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Klentner Ranch aces Pacific Coast Open
$5.00 US/$5.50 Canada
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Compass is a licensed real estate broker (01991628) in the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice.
CONTENTS O CTO B E R 201 8
VOL. 22,
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
26 On a mission by Mark Gillespie
6
NO. 2
Association News USPA Bulletin Club Spotlight
USPA Armed Forces team travels abroad
30 Pacific Time by Gwen Rizzo
12 Instructors Forum
Klentner Ranch claims Pacific Coast Open
by Adriano ‘Nano’ Perez
36 Central stage by Kylie Sheehan
14 Viewpoints
Texas-based team takes NYTS Championship
by Dana Fortugno
16 Equine Athlete 18 22 24 40
O C T O B E R 2 01 8
Klentner Ranch aces Pacific Coast Open
OUR COVER Klentner’s MVP Remy Muller defends against Lucchese’s Toly Ulloa in the PCO final.
by Stephanie Massey Colburn, DVM Polo Scene News, notes, trends & quotes
Team USPA Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Polo in the Pampas by Ernesto Rodriguez
42 Polo around the Globe 60 Calendar 62 Yesteryears
Photo by Shelley Heatley
46 Polo Report Flexjet defends USPA Arena title $5.00 US/$5.50 Canada
OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN SIGNED COLUMNS ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLISHERS OF THIS MAGAZINE.
2 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
THE
OFFICIAL MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE
UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION
Editor & Publisher
GWEN D. RIZZO
Contributing Editors
HEATHER SMITH THOMAS, ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ, ALICE GIPPS, CHRIS ASHTON, TOM GOODSPEED
Editorial Board BOB PUETZ, TONY COPPOLA, TOM BIDDLE, DAWN WEBER, AMI SHINITZKY Art Director DAVID BEVERAGE Prepress PUBLISHERS PRESS Advertising & Editorial Offices USPA Member Subscription Inquiries (800) 232-8772 OR FAX (888) 341-7410 ldolan@uspolo.org
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©Copyright 2018 by USPA Global LLC. 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. 22, No.2 POLO Players’ Edition (ISSN #1096-2255) is published monthly by Rizzo Management Corp. 6008 Reynolds RD, Lake Worth, FL 33449 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, 6008 Reynolds RD, Lake Worth, FL 33449. 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
Circuit Governor Election The United States Polo Association would like to share the results of the recent circuit governor election. Please join the association in congratulating the following members who will serve as representatives of the 13 USPA circuits: Border—Tony Yahyai Central—Bob McMurtry Eastern—Joe Muldoon Florida—Stephen Orthwein Jr. Great Plains—David Ragland Hawaii—Bill Kirton Midstates—Trey Schott Northeastern—Leighton Jordan Pacific Coast—Dan Walker Pacific Northwest—Sheryl Sick Rocky Mountain—Erica GandomcarSachs Southeastern—Billy Raab Southwestern—Paul Jornayvaz
aunt Joelle Jacobs were treated to a spectacular viewing of a 2018 Silver Air Pacific Coast Open game. It was a beautiful day at the club and all fans experienced a lively match. Argel, a Special Tactics Officer assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida, perished on May 30, 2005, in the crash of an Iraqi Air Force SL7 reconnaissance/transport plane. Argel was participating in an operational mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom when the aircraft crashed in the Divala Province of Iraq about 80 miles northeast of Baghdad. Argel was born in Lompoc, California, and attended Carrillo High School where he played water polo and was named 1994 league MVP. He continued his water polo career at the United States Air Force Academy. Upon graduation in 2001, he entered into the Combat Control training pipeline, earning the red beret of a Special Tactics Officer in 2003. Following his graduation from Class 06 of the Advanced Skills Training course at Hurlburt Field, Argel was assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, mak-
DAVID LOMINSKA
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS
Umpires Team Up With TAPS The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors offers compassionate care to all those grieving the death of a loved one serving in our Armed Forces. Since 1994,
TAPS has provided comfort and hope 24 hours a day, seven days a week through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources, all at no cost to surviving families and loved ones. On Nov. 1, 2013, teams4taps was launched—an initiative to create meaningful opportunities for families of the fallen to engage with the teams they cheered for with their fallen hero. Former official Bob Delaney, and now NBA’s vice president of Referee Development and Performance introduced USPA Umpires, LLC to TAPS after an umpire meeting with 25 USPA professional umpires at the Lake Worth, Florida, offices in the spring of 2016. The NBA, along with many other sport associations, bring a TAPS family to a sports event where the family is introduced to the officials and then watches the game. USPA Umpires, LLC partnered with TAPS to bring the surviving family of Capt. Derek Argel to watch polo on Aug. 18-19 at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California. Mother Debra Argel-Bastian, step-father Todd Bastian, nephew Derek Argel and
Steve Lane, Bob Delaney, Kimo Huddleston, Todd Bastian, Debra Argel-Bastian, Derek Argel, Joelle Jacobs, Maggie Mitchell, Fergus Gould and Julian Appleby
6 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
High-Goal Season The United States Polo Association, the International Polo Club Palm Beach and USPA Global Licensing have finalized an agreement for the 2019 tournament series, which will offer a first-ever prize money component with a potential payout of $1 million. This highly-anticipated season offers a strong 20-goal and 22-goal schedule that concludes with the top three most prestigious USPA national tournaments, the C.V. Whitney Cup, the USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open Polo Championship under one umbrella. Team interest is very high and early indications are showing a historic number of team entries at 16-20 for the series. The tournament series will include a winner-take-all prize money format for the first time in history that will guarantee $125,000 to both the winners of the C.V. Whitney Cup and the USPA Gold Cup and $250,000 for the winner of the U.S. Open Polo Championship. An additional incen-
UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION
ing his first operational deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq. Argel’s awards include the Bronze Star with Valor Device, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Medal. Umpire Manager Maggie Mitchell, along with USPA Umpires Julian Appleby, Fergus Gould and Kimo Huddleston, Head Umpire Instructor Steve Lane and Former Official Bob Delaney, joined the TAPS participants on the field to share the game of polo and commemorate the life of Argel. “Having come from a military family myself, I am very grateful for the chance to give back to the Armed Forces,” said Mitchell. “On behalf of USPA Umpires, LLC it was wonderful to work with the TAPS organization alongside Bob Delaney and bring the Argel-Bastain family, the loved ones of a fallen American hero, to the Pacific Coast Open.”
For the first time, prize money will be offered to the winners of the C.V. Whitney Cup, the U.S. Open and the Gold Cup.
tive for teams competing in all three tournaments will be a $500,000 bonus for any team that wins all three tournaments in consecutive order, yielding a total of $1 million in prize money. “The decision to move from 26-goals to 22-goals for the last three major tournaments of the Florida high-goal season has been made in an effort to enhance interest and participation in American polo at its highest level,” said Robert Puetz, USPA CEO. “We are pushing to increase spectator turnout in 2019, while creating more opportunities for American players. The level of team interest is inspiring and we look forward to watching the competition unfold in what promises to be the most exciting high-goal season ever.” “This is the first time that the USPA, IPC and USPAGL have come together in a three-way partnership to create a pinnacle series of high-goal polo to elevate not only the spectator experience but to reveal the team owners and players as the heroes and professional athletes that they are,” said David Cummings, chairman of USPAGL. “Also, U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand of the U.S. Polo Association, is privileged to have the naming rights to Field No. 1—the ‘Home of U.S. Polo Assn.’ What better way to show our authentic connection to the sport of polo in America?” “The new format is very exciting for our organization as we look towards the 2019 high-goal season at the International Polo Club Palm Beach,” said Mark Bellis-
simo, managing partner of the Wellington Equestrian Partners. “In order to grow interest in the sport, it is essential that a platform is established for new and upcoming players to get involved. “We believe that moving from a 26-goal format to a 22-goal format will increase those opportunities. Supported by the immense addition of prize money and our unprecedented partnership with the USPA and USPAGL, the 2019 season will be one of our most successful yet at IPC.” During the 2019 season, IPC will expand the venue’s polo school, which began taking clients and students in 2018, increase the presence of the venue’s permanent stick-and-ball simulator for practice and host a thrilling season-long Gladiator Polo series in the newly constructed sand arena at the venue, which was finished at the end of the 2018 season. The series will culminate with the U.S. Open final the third weekend of April. The USPA will continue to live-stream the high-goal USPA tournaments on the USPA Polo Network (uspolo.org) and the final match of the U.S. Open Polo Championship will be aired on CBS Sports. Published by the United States Polo Association Offices at 9011 Lake Worth Rd. Lake Worth, Florida 33467 (800) 232-USPA Chairman: Chip Campbell President: Tony Coppola Secretary: Stuart Armstrong Treasurer: Sam Ramirez Chief Executive Officer: Robert Puetz
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 7
TAB ORTHWEIN
Good luck to all of our teams competing this year. We’ll see you out at the arena.
Middle School League tournaments are being held from now until December.
Intern Program Are you interested in pursuing a career in polo? Have you just graduated from college and are interested in getting involved in the polo industry? Do you want to learn more about running a club or polo school from knowledgeable professionals? If any of these sound like you, the USPA internship program might be a great fit! We are here to help connect young aspiring polo professionals with successful clubs and managers. We have opportunities ranging from the bigger to smaller clubs across the country for an array of experience levels. If you are interested, email Ali Davidge at adavidge@uspolo.org to learn more about the opportunities available. Honorary polo instructor Bill Dencker, owner of Gardnertown Polo Club in Newburgh, New York, hosted the USPA Certified Polo Instructor program for a full week of testing. An Instructor Skilz Clinic was held on the first two days with instructors from the Northeast and Canada. The second half of the week was dedicated to a Certification Field Test, which can best be described as the instructors’ final exam. This portion, led by renowned certifiers Tiger Kneece and Erik Wright, worked with instructors Gates Gridley of International Polo Club, Connor Deal of Aiken Polo Club, Katie Johnson of Grand Rapids Polo Club and Erica Kratiz of Myopia Polo Club. The USPA is proud to announce all instructors passed the certification field test and have achieved their Level 1 USPA certification. Congrats all! A special thank you to Bill and Tricia Dencker for use of the outstanding facilities and horses. 8 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Middle School League There is still time to register and compete in the Middle School League. Tournaments from Connecticut to Hawaii are lined up from now until December. Players must be in grades 5 to 8, and ready to play in a tournament environment. Find more information about the Middle School League on the Intercollegiate/ Interscholastic pages at uspolo.org or contact I/I Tournament Manager Emily Dewey at edewey@uspolo.org for more information.
MIKE RYAN
Certified Polo Instructor Program
Intercollegiate/Interscholastic The I/I season has officially started. For all new and returning teams please note the Intent to Compete Form was due Oct. 1. Information on more deadlines and available programs can be located on the I/I section at uspolo.org. If you would like to learn what it takes to become a new team please contact Ali Davidge at adavidge@uspolo.org.
The I/I season is in full swing.
Honolulu Polo Club Waimanalo, Hawaii
B
ased at the foot of the towering Ko’olau mountain range on the third largest Hawaiian island of Oahu lies the polo paradise of Honolulu Polo Club in Waimanalo, Hawaii. Boasting a breathtaking backdrop, tropical climate and laid back country atmosphere, HPC has welcomed players from countries all across the globe to its field for almost 32 seasons. Currently featuring 0- to 4-goal tournaments and special events from May until the end of October, HPC was created to prioritize the local player community and is home to the aloha state’s only USPA certified polo instructor. Embracing the spirit of the
islands, HPC promises friendly rivalry intertwined with beautiful cultural experiences in the heart of Hawaii. Developed on a 30-acre expanse of state land in the mid 1980s, HPC was established for players by players, with the vision of preserving and reenergizing the tradition of polo, which was first played in Hawaii in the 1880s. Allen Hoe, HPC club president, has been with the club since inception as one of four founding members, which includes Enrique Zobel, Bob MacGregor and Michael Sheehan. “In essence we organized HPC with the vision of a players’ club, focused on the needs of local players and growing the
playing community on the island,” Hoe explained. Initially named the Waimanalo Polo Club after the surrounding town, HPC became a USPA member club in November 1986 and played its first game in March of 1987. As the Hawaiian Islands have been a popular destination for international players on vacation since the 1960s, the HPC complex offers a full-size playing field, adjacent paddocks and training areas ideal for weekend getaways. Despite playing primarily inter-club tournaments, HPC maintains an active polo schedule during the official sixmonth season, highlighted by the annual Hawaii Invitational of Polo, a 25-goal game featuring eight hand-selected All
Honolulu Polo Club’s breathtaking scenery, tropical climate and laid-back atmosphere make it a great place to play polo.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 9
10 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Club President Allen Hoe helped convince the USPA to create an Armed Forces Committee. The club recognizes and honors all service men and women and their families as guests.
about 10 years ago and convinced the board of governors to create an Armed Forces Committee,” Hoe explained. “Each year since we’ve gained a little bit more and are able to do increasingly more to reengage the military with its history and culture of horsemanship. “I believe we have had some great successes in bringing young soldiers, both male and female, into the equine arena and the polo world, but we will always
strive for more.” Given the club’s proximity to many active and retired military members, HPC leadership ensures that its American heroes always feel appreciated by granting them free entrance to games. “From day one we adopted a policy, which recognizes and honors all of the service men and women and their families as our special guests,” said Hoe. Propelling the sport forward both on the field and from the sidelines, HPC is reaching out in all directions to engage potential players both locally and internationally. Since returning to Hawaii in 2011 to rejoin the same club where he got his start in polo as a teenager, Agon has taken on the joint responsibilities of club operations director and polo school manager, obtaining his CPI certification in 2016. Traveling across the mainland from California to Florida over the course of his 25-year polo career, Agon played and worked for some very influential players in the polo industry before shifting his focus to leadership at HPC. “I do have some adults in my polo school program, but most recently my focus has been on the kids,” Agon said. On Wednesdays and Saturdays Agon works with eight to nine kids on the field DARRYL OUMI/GETTY IMAGES FOR HAWAII POLO PRODUCTIONS
Pro Polo League players from around the world. Complete with a traditional Hawaiian opening ceremony, the regional polo experience is unrivaled. “Coming here gives players a unique opportunity to play polo,” Hoe said. “Over the years we’ve had great exposure to a lot of our renowned polo families from Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Mexico, England and Ireland, so we’ve developed a great international list of players and fans.” Frequented by internationally recognized Hawaii Polo Life ambassadors and professional players such as Mariano Gracida and Pamela Flanagan, HPC hosts special events on Saturdays, which attract diverse players to Hawaii’s shores a few times per year. Fusing the traditions of Sunday polo with aspects of Hawaiian heritage, HPC creates culturally immersive experiences for its guests truly distinct from mainland clubs. “Every year on opening day of the season we have a traditional Hawaiian blessing and chant given by a Kahuna (shaman),” HPC club manager and Hawaiian native, Ynyr Khai Agon, said. “The blessing is over the horses, players, families, friends, and the land for a safe season. It’s a very moving ceremony that has deep cultural roots for us here.” Offering both covered clubhouse seating overlooking the winners’ circle or casual tailgating, HPC takes pride in providing a family-friendly day of polo action for an affordable price. Multiple aspects of authentic island life are incorporated throughout the club’s operations, ranging from performances by Hawaiian bands and colorful hula dancers to the playing of the beloved state song, Hawaii Pono’i, to open games. An ideal setting for a leisurely afternoon, HPC continues to entertain well after the game finishes with spectators lingering to play volleyball, football or horse shoes and listen to music as the sun sets. Situated in one of the largest military hubs in the United States, HPC’s location creates the ideal environment to increase the percentage of military players. “Our former Circuit Governor Chris Dawson, myself, Mark Gillespie and a handful of others approached the USPA
Mariano Gracida, far right, is a Hawaii Polo Life ambassador and frequents the club.
DARRYL OUMI/GETTY IMAGES FOR HAWAII POLO PRODUCTIONS
and utilizes the arena 15 minutes away at a neighboring facility, Koko Crater Stables, on Sundays. Demonstrating its investment in growing youth polo, HPC helps bring the dreams of determined students to fruition through sponsorship and scholarship opportunities. Devoted to creating a positive outlet for local children, Agon also runs an at-risk youth polo program, which works with the Olomana School to provide semester-long courses for youth who enroll in the polo program. “At the beginning of the semester, we walk the kids through basic grooming skills, tacking up, and basic riding skills three times per week,” Agon explained. “We then get polo specific, introducing mallets and teaching the basic rules of polo. At the end of the semester we put on a polo match between the students and invite their families to come and watch.” Agon has witnessed the positive influence polo and horses have made in the lives of the 14 students in his specialty program, emphasizing their talent but lack of activities to focus on. “I am hoping to tap into that resource to grow polo locally. My mission with
DARRYL OUMI/GETTY IMAGES FOR HAWAII POLO PRODUCTIONS
Multiple aspects of authentic island life are incorporated throughout the club’s operations, ranging from performances by Hawaiian bands and colorful hula dancers to the playing of the beloved state song, Hawaii Pono’i.
The club has welcomed players from across the globe for the past 32 seasons, all drawn to the tropical climate, breathtaking scenery and laid-back atmosphere. In 2017, Ignacio Laprida came for the Hawaii Invitational of Polo, which highlights the season.
these at-risk kids is to simply provide an opportunity for them to grow, learn to be responsible for another living thing, and empower them to realize they have many opportunities in life if they choose to take them,” he said. Integrating the rich history of Hawaii’s vibrant culture to create an experience uniquely its own, HPC ensures the preservation of polo on the island by cultivating it on the grassroots level. The ultimate players’ club, HPC is a shining beacon in the North Pacific, beckoning players to meet on “the gathering place” and enjoy polo year-round. “I think this is one of the best clubs to start at because here we play with the level of players we’re with,” Agon said. “Anybody can come out here and enjoy themselves in an unreal setting.” Knowledgeable and easy going, the HPC staff welcome you to become part of their growing polo ohana (family). For more information on Honolulu Polo Club and polo school, please visit its website at www.honolulupolo.org. “Like” Honolulu Polo Club on Facebook and follow them at @honolulupoloclub on Instagram. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 11
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BY ADRIANO “NANO” PEREZ
CHOOSING A MALLET The mallets you choose are based on your size, strength and polo
ften times players will watch a high-goal professional player who hits the ball really well and try to buy similar mallets for themselves. But the secret is not merely in the mallets. How well someone hits is more about timing than anything else. When ordering custom mallets, it is too personal an issue to copy what someone else does, no matter how successful they are. Choose a mallet based on your size, strength and the type of polo you are playing. Mallets come in a variety of weights and lengths, anywhere from 470 grams on the lighter side to 540 grams on the heavier side and from 48 to 55 inches in length. A medium-weight mallet is generally about 500 grams with the cane about 300 grams and the head the other 200 grams. The cane is made of ratan manau. It is solid rather than hollow and is a type of palm. Some canes are denser than others. A dense cane will be stiffer and heavier, while a cane that is less dense will be lighter and whippier. The lighter the mallet, the more likely it is to break. Heads are made from the dense wood of the tipa tree, found only in northern Argentina and Brazil. The heads come in several shapes, including oval or cigarshaped, which is wider but not as high as a typical mallet head and is better for lofting the ball; higher but not as wide, which covers a larger area of the ball on contact; regular shaped but oversized; oversized with the bottom shaved flat, allowing contact in a lower area on the ball and a heel cut into the head so the mallet is flush with the ground when the player reaches out to the side to strike the ball; and the Skeen head, which is cigar shaped with a flat bottom and a heel on the front and back. 12 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Because mallets are natural materials, no two mallets are the same. Often, I’ll make a mallet for someone and they love it. They tell me, “Make me a dozen more just like it!” I look at 5,000 to 6,000 canes. I’ll find one that is just fantastic, but I’ll look through dozens more before I find another one that is something like it. I try to find canes that are similar in thickness from top to bottom, similar weight, density and whippiness.
Nano Perez customizes mallets to players’ size, strength and type of polo they play.
Canes have knots on them and some canes have more than others. There is a myth that the more knots on a cane the better. Canes with more knots are usually very young canes. Often the young canes are thick by the handle and much thinner by the head, leaving them unbalanced. To balance them, a heavier head is necessary. The unbalanced cane is much easier to break. But what is worse, because the
canes are being cut too early, eventually the jungle where they grow will be destroyed. I see more and more of these canes with a very thick handle coming in for repairs. It is a shame because the mallets don’t last and neither will the jungle. While most amateur players can easily walk into a shop and buy a mediumweight mallet off the shelf, top professional players all use custom-made mallets. Still, these mallets vary widely from player to player. Players with a lot of strength and a lot of power behind their swings need a heavy, stiff mallet. If they used a whippy, thinner cane, it would break, for sure. Those that play with more finesse and an easier swing need something more flexible with more whip. If a professional uses different-size mallets for different horses, he still looks for mallets of about the same weight regardless of the length. This means the longer the mallet, the lighter the materials would have to be. Again, the lighter they are the more likely they are to break. A longer mallet of the same weight as a shorter mallet will also have a different feel. It will likely be whippier. For this reason, some players use the same length mallet no matter what horse they are playing. Instead, they adjust their position when swinging on a smaller or bigger horse just as they adjust their timing when going faster or slower. [Former 10goaler] Adam Snow uses the same size mallet for all his horses. Still, players may change the type of mallet they use depending on the type and level of polo they are playing. In highgoal polo, where the game is fast, a stiffer mallet is better for making a very powerful shot, lofting the ball as far downfield as possible. In the arena, where the field is much
shorter, the ball is inflated and there is a lot more contact, it is better to use a mallet with a stiffer cane and lighter head. In 4-goal polo, players are rarely going to send the ball way downfield. Instead, they are more likely to try to keep control of the ball, so they will use a lighter mallet. Some people believe beginners should start out with a light mallet and graduate into a heavier mallet. This isn’t the case. Players who like a lighter, whippier mallet stay with it, and it’s the same for someone who is larger or likes a heavy, stiffer mallet. For the beginner, start off with a medium-weight mallet and go from there. Again, the weight should be about 500 grams total. Unless you are a very large, powerful person or riding unusually small or big horses, start out with a 52-inch mallet, which is the average length. This is also
true for someone who doesn’t have his own horse, is taking lessons and doesn’t know what size horse he’ll be playing. If you think you’d hit better with a lighter or heavier mallet, ask to try someone else’s before buying new ones. Like golf, for successful hits everything is in the timing. Money spent on polo lessons is often better spent. Improving your swing will likely give you more success than a new set of mallets. Once you have found your timing and have good mallets you are comfortable with, practice, practice, practice. If you have one mallet you like more than all the rest, the best thing to do is bring it in and ask for it to be duplicated as closely as possible. The new mallets won’t be exact but they can be close. Don’t use your favorite mallet for all your games or to stick and ball. When you stick
Fall in Love
and ball you use the mallet much more, practicing all your shots, than if you were in a game. It probably isn’t going to last too long if you use the same one all the time. Keep your favorite for game time and stick and ball with a different one. A good mallet is invaluable, but unless you’re going pro, you can probably buy a good mallet off the shelf. Before you decide to invest in custom-made mallets, be sure you’ve got the correct swing. Again, the secret is in the timing of your swing. If you can’t live without custommade mallets consider your strength and the type of polo you are playing. Unless you are unusually big or small, stick with a medium weight and length. Adriano “Nano” Perez is a custom mallet maker originally from Argentina. He owns Nano’s Polo Mallets in Wellington, Florida.
with an American Classic
#LIVEAUTHENTICALLY | USPOLO.ORG
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 13
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BLAME GAME Be the best version of yourself instead of making excuses
ou lost the game. Is it the umpires’ fault? Could it be the umpires’ fault? I just read a great book on Navy Seals leadership and function (“Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin) and it occurred to me that the principles they use, the ones that make them so successful, can easily be applied to polo. Polo, after all, is not unlike battle, in fact, it is a form of battle. Let’s have a little fun first. When I leave the field after a game, I can hear the players on the losing side chatting about how it was the umpiring that cost them the game. Having played myself, I understand that feeling. The calls you didn’t get make you feel cheated out of opportunities that could have been points on the scoreboard. I get it. Please, just for a few minutes, open your mind, quiet your ego and be honest and vulnerable for a few minutes ( I won’t tell anyone ). First of all, are you playing the game smart? I mean, are you playing in harmony with how the game is being called today by the professional umpires? I see too many players riding for the foul, ending up with the ball but not taking the ball because they want the whistle or they can’t get their mallet back from the appeal into position fast enough. One rule that has not changed is that the umpire may elect not to call certain fouls. What has changed is how we interpret that rule. Today, we use our training, experience and judgment to call only the fouls that have created a disadvantage to the team fouled, a real disadvantage. Of course, I am aware of the argument that every foul creates a disadvantage, but it’s not true or practical. The umpires want to allow the 14 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
players to decide the outcome of the game, not the umpiring. We only interject ourselves into the game to balance illgotten advantage and keep everyone safe, not to pick out each rule violation. Of course, I see that the opposing player crossed in front of you a little too much but he’s gone and you have the ball and a reset on the delay of game clock, so play it. All too often, I just see the appeal and the mad face and no attempt at playing the ball, just an extended appeal and ride through the play with the mallet in the air. The umpires are trained to play the advantage. It’s an advantage to give you the play, without the other team having opportunity to set up a defense, change horses, etc. So how do you play smart? It’s simple—just play. Forget about the umpires, as if they are not there. If you get the ball, if you get fouled, play the ball, If you then lose it, go ahead and appeal. Some plays, of course, you have no chance at the ball, so go ahead and appeal but do it so you put yourself in a position to defend if there is no whistle. You can do this most of the time, that’s all I’m saying. It won’t happen all the time. There will be plays that you have to go for the foul and risk being out of position, but do that when the play is obvious and you have a good chance at the whistle and only then. In court, we ‘go for the foul’ when we object to an evidence rules violation. If we win the objection, the jury does not hear the evidence (good), but when we lose the objection, the jury hears the evidence and they pay more attention to it because they now know we didn’t want them to hear it (double bad—worse than if we didn’t object). My policy was to object if I had a 70
percent or better chance of winning the objection, otherwise I didn’t want the risk of alerting the jury to that information. Make a foul policy and stick to it. For example, only risk going for the foul and being out of position if your chances are better than 50 percent that you’ll get the whistle. Don’t risk it on a marginal slight angle play. Playing this way will maximize your effectiveness and you will be in harmony with how today’s game is called. Now that you are playing smart, we now need to know if you are taking responsibility for yourself, your horses and your team. This part comes from that book I was talking about. It’s recent, and it was written by two Navy Seals who train other Navy Seals. Basically, because they have little room for error and they deal in life and death situations all the time, their model has to be effective and reliable. Blaming battlefield conditions (or the umpire) is useless to them, so they must control all they can and then perform under whatever conditions exist at the time. Their model is to take complete responsibility for yourself and your team. Keep the plan simple. Make sure all your teammates have everything they need to succeed. Make sure all your teammates understand their job, completely, and are capable of doing that job. Make sure communication is seamless and effective. That’s it. You knew that, right? Not so fast. Let’s look and see how this would translate into polo terms and then you tell me if you knew all that simple stuff. Are you taking extreme ownership of your team, including yourself? Answer these questions: •Did you or a teammate practice your penalty shots? Did you convert all of your Penalty 2s and 3s and at least
NANO’S POLO MALLETS
CUSTOM MADE MALLETS Winning begins before the first bowl in. Don’t blame the umpires, instead make it a point to take responsibility for yourself. Allowing room for growth will translate into great results on the field.
half of your Penalty 4s? •Did the other team score while anyone on your team was changing horses? •Are all your players handicapped properly? •Did all your horses (the pro’s horses at least) play to their potential? Did you ride singles and school them the evening before the game? •Are the pro’s horses appropriate for their handicap (is your 6-goaler playing 4goal horses, did he just sell his best horse or did he sell the patron a bunch of 2-goal horses at 10-goal prices only to find out that he had to play the same horses the next season? Oops! I have seen all of these. •Is your team communicating seamlessly (is everyone getting the tail shots they are calling for and so forth)? •Are you and your teammates being responsible for your pre-game performance factors (what are you eating, drinking, smoking, taking the day before the game? Are you sleeping enough? •Are you in shape (yeah, you know what I mean)? Taking extreme ownership of yourself and your team means addressing all these
issues in a positive way and on a consistent basis. If you are doing all this and playing smart (like we talked about) then I doubt you’re losing very often. But, if you do lose by a goal, and there was a bad call against your team, and no bad calls against the opposing team, then yes, it was the umpires’ fault. I’m not talking about what you tell your boss, go ahead and tell him or her that it was the umpires’ fault to save your job. That’s fine, that’s business. I’m talking about what you tell yourself when nobody is around. That’s what I care about. Be honest with yourself and allow room for growth. You will find a little introspection and an honest effort to raise your game by taking responsibility for as many of these issues as you can, will translate boldly into great results on the field. If you ever have a chance to chat with any of the greats of polo, they will all tell you that winning begins long before the first bowl in. I challenge you to be the best version of yourself—no excuses. Dana Fortugno is a USPA Umpire. He is a former 5-goal player as well as a former trial lawyer.
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HOLISTIC MEDICINE Benefits of chiropractic and acupuncture for your horses’ health
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MICHAEL VENTURA / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
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eterinary medicine is a holistic profession when you regard that the entire animal (patient) is considered in combination with its environment when being evaluated by your veterinarian for a medical condition. Holistic veterinarians take in the whole picture of the horse (its disease or ailment, its history, environment, genetics, nutrition, stress level, job, etc.). Despite what many people think, the term holistic is not synonymous with alternative medicine therapies (acupuncture, chiropractic, aromatherapy, massage therapy, laser therapy, etc.), rather, holistic medicine incorporates both conventional western medicine and alternative therapies for the better well being of the horse. The goal of holistic medicine is not only curing the condition at hand with the most effective and least invasive treatment available, but also finding out the root of that problem. Acupuncture, a technique utilized in China for over 3,500 years and still treating one quarter of the world’s population, is a common alternative therapy sought after to improve performance in horses. Acupuncture needles stimulate the nervous system via more than 300 acupuncture points on the surface of the body that help to relieve pain and improve organ function. Dr. Shelley Onderdonk, a veterinarian and certified veterinary acupuncturist in South Carolina, has seen the benefits of employing a holistic veterinary approach on performance horses firsthand throughout her career, specifically on her husband, Adam Snow’s high-goal polo pony string. The success of her treatment modalities is displayed
Veterinarian Alison Smith performs acupuncture on a horse at Virginia Tech Marion Dupont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Virginia.
through the longevity of his horses in the sport and numerous Best Playing Pony awards received. Acupuncture can be used to treat a multitude of body systems and medical conditions within our polo ponies. Onderdonk says she uses acupuncture to treat a range of issues, including behavioral, internal medicine, immunological, hormonal and musculoskeletal. A minimally invasive therapy like acupuncture can have significant beneficial results for our polo ponies and improve their general quality of life, including potentially alleviating the need for administering certain medications that can have harmful side effects. “[Acupuncture] is most commonly
used for elite athletes as it is very effective at diagnosing and treating subclinical unsoundness, which when resolved, results in a noticeable improvement in performance,” Onderdonk said. “Horses in heavy competition thrive on weekly checks, which can catch problems early.” Many veterinarians, like Onderdonk, practice holistic medicine and are trained in alternative therapies, utilizing both western and alternative medicine for the best treatment of their patients. There is a time and place for each subset of treatments, which makes it vital that your veterinarian is involved and overseeing the health care your horse is receiving. In many cases, especially those concerning severe colic, trauma or
infection, conventional western medicine involving drugs and surgery is the best treatment necessary to correct these problems. A veterinary acupuncturist has a doctorate of veterinary medicine (DVM), but other alternative medicine therapies should be utilized under the guidance of your veterinarian to ensure that all holistic treatments are helping, and not harming your horse. “Certified veterinary acupuncturists are always also licensed DVMs and so can utilize the resources of both practices to most effectively diagnose and treat disease, incorporating the most effective regimens of both modalities to treat any problem,” Onderdonk said. “I prefer to think of acupuncture as another tool to use alongside other cutting edge treatments.” Chiropractic is another alternative medicine therapy used to help correct problems within the performance horse. Chiropractic is a non-invasive technique used on equids that aims to mobilize joints that have been subluxated. It stimulates the equine nervous system and helps resolve musculoskeletal issues induced by biomechanical factors, resulting in a return of the body to a more natural balance. Chiropractors can make adjustments or manipulations with their hands or using a tool, such as an “activator.” Dr. Amanda Massey, an avid polo player and an animal chiropractor in Texas through the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA), advocates chiropractic for performance horses and horses that may have experienced a fall or trauma. Chiropractic care aims to balance the body and will not only enhance performance, but can also help your horses’ heal after injuries. The successes of human chiropractic are widely documented in human medicine, but are limited to abundant anecdotal evidence for horses, with the scientific research in this area being limited to studies using relatively few horses.
Massey commonly treats polo ponies with upper neck and shoulder dysfunction.
Despite limited research on horses, chiropractic has been shown to improve flexibility and vertebral symmetry by allowing normal joint motion and also helps to restore normal pain sensation, increases range of motion and improves altered tissue function and symmetry. “Chiropractic is utilized by athletes all over the world to naturally decrease pain, improve strength and mobility, and improve overall performance and wellness,” Massey explained. “Chiropractic can help your horse with proprioceptive deficits or balance in their legs, reduce muscle soreness after strenuous work, improve your polo ponies ability to stop, turn, accelerate, change leads and improve your horse’s comfort or mood when tacking up and under saddle.” You may be asking yourself how you can tell if your polo horse needs chiropractic care? Chiropractic care should be sought after under the discretion of your veterinarian when your horse does not feel balanced under
saddle or if your horse flinches or shows aggression when their withers or back are palpated (or when you are tacking up). If you have ever noticed your horse’s head cocking to one side, or if you are having difficulty engaging your horse’s hind end to stop or roll back, it may be another sign your horse needs or could benefit from chiropractic care. Massey commonly treats polo ponies with upper neck and shoulder dysfunction caused by pulling back when tied, sustained from hard ride offs while playing or horses that may be incorrectly bitted. She also treats many horses that have subtle hind-end lameness issues that are secondary to back and sacroiliac issues. To get your money’s worth, Massey suggests treating your horses after they have gotten somewhat fit. “It is best to utilize chiropractic care for performance purposes once all polo ponies are in work (continued on page 59) POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 17
POLO SCENE N E W S
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CLUB CELEBRATES 130 YEARS Special guests and events at Chairman’s Cup warm welcome for guest speaker Tony Coppola, president of the USPA, at the annual Myopia Polo Ball. The elegant evening was well attended with more than 130 players, patrons and polo enthusiasts dancing the night away to a lively band at the Myopia Hunt Club. The following day, the club held the final of the 8- to 12-goal Chairman’s Cup. The Sunday afternoon match offered a variety of events for spectators. Some guests lined the field to tailgate while others enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the pavilion for the annual Mass General Hospital’s Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center benefit. Prior to the match, vintage and modern Jaguars paraded around the field, while members of the Myopia Hunt and its hounds greeted fans at halftime. Folly Fields (Terri Campbell, Marcos Onetto, Nick Snow, Stephen Burr, Martin Eddy) turned the score to its advantage in the last chukkers to defeat Del Rancho/Black Oak (Dave Strouss, Simon Colleredo-Mansfield, Felipe Viana, Fico Stirling) in a tight 11-10 finish. JACQUELINE MILLER
JACQUELINE MILLER
MYOPIA POLO CLUB in South Hamilton, Massachusets, kicked off its celebration of 130 years of polo on July 28 with a
JACQUELINE MILLER
Folly Fields’ Marcos Onetto, Nick Snow, Stephen Burr and Terri Campbell. Martin Eddy is not shown.
JACQUELINE MILLER
Members of Myopia Hunt put on a demonstration at halftime.
Vintage and modern Jaguars were on display.
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Guests line the fields.
EXPANSION Club hires Gracida, adds new facilities
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Ranch and Empire Grand Oasis. MPIRE POLO CLUB in Indio, California, recently Calhoun Ranch will feature a grass polo field, an indoor announced Hall of Famer and former 10-goaler Memo polo arena—with plans for a second arena in the works, Gracida has been hired as polo director. Gracida will work stabling and 80 acres of large grass pastures. with Vicky Owens, Empire polo manager, to help recruit Empire Grand Oasis will be the most precious gem in teams and players. He will also be working closely with Kevin Empire’s crown. Members Ittig, who oversees Empire’s will have the opportunity to grounds crew, to ensure the enjoy a 5,000 square-foot fields are in prime clubhouse, a tropical condition for the winter swimming lagoon flanked by season. palm trees, lush landscaping “Last winter was my first with waterfalls and an season playing at Empire authentic Tiki bar. Adjacent Polo Club and it was one of to the lagoon is a newlythe best experiences I’ve installed grass polo field, a had,” said Gracida. “I natural amphitheater and an believe that Empire has the indoor polo arena, with potential to be the No. 1 plans for three additional polo club in the U.S.” grass polo fields. While Gracida’s career as Empire Polo Club hosts a professional player has set fun parties, offers affordable an exemplary standard for Memo Gracida and Empire’s Alex Haagen polo, maintains immaculate those who now follow in his grass fields and is a worldfootsteps, it is his class equestrian facility. It is the perfect polo destination for exceptional ability to coach, educate and organize polo polo players and their families. The club’s polo facilities for players, teams and programs that drew Empire’s interest. 2019 include 14 grass polo fields, two polo arenas, stabling “After spending the summer in Santa Ynez working with and turnout for 800-plus horses and multiple exercise tracks. Memo, I see that he has a wealth of experience and exciting Future plans include an additional three fields and a third ideas about how to grow polo. I’m excited to have his help arena. with Empire’s continued growth,” said Vicky Owens. The club hosts 8-goal leagues in February and March, 4The addition of Gracida to Empire’s management team is goal leagues January through March and 1-goal tournaments only the beginning of Empire’s strategy for this new season. almost every weekend throughout the season. Two new venues will open this coming winter: Calhoun
PARKER’S POLO MINUTE Better teammates give themselves a chance to get the ball again and again and again. Make each shot go to your team’s advantage and minimize the benefits to the opponent. SanDiegoPolo@hotmail.com
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 19
POLO PHILANTHROPY More than half a million raised for hospital foundation
THE CHUKKERS, CHAMPAGNE & Cavier fundraiser at
Foundation Board served as emcee and auctioneer. Silent auction items donated by local Aspen businesses included Aspen Valley Polo Club in Carbondale, Colorado, topped last Rolex watches and a travel package to the Fiji Islands. year’s total for the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. The crowd was thoroughly entertained as Sarpa directed The club’s summer marquis charity event, hosted by club lively bidding for the winning owners Marc and Melissa La Karina team and runnersGanzi and Aspen Valley up Aspen Valley Polo Club. In Hospital, raised $537,200, a spirited players auction, more than last year’s total of Juan Bollini ($25,001) and $366,000. Marc Ganzi ($25,000) earned The day-long event, held the highest bids. In addition during the Aug. 12 Rocky to the auctions, there were Mountain Open, was a kids activities, fashion winning combination of models and various vendor polo, sponsors and donors tents featuring luxury items. raising much-needed The Aspen Valley Hospital funding for facilities, new Foundation, now entering its technology and programs. sixth year, is a non-profit The funds raised will Guests mingle at the Chukkers, Champagne & Cavier fundraiser in Aspen. solely focused on support the hospital’s encouraging philanthropic construction project, state-ofsupport for the current and future needs of Aspen Valley the-art technology, such as new women’s imaging technology, Hospital. and the hospital’s ongoing operations. “We were just delighted that everybody was there for a The sold-out crowd in the fieldside VIP tent enjoyed a lavish wonderful day of polo,” said Deborah Breen, AVHF president menu prepared with white-glove service and impeccable and CEO. “We are so excited to be dedicating all these proceeds attention to detail. to the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation and terrific work The highlight of the day was the live polo player auction. going on there.” —Sharon Robb Guest auctioneer John Sarpa of the Aspen Valley Hospital
CONTINUING EDUCATION Arena umpire clinic focuses on current rules and umpire protocols
WHEN PEOPLE think of summer polo in the Northeast, they usually think of racing across a big grass field in pursuit of a ball. Arena polo usually doesn’t come to mind, but the Equestrian and Polo Club of Boston organized an arena umpire clinic and it ended up being the only game in town. Taking advantage of the bourgeoning number of players and horses in the Boston area in the summer, the weekend turned out to be a great success. The USPA Umpires, LLC’s Bradley Biddle helped educate new and seasoned umpires on the current USPA arena rules and umpiring protocols. The number of participants swelled as heavy rain Two dozen players attended the umpire clinic in Boston. cancelled polo throughout New England. Over 24 people came out to play and attend the clinic. Despite relentless rain, the activities continued in the club’s indoor arena. Ample stalls accomodated those players who traveled in. The skies finally cleared on the third day, allowing for spirited polo in the club’s full-size outdoor arena. The club also has an outdoor field and stabling for 80 horses. It hosts many low-goal tournaments in addition to hunter jumper competitions and sends teams and players to other clubs in the circuit.
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POLO LIFE TV show takes viewers inside the sport and its lifestyle
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SPA GLOBAL LICENSING INC. partnered with the Palm Beach County (Florida) Tourist Development Council in sponsoring a new television and digital show, “The Polo Life,” a 30-minute experience that takes viewers inside the sport and lifestyle surrounding the world of polo. “The Polo Life will reach over 60 million households across a national audience when it debuts on Labor Day weekend on the TVG Network, which focuses on equestrian sports. In addition to the national broadcast, the show will air on thepalmbeaches.tv and be available in Palm beach County hotels and resorts, as well as on content provider Roku. The show will also be shown in many of the U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores that span 100 countries, as well as on multiple digital platforms including the USPA website (uspolo.org), reaching millions of consumers and sports fans globally. Set against the backdrop of Palm Beach County, “The Polo Life” takes viewers through as sneak-peak into the world of polo
and offers content for both polo enthusiasts and novices alike. Viewers will meet professional polo player and U.S. Polo Assn. brand ambassador Juan Bollini Jr., take a tour of the multmillion dollar Santa Rita Polo Farm and experience an inspirational story about how the sport of polo supports disabled children through Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center. The piece also showcases the amazing food, fashion and lifestyle surrounding the sport, and takes viewers behind the scenes of West Palm Beachbased brand, U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand of the USPA. Viewers will get an inside look at the sports-inspired brand’s global headquarters and authentic connection to the sport. “We are proud to partner with the Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council and Ko-Mar Production on such a compelling show that will be shared with a global audience,” said J. Michael Prince, president and CEO of USPA Global.
ON THE MEND Player recovering after traumatic fall
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IGHT-GOALER JULIO ARELLANO was injured in early August, days after returning from playing in the Westchester Cup in England, when a horse he was riding flipped over on him. Arellano was stick-and-balling at Flying H Polo Club in Big Horn, Wyoming, when the young horse he was riding became agitated and flipped over. Arellano, who was not wearing a helmet, was knocked unconscious. Nine-goaler Miguel Novillo Astrada was at the field with him and was able to render aid and call for help. He was taken by ambulance to the nearby Sheridan Memorial Hospital and later that evening, flown to St. Vincent Healthcare’s trauma center in Billings, Montana, where he remained in an induced coma until the following day. After two weeks, thanks to the generosity of the Johnston and Ingram families, he was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and later transferred to its rehabilitation center. He continues to receive intensive physical, speech and occupational therapy. He was walking with the help of a walker and was expected to be going home any day as we were headed to press. Julio Arellano receives a trophy from Zara Tindall at the Earlier, his wife, Meghan, indicated he is confused about Westchester Cup in England a few days before his injury. what happened and why he is hospitalized, but is continuing to improve everyday. His brother, Carlucho Arellano, USPA executive director of Services, said he is smiling and in good spirits. The entire polo community is pulling for him and hoping for his continued improvement as well as a speedy recovery. u
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Summer schooled Team USPA member expands polo knowledge The United States Polo Association established Team USPA in 2009 to grow and sustain the sport of polo by identifying talented young American players and providing opportunities to grow their abilities. By Lindsay Heatley
A glimpse inside of a high-goal polo operation is an opportunity any aspiring polo player would love to be a part of, especially one whose goal is to become one of the top-ranked women’s polo players in the sport. Meet Marissa Wells, a member of Team USPA and a recipient of the mentorship program offered by Team USPA. Marissa is no stranger to the polo world. Her family owns and operates an arena polo school in Maryland, and Marissa has always been a part of the family business. At only 8 years old Marissa discovered her passion for the sport of polo when she first held a polo mallet in her hand. This year, during her summer vacation from Texas A&M University, Marissa was searching for a chance to take her love of the sport to the next level. Team USPA connected her with former 10-goaler Adam Snow, who just happened to be her favorite player. Marissa was given a chance to work inside of his high-goal operation. Known mostly as a Hall-of-Fame highgoal player, Snow is also heavily involved in developing amateur polo players. He is the co-chair of the Team USPA program and participates in many of the development programs offered. Snow was happy to discover that Marissa would be his mentee this summer. Marissa and Adam share a connection from 2002, when Adam won the U.S. Open and was raised to 10 goals. That year, he received a letter from a 10-yearold Marissa, asking if he thought a woman could ever reach 10 goals. His response: Yes! Adam says ever since, she has always 22 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Lindsay Heatley: How has mentoring with Adam improved your understanding of horse and barn management? Marissa Wells: It has helped me learn how to manage a high-goal string. This is my first time working with this level of horses. Feed, how much to give them, what to give them, and how to treat the horses on game day, these are all things I was able to take to the next level under Adam’s guidance. LH: Which horses are you favorite out of Adam’s string? MW: Be Bopp and Indica are my favorites. had a special place in his heart. During her summer vacation, Marissa traveled with Adam and his team from Aiken, South Carolina, to California, where Adam was competing during the summer months with Sol de Agosto in the 16-goal Pacific Coast Open. Adam helped Marissa develop her polo skills, and taught her an even more valuable lesson: how to manage high-goal horses. Marissa cared for and trained horses such as Be Bopp, a homebred out of one of Adam’s legendary horses, Hale Bopp. Marissa was given hands-on experience in all aspects of a high-goal operation from her own personal polo skills to the proper care of high-goal horses. She was in the barn from dusk till dawn learning what it takes to train and care for some of the best horses to compete in high-goal polo. We sat down with Marissa to learn more about her experience in the Team USPA mentorship program.
LH: How has your polo game improved since working with Adam? MW: A lot of early mornings, but I got the chance to stick and ball with Adam a few times a week. We also ride singles together. He has been showing me how to school horses, and what kind of program they should be on during their days off. LH: Your mother is a well known coach for girls arena polo. Tell me a little more about her and how having a different perspective has helped you as a player? MW: Yes, my mom is the one who first introduced me to polo. I am from Maryland originally where we have our own arena facility. She teaches mainly kids, so I grew up playing, and I had a mallet in my hand at age 8. Kids come through, she teaches them riding, and gradually progresses to polo. That is how I came up. Working with Adam wasn’t too much of a difference with the basic care of
horses and polo. Everything with Adam is more professional, elevated. Probably the biggest shock was getting used to the travel aspect, the gypsy life. Every two months we pack up and move. I was used to Maryland where we have the outdoor and indoor league all based out of my mom’s facility.
Clarkin, and Hazel Jackson. The best ones.
LH: What are you personal goals in polo over the next five years? MW: I would like to be the highest ranked women’s handicap player. I want to be at the top of my game in women’s polo, not just in the United States, but all over the world. That’s my ideal goal.
LH: What are some of your favorite aspects of Team USPA? MW: The mentorship program and being able to compete in WCT tournaments, specifically the [U.S. Women’s] Open in Houston.
LH: What female player do you look up to? MW: Sunny Hale has always been my idol. She is American, she played in the U.S. Open with Adolfo Cambiaso, she has played with Adam Snow, she is obviously one of my heroes. I was able to play with her a couple times—once in New York, (Saratoga) and once in Florida. LH: What would be your dream team to play with for a woman’s tournament? MW: Probably Sunny Hale, Nina
LH: What is your plan for the rest of the [year]? MW: Head back to school, back to arena polo for another year. Once I graduate I’ll be out in the world and hopefully play some polo.
LH: What is your biggest take away from your time in the mentorship program ? MW: Probably horse management was my best take away from this summer. You can’t only rely on having one great horse you play every game. Obviously, you have your favorites in the string but you have to evenly play each horse, and make sure you have a balanced string. The program is great. Team USPA has helped me a lot. I’ve made a lot of great connections through the program in the past year.
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POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 23
Winning! Intercollegiate scholarship recipients BY AMY FRASER
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ongratulations to the following Intercollegiate/ Interscholastic players who were awarded 2018 USPA Intercollegiate Scholarships! Requirements for applicants include playing at least two years of interscholastic polo, competing on an intercollegiate team, 3.0 grade point average, two letters of recommendation and a short essay. Recipients are selected based on horsemanship, sportsmanship, playing ability, contributions to the sport, academic excellence and character. The funds awarded to players are paid directly to the student’s institution for their tuition and are renewable for up to four years. Congratulations to our outstanding student athletes, and good luck in your college careers!
Charlie Caldwell Freshman, University of South Carolina – Aiken Major: Business Interscholastic Team: Bluewater Creek Polo Club Hometown: Taft, TN
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Anne Ebersold Freshman, Roger Williams University Major: Undecided Interscholastic Team: Simsbury Polo Club Hometown: Glastonbury, CT
Ben Lynch Senior, University of Kentucky Major: Equine Science & Management Interscholastic Team: West Shore Polo Club Hometown: Fallston, MD
Jack McLean Freshman, University of Virginia Major: Finance / Pre-Law Interscholastic Team: Maryland Polo Club Hometown: Sewickley, PA
Abigayle McVaney Freshman, Texas State University Major: Computer Science Interscholastic Team: County Line Polo Club Hometown: Austin, TX
Joe Post Freshman, University of Kentucky Major: Marketing Interscholastic Team: Gardnertown Polo Club Hometown: Newburgh, NY
Brennan Wells Freshman, University of Virginia Major: Film/Media Studies Interscholastic Team: Maryland Polo Club Hometown: Freeland, MD
Tess Sabatini Senior, Oklahoma State University Major: International Business Interscholastic Team: Blackberry Polo Club Hometown: Mustang, OK Freida Witmer Freshman, Skidmore College Major: Environmental Science Interscholastic Team: Cornell Polo Club Hometown: Berkshire, NY
Sydney Weise Freshman, Cal Poly Major: Pre-Vet Interscholastic Team: Hillside Polo Club Hometown: Mequon, WI POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 25
On a mission USPA Armed Forces team travels abroad By Mark Gillespie USPA Armed Forces polo team went to Berlin, Germany, and Windsor, England, to compete in military exhibition matches and discuss plans for military matches in 2019.
The ever-flexible military polo team, supported by the U.S. Polo Association’s Armed Forces Committee, sallied forth across the Atlantic and English Channel from July 21-30 to take part in matches that had been planned to take place in conjunction with the high-goal and junior Westchester Cup matches in England. The original plan of participating in two 12-goal matches and a match against the U.K. Armed Forces Polo Association team in England and a warm up competition in Berlin prior to the U.K. events was adjusted significantly on the fly. The U.S. team consisted of myself, Corp. Zach Grob and Staff Sgt. Alex Wicker with former Maj. Joe Meyer set to join up with the team for matches once we got to England. Once assembled in Berlin, we received news from the owner of the Berlin Polo Club 1906 that the club’s horses had developed a cough due to the recent high temperatures and therefore we could not use them. As anyone involved in military operations knows, things don’t always go according to plan and one has to improvise, adapt and overcome to successfully accomplish the mission. Fortunately, after a few calls around to the other clubs in the area, the Berlin-Brandenburg Polo Club offered the team stick-and-ball practice as well as a very enjoyable competition that included playing against a German team using the occasion to prepare them to play in a national tournament. Nothing like mutual international team 26 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
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Zach Grob carries the American flag prior to the Westchester Cup match in England.
warming chukkers! While in Berlin, the team visited the famous Maifeld Polo Field where the last Olympic polo matches were played in 1936. In addition to warming up for the match with the U.K. military, a second objective was to set the stage for holding an international military/civilian polo event in Berlin next June that would be tied to the 70th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift Commemoration. Conceptually, four teams made up of two German civilians and two military players from the U.S. and U.K. would stage a two-day tournament on the Maifeld Polo Field. The German players we approached about the concept were very enthusiastic and wish to move forward with the plan. Lt. Col. Nick Cowley, who is now the chairman of the U.K. Armed Forces Polo Association and is based in Germany, was contacted and also indicated strong interest in supporting the Berlin Airlift/Maifeld project for next year. The team then bid Berlin “Auf Wiedersehen!” and drove through the night to reach the Euro Tunnel (aka Chunnel) train by early morning in order to make it to the Westchester Cup black-tie event at Cliveden House on Thursday evening. Unfortunately, due to a number of circumstances, including a 51-day drought that had rock-hardened polo fields and made rental horses scarce, the team’s anticipated 12-goal matches and match with the U.K. military team were tabled. Despite that major disappointment, the team swung into action to support the Westchester Juniors match at Black Bears on Friday by providing a mounted color guard in dress blues to bring in the U.S. national flag and provide a similar mounted color guard for the high-goal Westchester Cup on Saturday at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club. Lt. Col. David Macdonald from the U.S. Embassy London’s Defense Attaché Office and his wife Amy came to represent the American diplomatic set at the Westchester Cup as guests of the USPA. As it was their first polo match, they were intrigued to learn of the ancient warrior origins of polo and how
10-goaler Facundo Pieres only uses Texas Polo Luxe Edition saddles
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military luminaries like Gen. Patton praised polo as one of the best sporting preparations for modern warfare due to its ability to teach mastery of situational awareness while making split-second decisions in a physically challenging environment and moving at speeds of 35-40 miles per hour—very similar to
the normal speeds a modern tank moves cross country on the battlefield. While still in the U.K., I began discussions with various officials regarding the possibility to send an American military team back to the U.K. in early June next year as it would coincide with the 75th Anniversary of
The U.S. Armed Forces polo team included Mark Gillespie, Alex Wicker and Zach Grob.
D-Day Commemoration events. All feedback was enthusiastically positive, so the planning will begin in earnest soon! Finally, the team members wish to give a tip of the hat to the American International Polo Foundation for its helpful support of the team’s trip.
Lt. Col. David Macdonald, from the U.S. Embassy London’s Defense Attaché Office, and his wife Amy, with a British polo player
Berlin’s Maifeld Polo Field, where the last Olympic polo matches were played. Plans are in the works to play an international/civilian polo event there next year in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift Commemoration.
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USPA Umpires, LLC from 0 goal to 40 goal, we’ve gotcha covered! For information regarding a professional umpire at your club, please contact: Charlie Muldoon (240) 731-2248 cmuldoon@uspolo.org Maggie Mitchell (941) 928-4600 mmitchell@uspolo.org For information regarding umpire certification, online testing, umpire clinics or rule reviews, please contact: Steve Lane (352) 454-6611 slane@uspolo.org
Pacific Time Klentner Ranch claims Pacific Coast Open By Gwen Rizzo
tough Klentner Ranch team held off Lucchese to take its first Pacific Coast Open title, the crown jewel in the Santa Barbara high-goal season. The 16-goal tournament was held at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California, from Aug. 16-Sept. 2.
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Klentner Ranch (Justin Klentner, Jesse Bray, Remy Muller, Mariano Obregon) couldn’t escape the memory of last year’s Santa Barbara season when the team cruised to two of three victories before losing last year’s Pacific Coast Open final in a heartwrenching double overtime match to Danny Walker’s Farmers & Merchants Bank. While it was disappointing, Klentner got some satisfaction hearing some refer to it as the best final in years. “We, as an organization, have quickly climbed the ranks so we are pretty new to the PCO. We’re a local team but we’ve been playing 12-goal polo so we made the jump about four years ago to play the 16-goal every year. We were happy to be there,” he said. “Danny [Walker] had been trying to win for 40 years. We felt really fortunate that basically in Year 3 we were there. Obviously, its
heartbreaking to lose in double overtime. Klentner said he has won just about every tournament at Santa Barbara except the PCO. After some reflection, and some sage advice from competitor Paco de Narvaez, Klentner said the team decided to tighten the focus to the PCO for this season. “It’s not that the other tournaments aren’t important, because they are and everyone wants to win whatever they can, but the primary goal is the PCO,” he said. “It’s very hard to win them all. It’s a long two months and the horses get tired. Last year, we were in three of the four finals so our horses played that many more games.” This year, Klentner reinforced his string with six more horses and Bray added two more to his string. Obregon and Muller, new to the team this season, both came well mounted. “Coming into the tournament this
year we just wanted to make sure we weren’t snakebit,” Klentner said. “We were a little bit more selective and everybody played 10-12 horses the whole season and when we got to the PCO, we each cut our list down to our top eight.” The team failed to reach the final in the first two events, the Skene and America Cup, losing the semifinals of both to Lucchese (Toly Ulloa, Facundo Obregon, Jeff Hall, John Muse). Klentner said he was a little concerned at that point but they were in both of the semifinals and almost all of their losses were by just a goal, so the team knew it was right there. “We just wanted to stay the course with the horses so we didn’t just burn ourselves out,” he explained. Lucchese took the Skene and Restoration Hardware won the America Cup, so both were trying to keep their momentum rolling. RH edged Farmers
Jesse Bray takes a deep neckshot in the final of the Pacific Coast Open. Photo by David Lominska/Polographics
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& Merchants Bank in the opening match of the Pacific Coast open and Lucchese got the edge over Klentner 10-8. After taking a first-round loss, Klentner had to win two of the next three games if it was to make the semifinal. Klentner treated their second game, against RH, basically as a quarter final. “We were super concerned about the second game because that was really pivotal. We couldn’t go 0-2. We figured [a] 2-2 [record] put you into the semifinal so it was really important for us to win the second and third games,” he said. “That meant the fourth game was not a game we had to go to the bottom of our horses. If we won it great, we would have been the first seed, but if we didn’t, we were the second seed.” It wasn’t easy but Klentner edged RH 10-9 in a tough overtime match. It then defeated Farmers & Merchants Bank, 9-7, in its next outing. Meanwhile, FMB beat Sol de Agosto, 11-9, and RH defeated Lucchese 13-12. Sol de Agosto got a 12-11 overtime win over Lucchese, and RH slipped Sol de Agosto 10-9. The final round had Lucchese handing FMB its third loss, 1311. The last game, pitting Klentner against Sol de Agosto, was do or die for the latter. A loss would put FMB in the semis while a win would ensure its place. Sol de Agosto hung on for the 8-7 victory, knocking defending champion FMB out. RH, with a 3-1 record, took first place, while the remaining three teams tied at 2-2. A shoot-out was needed to determine semifinal placing. Klentner Ranch met Sol de Agosto again, this time for the semifinal. In the second chukker, Bray hit a neckshot that hit Klentner square in the hand. “I was looking the other direction, where the ball was going to go, when it hit me,” Klentner said. After a brief timeout while paramedics looked at his hand, Klentner came back out on the field. His hand was swelling, but since he could move his fingers, he figured it wasn’t broken. As the chukker went on, he was soon unable to lift his mallet. Alonzo Cruz was called to substitute, but since Klentner had started the chukker, Cruz would have to wait until
When Justin Klentner, left, broke his hand, his son, Jake, right, stepped in to take his place in the Pacific Coast Open final. Jake scored two goals in the winning effort.
the chukker ended. Klentner gamely came back out on the field sans a mallet. “I did what I could. I played defense and tried to clear the path for my players,” Klentner explained. It seemed to work as the teams ended the chukker tied. “We were lucky,” he said. Klentner watched the rest of the game from the sidelines, worrying about his hand and the thought of not being able to make the final. He says he tried to stay optimistic at that point. The teams battled back and forth and were tied again as time was winding down. With less than a minute remaining, Cruz jumped on a pass and slipped the game-winner through the posts. “I was just glad we were going to the final. Sports people, and especially polo players, tend to be superstitious. And so we needed to get back to the finals,” Klentner said. When he finally had his hand checked out, Klentner was told it was broken. Though disappointed, he was happy that his son, Jake, would fit on the team. “Sponsors get hurt and then bring in a ringer 1-goal player who is really playing 3. My son is the same rating as I am and it being my son, was better,” said Klentner. “We all know its the finals and that’s great but you have to get to the
finals and its the organization that gets to the finals. I was just happy for the Klentner Ranch organization to be there and for my son to be replacing me.” It just so happened Klentner’s sons, Jake and Luke, were in Colorado, competing in the National Youth Tournament Series Championship. The team won its first match and was headed to the final. Klentner had to pull Jake from the tournament to take his place. He said he felt bad until Joel Baker reminded him that the NYTS tournament was developed to get kids ready to play more competitive polo, just what Jake would be getting to do. Jake had substituted for Ben Soleimani on the RH team earlier in the season and he and his brother sometimes practice with the team so he was comfortable stepping in. Klentner explained, “For them to improve as polo players, you have to play better polo. The Argentine kids, we go down there and they are all playing 22goal practices and our kids are struggling to play 4 goal. It is too much of a disadvantage when you get into better polo. I’m trying to give the boys the opportunity to play better polo so they can be better. “Joel Baker, Andy Busch, they were
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Lucchese: Carlos “Toly” Ulloa Facundo Obregon Jeff Hall John Muse
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Klentner Ranch: Justin/Jake Klentner Mariano Obregon Remy Muller Jesse Bray
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Restoration Hardware: Ben Soleimani/Mia Bray Santi von Wernich Iñaki Laprida Geronimo Obregon
16 A 5 7 4
Sol de Agosto: Francisco de Narvaez Paco de Narvaez Adam Snow Nico Escobar
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Mariano Obregon easily sunk the ensuing Penalty 2. Obregon added another soon after to end the first with Klentner Ranch leading 2-1. Bray, aboard Sydney, a pretty steel gray mare, capitalized on a Penalty 3 in the second, but Hall shot to goal from a melee 40-yards out. Just 15 seconds into the third, Mariano Obregon shot wide on a Penalty 4, but two minutes later his brother Facundo nailed a Penalty 2 for Lucchese to tie, 3-3. A backshot by Jake went just wide before Ulloa, who ran 120 yards, getting past several players, just missed the goal. With less than a minute remaining in the half, Muller took Geronimo Obregon wide, clearing the way for Bray to send a centering shot to Jake for the tie breaker, 4-3. Jesse’s dad, Graham Bray, was on hand to give advice. He and Klentner talked to the team at the half. “We were all trying to readjust everybody’s horse
SHELLEY HEATLEY
amateurs [rated] 4 and 5 goals, and good and contributing. It wasn’t just three highly-paid professionals and one sponsor running around with the other sponsor in the back of the game. In our family, we are not looking to buy the best seat in the house. We want to earn our way and contribute as much as anybody else on the team.” Once the final got under way, Klentner said he wasn’t that confident considering they were the underdogs. “Everyone, even the game announcers, were like, ‘horse flesh, horse flesh, horse flesh of Lucchese’ and they just kept going on and on about it. I was like, oh my gosh, they are going to be so much better mounted than we are,” said Klentner. But it was soon apparent that the Klentner team was well-prepared and came to play. In the opening minutes of the game, Hall made a breakaway to goal for an early lead, but a minute later, Jake drew a Lucchese player into a foul.
Farmers & Merchants Bank: Danny Walker Tomas Alberdi Lucas Criado Matt Walker
Klentner’s Remy Muller sticks tight to Lucchese’s Toly Ulloa.
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Klentner Ranch’s Remy Muller, Mariano Obregon, Justin Klentner, Jake Klentner and Jesse Bray were all smiles after winning the historic Pacific Coast Open.
connected with a Penalty 2 two minutes later. With 32 seconds left in the chukker, Bray necked the ball to goal, but missed the target. Muller began the fifth with a shot to goal but it too went wide. Nino Obregon put Klentner Ranch back up by two on a Penalty 4 after being cross-hooked. Halfway into the chukker, Facundo Obregon hustled past two opponents to find the mark and bring Lucchese back within one, 7-6. After a few more near
misses, the fifth ended with the teams still separated by just a goal. Just 34 seconds into the sixth chukker, Nino Obregon capitalized on a Penalty 2 to go up 8-6. Every minute someone was shooting at goal but the ball wasn’t finding the mark. Facundo Obregon had two shots go just wide and Ulloa had one. Shots by Muller and Bray also missed. When the final horn sounded, Klentner Ranch had maintained the two-goal spread.
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS
list, [seeing which horses] played how many minutes, and thinking what maybe they could change to do a little bit better,” explained Klentner. Ultimately, Klentner admits the game plan seemed to be working so the team stayed the course. “My dad really helped us out this tournament. He switched our lineup around in the semifinal and today helped us to stay focused. Having an extra pair of eyes off the field has really helped our team,” Bray explained. Lucchese was down by a goal at the half, but couldn’t be counted out. Hall and Facundo Obregon had played all winter together so they had good chemistry. And, Toly Ulloa, who is rated 5 in Argentina and 3 in the U.S., was mounted on some amazing horses, including at least one horse his 10-goal brother played while winning the U.S. Open final. Klentner Ranch teammates were eager for the win and were willing to work for it. They were scrappy and hustled with every play. If a Lucchese player took off with the ball, a Klentner Ranch player chased them down. If they got past one player, another was there to put a spoke in their wheel. Though some speculated Lucchese would be better mounted, it didn’t seem to be the case. Nino Obregon played Sally, Best Playing Pony in the 26-goal U.S. Open, among other standouts. Jake had his dad’s amazing string; Bray had plenty of power with his two grays, Disney and Sydney, and bay Venice; and Phoebe, an 8year-old bay mare, topped Muller’s impressive string. Back in action, Facundo Obregon showcased his talent just 12 seconds into the second half, which began with a throw-in in front of the Lucchese goal. Facundo got ahold of the ball and made a coast-to-coast run on Fondue, a 12-yearold Thoroughbred he bought from Ezra Stevenson, to level the score at 4-4. Shortly after, Jake reacted, making an amazing nearside neck to goal to take back the lead. His dad said at that point he knew it was their day. Nino Obregon followed with a Penalty 2 conversion to make the spread two goals, 6-4. Facundo Obregon took the ball downfield after a Penalty 5 but his shot went wide. He
Jesse Bray’s Venice was Best Playing Pony and he was honored as the Robert Skene Season MVP. With them are Jesse’s sister Mia, father Graham and groom Miguel Andrade.
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS
“It seemed like almost from the beginning that we had the momentum. We had them on our heels. I don’t think they were ready for as hungry as [the team] was,” said Klentner. “Those guys were hungry and they wanted it. It was a big effort and they went out there and performed. I think they could have won by more.” Remy Muller was honored as MVP for his outstanding defensive efforts and Bray’s Venice was Best Playing Pony. Bray also took home the Robert Skene Season MVP award. The team also received commemorative championship rings custom made by Tara Grey. “Playing the sport you love and being able to win this tournament with friends is the absolute best,” said Muller. Klentner admits he was on the edge of his seat the last seven minutes. “Obviously, you are nervous because we were only up by one when that chukker started,” he said. “It went back and forth and started to open up and move. When we got up by two I felt pretty good because
Blue Tica Bengston and FIP Ambassador Glen Holden present Remy Muller with the MVP award.
they had only scored six goals the whole game. If we were up by two, that meant they [would need to score] half as many goals as they had scored in the whole game. I was like, I think we are OK.” The Klentner Ranch celebration
began on the field and lasted long into the night. “Geronimo Obregon is maybe one of the best barbecuers around. He played with me the last couple of years and always does these barn asados,” said Klentner. “We had our core group of grooms, polo managers, friends and went to our barn. ... We are always super appreciative of the team and we grilled until late in the night.” Klentner said he plans to try again next year, and this time he hopes to be in the saddle, rather than on the sidelines. After that, he’d like to make a run at the U.S. Open in 2020. “The PCO was a big deal because I started playing on the West Coast and its the best trophy to win here. I’ve been really wanting it and honestly, I didn’t think it was possible,” admitted Klentner. “I started playing arena polo and it just seemed like an insurmountable goal. Now that we have achieved it, the U.S. Open [trophy] has got to go on a mantel at some point, right?”
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Central stage Texas-based team takes NYTS Championship by Kylie Sheehan • Photos courtesy United States Polo Association team representing the Central region won both of its games to claim the Cecil Smith Cup at the National Youth Tournament Series Championship played at Columbine Polo & Equestrian Center in Littleton, Colorado, Aug. 28–Sept. 2.
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Polo history was made when 16 of the nation’s most promising players under 19 years old were selected to represent their regions, divided into four zones, to play in the 2018 National Youth Tournament Series Championship for the Cecil Smith Cup. For the first time in the five years of the tournament’s existence, the Central Region brought the cup home with them. This was an exciting victory for a region that has been in the final three times but has never been able to capture the title until this year. Girls’ All-Star Challenge For the first time, the 2018 NYTS Championships also featured a Girls’ AllStar Challenge. An all-female invitational,
the tournament featured eight of the country’s top up-and-coming players. The two-game series was a perfect reflection of how exciting and competitive women’s polo has become over the years in the United States and throughout the world. It is the fastest growing sector of the USPA and many of the young female players that are playing in both women’s and mixed polo have bright futures as leaders in the sport. The Girls’ All-Star Challenge participants were selected from a pool of all-stars from National Youth Tournament Series Qualifiers. The White Team featured Anna Alworth (Twin City Polo Club), April Galindo (Midland Polo Club), Hope Kerley
(Eldorado Polo Club) and Athena Malin (Empire Polo Club), and was coached by Team USPA member Steve Krueger. They faced off against the Black Team featuring Olivia Uechtritz (505 Polo Club), Jenna Tarshis (Toronto Polo Club), Cory Williams (Santa Barbara Polo Club) and Lila Bennett (Garrison Forest School). Black was coached by Team USPA member Jim Wright. The teams played on Friday and Sunday with Black coming out on top both times. Wright, who coached the winning team, felt his team was strong from the start. “We had a very balanced team who are all very aggressive with the man. They rotated well, got behind each other and put
NYTS Championship participants spent a day playing field-day games, such as Tug of War and potato sack races.
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Anna Alworth puts the pressure on Lila Bennett in the Girls’ All-Star Challenge. Meanwhile, Jenna Tarshis, far left, turns for the pass.
the pressure on like they have been playing together for a while. It’s not an easy thing to do and they fit together like a glove,” he said. Cory Williams was named MVP, Athena Malin was awarded the Sportsmanship Award and Olivia Uechtritz received the Horsemanship Award. Micaela Saracco’s mare, Polola, played by Hope Kerley, was awarded Best Playing Pony of this division. The 2018 Girls’ All-Star Challenge marks an exciting time in USPA history where young female players showcased their impressive talent, horsemanship, sportsmanship and comradery. There is no doubt this legacy will continue, empowering more women of all ages to rise up the ranks in every level of the sport. Open Division In the Open Division of the NYTS Championships, the players displayed impressive playing ability, horsemanship, sportsmanship and teamwork, which made for a fantastic tournament. The Florida Region, the defending champion, was represented by Ian Campbell (Sarasota Polo Club), Conrad Kissling (Will Rogers Polo Club), Landen Daniels (International Polo Club) and Benji Daniels (International Polo Club), coached by Team USPA member and U.S. Open Polo Championship 38 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Western’s Luke Klentner races with Central’s Vaughn Miller Jr. in the final.
winner and MVP Jared Zenni. The Western Region was comprised of Riley Jordan (Eldorado Polo Club), Luke Klentner (Santa Barbara Polo Club), Jake Klentner (Santa Barbara Polo Club) and Bayne Bossom (Will Rogers Polo Club), coached by Team USPA member Patrick Uretz. Jake Klentner was called to replace his father Justin Klentner in the final of the Pacific Coast Open so he was replaced by Charlie Walker of Santa Barbara Polo
Club for the final game. The Eastern Region featured Malia Bryan (Farmer Road Polo Club), Brennan Wells (Maryland Polo Club), Harry Caldwell (Bluewater Creek Polo Club) and Charlie Caldwell (Bluewater Creek Polo Club), coached by former U.S. Open winner Tiger Kneece. The Central Region featured Cipriano Echezarreta (San Saba Polo Club), Grayson Price (Houston Polo Club), Vaughan Miller
Central’s Cipriano Echezarreta, Grayson Price, MVP Vaughn Miller Jr. and Will Walton won the NYTS Championship.
Coach Jim Wright with Black’s Lila Bennett, Cory Williams, Jenna Tarshis and Olivia Uechtritz after they won the Girls’ All-Star Challenge.
Jr. (Prestonwood Polo Club), Will Walton (Dallas Polo Club), and was coached by Team USPA veteran Mason Wroe. Both semifinal matches were extremely exciting. After trailing 4-0, Western Region made a comeback against Florida in the second half to win 6-4. In the other match, Central Region maintained its early lead over Eastern to claim the second final spot, 6-4½. The final of the Cecil Smith Cup was set for Sunday, Sept. 2, with the Western Region facing off against the Central Region. Central was trailing the aggressive Western Region team, last year’s runner-up, moving into the fourth and final chukker. Wroe gathered his players and reminded them to play four-man polo. “When it got tough, they relied on each
other,” Wroe said. “It’s really special to see them keep their composure and pull together as a team.” With time winding down, Price converted a Penalty 4 and Miller scored one from the field. Central ultimately pulled off a narrow 6-5½ victory to capture the Cecil Smith Cup. “Our strategy was to simplify our polo more than we did in the semifinal so instead of turning, we just hit a hard, straight backshot. It really helped because we made some breakaways and definitely got the ball moving, which was key,” Grayson Price told representatives of the USPA. In the consolation match, the Eastern Region outscored the Florida Region, 5-3½. At the awards ceremony, Matt Cohen’s family, who came out to watch the
tournament for the weekend, presented the Matt Cohen MVP award to Vaughan Miller. Cohen, a young polo player who participated in several NYTS qualifiers, died in 2015 from diabetes. He was 15. The Sportsmanship Award was given to Brennan Wells and the Horsemanship Award was presented to Malia Bryan. Finally, Petata, a mare owned by Luis Saracco and played by Bayne Bossom, won Best Playing Pony for her fantastic performances both days. Designed with player development in mind, the National Youth Tournament Series was created in 2013 and is the first national outdoor tournament series for youth competitors. This year’s championship was a huge success and the culmination of the incredible effort that clubs put into providing opportunities for young players to compete with and against their peers throughout the year. Many thanks to the Polo Development, LLC for bringing this special event into existence with the help of many volunteers and USPA clubs all over the country. It would not have been possible without the generosity of so many families, players and organizations. Thank you to the Columbine Polo Club, the Jornayvaz Family and the Valiente organization for hosting this special event with the utmost hospitality. A special thanks goes out to Chrys Beal and the entire USPA NYTS Committee for its hard work and vision, as well as Charles and Marcia Smith for donating the perpetual Cecil Smith Cup. Thank you to the USPA Umpires, LLC, the NYTS awards sponsors U.S. Polo Assn. and Texas Polo, and to all of the coaches for their fantastic leadership in this year’s event. The tournament would not have been possible without the horse providers including BTA Polo, Luis Saracco and George Dill, as well as the players who brought their own horses. Many thanks to Erica Gandomcar-Sachs, Circuit Governor of the Rocky Mountain Circuit, the Denver Polo Club and all of the parents of the 2018 NYTS Championships. Everyone’s hard work and generosity made both the Women’s Challenge and the NYTS Championship a huge success and will no doubt make the future of the sport great for years to come. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 39
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fter 88 years of absence in the Olympic Games, polo will be one of the sports in the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games that will be held this month in Buenos Aires, with the epicenter in the fields of Palermo. Absent from the program since 1936, officials of the Argentine Polo Association persuaded the International Olympic Committee to permit polo to be admitted in the Youth Olympic Games program held in Buenos Aires from Oct. 6-18. Polo was introduced in the Olympic Games in its second edition, in Paris in 1900. Five teams of mostly mixed nationality (only Mexico and the French Compiêgne Polo Club team had four players from the same country) clashed at the Bagatelle Polo Club fields. Foxhunters Hurlingham, a team formed by John Beresford, Denis St. George Daly and Alfred Rawlinson from Great Britain, and Americans Foxhall Parker Keene and Frank MacKey, won Gold. The second Olympic tournament was in London in 1908, at Hurlingham Polo Grounds. Three teams entered the competition and the Gold went to London’s Roehampton (Charles Darley Miller, George Arthur Miller, Patteson Womersley Nickalls and Herbert Haydon Wilson). After a hiatus of 12 years, the next contest was in Antwerp in 1920. Already competing as nations, Great Britain (Teignmouth Melvill, Frederick W. Barrett, John Wodehouse and Vivian Noverre Lockett) was the best of four countries with Spain (Leopoldo de La 40 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
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Polo will be included as an exhibition sport in the Youth Olympic Games
Gerardo Werthein, president of the Argentine Olympic Committee, gets in the swing of things aboard a wooden horse.
Maza, Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, Hernando Fitz-James Stuart, Alvaro de Figueroa, Jose de Figueroa) taking Silver and USA (Arthur Harris, Terry Allen, John Montgomery and Nelson Margetts) getting the bronze medal. Host Belgium did not medal. An Olympiad later, in Paris, Argentina made its next appearance. The team formed by Arturo J. Kenny, Juan D. Nelson, Enrique Padilla and Juan B. Miles (with Guillermo Naylor as a substitute) won all four games to be at the top of the podium. USA (Elmer Boeseke, Tommy Hitchcock Jr., Frederick Roe and Rodman Wanamaker) settled for the Silver medal after losing to the South Americans, 6-5, in a decisive match. The last time polo was included as an Olympic sport was in Berlin in 1936, when Argentina (Manuel Andrada, Roberto Cavanagh, Luis Duggan and Andrés Gazzotti in the line up, and Juan Nelson, Diego Cavanagh and Enrique
Alberdi as substitutes) was the best of the five participants. The forcefulness exhibited by Argentina in those two victories—and the operative inconveniences of framing a sporting event such as polo–were discouraging to the following cities that organized the Olympic Games, so the sport vanished from the program. The opportunity of a reappearance occurred a few days after Buenos Aires won its bid to be the host venue for the third YOG in the election held in Lausanne (Switzerland) on July 4, 2013, leaving behind Medellin (Colombia) and Glasgow (Scotland). Tolo Fernández Ocampo, one of the main promoters of youth polo in the country, convinced the board of directors of the AAP—then led by Francisco Dorignac—to propose the return of polo to the Olympic program. After some years of inaction, the inclusion of the sport was one of the
CLICK POLO
Young players give a polo demonstration to promote the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina this month. Numerous countries are expected to participate. Teams will be made up of players of mixed nationalities, both girls and boys, between 14 and 18 years old. CLICK POLO
main objectives that current president Eduardo Novillo Astrada was drawn to when he assumed Dorignac’s role on May 30, 2017. Within a few weeks, he managed to convince the IOC to allow polo as sports exhibition together with squash. “Returning polo to the Olympic program was one of our three priorities. We wanted to honor our sporting history and show the Olympic world a unique scenario like Palermo’s court. That is why we offered to carry out a participatory tournament with young people from all over the world,” said Novillo Astrada when the IOC decision was confirmed on July 6, 2017. To achieve the IOC’s approval, the performance of Gerardo Werthein—the head of the organization of Buenos Aires 2018 and a member of the IOC—was vital. “It was impossible to think of a multisport competition in Buenos Aires and not include a sport like polo and a scenario like Palermo that are paradigmatic for the Argentineans. We want the YOG to serve to bring more children and young people to the sport and polo could not be outside the proposal. When we raised their inclusion to the IOC, they were highly favorable for the magnificent environment that is Palermo—in the middle of Buenos Aires—and for the possibility to demonstrate a purely local sport,” explained Werthein, who comes from the equitation discipline. While the competition will not give official medals, as will happen with 32 other sports, the AAP and the Federation of International Polo see the YOG as a remarkable opportunity to regain space on the Olympic calendar. The day of activity will be Wednesday, Oct. 10, with an exhibition format since there will be no competition for medals.
The Cathedral of Palermo will open its doors in the morning to host a series of recreational activities for the public on Field 2, in order to popularize polo and give many their first direct experience with the sport. In the afternoon, players of both sexes, between 14 and 18 years old, coming from different countries will form quartets that will face each other alternately in an exhibition at Field 1. As in the first two Olympic appearances, they will play mixed polo, without respect to nationalities or sex. In
addition to local players that have already expressed their interest to be part of the group, young people from USA, Great Britain, Australia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Italy and Switzerland will participate. Players from Mexico, France, Germany, India, Malaysia and Thailand are also likely. The organization will be a joint effort between FIP and AAP. In fact, the AAP will provide accommodation for the players and horses necessary to play the scheduled matches. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 41
Six American teenagers (and several family members) arrived in Jamaica on Tuesday, July 2, to participate in Jamaica’s Annual Burger King Junior International Polo Tournament for kids age 11 to 18. Three teams competed in the event including Burger King, Toby’s Resort and Chukka American teens participate in international tourney Adventure Tours. PHOTOS BY LAUREN CHIN This year’s group of Jamaicans included Cameron Singh-Wates, Conrad Chin, Fred Farquharson, Frank Hart, Zach Byles and Fabiana Byles, while the Americans included USPA National Junior Board members Ava Rose Hinkson, Patricio Fraga-Errecart and Catie Stueck; Junior Florida Committee Member Cipi Echezarreta; 2018 PTF Sportsman of the Year Jack Whitman; and National Youth Tournament winner Christopher Owens. The line-ups helped set up the highest level of polo played in this tournament to date. Shortly after checking in to the polo-
DESTINATION: JAMAICA
playing Chin family’s Toby’s Resort, the Americans quickly bonded with their local counterparts as they romped with foot mallets for most of the afternoon. On Wednesday, the entire group met at Chinook Farms, Adelphi, for a polo clinic with Shane and Kurt Chin and Lesley Fong-Yee. Lesley started out with a lecture and demonstration on how to quickly adapt to strange horses, which was then utilized as they were assigned ponies for the Prem Singh Diamond Drill. Everyone showed noticeable improvement after doing this deceptively simple exercise several times. The following day, the St. Ann Polo Club members lent horses, played with and coached the youngsters while they tried out their ponies and the facilities at Drax Hall. For the entire week the local families involved hosted the guests and catered most of the visitors’ meals and they quickly became a tightly knit group. Everyone spent an amazing day on Friday taking different tours and hanging out at Chukka Adventure Tours and Good Hope Beach. The players were back at the beach on Sunday
Chris Owens, Jack Whitman, Conrad Chin and Zachery Byles won the Burger King tournament.
Cipi Echezarreta with Best Playing Pony, Popeye, owned by Andrew Lewis
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recovering before the trek home. On Saturday morning, the St. Ann Polo Club in Drax Hall hosted the Annual Caymanas Pony Club Rally, sponsored by Nutramix’s Front Runner feeds with clinics for all levels of riders—from leadline beginners to adults–in basic equestrian, jumping, cross country and polo. It was heartening to see the disciplines overlap as equestrians took polo lessons while several polo players jumped. Later on, the focus shifted to the youngsters that were split in to three evenly handicapped teams for the round robin match. Burger King (Cipi Echezarreta, Patricio Fraga-Errecart, Frankie Hart and Cameron Wates) drew Toby’s Resort (Chris Owens, Jack Whitman, Conrad Chin and Zac Byles) for the first section, which ended in a thrilling 2-all draw. Cipi converted two
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Lesley Ann Masterton-Fong Yee, along with Shane and Kurt Chin, taught a polo clinic for the Burger King tournament participants. She explained how to quickly adapt to strange horses.
Freddie Farquharson and Cameron Singh-Wates wait for the pass while Frank Hart comes in from behind.
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Penalty 2s for Burger King and Zac scored both goals for Toby’s Resort. A coin toss decided that the Chukka team (Fred Farquharson, Fabi Byles, Catie Stueck and Ava Hinkson) would play Burger King for the second section. The already warm Burger King team jumped out to an early lead with two goals by Patricio. Ava scored to bring Chukka back in to the game but the clock ran out before they could equalize. Pressure was then on Toby’s in the final section against Chukka as anything less than a win would hand the game to the Burger King team. Zac and Chris scored to take the lead, but Catie scored for Chukka, leveling the win/draw/loss record, goal differential and total goals scored by Burger King. Chris then pushed the ball through the posts at the very end to grab the win for Toby’s Resort. Lesley Fong-Yee presented third place Chukka with their Casablanca prizes, while StAPC president, Johnny McFarlane, awarded prizes to the runner-up Burger King team and JPA president, The Hon.
Dennis Lalor, presented the Burger King Trophy and Casablanca prizes to the winners. Cipi Echezarreta was the MVP of the round robin while Zac Byles was named MVP of the winning team and Andrew Lewis’ Popeye, played by Cipi, was awarded the Best Playing Pony ribbon and Nutramix halter. Greg and Ava Hinkson then thanked the Jamaicans and handed out beautifully carved cutting boards to the key individuals and families involved. Shane Chin, who coordinated the entire event, received rousing three cheers to inadequately express the intense gratitude from everyone present. Burger King has sponsored the event for the last 14 years with the aim to help develop youth players in Jamaica. It is also involved in developing youth in many other sports.
A Jamaican Adventure by Ava Hinkson As I walked off the plane into the hot Jamaica airport, my first thought was,
“I'm finally here!” And as I watched my dad gather the luggage and mallet bags it occurred to me how blessed I am to have a dad with such great friends in the polo world. Those great friends where so accommodating and I learned so much from them these past few months. I was ecstatic when I reached out to Lesely-Ann Masterson Fong-Yee and she introduced me to Shane Chin. Shane is a great guy with a big personality, huge smile and a passion for polo. They trusted me to take on this huge responsibility to plan a junior trip abroad. When I was first invited to bring a team to Jamaica, I started thinking of players I loved to play with. I then went to a lineup that could possibly sweep the score board with unrivaled talent. In the end my thoughts cleared, and I settled with my fellow newly-elected PTF Junior National Board members and a couple of non-member backups. I’m glad to say it worked out perfectly. We spent the first night in Jamaica handing out jerseys, playing with foot mallets, and organizing strategies. We
Zachery Byles, Ava Hinkson, Catie Stueck, Jack Whitman, Chris Owen, Cipi Echezarreta, Cameron Wates, Conrad Chin, Patricio Fraga-Errecart, Freddie Farquharson and Frank Hart competed in the Burger King tournament and became fast friends.
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met with the Jamaican host players and families at dinner and had some strong laughs over some delicious jerk chicken and a very heated game of pool. Sleeping that first night was not an issue for anyone of us. On the morning of the second day, the gang gathered together, and we took a scenic walk to Doctors Cove Beach. Seeing the dense mountains cascade into the turquoise water was breathtaking. After we all had snorkeled at the beach and drank way too many strawberry smoothies, we trudged back to the hotel to get ready for the clinic with LesleyAnn Masterson Fong Yee at Chinook farms. The trip through the Jamaican mountains was unbelievable, nothing anyone of us had expected. The lush beautiful jungle with friendly smiling faces of the locals and scattering of Jamaican reindeer (grazing goats) made our already loud van rock with excitement. You could feel the need to soak in all the diversity. As we drew closer to the club, there was an excitement among our team to get mounted and put a mallet in hand. I could not wait to see the horses, the field and meet the grooms. The clinic was incredibly informative. It really taught us
Polo is about the people and bonds forged on and off the field.
how to travel as a team and as individuals within the polo world. Fong-Yee showed us the etiquette to use around the horses, grooms and the owners who have offered us their most prized processions. We now know how to do tack checks correctly before mounting, what to ask the grooms and owners, and the circuital first few steps to do after mounting before the game begins. I am looking forward to using these etiquette pointers in my future traveling for polo. It was great to apply the skills LesleyAnn had taught us the next day at the practice match. The Jamaican players were an absolute blast to play both with and against. They brought an aspect to the game that most juniors and adults
Chris Owen, Patricio Fraga-Errecart, Jack Whitman, Ava Hinkson and Catie Stueck
lose when they begin playing competitive polo. They laugh when they play, even in the competitive matches, and you could hear them yelling and joking with each other. It’s something that you don’t see all the time. Many players lose their ability to have fun on the field once they get in “game mode.” One of the highlights of the trip was at the main tournament, seeing players from different countries and different teams, talking to one another and giving each other tips and discussing strategies between chukkers. I can say that at that moment it became clear to me that this sport isn’t about who holds up the trophy, or what player scored more goals, or even who has nicer horses. It’s about the people and bonds that are forged on and off the field. The last day was spent at a beach that one of the hosting families owned. The day was filled with tubing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and snorkeling. Finally, the day came for us to depart and we spent the morning trying not to make it so obvious that we were all dreading to board the airport shuttle and for us to spilt up. It was astounding how in just one week we all had grown so close. The entire group is still in contact with one another. We often log on to Facetime for our much-needed laughs and antics of recent happenings. Some of us are in Jamaica, some away at school, some sitting in the bedrooms waiting and planning for the next trip we can all play passionate polo together. Simply said, we all agreed we had the time of our lives. Onward to more adventures and bigger laughs with this world’s polo-playing youth!. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 45
POLO REPORT DISPATCHES FROM THE WORLD OF POLO
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FLEXJET DEFENDS USPA ARENA TITLE
Mountain Chevrolet’s Kris Kampsen digs the ball out of the corner with FlexJet’s Juan Bollini on his hip in the USPA Arena Handicap semifinal. Alejandro Novillo Astrada and Michael Payne follow.
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efending champion Flexjet made it two in a row in the U.S. Arena Handicap Polo Championship at Aspen Valley Polo Club in Carbondale, Colorado, Aug. 9. On a perfect day for polo, Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) rallied in the second half to defeat The Polo School (Aiden Meeker, Carlitos Gracida, Nic Roldan), 14-10, in front of a good crowd and worldwide USPA Polo Network audience.
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Fourteen-year-old Aiden Meeker of Fort Worth, Texas, playing well above his A handicap in his arena championship debut, was named Most Valuable Player. Meeker, a freshman at Culver Academy, scored two goals in the semifinals and one in the final while defending some of the sport’s top players including Argentine brothers Alejandro and Nacho Novillo Astrada. “I didn’t expect to be MVP,” Meeker said. “It was fun to get on the horses and play. I like playing polo. It’s a whole new
experience going full-speed, down the field and hitting a ball and trying to make a really nice shot. I got to meet a bunch of people who were super nice.” In an action-packed final, Novillo Astrada scored a game-high eight goals and finished with 19 in two games. The one-day tournament, played in 72-degree weather and under clear skies, lived up to expectations. In the final, The Polo School led 3-2 at the half behind Roldan’s two goals and one by Meeker. Novillo Astrada took charge in
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FlexJet’s Juan Bollini, Alejandro N. Astrada and Melissa Ganzi defeated The Polo School’s Aiden Meeker, Carlitos Gracida and Nic Roldan in the final of the U.S. Arena Handicap.
the second half, enabling Flexjet to outscore The Polo School 6-3 in the third chukker and 11-4 for the second half. Earlier in the day in the semifinal round, Flexjet broke open a close game in the fourth and final chukker to defeat Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Lucas Lalor, Kris Kampsen), 18-13, to advance into the championship final. Flexjet outscored Mountain Chevrolet, 6-3, in the final chukker. In the other semifinal game, The Polo School edged Casablanca (Nacho Novillo Astrada, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini), 12-11, on Roldan’s 15-yard penalty conversion in the final 25 seconds. The previous day, the club hosted three arena events. The triple-header was kicked off with a ChukkerTV Kidz Arena Challenge Cup. In the ChukkerTV Challenge Cup I held in the indoor arena, Sopris Mountain Ranch (Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) defeated Audi (Alan Meeker/Aiden Meeker, Kris Kampsen, Nic Roldan), 1410, with Melissa Ganzi scoring a club record 12 goals. Audi opened with a 3-2 advantage with two goals from Roldan and one from Meeker. The momentum quickly shifted with Sopris Mountain Ranch shutting out Audi, 3-0, with all three goals from Ganzi. Ganzi continued her scoring barrage with three goals in the third and five more in the fourth and
final chukker. Alejandro Novillo Astrada, making his summer debut, added two goals. For Audi, Roldan led scoring with five goals, Meeker had four and Kampsen added one. The trio of Ganzi, Bollini and Novillo Astrada are defending United States Arena Handicap champions. In last year’s final at Aspen Valley Polo Club, the Flexjet trio defeated Audi (Marc Ganzi, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Stewart Armstrong), 12-9. Bollini was MVP. In the ChukkerTV Arena Challenge Cup II, held in the outdoors arena, ChukkerTV (Lucas Lalor, Carlitos Gracida, Pablo Dorignac) defeated Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Jason Crowder), 9-4. After a 1-1 first chukker, ChukkerTV took control of the game for the next three chukkers. ChukkerTV went on to outscore Casablanca, 8-3, in the final three chukkers. Gracida led the winners with a game-high five goals. Action was just as intense on the grass when Los Amigos Red won the High Alpine Cup on Aug. 5. It took only one chukker for Los Amigos Red to get the chemistry going. After falling behind 3-1 in the opening chukker, Los Amigos Red (Alejandra de la Vega, Kris Kampsen, Nic Roldan, Paul Foster) shut out Casablanca (Alex Gooding, Grant Ganzi, Lucas Lalor, Juancito Bollini) in the next two chukkers and controlled most of the game for an impressive 9-7 victory.
Olexa Celine presents the MVP trophy to Aiden Meeker.
Paul Foster, who scored three goals playing the back position, was named MVP. Matsu, a 6-year-old bay mare, bred and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, and ridden by Lalor in the sixth chukker, was selected Best Playing Pony. It was all Casablanca in the first chukker with Ganzi picking up a loose ball and scoring with Roldan defending; Lalor finding Gooding open on a pass with 3:40 left for a 2-0 lead; and Lalor scoring on a 100-yarder through the air for a 3-1 advantage. Roldan scored his team’s only goal late in the chukker. The momentum quickly shifted in the second chukker with Foster scooping up Roldan’s missed shot and scoring a quick goal early to cut the lead to one. De La Vega converted a 30-yard penalty to tie the game at 3-3. Los Amigos Red went on to shut out Casablanca in back-to-back chukkers to take a 4-3 halftime lead. Los Amigos Red continued to play with confidence in the second half while Casablanca struggled to find its passing game and offensive attack. Casablanca showed life early in the fifth chukker with a long goal from Bollini and coast-to-coast goal run by Lalor to tie the game at 6-6. However, Los Amigos Red never lost its composure with Roldan scoring back-to-back goals to regain the lead, 8-6. Kampsen’s goal with 3:44 left in the sixth chukker gave Los Amigos Red a 96 advantage and Casablanca, which had its share of scoring opportunities from
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La Karina’s Stewart Armstrong, Nic Roldan, Marc Ganzi and Brian Boyd took the Rocky Mountain Open.
the field and penalty line, was unable to rally. In the Just For The Love Of It subsidiary game, La Karina (Brian Boyd, Pablo Dorignac, Carlitos Gracida, Stewart Armstrong) bounced back from its opening round loss, defeating Aspen Valley Polo Club (Riley Ganzi/Santos Bollini, Melissa Ganzi, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini), 10-9. The following week, La Karina (Brian Boyd, Marc Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Stewart Armstrong) took the lead in the third chukker and never trailed for a thrilling 8-5 victory over Aspen Valley Polo Club (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Eloy Vallina/David Vallina, Juan Bollini) to capture the Rocky Mountain Open. Roldan was named MVP and Rebecca, a 15-year-old chestnut mare, played by Melissa Ganzi and owned by Wellington-based Santa Rita Polo Farm, was selected Best Playing Pony. Rebecca was bred by the Novillo Astrada breeding farm in Argentina. Stewart Armstrong was named the Flexjet Defensive Player of the Game for his outstanding play at Back, including turning away three potential goals. Behind Novillo Astrada and Bollini goals, Aspen Valley Polo Club took a 2-1 lead after a fast-paced first chukker. La Karina turned on its stingy defense, shutting out AVPC in the second and third chukkers to take a 4-2 halftime lead. La Karina never trailed after that.
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Tonkawa’s Whistle Uys, Sapo Caset, Jeff Hildebrand and Mason Wroe won the Mount Sopris Cup in Aspen.
The teams tied 1-1 in the fourth and fifth chukkers and La Karina outscored AVPC, 2-1, in the final chukker to ice the victory. AVPC had its share of scoring opportunities in the final chukker but could not take advantage. In the Just For The Love Of It subsidiary game, Casablanca (Alejandra de la Vega, Grant Ganzi, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Juancito Bollini) dominated Los Amigos Red (Pablo Dorignac, Alex Gooding, Kris Kampsen/Carlitos Gracida, Paul Foster) for a 13-8 victory. Tonkawa, making its summer polo debut at Aspen Valley Polo Club, wasted no time winning its first tournament of the season.The talented foursome of Jeff Hildebrand, Wesley Uys, Sapo Caset and Mason Wroe defeated Mandarina (Alejandra de la Vega, Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Nacho Novillo Astrada), 13-11, to capture the Mount Sopris Cup sponsored by Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club on Aug. 19. Argentine 10-goaler Guillermo “Sapo” Caset, 32, the team’s playmaker who scored three goals, was named MVP. Argentine 8-goaler Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 36, who led Mandarina with a team-high six goals, earned the Player of the Day award, sponsored by the Mexico Polo Federation. Houstonbased Jeff Hildebrand, who scored a team-high six goals, was awarded the Flexjet Play of the Day for the goal he scored in the sixth chukker. Paulina, a
14-year-old Chestnut mare, was selected Best Playing Pony. Paulina was played by Alejandro Novillo Astrada. The mare is owned by Wellington, Florida-based Santa Rita Polo Farm and bred by Julio Novillo Astrada. Mandarina took a quick 2-1 lead in the opening chukker with a 60-yard penalty conversion from Alejandro Novillo Astrada and goal from Ganzi. The momentum quickly changed in the second chukker when Hildebrand scored the first of his six goals and Caset scored while the defense shut down Mandarina, 2-0. While the game was close, Tonkawa never trailed after that, outscoring Mandarina, 3-1, in the third chukker for a 6-3 halftime lead. Mandarina came back for a 2-1 advantage in the fourth chukker to cut the lead to two, but Tonkawa bounced back with an offensive fifth chukker, 42, for an 11-7 lead. Mandarina tried to rally in the final chukker with four goals, all from Alejandro Novillo Astrada, for a 4-2 chukker, but fell short. In the Just For The Fun Of It Cup, Mexico (Eloy Vallina/Billy Steta, Lucas Lalor, Carlitos Gracida, Juan Bollini) edged Los Amigos (Nacho Badiola, Kris Kampsen, Stewart Armstrong, Paul Foster) for a thrilling 12-11 victory. In the Just For The Love Of It Cup, Mandarina White (Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nic Roldan) defeated La Karina (Brian Boyd, Alex Gooding, Pablo Dorignac, Toto
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Los Amigos’ Nacho Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster, Brian Boyd and Nic Roldan won the Carbondale Classic.
Collardin), 9-7. On Aug. 26, Los Amigos came from behind to capture the Carbondale Classic over a tough Casablanca squad. Trailing by one going into the final chukker, Los Amigos (Brian Boyd, Nic Roldan, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster) scored four goals to defeat Casablanca (Carlitos Gracida, Grant Ganzi, Stewart Armstrong, Alejandro Novillo Astrada), 11-9. Nic Roldan, who had three goals, including one in the final chukker, was MVP. Pitkin, a 6-year-old Bay mare played by Nacho Novillo Astrada and owned by Santa Rita Polo farm, was selected Best Playing Pony. Nacho Novillo Astrada of Los Amigos was awarded the Flexjet Play of the Day for his sixth chukker midfield penalty goal that found the mark. The game was close with Casablanca leading 5-4 at halftime and 8-7 after five chukkers. Los Amigos found its offensive attack, outscoring Casablanca, 4-1, in the sixth chukker with two goals from Nacho Novillo Astrada, including a midfield penalty conversion, Boyd’s goal and another penalty conversion from Roldan. In the Just For The Love Of It Cup, Mandarina (Sarah Magness, Melissa Ganzi, Lucas Lalor, Juan Bollini) defeated Mountain Chevrolet (Alejandra de la Vega, Michael Payne, Marc Ganzi, Kris Kampsen), 10-8. —Sharon Robb
Lexie Potamkin presents trophies to Los Amigos Red’s Kris Kampsen, Alejandra de la Vega, Paul Foster and Nic Roldan.
PAC I F I C N O R T H W E S T
PARROTHEADS SOAR IN JOHNSTON MEMORIAL Roni Duke’s Parrotheads downed her husband’s No Trees team in the final of the Skeeter Johnston Memorial, 1411, at Flying H Polo Club in Big Horn, Wyoming, on Aug. 4. The club continued its second half of the season with the same format that has made it a success. Generally, tournaments are played between six teams playing preliminary games on Thursday to determine the finalists. Fifth and sixth place teams play off at 11 a.m. on Sunday, third and fourth place teams play off later in the day at 1 p.m. and finalists play off in the main game at 3 p.m. Parrotheads (Roni Duke, Gonzalo Teves, Steve Krueger, Jason Crowder) gave No Trees (Paige McCabe, Frankie Bilboa, Craig Duke, Jeff Blake) a twogoal handicap to begin, and No Trees made the most of it, with Bilbao striking first to take a 3-0 lead just minutes into the match. Crowder put Parrotheads on the board to end the first, 3-1. Roni Duke sunk a Penalty 2 in the second but Bilbao had the answer. Crowder and Krueger flexed their muscles to tie the match up at 44. Krueger added another in the third to break the tie but McCabe answered
to knot the score once again. Teves took the reins and shot through backto-back goals to put Parrotheads out front, 7-5. McCabe brought No Trees within one, 7-6, before the half ended. Bilboa leveled the score in the opening minutes of the fourth, but Roni Duke put Parrotheads back out front with a Penalty 2 conversion. Crowder increased the lead with a field goal. Roni Duke sunk another Penalty 2 in the fifth and Krueger and Crowder followed with goals to go up 12-7. Bilbao added one for No Trees to enter the sixth with his team trailing 12-8. Bilbao took matters into his own hands in the sixth, scoring a hat trick to bring No Trees within one. A field goal by Krueger and Roni Duke’s fourth Penalty 4 dashed any hopes of a No Trees comeback. Steve Krueger was named MVP and McCabe’s Cinco, a sleek 9-year-old bay mare played in the third, was Best Playing Pony. Skeeter Johnston’s widow, Leslie, and their daughter Louisa presented the trophies. In the consolation Everglades Challenge, Jan Pamela (Wayne Garrison, Kelly Beal, Hector Galindo, Julian de Lusarreta) edged Sonny Hill (Curtis Pilot, Sugar Erskine, Francisco Lanusse, Stevie Orthwein), 11-10. Jan Pamela began with a three-goal handicap, which was matched by Sonny Hill in the first but a pair of Jan Pamela goals kept it on top. Jan
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Louisa and Leslie Johnston present trophies to Parrotheads’ Gonzalo Teves, Roni Duke, Steve Krueger and Jason Crowder.
Pamela outscored Sonny Hill 2-1 in the second and neither team reached the goal in the third to end the first half with Jan Pamela ahead, 7-4. The teams traded goals in the fourth and fifth to maintain Jan Pamela’s threegoal advantage into the final period. Sonny Hill made up the difference but a Penalty 3 conversion by Wayne Garrison gave Jan Pamela the edge and the win. Garrison was MVP and his sixth chukker mare, Camilla, was Best Playing Pony. An earlier match game had Newport (Gene Goldstein, Michel Dorignac, James P. Uihlein, Joe Wayne Barry) defeat Bendabout (Gillian Johnston, Will Johnston, Miguel Astrada, Chip Campbell), 13-9. The following week, The Villages (Paige McCabe, Gene Goldstein, Frankie Bilbao, Michel Dorignac) got the best of Jan Pamela (Wayne Garrison, Hector Galindo, Jeff Blake, Steve Krueger) in the Moncrieff Cup. The Villages began with a two-goal handicap and Blake began the task of chipping away at the deficit. He got a goal on the board before Bilbao scored The Villages first goal. Garrison shot through a Penalty 2 but Bilbao answered once again. Jan Pamela was silenced in the second while Goldstein and Bilbao tallied to put The Villages ahead 6-2. Garrison traded goals with McCabe in the third to end the half
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The Villages’ Michel Dorignac, Frankie Bilbao, Gene Goldstein and Page McCabe won the Moncrieff Cup.
with The Villages holding a comfortable 7-4 lead. Bilboa scored early in the fourth, but Krueger answered back. Krueger added another in the fifth and Blake swapped goals with Dorignac to enter the last chukker with Jan Pamela trailing by three. Krueger traded goals with Bilboa, then Krueger added a field goal and a Penalty 4 to come within one, 10-9, but time ran out and The Villages held the lead. Jeff Blake was named MVP and Hector Galindo’s Spicy was Best Playing Pony. In the consolation Budweiser Classic, BTA (James P. Uihlein, Miguel Astrada, Joe Wayne Barry, Kelly Beal) slipped Bendabout (Julian de Lusarreta, Stevie Orthwein, Craig Duke, Gillian Johnston), 10-9. BTA jumped right out front with unanswered goals by Barry and Astrada in the first seven minutes. Duke and Beal traded Penalty 2 conversions in the second, before Bendabout turned up the heat. First Orthwein found the mark, then Johnston scored two in a row to take the lead, 4-3. A Penalty 2 by Beal early in the third leveled the score, but Johnston shot through two more to take back the lead. Astrada hit the target to bring BTA within one, 6-5, at the halfway mark. A converted Safety by Barry
knotted the score in the fourth, the 66 score holding into the fifth. De Lusarreta broke the tie, but Barry put it right back in place. De Lusarreta had the last word, putting Bendabout ahead, 8-7, entering the final period. Beal converted a Penalty 2 for another tie before Johnston took back the lead. Uihlein added his two cents for the fifth tie of the match. BTA missed on a couple of 30-yard shots that would have ensured them the victory, but it didn’t matter. Beal split the uprights at just the right time to put BTA ahead for the win. Joe Wayne Barry was MVP and de Lusarreta’s pretty chestnut, Platinada, was Best Playing Pony. In the early consolation Michelob Cup, Point Clear (Curtis Pilot, Gonzalo Tevis, Francisco Lanusse, Chip Campbell) defeated Prestige Worldwide (Roni Duke, Will Johnston, Sugar Erskine, Jason Crowder), 14-12. In a tight match, Point Clear outscored Prestige 7-6 in both the first and second halves. Chip Campbell was high scorer with five goals. In the Bozeman Trail Cup on August 21, Retama (Tom Gose, Steve Krueger, Miguel Astrada, Kelly Beal) got the best of Clearwater (Paige McCabe, Gonzalo Teves, Frankie Bilbao, Chip Campbell), 12-11. Clearwater began with a two-goal handicap and goals by Campbell
P O L O
Retama’s Kelly Beal, Miguel Astrada, Steve Krueger and Tom Gose won the Bozeman Trail Cup.
doubled up its score. Meanwhile, Retama was held to a goal from Beal. Astrada struck in the second, but Bilbao answered with two. McCabe got on the board in the third, but Astrada sunk two in a row. Bilbao struck again but so did Astrada, ending the half with Clearwater ahead 8-5. Krueger started the second half scoring but Teves answered. Gose shot through a goal, cutting the deficit to two, 9-7. Gose and Krueger combined for two unanswered goals in the fifth to tie the score at 9-all. The last period was an all-out battle with both teams trying to gain control. Astrada scored, but Teves responded. Krueger tallied, but so did Bilbao. As time wound down, neither team could gain the edge. The match needed extra time to be decided. In the overtime chukker, Gose saved the day with an expertly executed Penalty 3. Miguel Astrada, high scorer with five goals, was MVP and Gonzalo Teves’ third chukker chestnut mare, Van Picardia, was Best Playing Pony. In the consolation Bozeman Trail Challenge, Evergreen (Tom Sprung, Carlitos Galindo, Mason Wroe, Shane Rice) downed Newport (Michel Dorignac, Gene Goldstein, Jake Stimmel, Jason Crowder), 11-6. Evergreen got a four-goal head start and Sprung added to it in the first chukker. Newport tried chipping away
R E P O R T
Bendabout’s Roni Duke, Michel Dorignac, Gillian Johnston and Steve Krueger won the season-ending Flying H Cup.
at the lead but all of their efforts were matched, ending the first half 8-4. Stimmel, who led the half with three goals, added two more in the second half but those were matched by Sprung. Rice added another to keep Evergreen comfortably in the lead until the bell. In the Fetterman’s Challenge consolation match, Bendabout (Wayne Garrison, Hector Galindo, Julian de Lusarreta, Gillian Johnston) ousted No Trees (Sugar Erskine, Will Johnston, Craig Duke, Jeff Blake), 15-11. No Trees began with a handicap goal but Bendabout easily overcame it, and then some, taking a 4-3 lead at the end of the first. Will Johnston sunk four in a row in the second and Blake traded goals with Gillian Johnston for a 8-5 No Trees lead. Will Johnston added another in the third, but Garrison was unstoppable, putting in three to end the half with No Trees narrowly leading 9-8. Bendabout took the lead with a pair of unanswered goals in the fourth and outscored No Trees 5-2 in the next 14 minutes to take a convincing lead and the victory. The season ended with Bendabout (Gillian Johnston, Steve Krueger, Michel Dorignac, Roni Duke) taking the Flying H Cup, 10-9, over Evergreen (Tom Sprung, Gonzalo Teves, Julian de Lusarreta, Tom Gose).
Bendabout began with a handicap goal, and muscled through the first chukker with four unanswered goals— three from Johnston and one from Krueger. Neither team had any luck at the goal in the second, but Johnston and Krueger gave another one-two punch in the third, before Teves put Evergreen on the board for the first time. Bendabout carried its 7-1 lead into the second half but Evergreen was just finding its rhythm. Johnston and Duke found the goal in the fourth, but Sprung, de Lusarreta and Gose retaliated with goals of their own. Teves and de Lusarreta kept it up in the fifth while holding Bendabout to a goal. Teves took matters into his own hands in the sixth, scoring three in a row while his teammates focused on defense. It nearly worked until the bell sounded with Bendabout holding the narrow lead. Johnston, who scored a game-high six goals, was MVP and her pretty bay Tenacity was Best Playing Pony. In the consolation Wagon Box Challenge, Prestige Worldwide (Will Johnston, Frankie Bilbao, Craig Duke, Sugar Erskine) defeated BTA (KC Krueger, Jason Crowder, Gene Goldstein, Hector Galindo), 11-7. Will Johnston dominated with a total of seven goals. Goldstein was named MVP and Garrison’s Little Coda, a gray horse played by Bilbao, was Best
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R E P O R T
Coca Cola’s Julian de Lusarreta, Michel Dorignac, Sugar Erskine and KC Krueger won the Goose Creek Cup.
Playing Pony. Other action included the 21-goal Goose Creek Cup, sponsored by the Downtown Sheridan Association on July 29. In that match, Coca Cola (KC Krueger, Sugar Erskine, Julian de Lusarreta, Michel Dorignac) edged Bud Light (Will Johnston, Jason Crowder, Miguel Astrada, Stevie Orthwein), 6-5, in a spirited match. Sugar Erksine was named MVP and GString Polo Ponies’ Copperfield, a pretty grey played by Miguel Astrada, was Best Playing Pony. As usual, the teams came to the trophy presentation in style—in an antique wagon pulled by a pair of sleek grey mules.
BORDER
ROGERS MEMORIAL TOPS CIRCUIT CHALLENGE CUP The Kem Rogers Memorial Team took the title in the Challenge Cup at El Caso Ranch Polo Club in Quemado, New Mexico on Aug. 12. Two teams competed in the match, played over two days under the watchful eyes of umpires Yvonne Golston and Dan Healy. Kem Rogers Memorial Team (Lance Easterling, Carol Moore, Diego Herrera, Cathy Leyeu) got the edge over El Caso Ranch (Raeann Bruton, Robert Bruton,
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Kem Rogers Memorial’s Lance Easterling, Diego Herrera and Carol Moore with umpires Yvonne Golston and Dan Healy and Cathy Leyeu
Barbara McCrimmon, Rick Blomquist). On the first day, Moore shot through two goals in as many minutes to put Rogers Memorial on the board. Robert Bruton responded with a pair of goals but Moore scored another to end the chukker ahead, 3-2. Blomquist owned the second, putting through three goals in a row, while Moore was held to one. Moore added another in the third, but Blomquist sunk a penalty to maintain the lead, 65. Moore sunk a penalty in the fourth, but Robert Bruton jumped into action with three in a row to give El Caso the 9-6 lead after Day 1. The teams came back the next day to continue on. Blomquist increased El Caso’s lead but Herrera found the goal and Moore scored twice to bring Rogers Memorial to within a goal, 10-9. The flow of the game changed in the second when Herrera tied the score, then took the lead while El Caso was unable to connect with the goal. El Caso’s struggles continued into the third, while Herrera and Easterling increased Rogers’ lead. Moore stole the show in the fourth period, slamming home three goals. Robert Bruton sunk a penalty in the final period but it was too little, too late and Kem Rogers Memorial Team had the win. Diego Herrera’s nice grey horse, Voler, was Best Playing Pony. Carol Moore was high scorer with six goals the first day and five the second day.
EASTERN
LA BARRA TRIUMPHS IN WCT ARENA CHALLENGE Seneca Polo Club in Poolesville, Maryland, held its first annual Women’s WCT 8-goal Arena Challenge tournament June 23-24. Originally scheduled for early June, the event had to be postponed due to excessive rainfall. It turned out to be a great tournament overall. Teams were well balanced, and from the start it was unclear who the winner would be. The sportsmanship on and off the field was inspiring and the level of riding skill and speed of the game was impressive. On the first day, Garrison Forest School (Kaycie Campbell, Lindsey Morris, Gabby Chaisera) took on Seneca (Camilla Lancaster, Emily Wiley, Eliza Jacobellis). Garrison’s Lindsey Morris scored an impressive two pointer from the halfway line, helping propel the team over Seneca, 10-8, and advance into the final. In the other match, La Barra (Jessica Blair Henwood, Maureen Marsh, Marisa Bianchi) doubled down on Mother Chukker (Tracy Goodey, Claudia Tobler, Lila Bennett), 10-5, to take the other final spot. In the final, the ladies were really bringing all they had and were racing
JESSICA HENWOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
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JESSICA HENWOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
Above: Top row: Gabriella Chiasera, Lindsey Morris, Emily Wiley, Claudia Tobler, Lila Bennett; Middle: Kaycie Campbell, Camilla Lancaster, Marisa Bianchi; and front: Maureen Marsh and Jessica Henwood. Missing: Jenny Schwartz, Eliza Jacobellis, Tracey Godey. Below: Seneca’s Eliza Jacobellis reaches out to hook Mother Chukker’s Lila Bennett.
up and down the arena as the defensive plays continually prevented goals from being achieved. So many times players were pushed off the line by incredible bumping and the battling for goals continued to the last horn. In the end, La Barra defeated Garrison Forest School, 14 -10. Marisa Bianchi earned MVP honors and Garrison Forest School’s Betty was Best Playing Pony. In the consolation, Mother Chukkers edged Seneca, 9-8.
In cooperation with nearby Mountain View Polo from Charles Town, West Virginia, a Low-Goal Classic Tournament was held over two beautiful summer days in July. Six teams from the two clubs entered the classic. The B Flight teams were all students from Seneca’s Polo School, coached by Eastern Circuit Governor Joe Muldoon and Kristen Wenning who called the shots and encouraged their teams with a non-scoring, minimal defense mandate.
R E P O R T
Teams included Seneca 1 (Susan Stevenson, Ali Stevenson, Lainy Reed, Kristen Wenning) and Potomac Polo (Katie White, Molly White, David Littleton, Joe Muldoon) in Flight B, and Flight A included Mother Chukker (Robyn Nietert, Claudia Tobler, Kerry Roche/Eloris Snyder), Seneca 2 (Pam Patton, Jessica Henwood, Cate Godey/Camilla Lancaster), Mountain View 1 (Blake Truitt, Shamsiya Shervani, Robert Gehringger) and MVP 2 (Akemi Tinder, Karen Simons, Liz Calvey/Kevin Yungk). Action heated up for A Flight competition with Mountain View 1 dominating Mother Chukker, which was forced to third place overall. In the final, a new Mountain View 2 line-up (Khris Baxter, Shamsiya Shervani, Willow Longerbeam) was unable to catch up with Seneca’s early lead. The last day showed teams were evenly matched, and Seneca finished ahead of a strong Mountain View team. It was a great tournament for everyone involved. Socializing afterwards was an opportunity to reflect on the benefits of bringing two clubs together. “There is a lot of enthusiasm and excitement when we mix players of this level and everyone ups their game to achieve their best. We are grateful to Laura Goddard and Hugo Pasten for bringing some great people from Mountain View in Charlestown, West Virginia, to challenge our low-goal players in Seneca’s arena” said Seneca club manager Wayne Briere. “The weather could not have been more perfect, and we had great fun playing together with a super party afterwards. That’s what polo is all about for us,” said Briere’s wife, Kate. The two clubs have definitely hit on the ideal combination of cooperation, talent and enthusiasm, and look forward to the next event, an Academy Game with Congressional Polo on their grass fields in Poolesville, Maryland.
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R E P O R T
Dovecote’s Nate Berube, Tommy Huber, Louisa Huber, Liv Stringer Berube and Tom Huber won the Fred Peterson Memorial.
DOVECOTE VICTORIOUS IN PETERSON MEMORIAL Dovecote defeated Maryland Rebels to take the 6-goal Fred Peterson Memorial at the Maryland Polo Club in Jarrettsville, Maryland, in midAugust. Overall, it was a rainy season with polo cancelled several times.. Dovecote was all about family as it included the husband and wife duo, Nate Berube and Liv Stringer Berube, along with Tom Huber, his son Tommy Huber and daughter Louisa Huber. The team defeated Maryland Rebels’ Cindy Halle, Kelly Wells, Daymar Rosser and Jake Brown. Brown was named MVP and Tommy Huber’s Hopper was Best Playing Pony. The previous month, Red Maple/MacKenzie topped a four-team roster to win the 4-goal USPA Patton Cup. In the final, Red Maple/MacKenzie (Lila Bennett, Live Stringer Berube, Nate Berube, PJ Orthwein) got the best of Goose Green Farm (Sophie Grant, Maddie Grant, Will Green, Jake Brown). PJ Orthwein was MVP and Jake Brown’s sleek black Flurry was Best Playing Pony. Other teams were Maryland Rebels (Parker Pearce, Kelly Wells, Daymar Rosser, Alex Lopez) and Dovecote/West Shore (Louisa Huber, Tommy Huber, Tom Huber, Max Hempt).
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Red Maple/MacKenzie’s PJ Orthwein, Nate Berube, Liv Stringer Berube and Lila Bennett won the 4-goal USPA Patton Cup.
NORTHEAST
HAWK HILL SECURES MOORE MEMORIAL TITLE Hawk Hill crushed Barton Farm in the final of the 8-goal Eddie Moore Memorial at Mashomack Polo Club in Pine Plains, New York, on July 28. Hawk Hill (Keko Magrini, Agustin Bottaro, Dylan Rossiter, Phillip MacTaggart) and Barton Farm (Andrew Gundlach, Luciano Vasquez, Jared Sheldon, Henry Zavaleta) finished preliminary play in second place with 21 records, advancing over the first place teams in the semifinals. Barton Farms had 4-goal Brandon Phillips taking Jared Sheldon’s place after Sheldon injured his hand. Hawk Hill got on the board early in the first with a goal by Dylan Rossiter. Keko Magrini added another and Rossiter sunk a Penalty 4 to end the first seven minutes ahead 3-0. Barton Farms was unable to find the goal, while Magrini split the uprights and Agustin Bottaro tallied, increasing the lead to five. Barton continued to struggle while Rossiter went on a scoring spree. He sunk a penalty, then scored a pair of field goals. He finished out the chukker with another penalty conversion to put Hawk Hill ahead 9-0 at the half. Luciano Vasquez was unable to continue and was replaced by Ian
MacTaggart in the second half. Brandon Phillips finally got Barton on the board with a pair of penalty conversions in the fourth, while Hawk Hill was silenced. Rossiter got those goals back in the fifth, scoring back-to-back goals from the field. Phillips sunk a Penalty 4 for an 113 score going into the final period. It would take a miracle for Barton to get back in the game and it wasn’t to be. Phillips scored a Penalty 2 to close the door on the 2018 Eddie Moore Memorial. Hawk Hill flew home with the 11-4 victory. Dylan Rossiter, high scorer with eight goals, was MVP, and his bay mare was Best Playing Pony. In the subsidiary Nueva Escocia Cup, Shekomeko (Guy Merison, Oli Merison, Maxi Chenaut, Tavi Usandizaga) edged Smithfield (Craig Callen, Robi Bilbao, Julio Ezcurra, John Klopp), 10-9. In the subsidiary final, Maxi Chenaut was replaced by Oski Monzon on Shekomeko. Tavi Usandizaga put Shekomeko on the board, neutralizing a one-goal handicap given to Smithfield. Julia Ezcurra added a field goal and a Penalty 2 to put Smithfield back on top and Robi Bilbao added another, closing the chukker 4-1 in favor of Smithfield. Bilbao split the uprights early in the second, but Usandizaga sunk a pair of Penalty 2s and a field goal to come within one, 54. Ezcurra got in the last word to put the spread back to two, 6-4. Usandizaga
R E P O R T
MILI MARTINEZ
MILI MARTINEZ
P O L O
Shekomeko’s MVP Tavi Usandizaga, Guy Merison, Oli Merison and Oski Monzon, with Maxi Chenaut, won the Nuevo Escocia Cup.
a consolation Handicap final. Gardenvale White (Connor Finemore, Juanse Olivera, Agucho Zavaleta, Jaime Bourdieu) and Smithfield (Craig Callen, Alfonso
goal and was whistled on a play that gave Gardenvale a Penalty 2. Bourdieu easily sunk the penalty to take the lead. A Penalty 1 in favor of Gardenvale doubled up Smithfield’s score, 4-2. Smithfield got its mojo back in the fourth, with Callen and Robirosa finding the target, but Gardenvale wasn’t done. Zavaleta sunk a pair of Penalty 4s and Olivera scored for a 7-4 Gardenvale victory. Juanse Olivera was named MVP and his horse, 27, was Best Playing Pony. In the consolation Constitution Handicap final, Savanna (Ian Schnoebelen, Juan Olivera, Bauti Crotto, Nick Bienstock) edged Gardenvale Red (Jennifer Williams/Isi Finemore, Will Harper, Jack Kiely, Shane Finemore), 5-4. Gardenvale Red began with a one-goal handicap, which was soon equalized by a goal from Bienstock. Schnoebelen put Savanna on top to end the first, 2-1. Bienstock traded goals with Isi Finemore to maintain the one-goal difference, 3-2, at the half. Olivera increased Savanna’s lead early in the third and Bienstock swapped goals with Shane Finemore to end the third, 5-3. Shane Finemore added a lone goal in the fourth to end the match with Savanna ahead. MILI MARTINEZ
kept chipping away at the deficit, scoring a lone goal to close the gap to 65 at the half. After the halftime break, Usandizaga leveled the score, but came up short on a pair of Penalty 4s that could have put Shekomeko in the lead. Later, Usandizaga gave Shekomeko the lead early in the fifth, but a Penalty 4 by Ezcurra knotted the score once again. Shekomeko missed a pair of penalties, while Bilboa added another field goal to put Smithfield back on top, 8-7. Ezcurra increased the lead to two, 9-7, in the opening minutes of the sixth. Shekomeko fought back and back-to-back goals by Usandizaga tied the score and forced overtime. A costly mistake by Smithfield gave Usandizaga an opportunity from the 30-yard line, which he seized upon to win the match. Usandizaga, who scored all of his team’s goals including the game winner, was named MVP for his efforts. Arlene, owned by John Klopp and played by Julio Ezcurra, was Best Playing Pony. Action continued into August when four teams battled for the 4-goal Constitution Cup. The teams played off over 10 days, determining their placing in the semifinal. Winners moved on to the final, while losers played off for
Hawk Hill’s Phillip MacTaggart, Dylan Rossiter, Agustin Bottaro and Keko Magrini won the Eddie Moore Memorial.
Dylan Rossiter does a balancing act in the final of the Eddie Moore Memorial.
Robirosa, Julio Ezcurra, John Klopp) advanced to the final. In that match, Olivera got the scoring started with a line drive to goal. Ezcurra responded for Smithfield and Robirosa followed with a goal. Bourdieu tied the score early in the second while Smithfield had no luck around the goal, ending the half 2-2. Smithfield’s struggles continued into the second half. It was unable to find the
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MILI MARTINEZ
JOELLE WIGGINS
P O L O
Gardenvale’s Agucho Zavaleta, Jaime Bourdieu, Juanse Olivera and Connor Finemore won the Constitution Cup.
Huntsman finished out its season with its third 16-goal victory, taking the title in the Monty Waterbury Cup at Greenwich Polo Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. Originally scheduled for July 5, the tournament was postponed until July 6, due to rain. Just three chukkers were played before rain postponed the remainder of the game until it resumed on Aug. 22. The first half of the match had White Birch (Chris Brant, Tomas Schwencke, Mariano Aguerre, Joaquin Panelo) taking an early 3-0 lead in the first seven minutes, with all the goals scored from the penalty line. Panelo scored a pair of Penalty 2s to get White Birch on the board, and Aguerre shot through a Penalty 4. Huntsman (Dillon Bacon, Toro Ruiz, Tomas Garcia del Rio, Segundo Merlos) got on the board in the second with a field goal by Bacon before Garcia del Rio split the uprights with a Penalty 4 to cut the gap to one, 3-2. Panelo and Aguerre retaliated, each scoring to put White Birch ahead, 5-2. Garcia del Rio scored the only goal of the third to cut the deficit to two, 5-3. Over six weeks later, the teams resumed the match beginning in the second half. Felipe Tro substituted for Brant on White Birch. Ruiz wasted no time getting Huntsman in the game as
56 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
he sandwiched goals around one from Panelo to bring Huntsman within one, 6-5. Aguerre sunk a Penalty 2 in the fifth but Ruiz answered. Panelo added another to put White Birch ahead, 8-6. The last period was a battle to the end with White Birch hoping to hold on to the lead, while Huntsman fought hard to get out front for the first time. Back-to-back goals by Ruiz leveled the score. White Birch couldn’t reach the goal and with time winding down, Garcia del Rio found the target to give Huntsman the 9-8 advantage. Dillon Bacon was named MVP and Mariano Aguerre’s Machitos Yoko, who he played in the fifth period, was Best Playing Pony. Ruiz led the scoring for
Huntsman with five goals in the second half. Panelo had five goals for White Birch, three in the first half and two in the second half. In preliminary matches, Huntsman lost only one game, falling to White Birch, which went undefeated. Huntsman got the best of Island House (Peter Holowesko, Santino Magrini, Matias Magrini, Lucas Diaz Alberdi), 96, and Postage Stamp Farm (Annabelle Gundlach, Brandon Phillips, Mariano Gonzalez, Marcos Garcia del Rio), 10-8. Aside from Huntsman, White Birch also defeated Postage Stamp Farm, 137, and Island House, 9-7. Postage Stamp had a 11-9 defeat of Island House. JOELLE WIGGINS
HUNTSMAN PREVAILS IN MONTY WATERBURY
Huntsman’s Toro Ruiz, Dillon Bacon, Tomas Garcia del Rio and Segundo Merlos won the Monty Waterbury trophy.
White Birch’s Tomas Schwencke and Huntsman’s Toro Ruiz get their mallets in a twist.
R E P O R T
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS
P O L O
Klentner Ranch’s Jesse Bray, Luke Klentner, Jake Klentner, Elizabeth Humphreys and Jemma Contreras won the Malibu Cup.
PAC I F I C C OA S T
KLENTNER SHINES IN MALIBU CUP Klentner Ranch edged Farmers Merchants Bank, 13-11, in the final of the 8-goal Malibu Cup at Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California, on Aug. 11. The event was the third of four tournaments in the Rincon League. Klentner Ranch (Elizabeth Humphreys/Jemma Contreras, Luke Klentner, Jake Klentner, Jesse Bray) led from the second chukker on, while FMB (Charlie Walker, Joaquin Avendano, Santi Wulff, Leigh Brecheen/Benjamin Avendano) rallied in the last period to make it close. Charlie Walker was subbing for his injured father, Henry Walker. Both teams were rated six goals so they started out even. Joaquin Avendano got FMB off to a great start with a pair of goals blasted through the posts. Bray responded for Klentner with a field goal and a Penalty 3 conversion to level the score. Luke Klentner broke the tie in the opening minutes of the second. Two minutes into the second, Leigh Brecheen suffered an injury, which left her unable to continue. FMB brought in 2-goal Benjamin Avendano, which meant they would have to give Klentner a 2-goal handicap. Bray sunk another
White Hall’s Bill Lane, Facundo Obregon, Francisco Lascombres and Piers Bossom won the Carpinteria Cup.
Penalty 3, putting Klentner ahead 6-2. Joaquin Avendano finished the chukker with a goal to cut the difference to three. Jake Klentner split the uprights in the third, but Walker and Joaquin Avendano responded to come within two, 7-5. Bray scored a Safety, ending the half with Klentner ahead 8-5. FMB came back in the second half with a better game plan and it seemed to work, at least temporarily. The team shut down Klentner while Wulff scored a field goal and sunk a Penalty 4 to come within one, 8-7. Klentner shot back in the fifth with Bray scoring two, including a Penalty 4, and the team received a Penalty 1 to increase the advantage to four. FMB successfully made up the difference in the sixth with three penalty conversions from Wulff and a goal from Benji Avendano, but Jake Klentner and Bray each hit the target to stay ahead for the win. Bray was named MVP and Brecheen’s Figurine, played by Benji Avendano, was Best Playing Pony. Seven teams joined the fun for the last two legs of the Rincon League. In the last, leg, Whitehall downed Why Not to claim the Carpinteria Cup. In what was acclaimed as the best match of the Rincon League this summer, Whitehall and Why Not went head to head for the final cup in the 8goal series. Starting out with forceful offense, Facundo Obregon and Francisco Lascombres tallied five goals
in the first two chukkers, with Bill Lane putting a sixth on the board before the horn. Why Not was defended strongly, with Santi Trotz held to just two goals from the field. Starting the third chukker trailing 6-2, Why Not’s Trotz changed up the game, keeping play short and quick, and drawing the aggressive Whitehall team into fouls. Why Not capitalized on the change in style, putting four penalty shots through the uprights in the next two chukkers, along with a field goal. It defended strongly also, giving up only one field goal, scored by MVP Piers Bossom, through the fourth. But Facundo Obregon didn't give up. In those same two chukkers he scored with an open goal, as well as beautiful shot from 60 yards out on a Safety. Going into the fifth chukker, 9-7, in favor of Whitehall, Trotz came out on Best Playing Pony Centella, an 11-year-old chestnut gelding, who played his heart out for the entire chukker. Trotz orchestrated his team wonderfully, keeping Why Not in the game with a goal by Hanna Grill and a penalty scored by Jim Wright. Whitehall wasn't held to a standstill though. Lascombres made a breakaway to score and kept the lead going into the final chukker, 11-10. A very exciting final chukker ensued with a goal by Trotz to tie the game and another open goal scored by Jim Wright to give Why Not its first lead of the day. Whitehall never
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DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS
P O L O
Restoration Hardware’s Geronimo Obregon, Santi Von Wernich, Ben Soleimani and Iñaki Laprida
gave up, Piers Bossom again making his move into the goal mouth and getting a Penalty 1 in his favor to tie the game and put it into overtime. Short and sweet, an overtime goal was scored by Facundo Obregon to give Whitehall the win. Bossom was named MVP for his last period heroics. In the consolation matches, WIPN defeated Klentner Ranch and FMB defeated STG. Following the final, the Rincon League participants voted on recipients for several awards. Hana Grill took Most Valuable Player of the Season; Santi Trotz took Best String; and Bill Lane was Best Sportsman. It was a great league with no team winning more than one title, although Why Not and Whitehall came close. In 16-goal action, Restoration Hardware maintained a perfect record to win the Maserati of Santa Barbara USPA America Cup over Lucchese, fresh off its Skene Cup victory. Iñaki Laprida weaved his way through a scramble of players atop Best Playing Pony, Rama, in the final period, threading the ball through the posts for RH’s ninth goal of the match. Laprida’s quick ball work and forceful push forward throughout the game made the difference for RH, defeating Lucchese, 10-9, in a final that had players racing until the final bell sounded. Restoration Hardware solidified its place in the final earlier in the week and
58 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
avoided playing a semi-final on Friday. Lucchese edged past Klentner Ranch in the last 10 seconds of its semi-final match on Friday to face Restoration Hardware. Though the score did not take off until the third and fourth chukkers, play was fast and furious. A penalty goal from the 30-yard line by Facundo Obregon and a second by Iñaki Laprida left the score even after the first seven and a half minutes of play. Ben Soleimani scored the first goal from the field in the second chukker, jumping on the line of a perfect pass towards goal and escorting it through, 21. A final penalty goal in the chukker by Laprida gave RH a two-goal advantage over Lucchese, 3-1. The third chukker began with two penalty shots by Laprida for RH and a third by Facundo Obregon for Lucchese. Geronimo Obregon opened the play, picking the ball up at midfield and expertly steering away from his defender to the left of the goal mouth, picking his head up and slicing it through the uprights to put RH’s sixth goal on the board. Carlos “Toly” Ulloa answered back for Lucchese, streaking down the side of field before veering off and running straight through the goal. RH led 6-3 at the halfway mark. Three penalty goals made by Facundo Obregon in the fourth and fifth chukkers kept Lucchese fighting in the final match of the tournament, but they were met by three goals by Laprida and a fourth by Von Wernich. RH held on to the advantage created before the halftime period, leading 8-5 after the fourth and 10-6 after the fifth. After dominating the middle of the game, RH was held scoreless in the final chukker of play, leaving the door open for Lucchese. A goal from the field by Hall and a penalty goal by Facundo Obregon put Lucchese within two goals with a little over a minute and a half remaining. Ulloa pounced on a loose ball and took off towards the Lucchese
goal, walking it through with only 37 seconds remaining in the chukker to bring Lucchese within one goal, 10-9, as the final bell rang. MVP Iñaki Laprida led his team with furor throughout all six chukkers, scoring seven of the team’s 10 goals. Laprida’s stunning grey mare was named Best Playing Pony. “Llama played amazing for me today in the first and fifth chukker. She is a 10year old mare that my father bred. My guys Ivan “El Ruso” Fredes and Manual Vidal do a great job with all of the horses here,” Laprida said. Santi Trotz, a mainstay at the Santa Barbara Polo Club, helped coach the RH team and credits the victory to the players following through with their game strategy of opening up the play and stretching the field. RINCON LEAGUE
Cancha de las Estrellas—Sarah Magness, Joe Henderson, Mariano Fasetta, Mia Bray; Women’s International Polo Network— Cory Williams, Juan Monteverde, Dawn Jones, Luis Echazaretta; Klentner Ranch/ CPC—Jemma Contreras/Elizabeth Humphreys, Luke Klentner, Jake Klentner, Jesse Bray; Whitehall Ranch— Piers Bossom, Francisco Lascombres, Facundo Obregon, Bill Lane; Barrossa— Jef Graham, John Ziegler, Max Menini, Francisco Guinazu; Antelope/Why Not—Hana Grill, Jim Wright, Santiago Trotz, Grant Palmer; FMB—Joaquin Avendano, Henry Walker, Santi Wulff, Leigh Brecheen.
AMERICA CUP
Klentner Ranch--Jesse Bray, Mariano Obregon, Remy Muller, Justin Klentner; Farmers and Merchant Bank--Danny Walker, Lucas Criado, Tomas Alberdi, Matt Walker:Lucchese--Carlos Ulloa, Facundo Obregon, Jeff Hall, John Muse; Restoration Hardware--Ben Soleimani, Santi Von Wernich, Iñaki Laprida, Geronimo Obregon; Sol de Agosto-Francisco de Narvaez, Paco de Narvaez, Adam Snow, Nico Escobar. u
(continued from page 17) and have been legged up for a minimum of three weeks,” she said. Chiropractic care usually boasts immediate results for your horses after adjustments and when horses are rested following the adjustments. Massey recommends giving horses 12 to 24 hours of turnout following treatment to allow the adjustment time to set deeper as riding during this time could potentially disrupt what was adjusted. Massey has the greatest success with her horse patients that are adjusted on a quarterly basis as chiropractic care, when used proactively, will help prevent injuries and enhance performance. For acute cases, weekly adjustments are necessary to enhance the healing process. “The longterm compound effects of
Weekly adjustments may be necessary to enhance the healing process after injury.
Dr. Amanda Massey recommends 12 to 24 hours of turnout after an adjustment for it to set deeper. Riding could potentially disrupt what was adjusted.
wellness adjustments in my patients have shown those animals are less prone to injury because they have better balance and muscular symmetry,” said Massey. Massey strongly advocates chiropractic care for both her human and equine patients as a great preventative technique for maintaining overall health and wellness. It was after sustaining a debilitating back injury while competing for the Texas A&M polo team during her undergraduate education that Massey experienced the miracle of what chiropractic can offer. A local chiropractor was able to get Massey back in the saddle, and within a few weeks competing at the National Intercollegiate Championships. Massey was so motivated by overcoming this milestone in her life that she switched her career path and has since dedicated her life to promoting wellness through chiropractic care. “Chiropractic is just a piece of the puzzle that has been instrumental in maintaining my optimal health and the health of the horses that I treat,” Massey explained. Holistic medicine, incorporating alternative, minimally invasive therapies in combination with conventional western medicine, is not only revolutionizing human healthcare, but also offers the same prosperity available for our equine counterparts. Many are searching for balanced healthcare where doctors are analyzing their entire picture, searching for the cause of an issue and not simply making a bandaid treatment. Oddly enough, we look to the future of healthcare only to discover treatment modalities that have been used successfully for thousands of years. We only limit our horses and their overall welfare if we create boundaries that solely utilize the treatment modalities offered by western medicine. Consider adopting a holistic approach for your horses’ healthcare. With appropriate veterinary guidance, chiropractic and acupuncture can offer incredible opportunities for our equine partners. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 59
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S E P T E M B E R 1 - NOV E M B E R 1 Keleen and Carlton Beal Cup (12-16) Houston, Houston, TX
OCTOBER 4-7 Thoroughbred Makeover Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY
O C T O B E R 1 2 - 14 Last Chance Tournament (0-1, 2-4) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA
SEPTEMBER 9-OCTOBER 7 Pro-Pool League Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA
Can polo have another winner in 2018? Fourteen trainers with 15 prospects will give it a try at this year’s Thoroughbred Makeover. Last year’s winner, Charlie Caldwell, will be hoping for another America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred title, this time with War Chant.
National Sherman Memorial (3-6) Westchester, Portsmouth, RI
S E P T E M B E R 19 - O C T O B E R 6 Masters Cup (3-7) Wagener, Wagener, SC SEPTEMBER 25-OCTOBER 6 Tortugas Open (40) Tortugas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fall Classic Bluewater Creek, Rogersville, AL
S E P T E M B E R 2 8 - O C T O B E R 14 Governors Cup (6) Aiken, Aiken, SC
O C T O B E R 1 - 15 Bronze Trophy (8-12) New Bridge, Aiken, SC O C T O B E R 1 - 31 National Arena Amateur Cup (0-3) Orange County, Coto de Caza, CA
O C T O B E R 13 - 2 0 Arena Sportsmanship Cup Triangle, Hurdle Mills, NC
OCTOBER 6-7 4-Goal Tournament Atlanta, Atlanta, GA USPA Governors Cup New Orleans, Folsom, LA Arena Challenge Cup (0-4) Skull Valley, Skull Valley, AZ
OCTOBER 2-20 National Eight Goal (4-8) Houston, Houston, TX
OCTOBER 7 Pony Up for a Cause Charity Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
OCTOBER 3-7 Governors Cup (0-4) Midland, Midland, TX
O C T O B E R 7 - 13 Aiken Women’s Challenge Aiken, Aiken, SC
Congressional Cup Honolulu, Waimanalo, HI O C T O B E R 4 - 14 Celebrity Ranch Cup (2) San Diego Surf, Del Mar, CA OCTOBER 5-7 Arena Congressional Cup Great Meadow, The Plains, VA O C T O B E R 5 - 21 Officers Cup (6) Aiken, Aiken, SC OCTOBER 6 USPA Paigahs Cup (0-2) Mountain View, Charles Town, WV
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O C T O B E R 1 3 - 14 USPA Amateur Cup (0-3) Seneca, Poolesville, MD Justin Addison Memorial New Orleans, Folsom, LA
S E P T E M B E R 2 6 - O C T O B E R 14 Governors Cup (0-4) Houston, Houston, TX
SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 7 USPA Wickenden Cup Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA
O C T O B E R 13 Polo in the Pines Charity Fundraiser Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
O C T O B E R 7 - 21 H. Ben Taub Memorial (8-12) Houston, Houston, TX O C T O B E R 9 - NOV E M B E R 3 Hurlingham Open (40) Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina O C T O B E R 1 0 - 14 General S. Brown Honolulu, Waimanalo, HI O C T O B E R 10 - 2 7 Constitution Cup (3-6) Wagener, Wagener, SC O C T O B E R 11 - 14 Tackeria Invitational Grand Champions, Wellington, FL
O C T O B E R 14 - 16 George S. Brown Banbury Cross, Middleburg, VA O C T O B E R 15 - N OV E M B E R 1 National Copper Cup (8-12) New Bridge, Aiken, SC O C T O B E R 15 - 2 7 USPA North American Cup (16-20) Grand Champions, Wellington, FL O C T O B E R 17 - 2 8 USPA Players Cup Aiken, Aiken, SC O C T O B E R 1 8 - 21 U.S. Trust Cup Grand Champions, Wellington, FL O C T O B E R 18 - 2 2 USPA Women’s Arena Open (12) Virginia, Charlottesville, VA O C T O B E R 19 - 21 Arena Sportsmanship Cup Farmington, Farmington, CT OCTOBER 20 West Coast Polo College Fair Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA O C T O B E R 2 0 - 21 USPA Women’s Challenge Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
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N O V E M B E R 7 - 11 Family Tournament Aiken, Aiken, SC
N OV E M B E R 13 - 18 USPA PTF Seniors Tournament (0-40 Houston, Houston, TX
NOV E M B E R 8 Polo Clinic Legends Horse Ranch, Kaufman, TX
NOV E M B E R 2 4 The Triple Crown of Polo Grand Champions, Wellington, FL
N O V E M B E R 8 - 11 Polo Gear Challenge Cup Grand Champions, Wellington, FL
N OV E M B E R 15 - 18 Pedro Morrison Memorial Grand Champions, Wellington, FL
N O V E M B E R 9 - 11 Arena Admiral Chester Nimitz Farmington, Farmington, CT
N O V E M B E R 17 - 1 8 USPA Sportsmanship Cup New Orleans, Folsom, LA
Fall Fandango Legends Horse Ranch, Kaufman, TX N O V E M B E R 1 0 - 11 Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships Westworld, Scottsdale, AZ USPA Constitution Cup New Orleans, Folsom, LA N OV E M B E R 10 - D E C E M B E R 15 Argentine Open (40) Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina N O V E M B E R 11 Masters Cup (0-4) Mauna Kea, Kamuela, HI
Teddy Roosevelt Texas Military, Poteet, TX N OV E M B E R 18 Women’s Challenge (1-4) Mauna Kea, Kamuela, HI NOV E M B E R 2 4 - 2 5 Thanksgiving Cup New Orleans, Folsom, LA NOV E M B E R 2 4 Legends of Polo Gracida Memorial The International Cup Grand Champions, Wellington, FL NOV E M B E R 2 5 Sportsmanship Cup Mauna Kea, Kameula, HI
OCTOBER 27-28 USPA Congressional Cup New Orleans, Folsom, LA NOV E M B E R 1 - 4 USPA Fall Plates Grand Champions, Wellington, FL NOV E M B E R 3 - 4 Fall Tournament Mountain View, Charles Town, WV USPA Women’s Challenge (5-10) New Orleans, Folsom, LA N O V E M B E R 3 - 17 USPA National Twenty Goal (16-20) Grand Champions, Wellington, FL NOV E M B E R 4 Women’s Charity Polo Tournament New Orleans, Folsom, LA N O V E M B E R 6 - 11 U.S. Open Women’s Championship (20) U.S. Open Women’s Handicap (0) Houston, Houston, TX
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 61
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ALL IN A DAY’S WORK Grooms put in 17-hour work day for one-hour polo match
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hen you watch the fast play of an afternoon’s game, little do you realize the long, hard grind the ponies and grooms go through in preparation for the big event. From early morning until late at night the important business of handling the mounts goes on. This enlightening set of pictures, made in 1938 especially for “The Sportsman” with the cooperation of Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney and his polo stable (he played back on the Old Westbury team in the Open Championship and Waterbury Cup tournaments that year), best tells the behind-the-scenes story of the daily work and care the ponies and men experienced to keep a player well-mounted.
5:30 a.m. On the big day after breakfast, the ponies have a half hour’s exercise, are cooled off and straightened out for a noon feed four hours before they are scheduled to go into action. 1:30 pm. Loading up equipment—mallets, blankets, bandages, medicine, helmets, whips, knee pads, gloves and many other things. Each pony in the string has his own type bridle and bit.
8 a.m. The head groom gives out the pony list to the other grooms, noting which mounts will play and during which periods. For 12 mounts there are six grooms and one tack man.
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2 p.m. Off to the field. Garbed in new blankets, halters and lead ropes, six ponies are shipped to the field in a van.
3 p.m. On the picket line at the field, the groom tests the bridle, bit and martingale of each pony.
3:45 pm. Saddles up. The final step in fitting out the string not long before the whistle will blow.
3:15 p.m. Here’s a necessary bit of precaution to protect against strains and hard knocks—the mounts’ legs are wrapped.
3:50 The final powwow. Mr. Whitney checking up with his head groom as to the order in which the ponies are to play.
3:30 pm. Tails are braided and tied up to prevent the possibility of a mallet getting tangled up. The next picture shows everything ready for the boss to come.
4:15 During the game. At each end of the field, a groom is stationed with a spare pony and mallet in case the player needs them quickly.
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4:30 After a pounding period, the pony is washed down and given a liniment bath.
9:30 p.m. Almost four hours after the game, the tack man is still washing and polishing up the last saddle.
5:30 pm. After the game is over and the ponies have been cooled off, they are led to the van and shipped back to the stable.
10 p.m. Cooled out, dressed, bandaged and fed with a hearty supper, the mount is put to bed in his roomy box stall.
10:30 And so to bed! After a long and exciting day of polo and responsibility, the groom is glad to undress and hit the hay. 9 p.m. Repairing the damage. The real test of a groom is keeping the pony on four legs. This man is doctoring a bad cut received during the game.
64 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
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