P O L O D E V E L O P M E N T, L L C
Elise Pardue Young talent on the West Coast By Hayley Heatley • Photos by Kerri Kerley
Elise Pardue is a regular on the USPA interscholastic circuit in California.
Palm tree-lined fields and expansive mountain views provide a picturesque backdrop for the winter polo season in Indio, California. Players young and old, new and seasoned call the desert their winter home, playing polo for four busy months. The sheer number of fields in the area allows for players of all levels to ride, train and compete on pristine fields. Desert native, Elise Pardue, is only 15 years old and already making a name for herself in both the junior polo programs and competitive tournament play. Pardue was introduced to the sport by her father at the age of 3, but at that time did not share his passion for the sport. 24 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
“I told everyone my favorite part of the game was getting off the horse,” she said. After a quick hiatus from the age of 6 to 9, she eventually found herself back in the saddle and quickly grew to love polo. As a high school student, Pardue found herself limited to after-school hours for riding. When the pandemic hit and her school transitioned online last spring, she eagerly took the opportunity to log more hours at the barn with her horses and improve her game. Her favorite mare, Rosy, has been a mainstay in her string for many years. “Rosy is an insanely handy mare and really gels with my playing style,” she said.
