NOVEMBER 2019
P L AY E R S’ E D I T I O N
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CONTENTS
P L AY E R S’ E D I T I O N
N OV E M B E R 201 9
VOL. 23,
FEATURES 28 Women Warriors
NO. 3
DEPARTMENTS 6
by U.S. Polo Association
Plank Companies Inc. captures inaugural Women’s PCO
34 Baby blues by Jaymie Klauber
Association News
USPA Bulletin Governor spotlight
12 Instructors Forum
What to expect when a foal is on the way
by Bradley Biddle
14 Usefuls
by Susan Elizabeth Wise
16 Equine Athlete NOVEMBER 2019
TION P L AY E R S’ E D I
OUR COVER Jaymie Klauber bred and trained Ice Ice Baby. Photo by Marc Ellis A breed apart
18 22 26 40 44 60 64
by Heather Smith Thomas Polo Scene News, notes, trends & quotes
Polo Development Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Polo in the Pampas Polo around the Globe Yesteryears Calendar
48 Polo Report La Karina triumphs in USPA North American Cup
$5.00 US/$5.50 Canada
OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN SIGNED COLUMNS ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLISHERS OF THIS MAGAZINE.
2 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
P L AY E R S’ E D I T I O N THE
OFFICIAL MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE
UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION
Editor & Publisher
GWEN D. RIZZO
Contributing Editors
HEATHER SMITH THOMAS, ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ, ALICE GIPPS, CHRIS ASHTON, TOM GOODSPEED
Editorial Board BOB PUETZ, TONY COPPOLA, TOM BIDDLE, DAWN WEBER, AMI SHINITZKY
Art Director DAVID BEVERAGE Prepress PUBLISHERS PRESS Advertising & Editorial Offices USPA Member Subscription Inquiries (800) 232-8772 OR FAX (888) 341-7410 ldolan@uspolo.org
General Subscription Inquiries 9011 LAKE WORTH RD, LAKE WORTH, FL 33467 (561) 968-5208 gwen@poloplayersedition.com
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©Copyright 2019 by United States Polo Association.. No part of this issue may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic or electronic process without written permission of the publisher. Paul Brown illustrations are ©2018 and are reprinted by permission of Paul Brown Studios, Inc., P.O. Box 925, Hedgesville, WV 25427. Subscription rates: $45/one year, $78/two years. Other countries (air mail), $78 drawn on U.S. bank/one year, $144 drawn on U.S. bank/two years. (GST:134989508). Subscription problems call (561) 968-5208. VOL. 23, No.3 POLO Players’ Edition (ISSN #1096-2255) is published monthly by Rizzo Management Corp. for U.S. Polo Association, 9011 Lake Worth RD, Lake Worth, FL 33467. Periodicals postage paid at West Palm Beach, FL and additional mailing offices. (USPS: 079-770). POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Polo Players’ Edition, 9011 Lake Worth RD, Lake Worth, FL 33467. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement No. 40612608. Canada Returns to be sent to Imex Global, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2.
4 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
U S PA B U L L E T I N
Governor-at-Large Results The following is the list of governor-at-large candidates who have been elected for office by the playing members of the association. The list is in alphabetical order and is in no way reflective of the order in which the candidates received votes: Julio Arellano Steve Armour Chrys Beal Mike Carney Cecelia Cochran Pamela Flanagan Tom Gose Chris Green Vicky Owens Peter Rizzo Robin Sanchez Charles Smith Please join the association in congratulating this group and extending a sincere thanks to all the candidates for their participation in the election and passion for the sport of polo. Tournament Database Launches The USPA recently launched a new online tournament database, providing a central location for electronic tournament applications, roster entry and tournament results. After logging into the member portal on uspolo.org and viewing their profiles, club delegates can access the database by clicking on the tab titled “Tournaments.” They will then be given the option to select “Tournament Application Form” or “Roster/Results Entry.” Tournament Application Form Online applications for national, sanctioned and circuit tournaments are only accessible to clubs that are in good standing with the USPA. Club dues must be paid for the current year and club insurance must be up to date. Using the drop-down options, select the type of 6 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
tournament you would like to host and fill in all fields as they apply to your tournament. If you are applying for a circuit or national event with a boardset handicap level, the goal level will be set automatically and you will not be able to adjust it. If the event does not have a board-set handicap level, you can manually adjust the levels to your desired limit by sliding the handicap bar or typing it in. All information on the second page must be completed before given the option to advance to the final pages. Once an application is submitted, it will automatically be sent out for approvals and processing. The club delegate will be notified via email when the application is approved or denied. If the application is approved, delegates will be sent an approval email with a link prompting them to submit team rosters. Roster /Results Entry Once the tournament year and title have been selected, you will be directed to the roster entry page. When entering rosters, full names, handicaps and membership status will be pulled directly from the USPA membership database. All team members must be registered or affiliate players with a proper handicap rating to be eligible to participate in any USPA event. If players are in good standing, their names will show up in green. If players are not in good standing, their names will show up in red. If the team is eligible to participate in the tournament and the aggregate team handicap falls within the limits specified for that tournament, the team will be highlighted in green. If the aggregate team handicap does not fall within the specified limits, it will be highlighted in red. Once all team rosters have been entered, continue to “Enter/Edit Games” and “Enter Tournament Details.” If you have any questions about the tournament database, please contact tournament coordinator, Kaila Dowd at (561) 517-1652 or via email at tournaments@uspolo.org. National Tournaments Available USPA Member Clubs are encouraged to apply for one of the prestigious national tournaments listed below that are available to be awarded for 2020: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
National Twenty Goal (16-20 goal) North American Cup (16-20 goal) Continental Cup (12-16 goal) Eastern Challenge (12-16 goal) Heritage Cup (12-16 goal) Regional Classic-Western (10-14 goal)
U S PA B U L L E T I N
7. Association Cup (4-8 goal) 8. National President’s Cup (4-8 goal) 9. Regional President’s Cup (4-8 goal) 10.National Arena Chairman’s Cup (9-12 goal) 11.National Arena Delegate’s Cup (6-9 goal) 12.National Sherman Memorial (3-6 goal) 13.National Arena Amateur Cup (0-3 goal) 14.National Arena Challenge Cup (any level) The USPA offers several benefits for hosting a USPA national tournament, including awards provided for the winners and runners-up, a customized Best Playing Pony blanket, promotional assistance provided through weekly member email, web and social media, as well as umpire reimbursement through USPA Umpires, LLC. Additionally, winners will be published in the USPA Blue Book. Women’s Tournament Incentives The USPA Women’s Committee, in an effort to increase the number of women’s tournaments held in the United States, would like to allocate a portion of its budget to reimburse certain expenses for USPA member clubs that host a USPA women’s tournament at their club. USPA national women’s tournament: $1,500.00 USPA sanctioned women’s tournament: $250.00 USPA circuit women’s challenge: $250.00 USPA circuit arena challenge: $250.00 Requirements: All tournaments are subject to approval from the circuit governor or the USPA Tournament Committee. • Funds are limited and will be approved on a firstcome, first-served basis. • Funds can be used in addition to any other available USPA funds and reimbursable expenses, including marketing, announcing, flagging and tournament social events • Non-reimbursable expenses, including umpires and trophies For more information or to apply, contact Membership and Handicap Director Lindsay Dolan: ldolan@uspolo.org. Membership Renewal It is that time of year again! Renew your USPA membership for 2020. The fastest and most efficient way to renew your membership is through the USPA website (www.uspolo.org). To ensure your membership benefits continue uninterrupted, please renew no later than Dec. 31. When renewing, please ensure your
contact information, including your email and mailing address is current. If you require a paper renewal, please send a request to membership@uspolo.org. Frequently Asked Questions: Why can’t I pay my membership by phone? The USPA requires every member to accept the “Terms and Conditions.” This can be done quickly by logging onto the member portal on uspolo.org or by mailing in the completed membership renewal forms. Why can’t two members use the same email? Our membership database uses e-mail addresses as a unique identifier. All information, such as handicap, member status and club affiliation, is tied to an email address and cannot be used for another member. How do I obtain a handicap? To obtain a USPA handicap, the delegate at the club with which you are affiliated must send a recommendation via email to handicaps@uspolo.org. This recommendation is then sent to the circuit handicap chairman and national handicap chairman for approval. How long does it take to obtain a handicap? A handicap takes up to two weeks to be obtained. If you plan on playing in a USPA tournament, please make sure to allow sufficient time to receive a confirmed handicap. John Deere TS Gator Giveaway This year, in conjunction with the USPA Polo Plus Discount Program, USPA member clubs will be eligible to win a John Deere TS Gator. The member club with the highest cumulative discount program dollar amount spent by its members during 2019 will receive the John Deere TS Gator grand prize. Second and third place will also be eligible for prizes. The club that comes in second place will receive a custom 10 x 20 tent and a Yeti cooler. Third place will receive a set of custom goal posts and a box of Texas Polo polo balls. In addition, all members that utilize the discount program with any of the participating companies will be entered into a drawing for a $500 Tackeria gift certificate. A full list of participating companies and current club standings leaderboard can be found on uspolo.org. • Published by the United States Polo Association Offices at 9011 Lake Worth Rd., Lake Worth, Florida 33467 • (800) 232-USPA Chairman: Chip Campbell President: Tony Coppola Secretary: Stewart Armstrong Treasurer: Sam Ramirez Chief Executive Officer: Robert Puetz
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 7
U S PA B U L L E T I N
Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Deadlines If you have an I/I team competing this season, make sure you don’t miss out on any of the upcoming deadlines!
Don’t miss out on all the fun! Be sure you meet all deadlines for competing collegiate teams.
Intercollegiate Deadlines: Full-time student check: December 4 Tournament entry fee: December 4 USPA player & club membership: December 31 Registrar & academic forms: January 31 Score sheets: January 31
Interscholastic Deadlines: Tournament entry fee: December 11 Player & team paperwork: December 11 USPA player & club membership: December 31 Score sheets: January 8 For questions on I/I paperwork contact Ali Davidge at adavidge@uspolo.org. Intercollegiate Polo Club Catalog Interested in playing polo in college? Don’t miss out on the USPA Intercollegiate Polo Club Catalog! The intercollegiate catalog has a list of all current participating intercollegiate polo teams, along with contact information, program information and school statistics. To view the intercollegiate catalog check out the bookshelf on uspolo.org. To learn more about your college options contact Ali Davidge by email at adavidge@uspolo.org. Horse Donations I/I teams rely on the generous horse donations from members like you! If you are interested in rehoming your pony to support the next generation of polo players, please reach out to your local I/I team or contact Amy Fraser by email at afraser@uspolo.org to help locate a program in need.
Young Player Opportunity Grant The Young Player Opportunity Grant is intended to provide funding for youth players to use for opportunities that will cultivate, train, develop and educate American polo players age 19-and-under in an effort to enhance their playing ability at a young age. Applicants are encouraged to present a thoughtful plan when seeking support for unique training or playing opportunities outside of polo regularly available to them. Applications for 2020 will be accepted beginning December 1. Application requirements and funding guidelines are available on uspolo.org. 8 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
U S PA B U L L E T I N
Leighton Jordan
A driving force in the Northeastern Circuit but I was the only one who stayed with it. I learned to ride at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, Connecticut, where I played broom polo for the first time and that’s how it started. It was never a goal of mine to enter the competitive show circuit while I was there, instead I really enjoyed riding for pleasure. When I went off to Skidmore in Saratoga Springs, New York, they had a riding facility in place. During my sophomore year, in 1975, two colleagues approached me who had previously PETER T. MICHAELIS
A
s one of the founders of the Skidmore College polo team, USPA Northeastern Circuit Governor Leighton Jordan has been instrumental in the formation and success of multiple regional polo clubs over the decades, honing his skills specifically in high goal. Credited with reintroducing Saratoga to its polo history, Jordan utilized his degree in business administration and connection to businessman and art collector Peter Brant to create the Saratoga Polo Association right out of college, the first in a series of polo ventures. Tirelessly dedicating himself to the oversight of polo operations as managing director of Greenwich Polo Club, the father of four (two boys and two girls) also has an established career with Brant’s White Birch Paper Co., granting him the freedom to enjoy both his hobby and livelihood. Spending summers on the water in the Village of Quogue, Long Island, Jordan’s leisure time consists of sailing, gardening and playing tennis or golf when he is not with his kids. Having a natural affinity for the interests of intercollegiate polo, Jordan remains heavily involved by serving on the board of his alma mater and that of nearby Yale Polo & Equestrian Center in Bethany, Connecticut. Born and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, Jordan is leaving a lasting legacy that extends beyond the borders of his circuit, his efforts ushering in polo players from all corners of the world.
What attracted you to the role of circuit governor? I was elected in 2014 so I’ve served as circuit governor for five years. My predecessor and friend Peter Poor had termed out as northeastern circuit governor and I felt that after all my years of being involved in polo from intercollegiate to high goal that I could serve the territory well. I enjoyed visiting all of the clubs in the circuit because I love traveling the area. I love Connecticut, it’s my home! My day-today full-time sales job allows me to travel the New England area for work so I felt the stars were aligned because I actually could do the job and add value.
What is your equestrian background and how did you become involved in polo? My mother rode so I grew up with trail and pleasure horses. I have five brothers and sisters and at one point or another we all got on a horse,
played polo and they needed one more person to play in the arena. Together, we started an intercollegiate team and this is where my passion for polo began. I’d been around polo with Adie von Gontard in Fairfield for several years, but I’d never played before college. Once I got on the horse and hit my first ball at Skidmore I was hooked.
Leighton Jordan greets guests at Greenwich Polo Club before they bowl-in the ball to start the match.
What is one of your favorite polo memories? I met world-class steeplechase rider and 8-goaler Pete Bostwick up in Saratoga Springs in 1980. He had come up with his son Charlie Bostwick (who I went to boarding school with at Millbrook School). He came over to me and said, ‘are you Leighton Jordan?’ He said he had to talk to me so I went to his trailer and strapped to the outside of the side of the trailer was a bright blue wooden side board. He POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 9
CHICHI UBINA
U S PA B U L L E T I N
three weeks just to play polo. That trip was the time of my life.
What would someone be surprised to learn about you? When I attended boarding school at the Millbrook School in Millbrook, New York, I had two horses, one for foxhunting and one for driving. I foxhunted in Fairfield and Millbrook where I attended school for two years. I also had a single carriage horse that I drove and other horses I rode for pleasure. Since I was 13 years old, foxhunting had always been a part of my life and I thoroughly enjoyed it until I started playing polo. Once I picked up a mallet, all I wanted to do after that was play polo!
How did you get involved in building and running your first club?
Leighton Jordan has been involved in polo since his college days.
PETER T. MICHAELIS
Leighton Jordan, Mariano Aguerre and George Dupont enjoy a lighthearted moment.
said, ‘that’s yours, that’s the board that came off of this field [converted into Saratoga Polo Association] in 1932 when I played in the last game. I took all the boards back to my club and I’m returning this board back to the club so you have something to keep.’ The fact that he came up to me and knew who I was--it was a really cool experience. Also, when I was a junior, I went with three classmates to Scotland, Ireland and England for
10 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
My senior year of college, in 1978, we invited Oxford’s intercollegiate team over [from England] and they played Harvard and then they came to Skidmore. The college and the town of Saratoga Springs went all out to host Oxford polo team and we played on the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Saratoga. It was a huge marketing success because NBC News and the New York Times covered the event. At that event someone mentioned that it was great to see polo back in Saratoga because back in the 20s and 30s there was a polo field. I was curious and ended up finding the old field in 1978 that the Whitney family had built, which was abandoned in the 1930s. Peter Brant was invited soon after to visit the site and he decided to fund the project of restoring the field. A year later, William S. Farish III increased the support and became co-owner and chairman of the newly formed Saratoga Polo Association. I worked to secure sponsors, started a magazine and with many advising and helping, ran the club for 15 years. We had major sponsors and 20- and 26-goal teams with some of the best players in world at that time, so that was my entrance into the world of high goal. I was just out of college so I remember feeling in awe that the first club I ran hosted greats like Memo Gracida and Gonzalo Pieres. After Saratoga Polo was sold, Peter Brant, Neil Hirsch and I built Bridgehampton Polo Club on Long Island, and the first game we had 4,000 people show up. The Hamptons area had never been exposed to professional polo before and through the combined efforts of Brant, Hirsch and corporate sponsor Mercedes Benz, the club was
U S PA B U L L E T I N
PETER T. MICHAELIS
heavily promoted. We had very successful Saturday events in the summertime and I ran that club for an additional 15 years.
What have you accomplished as circuit governor that you are most proud of? I have focused on getting the USPA more involved with umpiring and financial support for clubs. When I visit a club that has no contact with the USPA and I tell them there are PDI grants, umpiring programs and other training programs they can take advantage of, they are excited to hear about it. Every one of these clubs is built by the individual with his or her own money and time, and if the USPA, through programing, can help and support clubs, that’s great. It is not about us getting new players, it is really up to the clubs to build players and tournaments. For example, Farmington Polo Club was a large club that closed and started back up so helping them get started again by utilizing USPA programs has been wonderful. I love supporting and utilizing the programs that the USPA offers because our association does provide support for the clubs if you know how to use it. Our ability to assist clubs will continue to increase over time.
Tell us more about your career in the newspaper business. I am a regional sales manager with the Brant family’s White Birch Paper Co. and I have worked there for 40 years. White Birch Paper is a privately held company and the second largest newsprint producer in North America. We manufacture newsprint for newspapers such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Chicago Tribune. I’ve been with the company ever since I graduated college in 1979. I worked for three generations of the family, Murray Brant (Peter’s father), Peter Brant, and Christopher Brant (Peter’s son), and it feels like I’ve only been here for a year. I love what I do and I still enjoy coming to the office and the people I work with after all these years. The sales environment has allowed me to maintain this lifestyle and have the freedom of flexibility for polo.
Why are you passionate about the game of polo? I was hooked on the sport from my first game at Skidmore. Riding is an individual sport, but in polo, all of a sudden you are adding a team dynamic. I never played team sports prior to polo. I did tennis, sailing, and skiing, which are all individual sports so it’s a big adjustment mentally. In college, we brought kids from the hockey team over to play polo and they were usually better positioned from the start because they understood how to play on a team. They would be at the ball and they knew how to position themselves, whereas you had someone who could ride, but wouldn’t know where to go. It is a very different mindset to switch from thinking as an individual versus a member of a team, so I always found that people who played team sports picked up the game a little faster. When I jumped off that horse after my first intercollegiate polo game, I said to myself, ‘that was the most fun I’ve ever had on a horse!’ and I never looked back, although I enjoyed foxhunting and driving. I remember one summer, I played six chukkers and they asked if I wanted to play the next game immediately after and I said, ‘yes give me another six!
Leighton and his daughter, Morgan, right, with Morgan’s friend, left, enjoy an afternoon of polo at Greenwich.
If you would like to contact Leighton about your club, reach him by phone at 203-913-9378 or leightonjordan@whitebirchpaper.com. • POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 11
INSTRUCTORS FORUM
Under the radar Tips for avoiding the umpires’ whistles by Bradley Biddle
SHELLEY HEATLEY
One of the most important things I teach players in regards to rules of the game is the importance of having good peripheral vision. Umpires are taught to have good peripheral vision but players should be aware of their surroundings too.
After you hit the ball, check to be sure you have the lesser angle than other players before trying to hit it again.
It is not usual to see what we call ball chasing. That is to say players will hit the ball when they are by themselves and they will try to hit the ball again regardless of the angle they hit the ball. When you aren’t aware of your surroundings and who is around you, that is when you create a potentially dangerous situation. That is when the umpire gets involved and blows the whistle. Just because you were the last to hit the ball,
12 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
doesn’t automatically mean you get to hit it again. If the ball leaves your mallet at an angle, another player may have a lesser angle than you, so that player would have the right of way over you. Another play we take note of, in all levels of polo, is how an opponent defends a player who is carrying the ball on his offside and has established the right of way. It is not uncommon to see players, that don’t understand the overall concept of what the right of way is, draw the umpires’ whistles for shading because of the potential danger. A dangerous situation can occur when a player makes a back shot and while doing so, turns the horse over the back shot. Because of the natural course of how riders control their horses and how they lean, whether it be a nearside or offside, to make the back shot, the natural progression is to go in the direction you are leaning. If another player is behind you or on the side that you turn into, there is potential for a collision. Make a conscious effort to keep your horse straight or turn away from where you are hitting the back shot. That requires you to direct your horse by either keeping it straight or turning away using your leg and rein hand. It is also important that players know how to execute a ride-off safely. When making a ride-off, the rules require the horses to be about shoulder to shoulder; you must be going about the same speed; you must not be at an unsafe angle; mounts must be about the same size; you can’t use undue force; you can’t blind-side another player; and you must take into consideration if one of the horses is over-tired. You also have to be aware of the players around you. If you ride off an opponent into the path of another player, you have caused a dangerous situation and will likely draw the umpires’ whistles. Also, be sure that a teammate doesn’t ride off the same opponent at the same time. When you leave an opponent’s side, be careful not to slide across the front end or back end of the opponent’s horse. When this happens, it is not unusual to see one or both horses trip or even fall. Another consideration with ride-offs is, if you are on the opponent’s mallet side, be careful not to ride into the player’s stroke. (It is not a foul under international rules). When a player has the ball on
the offside, the rule states that the right of way extends from the outside of that hitter’s right stirrup going forward. An opponent can not violate that space and if he does, a violation of the right of way will likely be called. This goes back to blind-siding a player, but if the hitter is concentrating on the ball and you have a player ride up, it can be a really dangerous situation. To avoid that, stay out of the right of way and go for the hook instead. However, once the hitter hits the ball, if it is not a straight forward shot, such as an angle, open or neck shot, the defender may have the lesser angle. Many of these things go along with horsemanship. Having control of your horse at all times is imperative to avoiding a dangerous situation and thus the umpires’ whistles. Don’t go faster than you and/or your horse are comfortable going and know both of your limitations based on fitness level and the level of polo you normally play. A tired horse may get “heavy” and will be harder to stop and turn. If you are also tired, it may be even more difficult for you to maneuvre. As for making proper plays, keeping up with the rules, rule changes and rule interpretations helps, however, we are aware that sorting through the rules can be confusing. The Umpires, LLC. is trying to make it easier. We will have a new-and-improved library coming out next year with videos explaining different plays. The videos will help players understand how specific plays are called, however players have to take the time to watch them and make an effort to better understand the rules. It is also a good idea to practice some of the plays on the stick-and-ball field and in practices with teammates, the club pro or your own pro if you have one. Practice things like laying out angles when you hit the ball, making a clean ride-off and keeping your horse straight when you swing, particularly with back shots. When you are on the polo field, you can also make an effort to be more aware of your surroundings to avoid getting in anyone’s way. If you still find you are often catching the umpires’ attention, you can ask the umpires what you can do differently. More often than not, if you ask a polite question, you will get a polite answer. We are very open to discuss a potential concern with a player as long as it is in a calm, cool, comfortable manner, at least 30 minutes or so after a game. If a player prefers not to discuss the situation with the umpire, questions can be directed to the umpire staff, people like [Umpires, LLC. Executive Director] Charlie [Muldoon], Fergus Gould or me. We are more than happy to contact the umpire, hear what conversations there were with the player
SHELLEY HEATLEY
INSTRUCTORS FORUM
and help the player remedy the problem. Many times, an issue can be resolved by the player having someone take a video of a game or two. I encourage every club to video its games if possible. At the end of the day, when people bring up questions about umpiring, if we don’t have a video to review, I can only go by that player’s perception of the game. The player may think they were clear of the right of way, for instance, but when you look at the video, clearly they were not. Once they are able to see it for themselves, it becomes more clear. Players can even have someone videotape them stick and balling, practicing and playing games. They can submit the video to the Umpires, LLC. and we can review it and offer suggestions. •
When taking back shots, be sure to keep your horse straight or turn it away from your back shot.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 13
USEFULS
Mind, body & spirit Yoga offers many benefits for polo By Susan Elizabeth Wise
Polo is exiting, challenging and addictive; it is also very demanding both physically and mentally. Yoga is the perfect complement to help polo players stay fit, stay in the saddle and play their very best while remaining healthy and pain free. Most polo players love the speed and adrenalin of playing polo and yoga can seem too sedate and time consuming. Fortunately, you don’t have to sacrifice cardio and strength exercise when practicing yoga.
A Polo & Yoga Adventures trainer stretches out the Rocking P team, winners of the 2018 U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship.
There are great classes and methods of combining all three in formats such as “Cardio, Power, Flow” and “Sculpt.” These yoga practices include weights, resistance bands and high intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions woven in with the yoga stretches and flow sequences. Combining all three elements of stretching, strength and cardio provides for a wellrounded, thorough workout that can dramatically enhance your polo game. As everyone knows, yoga is great for stretching and flexibility, but yoga offers far more benefits. It can enhance a player’s strength, balance, rotation, stamina and focus—all extremely important elements in polo. The six elements of yoga that can directly translate into improving your polo game are: breath; core strength; rotation and twisting; balance; flexibility; and strength and focus. Practicing conscious deep breathing has proven to elevate your health in general, as you live in a hectic
14 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
world and rarely stray from your shallow breathing patterns. Deep focused breathing is known to nourish your body and calm your nervous system, but practicing a few minutes of methodical breathing before a polo game can have other benefits as well. By focusing on your breath, you are forced to become present in your body and mind—grounded. This grounding helps you to focus, to be more aware and to communicate better with your horses and teammates. If you remember to take deep breaths during the game it can bring you back to a calmer state, which will improve your performance. One other great benefit of being present is it allows you to soak up everything going on around you and reminding you for a moment how lucky you are to be playing polo. Core strength is the physical foundation of yoga. All strength, flexibility and rotation start with a focus on a strong, controlled mid-line of your body. Awareness of your mid-line and instigating all movements from this point results in holistic movements that optimize the potential of your body whether it be for balance, twisting, strength or all of them interplaying at the same time, as is necessary for polo. Your horses will also greatly appreciate if you can improve your balance! Yoga can be as gentle or demanding as you want—it is your practice and it can be different every day. Yoga provides an opportunity to learn to listen to your body and try to interpret what it needs at any given time. The key is to give it what it is asking for. Push it to the limits some days but give it a break when it is asking for it. Your longterm results will be far better if you learn to listen and respect what your body is asking for. Finding a local or online instructor you love is great but not the only way to incorporate the benefits of yoga into your life and polo. Just taking a few minutes in the morning when you wake up to do some conscious breathing, stretching and twisting sets you up for your day, and with repetition you will notice the difference in your flexibility and stamina on the field. Even more important than an extensive stretch prior to playing polo is taking a few minutes after you play to give your body the gift of a stretch and
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Carol Farnsworth shows off her balance and yoga skills during a sunset beach ride with Polo & Yoga Adventures in Costa Careyes, Mexico.
some conscious breathing. Most every muscle in your body will tense during play due to the physical requirements and the adrenalin of the competition. You put so much effort into getting yourself on the field to play, your body and mind deserve a dedicated moment to relax and stretch back out after you ride. Your body will thank you, you will recover more quickly and experience less pain. Simply throw down a towel on the field or by your trailer, breath into some stretches and take a moment to remember how lucky you are to be able to play this sport and interact with these incredible animals and exceptional people. If you are interested in receiving ideas for stretches and flows you can incorporate into your polo routine contact info@poloandyoga.com. Polo and Yoga Adventures also hosts Polo & Yoga trips, which include competitive, world class polo and tournaments along with yoga and other unique activities. For more information go to poloandyoga.com or @poloandyoga. •
70 Clinton Street • Tully, New York 13159 Phone/Fax 315-696-8036 • E-mail: dannypolo@aol.com
Ten-goal Adolfo Cambiaso has been winning in the Texas Polo Luxe Edition Saddle for eight seasons everywhere he plays: Florida, England and Argentina
DALLAS •www.Texaspolo.com • 214 - 720 - 0233 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 15
E Q U I N E AT H L E T E
Joint effort Arthroscopy is a reliable diagnostic and treatment tool By Heather Smith Thomas
ARTHROSCOPY, Dr. Carpenter performs arthroscopic surgery. Arthroscopy on the knees and hocks must be done with the horse lying down and anesthetized.
ALSO CALLED arthroscopic surgery, is a common procedure used in the diagnosis and treatment of problems inside a joint. The word arthroscopy comes from two Greek words: arthro, meaning joint, and scope, meaning look. Arthroscopic surgery is a way to take a look inside a joint; it is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which examination and treatment of damage is performed using an arthroscope—an endoscope that is inserted into the joint through a small incision.
16 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Ryan Carpenter, DVM (Equine Medical Center, Cypress, California) says there are several reasons why veterinarians do arthroscopic surgery. Most common would be to obtain more information or to resolve a problem. “Perhaps there is an abnormality showing up on a radiograph, like a chip in a joint. We can go in there arthroscopically and remove that chip,” he says. “Over the years as this technique was perfected, success rates have proven to be very good, and the outcomes are very good. Generally, the convalescent time for the horse is less than what it was in the past,” says Carpenter. Gary Baxter, VMD, MS (Hospital Director at University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia) says that arthroscopic surgery is a reliable diagnostic and treatment tool for most equine surgeons, and a mainstay for treating knees and ankles in racehorses and stifle problems in western performance horses. “Quarter Horse racehorse injuries can be a little bit different than in Thoroughbreds, because in general Quarter Horses tend to have multiple fragments and multiple joints involved. This may be related to the fact that they race at high speeds, which puts a great deal of force and concussion on those joints,” he explains. “In Quarter Horses the knees are the joints where we see the majority of issues—more knee injuries than fetlock problems. The injured knees tend to have multiple fragments and often in both knees. If you are going to X-ray one knee on a racehorse, you should X-ray both. Sometimes the other knee doesn’t show much clinical signs but still has a problem and it’s best to routinely investigate both knees,” Baxter says. “In terms of diagnostics, there are many advantages to using arthroscopy. For instance, you can’t really identify problems with the articular cartilage very well otherwise—even with some of the advanced imaging modalities. Arthroscopy is still often the best way to evaluate damage to the cartilage because we can actually look inside the joint and see the problem,” says Baxter. Carpenter says he uses arthroscopy a lot as a diagnostic tool. “Maybe the horse has a clean X-ray and there is nothing dramatic or obvious on the film but
E Q U I N E AT H L E T E
there is marked effusion and maybe some heat and swelling in the joint. Maybe we’ve even blocked it and pinpointed the problem to that region but the X-ray doesn’t really show us much. That’s when arthroscopy can be a nice diagnostic tool to give us more information. We can go into the joint and look at all the cartilage,” he says. “There may be some wear lines and score lines on the condyle that we couldn’t see on the X-rays, but now we have an idea about what’s going on in there. In those cases this can also give us a better idea what the prognosis is. For instance, I recently did surgery on a filly that had some sclerosis in her knee and the X-rays did not tell us much. We knew she was lame in that joint because we blocked her there, and she had some effusion there. The owner really liked this filly and I told the owner it would be worthwhile to put the scope in there and see what’s going on.” Finding out what the problem is can also make a difference in determining the expected recovery time. “Had we not done the arthroscopic surgery on that filly, we wouldn’t have known what the problem was, and we would have given her the standard 60 days off in hopes she would heal. Because we’d done the arthroscopy, however, we saw the extent of the cartilage damage, and now we will give her a full four months off—and she will have a much better chance for a complete recovery and successful return to work,” says Carpenter. “I tell people that if they are presented with two options—either giving the horse two months off and then putting the horse back to work and he doesn’t do well, or giving him four months off and he comes back and does well—it’s a no brainer which choice they would make. Once a client is committed to giving the horse time, whether it’s two, four or six months, it really doesn’t matter. What’s most important is that we know exactly what the injury is, and how much time this particular injury needs for healing, so we’ll have the best chance of having a successful outcome.” This is better for the horse and cheaper in the long run than going back to work too soon and re-injuring the joint or doing more damage. Taking more time off can be well worth it. In racehorses the injuries that require arthroscopic surgery are primarily knees and fetlock joints and only an occasional stifle injury or meniscus tear, whereas in polo ponies, western performance horses or any athlete that does a lot of stopping and turning at speed, there are more stifle injuries because those horses put a lot of stress on the hind legs. “The stifle joint is a good example of why we can’t just rely on one diagnostic modality,” says Carpenter. This is a large and complex joint. Radiographs can be
very helpful for one part, ultrasound is good for another part of the joint, and arthroscopy is good for the other part. “It’s not uncommon with stifle problems to use all three methods to get a good clinical picture to determine exactly what you are dealing with. If you left out one of those three pieces of information you might miss having the most accurate diagnosis,” he says. If a person is thorough in determining a diagnosis, there is more chance for a better outcome and better results for the horse. “If we only use one method and just say we are 90% sure about what we are dealing with, we will be correct nine out of 10 times, but there will be one out of 10 cases in which we won’t be right. If we can spend a little extra time in perfecting our diagnosis so we know exactly what we are dealing with, it suits everyone much better in the end,” says Carpenter. And with arthroscopy the surgeon will often have a chance to correct the problem at the same time—finding the cause and correcting it. Baxter says there has been a lot of research developing the MRI and CT to look at the articular cartilage. “There have been some good advances with these imaging techniques, but using an arthroscope not only allows you to identify the problem but to also potentially treat the problem at the same time. This is one of the advantages of arthroscopy over some of the other modalities we can use,” he says. “Our approaches for arthroscopic surgery have not changed very much over the years. In general, equine surgeons have just gotten better at it and are also using it in more synovial cavities. Veterinarians are often quicker today than in the past to want a look inside the joint if there is continual effusion/swelling. Usually there is some reason for swelling in the joint, even if we can’t see anything on radiographs.” It’s better to check it more closely than to wait and possibly incur more joint damage. “A lot of what we do with regard to diagnostics depends on circumstances, the value of the horse, etc. but in general any chronically swollen joint— particularly in a racehorse or any horse in an athletic career—usually means there is something going on in there that may need to be addressed. Historically, we’ve seen that radiographs almost always underestimate the amount of damage that you see inside a joint with a scope. We can radiograph them but often with a scope we find even more or larger fragmentation that we don’t see on the radiographs. We find more things when we use the arthroscope,” says Baxter. After the surgery there are many ways to treat the (continued on page 58) POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 17
POLO SCENE
N E W S • NO T E S • T R E N D S • Q U O T E S
CHUKKERSHEAD FOR CHARITY Nashville eventSubhead raises nearly $200,000
NISSAN’S 23RD ANNUAL Chukkers for Charity polo match, themed Divots & Downton: ‘An after-
noon of Polo & Ponies,’ hypnotized guests on Sept. 7 at Riverview Farm, hosted by Orrin Ingram. The signature event raised funds for Rochelle Center and Saddle Up!, featuring players from the U.S. and British Commonwealth. This year, the event raised nearly $200,000 for the charities. The Ironhorse Farms team included Tim Kyne, Aaron Barrett, Wes Finlayson and Stevie Orthwein. The Colonial Hill Farm team included Lexie Armstrong, Zulu Scott-Barnes, Max Secunda and Whistle Uys. Team sponsors John and Crispin Menefee’s Ironhorse Farms and Eleanor Menefee Parkes’ Colonial Hill Farm created a bit of sibling rivalry, as the opposing farm owners John and Eleanor are brother and sister. Team Ironhorse Farms prevailed with a score of 6-5 and Orthwein was named MVP. Attendees enjoyed the gorgeous day with a classic car show, cabana decorating contest, silent auction, petting zoo and the signature Jack Daniel’s “Mr. Jack’s Tea” cocktail. Additionally, patrons were served by The Daily Dish, with a menu featuring London chicken, classic English pork roast, buttered peas and carrots and roasted English-style potatoes.
Clockwise from top, left: Spectators enjoy the car show; Kids manuever their stick horses in a race; James and Lexie Armstrong; Sarah Darling sings the National Anthem
18 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
POLO SCENE
GAME FACE Azzaro newest global brand ambassador
U.S. POLO ASSN., the official brand of the USPA, recently announced Harrison
Azzaro has signed on as the newest member of its growing roster of global brand ambassadors. Now 19, Azzaro, son of former 10-goaler Mike Azzaro, has been playing professionally since he was 13. Born in Windsor, England, Azzaro traveled with his family wherever his father’s polo tournaments took them. In addition to summers in England, much of his childhood was spent in Wellington, Florida, and San Antonio, Texas, where his family owns Lonesome Wind Ranch. Currently a 1-goaler, Azzaro has a bright future ahead of him. He is also a talented horseman, having trained Beetletrick, a 7-year-old mare he raised from birth. She is the daughter of Beetlejuice, his father’s best horse that was honored as a Horses to Remember by the Polo Hall of Fame in 2014. As a global brand ambassador, he will be outfitted in U.S. Polo Assn. apparel and gear both on and off the field, will post regularly about his polo-related and other daily activities on social media and will fully engage in media requests for interviews and campaigns. “The authenticity of U.S. Polo Assn. means a lot to me since I grew up playing polo with my dad from an early age. I’m honored to have been chosen as an ambassador for a sport-inspired fashion brand that represents not only a style I wear, but also does so much for the sport of polo,” said Azzaro. “This opportunity will allow me to share my polo activities with the fans and followers of the sport I love.”
Harrison Azzaro
POLO PLAYER CARES Fundraiser for victims of Hurricane Dorian
THE DEVASTATION Hurricane Dorian left behind in the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahamas Island left a lasting impression on Grant Ganzi. The Lynn University junior and polo player recently started the Grand Champions Cares Bahamas Relief Fundraiser and reached out to the generous polo community, not only locally, but worldwide. The goal is $50,000 that will be used for basic essentials, including water, food, medical supplies, clothing, diapers and pet food. “This hits close to home,” Ganzi said. “It easily could have been us. Everything has been destroyed over there. I hope the polo community will step up and give something. Whatever they want to contribute. Anything will help.” A humanitarian crisis, the death toll has risen to 61 with hundreds of people still missing. At least 75,000 have been left homeless. “I have been to the Bahamas for the last five years, at least once a year,” Ganzi said. “Seeing the destruction in photos opens your eyes. I remember the destruction Irma and Matthew did to the British West Indies and Virgin Islands. “Knowing that could happen to us in Florida should be a big motivator for everyone. I know the tragedies and devastation hurricanes can cause. It’s a terrible thing that you don’t want to see happen any place in the world.” In early October, funds raised had reached $11,800. Ganzi’s parents Marc and Melissa matched the funding to bring the total to $25,000. A check for that amount was presented by Melissa Ganzi to Lisa Pinder of the Bahamas Red Cross on Oct. 3. To contribute, go to care.gcpolo.com via CrowdRise.
Grant Ganzi initiated a fundraiser for victims of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 19
POLO SCENE
GETTING BETTER Clinics for players and umpires held in California
THE LAKESIDE POLO CLUB in Lakeside, California, held an arena players’ clinic, sponsored by the USPA Arena Committee, Sept. 11-12. Robin Sanchez taught the two-day clinic, covering arenaspecific strategies, including hitting and defensive skills. The first day was for intercollegiate and interscholastic players, while the second day was open to all players at all levels. Fourteen students participated in the clinic over the two days. The following week, Sanchez headed to the OC Polo Club in Silverado, California, for a USPA Umpire, LLC. arena umpire clinic. Over a dozen members came out to improve their arena umpire skills.
Lakeside Polo Club’s arena players’ clinic attracted 14 people over two days.
Robin Sanchez, center in black shirt, held an arena umpire clinic at OC Polo Club.
20 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
POLO SCENE
HEALTHY POLO Benefit raises funds for children
THE PLAIN BAY POLO CENTRE in Wainfleet, Ontario, Canada, hosted its first-ever Polo for Health to
raise funds for the Niagara Health’s children’s health unit on Sept. 14. Club owner Phil Van der Burgt estimates the event raised about $20,000 through ticket sales, a silent auction and donations. Final numbers were not yet available. Van der Burgt wanted to give back to the community and approached Niagara Health Foundation last year about the idea of a polo charity event. The foundation’s development officer for events and community giving, Jillian Treadgold, was open to the idea and after the sold-out event was held, was even more excited about the possibilities. “It’s a great event. We’re excited about this partnership. We have a lot of plans to grow the event and make it bigger and better,” Treadgold told The Welland Tribune’s Dave Johnson. Hundreds of spectators, watching from either the VIP tent or a field-side tailgate spot, enjoyed two matches, skydivers, a police dog demonstration, a best hat contest and so much more. The first match saw Post Time (Alyssa Mann/Sabrina McLennon, Emma Langford, Brona Mayne, Tammy Van der Burgt) defeat Just Tents (Krista Pearce, Kat Gaulin, Hailee DeVries, Jourdan Stevenson/George Van Beuningen), 3-1. In the second match, Stryker Construction (Payk Pourzynal, Morgan Jenkin, Hailey Van der Burgt, Shahzad Siddiqui) got the best of 2 Build Construction (Santi DiRosa, Crystal DiRosa, Hunter Van der Burgt, Susanna Manns), 10-9.
Post Time, in blue, defeated the orangeshirted Just Tents in the first match.
Hundreds of spectators helped raise about $20,000 for a children’s health unit.
Skydivers entertain the spectators prior to the match.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 21
P O L O D E V E L O P M E N T, L L C
East Best Next generation of polo stars face off in South Carolina By Kylie Sheehan • Photos by United States Polo Association
Florida’s Landen Daniels, left, approaches Eastern’s MVP Winston Painter on a breakaway in the Cecil Smith Cup final.
Polo in Aiken, South Carolina, has a long history of bringing players together that share a true passion for polo. Legends such as Adam Snow, Owen Rinehart, Adolfo Cambiaso, Sunny Hale, Julio Arellano, Mike Azzaro and more have played top-level polo on New Bridge Polo Club’s fields. Polo in the area dates back to the 1800s and has seen historic 10-goal legends, such as Tommy Hitchcock, Harry Payne Whitney and Devereux Milburn, face off on what is now Aiken Polo Club’s Whitney Field. This past Labor Day weekend, a new generation of stars played at the New Bridge Polo Club for the National Youth Tournament Series Championship Cecil Smith Cup and NYTS Girls’ Championship. The participating players were selected from a pool of 109 unique all-stars recognized at 34 qualifier tournaments throughout the country. Players were
22 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
selected based on their playing abilities, sportsmanship, horsemanship and teamwork. Participants arrived on Aug. 28, in time for the vet check for the horses. About 25% of the players brought their own horses while the rest were leased or borrowed. Players met their teammates and coaches and practiced together for the first time the following day. That evening, everyone attended the team presentations and draw at the historic Wilcox Hotel. On Saturday, players enjoyed a fun afternoon in the Crocodile Open, which included tug-of-war, bocce, paddle ball, spike ball, bandage toss, trivia, long ball and sack races. The Western Region topped the final round of trivia. For the Cecil Smith Cup, the nation’s top 16 players under 19 years old were selected to play for their respective region: Eastern, Western, Florida or Central. The Girls’ Championship was comprised of
P O L O D E V E L O P M E N T, L L C
eight of the top young women named all-stars in the mixed National Youth Tournament Series qualifiers. In the Cecil Smith Cup, the Western Region was represented by Bayne Bossom (Will Rogers Polo Club), Riley Jordan (Eldorado Polo Club), Grant Palmer (Eldorado Polo Club) and Johann Felhaber (Rancho Naranjo Polo Club). The defending champion Central, featured Joseph Post (University of Kentucky), Vance Miller III (Prestonwood Polo Club), Grayson Price (Houston Polo Club) and Regan Smith (Springfield Polo Club). The Florida Circuit was comprised of Landen Daniels (Grand Champions Polo Club), Jack Whitman (Flying Cow Polo Club), Hope Arellano (Port Mayaca Polo Club) and Benji Eckbo Daniels (Grand Champions Polo Club). The Eastern Region had Reed Miller (Myopia Polo Club), Parker Pearce (Maryland Polo Club), Aiden Meeker (Crestview Polo Club) and Winston Painter (Gardnertown Polo Club). Each team received high-level coaching from players with a variety of backgrounds. Adam Snow, who coached the Florida Region, and Tiger Kneece, who coached the Central Region, are former U.S. Open winners. Nick Snow (Eastern) and Patrick Uretz (Western) are Team USPA alumni that have maintained 4-goal handicaps while pursuing careers outside of polo. The girls’ teams were coached by
Anna Alworth, Jim Wright, Sophie Grant and Hope Kerley wrap Jenna Tarshis in the wrap race during the Crocodile Open games.
Jesse Bray coaches the girls’ Team Black during a practice match.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 23
P O L O D E V E L O P M E N T, L L C .
Jenna Tarshis gets off a neck shot as MVP Summer Kneece moves in to defend.
Jenna Tarshis and Lila Bennett demonstrate good sportsmanship after a match.
Team USPA members Jim Wright (White) and Jesse Bray (Black) who are currently playing professionally full-time. All coaches, with the exception of Adam Snow, have coached NYTS qualifiers and championships in the past. Their varied backgrounds gave players a glimpse of ways to stay involved and improve in the sport throughout their lives even if they choose not to pursue a career in the industry. After a four-year hiatus, the Eastern team reclaimed the national championship title on its home turf, defeating the Florida team in front of hundreds of spectators that lined the field. After narrowly defeating the Central team in the semi-final
24 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
round by a half goal, the Eastern team committed to a simple game plan created by Nick Snow. “This was a fun group that meshed well from the first practice. They understood each would need to play a different role and were willing to play for each other instead of themselves,” he explained. “We started slow in the semis and I was impressed how they battled back and kept their composure toward the end of two close games. They all seemed to love the sport also and I would expect to see more from them in the future.” The Matt Cohen Most Valuable Player trophy was awarded to Winston Painter, who scored three of the Eastern team’s six goals. Painter spent the summer playing in Santa Barbara, California, honing his skills as a forward attacking player. “Luis [Escobar] and Memo [Gracida] had me really focus on establishing the correct position on the field and going forward with the ball towards the goal,” said Painter. Chaparra (Chalina x Casino), generously provided by Gabriel Crespo and played by Painter, was awarded Best Playing Pony after some impressive plays in both games. The Horsemanship Award was presented to Florida’s Hope Arellano and the Sportsmanship Award was given to the Central Region’s Regan Smith. The eight young women who were selected for the National Youth Tournament Series Girls’ Championship were divided into two balanced teams. Black featured Summer Kneece (Aiken Polo Club), Alana Benz (Maui Polo Club), Lila Bennet (Garrison Forest Polo Club) and Athena Malin (Empire Polo Club). White was represented by Anna Alworth (Twin City Polo Club), Jenna Tarshis (Toronto Polo Club), Hope Kerley (Eldorado Polo Club) and Sophie Grant (Maryland Polo Club). The girls’ championship was played in a best-oftwo-games format. Defeating Black by two-and-a-half goals in its first game, White was looking strong going into the second game and only needed one more win to claim the championship. In the second game, however, Black improved its team strategy, coming close to beating White. White’s half-goal handicap proved to be the difference, however, earning it the title in the final match, 4½-4. Summer Kneece was MVP; Outstanding Horsemanship was awarded to Lila Bennett; Hope Kerley received the Sportsmanship award and Sydney, a 9-year-old chestnut Argentine mare owned and played by Sophie Grant, took home the Best Playing Pony Blanket. Kerley will not forget her experience at the NYTS championships. “The NYTS experience is beyond incredible because they take such good care of us and
P O L O D E V E L O P M E N T, L L C
it’s such an honor to be here,” Kerley said. “Jimmy Wright was an amazing coach. He never let us get down and always just pushed through. This tournament is something I’ll always remember. Being here in Aiken is a great way to end my NYTS career and I will forever cherish the memories.” This was the second year the championships featured an all-girls’ division and it was an accurate reflection of how quickly the level of women in polo is rising in the United States and throughout the world. NYTS committee chair and accomplished player, Chrys Beal was thrilled with the growth of the girls’ championship sector of the National Youth Tournament Series. “The NYTS girls’ championship division continues to improve and demonstrates the strong females’ participation in the NYTS program. We had two great games highlighting eight up-and-coming female players. With approximately 48% of NYTS participants being female, the NYTS subcommittee is looking forward to expanding the division to four teams in the near future,” Beal said. Painter applauded the efforts of the USPA and everyone who has worked so hard to bring the National Youth Tournament Series to fruition. “NYTS has done incredible things for youth polo. Being able to compete and progress alongside my peers throughout the season, and being given the
opportunity to do the same this year in Aiken has truly been an honor. I encourage kids to take advantage of the amazing opportunities NYTS has to offer, as there are few other programs that give kids the ability to play competitive, organized and most importantly, fun polo alongside kids their own age,” he said. Sincere thanks go to those who brought this special event into existence with the help of many volunteers, families, players, organizations and USPA clubs all over the country. Thank you to Russ McCall, Raza Kazmi and Haley Bryan at the New Bridge Polo Club for hosting this special event with the utmost hospitality. The National Youth Tournament Series would not have been possible without the hard work of Chrys Beal and the entire USPA NYTS Committee. Additional thanks go to the USPA Umpires, LLC., sponsors U.S. Polo ASSN., Texas Polo and USPA Polo Network, as well as the entire Aiken polo community. Last but not least, thank you to all of the coaches and horse providers who raised the level of play for these young up-and-coming players. The championship weekend successfully highlighted the key components of the NYTS program, bringing together talented young players with a passion for polo, encouraging determination and providing high-level coaching to raise the bar for our next generation of players. The future is bright! •
Eastern’s Reed Miller, Parker Pearce, Aiden Meeker and Winston Painter won the Cecil Smith Cup.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 25
I N T E R C O L L E G I AT E / I N T E R S C H O L A S T I C
In the money Intercollegiate scholarships announced
Congratulations to the following intercollegiate/ interscholastic players that were awarded 2019 USPA Intercollegiate Scholarships! Requirements for applicants include playing at least two years of interscholastic polo, competing on an intercollegiate team, carrying a minimum 3.0 grade point average, supplying two letters of recommendation and writing a short essay.
Lila Bennett Freshman – University of Kentucky Interscholastic Team: Garrison Forest School Hometown: Sparks, Maryland
Recipients are selected based on horsemanship, sportsmanship, playing ability, contribution to the sport, academic excellence and character. The funds awarded to players are paid directly to the student’s institution for their tuition and are renewable for up to four years. Congratulations to our outstanding student athletes, and good luck in your college career! •
John Denker Freshman – Roger Williams University Interscholastic Team: Gardnertown Polo Club Hometown: Newburgh, New York
Patricio Fraga–Errecart Freshman – Cornell University Interscholastic Team: Commonwealth Polo Club Hometown: Potomac, Maryland
26 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
I N T E R C O L L E G I AT E / I N T E R S C H O L A S T I C
Lea Jih-Vieira Freshman – Cornell University Interscholastic Team: Mountain View Polo Club Hometown: Frederick, Maryland
Vance Miller Freshman – University of North Texas Interscholastic Team: Prestonwood Polo Club Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Nick Paciorek Freshman – University of Connecticut Interscholastic Team: Cornell Polo Club Hometown: Skaneateles, New York
Parker Pearce Freshman – University of Virginia Interscholastic Team: Maryland Polo Club Hometown: Monkton, Maryland
Jasmine Umrigar Freshman – Cornell University Interscholastic Team: Cornell Polo Club Hometown: Brooktondale, New York
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 27
Women Warriors Plank Companies Inc. captures inaugural Women’s PCO Photos by David Lominska
Dundas’ Sarah Wiseman and Plank Companies Inc.’s Ina Lalor attack the ball in the final of the Women’s PCO.
28 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Plank Companies Inc. ........20
Following the lead of the first Women’s East Coast Open in Rhode Island last year, the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California, held its inaugural Women’s Pacific Coast Open, Sept. 4-8. At 20 goals, it showcased the highest level of women’s polo played at the club to date. Four teams rounded out the tournament, featuring local and international players, all celebrating the legacy of Sunny Hale, a California native who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2017. Hale was the highest-rated female player in the U.S. at 5-goals in mixed polo, matched only by the U.K.’s Claire Tomlinson. Hale was also the first woman to win the U.S. Open (2001), playing with the Outback team. “I am very proud to see that the next generation of women’s polo here in the United States is following the path that Sunny Hale was trying to lay and demonstrate to all players—play our best, have
fun and help each other. I think we demonstrated that in this tournament,” said Dawn Jones, a founder of Women’s International Polo Network. Highlighting the tournament’s talent was Sarah Wiseman from the U.K., Dayelle Fargey from Canada and Hazel Jackson from Argentina. After two very close semifinals, Plank Companies met Dundas in the final. Plank came in with a balanced line-up of two 4 goalers and two 6 goalers, while 17 of Dundas’ goals came from Wiseman and Jackson in the middle. In a strong first chukker,
Kendall Plank ..............................4 Cory Williams ..............................4 Dayelle Fargey ............................6 Ina Lalor ......................................6
Dundas ...............................20 Sarah Siegel-Magness ...................2 Sarah Wiseman ...........................8 Hazel Jackson ..............................9 Becky Schaller ...........................1
Timing Nicole Ball ...................................1 Megan Judge ................................4 Clara Cassino ...............................7 Clarissa Echezarreta.....................6
Polo Gear ...........................20 Dawn Jones .................................6 Anita Wulff ..................................3 Lia Salvo ......................................8 Paige Beard .................................3
MVP Dayelle Fargey and her Best Playing Pony Ebony
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Plank’s Kendall Plank, Ina Lalor, Dayelle Fargey and Cory Williams
Plank’s Kendall Plank and Dundas’ Hazel Jackson battle in the final of the Women’s PCO.
Wiseman and Jackson demonstrated their exceptional skills, scoring two impressive field goals. Suffering a scoreless first chukker, Plank Companies Inc. got on the board with a Penalty 1 in the second, but were outscored by Jackson, who contributed three more goals to increase Dundas’ lead to a resounding 5-1 at the half. Regrouping and reevaluating its strategy at
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halftime, Plank Companies rallied, keeping Dundas scoreless in the second half. Meanwhile, Dayelle Fargey began to chip away at the deficit by converting a Penalty 4 in the third chukker. In the fourth, Ina Lalor and Fargey worked to close the gap, forcing the game into an overtime chukker. “We had some great coaching and advice during halftime, so going into the second half we refocused, changed who we were marking, and decided we needed to gamble and develop offensively,” Fargey explained. “Everyone adapted and committed to the new plan and it worked out.” Both teams battled in overtime for almost six minutes before Dundas suffered an unfortunate turn of events when Jackson’s mallet broke while in possession of the ball. Quickly seizing the opportunity, Fargey capitalized, running the length of the field and scoring the golden goal. A heartbreaking ending for the hardworking Dundas, Plank Companies Inc. took home the inaugural title as Women’s Pacific Coast Open Champion, 6-5. “I think the Women’s Pacific Coast Open proved to be an eye-opener. The finals were neck and neck and even; it was so well balanced,” Jones said. “Also, women’s handicaps are getting better and we proved it on the field today! I am very pleased with the inaugural Women’s Pacific Coast Open and with the help of the USPA and U.S. Polo Assn.” “I think that by bringing international players like Hazel Jackson and Sarah Wiseman we really elevated the level of polo played here,” Sarah SiegelMagness commented. “It’s time to have amazing women’s polo on the West Coast.” Fargey went home with the lion’s share of awards. Responsible for three goals, she was awarded MVP for her comeback performance in the second half and her black mare, Ebony was presented Best Playing Pony honors. Fargey played her in the second and overtime chukkers. “She is unbelievable, I bought her in Winnipeg [Canada] off the racetrack as a 3-year-old and trained her myself,” Fargey said. “She is an amazing horse and she makes me the player I am today.” Santa Barbara local, Cory Williams enjoyed her experience competing in the first Women’s Pacific Coast Open. “This tournament had four very competitive teams, any of which could have easily won,” Williams said. “We had to play our very best in the finals and stick with it to the end, playing just as hard in the first chukker as we did in overtime. It was an honor to compete with such amazing players and women.” In the consolation, the Timing team overcame Polo Gear, 5-4.
Living a dream Hazel Jackson is helping pave the way for women players Words & photos by Alice Gipps While most know her as Hazel Jackson, her full married name is Vivien Hazel Jackson-Gaona. She has been married for two years. She is also know to some by her nicknames: Nipper or 2-plus. You could say she is on a roll. At 29 years old and 10 goals, she is at the top echelon of women’s polo, with only one other person standing next to her, Nina Clarkin. And she continues to add impressive trophies to her collection. Growing up in New Forest, Hampshire, England,
she started riding at just 3 years old. Her mother hunted and rode point-to-points and her father, who died when she was 9, dabbled in polo so the family always had horses. She competed in pony club as a kid and eventually got involved with polo. She played in her first women’s tournament in Ascot Park with her sister when they were young. New Zealander Lochie Hunter was the pro at the local polo club so Jackson learned a lot from him, along with many others. Believing there is always
Since Jackson mostly plays her sponsors’ horses, she only keeps four of her own.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 31
Hazel Jackson and Nina Clarkin share a spot at the top.
room for improvement, she takes lessons with Roberto Gonzalez or Rege Ludwig when she can. She has always been competitive and looked up to idols such as Clarkin, Sarah Wiseman, Lia Salvo and Lucy Taylor. “They have so much talent, but even more importantly, I have a massive appreciation of how intelligent Nina Clarkin is on the field,” Jackson said. “I could not believe it when I started to compete against them.” Other idols include Hilario Ulloa, Facu Llosa and Barto Castagnola. At 19, she was invited to play with Dani Miller in New Zealand and the following year, she played in Argentina for the first time with Salvo. By 21, she was playing women’s polo professionally. Before the Women’s U.S. Open was moved to Florida, Jackson played with the Rocking P team in Houston, making the finals each year and winning it twice. She will be back with it again this year, playing in the Texas Women’s Open. “[Rocking P] is one of my favorite organizations to play with. The whole [Price] family is too much fun, plus Marcos Villanueva does an excellent job managing the horses. I hope to carry on playing with them for the future,” she said. In this past year’s Women’s U.S. Open, she played with the Cabo Wabo team alongside Roni Duke, Gillian Johnston and Hope Arellano. The team ended in second place. She has won numerous ladies’ tournaments around the world, including the King Power
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tournament in Thailand, and tournaments in St. Tropez, England and Argentina. She also has several mixed tournament titles under her belt, including those in Switzerland, France and the U.S. Most recently, she won the 15-goal (mixed) Royal Windsor Cup with the UAE team in June and a women’s international test match against Argentina at the Cirencester Polo Club. Because she plays so much internationally, she is generally mounted by others so she only keeps four horses of her own, two were gifts from Spencer McCarthy and two are OTTB she purchased from Harry White. Her favorites are Caferino, a black gelding from McCarthy and Song, a chestnut mare. “[Caferino] is solid and never has an off day. I feel so at home with him, yet I know I won’t lose a play,” she said. “[Song] is unbelievably agile and rapid. She’s almost a bit too good for me. “ She trained one horse she got off the track to play polo, which she admitted was very satisfying. “If I had time I would love to do more, however I have reached a moment in my career where I seem to be given some unreal ponies to ride so realistically there is no need,” she said. “If I had the space and the funds, of course it would be a dream to breed. I have taken a big interest in Lucas Monteverde’s breeding El Overo Z7, learning all the bloodlines and seeing which type I love. I would like to keep learning more to be honest.” In 2018, UAE’s Sheika Maithe was interested in playing in the Argentine ladies’ open, so Monteverde, who manages Maithe’s organization, approached Jackson. They played a couple of tournaments together in England that summer, winning the Black Bears ladies tournament and losing the Guards ladies tournament against Clarkin in overtime. Maithe invited Jackson to play in Argentina. She is now based with the organization the majority of the year. The organization mounts her and helps her
Hazel’s helmet shows a world map, depicting many of the places she plays polo.
Hazel and Ivan Gaona have been married for two years.
train. She has two favorite ponies she has had the opportunity to ride. “El Overo Z7 La Alchachoffa won Best Playing Pony in the Argentine Ladies Open last year. I played her three times and she never even got heavy. She is unreal. She has incredible sides and puts you where you want to be on the field, even if someone is in your way,” she explained. “El Overo Z7 Tía Cuerda is another one to look out for. She is in Dubai now, but what an honor to play this horse. She is out of Tía Loca by Duranzo, so she has some serious bloodlines. She is agile and well balanced. I can’t find the words to describe her, she really is a bit of a freak.” When in Argentina Jackson does fitness training with Maxi Zapico in Cañuelas. “He is excellent. We focus on reaction times and working within certain percentages of my heart rate,” she explained. “On top of that, I work on keeping my head clear while I am full of adrenaline. I train at least three times a week, but when I have too many games we do recovery sessions using the bicycle to warm up, yoga and stretching techniques. I love yoga. For me, it goes hand-in-hand with polo. I wish more people would realize how beneficial it is to the body.” On the field, she stick and balls regularly and plays in faster practices, sometimes playing eight chukkers, alongside some of the best players in the world. She takes it all in and she says, listens a lot. Jackson’s goal is to win the Women’s Argentine Open. For the past year she has been working on penalties and sport psychology to help improve. In mixed polo, she is hoping to become the most wanted 2-goaler around. Clarkin is her biggest rival. “We seem to be reaching a number of finals against each other and I’ve lost to her too many times by a goal or in an extra chukker. I would like to change that,” explained Jackson. Jackson is currently getting ready for the Women’s Argentine Open, which she says is on a different level entirely. “Last year, we were eight of the best players in the world playing together, without patrons on some serious horse power. If you saw the match, you could probably see the intensity of the game,” she said. “It is past talent and ball skills now. It is down to keeping your head focused for six chukkers in the heat, in Palermo with some serious crowds. I couldn’t ask for anything more. It is the top of the top and I expect every single girl’s dream be to play in that game.” She made an impression and despite being on the losing side, her handicap was raised to 10 goals. Though Jackson wasn’t expecting it, it is something she was aiming for.
“The best thing is, I still feel like I have so much to improve on, so I will keep my head down and I’m still so hungry to get better,” she said. “It is incredible that two English ladies are currently at the top. That makes me really proud. I still need to reach 10 goals in England and other countries, so until then …” Jackson-Gaona will go to women’s 10 outdoors in the U.S. in January. She is 10 in the arena. While in Argentina, she will play in the Thai Polo mixed 14-goal tournament. In January, she heads to Dubai to play a mixed 18 goal for two months. She suggests that any girl that wants to make it to the top needs to be competing in the Women’s Argentine Open or aiming to compete in it. “I didn’t start with a massive backing of horses or a father with 10 goals but I made it to the field,” said Jackson. “A lot of big organizations recognize hard work and passion and there are a lot of opportunities for girls who strive to get there. Obviously, you need to play that level to improve. “Compare us to the boys. How many male amateurs or professionals are trying to reach to play in the Open? Even if you start with a lowerhandicapped team, you are there competing, learning from the best and being seen. You have to begin somewhere. “Do you know how many games I have lost over my career? When I was younger it was just a dream to play against these girls and now I am playing alongside them. I always go back to one of my favorite sayings: Dream it, believe it, achieve it. If I made it here, anyone can.” It seems there is nothing that can stop her, except maybe spiders, which she admits she is petrified of! When she isn’t playing, Jackson likes to go to the beach, have massages, eat sushi and chocolate and do yoga. “If I have any of these things in my life, I am the most content Hazel Jackson–Gaona possible!” she said. • POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 33
Baby blues
What to expect when a foal is on the way
MARC ELLIS
By Jaymie Klauber
While breeding usually costs more than buying a horse, it can be a memorable experience.
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MARC ELLIS
If you have decided to breed one of your horses, you are about to embark on a wondrous process—thrilling, fulfilling and expensive! Some words of advice: Breed your mare for the experience, and not with thrift in mind, as in getting a free horse. Besides the often costly affair of actual breeding, consider the vet bills, buying feed, more vet bills, for which you get nothing in return except love for three years before riding enters the picture. Release any notion that this will be more economic than buying a horse. The experience, however, is priceless--one you’ll not likely forget. Choose your best mare [based on] conformation, color, flash and athleticism. Congeniality factors in. Selecting a people-friendly mare simplifies the entire affair for both you and the veterinarian. (In my case, many wondered why I picked Paula, a mare who lives to resent and avoid humans.) Then, you must choose the ‘baby daddy,’ whose accessibility is not unlike a Match.com bachelor. Breeders have websites. And as the parental arranger of this coupling, you have high standards, surely seeking a harmonious outcome. You might want to jot down the criteria that must be met. Note: female owners may find themselves listing qualities they’d like in a man … must be at least 15-hands tall with shiny hair and a kind eye, enjoys long walks on the beach …. Don’t be shy about negotiating stud fees. A breeder might reduce fees, knowing he can make it up in volume. Stallions (not unlike aforementioned bachelors) have a nearly
unlimited supply of semen; thus they are highstrung, horny and often unruly. In fact, most barns and equestrian centers of any riding discipline do not keep stallions. If you want to save wear and tear on your sensibilities, there is the option of artificial insemination, wherein you can find an impressive stallion online or by referral, and arrange that when your mare goes into heat, his sperm will be ‘collected’ (a process better left to the imagination) and FedEx-ed to your vet, who then inseminates the mare. This can be more costly, and robs you of the in-depth uncut version of the adventure. Fortuitously, in the spring of 2012, there happened to be a well-mannered stallion at the polo club that one of the pros was playing. I went to check out the stud, whose name was Ice Man. I found him appealing and haggled with the pro/owner as to the stud fee, eventually reaching an agreement. We shook hands on the deal, although most breeding of registered breeds is formalized by paperwork. In this case, we would be creating a hybrid (well, mutt of sorts), hoping for a highly-athletic cross of his American Thoroughbred and my Argentine Thoroughbred. No money changed hands: interestingly, you need not pay until you have a live foal. Determine when you’d like your mare to ‘drop’ the foal, and count back 11 months. Yes, 11 months gestation period, which can seem an eternity. Then, off you go to the vet for a negative uterine culture, and a shot to bring your mare into
It is important to let the mare and foal bond.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 35
Now 5, Ice Ice Baby, right, is a horse anyone can ride, including kids.
season. While some mares are quite obvious about being in heat (tails held high in the air, exposing themselves unashamedly, indiscriminately, even around geldings), with others it is hard to tell. Thus, the inducing injection provides a clearly defined time frame. The vet will need to examine your mare a few times, checking the uterus to see how far into the heat she is, and if she is ovulating. At the optimal time, I rode Paula over to the stallion’s barn. As his name would suggest, Ice Man is not a romantic. No candlelight, no enticing whispers, no nibbling at her forelock. Simply straightforward: slam, bam, thank you, ma’am: the Ice Man cometh. It was powerful though, wondrous
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actually, nature working its birds and bees magic, as we’ve seen on the Discovery Channel. Four mornings we rode over for a quickie, and walked home, back to the barn. Paula seemed fine with it, but I felt somewhat uneasy, as if it were the walk of shame following a one-night stand. Within two weeks, my vet, Dr Bill McGinty, could verify Paula’s pregnancy. He offered a fundamental timeline, covering the next 11 months until the bundle of joy would arrive. We planned a few visits for vaccinations and occasionally an ultrasound or palpation. It was unnerving to learn the vet need not be present for the blessed event. Over time, I asked McGinty dozens of questions. He patiently offered standard answers, always adding the caveat, “that is, if your mare read the book.” It seems Paula had indeed read the book— everything was on course. As her due date approached (11 months, five days after conception), I had to tackle the fear surrounding the actual birth and figure out how to handle it. I now had just one month to research this phenomenon, its uniqueness compelling me toward obsession. Every book and all online information includes a list for a birthing kit, so I gathered all the items, hoping I would not have to use them. Many are required only in an emergency or unusual situation, but in due diligence I prepared. Two weeks before the due date, I purchased a baby monitor and began confining Paula in her double-wide stall (she was rather double-wide herself at this point) at night, which is when 95% of mares have their foals. Exercising restraint by not scoffing at my 24-hour surveillance plan, the laid-back McGinty said I could just leave her in the paddock and one morning I would find her baby beside her. But I wanted to witness the miracle and be involved in case help was needed. On the first Saturday in March, the coldest night of the year, transfixed on the baby monitor, I saw Paula pawing and sniffing the ground, and pacing her stall. My advice, rather than awaken your disinterested spouse, immediately phone a horsey friend. Claudia came right over. We wrapped Paula’s tail with vet wrap and washed her ‘private area.’ Before long, she laid down and quickly, with a certain grace, sent forth her foal. Thankfully, it was by the book. Coincidentally, the owner of the stallion was staying in my barn apartment for the weekend, so he came to help, lending his vast experience. Paula actually had done all the work, but he helped to clear the placenta, then guided me to sit down right
beside the baby boy, who appeared black, wet and all legs. Paula licked her baby while I imprinttrained him, rubbing and touching him all over his body, in his mouth, nose and ears so he would know me forever and be unafraid of humans in the future. Imprinting is essential to establish your relationship with the foal, but it is important that you allow the mare and foal to bond. So, within three hours of Paula sniffing and pawing the floor, there was her beautiful baby boy, Ice Ice Baby, son of Ice Man, on his feet and nursing. And we humans actually managed to get a few hours sleep that night. A word to the wise from the newly wise: Be careful in the stall with the momma and baby, and avoid having too many people nearby ogling and cooing at the baby while in the stall. If the momma starts to spin around and encircle the foal, get the hell out of the way. Fast. Faster than I did when the momma, protecting her baby, dealt me a double-barrel kick. After that first day, though, Paula was happy to let me assume some of the responsibility and keep Baby entertained while she enjoyed her time to eat and rest. Ice Ice Baby has been friendly, playful and kind from the get-go. I feel gratified and exuberant when he whinnies upon seeing me, and runs to
MARC ELLIS
All grown up now, Ice Ice Baby still enjoys a cuddle on occasion.
While weaning was stressful, Baby became more independent with each passing day.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 37
MARC ELLIS
Ice Ice Baby inherited his father’s cordial temperament. Easy going, he is a favorite among Jaymie’s trail-riding guests and even enjoys a romp in the Gulf of Mexico.
Ice Ice Baby is already one of Jaymie’s best polo ponies.
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greet me in the paddock. Oh, what a feeling! Over the next five months, ‘Baby’ grew, loved, romped, and of course, ate and contributed his share of fertilizer to agriculture. As is demonstrated by most horses, he could often manage a mishap and sustain injury requiring treatment. (Note: Your fretting over it does not promote healing). On the brighter side, a colt then becomes accustomed to handling, which includes first encounters with the farrier, and other closeup care such as deworming, wrapping, brushing and a clipper trim. Ice Baby was a rock star through everything; his personality the polar opposite of his unsociable mother. I believe I’ve seen Paula actually roll her eyes disdainfully when observing her offspring consort with humans, being a sappy love kitten at that. Thankfully, he inherited his daddy’s cordial temperament. As Baby grew, we could tell he would lose his baby coat—that lighter color fluff—and become a beautiful bay colt and as summer approached, his gorgeous black legs, mane and tale accented his silky copper-brown coat. Handsome and shiny, that boy, a true beauty, as really all horses are. They say that nursing can be hard on the mare and make her tired and cause her to lose weight. This is not always the case. Paula and Baby both grew larger. But, finally I determined it was time
PETER ACKER
As baby matured, he lost his baby coat and a silky copperbrown coat emerged.
to wean Baby from his momma. Now, here is where you’ve got to appreciate technology and social media: I posted an ad on my local Craigslist, asking if someone else had a mare and foal they wanted to separate (wean). Sure enough, a pleasant young woman, a Sarasota Sheriff with a ranchette off East Fruitville, contacted me and we set up the exchange. I had anxiety about separating momma and baby, having heard and read horror stories about both of them crying for days on end. I waited for a weekend that hubby would be out of town, as I knew that kind of horserelated stress/drama would drive him nuts too. Then we set the plan in motion. On the weekend of Ice Baby’s 5-month birthday, I went to my new friend’s ranch and picked up her beautiful mare and cute appaloosa filly (4 month old baby girl) and brought them to my ranch. Holding the mares outside a paddock, we introduced the youngsters inside the fence line, letting them run and play for a while. We then moved the babies into the double stall together and quickly loaded the mommas into the trailer, which proved a challenge through their prancing, dancing and dramatic whinnying. A neighbor brought them over to her ranch and turned them out together while I stayed at home, attempting to calm the babies who, astonishingly,
were trying to climb the walls and leap out of the stall, crying and crying for their mothers. My friend had it a bit easier, having only to deal with one night of the mommas crying out, which soon settled into peaceful acceptance, perhaps glee at their freedom, now able to eat and rest as their milk dried up. I endured three days of crybaby antics, which finally subsided, as the babies seemed to get over it. They became more independent with each passing day. We maintained this arrangement for a month before trading back, the sheriff welcoming the return of her cute appaloosa baby, and me receiving Paula, who, despite our personality differences, I missed very much. Now at 5 years old, true to his affable nature, Ice Ice Baby is one of those horses that anyone can ride, including kids. [He’s] a perfect angel, so easy going. And he is already one of my best polo ponies, and a favorite among my epic trail-riding guests. How lucky I am. Ice Ice Baby and I love to cuddle. A special intimacy I am happy to share: I often enter his stall and sit beside him while he is lying down. He places his head and neck across my lap and falls back to sleep. We are both rapturous in the total trust and friendship horses rarely show to humans. • POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 39
P O L O I N T H E PA M PA S
Jockeying for position Ellerstina Pilot starts season with an Open win Photos by Sergio Llamera
Facundo Pieres, Nico Pieres, Gonzalo Pieres and Curtis Pilot
In a battle of American-sponsored teams, the 29goal Ellerstina Pilot defeated the 31-goal LD Valiente, 12-10, in the 55th Jockey Club Open, held on Palermo’s Field 1, Saturday, Sept. 21. Eight teams between 27 and 31 goals competed in the event, which began on Sept. 11. In the Opening match, LD Valiente (Bob Jornayvaz, David Stirling, Pablo Mac Donough, Juan Martin Nero) edged LD World Polo League (Gonzalo Ferrari, Juan Britos, Guillermo Terrera, Jerónimo Del Carril), 11-9. The next day, Los Indios (Alberto Heguy, Jorge Monsegou, Juan Martin Zavaleta, Ignacio Laprida) narrowly edged La Cañada Angiocor Daily Racing Form (Agustin Obregón, Ezequiel Martínez Ferrario, Alejandro Muzzio, Jared Zenni), 6-5, and La Dolfina (Adolfo Cambiaso, Poroto Cambiaso, Diego Cavanagh, Alejo Taranco) crushed LD Betania 40 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
(Manuel Calafell, Juan Calafell, Isidro Strada, Ignacio Toccalino), 12-6. The last playoff match had Ellerstina Pilot (Curtis Pilot, Gonzalo Pieres, Nico Pieres, Facundo Pieres) slip Chapaleufú La H RUS (Carlos Mariá Ulloa, Francisco Elizalde, Hilario Ulloa, Cruz Heguy), 12-11. With just four teams left standing, the teams moved on to the semi-finals on Sept. 14. LD Valiente ousted Los Indios, 9-5. The second semi was postponed after rain muddied the schedule. It was reminiscent of last year when nearly two inches of rain inundated last year’s tournament, preventing the second semi-final from being held. That caused the tournament format to be changed putting the two highest-scoring teams in the final. However, due to scheduling conflicts with the start of the Triple Crown, the 2018 final was never played.
P O L O I N T H E PA M PA S
Tribute Ernesto Rodriguez chronicled world sports I was surprised to receive an email from Sergio Llamera, a contributing photographer in Argentina, with the subject, Sad News. The email was in regards to our mutual friend, Ernesto Rodriguez. Sergio was letting me know Ernesto, who had been writing our Polo in the Pampas articles for the past 13 years, had died. It was indeed very sad news. When Ernesto first contacted me, offering to contribute a monthly article, I was skeptical. Working with writers internationally can be difficult and you never can be sure how reliable a new writer will be. From the get-go, Ernesto proved to be a dedicated, reliable, enthusiastic and creative writer. He never missed a deadline and was a pleasure to work with. If I needed a particular story or photos, he would go out of his way to help. Whenever I went to Argentina, he always checked to see if I needed help obtaining press credentials or making travel arrangements. We would meet for coffee, catching up between games. Ernesto was a rare find. He was college educated, had extensive experience in sports journalism and knew polo inside and out. He graduated from the University of Buenos Aires in 1997 with a degree in communication sciences, media, journalism and new technologies. During that time he also wrote for Argentina’s La Nacion newspaper, specializing in Olympic sports. Later, while pursuing a masters degree in journalism from the University of Barcelona, he worked as a press and dissemination department manager at ESPN. Over the years, he wrote press bulletins and news on sports brand ambassadors for VISA; worked for DIADORA covering different sports clubs and athletes; and provided content for ENARD, the national entity of high performance sports. He was also a writer for Olé for nearly two decades, in charge of Olympic sports. During that time he was a special envoy to the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2007 and Guadalajara in 2011; the Odesur Games in 2006; and he covered the FIVB World League (volleyball) and various world and international competitions. He began writing for this magazine in 2006. A few years later, in 2009, he began teaching at ETER School of Communication in Buenos Aires. He taught a 3-year course on Journalist Techniques; a class on Olympic sports and one on the history of modern sports.
Five years ago, he became the editor for the online magazines ClickPoloUSA and ClickPoloUK. With all of his business responsibilities, he didn’t hesitate to help care for his father, who was battling cancer last year. He also enjoyed carving out time to go swimming with his children and spending time
with his wife, Agustina. Sadly, on Sept. 12, Ernesto was at the university when he was found on the floor in the teacher’s lounge unresponsive. He had died of a massive heart attack. He was 50. He often spoke about how he was enjoying spending time with his children or how his family was enjoying one holiday or another. He shared his concerns when his daughter Juanita was having surgery and how proud he was when she was playing an old woman in her school play. He was excited for his son Pancho to go on a school camping trip a few years ago, his first trip without his parents. Colleagues paid tribute to Ernesto on Facebook, explaining how, no matter how busy he was, he would drop whatever he was doing to help out someone else. One friend pointed to what he called Ernesto’s unparalleled generosity. He will certainly be missed. —Gwen Rizzo
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 41
P O L O I N T H E PA M PA S
Pablo Mac Donough’s Irenita Entenada was Best Horse in the final.
LD Valiente’s Pablo Mac Donough, followed by Juan Martin Nero, catches up to Ellerstina Pilot’s Facundo Pieres in the final.
42 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
P O L O I N T H E PA M PA S
NANO’S POLO MALLETS
CUSTOM MADE MALLETS Professional and Prompt Mallet Repair Service LD Valiente’s Pablo Mac Donough finesses the ball while Ellerstina Pilot’ Facundo Pieres waits for a chance to pounce.
This year, Mother Nature was more cooperative, allowing the semi to be played five days later. Ellerstina Pilot then rained on La Dolfina’s parade, eliminating it, 13-12. La Dolfina’s Poroto Cambiaso, who was the youngest player to play the tournament last year at 12, missed a chance at the final for the second year. He still has a chance to break the record for youngest to win it next year at 14. The youngest winner to date is Nico Pieres who won it at 15 with his father and brothers Facundo and Gonzalo in 2006. Six of the eight players in the final regularly participate in the Argentine Triple Crown, and until this year when Gonzalo Pieres was lowered to 9 goals, all held the sport’s top 10-goal handicap. Curtis Pilot, playing his first Jockey Club Open, and Gonzalo and Facundo Pieres, are fresh off their inaugural Gauntlet of Polo victory after the team won the C.V. Whitney, USPA Gold Cup and U.S. Open. LD Valiente took an early lead, ending the first 3-1 and increasing it to 5-1 in the second behind the power of Mac Donough. Ellerstina turned the tables, outscoring its opponent in the next three chukkers (3-2, 1-0, 2-1) to level the score at 8-8 in the fifth. Ellerstina took a first-time lead two minutes into the sixth thanks to a goal from Gonzalo Pieres, but LD Valiente recovered to knot the score, 9-9, heading into the last of seven chukkers. Facundo Pieres took over from there, scoring three in a row to win the coveted Ford Cup trophy. Facundo led the scoring with eight goals, including four penalty conversions. David Stirling led LD Valiente with five. The trophy presentation was attended by Miguel Crotto Sojo, Jockey Club president; Eduardo Novillo Astrada, Argentine Polo Association president; Tomás Grignaschi, Ford advertising manager; and Gen. Claudio Pasqualini, Army Chief of Staff. Special awards were given to the Pieres brothers and Poroto Cambiaso, while Pablo Mac Donough’s Irenita Entenada was chosen Best Horse in the final. Gonzalo Pieres’ Open Arca wore the blanket for Best Argentine-bred horse. The win is a boost for Ellerstina, which will meet La Dolfina in the Argentine Triple Crown. The Pieres’ 10-goal cousin Polito Pieres will take over for Curtis Pilot, while 10goal Adolfo Cambiaso will take up Jornayvas’ spot. •
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POLO AROUND THE GLOBE
Sotogrande, Spain Brunei enjoys wins at medium- and high-goal level Photos courtesy Snoopy Productions/Santa María Polo Club
Brunei’s Juan Martin Nero and Dos Lunas’ Joaquin Pittaluga battle in the Silver Cup.
Sotogrande is located in San Roque, Cádiz, Spain. Encompassing over 15 square miles, it stretches from the Mediterranean to the foothills of Sierra Almenara, providing diverse landscapes. It is known for its numerous golf courses, tennis clubs, beach clubs, sailing clubs, a busy marina and, of course, polo. Polo in Sotogrande dates back to 1965, when the first polo field was built. Today, the Santa María Polo Club boasts seven fields, including four of world-class quality. The club attracts some of the biggest names in the sport each summer. While the club offers polo from the end of March to mid-October, the season highlight is its International Polo Tournament held from late July to the end of August. The tournament, featuring
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Bronze, Silver and Gold Cup trophies, is held at three different levels: 4-6, 12-14 and 20 goals. This year, in conjuction with the International Polo Tournament, the club held a White Summer festival, featuring music, performing arts, performances, fashion and food. The high-goal section began on July 27 with two teams vying for the Bronze Cup. Dos Lunas A&G Banca Privada (Luis Domecq, Pascual Sainz de Vicuña, Martin Iturriaspe, Joaquin Pittaluga) took on La Indiana (Michael Bickford, James Fewster, Gonzalo Pieres, Bautista Urbina). Dos Lunas led from the start, thanks to the efforts of Pittaluga. Three teams joined Dos Lunas and La Indiana for the Silver Cup, played Aug. 1-17. After two weeks of playoffs, La Indiana (1-3) was eliminated, while MB
POLO AROUND THE GLOBE
force overtime but it was not to be and MB Polo took the trophy. Tomás Panelo was named MVP while Mateen Bolkiah was named Best Patron. Kenya, played by Tomas Beresford, was Best Playing Pony. The medium handicap offered nearly as much fast-paced action as the high-goal and included
Ayala’s Mackenzie Weisz turns the ball in a match against Jolly Roger.
AGE FOTOSTOCK/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
Polo (3-1), Brunei (4-0), Bardon (1-3) and Dos Lunas (1-3) moved on to the semi-finals. The undefeated Brunei (Bahar Jefri, Camilo Castagnola, Juan Martin Nero, Santiago Stirling) advanced over Bardon (Andras Tombor, Matias Machado, Rodrigo Andrade, Santiago Laborde), 12-9, while MB Polo (Mateen Bolkiah, Tomás Panelo, Pablo Mac Donough/ Polito Pieres, Tomas Beresford) topped Dos Lunas, 10-9. In the final, Brunei took an early lead, but MB Polo clawed its way back in the game, leveling the score, 7-7, in the fifth chukker. Both teams refused to give in and were knotted, 9-9, in the last seconds of the match but Brunei managed to get the ball and send it to goal at the bell for the win. The Brunei team was awarded the Royal Bliss Silver Cup, presented by Antonio Villanueva, communications manager of Coca-Cola European Partners, accompanied by San Roque Mayor Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix and Jaime Espinosa de los Monteros, president of the Royal Spanish Polo Federation. Juan Martin Nero received the MVP award presented by James Blair of the Mansion Group. Bahar Jefri won Best Patron and Open Exon, ridden by Tomas Beresford, was Best Playing Pony. The same teams met again in the final of the Gold Cup, living up to expectations of spectators. With no lack of emotion or competitiveness, the teams remained tied in four of the six chukkers. Finally MB Polo went up by two goals in the sixth, but Brunei fought back to come within one. A foul in favor of Brunei in the last minute, gave the team a chance to
Sotogrande’s polo fields are located just behind the picturesque marina.
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POLO AROUND THE GLOBE
Ayala’s Santiago Gomez Romero, Mackenzie Weisz, Iñigo Zobel and Lucas James won the medium goal Bronze and Silver Cups.
young American players Mackenzie Weisz and Matias Gonzalez, fresh off his U.S. Open victory with Pilot. The Bronze Cup attracted eight 14-goal teams playing in a single elimination format. The first day of games had Saint Mesme (Robert Strom, Segundo Condesse, Clemente Zavaleta, The official Bigger Strom) edge Cotton House (Kevin Korst, presentation of the 48th Pablo Llorente, Pelayo Berazadi, Jose Maria Trenor), International Polo 11-9, while Ayala (Iñigo Zobel, Mackenzie Weisz, Tournament was held in late July.
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Lucas James, Santiago Gomez Romero) got the best of Jolly Roger King of Polo (Nicolas Johanson, Rufino Bensadon, Francisco Bensadon, Ignacio Domecq), 11-7. Two days later, Brunei (Princess Azemah, Matias Gonzalez, Guillermo Wellington, Benjamin Panelo) ousted Rock Savage (Denis Connolly, Jamie Le Hardy, Diego Gallego, Malcolm Borwick), 12-7, while Esso (Ian Galliene, Gonzalo Bernal, Francisco
POLO AROUND THE GLOBE
Brunei’s Juan Martin Nero, Bahar Jefri, Santiago Stirling and Camilo Castagnola won the Silver Cup.
MB Polo’s Tomas Panelo, Mateen Bolkiah, Polito Pieres (filling in for Pablo Mac Donough) and Tomas Beresford won the Gold Cup.
Menendez, Cristian Bernal) defeated HB Mangosta (Gregory Touret, Nicolas Ruiz Guiñazu, Juan Ambrogio, Sebastien Paloncy), 12-7. Ayala maintained its momentum into the semifinal, downing Saint Mesme, 12-8, while Brunei eliminated Esso, 12-9. In the final, Brunei and Ayala were tied several times throughout the first four chukkers. Ayala managed to get ahead in the fifth and sixth to secure the victory, 10-8. The Rock Savage team became Royal Salute with R. Cabezas taking over for Denis Connolly in the Silver Cup. The teams were divided into two brackets and after a week of playoff matches, Ayala met Brunei in the semi-final. Brunei put up a good fight, but once again, Ayala got the best of it to advance,
12-9. In the other semi-final, Royal Salute edged Cotton House, 10-8. In the final, Ayala took its second title with a 14-9 defeat of Royal Salute. The teams then focused on the Gold Cup. Cotton House and HB Mangosta stepped out, while La Esperanza (K. Korst, P. Llorente, P. Berazadi, J. Trenor) joined the fray. The seven teams were divided into two brackets with the teams playing off over 10 days. Ayala and Brunei powered through the semi-finals to meet each other in a replay of the Bronze Cup. This time would be different. The teams remained close throughout but Brunei managed to get ahead, 9-7, for the win. • POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 47
POLO REPORT DISPATCHES FROM THE WORLD OF POLO ROCKY MOUNTAIN
CANDACE FERREIRA
LA KARINA TRIUMPHS IN USPA NORTH AMERICAN CUP
McClure River Ranch’s Hilario Figueras moves in to stop La Karina’s Carlitos Gracida in the final of the 20-goal North American Cup hosted at Aspen Valley Polo Club in Carbondale, Colorado.
A
spen-based La Karina (Brian Boyd, Carlitos Gracida, Sebastian Merlos, Kris Kampsen) led from startto-finish to defeat McClure River Ranch (Hilario Figueras, Pablo Spinacci, Nic Roldan, Stewart Armstrong) with a stunning 15-12 victory in the USPA North America Cup at Aspen Valley Polo Club in Carbondale, Colorado, July 20. “The polo gods were with us today,” said Boyd, the only amateur player in the championship final com-
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peting in his first 20-goal tournament. “Nobody gave anybody an inch. They were a strong team, not a weak link among them. If you made a mistake you paid for it. It was a war out there. We had a lot of heart in that sixth chukker.” Former 10-goaler Sebastian Merlos, 46, was named MVP. Linador, an 11year-old gelding owned and played by Armstrong, was USPA Best Playing Pony. Rumba, a 7-year-old chestnut mare
owned and played by Merlos, was selected American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony. La Karina led by as many as four goals, 11-7, after Boyd scored back-toback goals in the final two minutes of the fourth chukker. Boyd, playing well above his 0-goal rating, lofted an 80yarder with 1:53 left after Merlos won the throw-in and Gracida took out Roldan. Boyd then scooped up the ball and scored on a missed Merlos attempt with eight seconds left.
R E P O R T
CANDACE FERREIRA
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P O L O
La Karina’s Sebastian Merlos, Carlitos Gracida, Kris Kampsen and Brian Boyd won the 20-goal USPA North American Cup.
The Aspen season began on July 4 with Piocho Ranch defending its title in the Independence Cup. Piocho Ranch (Gabriel Gracida, Salvador Ulloa, Nacho Figueras, Tom Barrack) won the nine-chukker roundrobin against Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Brian Boyd, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) and Los Amigos Red (Paul Foster, Grant Ganzi, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Stewart Armstrong). Figueras was MVP and Macumba, a 13-year-old gray mare, played and owned by Brian Boyd, was APHA Best Playing Pony. Playing her in the third chukker against Los Amigos Red, Boyd scored his coast-to-coast goal for a 4-2 lead at the 4:23 mark which turned out to be the winning goal. A few days later, Los Amigos Red knocked off defending champion Piocho Ranch to capture the 6th annual Craig Sakin Memorial. Los Amigos Red (Hilario Figueras, Lucas Lalor, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster) won a hard-fought 16-14 decision over defending champion Piocho Ranch (Grant Ganzi, Salvador Ulloa, Nacho Figueras, Tom Barrack) to win the five-team tournament. Argentine 8-goaler Nacho Novillo Astrada was MVP and Milonga, a 10year-old Chestnut mare, was selected the APHA Best Playing Pony. The next week, making its championship final debut, Mountain Chevro-
Piocho Ranch’s Tom Barrack, Nacho Figueras, Salvador Ulloa and Gabriel Gracida defended the title in the Independence Cup.
let (Michael Payne, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nacho Novillo Astrada) defeated Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Gussie Busch, Kris Kampsen, Juan Bollini), 8-7, to win the six-team Chukker TV Challenge Cup. Payne, playing well above his A-goal rating, was named MVP while Orangina, an 8-year-old chestnut mare, was selected Best Playing Pony. Orangina was played by Nacho Novillo Astrada and owned by Wellington-based Santa Rita Polo Farm. As the season continued, Piocho Ranch (Gussie Busch, Nacho Figueras, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Tom Barrack) captured its second title of the season after it defeated Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Carlitos Gracida, Salvador Ulloa, Juan Bollini), 10-8, in the Basalt Handicap on July 22. Alejandro Novillo Astrada was named MVP after scoring a game-high eight goals. Chevy, an 8-year-old bay mare owned and played by Barrack, was Best Playing Pony. Heroica, a 5-year-old chestnut mare owned by 10-goaler Hilario Ulloa and played by his brother Salvador Ulloa, was American Horse Polo Association Best Playing Pony. The lead changed hands seven times in the first half before Piocho Ranch took a 7-6 halftime lead with back-to-back goals from Astrada. The fast-paced game continued to
be close in the second half. The lead changed hands five more times before Piocho Ranch took control. The month ended with Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Alejandro Poma, Salvador Ulloa, Juan Bollini) defeating Los Amigos Red (Grant Ganzi, Pablo Spinacci, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster), 12-9, in the final three chukkers of the championship round robin Emma Challenge. Argentine 7-goaler Salvador Ulloa was named MVP and Moon Quartz, a 6-year-old played by Novillo Astrada, was Best Playing Pony and Cruella de Vil, a 4-year-old, played by Pablo Spinacci, was American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony. The two-day, three-team tournament used a unique round robin format. The scores from Friday were carried over into Sunday’s final. Los Amigos Red went into Sunday at plus3, Los Amigos Blue at plus-2 and Mountain Chevrolet at minus-5. Los Amigos Blue finished with 12 goals, Los Amigos Red had nine and Mountain Chevrolet (Lauren Sherry, Michael Payne, Carlitos Gracida, Tincho Merlos) finished with seven goals. The following week, Los Amigos Red (Alejandra Foster, Gabriel Gracida, Juan Bollini, Paul Foster) defeated Mountain Chevrolet (Lauren Sherry, Michael Payne, Alejandro Poma, Pablo
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 49
R E P O R T
Los Amigos Red’s Nacho Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster, Lucas Lalor and Hilario Figueras were Craig Sakin Memorial Champions.
Spinacci), 18-14, in the two-day High Alpine Cup. Juan Bollini was MVP; Pablo Spinacci’s Scar was Best Playing Pony; Goal of the Day went to husband and wife Paul and Alejandra Foster. Paul Foster dribbled the ball back to Alejandra Foster who scored. The reigning USPA North American Cup champion La Karina won the Mount Sopris Cup with a thrilling 1110 overtime victory over Audi on Aug. 12. Sebastian Merlos scored a gamehigh five goals including the gamewinner with seven minutes left in sudden death. Merlos won the throw-in and then seconds later picked up a loose ball and scored. Merlos was named MVP. Rebecca, played by 12-year-old Fran Spinacci and owned by Melissa Ganzi and Wellington-based Santa Rita Polo Farm, was Best Playing Pony. After leading 6-4 at the half, La Karina (Brian Boyd, Lauren Sherry, Carlitos Gracida, Sebastian Merlos) pulled away for an 8-5 lead after the fourth chukker. Audi (Marc Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Nacho Figueras, Fran Spinacci) started to chip away at La Karina’s lead. Fran Spinacci scored back-toback goals to tie the game, 8-8, late in the fifth chukker. With a minute left, Roldan scored on a long lofted goal and found Figueras open to tie the game, 10-10,
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CANDACE FERREIRA
NICK TININENKO
P O L O
Mountain Chevrolet’s Michael Payne, Juancito Bollini, Grant Ganzi and Nacho Novillo Astrada won the ChukkerTV Challenge Cup.
sending the game into overtime. Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Grant Ganzi, Hilario Ulloa, Salvador Ulloa) knocked off Audi (Marc Ganzi, Lucas Lalor, Nic Roldan, Jared Zenni), 10-9, to win the Rocky Mountain Open on Aug. 18. In the final minute, Hilario Ulloa weaved his way through a crowd of defenders and avoided a solid hook to score the winning goal with 32 seconds left. The 31-year-old Argentine 10goaler was named MVP after scoring a game-high nine goals, including four penalty conversions. Girl Power, played by Grant Ganzi in the first and sixth chukkers and owned by Wellington-based Santa Rita Polo Farm, was Best Playing Pony. The same day, Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Alfredo Bigatti, Pablo Spinacci, Juancito Bollini) defeated Los Amigos Red (Juan Bollini, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Tincho Merlos, Paul Foster), 26-24, in the Rocky Mountain Handicap. The teams tied 12-12 on Saturday with the score continuing over to Sunday’s final. Los Amigos Blue defeated Los Amigos Red, 14-12, in the final six chukkers. Juancito Bollini was MVP. Pickens, a 7-year-old mare played by Astrada and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was Best Playing Pony.
Los Amigos Red (Paul Foster, Juancito Bollini, Juan Bollini, Nacho Novillo Astrada) led from start-to-finish to defeat La Karina (Carlitos Gracida, Gussie Busch, Brian Boyd, Sebastian Merlos), 8-4, to capture the Carbondale Classic on Aug. 25. For the second week in a row Juancito Bollini was named MVP. Matsu, a 6year-old bay mare played by Nacho Novillo Astrada and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was Best Playing Pony. After a scoreless opening chukker, Los Amigos Red jumped on La Karina for a 3-0 lead and never trailed. Despite a potent lineup, La Karina was shut out in four chukkers. In early September, Audi (Lauren Sherry, Salvador Ulloa, Nic Roldan, Marc Ganzi) took control early and led from start-to-finish to defeat La Karina (Carlitos Gracida, Brian Boyd, Lucas Lalor, Sebastian Merlos), 10-6, to capture the inaugural Labor Day Challenge. Argentine 7-goaler Salvadore Ulloa, was named Game and Season MVP. Maestra was selected Best Playing Pony. Audi jumped out to a 2-0 lead and pulled away for a 4-1 lead after two chukkers. Playing well defensively, Audi never let La Karina into the game which had problems finding consistency in its offense. Audi led 6-3
R E P O R T
NICK TININENKO
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P O L O
Mountain Chevrolet’s Grant Ganzi, MVP Hilario Ulloa, Salvador Ulloa and Michael Payne won the 20-goal Rocky Mountain Open.
in the second half. The season ended with Audi capturing WPL Triple Crown of Polo. Audi (Marc Ganzi, Mariano Gracida, Nic Roldan, Juancito Bollini) led Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Salvador Ulloa, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) from start-to-finish but Flexjet made them work for it in the final chukker. Audi held on for a thrilling 12-11 victory to win the coveted trophy. Roldan was MVP and Tampa Glitter, played by Mariano Gracida, was the Aspen Valley Polo Club Best Playing Pony. The APHA Best Playing Pony was Pitkin,
CANDACE FERREIRA
at the half and outscored La Karina, 43, in the second half. In a fun atmosphere, on and off the field, McClure River Ranch Pink (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandra Foster, Juan Bollini, Lauren Sherry) stole the show and defeated favorite McClure River Ranch Cream (Paul Foster, Brian Boyd, Marc Ganzi, Stewart Armstrong), 8-6, in the Inaugural Battle of the Sexes. McClure River Ranch Pink rallied after trailing 4-3 at the half with a 3-0 third chukker and ended up outscoring McClure River Ranch Cream, 5-2,
Linda Beal presents Audi’s Salvador Ulloa, Lauren Sherry, Nic Roldan and Marc Ganzi with the Labor Day Challenge trophies.
played by Alejandro Novillo Astrada. Audi, playing well on both ends of the field, jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the opening chukker and a 6-2 advantage after two chukkers. Flexjet started digging itself out of a hole behind Astrada’s three goals and trailed by three at the half, 8-5. Flexjet came within two, 9-7, when Roldan missed a hook on Melissa Ganzi, who scored her second goal of the game. Audi kept its composure and always had the lead but Flexjet made it interesting with 3:26 left in the game. With Audi leading, 12-9, Melissa Ganzi and Novillo Astrada scored to trail, 12-11. With 29 seconds left, Flexjet missed one final scoring opportunity as time ran out. —Sharon Robb EASTERN
TINICUM CLINCHES WOMEN’S CHALLENGE
La Karina’s Brian Boyd gets away from Mountain Chevrolet’s Alejandro Poma in the Mt. Sopris Cup playoffs. La Karina went on to defeat Audi in the final for the title.
In a particularly uplifting event, Tinicum grounded Bombardier in the A Flight of the Women’s Challenge Cup hosted by Tinicum Park Polo Club in Erwinna, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 24. The day included competitive polo matches on the club’s emerald fields
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 51
R E P O R T MICHAEL GREEN
P O L O
Barclay Knapp, far left, and Hesham ElGharby, center, congratulate B Flight’s winner Peace Dale’s Val Washington and Katie, Haley and Emma Kriege and runner-up Lampire’s Christine Cattani, Sue Spencer, Carol Hails and Rebecca Linke.
52 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Arnold added two in a row, giving Arby Dobb the 3-1 lead. Bombardier shut down Arby Dobb in the next chukker, while Van Luvanee scored the only goal, but it wasn’t quite enough and Arby Dobb had the 3-2 win. In an exciting final round between Arby Dobb and Tinicum the action went back and forth. Fuchsloch struck first but Washington shot back. Willson found the mark but Lamont responded. Fuchsloch got in the last word, giving Tinicum the well-deserved 3-2 victory. Willson was MVP and Van Luvanee’s grey mare Paloma was named Best Playing Pony.
NORTHEASTERN
POSTAGE STAMP TAKES EAST COAST OPEN Postage Stamp capitalized on Monterosso’s mistakes to come away with the victory in the 10-goal East Coast Open at Greenwich Polo Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, Sept. 8. In the final, Postage Stamp (Annabelle Gundlach, Brandon Phillips, Lerin Zubiaurre, Tomas Garcia del Rio) gave Monterosso (Alessandro Bazzoni, Santino Magrini, Ignacio MICHAEL GREEN
surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd. The tournament was dedicated to a local teenager who is fighting a brian tumor. Maria Middleton, 16, was guest of honor. Her friends and family believe in the power of prayer and uplifting experiences, and longtime club supporters Greg Krug and Mike Brady thought the polo games would be a perfect uplifting experience for her. The day began with B Flight action, pitting Peace Dale Farm (Katie, Emma and Haley Kriege, Cheryl Arnold, Val Washington) against Lampire (Suzanne Spencer, Christine Cattani, Carol Hails, Rebecca Linke, Ann Oniskey). Peace Dale’s sister power proved too tough to conquer as they prevailed, 5-1. Haley Kriege was MVP and Emma Kriege’s Hummer was Best Playing Pony. A Flight was played as a round robin. In the first round, Tinicum (Brook Burke, Ann Oniskey, Ericka Fuchsloch, Laura Willson) faced Bombardier (Johanna Pedersen, Audrey Van Luvanee, Meg Mullin, Victoria Halliday). The only goals of the round came from Willson, giving Tinicum the win. Round 2 had Bombardier staying up to face Arby Dobb (Rebecca Linke, Carol Hails, Kirstan Lamont, Val Washington, Cheryl Arnold). Lamont took the ball out of the opening lineup, carrying it on the offside, then the nearside, and guiding it through the uprights. Pederson answered for Bombardier but
Barclay Knapp, far left, and Hesham ElGharby, center, with A Flight’s Bombardier’s Victoria Halliday, Meg Mullin and Johanna Pedersen; winner Tinicum’s Brook Burke, Ann Oniskey, Ericka Fuchsloch and Laura Willson; and Arby Dobb’s Rebecca Linke, Daniel Arnold, Cheryl Arnold, Carol Hails, Val Washington and Kirstan Lamont
Rio broke the tie with a Penalty 3 conversion but Toccalino outdid him with Penalty 2 and 3 conversions for a narrow, 6-5, lead at the half. After the champagne divot stomp, Toccalino sunk another Penalty 3, increasing MonPostage Stamp’s coach Roberto Gonzalez, Annabelle Gundlach, terosso’s lead to Lerin Zubiaurre, Tomas Garcia del Rio and Brandon Phillips two. Zubiaurre Toccalino, Naco Taverna), a one-goal took over, scoring back-to-back goals to head start. Once the game got underlevel the score at 7-7. Garcia del Rio way, three of the four Monterosso playended the chukker with a tally to give ers caught the umpires’ whistles, giving Postage Stamp the lead, 8-7. Bazzoni Postage Stamp three chances from the knotted the score at 8-8 in the fifth, but 30-yard line, all of which it capitalized Garcia del Rio responded with a field on. Magrini put in Monterosso’s first goal and a Penalty 4 conversion to take field goal before Zubiaurre and Toccaliback the lead. Garcia del Rio added a no traded goals. Postage Stamp lead, 4Penalty 2 conversion in the sixth but 3, after the first seven minutes. Mongoals by Toccalino brought Monterosso terosso settled down in the second, within one, 11-10. Zubiaurre hit the tarholding Postage Stamp scoreless, while get late in the chukker to ensure the Toccalino split the uprights to knot the Postage Stamp victory. score at 4-4. Third chukker scoring was Toccalino was high-scorer with seven limited to the penalty line. Garcia del goals including four penalty shots. Gar-
RO FERNANDEZ
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P O L O
Monterosso’s Ignacio Toccalino and Postage Stamp’s Lerin Zubiaurre go head-to-head in the East Coast Open final. Toccalino was high-scorer in a losing effort.
R E P O R T cia del Rio led Postage Stamp with five goals, all from the penalty line. Magrini was named MVP and Zubiaurre’s Los Machitos Ikana was Best Playing Pony. Postage Stamp raised the historic Perry Trophy in front of a packed house under sunny skies. Five teams played off over two weeks. Audi (Chris Brant, Matias Magrini, Torito Ruiz, Joaquin Panelo) and Postage Stamp Farm advanced to the semifinal round with 2-0 records. Monterosso advanced with a 1-0 record, while Monterosso Vikings (Siri Evjemo-Nysveen, Peke Gonzalez, Barto Castagnola, Ignatius Du Plessis) and Los Violines (Christophe Landon, Michel Dorignac, Tommy Biddle, Pedrinho Zacharias) played off for the last semi-final spot. Monterosso Vikings took it with an 1110 defeat of Los Violines. In the semis, Monterosso got the best of Audi, 12-11, while Postage Stamp ousted Monterosso Vikings, 12-10.
HART AGENCY TOPS AL BIANCO MEMORIAL Hart Agency took an early lead and went on to narrowly defeat Meadowbrook 9-8 in the final of the Al Bianco Memorial held at the Meadowbrook Polo Club on Long Island, New York, July 30. Hart Agency (Keith Hart, Emma Joinnides, Juan Cruz Merlos, Lobo Fernandez) got off to a great start with Merlos striking first followed by back-to-back goals from Joinnides. Meadowbrook (Mrinal Dansingani, Glen Lostritto, Pedro Gutierrez, Juan Redlich) got on the board in the second with a Penalty 2 strike from Gutierrez but Merlos responded with a Penalty 4 conversion, giving Hart Agency a 4-1 lead at the half. Redlich scored Meadowbrook’s first field goal in the third, beginning a rally, and Gutierrez converted a pair of penalties to knot the score at 4-4. Merlos broke the tie to put Hart Agency ahead,
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DEBRA NAPP
DEBRA NAPP
POLO REPORT
Hart Agency’s Lobo Fernandez, Juan Cruz Merlos, Emma Joinnides and Keith Hart won the Al Bianco Memorial at Meadowbrook.
5-4. Meadowbrook shot back in the fourth with Gutierrez adding a pair of penalties and two field goals. But Hart didn’t let up and scored three of its own to keep it level at 8-all. The match required extra time to determine a winner. Within 90 seconds of overtime, Hart drew a Penalty 2. Merlos sent the ball through the middle of the posts for the win. Bianco’s son John was on hand to present the trophies to the winners and MVP to Merlos. Ten days later, Meadowbrook (Michelle Reinfurt, Lee Ann Daly
Meadowbrook’s Michelle Reinfurt, Lee Ann Daly McCoy, Slaney O’Hanlon and MVP Emma Joinnides won the Women’s Cup.
McCoy, Slaney O’Hanlon, Emma Joinnides) defeated San Ysidro (Jordan Mastromonico, Summer Beinhorn, Camille Beinhorn, Tiamo Hudspeth), 5-3, in the Meadowbrook Women’s Cup. San Ysidro began with a one-goal handicap, which O’Hanlon neutralized in the first period. Mastromonico scored San Ysidro’s first field goal in the second, but a Penalty 2 conversion from Joinnides tied the score at 2-2 at the half. O’Hanlon and Mastromonico traded goals in the third to keep it tight. It wasn’t until the final chukker when
LA CALIFORNIA WINS IN NY La California (Kevin Hamilton, Milo Dorignac, Gonzalo Garcia del Rio, Marcos Garcia del Rio) defeated La Magnolia, 8-7, in the 10-goal East End Cup hosted by Southampton Polo Club in Watermill, New York, in early September.
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Joinnides took control, scoring back-toback goals while her teammates helped shut down San Ysidro to give Meadowbrook the victory. Joinnides was named MVP and Tiamo Hudspeth’s grey mare, Lily, was Best Playing Pony. —results provided by Debra Napp PAC I F I C N O R T H W E S T
BENDABOUT ACES BRINTON MEMORIAL Bendabout topped a six-team lineup to take the Bradford Brinton Memorial on Aug. 10 at Flying H Polo Club in Big Horn, Wyoming. Bendabout (Gillian Johnston, Shane Rice, Julian de Lusarreta, Craig Duke) took on Cessna (Frankie Bilbao, Paige McCabe, Gonzalo Teves, Chip Campbell) in the final. After receiving a onegoal handicap, goals by Bilbao and Campbell (Penalty 2) pushed Cessna ahead, 3-0. Johnson put Bendabout on the board late in the chukker for a 3-1 Cessna lead. Johnston jumped on a pass early in the second for another goal. Teves responded with back-to-back tallies and de Lusarreta finished the chukker with a goal of his own. Bendabout owned the third chukker as Johnston scored twice added to goals by Rice and de Lusarreta while Cessna was held
P O L O
to a Penalty 3 conversion, giving Bendabout the 7-6 edge at the half. The teams matched each other’s goals in the fourth to keep the difference at just a goal, 9-8. Johnston split the uprights early in the fifth, but Teves and Campbell answered to knot the score, 10all. Campbell gave Cessna the lead in the sixth. A Penalty 2 by Duke leveled it again but Johnston tipped the scales with her sixth goal of the day to give Bendabout the 12-11 victory. Julian de Lusarreta was MVP and Copa Feel, owned by G-String Polo and played by Gillian Johnston in the fifth, was Best Playing Pony. In the consolation Red Grade Cup for third place, BTA (Gene Goldstein, Steve Krueger, Michel Dorignac, KC Krueger) defeated Jan Pamela (Wayne Garrison, Hector Galindo, Sugar Erskine, Carlos Galindo), 9-7. Gene Goldstein was MVP and Twiggs, played by Steve Krueger and owned by G-String Polo, was Best Playing Pony. In the Turbin Creek Challenge for fifth place, Parrot Heads (Roni Duke, Jason Crowder, Sugar Erskine/Jeff Blake, Lucio Benedit) slipped Evergreen (Tom Sprung, Will Johnston, Carlitos Galindo, Miguel Astrada), 9-8. The following week, Old Hickory Bourbon/BTA (Will Johnston, Lucio
Old Hickory Bourbon/BTA’s Will Johnston, Lucio Benedit, Steve Krueger and Shane Rice won the Gallatin Ranch Cup at Flying H. DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS
Bendabout’s Craig Duke, Julian de Lusarreta, Shane Rice and Gillian Johnston won the Bradford Brinton Memorial.
R E P O R T
Sapa’s Paige Beard, Santi Wulff, Max Menini and Igor Seyranov won the Regional Presidents Cup.
Benedit, Steve Krueger, Shane Rice) defeated Parrot Heads (Roni Duke, Jeff Blake, Carlos Galindo, Jason Crowder), 10-8, in the Gallatin Ranch Cup. After giving Old Hickory Bourbon a three-goal handicap, Parrot Heads went to work overcoming it. Blake notched a goal and Duke followed with a Penalty 2. Crowder leveled the score early in the second and a trio of goals by Blake doubled up Old Hickory’s score, 6-3. Krueger hit the mark and Johnson scored a lone goal in the third while shutting down Parrot Heads to bring the team within a goal, 6-5. Old Hickory took the lead in the fourth with a pair of unanswered goals. Johnston traded goals with Crowder in the fifth to keep the difference going into the sixth. Blake leveled the score
but back-to-back goals by Rice gave Old Hickory the win. Jason Crowder was MVP and Blake’s Casey was Best Playing Pony. Bendabout (Tom Sprung, Gillian Johnston, Julian de Lusarreta, Carlitos Galindo) edged Newport (Gene Goldstein, Paige McCabe, Frankie Bilbao, Michel Dorignac), 9-8, in overtime of the Johnny Clover Classic for third place. Julian de Lusarreta was MVP and Bilboa’s Dominga was Best Playing Pony. In the Circle V Polo Cup for fifth place, Jan Pamela (Wayne Garrison, Hector Galindo, Miguel Astrada, KC Krueger) topped Cabo Wabo (Craig Duke, Chip Campbell, Sugar Erskine, Gonzalo Teves), 11-8. PAC I F I C C OA S T
SAPA/GIPSY PREVAILS IN REG. PRESIDENTS CUP Sapa/Gipsy conquered its opponent BenSoleimani.com/ J.C. Polo in the final seconds of regulation play to take the Regional Presidents Cup at Santa Barbara Polo Club in Carpinteria, California, Sept. 22. With 28 seconds remaining, MVP
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Santi Wulff tapped the ball once from centerfield before shooting it through the posts to secure the title, 8-7. The first score of the match did not come until the second chukker when Santi Von Wernich converted a 30yard penalty for BenSoleimani.com/ J.C. Polo (Ben Soleimani, Santi Von Wernich, Remy Muller, Jemma Contreras). The team capitalized on its ability to open up the field, scoring twice more in the chukker to take the lead, 3-1. Remy Muller pushed the team further ahead in the third chukker, adding two points to the score. After two missed 60-yard penalty shots, Sapa/Gipsy (Paige Beard, Santi Wulff, Max Menini, Igor Seyranov) kept itself in the game by converting a Penalty 3 to end the half, 52, in favor of BenSoleimani.com/ J.C. Polo. A scoreless fourth chukker kept both teams alert as three shots on goal missed their mark. BenSoleimani.com/J.C. Polo doubled down on defense, preventing Sapa/Gipsy from closing the gap. A penalty conversion by Menini and a field goal by Von Wernich pushed the score to 6-3. BenSoleimani.com/J.C. Polo added its final goal of the match early in the sixth chukker, establishing a four-goal lead, 7-3. Sapa/Gipsy met the challenge head on, rallying to take the lead. A penalty shot from Menini and a goal by Seyranov were added to a penalty conversion by Wulff. A Penalty 1 was awarded to Sapa/Gipsy, tying the score at 7-7. Umpires then placed the ball at midfield. A slight tap forward teed the ball up for Wulff, giving him a perfectly aligned shot to goal, winning the game for Sapa/Gipsy. Santi Von Wernich’s Casanova was awarded Best Playing Pony for her performance in the third and sixth chukker. A special Best Playing Patron Pony was awarded to Ben Soleimani’s sixth chukker mare, Eleanor.
56 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
OBITUARY
STEVE GOSE Stephen M. Gose passed away peacefully at his home on Sept. 11, surrounded by his family. He was 89. A member of the USPA for over 60 years, Gose was a lifelong lover of horses and polo, building one of the most renowned polo clubs in the world. Born Feb. 3, 1930, into a family of oilmen, Gose was raised in Wichita Falls, Texas. As a young man, he studied economics and geology at the University of Texas. He married his wife, Margaret “Marty” in 1950. He was introduced to polo by his father-in-law, Thomas Watson Hastey, who learned the game as an Army officer during cavalry training. Hastey retired as a colonel. “The first season, my father was not allowed to play with shoes on his horses,” son Tom Gose explained. “The second year, Col. Tom put on front shoes only—his way of teaching my father how to stop straight and maintain control.” Surrounded by players such as Cecil Smith, Harold and Joe Barry, Ray Harrington and Rube Williams, among others, Steve Gose had the opportunity to play in 30-goal practices as a 0-goal player. In the late 1970s, he founded the Retama Polo Center, eventually growing it to 16 polo fields. Retama became a haven for many of the top players in the world through the 1980s. Steve played his first tournament, the 12-goal Chairman’s Cup, in Midland, Texas, with his son Tom, alongside brothers Memo and Carlos Gracida in 1978. Winning the final, Steve predicted during the trophy presentation that one day the same team would win the Open together. Raised to an 18-goal team in two years, the four players continued to improve and won the 1984 Open as a 26-goal team. “He was instrumental in making
Steve Gose
my brother Carlos and myself the polo players that we were,” Memo Gracida said. “When I started working for him I was 6 goals and he made me into 10 goals. He supported me by lending me horses, organization, and sent me to Argentina to play in the Argentine Open.” Tom referred to his father as an eternal optimist, inspiring others to reach for their dreams. Gracida said, “He never gave up and he gave us positive reinforcement, allowing us do things that were unbelievable and incredible.” Making the Cup of the Americas possible after a 10-year hiatus, Steve financially backed the U.S. team, allowing it to compete in 1979 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The following year, the Argentine team was hosted at Gose’s Retama Polo Center. His numerous polo victories include four U.S. Open wins (1977, 1979, 1982, 1984); two consecutive USPA Gold Cups (1979-80); and three Silver Cups (1980, 1981, 1984). In 1981, traveling internationally to Sydney, Australia, Steve, accompanied by his son Tom, Joe Barry and Memo Gracida, won the Easter International for the Morton Cup and the Easter International. The same year, the USPA presented him with the Hugo Dalmar trophy
P O L O for sportsmanship. He served on the USPA board of governors from 1973-1989 and was a former Southwestern circuit governor. Steve was inducted into the National Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in 1997. Owning a multitude of fine polo horses throughout his career, Gose’s grey gelding, Alabama, played by Joe Barry, was inducted in to the Hall of Fame in 2003. “My dad did not follow anyone else’s path through his life, rather he made his own unique way through every situation he came upon,” Tom Gose said. “He was honest and straightforward in all his dealings and he always preferred a handshake to a contract. His best gift in life above all others was his faith; faith in God, faith in his fellow man, and faith in all his business dealings. Although he will be sorely missed, I believe he has moved on to the perfect place, where his faith, optimism, love of polo, fly fishing and people will carry on.” Steve is survived by Marty his wife of 69 years; three children, Stephen III (Leigh); Thomas (Martha); and Martha (Chris); grandchildren Stephen IV, Marianna, Phillip, Thomas, Katherine, Clair, Chris and Amanda; and great-grandchildren Frankie, Grady, Hastey, Brevin, Laurel, James, Mila, Jack and Julia.
Jack Cashin
Corps. He went on to work for Charles Hoyt Advertising Agency and McGrawHill Publishing Co. before establishing Cashin Publishing Co. from 1963-69. During that time, he served as editor of Dare Magazine. He went on to found Cashin’s Restaurant Group, establishing Atlanta’s Cashin’s Place restaurant chain, and was a notable real estate investor. Cashin’s passion for horses and polo
R E P O R T led him to build Chukkar Farm with its Scuppernong Polo Club and Chukkar Farm Polo School in 1980 as a way to introduce people to polo and shed the sport’s elitist image. When Cashin retired from the sport at 88, he was the USPA’s oldest active registered player. In a 2010 article in Garden & Gun, Cashin said, “Our club really is a beginner’s club. We teach riding. We teach polo. We lease older, trained polo ponies to new players who come in.” He also served as president of his Neighbors Association; and on the board of directors of United Service Organizations; was a trustee of Georgia Horse Foundation; was active in Atlanta Zoological Society; and as a Libertarian candidate, ran for U.S. Senate from Georgia in 1996. He also served on the executive committee of the Association for United States Army. Cashin used to say, “Life should be lived like a cavalry charge.” Cashin was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Helen Heath Cashin, and daughter Cara Cashin Tadsen. He is survived by his children Heath, Bridget, Jason, Adam and Erin; 13 grandchildren and 11 great grandsons. •
JACK CASHIN John Gregory “Jack” Cashin died Sept. 14, at his horse farm in Alpharetta, Georgia. He was 93. Born Nov. 24, 1925 in Brooklyn, New York, he moved to Georgia in 1973, claiming his soul was born in the south. He received a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University in 1949 and served two years in the U.S. Army Air
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(continued from page 17)
horse as a follow-up, and it may depend on the surgeon’s preference regarding putting medication in the joints. The choice of treatment may be something that the surgeon is familiar with and has had success with over time. “Another thing we’ve gotten much better at is taking out sesamoid fractures arthroscopically. In years past we were just making tiny incisions (for traditional surgery), but now most of those can be taken out arthroscopically instead,” he says. “I feel that arthroscopy is the way to go for doing many things; it has become the standard of care for
Arthroscopy can be useful for horses with chips in their knees, such as shown above.
treating these horses. Just like anything else, timing is important. This may depend somewhat on economics, but in general the quicker you can do the arthroscopy and get the joint back to normal, the better the prognosis for that horse. You don’t want to wait very long,” says Baxter. With some horses, particularly young horses, the owner often wants to just try to get them through a problem with time off, but sometimes this may be not so good for the horse. It may depend on what the problem is, and the circumstances, but in most cases the earlier treatment is initiated, the better. Standing Arthroscopy The horse is usually anesthetized for an
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arthroscopic procedure, but in the past few years some surgeons have been doing standing arthroscopy. “This is being done mainly with stifles; they can use a smaller scope and it’s primarily for diagnostic purposes but some surgeons are removing bone fragments (particularly in fetlock joints) with the horses standing,” says Baxter. This is quicker and avoids the risks involved with anesthesia. “It’s not for everyone, however; the surgeon must be very experienced and very quick. To be successful you need the right horse, the right sedation, etc. but standing arthroscopy can be quite useful in certain situations. I don’t know of anyone doing knees or hocks this way,” he says. In those cases the horse must be anesthetized and lying down. The knees must be flexed for the surgery. “For stifles, how much you can actually do with standing arthroscopy will depend on the problem; standing arthroscopy is mainly helpful from a diagnostic standpoint. The majority of arthroscopic surgeries are done under anesthesia. If it’s a routine procedure with just one or two fragments these are usually very quick surgeries for an experienced surgeon. Over the past 20 years we’ve gotten much better at this,” Baxter says. “The big advantage of doing arthroscopy under anesthesia is that if you find something unexpected, you have more time to take care of it and not have to go back into the joint again later. We do sometimes run into things we didn’t see on the radiographs or other diagnostics, and it’s best to try to take care of all that at once,” says Baxter. Dr. David Frisbie at the Equine Orthopedic Research Center, Colorado State University, has worked with many joint problems, including stifles. Frisbie and several other researchers at CSU published a paper in 2013 in Veterinary Surgery entitled “Diagnostic Stifle Joint Arthroscopy Using a Needle Arthroscope in Standing Horses.” Their paper discussed standing diagnostic arthroscopy of the stifle joint. “This is still the hallmark of how we are making more progress in stifle diagnosis and treatment. We are doing this with the horses in which you can’t see anything abnormal on X-rays and can’t see anything you are really sure of on ultrasound, and yet these horses are not responding to treatment. Most people don’t want to spend $3000 to anesthetize the horse if they don’t need to, yet they still want to find out what’s wrong. So now we have another option, with our ability to put an arthroscope into the joint. The scope is the same diameter as an 18 gauge needle— which is what we utilize to inject the blocking anesthetic. We can usually stick that scope into the stand-
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ing horse and look around in the joint,” says Frisbie. “We can see cartilage tears or meniscal tears, and make that diagnosis at about a third of the cost. If there is no problem in the joint and we don’t need to do anything in there, the horse can go back to work within a week instead of the more prolonged rehab time that we usually associate with general anesthesia and routine surgery. This method has helped us diagnose a subset of the stifle problems and in the future will help us diagnose meniscal injuries earlier,” he says. “When we looked at horses comparing surgery alone with surgery plus stem cells, we knew that the earlier we diagnosed these lesions, the better the chance of treating the horse successfully and getting full return to performance. Ultimately, if we can diagnose these problems earlier, our treatment outcomes will improve. We are starting to scope stifles earlier so we can intervene if we need to do something more aggressively with some of them.” There are more options today than we had 10 years ago. “Since developing the standing technique, I teach a diagnostic stifle course each year to veterinarians at CSU. It combines imaging (mainly ultrasound), along with standing arthroscopy. The offering of a course that focuses on just one joint is unique. We offer an arthroscopy course, too, and a four-day course that deals only with suspensory ligaments and stifles. These injuries are challenging—to locate the source of pain for proper diagnosis, and the treatment options are still being researched,” he explains. “There are not very many new techniques out there, but our comfort level in using the ones we have available has increased. We are more confident that we are on the right track since some of these methods are starting to stand the test of time,” says Frisbie. The Earlier, The Better “A chip in a joint can be more complicated than what the owner or trainer might think,” says Carpenter. It may be a quick and simple procedure if the arthroscopic surgery to remove it is done soon after the injury, and a more guarded prognosis if that bone fragment has been in there for a while, creating more damage. “There is a difference, for instance, between a chip in the fetlock joint that happened this morning during a breezing exercise or some other strenuous work, and we take it out within a couple days—versus a horse that has had a chip in the joint for a longer time. Perhaps the veterinarian tried injecting the joint or some other treatment, but the chip has been there a while and there is now quite a lot of damage,” he says.
“What people often don’t understand is that the success and outcome of the arthroscopic surgery really depends a lot on what went on before the surgery to get the injury taken care of. Just because there’s a chip in the joint doesn’t mean it will respond to arthroscopic surgery the same way as the last one you did. I often have clients tell me they don’t like doing arthroscopic surgery because they think it doesn’t work. And yes, in some circumstances it doesn’t work, mainly because they waited too long to do it. They should have removed the chip months ago,” Carpenter explains. “I tell clients that the osteoarthritis research model that scientists have used for a long time at
CSU is to create a bone chip. The way we create arthritis in horses (so that we can study it) is to create a bone chip in the knee and we don’t take it out— and then we exercise these horses on a treadmill. The damage it does within the joint is a very consistent way to create arthritis, and so consistent that we can use this as a research model. So, if your horse chips a knee and you just ignore it, and continue to train the horse, you are essentially doing what we do in the research lab; you are creating osteoarthritis. There will be a tremendous amount of secondary changes that are a result of that chip within the joint. I always recommend early diagnosis and early intervention because that will yield the best success for recovery,” says Carpenter. •
An arthroscopic view after a chip has been removed from a knee.
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Ostrich hunters Gauchos’ game skills make them better horseman By Herbert Reed
ARCHIVES OF PEARSON SCOTT FORESMAN
Argentine gauchos hunted ostriches with boleadoras (or bolas), which helped them become better horseman with light hands.
A simple, exciting and rather exacting game—so far as horsemanship is concerned—this little South American chase of such ostriches as, contrary to custom, do not always stick their heads in the sand. Who would have thought that in the course of the years it would have put the polo supremacy of the United States in jeopardy? Yet, that is just what the almost immediate postcradle chase of the flopping birds by the natives and the Anglo-Argentines has done. I say “post cradle’ advisedly, since few of the men who are riding for the Argentine today can remember just at what stage of their existence they went into the saddle. But to return for the moment to handling of the boleadoras (Spanish scholars will call it something else perhaps, but this nomenclature comes direct from Jack Nelson, the leader of the Argentine four, who has just arrived in New York to compete with us in September for the leadership of the two Americas.) One takes three strings of reasonable length, hitches thereto three leaden balls, mounts a pony and goes after the bird. Let go at the proper moment,
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the strings and leaden balls spread out and converge only upon the quarry to the latter’s ultimate downfall. In the course of this pursuit, the small riders have forgotten pretty much about the use of reins. In fact, their native grooms have already trained these steeds so that they can be handled most of the time by the twitch of a silken thread. That is why, by the way, the Argentine ponies are sent to this country to be handled only by native grooms. The hands of the American or English grooms are too “hard.” There is in the Argentine a temperate zone, and there is in Australia another temperate zone, which is why the polo mounts of the two sections are now in competition for the polo markets of the world, but ostrich-chasing seems to make a difference. It is not of record that the ponies of Australia are trained by men who have had infant experience in boleado avestruces, as they term the game of ostrich chasing. I have wondered sometimes whether this childish hunt has had anything to do with the use of the “hanging” mallet by the Argentines, that sweet swinging attuned to the drumming of the hoofs that has made the rhythm of the Argentine polo play so popular in the United States. I have asked all the Argentines about it, and apparently that swinging mallet has been not at all a matter aforethought. It is there just the same, and it will be there in all the coming games—and it is a thing of beauty. Being a devotee of rhythm, I am for it, first, last, and all the time. Most of our own men ride to the ball with an upright mallet, but since they hit off the stirrups, with the exception of Watson Webb, it seems to make little difference. When the Argentines first came here, they were playing polo quite in our own fashion, with one exception. They were devoted in certain situations to the theory and, by the way, excellent practice of hitting the ball under their ponies’ tails. But they suddenly discovered, in action, that the Americans were beating them to the ball by the simple process of hitting the ball under the pony’s neck. At once they adopted the American method, and from that moment it was a question between the two nations of men and mounts rather than methods.
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Louis E Stoddard, chairman of the United States Polo Association, and Jack Nelson, chairman of the Argentine Polo Association and leader of the present invading team, have arrived at the same conclusion and that is, that the game itself is no better nor faster than the field on which it is played. While the AngloArgentines were chasing ostriches, most of our American players were chasing something else. They were a little ahead of the South American game, since the battle had been practically all the time between the Hurlingham and the “homing” English from India, and such teams as could be produced by Harry Payne Whitney and a devoted band that thought they could make use of fast fields ad lib., and could do so. There was a parallel effort in many ways by the Argentines. These men play the game as our own Big Four—the membership of which will not be determined until August—play it where it lies. These men play it with utter darling, terrific hitting, and the raucous generalship of Forrest’s cavalry. There is no position on the field from which they do not expect to open the way to a score. The Argentine defense is turned into attack, as is our own, by a single tremendous stroke, and when it is remembered that an international polo pony covers the 300 yards between the two goal posts in close to 24 seconds, some idea of the pace of their play may be gained. All other things being equal, it is the team that thinks fastest at this game that wins. All other things, however, are not quite equal. In
the first place, the invaders are a shade the better horsemen at times, practically equally good hitters, considered as a team, and have in the field the full strength in men and mounts of a single country. In their earlier invasions, when the Argentinians went after the Open Championship, which they once won, they were pitted against split-up American and AngloAmerican fours, which will not be the case this time. This time America has promised to throw into action a new Big Four, the best team that can be put together, and officially or otherwise, for the championship of the world. England has been beaten off, and until the English are willing to play polo as the United States and the Argentines play it, there will be no world’s championship from the popular polo understanding. There will be the old championship between Hurlingham and the United States. This time, the winner is thoroughly entitled to claim the championship of the world along with the championship of the Two Americas—which is quite as it should be. The team of American defenders is very much in the making, the team of invaders is pretty well settled already, and something of a terror it is. It is perhaps necessary to explain that these Anglo-Americans have been a little bit hurt by the unwillingness in times past to admit that a game with them was the real championship of the world. And it is therefore necessary to explain that, with the exception of Manuel Andrada, here two years ago as a regular and
John Miles, Jack Nelson and Skiddy von Stade
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A gaucho helps mount Jack Nelson
now a spare player, the men from Buenos Aires are really what are known as Anglo-Argentines. No season of polo is complete in the Argentine without the training of the mounts by the players themselves. Thus it is that of the nearly 40 mounts brought up from South America practically all are trained by the players. They are sold at the close of the season, which is why the American Big Four—new style—will go into battle with something like 14 mounts of Argentine breeding and training under them. The make-up of the visiting team this year is just a little different from that of two years ago. It probably will go into action with Lewis L. Lacey, 10 goals, at back; John Miles, 7, at No. 3; J.D. Nelson, 8, at No. 2; and Arturo Kenny, the man who has never played on American fields, 6 goals, at No. 1. With the retirement of Milburn as an international Back, Lacey comes through as the world’s greatest player in that position. Quite a contrast he is to Milburn. A wide-foreheaded, longnosed slip of a man weighing only 145 pounds, he gets almost as long a ball as Milburn at his best, and can put on the same type of generalship. Not so long ago he played almost single-handed against the then
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American Big Four, with weakness in every position in front of him, and really managed to throw something of a scare from time to time into the American champions. He will go in again as Back for his third trip against America, this time in most congenial company, which means the best of bad news for the defenders. As a substitute for him, and until he arrives from England to fit into the team, will be Manuel Andrada, partly Basque and partly native Indian, a square block of a man, a tremendous hitter, a fine horseman, and wielding the longest and heaviest mallet in the polo world, either here or abroad. Andrada is a picturesque player, probably the greatest heavyweight playing the game today—riding at well over 180 pounds. Yet he rides with that same free rein, the “neck rein” that marks the steering of all the Argentine players. He is one of the great pelota players of Buenos Aires, a game that develops tremendous power in wrist and forearm. The rather light, and always jolly Jack Nelson, No. 2, head of all Argentine polo, is a familiar figure in this country, and a popular one. He and Lacey are the two real field generals of the team. Out at No. 1 will be a man, Arturo Kenny, new to North American polo, but an old favorite in England and on the Riviera. He played on that famous Argentine four at Paris that defeated by a single goal the team led by Tommy Hitchcock, who is today the American captain, the new head of the still nebulous Big Four. John Miles, although the lowest handicapped of all the invaders, is in the pivot, and therefore probably the vital, position. His brother, David Miles, created something of a sensation here years ago, and on that day met defeat in the first American appearance of the team against Orange County, at that time revolving splendidly around the late “Pat” Rumsey and Morgan Belmont. The latter, by the way, has never since turned in a game to approach that combat. There was inspiration in the first team that faced the men from Buenos Aires, and there had to be. And there will have to be inspiration this time, or the championship of the two Americans, and by inference that of the world, will go down below the equator. Now just a word about the four-footed players that will carry these formidable invaders. They are just a bit bigger this year, just a little bit more “structure” in the shoulder. All but straight hocks, which means great push-off and speed, they have always had. This time there is a shade more power in them. It seems that the Argentines have come to realize that Americans mix a little football with their polo. And this time that American football as well as the rather
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severe American polo will be met. Not that any man on either side contemplates hard or illegal riding—rather that the riding off will not always go to the American advantage. There is not doubt that the men from South America are deadly determined to win. “In years past,” says Jack Nelson, “we have never had a chance at anything except the American Open Championship. That is a great honor, to be sure, but we want the top of the world in polo. It would be a far-sighted policy for the United States, which has the best fields, the greatest reservoir of players, to open the championship to the world. “Some day when you put up a trophy emblematic of the championship of the world, you will face dangerously good teams—from Spain, India, France, anywhere that polo is being developed on fast grounds as a game of pace. Polo will never be any better than the field on which it is played. And your international field at Meadow Brook is the best field on which I have ever played. This time we are not asking as much of our horses as we used to do. We will not go officially into action until September, when we shall try to win the greatest prize we can
think of at present. Other scores in the way of preparation will mean less than nothing. We are glad to visit around and play anywhere, but mere winning, until September, is to us unimportant.” I had almost forgotten one other little advantage possessed by the men from Buenos Aires. They call out their team directions in action in Spanish. So the spectator should be prepared on the field for such howls as “Al Hombre” (take your man), and “Seega” the best translation of which is “Let’s go.” There is a constant running fire of Spanish of the mellow and colloquial order. Polo has been called the game of “dust and bad language,” and it is not to be supposed that the Argentines are any the less equipped with the latter than Mike Stevenson, for instance. They admit it. “Oh, yes,” said Nelson, “we’ll say a few things that are untranslatable, but you’ll not mind, because nobody can tell you what they mean.” It will be well to look out for the grown-up ostrich hunters. They mean business this time.
Jack Nelson said the Meadow Brook field was the best field he had played on.
Adapted from the July 25, 1928 article in The Outlook. • POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 63
CALENDAR
November S E P T E M B E R 1 - NOV E M B E R 3 0 Keleen and Carlton Beal Houston, Houston, TX O C T O B E R 2 2 - NOV E M B E R 3 Delegates Cup (4-8) Houston, Houston, TX O C T O B E R 2 2 - NOV E M B E R 9 Hurlingham Open Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina O C T O B E R 2 4 - NOV E M B E R 3 Player’s Cup (4) Aiken, Aiken, SC O C T O B E R 2 5 - NOV E M B E R 3 USPA Bronze Trophy (12) New Bridge, Aiken, SC O C T O B E R 2 9 - NOV E M B E R 2 National Presidents Cup (8) New Bridge, Aiken, SC O C T O B E R 3 0 - NOV E M B E R 3 Women’s Challenge (0-4, 9-12) Maui, Makawao, HI NOV E M B E R 1 - 2 George S. Patton Jr. (0-4) Arizona, Casa Grande, AZ NOV E M B E R 1 - 3 Governors Cup (0-4) Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX N OV E M B E R 1 - 10 Aiken Fall Cup (2) Aiken, Aiken, SC NOV E M B E R 1 - 3 0 National Arena Amateur Cup (0-3) Orange County, Silverado, CA NOV E M B E R 2 Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships Westworld, Scottsdale, AZ November Rain Cup Prestonwood, Little Elm, TX NOV E M B E R 2 - 3 USPA Constitution Cup (0-2) ATX, Manor, TX Middle School League Marlan Farm, Freeland, MD
Sportsmanship Cup (0-2) New Orleans, Folsom, LA NOV E M B E R 3 Fall Tournament Mixed Adults Mountain View, Charles Town, WV Texas Open Houston, Houston, TX N OV E M B E R 6 - 10 Gen. George S. Patton (0-4) Maui, Makawao, HI NOV E M B E R 8 - 9 Arena Congressional Cup (6-8) Club Polo Cabo, Cabo San Lucas, MX NOV E M B E R 9 Victory Challenge Prestonwood, Little Elm, TX N OV E M B E R 9 - 10 Middle School Tournament Central Coast, Los Osos, CA Middle School Tournament Prestonwood, Oak Point, TX N O V E M B E R 9 - 11 Arena Women’s Challenge (9-12) Central Coast, Los Osos, CA N OV E M B E R 10 Harvest Cup Houston, Houston, TX N O V E M B E R 11 - 17 Texas Women’s Open (16-20) U.S. Open Women’s Handicap (12-18) Houston, Houston, TX N O V E M B E R 1 5 - 16 Victory Cup Brookshire, Brookshire, TX N O V E M B E R 1 5 - 17 Arena Women’s Challenge (6-9) Westchester, Portsmouth, RI N OV E M B E R 15 - 3 0 International Cup (20-26) Grand Champions, Wellington, FL N O V E M B E R 16 - 17 Club Tournament (-2-2) Central Texas, Lockhart, TX Middle School League Buffalo, Wainfleet, Ontario, Canada
64 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Arena Delegates Cup 101, Scottsdale, AZ Constitution Cup (0-2) New Orleans, Folsom, LA N O V E M B E R 16 - D E C E M B E R 14 Argentine Open Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina N O V E M B E R 17 Houston Women’s Polo Championship Houston, Houston, TX TCU Intra-squad Tourney Prestonwood, Little Elm, TX NOV E M B E R 2 0 - 2 4 SW Circuit USPA/PTF Seniors Houston, Houston, TX NOV E M B E R 2 3 - 2 4 USPA Teddy Roosevelt (2) Two Wishes, Lockhart, TX Middle School League Houston, Houston, TX Middle School League Yale, Bethany, CT NOV E M B E R 3 0 - D E C E M B E R 1 Arena Women’s Challenge (0-12) East Texas, Kaufman, Tx D E C E M B E R 3 - 14 Women’s Argentine Open Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina DECEMBER 6-7 Masters Cup Arizona, Casa Grande, AZ DECEMBER 20-28 U.S. Arena Open IPC, Wellington, FL DECEMBER 27-29 Women’s Challenge (8-12, 14-18) Eldorado, Indio, CA D E C E M B E R 2 7 - 31 SAO Memorial Family Cup (4-6) Port Mayaca, Port Mayaca, FL DECEMBER 28 Victory Cup US-290, Fredericksburg, TX
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