN THE GATE AND PLAY POLO ON POLO FIELD • 7.6 ACRES IN TWO ADJOINING LOTS • WELL • SEPTIC • POWER • IRRIGATION CONTACT: SAM MORTON (561) 914-0915
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The polo community surrounding the Flying H Polo Club has embraced these young players and the training they experience can not be replicated . Over the years in Wyoming, since the inception of the Sheridan training program, the young players have received very focused training broken into segments; lectures, clinics, swing analytics, all pro practices and corresponding tape reviews. A recent interview with our Team USPA players, who brought home the Silver at the FIP World Championships in Chile, said that the most valuable thing they received from the experience was the opportunity to play four man professional polo with peers, which they attributed to taking their skill to the next level. This is the exact unique opportunity that is offered to professionals, young players and Team USPA at Flying H during the summer. All pro practices are hosted twice per week and the professional players not only get to hone their skills but also are able to scout the talent of the next generation of professionals. This training method is not unique to the United States; the Argentine polo community has developed the skills of generations of their children into professionals with
this technique. We are grateful that Skey and Gillian Johnston and Jimmy Newman have embraced this method and allow us to train in this manner. Videotape reviews of Team USPA practices allow the mentors to review the games on a regular basis focusing on horse performance, strategy and swing analysis. “The ability to watch your mistakes on video is priceless in taking a player to the next level,” says Adam Snow, Team USPA mentor. Players in the all pro games are invited to the tape review adding to the learning process. On a Monday night at Box Cross Ranch, you will find anywhere from 10-15 young players and seasoned professionals evaluating, critiquing and cajoling each other’s plays. The atmosphere is lively and always a good time. While Umpiring is not a sexy and is often the object of contention, learning the rules of the game and the framework that the professional umpires call the game is invaluable to the advancement of a player. It is well known that the top players who master the rules, master the game. Flying H has one of the best umpire instructors that the USPA has to offer at our disposal,
team
uspa
The oral and living history of polo is alive and well in Wyoming! by kris bowman
The phrase “It takes a village” could not ring more true in what it takes to prepare a player for professional polo. With all of the successes that Team USPA has had over the past three years in the high goal, many of these players have felt many helping hands to raise them up to the top.
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Carlos Galindo. Carlos is not only an accomplished polo professional and horse trainer, but also the head umpire for the Flying H season. Carlos spends an enormous amount of time working with the Team USPA players sharpening their skills on umpire procedures, ball placement and of course, the rules of the game. “Learning how to use the rules to your advantage as a player is key,” says Galindo. Most games are won or lost by the team who commits the least amount of fouls”. Another component to the Team USPA and young player-training program is the organized lectures and clinics. There is a wealth of knowledge revolving around the training of the young horse in Sheridan on both sides of the fence. The names are too many to list, however each summer Brendon Whittle spends time exposing the players to some of his finer training tips and his own personal style of training that has led to so much success in the high goal for Coca-Cola. Gillian Johnston spends a day opening up the world of her world-renowned breeding operation to the young players. Bloodlines, the science of embryos and stallions are foreign to many youth today. Boone Stribbling gives his time to lecture and teach. Troy Lequerica and Shane Rice have an open door policy with the kids. If the Team USPA players take the time to come over, they will take the time to help them with their horse problems. This type of access to many of the top green-horse trainers such as the Connells, the Goses, Sylvestries , Galindos, Elordis, Dudman, and Beckman all in the same geographic area is unheard of in modern polo. Beyond green-horse training and clinics there is strategy, horsemanship, and bits and bitting sessions that allow generations of experience and knowledge to be shared with these players. Advice is readily available from Charles Smith, Tommy Wayman, Julio Arellano, Carlucho Arellano, Hector Galindo, Adam Snow, Owen Rinehart, Shane Rice, and so many others who focus on key segments of polo that these young players need as building blocks to get to the next level. These components are a short cut gleaned out of lifetimes of experience. Mentoring professionals who make time, year after year to play and coach in the Team USPA practices include Nick Morrison, Sugar Erskine, Brad Blake, Gonzalo Teves and Gonzalo Del A Fuente. Their 56
contribution of time and attention is priceless and the advice given during these games is career changing for these young players. Each summer Veterinarian Paul Wollenman provides a hands on lecture about essential vet care for a polo professional. He goes above and beyond to educate these players and provide them with economical solutions as well as stream lining the overwhelming amount of information to the most important areas of focus. Last year there were cadaver legs splayed across the front yard of the Big Horn Club House allowing kids to see what is really going on inside of their horse’s legs. This is not an everyday experience! Outside of the horse and polo focus there are requirements of giveback to the local polo club and polo school. While training in Sheridan, the players donate their time in umpiring and assisting in the polo school. An element of personal fitness was added several years ago by the Beal family, and now their trainer, Ryan Leeton trains the players in physical fitness. Georgia Boley, a local nutritionist also provides the yearly discussion on an optimum athletes diet. The professional athlete has so many facets to master to keep pace with others in their sport. It is a very competitive environment. While not all players make the cut to become professional players, they do take the lessons learned back to improve their clubs across the nation. The time spent on youth, is time well spent. Kris Bowman lives in Aiken, South Carolina and is the Executive Director for USPA Polo Development LLC.
understanding
NUMBERS & POSITIONS
on the field 01
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The Number 1 is the most offensive position. This player covers/marks the opposing teams’ number 4.
The Number 3 is the tactical leader on the field and must be able to hit long shots to his numbers 1 and 2, as well as maintain a solid defensive position. (Usually the highest rated player on the team.)
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04
The Number 2 is the most difficult position to play. This player plays an important offensive role, by running through and scoring or feeding the ball to his number 1. Defensively, this player covers the opposing teams’ number 3.
The Number 4 is the primary defensive player and can move anywhere on the field. As a good defender, this player allows the number 3 to commit to more offensive plays knowing he/she will be covered from behind if the ball is lost.
Each of the 4 players on a team wears a jersey with the number 1, 2, 3 or 4 on his or her back. Each number corresponds to their assigned position. 57
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breathtaking vision of the Mountain West, Sheridan is Wyoming’s emerald city. Historic downtown doors swing wide open to extend a warm hospitality as legendary as the icons and outlaws that once roamed these parts, while fabled history and dramatic mountain vistas meet western graces and the serenity of wide open spaces. This is a place where cowboys convene over craft beer and coffee, where pronghorn spring over canvasses colored with Indian Paintbrush, and where the majestic peaks of northern Wyoming stand forever proud. Fabled cowboys once kicked up their boots at the Sheridan Inn, while modern mavericks revel in Old West charm at Sheridan’s bistros, cafes and brewpubs. And while Sheridan boasts outdoor attractions and western allure to spare, some of the region’s grandest secrets are often kept close to the vest. That’s what I love most about Wyoming’s cultural capital – on Monday I can hold court with rabble-rousers at the Black Tooth Brewing Co., where head brewer Travis Zeilstra slings perfect pints of Bomber Mountain Amber; on Tuesday I can slip back in time with a visit to the historic Sheridan Inn or the Mill Inn, and rub shoulders with legends of the Old West; on Wednesday I can make the short drive up Highway 14, and sneak in an hour of ATVing before I have to be at work; on Friday I can lose myself in Neltje Doubleday Kings’ abstract masterpieces at the Sagebrush Community Art Center; and come Saturday I can conquer epic peaks in the high country, while hidden lakes, vast wilderness, and uncharted territory spread out before me.
It is that mountainous, rugged terrain I turn to when I need an escape from the everyday. The Bighorns have become a part of my character, a line in my own personal dictionary definition. The mountains are only ever as far away from the city as I need them to be; my escape can take me 30 miles into the Cloud Peak Wilderness on a 3-day backpacking tour, or ten minutes from the nearest trailhead, when I need a quick breath of mountain air and a sunset vista after a long
by flash parker Sheridan travel and tourism
sheridan, WY
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day of work. The gateway to this experience is the Red Grade Road, a dirt track that winds a serpentine path up the mountain, clinging precariously in places to cliffs while offering incredible views of the rolling foothills below. I’ve climbed the Red Grade hundreds of times since my first visit to Sheridan five years ago, often en route to my wife’s family cabin, sometimes so I can zip down the mountain on my bicycle, others so I can track nigh-impossible lines on my sled. One of my favorite destinations is the Coffeen Park Trailhead, a grand entrance to the Cloud Peak Wilderness. My most memorable Wyoming adventure began on a perfect summer day, under a canopy of green at Coffeen; we met my wife’s folks and her sister and brother-in-law for a pack trip for the ages. My wife’s family has been exploring the Bighorn Mountains for generations; they have one of the oldest cabins in the area, which they’ve used as a base camp for pack trips, adventures on horseback, winter excursions, and more. Ahead of our 4-day, 3-night odyssey, I must have stuffed and re-stuffed my backpack a dozen times, ensuring each sack of trail mix, every camera battery, and all the biodegradable toilet paper I could scrounge up were in their proper place. We were set to trace one of my wife’s grandmother’s favorite routes from Coffeen Park; following the East Fork of Big Goose Creek, we would run alongside Lake Geneva, climb to moutain-backed Crystal Lake, skirt the high-country plateau at picturesque Robin Lake, then chart our own adventure at Paint Rock Creek. And from the moment we crossed the threshold of the Bighorn National Forest into the Cloud Peak Wilderness, I knew that we were exploring a special place. There’s an aura about the Bighorns that can be difficult to express in words: there’s a quiet that’s not quite quiet, with elk bugling in the distance, streams babbling below the trail, and trout plip-plopping in the alpine lakes. And there’s a sense of grandeur in the vastness; during our four days in the wild, at the height of Wyoming’s travel season, we came across one Boy Scouts troupe, a runner training for a mountain marathon, and a hardy wildlife photographer bent on capturing moose in their natural habitat. If a place this perfect were anywhere else in the country, I have no doubt we would have been lined up single-file just for the opportunity to glimpse at the same experience. 60
We picnicked in open fields while white-tailed deer dashed into the woods around us, told stories under stars that sparkled off of Crystal Lake, and dipped our toes onto the chilly waters of streams without names. We had a June snowball fight while wildflowers blossomed on hillsides, and made remarkable memories by saying yes to every fork in the road we encountered. On that first Bighorn adventure I learned that Sheridan’s outdoor opportunities are near limitless, whether you’re roaming the open range on horseback, backpacking unchartered territory or fishing pristine mountain lakes. Since that day I’ve strapped on my skis in some of the country’s most remote backcountry, climbed to unfathomable heights in the Cloud Peak Wilderness and nearby Tongue River Canyon, and biked miles of country trails with the mountains at my side. I’ve learned that a great escape is never more than a good idea away, that Sheridan is the trailhead to Wyoming’s boldest outdoor experiences, and that this tiny mountain town is the West the world dreams of. Many people have asked me since I took over as Executive Director of Sheridan Travel & Tourism last July why I would turn away from a thrilling career as a journalist and photographer to “stay in one place,” but the truth is, I haven’t. The only different between my job then and my job now is that I’m telling one story – Sheridan’s story – instead of someone else’s story every week. I’ve loved every moment of this job, and I take my responsibilities to heart. I often find myself thinking back to that first Bighorn experience whenever I’m asked why it is that I care about Sheridan the way I do.
The eye test suggests that our Historic Downtown businesses are busier than ever; take a walk down Main Street any day of the week, even on a blustery day in January, and you’ll see folks shopping, dining out, and embracing our arts and culture. Our events did big business last year – the WYO Rodeo was the smash hit it always is, Big Horn Country USA drew folk from across the nation, the Wyoming Theater Festival put Sheridan in the national arts spotlight, the 3rd Thursday Street Festivals gave us a reason to celebrate all summer long, Suds n’ Spurs became a regional craft event, and Don King Days captured the cowboy in all our souls for a weekend in September. I could go on and on, but the Press won’t give me the first four pages of the paper this month. Our hotels are filling up quickly, and we’re driving more money into our local economy at a time when every dime counts.
Wyoming’s second largest industry, and generates roughly $98.5 million dollars a year (according to the 2014 Dean Runyan Associates Wyoming Travel Impacts Study) for Sheridan alone. That number includes $16.8 million dollars on accommodations, $23.7 million on food service, $14.2 million on arts, recreation and entertainment, and $16.9 million on retail sales – all told, travel and tourism supports nearly 1,000 jobs in our community.
Because Sheridan is a recreation and leisure destination of the finest caliber, and because we have a tremendous creative economy, a proud ranching history, a beautiful downtown, and the Bighorn Mountains on our doorstep, we are better prepared to weather the coming economic storm than many other communities in Wyoming. While energy might be down, tourism is up, and climbing; tourism is now
Shawn “Flash” Parker, Executive Director of Sheridan Travel & Tourism. For more information, please visit www.sheridanwyoming.org
We compete in a crowded market place for tourism dollars, but we’ve positioned Sheridan well, we market successfully and extensively, and we offer an array of great products, places, and people. I believe that we’re in poised for a great year in 2016 (and beyond), and I know that together we can do incredible things for the community we love, live, and work in.
2015 was a banner year for travel and tourism in Sheridan; we generated more lodging tax revenue than ever before, and we used those funds to market, promote, and sell Sheridan as a destination. We also used lodging tax funds to promote the products, businesses, and opportunities our community has created. Sheridan’s city-wide, 4% lodging tax is paid by visitors staying in Sheridan hotels, motels, B&Bs, cottages, and RV parks. It is not paid by any of our local residents. Lodging tax dollars are used by Sheridan Travel & Tourism to promote our Wyoming treasure as a destination for visitors; as such, the lodging tax is a driver for economic development, and we’re seeing incredible returns on our investment. 61
Twisted Hearts
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understanding
polo
terms and definitions
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME BASIC DEFINITIONS TO HELP SPECTATORS UNDERSTAND AND ENJOY WATCHING A POLO GAME CHUKKER
Term used for the period of play in polo - seven to seven and a half minutes long. There are six chukkers in a polo match.
BOWL IN
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unique twist
GOAL or SCORE
Anytime the ball crosses the line between the goal posts, regardless of who (including ponies) knocks it through.
on CLOTHING, BATH & HOME
FLAGMAN
An unofficial goal observer appointed to signal, by waving a flag over the head if a goal is scored or under the waist if no When the umpire starts or resumes the match by rolling the ball in, down the center of a line-up of players. A bowl in goal is scored. is also known as a throw in.
THIRTY-SECOND BELL
APPEAL
The Number 3 is the tactical leader on the field and must be able to hit long shots to his numbers 1 and 2, as well as maintain a solid defensive position. (Usually the highest rated player on the team.)
BUMP
When a player directs his pony into the side of an opponent’s pony.
FOUL
Whistle is usually blown for infractions of rules governing play on the field. It is usually blown for hazardous riding or improper use of the mallet. The umpire can award anything from a free goal to a free hit from a determined distance when a foul is called. 62
Old Gringo Johnny Was Chan Luu Lilla P Mavi Toms Sorel
Bell or horn heard thirty seconds before the end of the chukker. The end of the chukker is signaled by another bell or horn known as the final whistle.
OVERTIME
Overtime is sometimes played when a draw is reached at the end of the sixth chukker. A seventh chukker will resume until the final goal is scored.
HANDICAP
Each player has earned himself a handicap ranging from -2 to 10. The higher the handicap, the better the player.
SPARE PONY
Players have the option of using a spare or substitute horse during a chukker. This is done when their playing pony fatigues or is injured.
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