JUNE 2020
Regional Winners Advance to NIC
$5.00 US/$5.50 Canada
Summer Season Special FOR THE HORSE TACKERIA POLO SADDLE – Made in England to our specifications. A standard for polo saddles for over 25 years. Available in all-leather, suede seat, or full suede. Sizes 17”, 18” & 19” REG $1995.00 NOW $1699.00
TACKERIA POLO BANDAGES – Set of four, available in black, white, red, royal, navy, hunter, kelly, maroon, teal, and gold. REG. $17.99 NOW $15.99
VINYL TAIL TAPE – ¾ X 50 yards per roll. REG. $1.75
PALERMO II POLO SADDLE – The second generation of our Palermo saddle has been updated to include all of the advances now available for polo. Additional padding in the seat, and the overstuffed under panels are a benefit to both horse and rider. In standard leather, suede seat or full suede. Dark brown. Sizes 17”, 18” & 19” REG $989.99 NOW $889.99
HURLINGHAM POLO SADDLE – This saddle provides both the quality and performance needed for polo at a great value. Made in Argentina with a deep seat and square cantle. Available in all-leather, suede seat, or full suede. Sizes 15”, 16,” 17”, 18” & 19” REG $649.99 NOW $549.99
ARGENTINE COMPLETE POLO BRIDLE – Pelham bridle with leather cavesson, 2 straight reins, martingale, and double adjustment breastplate. REG. $289.00 NOW $239.99 Also available with rawhide cavesson REG. $299.00 NOW $245.00
ARGENTINE POLO FLAT REINS 5/8” – Available in Havana or London Tan
REG. $38.99
NOW $29.99
ARGENTINE MARTINGALES – Available in Havana or London Tan
REG. $62.99
NOW $49.00
TACKERIA NEOPRENE LINED GIRTH – Triple
NOW $1.00
WEATHERBEETA AIRFLOW MESH FLY SHEET W/ NECK – Soft, durable poly-mesh fly sheet. Gray with royal blue trim. Available in sizes 69-84. REG. 124.99
NOW $99.00
RONMAR NYLON HALTER – Triple-ply nylon halter with throat snap. Horse or large horse size. Made in USA. Available in black, red, royal, navy, hunter or maroon. REG. $22.99 NOW $17.99 SOLID BRAID POLY LEAD ROPE – ⅝” diameter with heavy snap, 9-feet long. Available in black, red, royal, navy, hunter, kelly or maroon. REG. $9.99 NOW $8.50 ROPE HALTER WITH POLY LEAD – 5/16” knottedstyle rope halter, includes ⅝” diameter lead, 7-feet long. Available in black, royal or kelly green. REG. $14.99 NOW $12.00 ITALIAN OPEN FRONT TENDON BOOTS – Made by Racing Tack. Available in black or white REG. $76.99
NOW $66.00
DELUXE OPEN FRONT TENDON BOOTS – Available in black REG. $29.99
NOW $24.99
elastic, removable neoprene liner with heavy nylon web overlay and nylon-reinforced tabs. Brown or black. Sizes 42-50. REG. $84.99 NOW $74.99
PROFESSIONAL’S CHOICE VTECH GIRTH –
NYLON OVERGIRTH WITH ELASTIC – Made from
PROFESSIONAL’S CHOICE BALLISTIC OVERREACH BOOTS – BB252 or BB253
Available black or brown. Sizes 42-54 inches. REG. $84.99 NOW $75.99
strong, durable nylon with elastic for better fit. Available in black, navy, red, royal, dark green, neon green, orange, purple & pink. REG. $47.99 NOW $42.00
Durable Ballistic nylon outer cover with ultra-shock lining REG. $36.99 NOW $31.00
BUFFALO STIRRUP LEATHERS – English-made and
PROFESSIONAL’S CHOICE SPORTS MEDICINE BOOTS – Available in black, navy, crimson, royal or
especially strong, this leather stretches a great deal but resists breakage. 1¼ X 54 inches. REG. $149.99 NOW $129.99
white. SMBII 100 SMBII 200
Summer Season Special (561) 793-2012 • FAX (561) 795-0691
REG. $69.99 REG. $73.99
NOW $62.00 NOW $65.00
Summer Season Special (561) 793-2012
•
FAX (561) 795-0691
Prices Effective through July 15, 2020 All Items Shipped Via UPS & Charged to Visa, Master Card, American Express or Discover
FOR THE PLAYER NEW ITEMS
PALERMO ZIPPER FRONT POLO BOOTS – Made in Argentina with premium hand-selected leather. REG. $ 799.00 NOW $719.00
CASABLANCA NEU NOCSAE POLO HELMET – Cloth-covered, lightweight carbon fiber shell with D30 liner and 3-point harness with magnetic buckle for easy attachment. Passes the NOCSAE safety standard. English style with removable liner. NOW $599.00 See our website for additional information and custom helmet options
SOVEREIGN POLO HELMET – Cloth-covered with Viconic Sporting impact liner and Spread Tow Carbon fabric outer shell for a new standard in safety. Four-point nylon crossover harness and removable liner. Passes the NOCSAE safety standard. Argentine Style NOW $599.00
GAUNTLET OF POLO DUFFLE BAG / USPA DUFFLE BAG – Heavy duty canvas duffle bag with leather handles. Gauntlet of Polo available in black. USPA duffle available in navy blue. NOW $125.00
ARGENTINE PREMIUM QUALITY HIPWOODSTYLE KNEE-GUARDS – Two or three strap with velcro closures. Two strap Three strap
REG. $ 197.99 REG. $ 214.99
NOW $159.99 NOW $174.99
ECONOMY HIPWOOD-STYLE KNEEGUARDS – Two or three strap with velcro closures. Two strap REG. $119.00 Three strap: REG. $119.00
NOW $99.00 NOW $99.00
FRANKLIN POLO GLOVE – Cabretta leather palm for precise fit. The choice of top polo players around the world. Pair REG. $32.99 NOW $ 29.00 Right hand REG. $17.99 NOW $ 15.00 STEPHENS POLO ELBOW PADS – HTK/Gel-Eze protection cup is molded into the elbow shape and is surrounded by a thick, lycra sleeve with elastic ends for secure fit. REG. $179.99 NOW $149.99 U.S.P.A. WHITE JEANS – Available in waist sizes 30-
MALLET BAG / GROUND COVER – Holds 15 to 20 mallets and additional
40 even sizes and inseams.
gear. Two large cordura panels fold out and convert the bag into a 58” X 90” ground cover.
ONA TENAX PRO POLO WHITES – Classic 5-pocket
REG. $50.00
NOW $149.99
POLO TRAINING FOUNDATION T-SHIRT – Designed by members of the PTF Junior Board. 50% of the proceeds from the sale of this shirt will go to support youth polo. See website for photo of the shirt. NOW $24.99 PALERMO POLO HELMET – Made in England. Clothcovered helmet available in many colors. Passes the ASTM & British Standard. DOES NOT PASS THE NOCSAE STANDARD. In Stock Helmets Only. Cloth REG. $ 431.00 NOW $275.00 HURLINGHAM ZIPPER FRONT POLO BOOTS – Made in Argentina.
REG. $ 649.00
NOW $569.00
NOW $34.00
jean style with Schoeller 4-way stretch fabric. Available in waist sizes 26-40, even sizes. REG. $269.99 NOW $249.99
MEXICAN SPURS – Handmade, engraved stainless steel spurs. Available in short- or long-shank. REG. $174.99 NOW $149.99 POLO SPURS – Imported stainless steel spurs with 1” band, brass buttons and rowels. REG. $34.99 NOW $29.99 UMPIRE SHIRTS – 100% cotton, available in L, XL, or 2XL
REG. $54.99
NOW $49.99
ENGLISH / SPANISH DICTIONARY FOR HORSEMEN – More than 65,000 words and phrases. REG. $22.95
NOW $10.99
Please call or visit our web site for additional Sale Items Visit our web site for additional information at www.tackeria.com or email us at info@tackeria.com
CONTENTS
P L AY E R S’ E D I T I O N
JUNE 2020
VOL. 23,
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
30 Lockdown
6
What players are doing while quarantined
N O. 10
Association News USPA Bulletin Player spotlight
38 Use your head by Peter Rizzo
Helmet mandate postponed until January
14 Instructors Forum by Kirsten Ludwig
40 Who’s your caddy by C. Maybe Ortiz
16 Ask an Umpire 18 Equine Athlete
No contact required for polf, a polo hybrid
by AAEP
22 24 26 44
JUNE 2020
Regional Winners Advance to NIC
OUR COVER
Polo Scene News, notes, trends & quotes Polo Development Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Polo around the Globe Pakistan
Point Loma Nazarene University’s Pricila Villa, Addy Fuller, Molly Agee, Sydney Falk and Samantha Whitley won the Western Women’s Regional.
58 Calendar 60 Yesteryears
48 Polo Report Texas Arena League Awards Delivered
$5.00 US/$5.50 Canada
2 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN SIGNED COLUMNS ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLISHERS OF THIS MAGAZINE.
Over 30 yeaars of providing quality equippment and service c
Equipment, tack, mallets, barn supplies, feeed, supplements – Everything for f the horse and rider Locat ated aatt Santaa Barbara Polo Club (Ca (Carpinteria) arpinteria) & Eldorado Poloo Club (Indio) www.jhh . e.com m | 760 342 2212 | jhheppolo@gmail.com |
@jacksonholeemporium
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY
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
@USPOLOASSN
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 2020 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.10 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
On April 18, the USPA board of governors convened for the first time in history via video conference for its annual April board of governors meeting. Due to the pandemic, USPA officials decided in March to hold a virtual meeting for the safety of all those involved. Committees were encouraged to meet prior to the call and their reports were condensed into the various division presentations. Board members spoke in depth about the effect of COVID-19 on the polo community. It approved two relief programs to be launched immediately and a tournament stimulus package to be utilized once the suspension has been lifted. Additionally, due to COVID-19, the board extended the suspension of USPA events until May 15, and postponed the June 1 NOCSAE helmet mandate until Jan. 1, 2021, to allow the manufacturers adequate time to acquire a sufficient amount of product. A summary of the full events of the April meeting follow: Secretary’s Report USPA secretary Charles Smith ratified the previous actions of the board in his secretary’s report and presented a club action list to the board. The board approved the clubs per the list and gave a July 1 deadline to rectify any compliance issues. Treasurer’s Report Treasurer Steven Rudolph presented a brief financial report. He stated that the USPA is in a solid financial position but must remain vigilant in exer6 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
cising prudence in spending and mindful of the macroeconomic situation. Finance Committee Finance Committee chairman Sam Ramirez Jr. offered a brief overview of the USPA’s financial position in relation to the global economic crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, stating the USPA’s investments are in a strong position for the current market. For the short term, to preserve liquidity at USPA Global Licensing, the USPA and USPAGL have mutually agreed upon suspension of royalties until a review of sales later in the year. The USPA’s financial advisors, Meketa Investment Group, presented the USPA’s Fund Evaluation Report for the first quarter 2020. There was consensus that the portfolio’s move to targeted investment allocations during fourth quarter 2019 facilitated performance in accordance with the board-approved investment policy through the current reporting period. USPA Global Licensing Michael Prince, president and CEO of USPAGL, provided an update on U.S. Polo Assn. and the global impact of COVID-19. He mentioned that in February, he updated the USPAGL board of directors that the company had delivered a record 2019, following a record 2018. U.S. Polo Assn. continued to elevate as a brand and the business had grown significantly over the past two years, reaching $1.7 billion in retail sales,
U S PA B U L L E T I N
expanding into 180 countries worldwide, opening more than 1,100 retail stores and passing over five million social media followers. The business through February 2020 was performing very strong and was on pace for another record year even though COVID-19 was negatively impacting China at the time. However, as of April 2020, most countries globally were on lock-down with the exceptions being China, South Korea and Sweden. He also mentioned that over 1,000 of the brand’s 1,100 retail stores were closed and that almost all of the brand’s department store partners globally were closed. U.S. Polo Assn. was generating some business from e-commerce, but most consumers were focused on necessities and not apparel. He discussed how USPA royalties would be negatively impacted for the foreseeable future during these unprecedented times. He shared with the board that USPAGL is in a strong cash position and took immediate action in late February and early March to manage the crisis. He thanked the USPA for their partnership on the crisis and mentioned how he was managing royalty payments with the USPA as well as working with vendors and key licensing partners on their payments. USPAGL has also reduced expenses and was securing additional sources of capital, such as a bank credit line and evaluating governmental stimulus packages to provide additional financial security. He also shared the support that U.S. Polo Assn. was providing around the world with its licensing partners, creating millions of face covers that would be distributed to those in need. Chairman David Cummings reported that USPAGL management had taken prudent and responsible actions to minimize
business disruption and economic impact caused by COVID-19. Cummings discussed the nominations of USPAGL directors Chip Campbell, Samuel Ramirez Jr. and Jack Shelton to three-year terms as well as Tony Coppola and Bob Puetz to one-year terms as ex-officio members. In closing, Prince thanked the USPA again for its support and reiterated that U.S. Polo Assn. was well positioned for the long term and would come out of these challenging times stronger because of its sportinspired heritage, accessible prices and strong global partners! Executive Committee The Executive Committee met frequently in the weeks leading up to the April board of governors meeting to help steer various COVID-19 initiatives to present to the full board. USPA CEO Bob Puetz provided a narrative for the three COVID-19 programs and summarized each of the plans. He reported that the process began with the staff reaching out to individual clubs, assessing their various needs and concerns due to the pandemic and assigning each club a risk rating. From that point, staff proposed three different plans to the Executive Committee: the USPA COVID-19 Equine Welfare Relief Program, USPA COVID-19 Distressed Club Relief Program and the COVID-19 USPA Polo Tournament Stimulus Package.
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
period. The board empowered the Executive Committee to make individual determinations subject to the law and local jurisdiction going forward. The board approved a donation to support the National Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame and to build a line item into future USPA budgets for an annual museum contribution.
The USPA COVID-19 Equine Welfare Relief Program provides immediate financial relief to support USPA clubs, intercollegiate/interscholastic programs, polo schools and private polo instructors that are struggling to maintain proper upkeep for their horses and are in desperate need of assistance to provide their horses proper nutrition. The USPA COVID-19 Distressed Club Relief Program is designed to support distressed clubs that have experienced a significant financial loss from March 15 to May 31 and are struggling to maintain the essential infrastructure of the club. The support will be focused on non-equine care related costs. The COVID-19 USPA Polo Tournament Stimulus Package is an effort geared to stimulate clubs and boost the polo community as the country emerges out of the COVID-19 crisis. Through the USPA Polo Tournament Stimulus Package, the USPA will provide various means of support to clubs for their first two USPA tournaments after the suspension has been lifted. The board unanimously supported each of the programs and requested they be launched as soon as possible. Information, guidelines and applications for each of the programs are available at uspolo.org/newssocial/news/uspa-covid-19-relief-package. In addition to the COVID-19 programs, the board postponed the NOCSAE June 1 deadline to January 1, 2021. The decision was based on the inability of the helmet manufacturers to operate or produce product due to the COVID-19 pandemic work restrictions. The board approved the Executive Committee’s recommendation to extend the suspension of all USPA Polo Events through May 15, and recommended clubs continue to suspend club events through that same 8 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Services Mr. Stanislawski, chairman of the Audit Committee, gave a brief report and noted the annual audit is projected to be clean. He mentioned that as the chairmanship for the Audit Committee is on an annual basis, Mr. Habib Narsrullah will be taking over after this meeting. Stanislawski noted his personal term on the Audit Committee would be expiring next year and the committee is continuing to look for a replacement member, ideally a USPA member with a CPA degree. Mr. Rizzo, chairman of the Board and Staff Development Committee, noted the committee will be looking into the limited liability company structure to see if it is still effective. He mentioned there is a strong need for a compliance officer. Executive Director of Services Carlucho Arellano gave an overview of the Services Department and provided updates from various committees. He noted the Equine Welfare Committee had successfully drug tested 24 horses in Florida and 48 horses in California. The Horse Registry Committee had worked with Diego Cappella (Cappella Photography) to design a horse catalog for the Gauntlet of Polo. Arellano gave a brief overview of the tournament database, which was launched last year to streamline the applications and results for USPA tournaments. He reported that the High-Goal, Handicap and Rules Committees had been very active throughout the beginning of the year. The Arena Committee has continued to focus on arena development through the National Arena Amateur League and other initiatives. He reported that due to COVID-19 all international events have been suspended for the year, however, the International Committee was successful in supporting the women’s India trip and the Federation of International Polo Ambassadors Cup. He noted the committee still has plans to support miscellaneous events like the Butler International Cup that is set to take place in September at the Oak Brook Polo Club. The board approved a motion from the Armed Forces Committee for circuit military tournaments (03 Arena—Adm. Chester W. Nimitz; 3-6 Arena—Gen. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller; 0-4 Outdoor—Gen. George S. Patton; 4-8 Outdoor—Gen. George S. Brown) to have handicap levels listed as recommendations and that clubs are able to request these tournaments out-
U S PA B U L L E T I N
side of the recommended handicap levels. The board approved a motion from the Safety Committee to align the rules with the decision to postpone the NOCSAE helmet mandate to Jan. 1, 2021. The board approved the 2021 national and sanctioned tournament applications as presented. The full list can be found at uspolo.org/assets/pdf/2021Tournament-Applications.pdf. USPA Umpires, LLC Charles Muldoon, executive director of Umpires, LLC, gave an overview of the Umpires, LLC performance to date. He reported that under the leadership of Fergus Gould, Western regional umpire director, 10 umpires were officiating in Indio, California, on a rotating basis between Eldorado and Empire Polo Clubs, umpiring up to 30 games per week. Dana Fortugno, Eastern regional umpire director, was brought in this year to help manage the East Coast. There were 249 games officiated throughout Florida during the months of January, February and March. Fortugno continues to make updates to the video rule book and all 2020 changes have been implemented. Umpires, LLC is utilizing a new scheduling app called PoloSK. The new platform provides immediate up-to-date information regarding all facets of managing the umpire program. It was noted that all umpire contracts were paid in full and the umpires continue to be engaged to help the polo community. They are offering virtual rules reviews for any clubs requesting them. The board approved the following revised mission statement for the Umpires, LLC: The mission of the USPA Umpires, LLC is to support all aspects of the umpire services and programs within the United States Polo Association. This includes the training and certification of all umpires, the consistent interpretation of the rules on the field and training, the education of the players regarding the rules and rules updates and the support of the USPA professional umpires. The LLC aspires to create a safe, rules driven environment in every club it touches, with the goals of achieving respect and treating all participants fairly. USPAGL Global Polo Entertainment Shannon Stilson, assistant vice president of mar-
keting, provided an update for USPA Global Licensing Inc. sports marketing and Global Polo Entertainment. GPE was created to market and promote USPA’s most prestigious tournaments. The idea was to not only change the trajectory of high-goal polo by developing the Gauntlet of Polo, but enhance team participation, build attendance and public awareness, attract corporate sponsors and promote U.S. Polo Assn.’s authentic connection to the sport. In 2020, the goals were simple; build off the positive momentum from the 2019 Gauntlet of Polo. GPE set out to deliver 100% satisfaction to the sponsors (including U.S. Polo Assn.), to create a premium broadcast for CBS Sports and Eurosport (which is now postponed to 2021), continue to build upon momentum of the Gauntlet with media and on-site fans, increase social media assets via the production department and execute a marketing plan for on-site attendance. In November 2019, GPE launched a production department that would help support the newly created Global Polo TV, which is the premier destination for polo content around the world. Global Polo TV is a television format platform that provides the United States Polo Association with a distribution channel for the thousands of hours of livestreamed polo coverage. Since the most recent COVID-19 measures (suspending polo in the U.S.) to protect the sport of polo, fans, players, horses and staff, Global Polo TV created a weekly custom schedule that incorporates best plays of live games, stories of polo athletes and archived games from the USPA vault. To date, Global Polo TV surpassed the initial goal of 5,000 subscribers and continues to create new content, like the most recent POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 9
U S PA B U L L E T I N
show, “Inside the Boards,” which showcases what polo players around the world are doing for charity and fun. USPA Communications Matt Baran, director of communications, reported on the USPA Communication Department. He noted the USPA continues to be very active on all social media platforms in order to engage and grow followers. Since the Fall Board of Governors and Annual Member Meeting, USPA social media platforms have grown 11%. The communications team has been working with all departments to provide updates relating to the COVID-19 crisis on social media, the member email blast “This Week In Polo” and uspolo.org. He reported the SEO strategy continues to be successful and helps drive searches related to the USPA and polo to uspolo.org. There was a 12% increase to the “News” section, 79% increase to “Learn to Play” page and 56% increase to the club landing page. Other notable pages that were built include: 2020 Gauntlet of Polo, National Arena Amateur Cup and XII FIP World Polo Championship. A major focus for the department is to continue to provide USPA member club and tournament coverage. Since the Fall Board of Governors and Annual Member Meeting, 105 clubs have been featured in articles, 62 tournament recaps have been written, 36 tournament detail pages built and 182 news articles created. The department has been working to execute new areas of development on the USPA Polo Network. Major changes were made to improve the on-air graphics, slow-motion replays, highlights before breaks, as well as, an additional announcer in the booth. Additionally, the Annual Report has been completed and mailed out with the April Polo Players’ Edition. The department is creating an average of eight to 10 articles per week that are sent out through the member email blast. The click rate is 41% and open rate is 28%, significantly above industry averages. Communications Manager Cristina Fernandez, took the lead on creating horse features in conjunction with the GPE production department during the winter season in Wellington, Florida. The videos and interviews help expand the polo fan base by branding top players and horses, prompting fans to watch in person or on the livestream. Polo Development, LLC Executive Director of Polo Development Justin Powers presented a summary of the current endeavors of USPA Polo Development, LLC, as 10 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
they relate to the COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, the Polo Development staff has developed contingency strategies for hosting the 2020 National Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Championships in the fall of 2020. These tournaments were initially scheduled to be held in the spring in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Houston, Texas, respectively. With respect to junior polo, the staff has been working to adapt the National Youth Tournament Series to COVID-19 restrictions. Currently, all NYTS tournaments are on hold until restrictions for play are lifted. The staff has developed three contingency plans for the season and ultimately the NYTS Championship is slated to be hosted in Chicago in September. In addition to the adjustments to polo development brought on by the onset of COVID-19, Powers also updated the board of governors on the Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Committee structure, policy development and strategic planning process, currently being finalized by the strategic planning group. The Polo Development Initiative grant review process has concluded with award announcements on schedule. Finally, the Junior Committee is set to begin a strategic planning process similar to the aforementioned I/I strategic planning process to develop a committee policy and effective committee structure to implement the current junior polo initiatives (NYTS and Young Player Opportunity grant) and explore and develop new initiatives, such as the proposed Junior Open concept. New Business USPA Chairman Stewart Armstrong reported that both the chairs for the Arena Committee and the Women’s Committee would be stepping down. He thanked Mr. Coleman and Mrs. Gandomcar-Sachs for their work on their respective committees and their accomplishments. The board approved Robin Sanchez as the new Arena Committee chairperson and Meghan Gracida as the new Women’s Committee chairperson. The board discussed the Fall Board of Governors and Annual Member Meeting and reported it may make a recommendation to hold it as a virtual meeting. Specific details regarding the scheduling and other various components will be looked at before making a determination. •
Published by the United States Polo Association Offices at 9011 Lake Worth Rd., Lake Worth, Florida 33467 • (800) 232-USPA Chairman: Stewart Armstrong President: Tony Coppola Secretary: Charles Smith Treasurer: Steven Rudolph Chief Executive Officer: Robert Puetz
U S PA B U L L E T I N
Graduating Seniors Congratulations to the intercollegiate and interscholastic graduating seniors! We cannot wait to see your next steps, both inside and out of the polo world. For more information on available polo opportunities, please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of the I/I staff. You can find contact information, as well as more information on polo clubs near you at uspolo.org.
Thank You! Thank you to all of our volunteers, coaches, host sites, horse providers and parents for all of the hard work and long hours you put in this season. The I/I program and players are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated and passionate community.
College Catalog Are you a high schooler looking for your next step in polo? Make sure to check out the USPA Intercollegiate Team Catalog on the bookshelf at uspolo.org. You will find information on all of the college and universities across the U.S. and Canada, as well as indepth information on the school and club programs.
Starting Interscholastic Team Calling all polo clubs! If you have not joined in the fun of hosting an interscholastic polo team, make sure to check out what you are missing! For guidelines and requirements for starting an interscholastic program, check out the uspolo.org’s bookshelf for the Interscholastic Start Up Booklet. For more information or to ask questions about starting a team, please contact Ali Davidge at adavidge@uspolo.org.
Middle School League Do you have 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th grade players at your club that are ready for tournament polo? Make sure to reach out to the I/I staff about hosting a USPA Middle School Tournament! If you are interested in hosting, please email Emily Dewey at edewey@uspolo.org. • POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 11
U S PA B U L L E T I N
Erica Gandomcar-Sachs Propelling the legacy of polo
U
SEBASTIAN LEZICA
Erica GandomcarSachs competed in the 2017 Women’s Argentine Open.
nderneath her bubbly exterior, luminous smile and self-proclaimed big hair, USPA Rocky Mountain Circuit Governor Erica GandomcarSachs continues to dispel assumptions with wholehearted investment to the business of polo, taking the reins from her parents and reviving the game on the family-owned facility they established together. Carrying on the Gandomcar equestrian legacy, the vivacious Colorado native inherited her immigrant father’s deep passion for polo and diligent spirit, managing and growing both Denver Polo Club and Cottonwood Riding Club in Littleton, Colorado, alongside her sister Tara. Now surpassing three decades of USPA membership, she has more than demonstrated her longevity and commitment to the
sport, having assumed the leadership position at a young age. An accomplished, self-made trainer and USPA Certified Polo Instructor, Gandomcar-Sachs has dedicated her life to sharing the gift of polo with everyone, including her young daughter Sydney, while working to foster a close-knit polo community in her home state. Eagerly stepping into the circuit governor role in 2014, Gandomcar-Sachs intentionally pursued the position out of a genuine desire to be more connected to the sport she loved. An intercollegiate polo alumna, she has competed nationwide and internationally, traveling to exotic locations, including Singapore, New Zealand, Jamaica and even Argentina to participate in the inaugural Women’s Argentine Open. A prominent advocate for women’s polo within the association, she not only chaired the Women’s Polo Committee, but cofounded the Women’s International Polo Network, a nonprofit international online community of women polo players. Taking some time out of her busy schedule, Gandomcar-Sachs opened up about how her parents’ stories shaped her polo career, and lessons learned over the past four years representing the interests of the Rocky Mountain circuit.
What made you want to become a circuit governor? Polo is in my blood. My parents, John and Chris Gandomcar, started the Denver Polo Club over 35 years ago, so I grew up involved in all aspects of the sport, from grooming, to sponsorship and marketing, once I took over the business. I served as a board member on the USPA Marketing, LLC and I thought about the position years prior to being elected. I was not only one of the younger circuit governors stepping in at the time, but also one of only two women. For me, the fun part about the position was that I got to be directly involved and had a voice in the sport I’m passionate about. The amount of work that is completed at the USPA on a volunteer basis is incredible because regardless of how different everyone’s background is, they give their time because they genuinely love polo.
What is your equestrian background and how did you become involved in polo? I started riding when I was 2 or 3 years old, but my dad was the first one to put a polo mallet in my hand when I was 8. I tried jumping prior to polo, but 12 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
I’m such an adrenaline junkie and jumping was only 30 seconds of fun whereas polo is a two-hour adrenaline rush. My dad fell in love with the sport while growing up in Iran. His father had a textile factory right on the walls of the racetrack and in the center of the racetrack was the polo field. My dad would go over and watch his father ride and play polo. My mom was from a small town in Iowa and her father was a veterinarian. They met in Greeley, Colorado, and at the time they were by no means wealthy—she was a small-town farm girl and he left home at a young age. My dad would go riding with his friends down the High Line Canal, which runs through the middle of the property where our main facility sits now. He fell in love with the land, formerly a junkyard, and on a $10,000 loan from his parents, he was able to purchase it in 1982. Little by little my parents built it up, never in their wildest dreams thinking they wanted to build their own polo club. When friends would ask if they could keep a horse there they would build a barn or a stable to accommodate them and now over 300 horses later, here we are! Every dollar that my parents made went right back into growing the business. My dad had friends from other countries so he would host international charity matches and invite teams from India, Pakistan and England, and we would have a tournament every weekend. As a kid, my job was to flag during games and my sister Tara would groom so the whole family was involved. Polo was our dad’s passion, but we also had other equestrian disciplines at our Cottonwood Riding Club facility, including western, jumping and dressage.
How did your college experience influence your career path? Just before I went off to Colorado State University, my parents stopped playing polo. At that time, the economy took a downturn, so they shifted their focus to the hunter/jumper business. Prior to college, I had only ever played outdoor polo so playing intercollegiate polo at CSU was my first experience playing arena. I learned a lot in the arena and being on the team gave me the opportunity to travel and meet people outside of Colorado. The experience also gave me my own name and polo identity. When I started college, I wanted to be a cardiologist or a neurosurgeon, but I switched my major to speech communication and journalism and graduated in 2003. Towards the end of my college career, I knew I would take over the family business, so when I returned from college, I started to slowly bring polo back to our facility.
What is the biggest goal you hope to accomplish for the Rocky Mountain Circuit?
Erica GandomcarSachs with daughter Sydney
I have one state in my circuit, but we have prominent polo families established within Colorado, including the Jornayvazes, Ganzis and Bellissimos. It’s my challenge and vision to have these three passionate families work on a project together for the greater good of polo and equestrian sport. Next year we host the Silver Cup, the Colorado Open and the Federation of International Polo Women’s Invitational, so to have three high-goal tournaments here is incredible and everybody is working together to make it possible. We have a team mindset so we view it as Rocky Mountain Polo or Colorado Polo, not specifically Denver Polo Club, Aspen Valley Polo Club or Valiente. To encourage travel, I schedule to shut down our club for a few weeks and send the players away to play at other clubs. The field and facilities were closed and last year, we caravanned up to Boulder, Colorado. People also go up to AVPC for a couple weeks and the Ganzis have a program where you can opt to bring your horses or not. If you want to play with Adolfo Cambiaso, Nacho Figueras or just enjoy green horse polo you can do that all in the same week because we play -2 to 20-goal polo in the region. In the future, we are planning to take a group up to Wyoming as well.
What hobbies do you enjoy outside of polo? I love live music and sports as well as hanging out with family and friends during the off season. I also get a chance to travel and play in various tournaments so it’s nice to be able to have enough hours in the day to (continued on page 57) POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 13
INSTRUCTORS FORUM
Leg ‘Em On Improve horse control with proper use of your legs by Kirsten Ludwig
In polo, it is an accepted fact that the horse is 80% of the game, but what does that mean? While many players think they should spend money on a welltrained horse, if they do not know how to ride, it can be a waste of money and a potentially dangerous situation. The world’s top players are not revered because they run fast and hit the ball hard, but because of their ball control, which ultimately stems from horse control. Therefore, to improve your game, you must first improve your riding, which starts with understanding the power and mechanics of the legs. Horses need to be able to collect their potential energy and use that energy to make the high-powered moves that are asked of them. They cannot do this to the degree that is needed if the riders do not help them. When players learn to ride, they are taught to kick the horse to go and pull the reins to stop. Eventually, they are told to rate or collect the horse but not told how to do that. This often results in players that are too heavy in the hand, which dulls the horse’s mouth. To avoid this, players are told to use more leg, but since kicking makes the horse go faster, that can often exacerbate the situation. Legs make up 20% of the human body, and referring to the entire leg as a whole does not provide enough information for riders to know how to use them. A human leg can be divided into four parts: the foot (ankle down), the lower leg (knee to ankle), the upper leg (hip to groin) and the hips (groin to the top of the pelvis). Each portion of the leg moves differently and has different strengths and weaknesses that can help or hinder a rider. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on the two largest sections—the lower and upper leg. Lower Leg The lower leg can be likened to the gas. Kicking with the lower leg makes the horse go, and this is where the problem occurs. When students are told to use their legs, they automatically use both the upper and lower legs simultaneously. Using the lower leg puts energy into the horse and forces the rider to slow the horse with their hand, making their hands even “heavier”. Instead, the lower leg should be used sparingly, and only when the rider truly wants to put 14 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
energy into the horse. Oftentimes, players complain that their horse accelerates when they go to hit the ball, and that is generally because they are digging their lower leg into the horse when they get into a hitting position. If riders can learn to keep the lower leg off the horse, they will gain greater control over the horse’s speed. Upper Leg If the lower leg is likened to the gas, then the upper leg would be the speed regulator. By squeezing with just the upper leg, a rider can communicate the desired speed and direction for the horse to travel. In fact, a good rider can communicate with the horse through just the upper leg, not requiring a bridle or saddle. The more contact a rider has between the horse and the upper leg, the better lines of communication. Herein lies the problem, as riders often make two mistakes regarding the upper leg. The first mistake is turning the knee away from the horse. Not only does this decrease the amount of contact between the upper leg and horse, it also pushes the lower leg into the horse, causing it to move faster than the rider wants. By keeping the knee turned into the horse, riders guarantee they maintain upper-leg contact and distance the lower leg. Secondly, when accelerating or hitting the ball, players often stand up in the saddle, raising the hip away from the saddle, which decreases contact between the upper leg and the horse. Instead, if players simply roll forward, maintaining pelvic contact with the saddle, they are able to preserve their upper leg contact and better communicate with the horse. Drills While this may sound antithetical to many riders, this positioning of the legs can be demonstrated by removing the stirrups at a canter. When riders are no longer able to rely on the aides of stirrups, they naturally squeeze with the upper legs, while distancing the lower legs from the horse. A good drill to practice using the legs is a modified leap-frog drill, also called back-to-front sprints. Line up two-by-two, maintaining 8-feet distance
INSTRUCTORS FORUM
from the horses in front of you. Also stay shoulder to shoulder with your partner at all times. The group walks forward in a straight line, with players maintaining the shoulder-to-shoulder positions with their partner and the 8-feet distance from the other pairs. This simulates the riding position during a game in terms of riding with an opponent and not riding up on the pair in front. When the instructor yells pass, the back pair “leap-frog” to the front of the line coming together again as the lead pair in the front (See illustration, right). The person on the right, passes on the right of the other riders at a trot, while the person on the left passes on the left of the other riders, also at a trot. This forces the riders to accelerate their horses to get past the other pairs, while then collecting the horse down to maintain the speed of the group. Once players are with their partner and 8-feet from the other pairs, the new group in the back leapfrogs to the front and so on. This drill takes away the ball, opponents, score and time, allowing players to focus on their horses and partners. Once each group has leapfrogged twice, riders can increase speed to a trot, forcing the leapfrog pair to canter. This drill can be accelerated until all riders are at a gallop. As a precaution, the stamina of each horse and rider needs to be taken into consideration. If done properly, a rider will be using the thigh and core muscles to a degree not typically used. Once these muscles tire and begin to shake, they physically cannot give anymore, and the rider will have to rely on other muscle groups to compensate, creating the potential for injury and bad riding habits. Horses can also be injured if they are pushed past the point of their conditioning and this also needs to be taken into account. The key to this drill is starting slow and making sure the riders are properly using their legs. If a rider is too heavy with his hands, the horse’s head will lift up when the rider asks it to slow. However, if players are riding properly, the horses’ heads stay even and the rear-ends of the horses round up during the slow-down procedure. This drill can be made harder by removing the stirrups or saddle, provided the players are strong enough riders. Riders can also be asked to do this while in the hitting position and dragging the mallet on the ground. Once riders are able to perfect this drill, it will help them with horse control, ball control and ultimately their overall playing ability. • Kirsten Ludwig is a polo instructor at California Polo Club in Los Angeles, California. The daughter of
renowned polo coach Rege Ludwig, she has been playing since the age of 7 when she started in Eldorado Polo Club’s Junior Program. She played on the University of Virginia’s varsity team, and following the completion of her degree, worked as a polo pro. In 2003 and 2004, she was assistant tournament director for the Federation of International Polo’s regional play-offs and World Cup. In 2010, she helped organize and played in the World’s Longest Polo Game, a charity event for Wounded Warriors. Kirsten is currently rated 1 goal in the arena and has played in Jamaica, Argentina, England, Ireland, Germany, France and Pakistan. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 15
ASK AN UMPIRE
Rule 24 Right of Way is called differently in high- and low-goal polo
For Peter Alworth, far right, the best part of polo is playing with his three children, shown here.
This month Peter Alworth has a question. Peter grew up playing polo in Duluth, Minnesota, with his father and two brothers. He is currently rated 1 goal but back in day he was a 3-goal player. Peter most certainly uses his experience and mature-player trickery to advance his team during the summer season at the Twin City Polo Club. Of course, Peter loves the game of polo but what he enjoys most is playing with his three children, all of whom are well accomplished polo players in their own right. Fielding a full family team is an accomplishment close to his heart and a unique ability in today’s world. When Peter and the kids are not playing polo, they stay active during the winter months playing ice hockey. Peter is definitely a modern-day entrepreneur with old-school values, having started his own software company and running it successfully for over 10 years; starting and managing a bank for over 15 years; and now serving as the CFO of a manufacturing company—somebody has to pay for the polo in this family ! The Twin City Polo Club is located in Maple Plain, Minnesota. The season starts the first of May and the first tournament is Memorial Day weekend. The club plays without pause through September. 16 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
When possible, 0-goal tournaments are run simultaneously to 4- or 6-goal tournaments. The club strives to include all club members in competition. Practices are a mix of skill levels. It is common to have a nine-chukker practice with three slower chukkers at the beginning. Sometimes the club will have two practice games going on at the same time. The club has an excellent polo school where many young kids have learned to play. It has held a NYTS tournament for the past seven years, since the beginning of the series. For the past two years, the club has hosted the Central Circuit Woman’s Tournament. Peter and Bob Bradley purchased the club 20 years ago from James Binger, who originally started polo there in the 1960s. The club now has three regulation polo fields and a stick-and-ball area. The club usually hosts six to eight teams for its tournaments and can accommodate all the visiting teams at the grounds. It also has arguably the best after-polo barbeques in the country! Peter’s question: When I watch high goal polo on livestream, it looks like there are many fouls that are not called. Is high-goal polo called differently than lower-goal polo, and if so, why?
ASK AN UMPIRE
Rule 24—Right of Way a. At each moment of the game there shall exist as between any two or more players in the proximity of the ball a Right of Way, which shall be considered to extend ahead of the player(s) entitled to it, and in the direction in which that player or those players is or are riding. c. No player shall enter or cross the Right of Way except at such speed and distance that creates not the slightest risk of a collision or danger to any player. *Only a portion of Rule 24 is listed. To read the entire rule, go to uspolo.org*
Umpire Darrell Schwetz is going to answer Peter’s question. Schwetz is a USPA umpire who has been umpiring professionally for over 16 years. He umpires all levels of polo across the country. Darrell has also umpired internationally in Argentina and Pakistan. In fact, he was the first umpire to go to Argentina in the umpire exchange program. Darrell started his polo career at the young age of 7 in Boca Raton, Florida, at the Royal Palm Polo Club. Darrell was a member of the “Rough Riders” at Culver Military Academy, a stunt-riding group. He played all over the world and reached a handicap of 5 goals. He won many prestigious high-goal tournaments, including the USPA Gold Cup, the U.S. Open and Butler Handicap. He is also a level-three certified horseman in both english and western with the Certified Horsemanship Association. When he is not working, Darrell enjoys spending time with his two sons, Jordon (23) and Dawson (21). A fun fact about Darrell is the he is an avid paddleboarder and fisherman, catching many of his own meals. Darrell’s answer: Peter, that’s a really good question. I happen to umpire both high-goal and low-goal polo so I should be able help. Yes, we umpire high-goal polo differently than we do lowgoal polo. When I say high-goal polo, I mean 20-goal polo and above. The rules are the same, for the most part. There are some host tournament committee elections available to high-goal polo that are not available, to say, 6-goal polo, but that aside, it’s the interpretations of the rules that are different. To be more specific, it’s the interpretation of the right-of-way rule (Rule 24) that we interpret uniquely for high-goal polo. We do three things in high-goal polo differently than low-goal polo. First, we shorten the gap—the distance between opposing players—that is needed to enter the right of way of another player from the
opposing team, and by doing so, we allow more plays to be legal that would otherwise be a foul. For example, if we allow a player to enter the right of way of an opposing player as long as he or she has a three-horse-length’s gap in 6-goal polo (all other conditions being the same), we may allow the same play at two horse lengths in 22goal polo. Second, we use actual risk of collision as our benchmark in high-goal polo instead of potential risk of collision in low-goal polo. Third, we play the advantage a lot more. In other words, if a player gets fouled but he or she retains possession of the ball, we may elect to not call the foul. In low-goal polo, we still play the advantage but not nearly as much. There are other conditions we consider as well, like relative speeds and angle of entry into the right of way. When you take all three of these interpretation differences together, you will get a vastly different calling of the game. Why do we do this? The short answer is because we can and still keep the game safe. At the high-goal level we have the luxury of very experienced players on the field at all times and it allows for fewer whistles and a more fluid game. It also allows the better players and better horses to stand out and be rewarded for being better instead of being so limited by the rules. At the lower levels, with less experienced players on the field, we cannot keep the game safe if we call it this way. I hope that helps ! •
Darrell Schwetz
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 17
E Q U I N E AT H L E T E
Risk management Preventing the spread of COVID-19 at farms Courtesy of American Association of Equine Practitioners
HORSE OWNERS know that you can’t take a break from feeding horses or mucking out stalls despite holidays, bad weather or even a pandemic outbreak. With that in mind, it is not unusual for equestrian facilities to have multiple essential workers coming and going, including caretakers, veterinarians, shoers, feed delivery people and manure removal personnel. Polo facilties also may have several people coming to keep horses exercised. Still, in today’s world of coronavirus, there are precautions you can take to minimize the risk of spreading the disease. The American Association of Equine Practitioners Infectious Disease Committee recently published ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in equestrian facilities. Keep space between horses used by different people so social distancing can be maintained.
Facility Personnel • Restrict access to boarding facility to essential personnel (veterinarians, farriers, equine caretakers, trainers and essential owners. • Prohibit non-essential persons (students, friends, family members) from entering the facility. • Stay 6 feet apart from other people and do not congregate • Do not allow access to the facility to anyone who has been exposed to a person with symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, shortness of breath or fever) or if the person wanting access is showing symptoms of COVID-19. You can view the CDC’s guidance on COVID-19 symptoms at cdc.gov. • Limit crosstie use to every other crosstie. • Use an online sign-up form to encourage horse owners to commit to an hour that they will be riding or visiting the barn, and limit each time slot to ensure that no more than 10 people are on the grounds at a time.
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Facility Environment • Please do not touch anything unless you need to use it. • Avoid sharing equipment and supplies between persons. • The virus can persist on non-porous materials (leather bridles/saddles/halters, nylon halters/lead ropes, gate latches, door handles, spray nozzles) longer than porous materials (cotton lead ropes, saddle pads). • Clean communal leather tack daily with tack cleaner. • Disinfect gate latches, spray nozzles, cross tie snaps, pitchforks, wheelbarrows and other frequently used non-porous surfaces regularly or after contact with personnel. • Stall door handles, hose ends, light switches and feed scoops are handled by many people and should also be cleaned and disinfected frequently. • Only designated individuals (trainers/staff) are to move and set jumps or other arena equipment. • Prohibit the shared use of grooming supplies, helmets and tack as these may be sources of environmental transmission of COVID-19 to other humans.
• Although there is no evidence that horses can contract or become ill from COVID-19, practice good hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds or using a >60% alcohol hand sanitizer after touching a horse, communal areas or communal equipment to prevent environmental spread of the virus. Hand sanitizers is not as effective as soap and water, so only use when there is no soap and water available and hands are not visibly soiled. A barn safety flyer in both Spanish (next page) and English (page 20) is provided by the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Equine Disease Communication Center. They can be copied, printed out and posted in your barn.
E Q U I N E AT H L E T E
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 19
E Q U I N E AT H L E T E
Equine Coronavirus (ECoV) is NOT the same as COVID-19 What is Equine Coronavirus? The equine coronavirus (ECoV) and COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2) are two distinct RNA viruses. ECoV can cause gastrointestinal disease in horses with signs of fever, depression, diarrhea and colic. ECoV is spread by fecal contamination from horse to horse or from contact with items contaminated with feces. Biosecurity measures and isolation should be implemented in horses that have or are suspected to have ECoV. For more information about ECoV, see the Equine Coronavirus factsheet on the opposite page or go to: vet.cornell.edu/animal-health-diagnosticcenter/ veterinary-support/disease-information/ equine-enteric-coronavirus Can COVID-19 affect horses? To date, there is no evidence that COVID-19 causes disease in horses. There is also no evidence that horses can be a source of COVID-19 infection in people. However, because animals can spread other diseases to people and people can also spread diseases to animals by contact, it is a good idea to always wash your hands before and after interacting with animals.
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The American Veterinary Medical Association has more information on COVID-19 and handling pets: avma.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/covid-19-faqpet-owners_031620.pdf. What if my horse needs routine or emergency care during the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak? In the even that your horse needs veterinary care, call your veterinarian to discuss whether the care is essential. Because of the efforts to reduce the potential for human exposure to COVID-19, routine care may need to wait until there is no risk for COVID-19 exposure to you or your veterinarian. Telemedicine may be a way to provide veterinary care for your horse without risking exposure to COVID19. For emergency care, call your veterinarian to determine how veterinary care can be delivered while following appropriate biosecurity to prevent exposure to COVID-19. Do not take your horse to a veterinary hospital until you have consulted with your veterinarian. The Equine Disease Communication Center continues to report infectious disease outbreaks for horses. More information about horse infectious diseases and biosecurity are available on the EDCC website at http://equinediseasecc.org.
E Q U I N E AT H L E T E
EQUINE CORONAVIRUS FACTSHEET Courtesy of American Association of Equine Practitioners and Equine Disease Communication Center NOTE: Equine Coronavirus—ECoV— is NOT the same virus as COVID-19 Disease Name: Coronavirus, ECoV
Equine
Coronavirus,
Beta
Disease Type: Viral disease caused by an RNA Virus. The disease causes gastrointestinal disease in horses. Transmission: ECoV is spread when feces from an invected horse is ingested by another horses (fecal-oral transmission). The virus can also be transmitted when horses make oral contact with surfaces or objects that are contaminated with infected feces. Stalls, muck forks, manure spreaders, thermometers and clothing are common fomites (objects or materials that can harbor ECoV). ECoV is most commonly diagnosed in the winter months. ECoV appears to be specific for horses with no evidence of infection or that it is transmitted to humans or other animals, however appropriate biosecurity measures should be practiced with all horses with diarrhea or when horses are showing clinical signs consistent with ECoV. Frequency: Low Incubation period: 2-4 days Carrier status: Carrier status is currently unknown but horses with no clinical signs have been found to shed the virus. Shedding period: Shedding period is unknown but the virus can be present in samples 3-15 days post infection; horses that show no evidence of the virus can shed the virus. Latency: It is unknown how soon infected horses become infectious, but the feces of infected horses does pose a risk to other horses. Severity: Low but mortality can occur in complicated cases. Miniature horses seem to be more affected more often than other breeds/types, but all breeds can be affected. ECoV infections are generally self-limiting.
Clinical signs and symptoms: • Fever up to 105 degrees F (40.5 C) • Lack of appetite • Depression • Colic • Laying down frequently • Diarrhea (may or may not present) • Low white blood cell count Complications can occur in rare cases: • Protein loss • Dehydration • Neurologic signs (such as lethargy, depression, loss of body control) secondary to an excess of ammonia in the system • Recumbency (inability to stand) • Death Diagnoses: Diagnosis is made by a veterinarian based on presence of clinical signs compatible with ECoV infection, the exclusion of other infectious agents, and the detection of ECoV in feces using PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Treatment: The primary treatment is supportive care of clinical signs. Severe cases may require hospitalization for IV fluid treatment or treatment for secondary infections. Prognosis: Good. Exposure to the virus can result in up to 85% infection rate but most animals do not show clinical signs. Mortality is low but can occur in complicated cases. Prevention: There is no vaccine for ECoV. The best method of prevention is to maintain high standards of sanitation in all equine facilities and careful disposal of manure. When cleaning surfaces that may be contaminated with feces, clean first to remove all traces of organic matter, then disinfect. Biosecurity: Any horse with a fever and no evidence of respiratory illness may have ECoV and feces may be infective. Horses positive for ECoV should be isolated and strict biosecurity measures and manure management instituted to prevent the spread of infection to other horses in the vicinity. These animals should be handled last when feeding, grooming and cleaning stalls to prevent possible infection of other animals. Horses that are moved to a new facility from a facility with horses positive for the virus should be isolated for 3 weeks. •
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 21
POLO SCENE
N E W S • NO T E S • T R E N D S • Q U O T E S
POLO PRESENTATION HEAD Student advances to Nationals Subhead
TATE SOMMER, a 6th grader at Riverdale Heights Elementary School in Bettendorf, Iowa, recently put together a presentation on American polo pioneer Sue Sally Hale. In her “Breaking Barriers: A Queen invades the Sport of Kings,” Sommer gave a terrific oral presentation on Hale’s life as she fought for the right to play in the traditionally male-dominated sport. The presentation, given in the Junior Individual Performance category in Iowa’s National History Day, was a success and Sommer earned her way to the state finals. Due to COVID-19, the presentations were held virtually, the week of May 4. After giving her presentation, she learned she was chosen to move on to Nationals! The National Contest is the final stage of a series of contests at local and state/affiliate levels. Students presented their projects through schools and districts around the world. Top entries were invited to state/affiliate level contests. The top two entries in each category then move on to the National Contest, held virtually this month. Each year nearly 3,000 students compete at Nationals. Tate learned about Sue Sally Hale in National Geographic’s “The Book of Heroines.” Tate says she loved learning about Hale and her personality. Tate’s mom Maryl Sommer wrote, “We’ve been so impressed with how helpful the polo community has been in Tate’s research, from Stormie Hale to ... Dawn Jones and Cindy Halle.” Nobody in Tate’s family rides or plays polo, but her mom said she is now dreaming of giving it a try, something Sue Sally would surely love!
RARE FIND Chinese woman interred with polo donkeys
RESEARCHERS from Washington University found ancient Imperial Chinese noblewomen likely played polo on donkeys. The tomb of a noblewoman named Cui Shi from the Tang Dynasty, dated to 878, was uncovered in 2012, along with two donkeys and a single stirrup. Polo was known to be popular with nobles during the Tang Dynasty. In fact, Emperor Xizong, who reigned from 873 to 888, was said to love polo. Apparently, he promoted Cui Shi’s husband, Bao Gao, a talented polo player, to general after he won a polo match. The traditional game was considered dangerous so historical texts indicate donkeys were considered a steadier alternative to horses in a version of the game called Lvju. While earthenware figures from the time period provided evidence of woman playing polo on horses, and historical records indicate women played Lvju, this is the first archaeological find to confirm it. Researchers wrote, “Her family’s special relationship with polo and the popularity of donkey polo suggest that, following Tang mortuary tradition, the donkeys were sacrificed to reflect Cui Shi’s desire to play Lvju in the afterlife.” The tomb had been looted, with bones scattered about, when scientists examined it. Radiocarbon dating confirmed the bones dated back to the same time period as Cui Shi’s death, and micro-CT scanning showed the donkeys were used for acceleration, stopping and turning rather than slow movements of pack animals.
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Answers on page 51
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
History made Past NYTS champions celebrated By Hayley Heatley
The NYTS Committee is eager to welcome players back to the field in a safe manner. As restrictions are lifted and play begins to resume, the NYTS team will work closely with each club to ensure a successful NYTS Qualifier Tournament. Players and clubs, please contact NYTS@uspolo.org with any questions. While we wait to mount up and get back on the 2013: Wesley Finlayson, Juancito Bollini, Grant Ganzi and Justin Daniels
field, let’s celebrate the past winners of the NYTS National Championships! 2013 Virginia International Polo Club Upperville, Virginia Cecil Smith Cup Zone 3-Florida Justin Daniels Grant Ganzi Juancito Bollini Wesley Finlayson 2014 San Diego Polo Club San Diego, California Cecil Smith Cup Zone 3-Florida Wesley Finlayson Grant Ganzi Juancito Bollini Christian Weisz 2015 Columbine Polo Club Littleton, Colorado
2014: Wesley Finlayson, Juancito Bollini, Grant Ganzi and Christian Weisz
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2015: Barrett Coke, Marissa Wells, Coach Nick Snow, George Hempt and Tommy Huber
P O L O D E V E L O P M E N T, L L C
Cecil Smith Cup Zone 4-Eastern Barrett Coke Marissa Wells George Hempt Tommy Huber 2016 Myopia Polo Club Hamilton, Massachusetts Cecil Smith Cup Zone 3-Florida Justin Daniels Benji Daniels Nico Escobar Matias Gonzalez
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS.COM
2016: Benji Daniels, Nico Escobar, Justin Daniels, Matias Gonzalez and Coach Tom Goodspeed
2017 Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club Carpinteria, California Cecil Smith Cup Zone 3-Florida Nico Escobar Lucas Escobar Justin Daniels Mackenzie Weisz
2017 East-West Challenge: Chrys Beal, Dan Walker, Grayson Price, Bayne Bossom, Athena Malin and Cory Williams
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS.COM
East vs. West Challenge West Grayson Price Bayne Bossom Athena Malin Cory Williams
2018 Cecil Smith Cup: Cipi Echezarreta, Grayson Price, Vaughn Miller Jr., Will Walton and Coach Mason Wroe.
2017 Cecil Smith Cup: Lucas Escobar, Mackenzie Weisz, Justin Daniels and Nico Escobar
(continued on page 56) 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
Moving on Scholastic and collegiate regional winners advance to final
Intercollegiate and interscholastic polo teams were working hard all season. Ten intercollegiate teams and 12 interscholastic teams earned a chance to compete in the national championships. That was before COVID-19, which forced the championships to be postponed until further notice. If they are not able to be played, it will be the first time the men’s intercollegiate championships haven’t been played since 1946. The women’s intercollegiate championships have never missed a year since it was
established in 1976. The open interscholastic championships have been held each year since 1970, the first year they were brought back after WWII. The girls’ interscholastic championships haven’t missed a years since being established in 1991. Organizers hope to reschedule the National Intercollegiate and National Interscholastic Open and Girls Championships later this year. In the meantime, let’s congratulate the teams that qualified.
INTERCOLLEGIATE Texas Tech
Central Women’s Preliminary Winner Texas Christian University Brianna Wolkober, Morgan McBride, Sarah Hibbitts, Kaylin Bender and Coach Vaughn Miller
University of North Texas
Central Men’s Preliminary Winner Texas Tech Coach Walker Rainey, Anson Moore, Hiram Gandara, Zachary Francis, Jair De La Pena and Ricky Moore with David Ragland Texas Christian University
Central Men’s Regional Winner University of North Texas Vance Miller, Andrew Scott, Vaughn Miller Jr. and Coach Vaughn Miller 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
Texas A&M University
Central Women’s Regional Winner Texas A&M University Whitney Walker, Ally Vaughn, Courtney Price, Madison Lange, Hannah Reynolds, Ashley Dillard and Coach Mike McCleary
University of Guelph
University of Virginia Men
Southeastern Men’s Regional Winner University of Virginia Jack McLean, Brennan Wells, Ignacio Viana, Parker Pearce and Coach Lou Lopez
Northeastern Women’s Preliminary Winner University of Guelph Charlotte Harvie, Natasha Slawnych, Mac Pearsall, Isabella Mauti, Krista Pearce, Brittany Howard and Sara Dwyer Michigan State University
University of Virginia Women
Southeastern Women’s Regional Winner University of Virginia Grace Burgert, Demitra Hajimihalis, Maddie Grant and Coach Lou Lopez
Southeastern Women’s Preliminary Winner Michigan State University Serena Luplow, Phoebe Moll, Stesha Payne and Elly Schwingel POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 27
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
Western Men’s Regional Winner Oregon State University Andrew Hobson, Wyatt Weaver and Joel Potyk
Oregon State University
Western Women’s Regional Winner (See cover photo) Point Loma Nazarene University Pricila Villa, Addy Fuller, Molly Agee, Sydney Falk and Samantha Whitley
INTERSCHOLASTIC
Gardnertown Polo Club
OPEN TEAMS Franklin Polo Academy
Southeastern Preliminary I Winner Franklin Polo Academy Jacob Wallace, Allyssa Morgan, Caroline Mooney and Zachary Wallace with Coach James Armstrong
Northeastern Regional Winner Gardnertown Polo Club Coaches Bill Denker and Dan Scott Taylor Palacios, Vlad Tarashansky, Jonathan Wallace and Matteo Chaux (Winston Painter, not pictured)
West Shore
Maryland Polo Club
Southeastern Preliminary II Winner West Shore Cate Godey, Lucy Steele, Victoria Picha and Sarah Lynch 28 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Southeastern Regional Winner Maryland Polo Club Coach Kelly Wells Jordan Peterson, Aurora Knox, Grace Beck and Kevin Horton (Aidan Tydings, not pictured)
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
Houston Polo Club
Central Regional Winner Houston Polo Club Coach Mark Prinsloo Lance Stefanakis, Charles Fridge, Ashvath Bhatia and Christian Fridge
Central Coast Polo Club
Maryland Rebels
Southeastern Preliminary Winner Maryland Rebels Brianna Jordan, Gracie Fleischmann, Kylie Beard and Zoey Bivalacqua Boston Polo Club
Western Regional Winner Central Coast Polo Club Coach Megan Judge Sarah Espy, Morgan Manos, Taylor Olcott and Josh Falk
Northeastern Regional Winner Boston Polo Club Coach Mark Tashjian Emerson Bruce, Brynn Roberts, Julia Schaefer and Ariadne Dogani
Aiken Polo Club
GIRLS TEAMS Cornell Polo Club
Northeastern Preliminary Winner Cornell Polo Club Christina Beeba, Phoebe Whitham, Charlotte Hay, Chloe Chong, Lara Chong and Susanna Manns
Southeastern Regional Winner Aiken Polo Club Coach Tiger Kneece Robyn Leitner, Reagan Leitner, Summer Kneece and Sophie Grant (continued on page 43) POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 29
Lockdown What players are doing while quarantined Tommy Biddle Place quarantining: Wellington, Florida
KATERINA MORGAN
Quarantining with: My wife, Amber, and my daughter Bailey comes a few days a week Favorite quarantining food: Mustard molasses pork chops from my John Wayne grilling cookbook Favorite quarantine cocktail: Old standby—Bud Lite Favorite quarantining TV show or movie: The “Tiger King” documentary. It was very entertaining! Something you’ve gotten to do that you wouldn’t normally have the time to do: I’ve been doing more cooking than usual. I love the grill so it gives me time to try new things and work on smoking meats on the grill. If you could replay any polo game right now, what would it be? The 2002 U.S. Open semifinal when I played for Coca Cola. We defeated Los Banditos, Memo [Gracida’s] team with Mike Azzaro, Brandon Phillips and Dave Dollinger. We beat them in overtime to reach the final. It was an awesome game. What horse would you like to be playing right now? Mufasa, he is a chestnut gelding I bought from Dale Smicklas as a 4-year-old and I retired him at 23. He was an amazing horse that I usually played in the sixth chukker. The cool thing is I retired him to my dad’s farm in Aiken, where he is still alive today at 31 years old! It is always cool to see him when I am there. The best thing about quarantine: Getting to spend more time with Amber. By April 1, I am usually off to a different destination to start playing the spring season but that is on hold. The worst thing about quarantine: Just the indecisiveness of how long this will go on. And 24-hour news! Other than polo, what is the one thing you are looking forward to doing when things open back up? Getting back to playing tournament polo at the good clubs I am fortunate to get to play, like NYC Polo Club, Greenwich, Mashomack and Houston, and the time off the field with friends.
30 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Dawn Jones Place quarantining: At our ranch approximately 5 miles outside San Saba, Texas Quarantining with: my husband, Tommy Favorite quarantining food: tangerines Favorite quarantine cocktail: Fever Tree Ginger Ale Something you miss: Taking my mom to her favorite lunch spots in San Antonio every Sunday Favorite quarantining TV show or movie: In terms of films, I’m enjoying revisiting Akira Kurosawa’s “Dreams” and finding Marty Scorsese playing Vincent Van Gogh.
If you could replay any polo game right now, what would it be? The polo game I would love to play again would be the second game of the 2020 U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship. Unfortunately, I had an injury in the first few minutes of game one, but managed to finish with minimal pain. By game two, playing was practically impossible. Oh well. What horse would you like to be playing right now? I would love to be playing our heroic mare, Pretty Bird Woman. She’s a paint mare that was born on the battlefield of The Little Big Horn near Garryowen, Montana, on the Crow Nation. Her former owner and horse breeder, Chuck Real Bird also helps organize the Wild Indian Relay Race hosted by the Sheridan WYO Rodeo where Native American teams compete for cash and prizes. Chuck, his wife, Ramona, and their son Sean take great pride in breeding their paint horses. Pretty Bird is a remarkable equine athlete with a heart of gold. She has given the Jones family hundreds of chukkers. Since the 2020 U.S. Women’s Polo Championship, she is now officially retired on the ranch at San Saba.
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS
Something you’ve gotten to do that you wouldn’t normally have the time to do: I wouldn’t normally have as much time to read as many books as I would like. I’m currently reading a book gifted to me by Henry Porter’s mother, Heather. The title is “The Mystery of Olga Chekhova.” [It is about] the niece of Olga Knipper, Anton Chekhov’s wife. Olga Chekhova was a Russian/German actress who survived the Russian Revolution, and became an accomplished film actress in Berlin. [She] was directed by directors Frederich Wilhelm Murnau and Alfred Hitchcock. The book explores the possibilities of Chekhova becoming a Russian spy during World War II while working as a Nazi film star to gain access to Adolf Hitler, who admired her work. So far, it’s still a mystery. Simultaneously, I’m fascinated by Anton Chekhov’s “Fifty-Two Stories” I am reading while learning more about the history of the Russian Revolution, and a pandemic ravaging Europe and Asia Chekhov endured as a young physician just coming into fame as a writer. Chekhov has become the embodiment of humility, patience and decency. He endowed libraries, built schools and treated thousands of patients free of charge. Plus, he had a great sense of humor.
The best thing about quarantine: The best thing about quarantine has been completing countless unfinished projects on the ranch, and fully appreciating its biodiversity of flora and fauna. There is a pair of painted buntings building a nest in one of several native Mexico Plum trees along our Texas Hill Country spring. The worst thing about quarantine: The worst thing about quarantine is that which caused it. Other than polo, what is the one thing you are looking forward to doing when things open back up? I am looking forward to traveling to Tokyo and having dinner at Yakumo Saryo.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 31
KC Krueger Place quarantining: Fire Iron Ranch, Brookshire, Texas
KAYLEE WROE
Quarantining with: My parents, husband and two kids, and my oldest sister and her two kids Favorite quarantining food: Quest chocolate chip cookies and a 5-hour Energy Favorite quarantine cocktail: Ranch Water Margarita! Just trying to keep the virus away! Favorite quarantining TV show or movie: “The Last Dance” documentary on Michael Jordan Something you’ve gotten to do that you wouldn’t normally have the time to do: Rearrange my kitchen If you could replay any polo game right now, what would it be?: If I could be replaying any polo game I would be so much happier! We miss it! What horse would you like to be playing right now?: Sandy, an older Appaloosa mare. She gives me tons of confidence. She doesn’t have the top speed but is very fun in the short plays. The best thing about quarantine: Getting to spend more time at home with my kids. The worst thing about quarantine: Not getting to have any barbecues or see any friends; and the weather has been perfect for polo and barbecues! Other than polo, what is the one thing you are looking forward to doing when things open back up? Getting a pedicure!
Place quarantining: Brookshire, Texas Quarantining with: My family and in-laws Favorite quarantining food: A hotdog bun with peanut butter and jelly and a banana as the hotdog, dubbed “The Nannerdog” Favorite quarantine cocktail: Tequila and soda with lime Something you miss: Jimmy John’s [gourmet sandwiches] Favorite quarantining TV show or movie: “Tiger King” Something you’ve gotten to do that you wouldn’t normally have the time to do: Fixing things on vehicles that I’ve been meaning to do for months If you could replay any polo game right now, what would it be? Intercollegiate finals in my junior year. We should have won to make it all four years! What horse would you like to be playing right now? Haole or Rihanna, those are the go-to horses when I need to get something done The best thing about quarantine: Spending time with family The worst thing about quarantine: Spending time with family Other than polo, what is the one thing you are looking forward to doing when things open back up? Seeing friends and not wearing a mask
32 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
KAYLEE WROE
Steve Krueger
Sugar Erskine Place quarantining: Wellington, Florida Quarantining with: My family. Just before the state shut down, we thought we had plenty of immunity ourselves but we didn’t want to take it and give it to my mother-inlaw, who had a touch of cancer and is [immune compromised]. And the kids had to start doing school online.
Favorite quarantine treat: Bridget’s mom makes an English dessert that is cold milk tarts, so we wait for that once or twice a week. And Jell-O seems to be a huge hit at the moment. Something you miss: Just getting back to normalcy in our lives. And going and sitting at the barn, drinking maté with a few people. Favorite quarantining TV show or movie: “Black Mirror.” It’s awesome. It’s like 15 different episodes in the near future, so stuff that’s probably going to happen in the next 10 or 20 years.
UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION
Favorite quarantining food: We did a bit of a scramble and bought canned food and bags of rice and beans and that sort of thing but didn’t go overboard. It got monotonous, and we had it with salami and cheese and salad. Bridget’s sister, Debra, had some grass fed cows we filled up the freezer with so once a week we’d have some steak and everybody got excited about it.
Something you’ve gotten to do that you wouldn’t normally have the time to do: Doing gym. I hate it with a passion but I’ve managed to somewhat make a quarantine body out of sitting in the house for five weeks. If you could replay any polo game right now, what would it be? The final of the Argentine Open. I feel terrible that Eduardo [Heguy] got sat down because he got two yellow cards. I was very blessed to get to play [for him] in the last four chukkers. It was one of those dream-come-true moments of my life. I’ve literally just been very fortunate to have people help me and look after me. What horse would you like to be playing right now? Chiquito, a little chestnut gelding that [Tommy] Wayman and Hap Sharp bred in Argentina and sold to [John] Goodman. He didn’t turn right and pulled the whole time, but I had a connection with him. I could get on him and score a couple of goals and for some reason, nobody else liked him but I just loved him. He was by no means the best horse I ever had but he’s definitely my favorite. I bought him from Goodman and played him for six years. The best thing about quarantine: Just being around. I mean we totally take that for granted—being around family and being around the kids all day. Obviously, we all get irritated with each other, but it is something we will definitely remember. We are getting to be around each other through the ups and downs and then we relax and chill out ... so I’ve loved every moment of that. The worst thing about quarantine: Not being around people has become normal. We forget how lucky we are do to what we do and be involved with all the people we are involved with. Other than polo, what is the one thing you are looking forward to doing when things open back up? Golfing and shredding and macheteing vines and weeds. I’m always big on weed-whacking fence lines and stuff like that but now we are stuck in a little apartment. You can ride a green horse for 20 minutes, but nobody can see a difference. If you shred a pasture, you look back and see what you accomplished. And I’m a fanatic about golf. I’m terrible at it but I love it.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 33
Annabelle Garrett Place quarantining: Wellington, Florida Quarantining with: Leighton Jordan and my two daughters, Daphne (16) and Stephanie (14) DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS
Favorite quarantining food: Tostitos Favorite quarantine cocktail: Anything from Mint Juleps on Derby Day to a good bottle of red wine Something you miss: Normalcy Favorite quarantining TV show or movie: “Yellowstone” (I have always had a HUGE crush on Kevin Costner), “Shitt’s Creek”, Jackie Chan’s “The Foreigner”, “Contagion” Something you’ve gotten to do that you wouldn’t normally have the time to do: I’ve been cooking a lot more now, which I’ve always loved but am always too busy to do. I did a year of university in Paris and took cooking classes there, but I am often just too lazy to cook. I now have to cook and really do enjoy it, especially when I have helpers to clean up! If you could replay any polo game right now, what would it be? My first 20-goal game ever in Florida was the Herbie Pennell. We drew a bye for the first round, so we were automatically in the final against Villa de Lago on Field 1 at International Polo Club. I was so nervous, I played one of my worst games. We lost the game and I would love to replay it, not because of the loss, but to enjoy the moment. Playing on that field is so special, and I remember thinking after the game that I forgot that part! What horse would you like to be playing right now? Machitos Sante Fe. She is tiny and literally bred for me. She is just 6 and has really come into her own. We have developed a wonderful bond. The best thing about quarantine: I can be my true anti-social self, and it being okay! The worst thing about quarantine: Seeing the devastation that this has and will have on so many, and not being able to do anything about it. For me to complain about anything would be laughable. I am extremely fortunate, blessed and grateful for everything in my life. Other than polo, what is the one thing you are looking forward to doing when things open back up? Doing the little things that we take for granted, even it it’s just going to a restaurant and sitting outside enjoying the day.
Hope Arellano Place quarantining: Aiken, South Carolina
SHELLEY HEATLEY
Quarantining with: My dad, my mom, my brother Lucas, friend Harry Caldwell and the guys that hold it all together, Marvin and Edwin! Luckily, we are all able to be on the farm together! Favorite quarantining food: Sushi. During this quarantine we have learned how to make it and have started a Sushi Night. Favorite quarantine cocktail: Shirley Temple Something you miss: Getting to play tournament polo Favorite quarantining TV show or movie: “Outlander” Something you’ve gotten to do that you wouldn’t normally have the time to do: I have been able to get ahead in school, since during the season it is hard to get this much done. We have also been able to work with our younger horses.
34 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Jared Zenni Place quarantining: On my farm in Wellington, Florida Quarantining with: My girlfriend DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS
Favorite quarantining food: Power bowls, like salads. Nothing out of the ordinary, something healthy Favorite quarantine cocktail: I don’t drink that much but if I drink I have a little red wine or an IPA beer Something you miss: Being able to go out to the beach, play golf, play tennis and just kind of live an active lifestyle Favorite quarantining TV show or movie: The Formula One movie, “Money Heist” (La casa de papel), “Sonic the Hedgehog” and the Michael Jordan documentary “The Last Dance” Something you’ve gotten to do that you wouldn’t normally have the time to do: I’ve been working out a lot. There is not much else to do. I’ve been able to practice and ride because I am at the farm, so I really haven’t skipped much of a beat. I’ve been able to get things done organizationally wise. If you could replay any polo game right now, what would it be: The 2018 U.S. Open. I have been watching some of those games and I’d like to go back and replay that final. What horse would you like to be playing right now? Ovaltine. I bought her last year from Julio Arellano. I played her the whole Gauntlet season and then I sent her to Argentina. I had a shoulder injury and missed a game or two so I wasn’t able to play her that much. I’d like to get back on her. It has been a while since I played her. She’s a black mare and I’ve never been on a horse that fast with that much handle. In the Gauntlet she was playing really well and was living up to everything I thought she was and I found out she had a whole other gear. The best thing about quarantine: Getting to spend more time with family, friends and my girlfriend The worst thing about quarantine: Not being able to play polo. That is definitely 100 percent the worst thing. Other than polo, what is the one thing you are looking forward to doing when things open back up? Going to the beach, paddle boarding or playing a round of golf
If you could replay any polo game right now, what would it be? I would probably replay my first 18goal game. I had such an amazing time getting to play with DRF for one game this season. It was so kind of Mr. Zenni to allow me to play for him! I was so lucky to have that team to play my first 18-goal game with! They were all so kind to me! What horse would you like to be playing right now? There are many horses I miss playing but if I had to pick one it would be Hippi Chic. She is a very special horse to me. She came from Kim Murphy and was one of my dad’s favorite horses of all time. It is such a blessing that now I get to play her. The best thing about quarantine: The best thing is getting to have the time to spend with all of our animals; and getting to catch up on all the things I never really have time to do. The worst thing about quarantine: Not getting to spend time with a lot of our friends. Other than polo, what is the one thing you are looking forward to doing when things open back up? Getting to play tennis and also walk around the stores without a mask and gloves!
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 35
Grant Ganzi Place quarantining: Wellington, Florida Quarantining with: My parents and my sister Favorite quarantining food: Oh, that’s tough! Well, my mom got hot dogs from the Wiener’s Circle [in Chicago] shipped to our house. We made those twice and that was probably my favorite night of eating. That was really, really good. Favorite quarantine cocktail: My sister made spicy margarita’s the other night and that was really good.
CHUKKER TV
Something you miss: Being able to interact with my friends and hang out, playing video games or talking, going out to lunch or dinner, those things I used to love doing Favorite quarantining TV show or movie: “Outer Banks” on Netflix. It was only one season but it was a really good show. I couldn’t stop watching it. It was amazing. Something you’ve gotten to do that you wouldn’t normally have the time to do: I’ve gotten a chance to spend a lot of time with my dad and mom that lately I haven’t had time to do. I just had a really busy semester with school and polo. It is really nice to be able to see my dad every day and be able to talk to him more because he is traveling for work and my mom is running the polo operation. It has been nice being able to see them and my sister, who is usually away at Georgetown University. Just being able to see my family has been nice. We’ve cooked together but the biggest thing is we’ve been doing a lot of puzzles. My mom is really good at them. She is very dedicated. She has more willpower than my dad and I. We get pretty frustrated if we can’t get a piece in. I have to take a break and come back to it. If you could replay any polo game right now, what would it be? Last year’s semifinal of the Triple Crown against Colorado. We should have won that game and if we played it again we would win. What horse would you like to be playing right now? A horse of my dad’s called Alto Pista. I only got to play her once in practice before she was injured but I would love to play her now. I would have loved to have her in her prime. She was an amazing horse. She was a small chestnut and was handy but really fast and just did everything right. The best thing about quarantine: It is nice to have time to relax and just not do much of anything and just be able to let my mind cool off. The worst thing about quarantine: Running out of things to do sometimes and getting bored Other than polo, what is the one thing you are looking forward to doing when things open back up? Getting back in a classroom. Online school is really tough for me to focus and concentrate. I took being in a classroom for granted, and now I can’t wait to get back. It is so much more helpful to me to be in a classroom.
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Pamela Flanagan Place quarantining: Denver, Colorado—Officially moved in! Quarantining with: My roommate Rob Jornayvaz and my dog Bella. (Rob is also my boyfriend, but now that we live together I prefer calling him my roommate!) Favorite quarantining food: The interesting dishes Rob and I have managed to create, most notably giant funfetti cookies and sweet potato and egg chilaquiles Favorite quarantine cocktail: We don’t drink much, but I do love a glass of Meiomi occasionally. Otherwise, I’m usually making fresh squeezed juice or infused water (cucumber/lemon) to keep in our refrigerator. Something you miss: My horses. All but one are still in Florida, so I’ve had very little horse time. Shout out to everyone who has sent me photos of my babies over the past few weeks. They make my day! Favorite quarantining TV show or movie: I think we can all agree, “Tiger King” was unexpectedly addicting. Something you’ve gotten to do that you wouldn’t normally have the time to do: Stay home! Normally, I’m on a flight every 3-4 days. Not flying has been such a welcomed relief. I have also had more time to study horse color genetics, and the history of the Appaloosa breed. Both topics fascinate me. Lastly, we started our own vegetable garden. We are excited to have homegrown produce!
What horse would you like to be playing right now? Stella. She was injured last summer while being used as a referee horse. I haven’t been able to play her in nearly a year. We have such a connection. I really miss playing with her, on and off the field. The best thing about quarantine: Finally being able to sit still; spending time with Rob and Bella; having this time to properly move in and get our house organized. I’ve had a few stressful work deadlines, but once they pass I’ll have more free time to enjoy this quiet time and do the things I normally don’t have time to do. The worst thing about quarantine: Not being able to see my family and not being able to spend time with my horses.
UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION
If you could replay any polo game right now, what would it be? Our first game in the 2020 Women’s U.S. Open. Not because it was fun, but rather because I know we could do so much better. I personally had a terrible game. If I could go back and play that game again, I would in an instant.
Other than polo, what is the one thing you are looking forward to doing when things open back up? Visit my family. We are all incredibly close. Before moving to Denver a few months ago, I worked with four of my siblings at our law firm so I would see them everyday. I lived with my sister, and my parents were only a few minutes drive away. Not being able to see them or hang out with them has been hard. •
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 37
Use your head Helmet mandate postponed to January 2021 By Peter Rizzo
At the April USPA board of governors meeting, conducted virtually via Zoom, the board approved a resolution to change the implementation date of new helmet requirements outlined in Outdoor Rule 4 and Arena Rule 3 from June 1 to January 1, 2021. The change in implementation date was necessitated by the deleterious effects the coronavirus pandemic had on helmet manufacturing, in particular, as well as the life-altering effects on the sport of polo and everyone, in general. You can find complete information from the USPA regarding the upcoming changes to the helmet requirements on the opposite page. Two helmet manufacturers—Casablanca and Charles Owen—currently have helmets that meet the NOCSAE ND050 Polo Helmet Standard and a number of other helmet manufacturers have plans to submit helmets for testing. It is important to note that Outdoor Rule 4 and Arena Rule 3 specified that months prior to implementation of the helmet requirements there would be ample supply to meet the demand for the specified helmets. According to USPA Executive Director of Services Carlucho Arellano, “These are some of the most comfortable helmets I’ve ever worn. I have been riding in the Casablanca Neu for several months, and I am very happy with it. It took me a few days to get used to the magnetic clasp, but now I am friendly with it and feel safer. “When the Charles Owen Sovereign arrived in stores, I had to go try it on and make my own comparison of the two. It was equally as light and comfortable. They have a very similar fit. It was refreshing to see the Sovereign is made with the original clasp we are all accustomed to. That way, USPA members who are not convinced by the magnetic clasp can choose to go with Sovereign’s 38 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
traditional clasp.” While it is uncertain when official USPA polo events will fully resume in the United States, it is certain that at some time in the future we will be playing polo again. It is important to remember riders are encouraged to wear a helmet not only when playing matches or practices, but also when stick and balling and even just riding horses. The United States Polo Association is monitoring a number of critical factors that will ensure the safe resumption of the sport. It also continues to monitor and encourage the manufacturing and dissemination of helmets that meet the NOCSAE ND050 Polo Helmet Standard. According to USPA Safety Committee Chairman Dr. Thorkild Norregaard, “There is ample evidence that protective helmets can lessen the impact of a blow to the head from falling off the horse, or being hit by a polo ball or mallet. There is no evidence that wearing a helmet increases the risk of cervical spine injuries. In fact, several large reviews of motorcycle accidents indicate that helmets offer protection against cervical spine injuries. We believe the NOCSAE ND050 Polo Helmet Standard currently offers the best protection for players. When playing, however, players still have to use common sense by avoiding dangerous play.” Polo players throughout the world have all been affected in some meaningful way by COVID-19. We are all in this together, worldwide, and it is hoped that this challenge will be met with a polo player’s tenacity and bravery. In addition, our world and our sport will have learned a great deal in the value of teamwork—fearlessly working together as a worldwide community to confront and overcome this common adversary. Be as safe as possible as we return to the polo field to enjoy our way of life with our families, friends and horses.
Beginning January 1, 2021, players participating in USPA Events and Club Events, which include any USPA National, Circuit or Sanctioned tournament or league, any Intercollegiate/Interscholastic or National Youth Tournament Series event, as well as any club-level game, league or tournament, will be required to wear helmets that pass the NOCSAE ND050 Polo Helmet Standard. Over the past several years, the USPA Safety Committee has done extensive research on polo helmet safety and has consulted with experts in the departments of bio engineering, sports safety, and liability. In the fall of 2017, the Safety Committee recommended that the board adopt a rule requiring players to wear a helmet that meets the NOCSAE Polo Helmet Standard to help to reduce the possibility of brain injury. The Board recently approved the changes to the USPA Rules to take effect January 1, 2021, provided that more than one helmet that meets the NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) approved polo helmet standard is available to the membership. The Board will continue to monitor the availability of helmets that meet the NOCSAE standard. Please review the following information and feel free to reach out to USPA Membership and Handicap Director Lindsay Dolan at ldolan@uspolo.org or Safety Committee Chairman Dr. Thor Norregaard at norregaardt@health.missouri.edu should you have any questions. • NOCSAE is an independent and nonprofit standards development body that has certification standards for football, baseball, lacrosse, hockey, soccer and many other sports. They are also the only organization that has a certification standard that is specific to the sport of polo. In addition, participants in the SEI certification program must hold a valid license agreement with NOCSAE. • In order to receive SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) Certification for ND050 Polo Helmets, manufacturers must pass physical testing of their product, have an onsite audit of their manufacturing facility, have an approved recall procedure, and must maintain $2 million product liability insurance. • The Virginia Tech Helmet lab conducted a review of standards for evaluating helmet performance. In doing so, they compared the following standards: NOCSAE ND050, PAS 015:2001 with BSI Kitemark, VG1 01.0402014 with BSI Kitemark, (BS) EN 1384:2017 with CE mark, AS/NZS 3838: 2006, ASTM F1163, and Snell E2001. Following their review, the Virginia Tech Helmet
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lab recommended the NOCSAE ND050 standard above all of the others. To review the findings, please see the following link: uspolo.org/assets/pdf/Virginia-TechPolo-Standards.pdf Currently, the Casablanca NEU and the Charles Owen Sovereign are the only helmets that pass both the NOCSAE Polo Standard and the standard required by the Hurlingham Polo Association. As additional helmets that pass the NOCSAE Polo Standard become available, they will be added to the list of approved helmets. The new polo helmet mandate (2020 USPA Outdoor Rule 4 and USPA Arena Rule 3) does not take effect until January 1, 2021. However, helmet manufacturers need to have time to produce enough helmets for all USPA members. If all USPA members wait until May to order their NOCSAE helmets, the manufacturers will not have adequate time to produce them. Armis and Instinct do not currently produce any helmets that pass the NOCSAE ND050 standard. The USPA conducted preliminary testing in 2017, and at that time there were no helmets that passed the NOCSAE ND050 Standard. In order to obtain this certification, manufacturers will need to develop new helmets or revise current helmet designs to meet the standard. Manufacturers may offer discounts to USPA Members, youth players, and for bulk orders. Please contact the manufacturers directly for additional information. The USPA is not directly affiliated with any helmet manufacturer and manufacturers have the ability to set their own pricing and may offer discounts. Generic riding helmets, which may pass other standards such as the ASTM F1163 Equestrian standard, undergo a different testing protocol and must be replaced after a single impact. Notably, the NOCSAE ND050 testing is designed specifically for the sport of Polo and accounts for multiple impacts which occur from the rider falling, being struck with a mallet or ball or coming in contact with another player. It is also important to note that MIPS (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System) technology is not required for the NOCSAE ND050 standard. Eye protection, such as a facemask must be deemed as an “authorized accessory” by the helmet manufacturer. If the facemask is an “authorized accessory” then it does not void the certification. However, if the end user applies a facemask that is not the helmet manufacturer’s “authorized accessory,” then the NOCSAE/SEI Certification would be void. • POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 39
Who’s your caddy No contact required for Polf, a polo hybrid By C. Maybe Ortiz
What better time than June 2020 for a few rounds of polf? For those of you who have never witnessed this exquisite game, it is obviously the ultimate combination of polo and golf, played at a walk using an inflated ball with the sole objective of reaching the pin in the fewest strokes. Players and their caddies can easily stay 6 feet away from everyone.
The first hole, The Centaur, runs along the beautiful brown fencing by the driveway. The Briar Patch presents its own set of hazards followed by a blind tee shot on the Auggie Dog-Leg. Par 3 Hole #8 was named for Mike “Hawkeye” Dawkins, a polo player and cancer survivor who will be honored when a polf benefit can be scheduled.
Of course, polf is a mighty tame game compared to actual polo, but a number of players and neighbors have found a thrill at Mayberry Hill in Madison, Georgia.
Polf is not a recent innovation. A creative (some say crazy) polo manager known as “Maybe” substituted polf for No Polo when rains forced the cancellation of the Sunday games of a tournament at the Bluewater Creek Polo Club in 1985. We weaved around the water hazards on the two fields and down the hill to the stick-and-ball area by the creek. At a walk, it was a squishy substitute for bump-and-run polo and it received a lukewarm appraisal. However, the advantages of polf are numerous: • It can be played during and after a rain event. 40 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
• Winter can be an appropriate time for polf except in Skaneateles. If scheduled properly, polf is enjoyable during summer mornings and evenings. • Polf can be played by anyone who can sit a horse at a walk and half-swing a mallet without whacking an equine ankle. Wives and children make excellent polf partners. In the case of a benefit polf match, politicians and celebrities can delight the crowd. • Patience and planning are paramount as one searches for the shortest route to goal. The inflated ball is quite unforgiving to those who rely on power alone. • Both rated players and beginners receive an ongoing comparative analysis of their consistency and accuracy. • A polf course can be set up relatively inexpensively and maintained with a ride-on lawn mower. The land does not have to be flat.
Polf Pin Construction ➢ Sink a 12-inch section of 1-inch PVC pipe about halfway into the ground as a sleeve ➢ Place a colorful plastic crate over the sleeve ➢ Attach a flag material, such as a shop towel, to a ⅜-inch wooden dowel ➢ Secure dowel into a 5-foot section of ½-inch PVC pipe and thread through crate sleeve
Hole #5 is a long, uphill par 6 into Copelan Corner. Chilo Cordova and club horse Hercules approached his second shot which conveniently cleared the ditch and remained on the fairway. That’s Lake Oconee in the background, known for its bass fishing tournaments and championship residential golf courses. There was a lively polo arena at Harbor Club on Lake Oconee, back before the turn of the century.
especially those who have lost their sight in one eye. Neither fitness nor horseshoes are required. • Old polo players can also enjoy polf without unduly endangering the lives of themselves and others. • The game can be adapted to the skill level of the participants. Polf at speed is called golo and can also incorporate the defensive tactics of croquet. The 2020 season at Mayberry Hill Polf Course had to walk softly between the state guidelines for social distancing and the openings of area polo clubs from Atlanta to Aiken. On May 4, the force came with them as Bo Taylor and her husband Chilo Cordova made the 100-mile hop west on the interstate from Aiken. They have been an integral part of Phillip Staples’ winning Woodlawn 6- and 8-goal teams based in Virginia and South Carolina. Two-goal Chilo has a nose for scoring and though his arena experience is limited, he did an excellent job in keeping the inflated ball on
Just when you thought polf was too easy, the last hole forces you to thread the needle. Penalty strokes are awarded for going out of bounds or asking to be dug out of the briars
• Horses of the Western persuasion, especially those experienced in roping, can be talked into a game of polf with minimal training. The English polo saddle is often a deal-breaker for many cowboys and girls who would like to try to hit the ball. Getting them to wear a helmet is still tricky. • Retired polo ponies can have a new hobby,
Chilo Cordova is an extremely pleasant polo professional while posing a constant scoring threat. Raised in El Salvador, he has earned his U.S. citizenship and is frequently asked to play in special events. In late February, he and his wife Bo brought in and shod a half a dozen horses for the Pacers and Polo third leg of the Aiken Triple Crown at the end of March only to be in the same fix as so many other pros with horses to feed and tournaments postponed.
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Mayberry Hill neighbors and sisters Annie Copelan, Makenzi Greenway and Lilly Ballard (kneeling) highlighted the components of polf pin construction. Their shirts would like to have said, “Who’s your caddie?”
the fairway. He sat 4 under par going into the nasty 9th and final hole, only to be upended by a quadruple bogey 10 due to penalties and unlucky putting. He still made par. “This is fun!” volunteered Chilo after he eagled the par-5 downhill Greenbriar Creek hole (in 3 shots). He could see how varied groups of people from pros to beginners could have friendly competition while giving their green horses a chance to walk the course. Last summer Christine Cato flipped an offside backshot into the crate which allowed her to subtract a stroke from her total for the hole.
In July 2019, David Carrell, who overcame his left handedness to achieve a 1-goal rating a decade ago, was all set for a round of polf when a thunderstorm threw a giant tree across his driveway. After early careers in breeding Quarter Horses and exotic birds, David now raises water buffalo, alpacas and a handful of camels on his farm in Monroe, Georgia. He was running buddies with Edgar Cato (the son); Christine Cato came over from Aiken to give him a score to shoot for. Carrell Farms stays on the road in the springtime, shearing alpacas but Mayberry Hill hopes to host David and his wife Shalley this month. Christine Cato took to the game immediately and 42 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
The spirit of polf was alive and well when Christine Cato came to Mayberry Hill from Aiken with her Brigadoon polo team shirts. She rode Hercules, a rescued Quarter Horse of indeterminable age (check the deep depressions over his eyes) who is enjoying one more neck-reining career as a polf pony.
had no trouble besting the erratic (not to be confused with erotic) play of the aging inventor of polf on her moon-blind mare. Christine’s score was a 1-under par 45 thanks to her steady hitting. Last year, high-goaler Alan Martinez had been pastured only 10 miles north of Mayberry Hill and had cheerfully agreed to drop by and shoot for the course record. His uncle Carlos Martinez participated in the very first polf match in Florence, Alabama, in 1985. In 2015, despite his lack of arena experience, Alan successfully substituted in the AllStar Benefit for the Polo Players’ Support Group at Dennis Freeland’s FireStar Arena. Unfortunately, Alan’s horse accommodations have changed but that might have saved this former 6-goal power-hitter the embarrassment of not being able to keep the ball on the course. Another long-ball hitter who was game for a round of polf is Georgia State Representative Trey Rhodes who easily translated his UGA Bulldog baseball skills into an impressive golf game. Though he can’t sneak out of the office like he used to, Trey has been a fixture at the numerous benefit golf tournaments around Lake Oconee, often winning the prize for the longest drive. It would seem that polf has a future at many polo clubs, especially those in golf-friendly areas. A few “holes” could be set up without damaging the playing field for half-time competition among highgoalers or local celebrities, using polf as the gateway activity to actual polo lessons. For further encouragement, feel free to email cmaybeortiz@gmail.com. •
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 (continued from page 29) Maui Polo Club
Houston Polo Club
Central Regional Winner Houston Polo Club Coach Mark Prinsloo Cara Kennedy, Bridget Price, Lillian Lequerica, Abigail Benton and Isabel Artzer Western Regional Winner Maui Polo Club Coach Herman-Louis DeCoite Maya Miller, Alana Benz, Kaiana Holland, Laura Coflin and Sunny Diller •
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POLO AROUND THE GLOBE
Pakistan After centuries, polo thrives in some areas By Atif khan
The Shandur Polo Festival is played at Shandur Pass, above 12,000 feet. Tourists flock to the area to watch polo in its rawest form.
Picture the clap of hooves and the thwack of ball against mallet in the moonlight, a distant drumbeat echoing off the icy Karakorams. This is the picture painted by the poets and historians of the region where polo originated. Sit around a bonfire or trek through the mountains of north Pakistan, and locals will tell you amazing tales of how their ancestors played polo to celebrate births, marriages and conquests. Pakistan is doing wonderful things in and around its polo fields even today. During their years in South Asia, the British picked up the sport and when they departed in 1947, they left behind some of the finest polo fields. These were the fields where local royalty, landowners and the British Brass once mingled—and they remain meticulously maintained by Pakistanis
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today. Recently, new fields and clubs have been added in and around major Pakistani cities to cater for the growing demand of new players. Lahore, a historic city in Central Punjab is considered the hub of polo. Top-rated tournaments are held at three playing fields of Lahore Polo Club (established 1886). Recently, seven more fields have been added to the city to bring the total number to 10! The most noticeable and promising amongst these is the three-field complex of Lahore Garrison and Country Club. With three international standard fields, plush stables for over 200 and club facilities, including an equine swimming pool, the venue is a dream for professional and amateur players alike. Additional fields at Pakistan Park and Fortress
POLO AROUND THE GLOBE
Stadium have enhanced the capacity of the city to hold more games in the short competitive season and to give new players a chance to play with higher-handicap players. Further north sits the Rawalpindi Polo Club, one of the oldest in the country, while a brand new polo club has been established in nearby Islamabad. Nesting at the base of the Margalla Hills, astride an 18-hole golf course and the Islamabad Club, the facility provides an excellent opportunity for diplomats and other foreign dignitaries to watch a thrilling game, learn to ride at the riding arena or attend polo clinics. Though yet to be affiliated with Pakistan Polo Association, the club has all the trappings of a top-class facility. Apart from the establishment of new clubs and facilities, the focus on field improvement is greater than it has ever been. Relaying of grounds in Rawalpindi and Lahore and complete refurbishment of the field and club house in Quetta and Karachi have been completed in recent years. With the introduction of improved grass qualities and
sanding techniques, older fields are being improved every year. Softer fields with more cushion prevent lameness and other injuries to ponies. The increase in facilities has led to the emergence of younger talent, with many teenage players showing great promise on the field. “Although we have only a 100 registered members at the association, club memberships are almost five times that number,� says Col. Tiwana, secretary of Pakistan Polo Association. Every club has an associated riding school, which provides basic riding lessons. On game days, these young riders hang around the fields to watch, and most are inspired to take up the sport. Each club has an affiliated polo academy, which helps beginners with basic techniques and rules. The majority of ponies are bred and nurtured at two military depots, each covering a vast acreage, both established by the British. The growing demand for ponies has led to sourcing from private breeding areas, most of which were originally designed to breed for racetracks. The trend of
Lahore Garrison has three fields, an equine swimming pool, stabling for over 200 horses and a grandstand with clubhouse.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 45
POLO AROUND THE GLOBE
A dozen foreign players participated in last year’s FIP Ambassadors Cup.
Winners of the 2019 Ambassador’s Cup included Mike Egan, second from right.
importing ponies from Argentina is on the rise. Lahore alone has more than 150 Argentinian ponies in its stables. With faster ponies, better fields and the handicaps going up, there’s a great demand to bring in better umpires to regulate the games.
A saddle pad with the presidential seal. The president’s bodyguards have their own team.
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“We are trying our best to raise umpiring standards, by holding regular umpiring clinics at all clubs,” says Tiwana. “The association brings in FIPcertified umpires for high-goal tournaments; local umpires watch these games and interact with them off the fields and learn.” The association sent a five-member delegation to Malaysia to attend an umpiring clinic held by FIP in 2018. These master trainers held sessions all over the country to bring consistency to umpiring. The Pakistan Polo Association now reaches out to organizations such as FIP, HPA and AAP to bring back better facilities and regulations. The 104th FIP Ambassadors Cup was held in Lahore in 2019, with 12 foreign players participating in the tournament. “What an amazing event!” remarked Mike Egan, who participated in the tournament and also took a motorcycle trip across the country. “But more important, what an amazing country and the people that comprise it! How people opened their homes Lahore has 150 ponies imported from Argentina.
POLO AROUND THE GLOBE
and hearts to us!” Mike’s team went on to win the final. Venture to the ancient mountain ranges in the north and you’ll meet polo players from a different era. Traditional polo is still played in fields nestled in valleys between snow-covered mountains, as it has for centuries. This is the game in its rawest form, unhampered by a lack of resources and oblivious to formal rules. The absence of a mallet is easily remedied by procuring a sturdy tree branch and players think nothing of hooking across a pony’s haunches. You may even come across a local polo hero, with colorful feathers stuck in a hand-made woolen cap. With no polo association to fall back on, however, and with the new development of roads and highways, the sport in its traditional form is in decline. Automobiles are slowly replacing horses. Village polo fields are being converted into shops and stores. Para military forces sponsor players by maintaining teams and ponies, but only a handful of notable players have emerged in the last decade. There still are a handful of players who love the sport and claim that it is ‘in their blood.’ Their biggest annual celebration is the Shandur Polo Festival, which is played at Shandur Pass at above 12,100 feet. Tourists from all over the world flock here in July to pay homage to this dying breed of polo players. Mountain slopes around the field are filled with tourists and locals and they are rewarded by a game of polo unlike any they’ve ever seen. The most cheered moment is a Doghur, when a goal scorer resumes play. Galloping in from the goal Atif Khan, playing at a brand new club in Islamabad
posts, he holds the mallet and the ball in his right hand, tosses the ball high, hits it mid-air and the game starts anew. Drums and flutes play local tunes that change with the flow of the game, the entire scene emits a unique energy. It is at the polo ground in Gilgit, the capital of the area, where you will find the plaque with the famous inscription, “Let other people play at other things, The King of games is still the game of Kings.” From the looks of it, perhaps the poet meant a King of Hearts! •
Players compete at Lahore, considered the hub of polo.
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POLO REPORT DISPATCHES FROM THE WORLD OF POLO SOUTHWEST
DAVID MURRELL
TEXAS ARENA LEAGUE AWARDS DELIVERED High Point Individual James Glew, left, in a ride-off with Best Team Player Ariel Mancebo.
C
OVID-19 put the kibosh on the final Texas Arena League event, as it did with so many other things in life. After a poll of players and considering the uncertainty ahead, the TAL committee decided to just go with the points and standings that had been earned in the first three events, which had already been completed, to determine the winning teams and players for the 2020 Texas Arena League. “With the support of our amazing sponsors, TAL is the Oprah Winfrey of
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polo events,” said Robin Sanchez. “It was a real shame the final event and the awards party weren’t able to happen this year. The camaraderie that happens outside the arena is part of what makes Texas Arena League such a fun event.” With the governor of Texas “opening up” the state, prize delivery has been the latest effort. Visits to North Texas, the Austin area, San Antonio and West Texas have gotten most of the awards and prizes delivered.
Here are the results: Sportsmanship & teamwork Part of what makes Texas Arena League so appealing is the emphasis on sportsmanship, teamwork and camaraderie. While MVPs and winning players and teams are awarded, Sportsmanship—during play and outside of the arena—carries a significant value to all the participants, and breeds goodwill among the teams and players. In each game during league
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Robin Sanchez presents Amanda Massey and Elite Motion & Performance with the MurrellPhoto.com Best Presented award.
play, Sportsmanship is awarded and considerations for the award are noted. In 2020, the Sportsmanship winners were given a U.S. Polo Assn. item as a prize at each game and for final runner-up but the final awards for sportsmanship are beautiful Catena watches. This year Catena provided
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Nugget, recently purchased by Trey Crea from Ursula Pari, was the 3- to 6-Goal Nutrena Best Playing Pony.
the Classic Mens CATENA Swiss-made watch with a stainless steel gold case and sapphire crystal with Roman numerals and date; and the Ladies Stirrup CATENA Swiss-made watch with a stainless steel case with white mother of pearl dial and diamonds in the center of the dial.
In addition to the Catena Sportsmanship awards, Royal B Threads sponsored the Best Team Player award and Pro Chukker sponsored the Players’ Choice Competitor award. Players’ Choice Competitor is voted on by the participants in TAL for the player who best represents Texas Arena League
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 49
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Chris Jones won High Point Military in the 0- to 3-goal.
through competitive play, sportsmanship, and commitment inside and outside of the arena. This year TAL added a Most Improved award suggested by Amanda Massey at the end of 2019 TAL and sponsored by Elite Motion & Performance. Pro Chukker Players’ Choice Competitor—Jack Crea 0- to 3-Goal Catena Sportsmanship Runner-up—Oscar Bermudez Jr. 0- to 3-Goal Catena Sportsmanship Award—Karl Hilberg 0- to 3-Goal Royal B Threads Best Team Player—Mark Osburn 0- to 3-Goal Elite Motion & Performance Most Improved—Ryan Owen 0- to 3-Goal Catena Sportsmanship Runner-up—Cody Goetz 3- to 6-Goal Catena Sportsmanship—Kelly Coldiron 3- to 6-Goal Royal B Threads Best Team Player—Ariel Mancebo 3- to 6-Goal Elite Motion & Performance Most Improved—Dani Gibson Horses and Horsemanship Equine athletes are our most important teammates. Texas Arena League awards Nutrena Best Playing Pony honors at each game during the Wyatt Myr, right, won Best String, High Point Military Family Member Overall and High Point Overall.
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Robin Sanchez presents 3- to 6-goal Sportsmanship to Kelly Coldiron and the TJCTIP Best Playing Thoroughbred to her Demi.
League. To be considered for the Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TJCTIP) Best Playing Thoroughbred awards, horses must be Jockey Club registered and have a TIP number, which is attained online through using either the horses’ Jockey Club name (if known) or tattoo number. TJCTIP has other programs, including its recreational riding program, which all Thoroughbred owners should check out. Nutrena Best Playing Pony wins during regular league competition and Best Playing Pony considerations during those games calculate into the following awards:
0- to 3-Goal Nutrena Best Playing Pony—Platinum, owned by Brady Williams 0- to 3-Goal TJCTIP Best Playing Thoroughbred—Demi, owned by Kelly Coldiron 0- to 3-Goal Superior Equine Sports Massage Therapy Best String —Burgundy, Ichiban, Whiskey, Romeo and Foxy, owned by Wyatt Myr 3- to 6-Goal Nutrena Best Playing Pony—Nugget, recently purchased by Trey Crea from Ursula Pari during the league 3- to 6-Goal TJCTIP Best Playing Thoroughbred—Wild, owned by Wendy Stover
Bar-Spur’s Ryan Owen, Brady Williams and Mark Owen
3- to 6-Goal Superior Equine Sports Massage Therapy Best String—Kika, Zama, Frijolita, Panela, Gemma, Strega, Chartreuse, Mezcal, Muneca and Nirvana, owned by Nacho Estrada TJCTIP Best Playing Thoroughbred Overall—Rocket, owned by
DAVID MURRELL
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DAVID MURRELL
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Jack Crea, right, was the Pro Chukker Players’ Choice Competitor.
Stephanie Massey Colburn A good horseman is conscious of their horses’ abilities and limitations and plays and directs them for maximum effectiveness with minimum efforts. Good horsemanship includes riding, playing and horse care. In addition to recognizing excep-
tional horses, Texas Arena League awards exceptional horsemen and horsewomen with awards, including some amazing Australian saddle pads from Jackrabbit Tack and photo books with images of Texas Arena League from David Murrell and his Murrellphoto.com. Winners included:
DANNY’S TACK SHOP
695.
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Also available in Havana Leather American Express, Mastercard & Visa accepted
Marcos Heguy Saddle
Olathe Boots—$279 Chukker Bridle complete w/bit Gag—$399 Pelham—$359
This suede saddle has a steel-reinforced tree which is lined with latex rubber panels to assure comfort and an excellent fit for both player and horse.
Danny’s Tack Shop also offers a complete line of products for all your polo needs. 70 Clinton Street • Tully, New York 13159 Phone/Fax 315-696-8036 • E-mail: dannypolo@aol.com
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 51
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DAVID MURRELL
Left: Karl Hilberg won the 0- to 3-Goal Sportsmanship Catena watch; Above: C-Flight Most Improved Katerina Kotova, 0- to 3-Goal High Point Military Javier Insua and C-Flight MVP Kitana St-Cyr.
0- to 3-Goal Jackrabbit Tack Horsemanship Award—Stephanie Massey 0- to 3-Goal Murrellphoto.com Best Presented—Brady Williams 3- to 6-Goal Jackrabbit Tack Horsemanship Award—Wendy Stover 3- to 6-Goal Murrellphoto.com Best Presented—Elite Motion & Performance team Murrellphoto.com Overall Best Presented—Horsegate team
Will Walton, 3- to 6-Goal High Point Military Family Member and High Point Individual.
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Team Competition and Individual Awards In Texas Arena League, teams are awarded win, loss or tie points for each game they play. Players on each team also receive these points as individuals with additional points for MVP and Sportsmanship awards. TAL players also receive points toward the National Arena Amateur Cup tournament held in November at OC Polo Club. MVP is awarded at each game in the league and this year, The Galvin Agency/American National Insurance were our new sponsors. Jackrabbit Tack sponsored the High Point Individual in each division with a pair of engraved Bombers spurs.
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Both August Scherer and Megan Rahlfs won I/I MVP and High Point Player. With them is coach Tom Goodspeed.
Mark Osburn was Best Team Player in the 0- to 3-goal.
all—Wyatt Myr 0- to 3-Goal Galvin Agency MVP—Megan Rahlfs 3- to 6-Goal Galvin Agency MVP—August Scherer 0- to 3-Goal Jackrabbit Tack High Point Individual—James Glew 3- to 6-Goal Jackrabbit Tack High Point Individual—Will Walton
High Point Overall Military Player —Karl Hilberg (retired Navy Cmdr.) 0- to 3-Goal High Point Military— Chris Jones (Staff Sgt. Marines) 3- to 6-Goal High Point Military— Rob Phipps (Staff Sgt. Air Force) High Point Overall Military Family Member—Wyatt Myr 0- to 3-Goal High Point Military DAVID MURRELL
Casablanca Polo sponsored the High Point Overall with a prize package of knee guards, elbow guards and gloves. The USPA Armed Forces Committee recognized the High Point Military and Military Family members with saddle pads, and USPA I/I awarded overgirths to High Point I/I players. In both the 0- to 3-goal and 3- to 6goal flights, the winning team takes home the coveted Molly’s Custom Silver belt buckles. Second-place teams received a TAL logoed ground cloth from Ronmar/Tackeria. Third place teams received custom silver key chains from Molly’s that are a smaller version of the winners’ buckle.
R E P O R T
0- to 3-Goal team results: 1st Place—Polo InterActive (Jose Velez, James Glew, Wyatt Myr) 2nd Place—Notorious P.O.N.Y. (Javier Insua, Zoe Lehmer, Devan Groves Layton, Jessica Mignone) 3rd Place—Bar-Spur (Mark Osburn, Ryan Owen, Brady Williams) 3- to 6-Goal team results: 1st Place—Williams Polo (Brady Williams, Mark Osburn, Wyatt Myr) 2nd Place—Dallas Polo Club (Will Walton, Michael Farah, Wendy Stover) 3rd Place—Legend’s Horse Ranch (Kim Buttram, Nacho Estrada, August Scherer) Casablanca Polo High Point Over-
Ryan Owen was not only the Fan Favorite, but the Most Improved in the 0- to 3-goal.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 53
POLO REPORT
Top, left: Megan Rahlfs was MVP in the 0to 3-goal; Top, right: Robin Sanchez, right, presents Stephanie Massey Colburn the Horsemanship award for the 0- to 3-goal and Overall Best Playing Throughbred to Colburn’s Rocket; Left: Wendy Stover took the Horsemanship Award and her Wild was the 3- to 6-goal TJCTIP Best Playing Thoroughbred; Bottom: Most Improved Dani Gibson, right, rides off Zoe Lehmer.
DAVID MURRELL
Family Member—Javier Insua 3- to 6-Goal High Point Military Family Member—Will Walton 0- to 3-Goal High Point I/I Player —Megan Rahlfs (Houston Girls IS and SMU) 3- to 6-Goal high Point I/I Player —August Scherer (Culver Military Academies and SMU)
54 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
C-Flight Awards This year TAL hosted C-Flight beginner games at all events with players of all ages, and from as far away as Oklahoma participating. Many players came from the polo schools of the host clubs. For many C-Flight players, this was their first competitive polo experience. We look forward to seeing these players move up in the ranks of TAL in the years to come. Top Team—Polo Girls (Caroline Woodman, Kitana St-Cyr, Katerina Kotova) Elite Motion & Performance Most Improved—Katerina Kotova Galvin Agency MVP—Kitana St-Cyr
P O L O
R E P O R T
Above: Brady Williams’ Platinum was the 0- to 3-goal Nutrena Best Playing Pony; Above, right: 0- to 3-goal winners Polo InterActive’s Wyatt Myr, James Glew and Jose Velez; Right: 3- to 6-goal winners Williams Polo’s Mark Osburn, Wyatt Myr and Brady Williams.
Other Great Prizes There are a few more awards in Texas Arena League. Spectators vote on social media for their favorite player and that person wins the #FanFavorite for the event. #FanFavorite winners in this year are Megan Rahlfs, Ryan Owen and Wendy Stover. TAL players vote for Best Host Club. Legend’s Horse Ranch took the honors and the banner from Royal B Threads to hang in the arena. Every player in Texas Arena League received a U.S. Polo Assn. vest for their entry fee. It’s super sharp and great for Texas weather. Texas Arena League is proud to have U.S. Polo Assn. as our event sponsor. For more information on Texas Arena League, its format and awards go to www.texasarenaleague.com or follow Texas Arena League on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. •
Legend’s Horse Ranch was voted Best Host Club.
Tom Goodspeed presents Nacho Estrada, center, with the Best String Award.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 55
POLO DEVELOPMENT
(continued from page 25)
2018 Columbine Polo Club Littleton, Colorado Cecil Smith Cup Zone 2-Central Cipriano Echezarreta Grayson Price Vaughn Miller Jr. Will Walton
UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION
Girls NYTS National Championship Lila Bennet Cory Williams Jenna Tarshis Olivia Uechtritz
2018 Girls NYTS National Champions: Coach Jim Wright, Lila Bennet, Cory Williams, Jenna Tarshis and Olivia Uechtritz
2019 Girls NYTS Champions: Coach Jim Wright, Sophie Grant, Hope Kerley, Jenna Tarshis and Anna Alworth with Billy Raab
2019 New Bridge Polo Club Aiken, South Carolina Cecil Smith Cup Zone 4-Eastern Reed Miller Parker Pearce Aiden Meeker Winston Painter
2019 Cecil Smith Cup: Reed Miller, Parker Pearce, Aiden Meeker and Winston Painter
56 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Girls NYTS National Championship Sophie Grant Hope Kerley Jenna Tarshis Anna Alworth
•
(continued from page 13) recharge and reboot. In the off season, I love breaking and training the young horses. As my responsibilities increase, I don’t get as many opportunities to do it, but it’s truly a passion to see a horse that you trained playing for one of the top polo players or even just making a match between a young girl and her first horse. I love being able to see everyone at their happiest every day because they are with their horses.
ALEX PACHECO
U S PA B U L L E T I N
Tell us about your favorite horse? As a family we own over 50 horses, but my favorite is an incredible dark bay mare named Sorpresa (Spanish meaning ‘Surprise’). I got Sorpresa’s dam from a good friend and I was training her when I started to notice that she kept growing fatter and fatter and was losing her topline. I wasn’t sure what was going on because we never dealt with pregnant mares, but one day I was brushing her when I felt the baby kick. I never expected that she would be pregnant, but I ended up birthing the foal and that’s how she got her name. I have been offered a lot of money for Sorpresa, but I will never sell her. She is a part of me and plays the game just like I do. I think it and she does it! She will be 11 years old this year, and she’s a machine on the field! Everyone here knows her and loves her.
Why are you so passionate about polo? Polo is life. As I reflect on the past 35 years, it has
made me who I am. Over the years, the people, the opportunities and the horses have given me an education that you can’t learn from school or books. Each aspect of the sport gives you something so special and unique, you just have to be open, listen and learn. Everyone from every walk of life can teach you something.
While chairman of the Women’s Polo Committee, Erica Gandomcar-Sachs (far right, with Lindsay Dolan, far left) presented Cindy Halle with the 2018 USPA Woman of the Year award.
If you would like to get in contact with Erica about your club, she can be reached at erica@denverpoloclub.com. •
Erica Gandomcar-Sachs on her beloved Sorpresa
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 57
CALENDAR
June JUNE 20 Symphony Cup Prestonwood, Dallas, TX
A P R I L 3 0 - J U N E 21 Pro-Pool League Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA MAY 20-JUNE 7 Tommy Hitchcock Memorial (12) New Bridge, New Bridge, SC MAY 23-JUNE 6 National Eight Goal (4-8) Houston, Houston, TX MAY 29-JUNE 7 Vic Graber Cup (12) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA
SCHEDULES ARE VERY LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED DUE TO COVID-19. PLEASE CHECK VENUES FOR UPDATED INFORMATION.
USPA Gen. Brown Cup (8) Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX
J U N E 3 - 14 Members Cup (8) New Bridge, New Bridge, SC J U N E 4 - 14 Sportsmanship Cup (6-8) Nashville, Nashville, TN JUNE 5-7 Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic NYC lled Liberty State Park, Jersey nceCity, NJ
Ca
JUNE 6 Belmont Stakes Cup Prestonwood, Dallas, TX JUNE 7 Joseph Poor Cup Myopia, South Hamilton, MA JUNE 7-8 USPA Sportsmanship Cup New Orleans, Folsom, LA J U N E 7 - 14 d Greenwich Cup elle c n CT Greenwich, Greenwich, a
C
J U N E 11 - 1 3 International Polo Challenge d elleNY Mashomack, Pine ncPlains,
Ca
58 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
J U N E 2 0 - 21 Father’s Day Matches New Orleans, Folsom, LA Women’s Cup (0-2) Seneca, Poolesville, MD J U N E 21 C.G. Rice Cup Myopia, South Hamilton, MA J U N E 21 - J U L Y 5 lled Monty Waterbury Cupe(16-20) c n CT Greenwich, Greenwich, Ca
M A Y 3 0 - S E P T 19 Saturday 2 Goal Mashomack, Pine Plains, NY JUNE 3-7 Constitution Cup (4-6) Denver, Littleton, CO
Teen Cancer America Benefit Will Rogers, Los Angeles, CA
J U N E 1 2 - 14 Texas Heritage Cup (8) Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX
JUNE 24-28 Arena Women’s Challenge Central Coast, Los Osos, CA
J U N E 1 2 - 21 USPA Intra-Circuit (12) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA
JUNE 25-28 Sportsmanship Cup (0-4) Farmington, Farmington, CT
J U N E 13 Hunterdon Polo Classic Fieldview Farm, Pittstown, NJ
JUNE 26-28 Heat Wave Cup (0-4) Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX
Patriot Cup (4-8) Prestonwood, Dallas, TX J U N E 1 3 - 14 NOPC Summer Classic New Orleans, Folsom, LA USPA WCT Arena Challenge (6-9) Seneca, Poolesville, MD J U N E 14 Neil Ayer Cup Myopia, South Hamilton, MA J U N E 1 8 - 21 Congressional Cup (0-2) Acoaxet, Tiverton, RI J U N E 18 - 2 8 Officers Cup (4-8) Nashville, Nashville, TN J U N E 19 - 21 Heart of Texas Cup (0-4) Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX
JUNE 27 Prestonwood Arena Cup (12) Prestonwood, Dallas, TX Ivy Hill Equestrian Ctr Benefit Tinicum, Erwinna, PA JUNE 27-28 24th Annual CD LeBlanc Mem. (1) Will Rogers, Los Angeles, CA Players Cup Cerro Pampa, Petaluma, CA USPA Women’s Challenge Event Mohawk Park, Tulsa, OK JUNE 28 Agassiz Club Cup (0) Myopia, South Hamilton, MA J U N E 2 8 - J U L Y 31 Tuckerman Cup (4) Myopia, South Hamilton, MA
CALENDAR
NANO’S POLO MALLETS
July J U LY 1 - 12 USPA Cyril Harrison Cup (4-8) Myopia, South Hamilton, MA Sportsmanship Cup Denver, Littleton, CO J U L Y 1 - 19 USPA Officers Cup (8) Mashomack, Pine Plains, NY J U LY 1 - 2 6 Mashomack Cup (8) Mashomack, Pine Plains, NY J U LY 1 - AU G U S T 1 National Arena Chairmans Cup (9-12) National Arena Challenge Cup (3-6) Great Meadow, The Plains, VA J U LY 2 - AU G U S T 2 2 Rincon League (6-8) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA J U LY 3 - 5 Independence Cup (0-4) Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX J U LY 5 Low Goal Classic Seneca, Poolesville, MD J U LY 5 - 12 Masters Cup (0-8) Bliss, Levering, MI J U LY 9 - 12 Hall of Fame Challenge Cup (0-4) Skaneateles, Skaneateles, NY J U LY 10 - 12 Summer Sizzler (0-4) Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX J U L Y 1 0 - 19 Robert Skene Trophy (16) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA J U L Y 11 Max Berger (0-4) Tinicum, Erwinna, PA J U L Y 1 2 - 19 American Cup d lleCT e Greenwich, Greenwich, c n
Ca
J U LY 15 - 2 6 USPA Nat’l Chairman’s Cup (8-12) Myopia, South Hamilton, MA J U L Y 17 - 2 6 Sportsmanship Cup Calgary, Okotoks, Alberta, Canada J U LY 18 Miguel Torres/World Gym Youth Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA International Cup vs South Africa Franklin, Nashville, TN J U L Y 1 8 - 19 HYT Polo Challenge (1) Will Rogers, Los Angeles, CA Women’s Challenge Southampton, Water Mill, NY J U L Y 2 2 - A U G U S T 16 USPA Eduardo Moore Invitational (8) Mashomack, Pine Plains, NY J U LY 2 3 - 2 6 Constitution Cup (2-4) Acoaxet, Tiverton, RI J U LY 2 4 - AU G U S T 9 USPA Silver Cup (16) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA J U LY 2 5 Arby Dobb (0-4) Tinicum, Erwinna, PA J U LY 2 5 - 2 6 WRPC Women’s Tournament Will Rogers, Los Angeles, CA Low-goal Mixer Mountain View, Charles Town, WV Constitution Cup (0-4) Cerro Pampa, Petaluma, CA J U LY 2 6 - AU G U S T 2 Amateur Cup (-4-0) Congressional Cup (0-2) Central New York, Cortland, NY J U LY 2 9 - AU G U S T 9 Briarcliff Cup (4-6) elled c NY Mashomack, Pine Plains, Can
Note: All dates are subject to change. “USPA” refers to tournaments sponsored or sanctioned by the United States Polo Association.
CUSTOM MADE MALLETS Professional and Prompt Mallet Repair Service Tipa Wood Heads Wide Selection of Canes We supply cane, grip & heads for repair We have light mallets for women & children
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(800) 903-NANO (6266) Tel: (561) 793-4911 Fax: (561) 793-4714 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 59
Y E S T E RY E A R S
Great Depression The American polo pony market survived financial crisis
While the stock market during the Great Depression (1929-1939) may have taken a nasty tumble, wiping out millions of dollars of financial wealth, the polo pony market in 1933 took a hit, but kept on galloping. In 1934, evidence shows that homegrown and trained American horses may have benefited from the worldwide economic downturn; and, that the 1933 East-West championship matches may have spurred more widespread use of the American polo pony, as noted in articles from that time period. College polo continued through the Great Depression as well, helping to keep up demand for quality horses. The tournament, played on the grass
at that time, generally attracted five to six teams, limited only by the problem of distance. One report from 1934 said the class of play and mounts indicated continuance of the progress in the game, which has been rapid for the past several years. Polo, July 1933 The public auction of mounts, held at the Fred Post place on Long Island on May 27, showed that the market for good polo horses is not bad at all. The polo strings offered for sale by the estate of the late Thomas Ewing Jr. and by the United States Polo Association brought prices that must be described, considering the times, as fair.
Argentine-bred horses, like The U.S. Polo Association’s Katrina, impressed American players, driving demand for foreign horses.
60 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Y E S T E RY E A R S
A clear comparison with the prices brought in happier days was offered by several of the mounts, which had been sold before, two and three years ago, in that same tent and by the same persuasive tongue. Comparing the prices brought by those same horses in 1931, one finds a difference of 35 percent. Where are the stocks and the bonds that have lost only 35 percent in the past two years? Where are the motorcars, the yachts, the airplanes that have lost only 35 percent of their value in that long and dismal period? In all, 20 polo ponies were offered for sale. Seven made up the excellent heavyweight string that belonged to Mr. Ewing at the time of his sudden and sad death from pneumonia during the winter; the other 13 belonged to the United States Polo Association. The ponies were all well known and had been played by some of the outstanding stars of the polo world. Tommy Hitchcock, the Hoppings, Winston Guest, Elmer Boeseke, Billy Post, Manuel Andrada, Jose and Juan Reynal, Alfredo Harrington and Johnny Miles. They made probably as traveled a string as you could put together, most of them having been seen in Argentina and in California as well as on Long Island, and even a few in England. The 20 ponies ranged in price from $160 to $3,700 and brought a total of $30,035, an average of a little more than $1,500 each. This is an interesting total when one considers that the heaviest buyers of recent years did not participate in the bidding. John Sanford did not buy a horse, and it was he who hung up the record of $22,000 for Lewis Lacey’s Jupiter in 1928. Neither J.H. nor C.V. Whitney took part in the bidding. Neither J.S. Phipps nor Seymour H. Knox nor G.H. Bostwick made any purchases, and they bought the expensive horses in 1931. Mr. Wrightsman might be called the hero of the 1933 sale. He bought five of the ponies offered and paid four of the five best prices. That he will enjoy his new ponies is hardly to be doubted, for he left soon after the sale for California, where he will play on a team with Eric Pedley, S.P. Farish and Bob Bullock.
compared with those of foreign origin and training in the game. In the early days of polo in this country, say around the late 1870s and early 1880s, the game, for the most part, was played on a domestic product. The success of the English side in the first American entry into the International Cup in 1886 had an influence on the mounts of the players of that day, and later, for in the period directly preceding the World War, many good polo ponies were imported from both England and Ireland. At that time they were undoubtedly somewhat ahead of us in bloodlines and in training methods. As the game developed in this country the
Toy Moon was bred in the early 1930s by Walter Dillingham in Hawaii. She proved to be an excellent playing mare.
American Thoroughbred Brown Fern was a sensation in 1936 and ‘39 International matches and the 1937 Open.
USPA Blue Book, 1934 Much discussion has taken place in recent days as to the relative merits of the American-bred and -trained polo pony POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 61
Y E S T E RY E A R S
interrupted this business. In 1922, occurred an event, which again had a very important bearing on the use of the foreign polo pony in the American game. The first Argentine team ever to visit this country came in that year. It
Red Ace, played by Elmer Boeseke, was named Best Playing Pony in the East-West series. The largely American-bred horses of the West team proved to be equals of the best imported horses.
advantage of well-organized team play executed with speed became apparent, particularly to the late Harry Payne Whitney, who, in his organization of the first “Big Four” of 1909, realized that he must be at least equally mounted with his competitors if he were to have a fighting chance for victory on their grounds. A large number of ponies, which made up the stable for that famous team, were ponies, which had been imported to this country. The victory of the American team focused a large amount of attention on the team mounting and was an added incentive to American players to look for foreign mounts. This is not to say the business of importation of foreign polo ponies was large at that time. The great bulk of American players, even then, were supplied in this country. Many of the higher-rated players looked for their best ponies elsewhere. The war effectively
John Sanford bought Lewis Lacey’s Jupiter for a record $22,000 in 1928. Sanford didn’t buy a horse at the 1933 polo pony auction in Long Island.
was composed principally of men who not only played polo but also were owners of large pony ranches and understood their breeding and training. The team itself made an excellent impression not only on players but also on the general public as well, as did also their mounts. From that date, down to the present time, Argentine polo mounts have been imported and sold in this country in rather large quantities and often at rather extreme prices. Examples of this are best shown by the records. The Argentine team of 1928 disposed of their string of 42 mounts by auction, at the conclusion of their series of that year, at a price of $276,100 and Lewis Lacey disposed of a pony known as Jupiter, at an individual price of $22,000. The total of the sales by auction during important polo years is $1,218,810 over a period of the last 10 years. It became so, through this The talented, predominately American-bred ponies used by the winning West influx, that whenever a high-grade side in the East-West matches of 1933 likely helped the American pony market. 62 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Y E S T E RY E A R S
American polo team appeared on the field, the list of ponies disclosed a very large percentage of them to be of foreign origin. Some players even came to
believe that they must have them for success. In the meantime, however, and with its inception almost at the same time as the Argentine invasion, there was instituted in this country a plan for developing remounts— the placing of stallions of quality at various points in the country where horse breeding was a natural and proven success. At the same time, many players, and those interested in breeding, had been securing from the playing field mares of experience and the result of this combination of poloplaying blood with wellselected stallions has College polo also continued through the Great Depression and helped keep up demand for been a product, which is good horses.Yale’s 1932 Intercollegiate team was said to be of Open Championship caliber. quite equal to the Shown is Dunbar Bostwick, Stewart Iglehart, Mrs. Hugh Chisholm, demands put upon it in James P. Mills and Michael Phipps.
The dun Texas-bred Bonnie J, left, was the best pony 10-goal Cecil Smith ever owned.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 63
Y E S T E RY E A R S
Cecil Smith, left, and his team won the East-West Series playing 85% American-bred horses.
The Kentucky-bred Thoroughbred Fuss Budget turned heads in the 1937-40 U.S. Opens.
The English-bred Fairy Story was purchased by Laddie Sanford in 1924, when foreign ponies were still thought to be superior.
high-class polo. Those dealers have been gathering these prospects together and, in many cases, have made excellent ponies of them. The year 1933 might well prove the turning point for the American pony. The incident that may bring about and accentuate this return is the East-West series in Chicago held in August of this year. One of the constructive reasons for holding this series was to give a test to the growth and soundness of polo in the Western part of the country both with respect to players and mounts. Victory went to the Western side, thus, to an
64 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
extent at least, giving support to the theory that we can and do produce and train ponies that are up to a severe test of high-goal polo with the stamina, courage, temperament and speed necessary for such a contest. The performance is particularly accentuated by the fact that the stable of ponies used by the Western side was gathered together in haste from various sources without the usual opportunity to train, condition and fit them for the contest as a unit. Eight-five percent of the West team’s horses were American. The West team played 28 American horses, three Argentine horses and two English, while the East played seven American ponies, 27 Argentine and five English. What the situation now requires, more than any other one thing, is application of pony training. It is reasonably easy to understand a lack of it during the more prosperous years of the past decade when demand was so great, labor so high and produce so scarce that it was excusable to move ponies rapidly into play. However, now that these conditions have changed and there is an excellent opportunity to organize training without too great labor difficulties and costs. There is room for a great deal of confidence and courage on the part of the domestic breeders, trainers and marketers of polo ponies. There is great scope for the creation of what should be a very successful enterprise for those with proper vision and ability.. •
