Barrel O’ Fun by C. Maybe Ortiz

Barrel O’ Fun

Players cowboy up for support group

Photos and words by C. Maybe Ortiz

Using her smooth riding skills and natural desire to compete, Hope Arellano was able to bring organizer Chase Butler’s Poker Face home to victory. All the top riders were separated by milliseconds.

Much hooting and hollering was heard over on Big Tree Road outside of Aiken, South Carolina, on Saturday night, Oct. 17. The polo community gathered to encourage their favorite players as they put their handiest horses to a standard barrel racing course with an electronic timer.

Chase Butler of St. Louis has been entering teams in Aiken polo tournaments for a couple of years. He partnered with La Bourgogne team sponsor David Meunier, spiritual leader of the recently opened Aiken restaurant La Parisienne, and Tim Zekany, cancer survivor and owner of Big Tree polo farm and arena, to stage a casual night of friendly competition and outdoor dining, all for the benefit of Polo Players Support Group.

Despite their packed schedules, a sufficient number of pros found a way to show up on a Saturday evening with one horse and the saddle of their choice. They figured they could handle three turns, a lead change and a run for home. However, even Pelon Escapite, who has lent his mighty stick to just about every tournament in town with the

exception of the NYTS, was The footing was an obvious challenged to remember the concern for event organizers. pattern. Others, including Originally the fundraiser had well-traveled racers, suffered been planned for the very the misfortune of a downed visible arena at New Bridge barrel in one or more of their Polo Club, which has been the two tries. excellent home of Tiger

The guys knew it was going Polo Players Support Group is a Kneece’s Aiken Youth Polo to be a rough night. They 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and the University of South rightfully feared the experienced performances of the 100-pound (each) Leitner that provides financial assistance to seriously injured or ill members of the polo community. To make a donation to this worCarolina Aiken intercollegiate squad. About a week before the event it was decided that twins (profiled in the June thy cause, go to polosupport.com the footing there would not 2020 issue of POLO Players’ and click the Donate tab at the top soften enough for barrel Edition). Then there were of the page. racing and the location was numerous cowgirls, including easily switched to Tim Sydney Jordan and Belinda Zekany’s lighted space Brody, waiting in the wings. Jewel Gregoncza seemed designed for roping and other Western activities. The just too pretty to ride and play as well as she does. 60-acre Big Tree Farm, which includes a full-sized

But Aiken players have learned to never discount polo field, 15-stall barn with apartment, and plenty Hope Arellano. Due to the frequency of her of turn-out, is on the market but Zekany commented, appearances in 4- to 8-goal tournaments, plus the “If I still have the farm next year, I’ll be happy to Women’s Challenge preceded by the NYTS event, host this event again.” Hope’s string was brushed with a bit of the soreness Most polo players get in line and stop jostling bug. Chase Butler simply said, “Will you ride if I give when asked to participate in a Polo Players Support you a horse?” Hope and Poker Face, a nice bald-faced chestnut recently purchased from Peter von Gontard, warmed up calmly enough, but when the chips were on the table, Hope brought the mare past the laser a half a second ahead for the win.

Jewel and Ben Gregoncza then took second and fourth, both in Western saddles. A well-liked farrier and polo player, Ben elicited vocal support from the crowd but just missed the top three. Reagan Leitner buzzed around on her palomino paint Shorty for third while her sister Robyn and Kachina followed Ben’s time.

Not all of the pairs were veterans of the arena. Some of the riders entered their horses just to see if they would do it, only to find that they wouldn’t. Even a stationary barrel can look scary under the lights.

Two parent/child teams joined in the “Cowboy Up!” fun. Molly Smith, a talented 1-goal graduate of interscholastic competition, and her husband Jesus Ontiveros, an effective 2-goal player and trainer, have four active sons under the age of 10. Nine-year-old Alejandro Ontiveros smoothly outran some of the adults. In her boots, Molly trotted in the deep sand ahead of 4-year-old Frankie, who grinned the entire trip. Thadeus Nuttry, son of Southern Equine’s Dr. Jennifer Reda, was pulled around the arena by his dedicated father James Nanney.

Organizer Chase Butler and arena owner Tim Zekany

Group benefit. Stan Thaemert claims he had fun zooming the tractor around the barrels in an attempt to level the playing field. Rob Yackley increased the level of excitement as he announced from the band’s low-boy trailer. Chase Butler’s friends Rose and Bill Cook came down from Franklin, Tennessee, to assist with the details, and their son A.J. took the opportunity to travel from his base at Fort Benning, Georgia, to help out.

Chase set up a system for predicting the winner—money could be placed on one or more of the competitors with the pot split 60/30/10% to the

Molly Smith Ontiveros, polo player and tireless mother of four vigorous boys, shared the joy with 4-yearold Frankie.

Polo player and favored farrier Ben Gregoncza received encouragement from the crowd in his fourth-place finish.

This was not Jewel Gregoncza’s first rodeo. She swept second place on the well-trained Bumble from the Gregoncza’s string.

top three places. Most of these winnings were donated back to PPSG.

The live band Third Time Charmers energized the crowd and Tito Gorosito and Gaston Rodrigues tended the fire for a polo-style barbecue pulled off with the help of David Meunier and his restaurant crew. The general admission tickets were priced at only $10 (possibly more next year?) and over 130 of those were sold. Chase was pleased to donate more than $3,000 to PPSG and recommends this format as an entertaining fundraiser for both players and fans. •

Frankie Questel put his Elena, a Thoroughbred mare, through the paces.

Some players were challenged to remember the pattern, while others, including Del Walton, suffered the misfortune of a downed barrel.

Reagan Leitner took third on Shorty while her twin sister Robyn was not far behind on her paint mare Kachina.