The Polo Weekly: October 17-23, 2017

the polo weekly

THE POLO PORCH

October 17-23, 2017 Houston/Brookshire Edition Thank you to the following sponsors for their generous financial support of this newsletter:

TOURNAMENT NEWS BPC League: Congratulations to Brown Bears/Lone Star OMS, winners of the Sealy Tractor Cup! For game and party photos, check out the blog at www.thepoloporch.com.

Pro Player of the Week Jorge Cernadas

Hometown: San Miguel del Monte, Buenos Aires, ARG Age he started playing: 10 Handicap: 4 League: HPC 12 Goal Team: Eureka What he enjoys when he’s not on the field: “Travelling and getting to know new places.”

What he loves about polo: “I love the horses and the speed of the game.”

Top left: Elle Seybold, Il Sogno del Cuore; Group photo (left to right): Brown Bears/ Lone Star OMS (in Tranquillo polo jerseys) - Alexis Ellison, Esteban Panelo, Drew Richardson (subbing for Will Brown), Ron Horne; Allure Development Group/Il Sogno del Cuore - Lucho Echezarreta, Ignacio Saenz, Oscar Acosta, Elle Seybold

Amateur Player of the Week Colleen Marks

USPA Centennial Cup Texas Youth Outdoor Challenge: Pecan Acres Polo Club invites the Houston polo community to cheer on the youth players at this Saturday’s tournament at Pecan Acres.

Games start at 3:30pm.

SOCIAL NEWS

League: HPC Club League Team: Cinco Canyon Ranch Age she started playing: 40

Photos from last year’s Halloween bash at ERG

SAVE THE DATE: Friday, October 27, Halloween Party Whether you’re feeling spooky, sexy or in a superhero mood, get your costume on for the second annual Halloween party at BPC! The Houston polo community and their guests are invited to attend. More details to come next week!

Off the field: “When I am not on the field, I volunteer with Habitat for Horses and manage an elk ranch in Fredericksburg.”

What she loves about polo: “I love the playerhorse connection the most. Horses are amazing animals! The camaraderie of the polo players and the competition itself is also a draw. Oh, and I love to drink margaritas after the games!”

www.thepoloporch.com

the polo weekly

THE POLO PORCH

October 17-23, 2017 Houston/Brookshire Edition Thank you to the following sponsors for their generous financial support of this newsletter:

Polo Technique with Eduardo Amaya

“Tomar el hombre es tomar la raíz del árbol.”

Playing Defense: The Rules of Riding Off & Bumping

There is a saying in polo, “to take the man is to take the root of the tree.” The expression “riding off” means to move or take someone out of the play. It can occur over a distance with the player disputing or warding off the ball.

The strength of the horse and the ability of the rider are important factors in the outcome of the ride off. Another situation occurs when one player “bumps” another, moving the opponent from the line of play with one strong action of one horse “bumping” into another while moving at the same speed.

Riding off and bumping must be done correctly, otherwise they can be very dangerous on the field. Therefore, it’s crucial that players understand and play by the following rules:

Michel Dorignac (pictured in the back) rides off Milo Dorignac shoulder-to-shoulder and at the same speed, as Milo carries the ball down the field towards the goal.

Used Tack and Equipment Want to sell your used tack or equipment?

If you would like to include it in our blog or newletter, contact jill@thepoloporch.com.

The Parting Shot

1) Riding off should be done between both horses at an angle of no greater than 45 degrees and shoulder-to-shoulder.

2) The contact should happen while both horses are moving at the same speed.

3) The elbows of both players should be tucked in at their sides.

If the angle of contact is greater than 45 degrees, the riding off or bump occurs behind the girth, or the speed between the horses is different, an accident can easily occur. Knowing how to safely and successfully ride off or bump another player is one of the most important aspects of playing good defense and playing a good game overall.

Eduardo Amaya is an international polo instructor and consultant. For more of his tips, check out www.pololine.com. He is available for private lessons in the Houston and Brookshire area. www.amayapolo.com

ONLINE RESOURCES Professional players enjoying time together off the field at last Friday’s BPC party.

From left to right, Luis Echezarreta, Cesar Ara, Jorge Cernadas, Esteban Panelo, Tete Grahn, and Geronimo Obregon.

PoloLine: www.pololine.com Polo Quarterly Magazine: poloquarterlymagazine.com Polo Skilz: poloskilz.com

www.thepoloporch.com