S E P T E M B E R 2 01 7
Novillo Astrada to lead Argentine Polo Association
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CONTENTS S E P T E M B E R 201 7
VO L . 21 ,
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
28 Mr. President by Ernesto Rodriguez
6
High-goal player takes on new role
32 The Great Indoors by Gwen Rizzo and Sharon Robb
Association News
USPA Bulletin Club Spotlight
14 Instructors Forum
NYC Polo, Flexjet top U.S. Arena events
by Tom Goodspeed
36 Tack Attack by Gwen Rizzo
16 Usefuls
Take care of your leather for longer life S E P T E M B E R 2 01 7
Novillo Astrada to lead Argentine Polo Association
NO. 1
OUR COVER Former 10 goaler (now 8) Eduardo Novillo Astrada was elected president of the Argentine Polo Association Photo by: Sergio Llamera
with Dr. James Spencer Equine Athlete by Heather Smith Thomas Polo Scene News, notes, trends & quotes
18 20 24 26 40
Team USPA Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Polo in the Pampas
42 60 61 62
Polo around the Globe Calendar Marketplace Yesteryears
by Ernesto Rodriguez
46 Polo Report Windmill Triumphs in Max Berger Cup
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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
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©Copyright 2017 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 ©2016 and are reprinted by permission of Paul Brown Studios, Inc., P.O. Box 925, Hedgesville, WV 25427. Subscription rates: $48/one year, $82/two years. Other countries (air mail), $81 drawn on U.S. bank/one year, $148 drawn on U.S. bank/two years. (GST:134989508). Subscription problems call (561) 968-5208. VOL. 21, No.1 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
From CEO Duncan Huyler While the USPA is fortunate have a substantial financial base, courtesy of the efforts of our Global Licensing arm, perhaps our greatest asset is the hundreds of member clubs across the country provided by passionate professionals, volunteers and philanthropists—whether on protected land, public parks or private farms. Without them, none of our goals would be obtainable nor would the sport be sustainable. The vast majority of the USPA membership is rated at 2 goals or below, or is not rated. According to our member survey, over half of our members play at the 4-goal level and below. While many refer to this as the “grass roots” of polo it may be more accurate to use the phrase “the heart of polo.” It is at these clubs where youth mix with senior players, men compete with and against women, and pros and amateurs all take the field to enjoy and continue one of the oldest sports in this country. In July, the Seattle Polo Club in Enumclaw, Washington, hosted the Pacific Northwest Circuit Governors Cup. The tournament consisted of 13 teams across four levels, all 6-goals and below. Nearly 50 players, 150 horses and passionate spectators made for an incredible weekend, the heart of polo, all with Mount Ranier serving as a backdrop. A special tribute was held in memory of Rob Petersen, who served as Pacific Northwest Circuit Governor, as well as being a mentor to polo in the area for decades. New Circuit Governor Sheryl Sick orchestrated the weekend at the club that only a few years ago was a dream of owner Cameron Smith and his generous parents, Ben and Ruthanne. Additionally, Kathryn Richert-Boe, a semi-retired oncologist, is revitalizing polo in the Portland, Oregon, area with the help of the Alcott family with her recent acquisition of a farm near the Rose City. Recently, the Lancaster Polo Club in Lititz, Pennsylvania, that was founded in 1940, celebrated the 35 years of volunteer service that Robbie Zekany has given to the club. Thousands of attendees recognized Robbie’s efforts with a postgame ceremony at the historic Forney Field. This wonderful story was shared by the USPA on our website, email communication and
The XI FIP World Polo Championship is set to take place Oct. 17-30 at the Sydney Polo Club in Richmond, New South Wales, Australia. Eight international teams will compete to be crowned World Champion. Following the FIP Zone A Playoff in April 2017, USA qualified to compete in the World Championship. Joining the USA will be Argentina, Australia, Chile, 6 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
social media. Robbie is now recognized at the Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame in Lake Worth, Florida, with a Spirit of Polo Brick. Giant Valley Polo Club in Hamden, Connecticut, has provided a beautiful polo venue to players and fans for generations. Butch Butterworth and his son, Oliver, continue a family tradition at his picturesque private farm in the heart of New England. Country Farms Polo Club in Medford, New York, hosted the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship in July. Bobby Ceperano created a brilliant atmosphere for our most important arena tournament at his farm. Bobby provides summer polo at historic Meadowbrook and Bethpage fields on Long Island and arena polo throughout the year. Southampton Polo club in Water Mill, New York, counts 65 member players and hundreds of horses all tucked in the east end of Long Island in New York. For decades Frank McNamara and his club has offered an accessible venue for experienced polo players as well as introducing countless newcomers to the sport. Next year, the Tinicum Park Polo Club in Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania, will celebrate its 25th year. Hesham El-Gharby and a group of dedicated individuals utilize a field in the middle of a local public park and the club now boasts 40 members playing four days a week from May to October. The positive influence the USPA youth programs, including middle school, NYTS and I/I, have had on all of these clubs is incredible. The appreciation of the many other USPA programs, including Umpires LLC, clinics and member support at our member clubs, is evident as well. The USPA is fortunate to have these clubs across the country to introduce polo to new players and fans and to carry on a 127year-old tradition.
England, India, New Zealand and Spain. A special thank you to the Federation of International Polo for the following information:
Tournament History FIP founders Marcos Uranga and Glen Holden saw it was vital to establish an international championship because they knew the best way for a sport to
grow was through international activities. The creation of a World Polo Championship—of which there have been 10 so far—has been the most important of the federation’s keys to success in publicizing the game and creating greater public awareness. To have the largest possible number of countries participating, the early FIP organizers decided to limit competition
within a five-mile radius. The property is owned and operated by the Higgins family, which shares a dedicated familyorientated passion for the land, the environment and the local community.
About the Tournament To compete for World Championship status, the tournament will consist of 14 matches, played over a six-day period. Day One: Saturday, Oct. 21 Day Two: Sunday, Oct. 22 Day Three: Tuesday, Oct. 24 Day Four: Wednesday, Oct. 25 Day Five: Saturday, Oct. 28 Day Six: Sunday, Oct. 29 (Final)
to teams rated 10 to 14 goals. The thenrevolutionary idea of split strings of ponies was also devised to mitigate quarantine and shipping issues. This method assigns matched strings of ponies to each team. The host of the World Polo Championship changes each time it is played. The host country is agreed on in advance to ensure a 14-goal handicap international tournament. Additionally, the countries looking to host must go through a bid process.
Of the eight teams set to compete, Chile and Australia automatically secured their places in the competition—Chile as the reigning World Champion (it won the X FIP World Polo Championship in 2015), and Australia as the host nation. A ‘festival’ activation will be implemented, adjacent to the premier polo field with unique dining offerings and family-oriented experiences, to attract spectators and increase media attention. These attractions include: a family-friendly equine and entertainment festival, show jumping, jousting, pony club, vaulting, dressage, delicious food and beverage, art exhibitions and an Australian animal nursery.
About Sydney Polo Club The Sydney Polo Club is one of Australia’s first polo clubs, dating back to 1870. Located in the historic town of Richmond, New South Wales, it is only 41 miles (one hour’s drive) from the Sydney Central Business District and major airport. Home to five world-class polo fields, the club sits on over 450 acres of prime agriculture land. The club’s equestrian center provides exceptional facilities, which cover all aspects of equine sports and therapy. The strategic location offers 16 polo grounds nearby and nine polo clubs
USA Team Roster The United States Polo Association has selected a team of highly-qualified players to represent the USA. Players confirmed to train and go to Australia are Felipe Viana (5), Jesse Bray (5), Herndon Radcliff (3), Jim Wright (2) and Daniel “Cacho” Galindo (2). Additional players will be considered for the final roster. Joel Baker, who guided the USA team to a second place finish in the 2015 X FIP World Polo Championship, will join the team as the official USA coach.
USA Team Training Beginning Oct. 1, Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida, will host training for the USA team to prepare for its journey to the XI FIP World Polo Championship. The USPA would like to thank Marc and Melissa Ganzi for the generous use of their facilities for USA’s World Polo Championship preparations. The United States Polo Association aims to extensively cover the XI FIP World Polo Championship in Sydney. Check out uspolo.org for up-to-date tournament information and follow the USPA on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) to be a part of the experience!
Published by the United States Polo Association Offices at 9011 Lake Worth Rd. Lake Worth, Florida 33467 (800) 232-USPA
Chairman: Joe Meyer President: Chip Campbell Secretary: Tom Gose Treasurer: Sam Ramirez Chief Executive Officer: Duncan Huyler
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 7
ELIZABETH HEDLEY
Team USPA Team USPA players have been actively helping teach and coach across the country at summer clubs. From junior polo to adult clinics, these talented young players are eager to share their knowledge with others. Several players have donned the striped shirts to obtain their umpire certification or improve their certification level.
Participants in Seneca Polo Club’s three-day youth camp
NYTS
Eastern Circuit Summer polo is thriving on the East Coast. Recently, officials from USPA’s Club Development took the opportunity to visit a
few clubs in the Eastern Circuit and couldn’t have been more impressed with the amount of grass and arena polo played at the low- to medium-goal level. From an introductory clinic and a women’s tournament at Brandywine Polo Club in Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, to a three-day youth camp called YAST at Seneca Polo Club and an NYTS tournament at Congressional Polo Club, both in Poolesville, Maryland, and a 12-chukker practice at Maryland
All Seneca Polo Club’s youth camps end with a scrimmage.
Polo Club in Timonium, Maryland, polo is booming everywhere you turn in the Eastern part of the United States. For more information on Club Development, contact Justin Powers by email at jpowers@uspolo.org.
I/I Season
ELIZABETH HEDLEY
The NYTS qualifying season has come to an end. Over 390 players participated at one or more of the 37 qualifier tournaments. Thank you to all of the clubs and players who helped make this season a success. The NYTS National Championship will be played over Labor Day weekend at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California. The NYTS Invitational East versus West Challenge will also make its debut.
Beginning Sept. 1, all I/I teams must have a coach that meets the I/I coaching requirements. In addition, the I/I will be utilizing the 2017 USPA Arena Rules Optional Tournament Conditions for the 2017-2018 I/I Season, including Middle School.
Award Winners Congratulations to the following players who have been awarded the USPA Intercollegiate Scholarship for Polo: Jacob Klentner (Central Coast/Santa Barbara & Southern Methodist University), Demitra Hajimihalis (Garrison Forest & University of Virginia), Anders Carlton (Gardnertown & UCONN), Ashley Dillard (Culver & Texas A&M), Emma Glynn (Yale IS & Texas A&M), Reanna Magill (Oakdale & Colorado State University), and Mia Sweeney (Central Coast & University of Virginia).
8 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Without officials It’s just recess. USPA Umpires, LLC To date, our professional umpires have officiated over 1,800 ames, at over 80 clubs includ 9 international clubs. For more information r rdin professional umpir either Charles Muldoon: cmuldoon@uspolo.or or For information r
at your club. Please contact Mitchell: mmitchell@uspolo.or
ardin umpire clinics, please contact Steve Lane: slane@uspolo.or
Meet Newport Polo Club Newport, Rhode Island Newport, Rhode Island, is a fascinating New England seaside town with a rich history dating back to the colonial era. The city is home to stunning architecture, a vibrant waterfront downtown and one of the oldest polo clubs in the United States. The Westchester Polo Club (managed by Newport Polo Club), formed in 1876 by James Gordon Bennett, has a lustrous past full of summer polo retreats and international rivalries, including the famous Westchester Cup between England and the United States. The club became popular throughout the early 1900s among wealthy East Coast families. With the onset of World War I however, the club and surrounding economy suffered, marking an end to the popular summer polo destination for several years. Although the club was shut down for several decades, the love of the Fans line up to high-five the players after the match, something a Spanish team started many years ago.
10 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
sport was not forgotten. In 1990, the club was reborn. Thanks to husband and wife duo Dan and Agnes Keating, in the 27 years since its rebirth, the club has
developed well beyond its original purpose as a playground for the affluent. Newport Polo welcomes and hosts thousands of spectators, players and international neighbors and is once again considered one of the most popular summer polo destinations on the East Coast. Newport Polo has a small core staff led by president and founder Dan Keating who manages and serves as Westchester Polo Club delegate, and also serves as the resident USPA Certified Polo Instructor, teaching lessons and playing. Before becoming involved in polo, Dan Keating competed at the Olympic level in luge. He loved the goodwill and comradery of international competition and came up with the idea for the Newport International Polo Series in 1992. The highlight of the Newport season, 2017 will mark the 26th consecutive year
The club displays flags from every country that has visited.
of the series. “The international teams are the highlight of our enterprise,” said Agnes affectionately. “It is remarkable that a team would travel from so far away to play polo. We embrace the whole spirit of it. We play the visiting country’s anthem and music and organize some of their food to serve after the event and try to make a cultural festival atmosphere around it.” Newport has flags from every country that has visited on one side of the field that gives the area a multi cultural flair. Last year, Morocco made its first appearance, and this year, Peru will make its debut as the 33rd country participating in the series since its inception. “That is one of the unique things about our sport,” said Agnes. “It is played around the world and so this series is a great way to communicate the message about how widespread and globally significant the sport is.” It is the immense and loyal fan base at Newport Polo that rivals many other clubs in the United States. Several thousand people visit a typical Saturday game during the summer. Gates open four hours before the game even begins.
According to Agnes, “People will come and play on the field and bring games, balls and kites and just hang out. We have reserved tailgate spaces and people put a lot of effort into setting up special furniture and picnics. Every week, we do a tailgate contest and spectators will decorate their tailgate to correspond with the international team.” Another unique feature at Newport Polo is the pony parade at the beginning of many games throughout the season. The grooms and players from the featured match will bring their entire string out on the field and walk them around for everyone to see. A Newport Polo tradition, at the end of every match the crowd rushes to the boards to hold out their hands, players then ride around and high-five spectators. “A Spanish team many years ago did that, they circled the field and waved and expressed their gratitude to the audience,” explained Agnes. “Ever since then, people stand and wait before the game even ends to get a chance to interact with the players and horses.” Today, the club consists of several locations and offers a variety of polo
playing opportunities for every type of player. According to Agnes Keating, “We manage three different properties just a couple of miles apart and there are plans for a fourth property this season. Each location has one or more grass fields and one has a regulation-size arena. We rotate the use of the fields so that they are always fresh and have time to recover.” The summer grass season runs from May through September and is flanked by spring and fall arena seasons, making for a nine to 10 month yearly playing schedule. The offseason is not completely devoid of polo however, as polo on the beach takes center stage at the Newport Winter Festival. Held each February, the club uses the festival as a platform to introduce newcomers to the sport with fun exhibition matches. Newport has been consistently expanding its arena polo program each year and is now getting more participants than ever before. The arena began with lessons, then it grew to incorporate intercollegiate and interscholastic players and now hosts practice chukkers for members. “Players in the region looking for fun POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 11
on the weekends will sometimes drift in and participate,” said Agnes. “I think that is something that is unique about our club, we are very open to people coming and visiting us and participating in grass or arena chukkers as guests. We do not charge anything to participate, just the horse leasing fee. There can be someone from another country or from another club who might be around for a week and they join our ranks and participate—that makes it fun for our members too. We try to make our arena program better each year so people can extend their playing season and not be limited to just playing five months out of the year.” The club was recently in the national spotlight as home to 2017 National Men’s Intercollegiate Champions Roger Williams University. “We are so proud of them; they are such a tight group of buddies from such different backgrounds. It has been really great to see them come together as a team,” said Agnes. “It has also been great for our club to have a team we have seen improve each week make it so far in a national competition. It has drawn media attention to the sport and been great for everyone.” Newport hosts home games and practices for the champion team and the players regularly play at Newport Polo. Roger Williams University coach Ted Torrey teaches regular lessons at the club as well. Dan and Agnes’ daughter Minnie Keating is also an instructor along with John Wigdahl. Agnes said, “Horsemanship is taught along with drills. They are always learning something new, but it always ends with a scrimmage. That’s what makes it fun and keeps people wanting to come back for more.” Devoted to its members, Newport Polo hosts year-end awards that celebrate best sportsman and most improved, as well as best groom to highlight the hard workers behind the scenes. “We send out the roster of all of the players to each of the members with voting instructions. We usually get a 100 percent response rate! The players win a perpetual award their name gets engraved on and we have a fun awards party at the end of each year,” said Agnes. 12 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Newport has a loyal fan base of several thousand people for a typical match.
Charitable initiatives are taken seriously at Newport Polo. For the 2017 season, Newport Polo will also host two charity days. “Instead of one match for a single charity, we designate the day as
Whe you get to play are a i the pri g a d get your hor e ready, you e d up e joyi g the ummer ea o that much more. g e Keati g charity day and invite as many charities as are willing to participate,” Agnes said. “Each charity can then take advantage of a larger audience if they want to keep fundraising with a silent auction or get their message out to more people. It is a really harmonious experience and a successful way of giving back to the community.” Last spring, Newport Polo was approached by a team of
documentarians who wanted to showcase the unique sport of polo by highlighting the international series. The team filmed on location at the club throughout the summer and recently released the documentary titled “Sacred Ground.” A premier screening was hosted in February at Newport’s main art house movie theatre and the documentary aired on television several times. A great opportunity to showcase the sport to a larger audience, the club and staff enjoyed sharing their experiences at Newport Polo for many to see. With so much happening at Newport Polo each year, one may wonder how they get so many people interested in the sport of polo. “I think all of our components working together is what works for us,” said Agnes. “You have to bombard people with your message in order for them to take action. We bring polo to people in so many ways. I think the more times you can make an impression on someone and make them aware of polo, eventually your message sinks in and draws them to the sport.” Newport Polo is an excellent example of hard work and unity—not only among the staff, but the players near and abroad who revel in polo’s history of comradery. To learn more about Newport Polo Club, please visit its website at nptpolo.com and follow it on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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HORSE ORDER How to decide which horses play what chukker
14 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
SHELLEY HEATLEY
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hen it comes to developing a strategic order for you to play your horses, there are a significant number of variables to consider, including level of play, competitive approach, your ability, your team’s ability, financial resources, length of season as well as limitations including quantity, quality, age and conditioning of your horses. There is such a wide spectrum of people playing polo, from the one- or two-horse owners with horses in the backyard that get trailered to the field for a few chukkers each week all the way up to competitors in the Argentine Open at Palermo in November where each player can have up to a dozen horses (and the talented labor to support those horses) at the field and plenty more back at the stables and in turnout. If you have two horses and are just playing some recreational chukkers a couple of times each week, deciding how to line up your horses is pretty darn simple: Horse A plays first and third and Horse B plays second and fourth or the other way around. Your two biggest fears at that level are lameness and overtimes. If polo is all about having fun and less about winning, horse lineups are not a factor. At the opposite end of the spectrum, higher-goal polo involves dozens of horses and annual rotations of entire strings around the globe. One analogy I draw on to explain the wide spectrum of our sport is sailing—you can rent a windsurfer on the beach or have a world cup team and boat traveling around the world and there are many options in-between. In higher levels of play, players will warm up on their stick-and-ball horses, then change onto horses for the pregame parade of teams and national anthem and
then go off and change onto their first chukker horses. They also tend to switch horses every few minutes or after a couple of runs, rather than playing horses a full chukker. How you play your horses can be an important aspect of team play. If you have more than two horses, here are some things to consider to determine what order your horses should be played. One of the most important aspects of successful team play is in the strategy of how you line up your own horses, how you line up your horses along with your teammates and how your opponents are lining up theirs. The higher-level pros come to know their opponents’ horses as well as their own, especially the top performers. They may see an opponent running over to change onto their best horse, which may mandate a change for their team as well. At the lower handicapped pro-am levels, teams that spend some time comparing notes with teammates before each game as to how each will be playing his horses over the number of chukkers being played are
going to have a stronger strategy than those teams that do not. A fair number of players’ horse strings consist of a couple of challenging ponies, a few steady ones and the favorites we all want to play the entire time. Team meetings, including discussions about horse order, are standard practice at the high-goal level. If you compare notes with your teammates, be careful not to all come out weak in the same chukker, unless of course that is your team’s strategy. For example, a team may try to all get their weaker horses in the second chukker and take more of a defensive strategy on their opponents. I’m not saying it is a good strategy, just one of the many options. There is a strategy to all starting out strong with good horses but that can backfire if the opponents come out on top at the end of that chukker. Another strategy is to balance out the team so if one teammate is going to be on some challenging horses, his teammates will play their better horses in those chukkers. Or if a player is on a slower, handy horse, his teammates may come
out on faster horses that chukker. If you are asked to cover a player that is better mounted than you, it isn’t very practical unless you are far more experienced and your anticipation will balance out the horse mis-match. You don’t want to be needlessly running your horses around the field, trying to keep up with someone you will likely never be able to keep up with. If you are not having organized team meetings before the game about horse order, then the only order that matters is what works best for you. A lot of players like to start with a steady horse in the first chukker as the first chukker is often when players are all getting into their groove. Most players want to finish strong with their better horses in the final chukkers, but if the game is close always be prepared which horse you will play in the event of overtime, if the host tournament committee has decided not to use a shootout to break a tie. Many horses are fairly consistent from one game to another whereas others can change from one day to the next. Also, take into consideration the type of player you are. Are you driven to win at all costs or are you purely out on the field to have fun? Your mindset will have a direct influence on your decisions with your strategy in how you play your horses. If you are a win-at-all-costs type of player, you likely will need at least one horse for each chukker and a spare or two on the sidelines at all times. If you are more of a recreational player, not interested in winning, only on having a good time, you are less likely to be pushing your horses very hard and they may be able to play two chukkers without any issues. When practicing, you may play a horse first if it tends to get nervous standing at the trailer when it is not played right away, or you may play one early if you expect to play the horse back in another chukker later in the practice. You may also play a better horse early in case of a close game, leaving you the option to play it back later in the game. If the game is not close, with
your team either far ahead or behind, you may elect to save the horse and play another one instead. The idea is not to overuse your best horses. If you are limited to just a few horses, you have to be very disciplined with how often you play them. That may mean missing some games if it allows you to maintain those horses better. However tempting it is, pushing your favorite horses too hard and too often is the formula for losing the use of those ponies due to lameness for the season or longer. And if you avoid playing the ones that aren’t your favorite, it will not help them to get any better or you to feel more comfortable on them. If you are just not comfortable playing a particular horse, find it a new home and replace it with something you are more comfortable playing. Generally, properly conditioned horses are OK for a couple of chukkers, but it is far more preferable to not double horses on a regular basis. Some players decide to never double their horses. It is far better to be in a position to have a fresh horse for every chukker and a few extras still at the tie lines, but realistically, not everyone is in the financial position to be able to do so. I learned a valuable lesson earlier in my career when I walked off the field with a $600 bronze in one hand and the reins of my best horse as it limped along in my other hand. I won a pretty incredible trophy that day, but my horse’s injury was a big loss. Finding those ‘best’ horses is not easy so take care of those you have. Sometimes players get too competitive when making horse decisions in the heat of battle. Ultimately, let good horse management be the deciding factor when determining if a horse can be doubled back or not. Your strategy should be constructed with the input of a professional such as veterinarians, stable managers, farriers, and professional players. There are so many variables with the horses as to ability, conditioning, physical limitations, etc. and all need to be considered when developing the best program. The welfare of the ponies
obviously tops the list when developing your strategies. If you do have to double horses, never play them in consecutive chukkers. Lets say you have six horses. Two good, two solid and two questionable. Of your good horses, you could play one horse the first and fifth chukkers and the other horse the second and last chukkers. The other two solid horses can be played one chukker each in either the third and fourth chukkers. They would be available for overtime chukkers. Your two questionable horses can be used as spares on the sidelines for you to change onto if your team was going really well in a chukker. Or maybe later in the game, if you are losing badly, it would also be a good time to use a spare horse and give your better horses time to rest. You may have a horse or two that is limited to only one chukker due to such things as a lameness issue or age and obviously that will play into your strategy. During the summer, take the heat into consideration as well. In hot weather, it is better not to double horses or even work them too hard in the one chukker you are playing them. Despite your pregame plans, never play a horse a second chukker when it has not fully recovered from playing the first chukker. If it is still breathing heavily, choose a different horse. The same thing goes for a horse that comes up sore or is limping, even if it is very subtle. You might turn a minor issue into a big one. In the arena, you might play your best horse in the first and the fourth chukkers. The second chukker horse may be your overtime spare. The third chukker may be a good horse but limited to one chukker. In any event, I wish you wonderful polo no matter how many ponies you have. Tom Goodspeed is a renowned polo instructor, coach and horse trainer. He achieved a 5-goal handicap outdoors and 9 in the arena. He can be reached at polotom@usapolo.com.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 15
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Training and rehabilitation of the elite polo athlete
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polo player is an athlete and thus should train like one. According to a study of players in the United Kingdom by C.M. Inness and K.L. Morgan published in “Sports Medicine—Open,” 58 percent of polo players considered preseason exercise to be very important, however, over half of the players admitted their exercise intensity to be less than the recommended adult level of moderate exercise for 30 minutes or more five times per week. Living and working in the heart of the world’s largest equestrian venue has allowed me the opportunity to observe and train enough players to appreciate how often they neglect to treat themselves like true athletes. Day after day, players’ horses are being exposed to various modalities intended for tissue repair and healing while spending little, if any, time or effort on recovery and repair on their own injuries. If players are to improve their health, performance and longevity of their careers, this discrepancy must be addressed. As a polo athlete, expose yourself to the new wave of cutting-edge research established on foundational movement and training principles. Improving player movement and awareness helps create a better connection and working relationship with your horses. For this reason, my team and I have developed the specific Polo Athlete Movement Screen to provide a baseline of movement to show objective change. Polo Athlete Movement Screen Functional Movement Screen Created by physical therapist Gray Cook, the Functional Movement Systems is the modern day standard among most 16 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
individual athletes and professional sports teams. It is a consistent and reliable baseline for movement data collection. As Charlie Weingroff, head strength and conditioning coach for Team Canada Basketball, would say, the FMS is used to assess if the body’s joints can get in the right position to absorb and adapt to stress. If the joints cannot, the athlete is unable to progress his rehab or training program in a safe manner. This is why we use the FMS as a staple screening tool to identify limitations and asymmetries in our athletes. The screen utilizes seven fundamental movement patterns that are key to functional movement quality in individuals with no current pain complaint or known musculoskeletal injury. These movement patterns are designed to provide observable performance of basic mobility and stability skills. This may be very evident to a polo player when swinging a
mallet with his opposite hand. Selective Functional Movement Assessment For polo players that present with pain, the Selective Functional Movement Assessment is utilized in place of the aforementioned FMS. The SFMA is a series of full body movement tests that address common fundamental movement patterns by designating the quality of movement and potentially expose painful or provocative movements. Based on potential combinations and relationships of marking “functional/ dysfunctional” and “painful/ not painful” for each test, we are able to chase down the probable cause of the musculoskeletal pain. This is more specific biomechanical testing for the polo athlete who may be experiencing pain from a previous injury or chronic discomfort. The SFMA is designed to be administered by a medical provider so the clinician can narrow down the root cause of pain or biomechanical disturbance. It is a quick and fantastic way in reducing pain of chronic conditions while having an objective baseline. Breathing Mechanics Appraisal Breathing is the most important thing we do as a humans before we are an athletes. As stated in the book, “Assessment and Treatment of Muscle Imbalances: The Janda Approach,” “Breathing is regulated and coordinated by the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The rate and volume of breath is influenced by physical, chemical and emotional factors. Correcting a faulty respiratory pattern is integral to the success of any rehabilitation or strength training program addressing the movement system.” My team focuses on breathing as a pillar
GEOFFREYKNOTT.COM
GEOFFREYKNOTT.COM
Filming a player as he plays allows Dr. Spencer’s team to have a baseline movement assessment that can be compared later to see any changes.
Dr. Spencer’s team says breathing is a pillar for reactive stability between the ribs and pelvis that aid in protecting you.
for reactive stability between the ribs and pelvis that aid in protecting you. This will help the longevity of any athlete’s career while helping to make smart cognitive decisions on the field. SoloShot Saddle Evaluation The SoloShot Saddle Evaluation is an individualized saddle assessment for each particular polo player. The SoloShot is a state-of-the-art camera system that tracks an athlete as he plays. Filming a practice or game gives my team the opportunity to review live data, as well as to go back and review what the athlete has done well during that game or practice session. Moreover, this is another form of a baseline movement assessment that we can review for tangible changes, be it in three weeks, three months or even three years.
Final Thoughts We are proud to use the Functional Movement Systems as the foundation for our polo athlete evaluation process. These tests are highly effective for both pre and posttesting to note tangible improvement of movement patterns while reducing injury rates on the field. The ability to objectively see a positive change in mobility, function or performance by using the pre- and posttesting model is paramount in programming progressions and to keep moving forward in a strength training or rehabilitation process. Most importantly, it reduces the time and resources wasted on unsuccessful programing and useless modalities. We humbly challenge any polo coach, athlete or practitioner to garner more objective data on movement in less time than by using these strategies. With
excitement and anticipation, we look forward to the future growth and evolution of the sport of polo and the forging of a u more resilient polo athlete. Based in South Florida, Dr. James Spencer is a Sports Performance Chiropractor, Certified Athletic Trainer, and Fellow of the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture. He has formal training in Active Release Techniques, Graston Technique, Kinetacore Functional Dry Needling, SpiderTech Kinesiology Tape, RockTape Fascial Movement Taping, Postural Restoration Institute, YBalance Test, FMS, SFMA, Mike Boyle’s Certified Functional Strength Coach and the Onnit Academy of Unconventional Training. For more information go to: DrJamesSpencer.com. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 17
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STIFLE INJURIES Research on new methods for diagnostics and treatment
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r. David Frisbie at the Equine Orthopedic Research Center, Colorado State University, has worked with many stifle problems. These range from subchondral bone cysts to soft tissue tears, and some of the new treatments include stem cells.
Bone Cysts “Bone cysts in the stifle may have an osteochondrosis origin in young horses, but most often occur in adult horses after trauma—which is something that many people don’t realize. We are now finding that many of these lesions are actually due to trauma rather than developmental problems,” says Frisbie. “Radiographic appearances vary. In some cases a radiograph will show a big hole in the bone—maybe ¾-inch in diameter. These typically occur in the medial femoral condyle of the stifle. These lesions can vary from just a flattening of the condyle to a crescent-shaped divot, to a divot that’s 5 mm deep, to a full-blown cyst,” Frisbie says. “We see these bone cysts/flat areas sometimes on pre-purchase films, and they are not very often associated with lameness. We’ve done some work in which we looked at repository films, and many of these horses were not lame. One study looked at cutting horses and we found a fairly high incidence of cysts,” he says. “We looked at long-term performance outcomes in 3- and 4-year-old horses, and didn’t see a very high association with flattening on the condyle based on the repository findings,” says Frisbie. When people see these changes on the condyle on prepurchase radiographs, however, they may not understand that not all abnormalities 18 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
geon/technique, or the rehab that contributed to the success (several variables), we know that it worked.” When you look at the overall picture and the success rates of the seven surgeons who participated in the study, their combined success was only 67 percent, so there were definitely some variables. “Some surgeons put a screw across the cyst, but at this point this technique is not supported by science and does not appear to have better outcomes than injecting the cysts. It is also more involved and costly than injection, and has the downside of leaving a screw in the horse,” explains Frisbie.
Bone Cysts are most often caused by trauma rather than developmental problems. Often, cysts can be treated with an injection rather than removal.
on the condyle will become a problem. “Subsequently we’ve been able to develop a new technique for dealing with these. Instead of simply scooping out those cysts when they do become a problem, we actually go around the periphery of the cyst with an injection. The lining produces chemicals that retards healing of the bone. If we decrease the metabolism of that lining, depending on the expertise of the person doing the surgery, we can actually get 80 to 90 percent of those horses back to full work within two or three months,” he explains. This is a good prognosis for most of the horses. In an earlier paper discussing this technique, two surgeons had success rates of 89 percent or greater. “They had a rehab protocol with these horses that was either 60 or 30 days. Whether it was the sur-
Meniscus (soft tissue) Damage “In the past few years we’ve also learned more about meniscal damage. The meniscus is a crescent-shaped cartilage-type structure dividing part of the stifle joint and providing support. In my practice I see a case nearly every day in which the horse is sore in the stifle and it’s been x-rayed and the x-rays don’t show anything significant. Assuming it is soft tissue injury, the horse gets treated—usually with HA and steroids in the joint. Within six weeks or less the horse is lame again,” says Frisbie. Most of these horses have some degree of meniscal or soft-tissue damage. “In years past, with surgery alone, the success rate ranged from 60 percent (if it’s a grade 1) down to about 6 or 7 percent success rate if it’s a grade 3 tear. By doing the surgery and adding stem cells free in the joint, we’ve been able to enhance the success rate in a group of horses that we followed for a couple of years,” he says. “About 12 years ago we started putting stem cells in joints and about six months to a year later we realized it was working—
and we increased our numbers. Then we followed 33 cases for two years or more,” says Frisbie. He and several colleagues published a paper in a 2014 issue of Veterinary Surgery in which they reported on this study. “This was the first long-term clinical case report of treating stifles with surgery and stem cells, and the first report of clinical cases treating joints with stem cells. When treating the grade 1 injuries with stem cells, we found that they did better than with just surgery alone. We had 100 percent success with the grade 1s, using this technique, adding stem cells. We had up to 65 percent success (horses going back to full work) with the grade 3 tears. So we obviously changed the odds quite a bit,” he says. Frisbie became interested in stem cells in 2003 when researchers in Ireland published a paper about use of stem cells in
goats. “For that study they took out the entire meniscus in 18 goats, then treated half of them with stem cells. Seven of those nine treated goats regenerated 50 to 70 percent of their meniscus. That was amazing! When we are treating meniscal disease in horses, we aren’t taking the whole structure out. We merely remove the damaged tissue, so there would be a lot more left to work with. I realized we could possibly use stem cells to augment that surgery. This sparked the beginning of our study, and the paper we published,” he explains. “A few years after the goat study, a study in rabbits confirmed those findings. The rabbit study looked at the volume and type of tissue that was formed when treating meniscus problems with stem cells versus no stem cells. Not only did this show an increase in the amount of tissue formed, but the quality of the tissue and
its functionality (ability to decrease arthritic progression) was significantly better with the stem cells.” Researchers did a two-year follow-up in humans who had undergone removal of the meniscus. “It was a randomized, placebo controlled study with three groups. They had two different doses of stem cells, and the third was a placebo. They were able to show that there was improvement in pain parameters and the volume of meniscus present (based on MRIs). There have been studies in people looking at stem cells treating meniscal disease, and this is very compelling. Our data in horses certainly mirrors that,” says Frisbie. An earlier study with horses in the UK published in 2003 reported on stifles with meniscal damage that were treated with surgery. “Six out of 35 of the grade 3s (the (continued on page 58)
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POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 19
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SUMMER FUN
Club holds children’s benefit, polo clinic
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HE QUEEN CITY POLO CLUB in Goshen, Ohio, held the fourth annual Polo for Babies match, a benefit hosted by The Leonidas Foundation for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, on July 15. Teams from Columbus, Ohio, and Louisville, Kentucky, squared off in the final played in front of a large crowd. The match was dedicated to the memory of Frank Wilkens, a longtime supporter of Cincinnati Polo who died in December 2016. The Leonidas family began the Polo for Babies event to support the hospital after it saved their daughter, Adeline’s life when she was hospitalized with a severe case of the Entero Virus. Thanks to the hospital, she made a full recovery. The match was close throughout. The Play Polo Club team (Sean Alexander, Max Muir, Students in the Learn to Play Polo clinic worked on polo basics using foot mallets Horace Henriot, Luke Albers, John Albers, Pete before trying the Virtual Polo hitting cage, then hitting from the top of a moving horse. Risch, Mark Gittins) from Columbus, Ohio, was behind Louisville (Gabby Caro, Luis Ansola, Miguel Questel, before putting foot mallets in the students’ hands for swing Jim Walker, Dan Lanham, Will Boland) by a single goal in the instruction on the four basic shots used in polo. After the last seconds of the match, when the participants had learned how to umpires’ whistles stopped the action. properly hit the ball, the all-important Columbus was awarded a penalty shot rules were discussed. The “line of ball” and an opportunity to tie the match. and “right of way” were demonstrated The shot went just wide of the goal, during a scrimmage on foot. handing Louisville the win. While club members went to get the The real winner was the Neonatal ponies ready at the trailers, clinic Institute at Cincinnati Children’s participants climbed aboard Collins’ Hospital Medical Center, which Virtual Polo pony. The virtual pony gave received the $100,000 raised by the the participants an idea of what to event. The money will be used for expect when they soon would try to hit infant and child research. Over the past the ball from a moving horse. Club four years, more than $168,000 has members and clinic participants been raised for the hospital. mounted up, practiced shots, and then Later in the month, Cincinnati and began to scrimmage on a shortened Queen City Polo Clubs joined efforts to field. co-host a Learn to Play Polo clinic at Fun was had by all and the clinic V&V Farms. USPA Certified Polo participants all indicated they would be Instructor Kit Collins lead the clinic, back either as future members or Betsy and Chris Leonidas with Adeline starting with a brief history of the sport spectators. during the Polo for Babies event.
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CAMP OUT
Summer polo program lays foundation for success
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HE PIE TOWN POLO While focused on polo CLUB in Quemado, New and riding skills, the camp Mexico, hosted a summer also taught leadership skills camp from June 19-23 for and responsibility, with youth players from Being different campers taking the the Change, a nonprofit with captain role throughout the a mission to support a youth week and fellow campers equestrian program and giving constructive feedback provide unique achievement on their performance. The opportunities for a large campers also did a cross-section of inner-city community service day, youth. Its stated service goal helping with cleanup at an is to teach children how to area residence in need. work toward individual and Children were responsible Rounding out the New Mexico experience were country western dance common goals by providing for feeding and horse care lessons, a trail ride on the Continental Divide and a nicknaming ceremony. opportunities for significant and helping younger, lessresponsibilities to create a large population of ready-to-work experienced riders with preparing horses. high school graduates with proven ability to learn, act Instructors for the camp came with a wealth of knowledge responsibly and have a desire to achieve. to improve the campers. Chuck Rogers worked with students
Being the Change’s mission is to provide unique achievement opportunities for a large cross-section of inner-city youth.
Robin Sanchez, far right, was a guest clinician during the summer camp. Dan Coleman, Meghan Lewis and Chuck Rogers were also on hand.
on hitting while certified riding instructor Meghan Lewis concentrated on riding skills. BTC coach Dan Coleman and guest clinician Robin Sanchez covered all of the bases from BCS and horse care to game strategy and team dynamics. To round out the entire New Mexico experience, there were country western dance lessons, a trail ride on the Continental Divide and a nicknaming ceremony. You can imagine the range of personalities with nicknames including Costanza, Spunky Brewster and Sir Bossalot!
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 21
SOCIAL ARRANGEMENT
Polo match celebrates cover story in lifestyle magazine
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AND ANIMAL WELFARE activist, Christine Evangelista, hosted the inaugural Polo Hamptons Match & Event presented by Porsche and Social Life magazine June 24 at Southampton Polo Club in Bridgehampton, New York. President and publisher of Social Life Magazine, Justin Mitchell organized the polo match, which celebrated E!’s “The Arrangement” star Christine Evangelista’s June cover story in the luxury lifestyle publication. The thrilling match welcomed over 400 guests including Dr. Kenneth Mark, Jean Shafiroff, Dr. Christopher Calapai, Jane Scher, Lidia Szczepanowski and Josh Tanner of New York Prime Beef. The event was catered by Elegant Affairs. Guests were treated to dry-aged wagyu strips provided by New York Prime Beef. Attendees sipped on Laurent-Perrier Brut Rose provided by Laurent-Perrier. Title sponsor Porsche Cars North America had five luxurious models on display, while Turks & Caicos Tourism provided attendees with complimentary gift bags as well as information and deals for booking their next extravagant vacation. Other sponsors included Air Charter Team and Dawn & Frank Bodenchak for Sotheby’s International Realty. A portion of all proceeds from the evening were donated to local Southampton charities.
Lizzie Grubman, Christine Montanti, Christine Evangelista and Devorah Rose enjoyed the inaugural Polo Hamptons Match & Event.
Guests were also treated to a surprise visit from the cast and crew of Bravo’s “Summer House” who stopped by to film scenes for Season Two of the hit show.
WORLDLY WOMEN
USA women compete in international competition
HISTORY WAS MADE at England’s Guards Polo Club July 29
IMAGES OF POLO
when, for the first time, the Royal Salute Coronation Cup was followed by the Thai Polo Club Ladies International Diamond
USA’s Julia Smith, Maureen Brennan, KC Krueger and Kristy Outhier
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Jubilee Trophy. In the ladies’ match, Llangollen USA faced off against Swarovski England. Representing USA was Kristy Outhier (8), KC Krueger (7), Maureen Brennan (6) and Julia Smith (5), while Nina Clarkin (10), Hazel Jackson (8), Izzy McGregor (4) and Sarah Hughes (4) played for England. Preparing for the tournament took a lot of hard work. USPA Women’s Committee chair Maureen Brennan said, “The entire pregame process is challenging and exciting. We had to locate and try horses, travel to many historic and beautiful clubs throughout the English countryside, work with many knowledgeable and helpful people in the industry and work together as a team to increase our chance of success. All of the behind-the-scenes efforts of so many is crucial and therefore has an impact on game day. That is part of what I love about polo and the opportunity to play at such an important venue and historic match—the process. Women’s polo is continuing to expand and this event is proving that it is an integral part of the future. We are grateful for the invitation from the Hurlingham Polo Association to be included in this moment
BRAND LEADER
J. Michael Prince to oversee apparel business operations
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SPA GLOBAL LICENSING INC., a subsidiary of the USPA that manages the U.S. POLO ASSN. apparel brand, recently signed J. Michael Prince as COO. Prince comes to USPA Global Licensing after serving as president and COO of global fashion brand Cole Haan. Additionally, he has held senior leadership positions with iconic global lifestyle brands Cole Haan, Converse, Guess and while at Nike helped manage a multi billion dollar portfolio of brands. As president, COO and board member of Cole Haan, he substantially expanded its global retail and digital footprint through his executive leadership for the company’s global retail stores, digital commerce, international and licensing businesses. His expertise in international branding, licensing and retail, and his vision for the future growth of the U.S. POLO ASSN. brand were key factors in adding him to the executive team, said USPA Global President and CEO David Cummings. “Someone of Prince’s caliber and retail skills on board to help lead the U.S. POLO ASSN. brand is key to our future,” Cummings said. U.S. POLO ASSN has 877 branded retail stores and a target to reach 1,000 stores and $2 billion in retail sales across 135 countries. “We’re on an ambitious growth track, and Prince is the ideal person to help us get there,” said Cummings.
that highlights female players and provides a platform for the next generation of young women.” In a hard-fought match England came out the winner, 8-3. The Swarovski MVP went to England’s Hazel Jackson. Nina Clarkin’s Jess, a retrained racehorse, won Best Playing Pony. “My team played so well and I am not only incredibly proud of them, but I am so excited about the future of ladies’ polo in England as they represent the talent and skill that is abundant in the up-and-coming players,” said England’s Nina Clarkin. “They outdid themselves and I couldn’t have asked for more from my team. We were all honored to be out there for such an historic occasion and I hope that we can continue to showcase the quality of women’s polo, not only in England, but globally in the future.”
Prince grew up on a cattle farm in Oklahoma, but says he worked the cattle with dogs and motorcycles rather than horses. Still, he says he has always loved sports and is interested in getting started with some polo lessons. The brand’s authentic connection to the sport hit home with Prince. “When I look at the brand, the opportunity I see is the connection back to the sport. ... A lot of the pure fashion brands, they are just fashion. ... We’ve got an angle as a sport, as a brand, to intertwine the two stories together. And so it’s powerful, it’s just really exciting,” said Prince. “We’ve got a lot of opportunities on the field and off the field.” He and Cummings will attend the FIP World Polo Championship later this year in Australia. As the official apparel sponsor of the Federation of International Polo, the U.S. POLO ASSN. brand is outfitting all the teams competing. Prince said, “We are seeing a lot of momentum globally. I have been on several trips around the world, talking to customers and partners and understanding the brand walk-in stores. ... We’ve done a really good job expanding internationally and working with best-in-class partners and that will continue. We’ll continue to open stores ... and the biggest thing we’ve got to work on globally is our digital presence, whether that’s social media or e-commerce.”
PARKER’S POLO MINUTE BY PARKER SCOTT
Don’t be ball crazy or a ball hog. To play well, you don’t need to be hitting all the time. Hit to your teammates, not to yourself. SanDiegoPolo@hotmail.com
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 23
Goal intersection Training program nurtures professional development 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 Joanne M. Anderson
Polo is an amazing sport for cultivating skills that are highly valued in the business world. Beyond the physical fitness that playing polo promotes, mental acumen, concentration, teamwork, dedication and practice are imperative for success. The player is acutely aware of players, ponies, goals, direction, equipment and strategy throughout a chukker. Additionally, polo players entering the workforce are prized for being: •team players •self-starters •competitive individuals •well-organized •respectful of authority and correction •resilient •attentive to details Not only are polo players exceptional athletes, but also, they are grounded in integrity, good manners and strength of character. “I’ve traveled quite a bit with Team USPA members in recent years,” says Joel Baker, founder of The JR Baker Group based in California, “and they receive the sportsmanship awards time and again. Some of my polo colleagues in other countries advise their players to ‘play like the U.S. polo players,’ referring to their demeanor and attitude.” Recognizing the potential advantages of a symbiotic relationship between business leaders and polo enthusiasts seeking a professional career outside the sport launched Team USPA’s Executive Training Program two years ago. One of the top strategies for attracting and 24 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
retaining talent is to provide opportunities to grow and learn with a mentor at hand. For intercollegiate and professional polo players, transitioning into day jobs in the business world, the Executive Training Program is the ideal vehicle to move into a non-polo career space with continuing involvement in polo. Baker may well have the best environment of all for bringing polo players with professional goals of careers in financial management and wealth preservation on board. “My company is on a horse ranch established in 1932. The corporate offices occupy the building, which used to be the hay barn,” he explains. As the workday comes to a close around 5 p.m., Todd Thurston and Pierce Alworth may join Baker in tacking a few ponies and heading out for a friendly game of polo. “Some of the top players in the area come play with us, so my polo-playing staff members are exposed to legends in the game,” Baker continues. “Todd and Pierce would work intensively in the office learning new angles of the business, then [after 5], we might address some polo riding ideas and strategies. Pierce Alworth has returned to Denver University, and there’s a job here if he wants it upon graduation.” After his first quarter at the University of Denver in 2014, Pierce Alworth did not feel ready to commit to any one direction, so he took time off to evaluate his goals and aspirations. He spent seven months traveling in South America and playing a little polo. Then he competed in
Pierce Alworth accepted an internship with the JR Baker Group before continuing his studies at the University of Denver.
Sheridan, Wyoming, and Aiken, South Carolina, with Team USPA for the 2016 season. When contacted by Jesse Weaver about an internship with The JR Baker Group, which included playing polo on the side, Alworth was thrilled. “Mr. Weaver is vice president of
Team USPA’s Todd Thurston
investment at Wulfe & Co, a real estate agency in Houston, and a Team USPA teammate and family friend,” said Alworth. “He is an alumni member and now a committee member of Team USPA and has helped develop the Executive Training Program.” Alworth is a third generation polo player whose grandfather started playing in Northern Minnesota more than half a century ago. He accepted the internship, and what may have had the most impact on 21-yearold Alworth is the charitable side of the business. “It’s important for me to be part of a company where I can have a positive impact on society,” he explains. “This is a small firm with a big charitable vision, which I love, and I have the opportunity to sharpen my polo performance as well.” Alworth has returned to DU to pursue a double major in Economics and Religious Studies and a minor in Spanish. He lives an active life and still manages to support the polo community. He is especially passionate about teaching his little sister and other young polo players to improve their horsemanship and game skills. Todd Thurston has traveled the world
playing polo and training horses since graduating from the University of Virginia in 2014, where he was the captain of the UVA Polo Team. He enjoyed playing professionally and his time training the horses. To broaden his education in business and finance, Thurston enrolled in the McIntire Business Institute through UVA in 2016, from which he graduated with honors. “Making the transition from the polo world to the business world is challenging,” he says. “Jesse Weaver and the executive branch of Team USPA connected me with The JR Baker Group. Jesse Bray, a 5-goal player member of Team USPA and personal friend, recommended me to Joel Baker. One of the partners lives in The Plains, Virginia, so it was an easy first interview from my home in Richmond.” After a West Coast in-person interview and another one in Virginia, Thurston, 25, accepted a full-time job offer and relocated to the California ranch where
Todd Thurston is thankful he is able to be in the business world without having to put his passion for polo on the back burner.
Team USPA is seeking entrepreneurs and business leaders to mentor Team USPA polo players at their polo clubs and offer them internship positions or job opportunities in their businesses. To receive a list of available players and resumes, please contact Amanda Snow, director of player development, at asnow@uspolo.org.
the company is headquartered. “I am very fortunate to have this opportunity to step into wealth management and financial planning without having to place my passion for polo on the back burner,” Thurston says. “I hope to be able to compete at a high level and continue to advance my own horsemanship skills on and off the polo field.” Joel Baker is thrilled to offer these young men opportunities to build a career in financial planning while they can fuel their passion for polo along the way. A former professional polo player and now a coach himself, Baker sees passion for the sport as a key component in success. “Being passionate about something in life really propels a person to success. Winning in the polo arena can motivate players to winning in the business world. Any entrepreneur looking to add loyal, young, intelligent staff members should contact Team USPA.” Hiring polo players and encouraging them to stay involved in their sport of passion means that each one will bring his or her best performance to the company. It creates a positive intersection of goals where everyone wins. Joanne M. Anderson is a freelance writer, based in southwest Virginia, who enjoys frequent trail rides with her Thoroughbreds, Noble and Boaz. She can be reached at jmawriter.com. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 25
In Session I/I season officially kicked off Sept. 1 BY AMY FRASER
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tournament condition changes, as well as serves as a platform for developmental talks throughout the summer. Topics included game requirements, all-star and sportsmanship voting, and horse qualifications. Development topics focused on improving our core group of coaches, with a presentation from the United States Olympic Committee’s Director of Coaching Chris Snyder, and the Certified Polo Instructor program benefits and process. As teams are prepping for the season, scheduling home and away games, making plans for tournaments—deciding
perhaps on a new jersey design—we wanted to get you a sneak peek of changes, and reminders for the upcoming season: • All teams are required to have a coach that meets all I/I coaching requirements • New coaching requirement includes CPI safety training • All I/I games, including Middle School games, will be utilizing the updated 2017 USPA Arena Optional Tournament Conditions. • All teams are required to play a minimum of two regular season
ELIZABETH HEDLEY
he best part about going back to school? I/I polo season! The 2017-2018 I/I season officially kicks off Sept. 1, and the I/I team has a jam-packed schedule of regular season games, player clinics, rules reviews, college polo 101, funding awards, umpire clinics and I/I managers’ boot camp that will gear everyone up for the 2018 I/I tournament season. This summer, the I/I committee, staff and coaches were invited to participate in the I/I Summer Development series. This program dials down in to any potential
This season, all interscholastic and intercollegiate teams are required to have a coach that meets all I/I coaching requirements, including CPI safety training.
26 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
games. Intercollegiate teams may elect to play one of their qualified games out of region. Interscholastic teams may elect to play one of their qualified games out of region and/or division. • A minimum of four qualified inregion/in-division games are required to qualify for the regular season league champion. • A minimum of four qualified games are required for high school students to qualify for the interscholastic varsity letter. (Full 2017-2018 I/I Tournament Conditions can be found on the I/I pages of uspolo.org.) With the start of the season, we will be welcoming new teams across the country and visiting new host sites this tournament season. We will be returning to Santa Barbara Polo Club, Cornell University and the University of Virginia for our National Intercollegiate, Open Nationals and Girls’ National Championship tournaments, respectively. But will we have repeat winners this year? On the girls’ side, Garrison Forest is returning with all its players with new head coach Jenny Schwartz looking to make a splash her first year. Maryland will be looking to reclaim its podium stand, returning with four out of five players, and it could be a double for coach Kelly Wells, as her Maryland Open team also returns with the same line up! In the intercollegiate division, UVA coach Lou Lopez will be looking to fill two starter spots on the women’s side, and Texas A&M, which narrowly lost in the final, will be returning with its lineup intact. The SMU men’s team finished the season hungry after losing the final in a shootout to a very young Roger Williams team, and with top recruits heading Coach Goodspeed’s way, the team will be on the top of our radar. To join the fun, catch a regular season game at your local club, cheer on your home team, and follow season scores and highlights on the I/I Scoreboard and on our Facebook page. It is also not too late to join! The team entry deadline is Dec. 1.
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POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 27
Mr. President High-goal player takes on new role By Ernesto Rodriguez duardo Novillo Astrada surprised everyone when he announced his candidacy for president of the Argentine Polo Association, particularly because, at 8 goals, he is one of the best polo players on the planet and an active professional player.
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After winning the election, his first measures touched both the high- and lowhandicap. He added a new, official 6-goal tournament to the calendar and brought the number of teams that will take part in the Triple Crown to 10. Since he first mentioned his candidacy in the last days of 2016, his decision generated electricity. It was unusual in Argentine polo to hear a high handicap player, in the height of his career, decide to run for president of the Argentine Polo Association. In fact, it was one of the obstacles that some wanted to impose on him, arguing some obscure article of the statutes that prohibited the double function until the archives (that rarely 28 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
betray) showed the images of Francisco Dorignac in the 1987 Palermo Open turning goals for Santa Ana and then, in the same year, as one of his first official actions as president of the AAP (his first term would extend until 1991), delivering the champion’s cup to the quartet of La Espadaña and simultaneously announcing his retirement. Astrada’s mission was precisely to replace Frankie Dorignac, who, as head of the association, was in his second term, a 12-year period that began in 2005. With the same vigor and strategic intelligence he shows in every movement he makes on the field while defending the colors of La Aguada, at age 44, Eduardo
Novillo Astrada decided it was time to make a play in-depth. “I present myself in the elections but I represent a list, an idea, a group of players, clubs and officers. That’s why we chose the name ‘La Unión del Polo’ (The Union of Polo). It is a varied group that can bring different visions in polo, because a Palermo player’s reality is not the same reality that the amateur, a low handicap player or a club deep in the country’s interior has,” explained Novillo Astrada at the beginning of year when he made his candidacy official with the support of the main high goalers, such as Adolfo Cambiaso, Facundo Pieres and Eduardo Heguy (who was previously
MATIAS CALLEJO
SERGIO LLAMERA
Nacho Novillo Astrada tangles with brother Eduardo in the final of the La Aguada Cowdray Park Polo Trophy at the family’s estancia in Open Door, 40-some miles outside Buenos Aires. The family operates a polo club, offering numerous tournaments, and a polo resort at the facility.
mentioned as another possible candidate), in addition to significant support from provincial clubs, which he earned after many visits to various provinces. As rarely happens, the campaigns of Novillo Astrada and Guillermo Álvarez Fourcade, former manager of the Jockey Club of Buenos Aires, exceeded the scope of polo and reached the national media. On May 30, Novillo Astrada overcame Álvarez Fourcade 70-32. The defeated, in an honorable gesture, decided not to contest the election, but to instead allow The Union of Polo to fully introduce its candidates and have greater capacity of management in the two years that have been mandated as the term of the new president. When his triumph was known, La Aguada’s No. 2 recognized the demands of the task that awaited him: “I see polo from the inside—nobody tells me what happens. My expectation is to achieve a resounding change and reinvent polo, putting it to the height of other sports.
Polo has no roof. The expectation is very high and I know that being who I am, they will demand even more from me. I want everyone to feel that we will make the AAP open to all. Let them approach me with concerns. We are the only sport
Novillo Astrada will replace Frankie Dorignac, who has headed the association for 12 years.
in which Argentina is the best in the world without arguments. We have to open polo’s door so there can be more people playing and enjoying our sport.” Polo Players’ Edition: How will you serve as president in these two years of management? Eduardo Novillo Astrada: I do not believe in a president with a major profile but instead, in working with teams focused on the areas of interest: interior polo, low- and medium-handicap polo, professional polo, women’s polo. When I was offered to take charge, I took a few days to study the format of the ATP (the governing body of men’s tennis) in tennis. At one point, the top three on the planet (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic) were on the board. And then they had a member of the International Federation and two executives who were working on the day-to-day duties with their groups. The council meets at POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 29
SERGIO LLAMERA
Eduardo Novillo Astrada, center, competes with brothers, Alejandro, left, and Miguel, right in Argentina’s Triple Crown, the highest-rated tournaments in the world. The team also includes brother Nacho. La Aguada, the only team of four brothers, won the Triple Crown in 2003 and is hoping for a repeat.
specific times and makes macro decisions so that later they develop specific teams. And the same goes for the PGA in golf. PPE: Do you think players often do not get involved enough in political decisions? ENA: We always wanted to participate. Perhaps there was a deficit in the way of communicating it. Now we must do it better to be able to add and change the way people see things. Polo is in a period of general crisis in which it needs to be reorganized to overcome the moment and come out strengthened. PPE: After touring the country, how do you see polo? ENA: It has to be federalized. We have to make the institutions of the provinces grow, so they can offer what they have. Help them from Buenos Aires with infrastructure, ideas and the effort of the most prestigious players, so they can organize tournaments, improve their 30 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
infrastructure and attract new talents. We have forgotten a little about amateur polo and that is the base of the pyramid from where the stars begin and later shine in Palermo. That is why it is necessary that we order our country and set up a unified calendar that is fundamental for attracting players and patrons all year long to Argentina. We have already started organizing the last three months of 2017 and adding a new official tournament of up to 6 goals. PPE: How has it been since you were elected president? ENA: Busy, very much. I am stuck to the cellphone and computer more than I thought, but I am very happy because we are launching specific commissions to work in focus of interests. We are ordering the documentation that the previous administration left us, seeing the contracts to sign and preparing a complete situation report so that everyone is clear about the state in which
we received the AAP. We are focused on cleaning up the finances of the AAP and we are looking to recover the sponsors that left because now we have a new project to offer for long term and with an international reach. PPE: You are also concerned about the Triple Crown. What is the reason for increasing it to 10 participating teams? ENA: What we always talk about with the participating players is that we have to bring more spectators to Palermo. Make the Open grow as a show and as a competition. You also have to think about before the games and after the games. Make it a family program to go to Palermo to enjoy, let the tourists know that there is a unique spectacle in the world. That is why we have to think of other attractions to add to what happens on the field, which is the best polo that can be achieved across the planet. The idea is not just mine. At the end of 2016, the players that disputed
ALEX PACHECO
Eduardo Novillo Astrada has competed in the U.S. for years. He has played with Las Monjitas, and competed in the 40-goal Challenge (shown here).
Palermo and the classification in the previous three years had voted in an internal poll and the idea to raise teams
to 10 won by 90 percent. PPE: What is your point of view on the
criticisms generated by this measure? ENA: I think it will serve to increase the high handicap because the best will continue being the best, but what we are doing is giving the chance to new players to add the experience and have more replacements for the long term. In these years, it is possible that we will not see this, but then it will be faster and not like it happens now, where we “old men� are playing so many years at the high level. The great criticism of the last years was the difference between the powerful teams and the weaker teams, and with this there is more chance that the less powerful will grow. The details have not yet been disclosed because we must define the amount of chukkers each game will have, the duration of the chukkers, if there will be a system of descents and promotions for the next season or if we will play a nightly match per week. Fundamentally, this change was made thinking about the growth and future of the sport.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 31
The Great Indoors
NYC Polo, Flexjet top U.S. Arena events By Gwen Rizzo
he U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship was held at Country Farms Polo Club in Medford, New York, July 22, while the U.S. Arena Handicap Championship was held at Aspen Valley Polo Club in Carbondale, Colorado, two weeks later. UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION
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Tommy Biddle slips the ball into the goal for NYC Polo during the final match.
The U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship drew three teams vying for the historic trophy dating back to 1926. The first match pitted High Ground against Bluestone Farm on July 15. Shortly after the first ball was thrown in, High Ground’s Torito Ruiz took matters into his own hands, scoring five goals in a row, including two penalty conversions. Lucas Diaz Alberdi added to it for good measure, ending the first 32 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
half with High Ground ahead 6-0. Blue Stone finally got on the board early in the second with a Penalty 1, which seemed to light a fire under it. Guillermo Usandizaga found the mark with two quick goals and Daniel Scott tallied to bring Bluestone within two. Ruiz answered with a goal, but Guillaume Gimonet shot back with two in a row to bring Bluestone within a goal at the half. The third chukker was an out-and-out
battle between Usandizaga and Ruiz. Three penalty conversion and two shots from the field by Ruiz outscored Usandizaga’s four goals (including a Penalty 2) to put High Ground ahead 1210. Ruiz came out in the final chukker like a man on a mission, single-handedly scoring five goals. Diaz Alberdi added two of his own. Meanwhile, Bluestone was forced to try to stop the bleeding, but the damage was already done. Gimonet was able to break through High Ground’s
defense just once. High Ground took the 19-11 victory. Ruiz scored 16 goals, while Diaz Alberdi added the other three. Usandizaga led Bluestone with six. In the next game, Bluestone went up against NYC Polo. Despite the teams’ seven-goal handicap difference, the Open matches are played on the flat so the match began with the teams level. It didn’t take long for that to change, as Sam Ramirez, Jared Sheldon and Tommy Biddle each added a pair of goals for NYC Polo. Meanwhile, Bluestone was awarded a Penalty 1 and Usandizaga sunk a Penalty 4 to get in the game. Again, Bluestone woke up in the second chukker with Usandizaga independently outscoring NYC Polo 6-5. A more balanced effort saw NYC Polo’s goals come off the mallets of all three players. That strategy continued into the second half as NYC Polo combined for eight goals while Usandizaga scored five to bring the score to 20-13 with seven minutes left to play. NYC Polo kept firing and Ramirez and Sheldon added two each, while Biddle added three. Usandizaga was nearly out of bullets, scoring one last time to finish with NYC Polo ahead 27-14. Usandizaga was high scorer with an impressive 13 goals in a losing effort. NYC Polo was set to meet High
UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION
UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION
NYC Polo’s Tommy Biddle, Jared Sheldon and Sam Ramirez celebrate their victory.
The U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship drew three teams vying for the historic trophy dating back to 1926.
Ground in the final four days later. But, scheduling conflicts forced High Ground to withdraw from the tournament. That meant Bluestone would get another chance against defending champion NYC Polo. Six-goal Alan Martinez was brought in to take Daniel Scott’s place, bringing the team up to 14 goals. NYC Polo’s lineup remained unchanged. NYC Polo started out just as strong with Biddle shooting to goal, then following up with a two-pointer. Adding insult to injury, Ramirez gave Bluestone the one-two punch. Bluestone was held to a Penalty 3 conversion from Usandizaga to get on the board and end the first seven minutes 5-1.
NYC Polo: ................................. 19 Sam Ramirez ................................... 3 Jared Sheldon .................................. 7 Tommy Biddle ................................. 9 High Ground: .......................... 12 Joe Meyer ........................................ 2 Victorino Ruiz ................................. 5 Lucas Diaz Alberdi ........................... 5 Bluestone Farms: ............... 12/14 Guillaume Gimonet .......................... 2 Daniel Scott ..................................... 4 Guillermo Usandizaga ...................... 6 alt. Alan Martinez ............................ 6
Ramirez opened the second with a quick pair of goals. Sheldon and Biddle added one each while Martinez scored his first goal and Usandizaga sunk a Penalty 2 and shot from the field for a 94 halftime score. Sheldon was left bloody after getting knocked in the lip by his mount’s head, but gamely soldiered on. NYC Polo only seemed to get stronger as Sheldon slipped in a trio of goals and Biddle scored another, added to a pair of Penalty 1s. Martinez and Usandizaga scored one each to end the third 15-6. If Bluestone was to win this match, it would need to score a goal a minute, including a few two-pointers, all while holding NYC Polo scoreless. Despite the near impossibility, the team gave it its all. Usandizaga tallied three times, while Martinez scored two, including a Penalty 4. The team also stopped Sheldon and Ramirez’s offensive drives, but Biddle was able to slip through the defense with two field goals and a pair of Penalty 3s. Despite Bluestone’s Herculean efforts, NYC Polo finished with a 19-12 victory to capture the title for the second year in a row. Usandizaga, who led Bluestone with seven goals, was named MVP for his never-give-up attitude and skill. Cammy Boy, owned by Ramirez and ridden by Sheldon, was named Best Playing Pony. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 33
ARI DELIN/ CHUKKER TV
Arena Handicap Championship by Sharon Robb always knew I was going to come back. When you have goals in life you go for it. I am always looking for something bigger and better, that’s what keeps you alive.” Alejandro Novillo Astrada, making his Aspen summer polo season debut, was named Tournament Most Valuable Pro Player. He finished with 19 goals in three games including three goals in the final. Stewart Armstrong, a USPA member since 1973, was named Tournament Most Valuable Amateur Player. Armstrong’s horse, Bianca, a 7-year-old mare, was named Best Playing Pony. Flexjet was the most dominant team in the six-team field, scoring 43 goals in three games. The talented threesome defeated Sopris Mountain Ranch (Santos Bollini, 2; Pablo Spinacci, 6; Gabriel Gracida, 4), 14-8, in the quarterfinals and La Karina Green (Harrison Azzaro, 1; Lucas Lalor, 6; Ramiro Cordero, 5), 17-12, in the semifinals. “It looks like we have been together for many, many years,” Bollini said. “Melissa knows how to play in the arena and was doing a hell of a job. I have been playing a
Cece Armstrong presents the MVP trophy to Juan Bollini, who recently made a comeback after beating cancer.
ARI DELIN/ CHUKKER TV
In the U.S. Arena Handicap tournament, six teams battled it out for the top prize at the Aspen Valley Polo Club arena Aug. 5. In the battle of the unbeatens, Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, 1; Juan Bollini, 7; Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8) broke a 6-6 halftime tie on Astrada’s goal with 3:52 left in the third chukker and never trailed Audi (Marc Ganzi, 3, Nacho Novillo Astrada, 8, Stewart Armstrong, 4) after that. Argentine 7-goaler Juan Bollini was named Most Valuable Player after dominating the game and scoring a pair of two-pointers. Bollini has been playing for 32 years since he moved to the United States in 1985. “I still have it,” said Bollini, who wears a pink helmet as a cancer survivor. “I wanted to prove to myself I am still here. I gave it 110 percent. “After what I went through last year to win any tournament means a lot but I never expected to be MVP. My family and Marc and Melissa Ganzi helped me to recover and gave me so much hope. I
Audi’s Stewart Armstrong puts the hook on MVP Juan Bollini, while Alejandro Novillo Astrada (far right) backs up Bollini in the U.S. Arena Handicap final.
34 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
long time and Alejandro is a nice player and knows polo. We had the chemistry. “It is all about game strategy, step by step like chess,” Bollini said. “You have to study the other team and know the game. “We had a tough game to win, no one gave us any free rides. I am very excited and proud of this organization and what Melissa and Marc are doing for polo.” The game lived up to expectations from the opening chukker. Audi, a 15-goal team, started off with a 1-0 lead based on handicap. After Alejandro Novillo Astrada evened the score at 1-1, Audi scored three unanswered goals before Melissa Ganzi scored her first goal of the game to cut Audi’s lead to two goals, 4-2, at the end of the chukker. The teams exchanged leads twice. With Audi leading 4-3, Bollini hit a two-pointer to give Flexjet a 5-4 lead. Armstrong countered with another two-pointer to give Audi back the lead, 6-5. In the final 30 seconds, Alejandro Novillo Astrada scored again to end 6-6 at halftime. After each team missed two scoring
ARI DELIN/ CHUKKER TV
Flexjet: ..................................... 16 Melissa Ganzi ................................... 1 Juan Bollini ..................................... 7 Alejandro Novillo Astrada ................ 8 Audi: ......................................... 15 Marc Ganzi ...................................... 3 Nacho Novillo Astrada ..................... 8 Stewart Armstrong .......................... 4 Aspen Valley Polo Club: .......... 12 Grant Ganzi ..................................... 2 Juancito Bollini ............................... 3 Pablo Dorignac ................................ 7 La Karina Green: .................... 13 Brian Boyd ...................................... 2 Lucas Lalor ...................................... 6 Ramiro Cordero .............................. 5 La Karina White: .................... 14 Ailsa Currier ................................... A Carlitos Gracida ............................... 5 Mike Azzaro ..................................... 9
ARI DELIN/ CHUKKER TV
Cece Armstrong presented her husband, Stuart, with a Best Playing Pony blanket for their 7-year-old mare Bianca.
Peter Rizzo presented the winner’s trophies to Flexjet’s Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini and Melissa Ganzi after the team won the U.S. Arena Handicap tournament.
opportunities, the momentum swayed in the third chukker after Melissa Ganzi stopped Marc Ganzi’s two-point attempt. Alejandro Novillo Astrada, set up by Bollini’s 25-yard penalty attempt into the corner and despite Armstrong’s smothering defense, scored at the 3:20 mark to give Flexjet a 7-6 lead. A minute later, Melissa Ganzi converted a Penalty 2 for an 8-6 lead. Nacho Novillo Astrada stole the ball from his younger brother and connected with
Armstrong who scored and cut the lead to 8-7 with 30 seconds left. A Flexjet Penalty 1 with five seconds left ended the third chukker with Flexjet leading 9-7. The fourth chukker was all Flexjet, playing with the same poise, chemistry and confidence that got it into the final. After Marc Ganzi hit a nice backshot goal to cut the lead to one, Melissa Ganzi scored off a deflection and Bollini came up with a clutch two-pointer for a 12-8 lead. Audi was awarded a Penalty 1 in the
Sopris Mountain Ranch: ........ 15 Santos Bollini .................................. 2 Kris Kampsen .................................. 9 Gabriel Gracida ................................ 4
last 50 seconds to cut the lead to 12-9. Bollini cleared out an Armstrong goal attempt as time ran out. Flexjet converted 8-of-22 field-shot conversions and Audi was 5-of-15. Audi converted both its penalty shots and Flexjet was 2-of-6. Audi led in fouls, 10-6. Both teams were even on throw-ins with five. Bollini shared high-game scoring honors with Melissa Ganzi and Armstrong, each with four goals. Melissa Ganzi, the only woman in the final, finished with 18 goals in three games. Marc Ganzi added two goals and Nacho Novillo Astrada scored one for Audi. It is the first time in several years that the tournament is being played as a standalone tournament and first time Aspen Valley Polo Club hosted the tournament. Also for the first time, USPA Polo Network and Wellington-based ChukkerTV both simultaneously live streamed the three-day tournament. The annual event dates back to 1980 and is a national USPA tournament played at medium-goal level. In the past, the tournament has been played as a subsidiary to the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship at Country Farms Polo Club. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 35
Tack Attack Take care of your leather for longer life By Gwen Rizzo
hen Leather is well cared for, it can last for decades, but neglected tack can dry out, crack and break. Your safety depends on how well your equipment holds up. Take care of it so it will take care of you!
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Bridles and saddles come with different grades of leather. The old adage that you get what you pay for is generally true with tack. Leather quality depends on the health and condition of the animal before slaughter, the tanning process used and how it is stitched. Thicker leather is not necessarily better, and often will be less supple. Quality grades of leather will usually cost more, but they will last longer. The best leather worldwide comes from England. Much of the leather in England is imported from Argentina, 36 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
however the tanning process is what makes the leather superior. Leather is not the only aspect of saddles that determines quality. How the saddle is made should also be taken into consideration. Saddle trees (which determine the saddle’s shape and are what stirrup bars are attached to) are made of either wood laminate with steel trim, or carbon fibre. Wood and steel are heavier but are more flexible, while carbon fibre is lighter but more rigid. The saddle seats are generally covered in foam and the panels underneath the
saddles are filled with either wool or foam. Wool is a bit heavier but tends to mold and shape better, while foam tends to break down or harden over time. When you are purchasing saddles, you will often see prices that range from as little as $600 to as much as $3,000. It might be tempting to buy the cheaper saddles but it is not always the best way to go. Aside from being made of cheaper grades of leather, cheaper saddles can be poorly made and cause back soreness in your horses. An ill-fitting saddle is like wearing a cheap pair of shoes a size too
Use boot trees to hold the shape and prevent wrinkling around the ankles while cleaning and storing boots.
Run a bridle’s throat latch through the reins, martingale and breast collar before buckling to keep them off the ground.
Undo buckles on bridles when cleaning to check for cracking or deterioration. A toothbrush is handy for scrubbing buckles.
small. Riders often think putting a saddle pad under a poor-fitting saddle will help, but it would be like adding a pair of socks to those too-small shoes. Better made saddles are not only better for your horses, they will be much more
versions will come with inferior leather and buckles, which will be more likely to break. Spend the extra money for better quality leather and buckles. They will be easier to adjust and will have less of chance of breaking.
decades but even new tack can become damaged quickly if it is not taken care of. Store tack in a controlled environment. In tropical locations like Florida, it is best to keep tack in an airconditioned tack room. If that isn’t possible, a dehumidifier will help decrease moisture in the air, which will reduce the likelihood of mold. In the West, where air is drier, a humidifier may be necessary, along with extra conditioning to keep the tack supple. Storing tack in a trailer is not a good idea since it is not a controlled environment. Always store saddles on saddle racks and bridles on bridle hooks. Keep reins, martingales and breast collars off the ground. Running the throat-latch through the longer pieces on the bridle before buckling it will help keep the pieces from falling to the ground. Use boot trees for storing your boots to help maintain their shape. If saddle racks and bridle hooks aren’t available, such as at the polo field, lay a blanket down on the ground before placing tack down. Put the saddle’s pommel on the ground and the back of the saddle (where the name plate attaches) facing skyward to minimize the chance of the saddle getting stepped on. Always cover bits from the sun so they don’t get hot, which can burn a horse’s mouth.
Wooden saddle trees are wrapped with fiberglass and trimmed with steel (left). Foam is added to the seat (center) before being topped with leather (right). Padding, flaps and billets are then attached to the seat.
comfortable for you as well. Purchase the best quality saddles you can afford. If you are on a tight budget consider buying a good quality used saddle rather than a cheaper new saddle. Some people choose to purchase cheaper saddles for their grooms to use. This is not a good idea because they are still being used on your horses and may cause soreness. When it comes to bridles, cheaper
The only time thicker leather is better is when it comes to your boots. Other equestrian disciplines can get away with thinner, more supple leather on their boots, but heavier leather on polo boots help to protect your legs and ankles from strikes from errant balls and mallets. Once you make the investment in quality tack, make an effort to take care of it. Well maintained tack can last
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 37
A proper-fitting saddle does not require a saddle pad, however it will help absorb sweat, protecting the leather under the saddle. Condition new leather with oil—either vegetable or olive oil from the grocery store or tack oil from the tack store. Work the oil into the leather and be sure to wipe away any excess oil as it will attract dirt and dust. Once you begin using your tack, clean it after each use. If you are short on time, minimally wipe away sweat until you have time to thoroughly clean it. Once sweat has dried it will begin to eat away at the leather. If you tack gets wet, wipe away excess water before cleaning. Don’t dry tack in the sun. It has the same damaging effects as it does on human skin. Water will magnify the sun’s effects. Never put tack away when it is wet. If tack becomes moldy, remove the mold immediately, followed by a good cleaning and conditioning. Unfortunately, if mold is left for any length of time, it can stain the leather. Insects and critters, like rats and mice, can also damage leather. When cleaning tack, use as little water as possible. Begin with a damp sponge or towel and ring out any excess water. Keep rinsing the towel or sponge in clean water. Don’t rinse in dirty water or you will be reapplying the dirt you just removed. Using a small white towel allows you to see the dirt better. Keep wiping and rinsing until you don’t see anymore dirt. Use cleaner specifically designed for cleaning leather. Most cleaners you find in a tack store contain glycerin, which works well. Don’t use conditioner or oil without first cleaning the tack with saddle soap. When cleaning saddles, hang them upside down by the stirrup irons from a tack hook so you can reach the saddle flaps and billet straps without having to keep flipping the saddle over on a dirty saddle rack. Unfasten buckles on bridles to clean underneath them. Toothbrushes are useful in scrubbing the buckles, bits and other medal parts on the bridle. Clean boots right on the boot jack. Remember to clean sides and bottoms of soles, as well as under any flaps or buckles the boots 38 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Clean saddles by hanging them upside down by the stirrup irons from a tack hook. This allows you to reach the flaps without having to keep flipping it back and forth.
Thoroughly clean your tack with saddle soap before conditioning with oil or conditioner.
might have. Once the tack is clean, condition the leather with oil or a leather conditioner. Work it into the leather and again, remove any excess oil. While cleaning tack, look for cracking or tearing on the leather. Check for cracked or broken buckles, broken saddle
trees, spreading of the saddle or flattening of the padding under the saddle. Some flattening of the padding is expected after you purchase the saddle, but if it gets so flat there is little cushion left after a while, it might be time to have the saddle ‘reflocked.’ Fortunately, saddle repairs are usually relatively inexpensive and will extend the life of your saddle. Periodically examining your tack and making repairs before it breaks may not only save your tack, but may save you from breaking a shoulder, wrist or worse. The most common things to break on a saddle are the stirrup bars, billet straps and saddle trees (usually after a horse has flipped over while wearing the saddle). Sometimes a rider’s weight might cause a saddle tree to spread over time. Some players elect to get the billet straps replaced each year as a precaution. Wornout parts, such as flaps or the saddle seat can also be repaired. Bridles are less likely to break unless they are made of cheap materials, or they have been stepped on or gotten caught on something. Rubber bit guards, which prevent the bit from pinching the corners
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Professional and Prompt Mallet Repair Service Store saddles on saddle racks. If racks aren’t available, such as at the polo field, put the saddles with the pommels down and back end facing skyward to keep them from being stepped on. Always lay them on a blanket to keep away ground moisture.
of your horse’s mouth, can break down and become ‘gummy’ or can rip. They are cheap and easy to replace. Boots can sometimes be patched, if you wear out an area like the calf, and heels and soles can be replaced. Periodically check how well a saddle fits on your horse. If the horse loses or gains weight or the saddle tree breaks or spreads, it will change how it fits the horse. No two horses are alike so using the same saddles on all of your horses can be problematic. A few similar-shaped horses can share the same saddle but it would be unusual for each one of your saddles to fit all of your horses. Ill-fitting saddles will cause pain in a horse’s back. Horse’s generally react to pain by either bolting, bucking or trying to run from the pain. Saddle pain can also manifest into lameness. Often times, when a horse begins to act out, a rider might automatically think the horse needs a stronger bit or more work, when, in reality, the horse is in pain. If, for example, the saddle is digging into the shoulders or withers, or is
causing pressure points on the back, these kinds of issues can cause the horse to move differently as it compensates for the pain, eventually leading to lameness. Without thoroughly investigating the cause of the pain, someone might try injecting the hocks. Obviously, this will cost money but will not solve the horse’s problem. Bridles can also cause problems when they are not properly adjusted or they just don’t fit correctly. Browbands can be too tight on a wider-faced horse. Ensuring tack fits the horse well and periodically checking to be sure it continues to fit well will eliminate a lot of problems. Some people can’t be bothered to put the time into maintaining their tack and would rather just replace it when it breaks. This line of thinking is foolish as it shortens the life of the tack and puts the rider in danger should something break. Take the time to properly maintain your tack so you won’t have to think twice when leaning out for that big shot.
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WAVING THE FLAG Family team wins emotional Flag Day Cup final PHOTOS COURTESY OF CLICKPOLO.COM.AR
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a Natividad, with Lolo Castagnola and his two teenage sons, won an emotional final against Los Pingüinos Escorihuela Gascón to earn the traditional Copa Dia de la Bandera (Flag Day Cup), the annual 20-goal tournament organized at the Jockey Club in Rosario. Rosario is a sacred city in the Argentine Republic. The city, located 190 miles from the capital, disputes with Córdoba, the designation of second largest city in the country. But in the popular sense, it has a difference with respect to its competitor: there, on the banks of the mighty Paraná River, on Feb. 27, 1812, Manuel Belgrano waved the light blue and white national flag for the first time, marking a milestone in the history of the nation.
Identified with the patriotic colors, the eyes of the polo family turn to Rosario every June, when the traditional Copa Día de la Bandera, a 20-goal tournament that began in 1959 to commemorate Belgrano’s death, is played. The Jockey Club of this city, recognized in the world for being the birthplace of global personalities like the revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara, the Grammy award winner Gato Barbieri and the soccer star Lionel Messi, received 10 quartets participating in the 54th edition of the traditional contest. As Alfredo Garrone (Jockey Club polo manager) summarized: “There is a good combination of elements so that every year the best players that are in the country come to us. And every season we offer something else. That is why we kept
La Natividad’s Camilo Castagnola, Javier Guerrero, Lolo Castagnola, Bartolito Castagnola and Gino Ringa won the Flag Day Cup.
40 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
this tradition alive and we keep this tournament growing.” The competition had a difficult start as bad weather forced the opening, originally scheduled for Thursday, June 8, to be postponed a day, and the club’s fields, located in Fisherton (a neighborhood northwest of the city), were left too wet to be played on. The club was forced to request the aid of La Ilusion Polo Club (based in Roldán, a town near Rosario) to play the first two elimination rounds on fields that were not completely dry. Unfortunately, injuries suffered by Matías Benoit (player on the Jockey Club Rosario Club Campo Timbo Golf Baum Cervecería team) and Hugo Barabucci (member of La Albertina Las Rosas) forced them to leave the tournament. The semifinals were disputed Sunday, June 11. In the first clash La Natividad, with Bartolomé Castagnola and his two sons Bartolomé Jr. and Camilo, faced La Natividad-El Olivito. Sadly, during the match, El Ensueño, the stallion ridden by Lolo’s oldest son, suffered a cardiac arrest falling on the young man, who suffered a painful fracture in the fibula of the left leg. The team recovered from the emotional impact and with Gino Ringa, another teenager taking Bartolomé Jr.’s place, won the match 12-8. The other contender to the main final was Los Pingüinos Escorihuela Gascón, which solidly resolved its obligations against La Albertina Las Rosas by 12-9. On Monday, June 12, an unusual day in Argentine polo customs, the three scheduled finals were played. The first of the three trophies that came into play was the Copa Estimulo Héctor Laborde, played among the losers in the qualifying phase. Jockey Club Rosario Hotel Majestic
had no problems to overcome Club Hípico General Belgrano La Máquina Vial, 15-12, in a clash it comfortably dominated. The numbers narrowed in the final chukker when the local quartet eased up. Next, the definition of the General Francisco Vélez Cup for the handicap was played. Jockey Club Rosario Club Campo Timbo Golf Baum Cervecería was losing against San Sebastián Choice Genetics, which closed the first four chukkers with a 7-5 lead. In the last two periods, Pablo Llorente (filling in for the injured Benoit), converted a couple of notable plays, allowing his squad to turn the score and ended up celebrating by a tight 9-7. The cold afternoon got colder even before the first throw-in in the match for the big prize. When both teams got La Natividad’s MVP Camilo Castagnola has plenty of time to together in the midfield, the match was neck the ball through the goal in the final of the Flag Day Cup. delayed because Los Pingüinos Escorihuela Gascón protested the presence of Guillermo Cavanagh instead two decades of high-handicap experience ensuing corner (safety) shot from Lolo of the injured Bartolito Castagnola since to tie the numbers just a minute from the Castagnola did not have the usual power, he had played previous matches for end. In the last play of regulation time, but rolled 60-plus yards, snaking between another team. they were within inches of the goal when seven horses without anyone being able to To his displeasure, Lolo Castagnola was the last bell rang, adding a lot of suspense. deflect the ball. The shot unleashed the forced to include Ringa (the replacement In extra time, La Natividad kept the frenzied celebration of the green team. of his eldest son in the previous match) pressure on causing Los Pingüinos to “I have won several times in Palermo, and dispute the match with three players knock the ball over its own backline. The and I had incredible matches in the under 18 years old. United States and England, but Such a preamble gave way to a winning a cup as traditional as Día hard fought clash, full of eagerness de la Bandera, playing with my and disputed at a high speed that children, is very emotional. To live challenged the slippery lawn that the experience of winning a match already showed the marks of the so complicated, against experienced agitated weekend. The parity was rivals and with a traditional trophy such that after completing the first at stake, added a lot of experience to half the scoreboard showed equal the boys,” explained the former 10numbers (5-5). Neither team had goaler as he was about to receive the advantage in the fourth chukker maximum trophy for the fourth (6-6), nor the fifth (8-8). The last time in the decade (La Natividad seven minutes of play were all or won in 2012, 2013 and 2014). nothing. In addition to the big trophy, the It seemed the team of patron team from Cañuelas got two Martín Vilaró was favored when, in individual prizes in dispute: Jeta the first minutes, the team scored Castagnola was recognized as Most a pair of crucial goals. The Value Player of the contest and Tía Castagnolas shot back. Jeta (Big Ramona, a mare played by Lolo and Mouth, Camilo’s nickname) owned by María Jimena Regazzani, showed his talent despite his scant was distinguished as the best horse Tía Ramona, played by Lolo Castagnola and owned by María 13 years. And his father exposed of the tournament. Jimena Regazzani, was named best horse of the tournament. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 41
On July 29-30, it was time again for Polopicknick or “Polo Meets Picnic.” Over 5000 polo and picnic fans came to Hugerlandshofweg in Münster to get carried away in the unique atmosphere and the rapture of the sport of polo. The special feature of the polo picnic is that the visitors—near the actionPolopicknick draws eight teams packed polo matches— PHOTOS COURTESY POLOPICKNIK experience a relaxing day with the feeling of a beach club. The polo picnic tournament took place for the 14th time. This year, as is tradition, a portion of the proceeds were
DESTINATION: GERMANY
Sebastian Schneberger created Polopicknick.
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donated to a good cause. The beneficiary was Farid’s Qualifighting in Münster. This boxing program emphasizes scholastic and athletic support for socially disadvantaged children. A specialty in Münster is that the teams give a portion of registration money as a donation. An entry ticket to Polo Picnic costs 10 euros per person. Children up to 12 years old have free entry. “Bring your own polo picnic” is the motto. Visitors happily complied, coming equipped with picnic baskets stuffed to the brim, picnic blankets and coolers for beverages. Picnic blankets were spread directly next to the polo field and food was dished out as spectators watched the matches and rooted for their favorite teams. The polo tournament showed what world class players could do. The spectators had the rare experience of seeing both German and international stars of the polo scene. German players included Eva Brühl, Thomas Winter, Heinrich Dumrath, Sven Schneider, Nico Wollenberg, Clarissa Marggraf, Moritz Gaedeke, Joe Reinhard, Jan-Henrik Többe, as well as Sebastian Schneberger, among others. Also playing were top Argentine players such as Valentin Novillo Astrada, Tatu Gomez Romero, Nico Lopez Fuentes, Agustin Kronhaus and Marcos Riglos. From the Netherlands came Maurice and Henk van Druten as well as Aki van Andel. The Swiss players Stefan Locher and Cedric Schweri were also there, as well as Belgian Gery Cloedt. Cloedt came with his sons Leon and Lucian, and together with Nico Lopez Fuentes built Team HRC Unternehmensgruppe. In the final they closely defeated the Homann Immobilien-Team, the team of captain Sebastian Schneberger, Stefan Proietti from Italy, Michael Redding from Belgium and Valentin Novillo Astrada, by a margin of 7-6. As tournament victors, they took home the large trophy. Sebastian Schneberger (creator of the Polo Picnic) said, “Polo is now taken
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
S P O T L I G H T
seriously as a sport. Polopicknick is no frou-frou event, but a place where people can enjoy polo in a looser atmosphere. We would also like to appeal to those who have not yet experienced polo. Polo is a fast team sport, a ball sport and a contact sport. One recognizes that polo is a hard and cool sport—very tactical and yet physical. However, three referees pay
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 43
attention to the action, so that nothing serious happens with the players or horses. Each player has four to six horses at their disposal. Sebastian Schneberger—native to Münster—has been a passionate polo
Berenberg: ................................ 7 Clarissa Marggraf ............................. 0 Nico Wollenberg .............................. 1 Thomas Winter ................................ 4 Sven Schneider ................................ 2 Cilian: ........................................ 8 Henk van Druten ............................. 0 Maurice van Druten ......................... 2 Tatu Gomez Romero ........................ 4 Aki van Andel .................................. 2 Homann Immobilien: ............... 7 Stefan Proietti ................................. 0 Sebastian Schneberger ..................... 1 Valentin Novillo Astrada .................. 5 Michael Redding .............................. 1 HRC Unternehmensgruppe: ..... 6 Leon de Cloedt ................................. 0 Lucien de Cloedt .............................. 0 Marcos Riglos .................................. 4 Moritz Gaedeke ................................ 2 Mole/Factory Hotel: .................. 8 Stefan Locher .................................. 0 Cedric Schweri ................................. 0 Marcos Riglos .................................. 5 Moritz Gaedeke ................................ 3 Oeding Erdel: ............................ Joe Reinhard ................................... Jan-Hendrick Többe ........................ Augustin Kronhaus .......................... Heinrich Dumrath ...........................
6 0 0 3 3
Porsche Zentrum: ..................... 7 Enno Grams ..................................... 0 Lukas Sdrenka ................................. 2 Patrick Maleitzke ............................. 3 Pablo van den Brinck ...................... 2 SX Capital: ................................. 6 Sandra Schneider ............................. 0 Steffi von Pock ................................ 0 Micky Duggan .................................. 4 Eva Brühl ........................................ 2
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player for several years with a very good handicap and is already almost at professional status. Together with Rhea Gutperle, he has organized the tournament for 14 years. Gutperle said, “We have, with our
picnic idea, inspired a very wide audience for this sport. In the meantime, we know each other and we are delighted that the top polo professionals from the whole world come to us in Münster and take part in our polo tournament.”
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S E P T E M B E R 2 01 7
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POLO REPORT DISPATCHES FROM THE WORLD OF POLO EASTERN
NINA VAN DELEUR
WINDMILL TRIUMPHS IN MAX BERGER CUP
Windmill’s Dennis Santana leads the pack while teammate Rhea Lowenthal keeps the pressure on Helix’s Mark Mulligan and Ann Oniskey, far right, comes up from behind in the final of the Max Berger Cup.
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indmill overcame Helix in the final of the USPA Max Berger Cup at the Tinicum Park Polo Club in Erwinna, Pennsylvania, July 8. After a week of rough and tumble games with teams battling it out for a spot in the final, Windmill and Helix surfaced at the top of one of the earliest established tournaments at the club, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year. Club manager Hesham ElGharby’s
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goal to grow the sport of polo influenced the change for the 4-goal tournament to a four-chukker format to appeal to the wide contingency of players in the area, some new to the sport and some new to the area. The strategy succeeded as six competitive teams filled the roster for a series of fast and hair raising matches beginning the fourth of July. In the first game played at Jim McDevitt’s field in Pittstown, New Jersey, Fox Hollow defeated January
Farms. Later, a fast and rip-roaring game between Windmill and Brook Hollow ended with Windmill the winner. On Wednesday, Windmill was back on the field to face Shannon Hill and again came out the winner. On Thursday, Fox Hollow played Team Helix, which had drawn a first-round bye. Helix’s luck continued as it advanced to the final. Saturday, in front of a large crowd under a cloudless sky, Windmill and Helix met in the final to play a game
R E P O R T
NINA VAN DELEUR
P O L O
Participants in the Joe Stahl Memorial celebrate the start of the Tinicum Polo Club summer season.
that was neck-and-neck from start to finish. Kimo Huddleston and Steve Conroy donned the striped shirts while Audrey Vanluvanee served as referee. Score keepers sat idle throughout the first chukker as both teams successfully defended their goals despite much running and long hitting up and down the field. Mark Mulligan of Helix made the first goal of the game in the second chukker, negating Windmill’s handicap goal. Juan Martin Baez secured the lead for Helix with an impressive penalty shot in chukker three. However, the lead changed in Windmill’s favor when Richard Weidel and Dennis Santana each answered with successful shots through the uprights. Martin Baez would not allow the chukker to end with his team behind and scored another high-flying penalty shot to again tie the score as the game entered the final chukker. Still blazing, Martin Baez put another goal on the boards in chukker four to put Helix in the lead. Weidel scored for Windmill as the clock was winding down, tying the score and causing thoughts of a sudden death overtime to swirl among the captivated crowd. Weidel struck again before the bell sounded to end the game with Windmill the winner. Richard Weidel was MVP and his little dunn horse was named Best
Beverly Equestrian/Greenhill Winery’s John Gobin, Tolito Ocampo, Bill Ballhaus and David Greenhill won the Mosby Cup.
Playing Pony. Tinicum’s season began with the Joe Stahl Memorial May 20. Players, ponies and spectators were welcomed back for the season with a bright day of perfect temperature and a fast-moving game made up of club players. White tents lined the field, resembling white capped waves on a green sea. The large crowd and numerous tailgate spreads gave testimony to the growing social membership at the club, currently the largest polo club in the region. The teams, Tinicum and Greg Krug’s Arby Dobb, provided an equally matched game with a close score from start to finish. Dennis Santana umpired and the score keeper and announcer was Carol Stahl. The match is played in honor of Carol’s late husband Joe, who was a founding member of the club. Mark Mulligan and Dave Halliday scored penalty shots for Tinicum in the first chukker. Arby Dobb retaliated in the second with a pair of goals by Cheryl Arnold. Tinicum rebounded in the third with goals by Anders Hedberg and Mulligan. Tinicum added a goal in the final chukker but Arby Dobb answered with goals by Tyler Vance and Arnold, ending the game 65 in favor of Arby Dobb. Arnold was named MVP and Best Playing Pony went to a pony owned by Mark Mulligan.
TOLITO OCAMPO LEADS IN USPA MOSBY CUP
Tolito Ocampo, high scorer of the match, led Beverly Equestrian/ Greenhill Winery in the final of the USPA Mosby Cup to defeat Centauros Dragonfly 13-9 at Virginia International Polo Club in Upperville, Virginia, July 13. Ocampo is the son of Jorge ‘Tolo’ Fernandez Ocampo, who, at 6 goals, was a regular at clubs along the East Coast in the 1980s. Five teams played off over four weeks for a chance to play in the final. Beverly Equestrian/Greenhill Winery (David Greenhill, Bill Ballhaus, Jorge ‘Tolito’ Fernandez Ocampo, John Gobin) and Centauros (Andy Hertneky, Tano Vial, Juan Sanchez, Wendy Andrews) settled at the top with 3-1 records. The final was a rematch of an earlier game when Centauros suffered its only loss. In that match, Beverly/ Greenhill led from start to finish, ending 12-8. In the final, Beverly began with a two-goal handicap but Vial quickly cut the lead with a Penalty 2 conversion early in the game. Ocampo answered back with a Penalty 2 of his own and Gobin split the uprights on a run to goal, ending the first seven minutes with Beverly leading 4-1. Ballhaus put
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 47
P O L O
R E P O R T
The Island House’s Will Tomita, Peter Holowesko, Balta Magrini and Victorino Ruiz won the USPA Al Bianco Memorial.
Beverly up 5-1 early in the second, but Sanchez scored twice, including a Penalty 3 conversion, and Vial scored from the field to cut the difference to one, 5-4. Ocampo went on a tear in the third with three goals, while Centauros was held to two, ending the half with Beverly on top 8-6. Beverly doubled Centauros’ score in the fourth with unanswered goals by Ballhaus, Ocampo and Gobin. Ballhaus added another in the fifth, while Centauros continued to struggle at the goal. Andrews stole the show in the sixth chukker, scoring three in a row to bring Centauros within four, 13-9 but the team ran out of time and Beverly Equestrian/Greenhill Winery was left holding the trophies. Bill Ballhaus was MVP and his Shazam, played by Ocampo and bred by Cria Yatay, was Best Playing Pony. In other matches Beverly defeated Salamander (Tom Gorman, George Krabbe, Agustin Mauhon, Fernando Macial) 9-5; Ryan (Kyle Conde, Alex Conde, Maureen Brennan, Segundo Bocanto) defeated Salamander 8-4; Centauros Dragonfly defeated Speedwell (Nicole Watson, Jason Paterniti, Brad Mallet, Jimmy McGowan) 11-7; Beverly defeated Centauros 12-8; Salamander defeated Speedwell 9-8 in overtime; Centauros defeated Salamander 12-11; Beverly defeated Ryan 8-4; Ryan defeated Speedwell 9-7; Speedwell defeated
48 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Hawk Hill’s Adam Justin, Santi Gomez Romero, Gringo Colombres and Philip Mactaggert won the Officer’s Cup and Moore Memorial.
Beverly 9-7; and Centauros defeated Ryan 10-7. NORTHEASTERN
ISLAND HOUSE TAKES AL BIANCO MEMORIAL The Island House defeated Stone Rows 6-4 to take the USPA Al Bianco Memorial played at Long Island’s Bethpage State Park in Bethpage, New York, July 2. Stone Rows (Mrinal Dansingani, Frank Evans, Brian Fairclough, Juan Redlich) began with a handicap goal, which The Island House (Will Tomita, Peter Holowesko, Juan ‘Balta’ Magrini, Toro Ruiz) quickly overcame. Ruiz scored two in a row to give Stone Rows the 2-1 advantage at the end of the first seven minutes. The Island House kept up the pressure, with goals by Ruiz, Tomita and Holowesko. Redlich finally slipped The Island House’s defense to score, ending the chukker 5-2 in favor of The Island House. Holowesko and Redlich traded goals in the third keeping the difference at three goals with one chukker left. Stone Rows held The Island House scoreless in the fourth, while Dansingani split the uprights but the team came up short and The Island House held on for the 6-4 victory. Ruiz, high scorer, was named MVP.
HAWK HILL DOMINATES TWO 8-GOAL TOURNEYS
Hawk Hill had its name engraved on two 8-goal trophies in July. The month started out with a win in the USPA Officers Cup and ended with a win in the Eddie Moore Memorial, both at the Mashomack Polo Club in Pine Plains, New York. In the USPA Officer’s Cup, Hawk Hill (Adam Justin, Santi Gomez Romero, Gringo Colombres, Philip Mactaggart) met Tres 4s (Juanse Olivera, Ezequiel Zubiaurre, Guille Aguero, Richard White) in the final after the two teams rose to the top of a nine-team roster. In just the first few minutes, Hawk Hill flexed its muscles with Gomez Romero and Colombres combining for four goals. The teams traded penalty conversions in the second, ending with Hawk Hill soaring 6-2. The third chukker was a back-and-forth volley with the teams matching each other goal for goal. The half ended with Hawk Hill holding a 9-5 lead. In the second half, Tres 4 capitalized on Hawk Hill’s mistakes, converting three penalty shots, but goals by Gomez Romero and Colombres kept Hawk Hill ahead 11-8. Hawk Hill gained ground in the fifth, with goals by Gomez Romero, Colombres and Mactaggert, while holding Tres 4s to a pair of goals from
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Shekomeko’s Maxi Chenaut, Tavi Usandizaga, Guy Merison and Oli Merison won the Officer’s Cup Handicap at Mashomack Polo Club.
Olivera. Tres 4s fought back in the sixth chukker with three goals between Aguero and Zubiaurre but fell short of Hawk Hill. A goal by Colombres ensured Hawk Hill’s 15-13 victory. Santi Gomez Romero was named MVP. In the Officer’s Cup Handicap, Shekomeko (Oli Merison, Guy Merison, Tavi Usandizaga, Maxi Chenaut) topped Smithfield (Craig Callen, Jared Sheldon, Bauti Crotto, John Klopp) 11-9. Usandizaga was MVP and Oli Merison’s Samba was Best Playing Pony. Hawk Hill and Tres 4s met again in the final of the Eddie Moore Memorial. Again, nine teams participated in the tournament. Tres 4s didn’t fare any better this time around, though it had a better start. Colombres struck first, but a Penalty 2 conversion by Zubiaurre matched it. Gomez Romero shot back with a pair of Penalty 3 conversions to take the lead. A field goal by Olivera in the closing minute of the chukker kept it close 3-2. Colombres and Zubiaurre traded goals in the second and Colombres matched goals from Zubiaurre and Aguero in the third, ending the half with Hawk Hill holding a narrow 6-5 lead. Colombres kept up the pressure in the second half, scoring a pair of lone goals in the fourth. Zubiaurre gained some traction with two goals in the
R E P O R T
Lim Rose’s Guillermo Usandizaga, Steve Lim, Will Orthwein and Tab Orthwein won the 8-goal Times-Union Cup at Saratoga Polo.
fifth, but they were matched by penalty conversions from Colombres and Gomez Romero. Tres 4s trailed 10-7 going into the final period. Mactaggert increased the lead with a shot from the field. Olivera shot back with a goal of his own but Tres 4s couldn’t get any closer and Hawk Hill took the win. Colombres, high scorer with seven goals, was named MVP. In the subsidiary Nueva Escocia Cup, Windswept (Davis Colley, Bruce Colley, Alejandro Alvarez, Alan Martinez) defeated Barton Farm (Andrew Gundlach, Henry Zavaleta, Tatin Zavaleta, Oak Thorne) 11-8.
LIM ROSE TAKES TIMES-UNION CUP
Lim Rose edged Quiet Creek Farms 98 to win the Times-Union Cup final at Saratoga Polo Club in Saratoga, New York, July 30. Lim Rose (Steve Lim, Tab Orthwein, Will Orthwein, Guillermo Usandizaga) met Quiet Creek Farms (Olivia Reynolds, Hannah Reynolds, Cuko Escapite, Pitufo Jaramillo subbing for Gaston Lisioli) in the final after topping Calhaven Farms (Debbie Gilmore, Cullen Howe, Tito Gorosito, Pitufo Jaramillo) 7-6 in the semifinal. In the semifinal match, Lim Rose put on a balanced attack with goals by Lim, Tab Orthwein and Usandizaga, while Calhaven Farms saw four goals
off the mallet of Howe and one from Jaramillo added to a handicap goal. In the final, Will Orthwein started off the scoring for Lim Rose, but goals by Jaramillo and Hannah Reynolds put Quiet Creek Farms on top 2-1 after the first chukker. The tables were turned in the second with Usandizaga striking twice for Lim Rose while Quiet Creek Farms was held to a goal from Escapite. The teams traded goals in the third, ending the first half with the teams knotted at 4-4. The teams rested while spectators enjoyed the traditional Champagne divot stomp. The teams battled back and forth to start the second half. Usandizaga split the uprights but Jaramillo answered back with a goal of his own. Then, Lim attacked the goal but again Jaramillo had the answered to keep the score level. Lim Rose dominated the fifth chukker with goals by Will Orthwein and Usandizaga, while all of Quiet Creek Farms’ drives to goal were cut short. The teams started the final chukker with Lim Rose leading 8-6. Quiet Creek Farm fought back with Jaramillo and Escapite finding the mark to get back in the game. But Tab Orthwein ran to goal, slipping the ball between the uprights to give Lim Rose the 9-8 advantage and the trophies. High scorers were Usandizaga and Jaramillo, each with four goals to their credit.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 49
P O L O
R E P O R T
Members of the Wallop family present trophies to Sonny Hill’s Tom Gose, Julio Arellano, Francisco Lanusse and Curtis Pilot.
PAC I F I C N O R T H W E S T
SONNY HILL WINS OLIVER WALLOP CUP Trailing for four periods, Sonny Hill out-scored Jam Pamela in the last two periods to win the Oliver Wallop Cup at Flying H Polo Club in Sheridan, Wyoming, July 22. Jan Pamela (Wayne Garrison, Gonzalo Teves, Carlucho Arellano, Hector Galindo) began with a one-goal handicap and went on to score three in row in the opening chukker to take a 4-0 lead, but it then went silent for the next two periods. Sonny Hill (Curtis Pilot, Francisco Lanusse, Julio Arellano, Tom Gose) got its bearings in the second chukker with goals by Tom Gose and Julio Arellano getting in the game. Arellano sunk a penalty in the third to bring Sonny Hill within one 43 at the half. Francisco Lanusse tied the score early in the fourth, but a penalty conversion by Garrison gave the lead back to Jan Pamela. Arellano tied it back up with a penalty of his own, but Teves put Jan Pamela on top once again. Jan Pamela went silent as Gose scored a pair of Penalty 2s in the fifth to take the lead, 7-6, and Arellano and Lanusse scored the only goals of the sixth for the 9-6 win. Tom Gose was named MVP and
50 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
BTA’s Craig Duke, Miguel Astrada, Jeff Blake and Kelly Beal came away with the Cloud Peak Cup.
Julio Arellano’s Wi-Fi took Best Playing Pony honors. In the consolation matches, The Villages (Roni Duke, Jim Parr, Frankie Bilbao, Santi Torres) edged Titos (Kelly Beal, James P. Uihlein, Sugar Erskine, Joe Wayne Barry) 8-7 for the Old Moncrieff Cup, while Bendabout (Gillian Johnston, Steve Dalton, Miguel Astrada, Chip Campbell) beat No Trees (Craig Duke, Gonzalo de la Fuente, Steve Krueger, Jeff Blake) 119 for the Canyon Ranch Classic. In the latter match, Chip Campbell was MVP, and Gillian Johnston’s Sugar was Best Playing Pony. The previous week, BTA bested Retama for the Cloud Peak Cup. BTA (Kelly Beal, Jeff Blake, Miguel Astrada, Craig Duke) struck first, trying to neutralize the three-goal handicap given to Retama (Jim Parr, Frankie Bilbao, Carlucho Arellano, Tom Gose). Carlucho Arellano answered but Miguel Astrada put one on the board to get BTA closer, 4-2. Bilbao sandwiched goals around one from Blake in the second to keep Retama ahead 6-3. A penalty conversion by Duke and a goal by Blake cut the deficit to one, 6-5, going into the half. Blake and Bilbao traded goals in the fourth to keep it close. Duke tied it up in the fifth with a penalty conversion and Astrada gave BTA the short-lived lead. Arellano leveled the
score at 8-8 to end the fifth. The battle was won after Astrada was the only person to score in the sixth, lifting BTA to the 9-8 victory. The effort earned him MVP honors, while Bilbao’s Rosita was Best Playing Pony. In the consolation Cloud Peak Classic Jan Pamela (Wayne Garrison, Julio Arellano, Cacho Galindo, Hector Galindo) edged Bendabout (Gillian Johnston, Sugar Erskine, Francisco Lanusse, Curtis Pilot) 14-13. In the subsidiary Cloud Peak Challenge, Titos (James Uihlein, Gonzalo Teves, Joe Wayne Barry, Chip Campbell) beat Parrot Heads (Roni Duke, Santi Torres, Gonzalo de la Fuente, Steve Krueger) 15-12. Teves was named MVP and Santi Torres’ River was Best Playing Pony. Opening week, July 8, had Bendabout with a 15-10 win over The Villages for the Gallatin Ranch Cup. Bendabout (Gillian Johnston, Julio Arellano, Steve Krueger, Kelly Beal) doubled the two-goal handicap it gave The Villages (Jim Parr, James Uihlein, Frankie Bilbao, Shane Rice) in the first chukker after goals from Johnston, Arellano and Krueger. It had an equally strong second chukker with a trio of goals from Arellano and a penalty conversion from Beal, while holding The Villages to a penalty conversion by Uihlein. Shane Rice sank another penalty conversion in the third, but Johnston matched it.
P O L O
Tom Kerhner, Connie Bason and Tim Peterson present trophies to Bendabout’s Shane Rice, Gillian Johnston, Steve Krueger and Kelly Beal.
Bilbao struck but Krueger responded, ending the chukker with Bendabout ahead 10-5. The teams battled throughout the second half. Uihlein scored the only goal in the fourth from the penalty line. The game sped up in the fifth with Bilbao and Uihlein reaching the goal but Arellano, Krueger and Beal also split the uprights, maintaining the five-goal advantage, 13-8. Johnston and Arellano scored early in the sixth, goals that were matched by Rice, but The Villages was not able to dig out from the first-half deficit. Bendabout took the 15-10 victory. Gillian Johnston was MVP and Frankie Bilbao’s Nubecita was Best Playing Pony. In the subsidiary Johnny Clover Classic, Parrot Heads edged Jan Pamela 8-6, while No Trees edged Sonny Hill 9-8 for the Circle V Cup. The following week, July 29, The Villages came away the winner in the Bradford Brinton Memorial Cup. In the final, The Villages (Paige McCabe, James P. Uihlein, Frankie Bilbao, Joe Wayne Barry) began with a three-goal handicap from Jan Pamela (Wayne Garrison, Cacho Galindo, Julio Arellano, Hector Galindo). Jan Pamela went to work eating away at the handicap goals with Garrison knocking in a Penalty 2 and Arellano scoring from the field. But, a
R E P O R T
The Villages’ Paige McCabe, James Uihlein, Frankie Bilbao and Joe Wayne Barry won the Bradford Brinton Memorial Cup.
Coca Cola’s Carlucho Arellano, Julio Arellano, Gillian Johnston and Miguel Astrada.
goal by Uihlein kept The Villages ahead 4-2. The Villages jumped out front in the second with a pair of goals by McCabe and one from Bilbao before Hector Galindo tallied. Jan Pamela’s struggles continued in the third while McCabe scored a Penalty 3 to put The Villages ahead 8-3. Jan Pamela regrouped in the second half, with Garrison, Arellano and Cacho Galindo striking in the fourth, but Bilbao and Uihlein matched those goals to maintain a five-goal lead. Garrison traded goals with Bilbao in the fifth. Garrison and Hector Galindo scored in the sixth, while The Villages was kept from reaching the goal, but it wasn’t enough and The Villages took the 12-9 win. McCabe was MVP and Hector Galindo’s Lyla was Best Playing Pony. In the subsidiary Red Grade Cup, Sonny Hill (Jeff Blake, Francisco Lanusse, Curtis Pilot, Gonzalo de la
Fuente) edged Clearwater (Chip Campbell, Gonzalo Teves, Carlucho Arellano, Tom Gose) 11-10. Lanusse was MVP and Teves’ Peca was Best Playing Pony. The month ended with the Goose Creek Cup, a 24-goal match pitting Coca-Cola (Gillian Johnston, Julio Arellano, Miguel Astrada, Carlucho Arellano) against BudLight (Santi Torres, Sugar Erskine, Hector Galindo, Jeff Blake) July 30. The match was a fundraiser for the Downtown Sheridan Association. The four-chukker match began with Carlucho Arellano sinking the first goal. That was followed by a goal from his brother Julio. Erskine put BudLight on the board to end the first with Coca-Cola ahead 2-1. Julio Arellano traded goals with Jeff Blake in the second and Julio found the mark with a Penalty 4 to end the first half with Coca-Cola doubling BudLight’s score, 4-2. Julio Arellano and Astrada reached the goal in the third. Erskine struck again, but BudLight couldn’t make up any more ground. Torres scored his first goal but Julio answered with a one-two punch. Erskine scored the last goal of the match but it wasn’t enough and Coca-Cola had the 8-5 win. Julio Arellano, high scorer with six goals, was MVP, while Mario, played by Miguel Novillo Astrada and owned by G-String Polo, was Best Playing Pony.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 51
ARI DELIN/CHUKKERTV
R E P O R T
ARI DELIN/CHUKKERTV
P O L O
Tiburon’s Lucas Lalor, Pablo Dorignac, Collen Clark and Lauren Sherry won the ChukkerTV Challenge at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
TIBURON TRIUMPHS IN CHUKKERTV CHALLENGE Tiburon, making its Aspen Valley Polo Club debut this summer, rallied in the sixth chukker for an exciting 10-9 victory over Casablanca to capture the ChukkerTV Challenge Cup in Carbondale, Colorado, July 9. Early first-half leaders Tiburon (Lauren Sherry, Collen Clark, Pablo Dorignac, Lucas Lalor) trailed Casablanca (Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Mariano Gracida) by as many as four goals in the fourth chukker. The Dallas-based team outscored Casablanca, 3-0, in the final chukker with goals from Clark, Lalor and the game-winner from Dorignac in the final seconds of the game. Lalor was named Most Valuable Player after turning in an all-around performance including a game-high five goals, saving back-to-back goal attempts by Grant Ganzi and Bollini in the sixth chukker and scoring the tying goal (9-9) by lofting the ball over two defenders from 120 yards out from a standstill. Lujan, a 6-year-old mare bred by Wellington-based Santa Rita Polo Farm out of Juana by Twist of Lemon
52 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
La Karina’s Carlitos Gracida, Mariano Gracida, Brian Boyd and Marc Ganzi won the season-opening Independence Cup.
and ridden by Lalor, was named Best Playing Pony. In the most competitive game of the five-team tournament, Tiburon jumped out to a 3-1 lead with two goals from Lalor and a penalty goal from Dorignac, who turned out to be the team’s one-two punch. Casablanca started working its way back into the game in the second chukker behind Grant Ganzi and Bollini, outscoring Tiburon, 2-1 and trailing by only one, 4-3, going into the third chukker. Bollini and Ganzi combined for three goals to shut out Tiburon, 3-0, in the third chukker for a 6-4 halftime advantage. Casablanca led 8-5 in the fourth chukker and 9-7 after the fifth before Tiburon worked its way back in the game behind Lalor and Dorignac in the final chukker. In the subsidiary game, Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Alex Gooding, Juan Bollini, Carlitos Gracida) defeated Tonkawa (Alejandra Foster, Brian Boyd, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Jimmy Seward), 5-1 and Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Gabriel Gracida, Mike Azzaro, Stewart Armstrong), 5-4, to capture the title. In the other game, Tonkawa and Los Amigos tied at 4-4 with Alejandra Foster scoring the tying goal with 1:36 left in the game. Denver-born Alex Gooding, who lives nearby in Emma, was named
Most Valuable Player after scoring four goals in six chukkers. Maya, a 6-year-old Chestnut mare, owned and played by Gabriel Gracida, was selected Best Playing Pony. In the previous weekend’s seasonopening Independence Cup, Clark was a member of the Aspen Valley Polo Club team that finished runner-up to Brian Boyd’s La Karina team, 9-7. It was Boyd, vice president of the Aspen Valley Polo Club, who convinced Clark to play in Aspen this summer. “I recruited him to play with us and I knew he would get going,” Boyd said. “I want the patrons to come and enjoy Aspen and play super fun patron polo and have a good time. They are the heart and soul of this club.” In Week 3, Casablanca played textbook team polo to dominate the first five chukkers and capture the Basalt Handicap with an 8-6 victory over Tonkawa. Casablanca’s foursome of Mariano Gracida, Grant Ganzi, Pablo Dorignac and Juancito Bollini were so wellbalanced and performed equally well that they shared the Most Valuable Player award. Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Carlitos Gracida, Lucas Lalor, Jimmy Seward), after being held scoreless for four chukkers, rallied for five goals in the final chukker but fell short. Zigzag, a 10-year-old Argentine bay
R E P O R T
ARI DELIN/CHUKKERTV
ARI DELIN/CHUKKERTV
P O L O
Sally Sakin presents trophies to Casablanca’s Santos Bollini, Grant Ganzi, Lucas Lalor and Juancito Bollini.
mare owned and played by Hildebrand in the sixth chukker, was named Best Playing Pony. Both teams started out slowly in the scoreless opening chukker. Casablanca picked up steam in the second chukker for a 3-0 lead with goals from Ganzi, Dorignac and Bollini. After a scoreless third chukker, Casablanca started building on its lead with four goals in the next two chukkers for 5-1 and 7-1 advantages. Tonkawa ended up scoring some of the goals it missed for most of the game, outscoring Casablanca, 5-1, in the final chukker. A combination of errors had Tonkawa missing five goals in the first half and seven in the second half. Tonkawa was attacking on offense but was unable to finish its goals. In the subsidiary round robin game, Los Amigos (Alejandra Foster, Gabriel Gracida, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster) defeated La Karina (Ailsa Currier, Brian Boyd, Mike Azzaro, Stewart Armstrong), 4-2, in the final game to win. In the other two three-chukker games, Los Amigos edged Audi (Marc Ganzi, Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini, Bill Kirton/Johnny Kirton), 4-3 and La Karina defeated Audi, 5-3. Paul Foster was named Most Valuable Player after scoring a team-
Ace Boyd, filling in for Jeff Hildebrand on the Tonkawa team, was named MVP in the final of the Craig Sakin Memorial.
high four goals. Honey Bee, ridden by Stewart Armstrong and bred by his brother Charlie Armstrong in Florida, was named Best Playing Pony. The polo doubleheader benefited the WindWalkers Equine Assisted Learning and Therapy Center. The following week, Casablanca won its second consecutive title, The Craig Sakin Memorial. Casablanca (Santos Bollini, Grant Ganzi, Lucas Lalor, Juancito Bollini) held on for a thrilling 10-9 victory over Tonkawa (Ace Boyd, Alex Gooding, Jimmy Seward, Pablo Dorignac). Boyd, the lowest-rated player on the field competing in her first major final, was named Most Valuable Player. She replaced team patron Jeff Hildebrand and played well above her handicap, scoring three goals, all on Penalty 2 conversions. Mini Me, ridden by Santos Bollini, 17, the youngest player in the final, was selected Best Playing Pony. In the fifth chukker, Bollini scored despite a hard Dorignac bump and forced Gooding to hit wide on what looked to be a sure goal run. Casablanca held slim 2-1 and 3-2 leads after the first two chukkers but opened it up in the third chukker for a 6-3 halftime advantage. Tonkawa outscored Casablanca, 2-1, in the fourth chukker and trailed by only 6-5 but Casablanca turned the tables in
the fifth for a 2-1 chukker and led 9-6. Led by Dorignac’s two goals in the sixth chukker, Tonkawa reeled in Casablanca but fell short of its rally. In the subsidiary round robin, Los Amigos Red (Alejandra Foster, Marc Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Mariano Gracida) captured the three-team subsidiary. Los Amigos Red defeated La Karina (Melissa Ganzi, Brian Boyd, Mike Azzaro, Juan Bollini), 6-5, and tied Los Amigos Blue (Paul Foster, Gabriel Gracida, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Stewart Armstrong), 5-5, with Carlitos Gracida scoring the tying goal in the final seconds. In the other game, La Karina edged Los Amigos Blue, 4-3. Carlitos Gracida was selected MVP. Riegna, an 8-year-old American Thoroughbred, owned and played by Armstrong, was named Best Playing Pony. The fourth annual Craig Sakin Memorial is named in honor of Sakin, who died Feb. 11, 2014, at age 52. The former president of the Homeowners’ Association of Sopris Mountain Ranch, was instrumental in helping Marc and Melissa Ganzi secure their first polo field. “I want to thank Melissa and Marc for every year honoring Craig,” said his wife Sally Beneman Sakin, who presented the tournament awards. —Sharon Robb
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 53
R E P O R T
KATTY WONG
KATY WONG
P O L O
Rege Ludwig, Bob Puetz and Rodney Fragodt congratulate Pasadena’s Chuck Stanislawski, Ian Schnoebelen and Skylar Dale.
PASADENA WINS A FLIGHT SHOOTOUT California Polo Club in Los Angeles, California, hosted the second of three tournaments for the Pacific Coast Arena League June 10-11. The two-day tournament drew nine teams from all over Southern and Central California. CPC flew in USPA pro umpire Dana Fortugno to ensure high-quality officiating. Dana was supported by local umpires Meghan Judge, Jeff Scheraga and CPC’s own Melissa Rath. Each team played games both days, with trophies and MVP, Sportsman and Best Playing Pony awards presented after each game. The teams were divided into three flights. Two teams played in Flight A. On the first day, Pasadena (Chuck Stanislawski, Skylar Dale, Ian Schnoebelen) took on California Polo Club (Jessica Bailey, Kailey Eldredge, Jeff Lin). Pasadena’s Dale and Schnoebelen combined for three goals added to a one-goal handicap, while CPC was held to goals from Bailey and Eldredge for a 4-2 Pasadena lead. Pasadena doubled its scored in the second while Bailey scored CPC’s only goal. Four goals from Bailey and
54 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Eldredge helped cut the deficit in the third, but goals by Stanislawski and Dale kept Pasedena on top 10-7 after three. Pasadena finished strong with six goals in the fourth, despite a valiant effort from Eldredge, who scored three. Pasadena won 16-10. Bailey was MVP, Eldredge was best sportsman and Skylar Dale’s Jessie
goal for CPC, while goals by Dale and Stanislawski knotted the score at 8 going into the final period. Linn scored a two-point penalty added to a Penalty 1 but Stanislawski and Dale combined for three to level the score at 11-11 to end regulation time. A shootout was necessary to determine the winner. No one reached KATTY WONG
PAC I F I C C OA S T
LA Training Center’s Eric Rosen, Kirsten Ludwig and Paul Sethi won its two Flight B matches.
was Best Playing Pony. The next day, the teams met again, but this time CPC had a whole new energy. Eldredge quickly voided Pasadena’s handicap goal before the teams traded barbs back and forth. The first ended level at 4-4. Eldredge and Linn put CPC up by three in the second before Stanislawski struck for Pasadena leaving CPC on top 7-5. In the third, Bailey scored the only
Ian Schnoebelen, Kailey Eldredge, Skylar Dale, Jessica Bailey, Chuck Stanislawski and Jeff Lin played in Flight A.
the goal from the 25-yard line on the first try and only Ian Schnoebelen was successful on the second try, giving Pasadena the win. Dale was MVP, Linn was best sportsman and Bailey’s Barney was Best Playing Pony. B Flight had four teams competing.
R E P O R T
KATTY WONG
KATTY WONG
P O L O
Central Coast Polo Club’s Meghan Judge, Salvador Solorzano and Carla Renard won a B Flight game on the first day.
matched all of Calfornia’s goal to end the first 4-4. Central Coast owned the second with seven unanswered goals to end the half 11-4. In the second half, the teams matched each other with Jumabhoy and Renard each adding four goals and Solorzano and Wong scoring one
KATTY WONG
In the first game, LA Training Center (Kirsten Ludwig, Eric Rosen, Paul Sethi) took on Combo (Taylor Olcott, Simone Pastacaldi, Petra Teixeira), which began with a handicap goal. LA’s Rosen and Ludwig struck first, but a goal by Teixeira knotted the score after the first seven minutes. LA stole the show in the second, with six goals scored. Combo’s only tallies were a pair of Penalty 1s. LA kept up the pressure in the third, scoring another five goals, while Combo saw a pair from Teixeira and one from Olcott. In the last period, Olcott and Pastacaldi found the goal but Rosen, the high scorer, answered with the last two of his seven goals. LA Training Center took the 15-9 victory. Rosen was MVP and Sethi was best sportsman, while Hippity Do Dah was Best Playing Pony. The other B Flight game pitted California Polo Club (Imran Jumabhoy, Robert McGinley, Katty Wong) against Central Coast Polo Club (Meghan Judge, Carla Renard, Salvador Solorzano). California began with a handicap goal and Jumabhoy quickly added to it but Central Coast
California Polo Club’s Robert McGinley, Katty Wong and MVP Imran Jumabhoy won their B Flight game on the second day.
Kirsten Ludwig and Taylor Olcott mark each other closely in B Flight action.
each, but the damage was done and Central Coast took the 16-9 win. Judge was MVP, Wong was best sportsman and Solorzano’s Scarface was Best Playing Pony. The following day, Combo took on California Polo Club. Combo received a handicap goal, which Pastacaldi added to. Wong put California on the
board, but Teixeira shot back. Jumabhoy and McGinley both got in the game with goals to end the first with the teams knotted 3-3. A pair of goals from Wong added to a Penalty 1, put California ahead but a goal by Teixeira kept Combo in the game. Olcott scored the only goal of the third to bring Combo within one. The final chukker was back and forth as Jumabhoy matched goals from Olcott and Teixeira to give California the 8-7 win. Jumabhoy was MVP, Olcott was best sportsman and Teixeira’s Wi-Fi was Best Playing Pony. In the other B Flight game, LA Training Center took on Central Coast Polo. Beginning with a handicap goal, LA added four more in the first chukker, while holding Central Coast to two. Judge scored three in the second, while LA was held to two for a 7-5 LA lead at the halfway mark. Renard and Solorzano added goals to a Penalty 1 but those were matched by goals from Rosen and Sethi. Judge and Renard swapped goals with Ludwig and Sethi in the fourth, allowing LA Training Center to maintain the two-goal advantage for
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 55
KATTY WONG
R E P O R T
KATTY WONG
P O L O
California Polo Club’s Maritza Johnson, Charles Torroba and Andre Aghili, with umpire Jeff Scheraga, won Flight C.
Poway then faced Lakeside with similar results. Lakeside began with a half-goal handicap and Caravetta knocked in five in a row, while Poway was unresponsive. Humphreys, Vanderploeg and Nadell contributed
KATTY WONG
the 12-10 win. Ludwig was MVP, Solorzano was best sportsman and Judge’s Pacerini was Best playing pony. Three teams filled C Flight, necessitating a round robin. California Polo Club (Kirstin Barron, Maritza Johnson, Charles Torroba, Andre Aghili) took on Lakeside (Elizabeth Humphreys, Larry Vanderploeg, Ricardo Caravetta, Barry Nadell) in the first round. Lakeside began with a handicap but goals by Aghili and Barron gave CPC the lead. Caravetta knocked in a pair to give Lakeside the 2½2 lead after the first chukker. Barron was on fire in the second, scoring three but they were matched by goals from Vanderploeg and Nadell, keeping Lakeside narrowly ahead for the 5½-5 victory. The next round pitted CPC against Poway (Charlize Bisogni, Greg Rouyer, Hannah Stock, Kirsten Ludwig, Sarah Bellack). Unanswered goals by Aghili, Johnson and Barron put CPC ahead 40. The second chukker was more of the same as Barron added two and Torroba tallied a trio. Bisogni and Bellack found the mark for Poway but it wasn’t enough and CPC took the 9-2 victory.
Lakeside’s Barry Nadell, Ricardo Caravetta, Larry Vanderploeg and Elizabeth Humphreys won the C Flight round robin on the first day.
56 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Salvador Solorzano and Imran Jumabhoy race to the ball in a B Flight game.
in the second chukker, while Bisogni and Bellack scored for Poway. The round ended with Lakeside holding a 9½-2 lead. With wins in two rounds, Lakeside took the trophies. Barron was MVP, Vanderploeg was best sportsman and Bisogni’s Martini was Best Playing Pony. The teams met again the next day, but this time CPC was in control. Lakeside, which had Melissa Rath and Ilona Rice taking Humprey’s place,
led 3-2 after the first chukker when Caravetta added a goal to a two-point penalty conversion by Rath. In retaliation, Barron scored two for CPC. The tables turned in the second as CPC was firing on all cylinders, scoring nine times before Rice popped one in for Lakeside. The damage was done, and CPC took the 11-4 win. CPC dominated Poway in round two, with Aghili scoring three times and Barron once, while holding Poway to a goal from Rouyer. Torroba added three in the second, while goals by Bisogni and Bellack kept Poway in the game. But time ran out and CPC took the 7-3 victory. The last round pitted Lakeside and Poway vying for second place. Rouyer added two and Bellack one, but Vanderploeg and Caravetta had two apiece and Rice one for a 5-3 Lakeside lead. A pair of goals by Rath and one each from Nadell and Vanderploeg were the nails in Poway’s coffin as Lakeside took the 9-3 win. Torroba was MVP, Bisogni was best sportsman and Barron’s Mercedes was Best Playing Pony. —Melissa Rath contributed to this article.
P O L O OBITUARY
MARY LEE WALTON
Mary Elizabeth Lee Walton, of Modesto, California, entered eternal life July 15, surrounded by her family. Loving wife of 64 years, devoted mother of six, doting grandmother and great-grandmother of eight, energetic businesswoman, generous giver, world traveler, instigator of so many things—that is a small way to sum up the fascinating life of Mary Lee Walton. Her spirit will be carried on by her family and friends from every walk of life. We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Mary during her 86 years on earth. Among them: always enjoy the present company, women’s equality is pertinent, sacrificing for the betterment of family is necessary, and ultimately how to make cinnamon rolls—the enticing smell brought everyone in the neighborhood to the kitchen. Mary was always more interested in you than herself. She would leave a party, having spoken to every person there. If you told her times were hard, she would say, come on, you can do it. Her travel agency business took her all over the world. No detail was too small, as in what to eat in Hong Kong. She was athletic, rode horses, ran marathons and scuba-dived. She would order the appetizer with the intention to share what her companions were eating. And, those cinnamon rolls? That was another side of Mary: hot, yeasty rolls laced with tons of butter, sugar and cinnamon. Her very own recipe, thank you very much. Mary was born Nov. 23, 1930 as the youngest child and only daughter of Edgar Sias Lee and Norma Irene Wight. She grew up in Midland, Michigan, and graduated from Midland High School. Her lucky choice to attend Stephens College (Columbia, MO), the country’s secondoldest women’s college, was perfect for this precocious teenager. Stephens encouraged its students to be whatever
they wanted despite what society dictated—and this was the late 1940s! Mary transferred to the University of Michigan to study nursing. While there, she took a class taught by a young British-born doctor, Robert G. Walton. The two were married in 1953 and settled in Modesto, California. Their dream was to have a large family and raise them on a ranch. They succeeded on both accounts. The ranch was no ordinary one. Coming from the Midwest and with a brother studying with Frank Lloyd Wright, Mary wanted a custom-designed home from the Old Master. She wrote him a letter and once he approved her site, he said yes. The house was in FLW’s Usonian style with his signature wood furniture. Mary became a member of the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy. The presence of horses on the ranch led Dr. Walton to play polo in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Polo wouldn’t be the same afterward. Mary encouraged her children to participate in all equestrian activities. Her three sons became professional polo players and her youngest daughter was the first woman player at her high school. That wasn’t enough for Mary. A polo field was constructed on the ranch and Mary and her daughter Betsy set up a tack shop. Their polo association led them to meet many famous people including the British Royal Family, Tommy Lee Jones, Sylvester Stallone,
R E P O R T William Devane and Stephanie Powers. When their oldest son suffered a serious polo accident, Mary and Bob became involved in supporting groups raising money to help severely injured players. In addition, they raised money for Hospice and Memorial Hospital. As if running her children’s lives, the family real estate and polo business weren’t enough, Mary decided to open a travel agency. She owned and ran Passport to Travel for 40 years, up until her death. She put together fascinating trips and her clients loved her. When her daughter started Lady Walton cookies, the cookie recipe came from Mary. She became a founding investor in the business, which expanded to become LWC Brands, Inc. When women were admitted to Rotary in 1987, Mary didn’t miss a beat. She helped establish the Escalon Sunrise Rotary Club and served as its president. She was the president of League of Women Voters and Omega Nu Sorority; member of the Stanislaus County Grand Jury, the Republican Central Committee and the California Polled Hereford Women’s Auxiliary; and an alumnus of Gamma Phi Beta sorority at the University of Michigan. Mary is survived by her husband, Dr. Robert G. Walton; children: Betsy Walton of Pacific Palisades, CA; Rob Walton of Foothill Ranch, CA; Bil, Susan and Mary Alizon Walton of Dallas, TX; and FD Walton of Modesto, CA; her grandchildren: Del, Madeleine, Will, Sophie and Ali; three greatgrandchildren: David, Calhoun and Harrison Walton; brother Fred Lee; her niece and godchild, Sarah Lee; and her nephews, Robert and John Lee. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mary’s memory can be made to one of her favorite organizations: Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles, (supportppla.org), Community Hospice of Modesto (hospiceheart.org), Escalon Sunrise Rotary Club, Salvation Army Modesto and the Polo Players Support Group, Inc., to support severely injured players, (www.polosupport.com).
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gauge needle—which is what we utilize to inject the blocking worst tears) were successes. The anesthetic to treat the joint. We problem with the definition of succan usually stick that scope into cess was that there were only three the standing horse and look options in discussing outcome. One around in the joint,” says Frisbie. was that the horse was euthanized “This way we can see cartilage (failure). Two was that the horse tears or meniscal tears, and make was lame and working, but not that diagnosis at about one-third euthanized, and three was that the of the cost. If there is no problem horse went back to work. This is a in the joint and we don’t need to very broad category. For our study, do anything in there, the horse we broke it up farther into the horscan go back to work within a week es that didn’t go back to work, or instead of the more prolonged went back to work and with medrehab time that we usually associical management could go back to ate with general anesthesia and the same level they were before the routine surgery. This method has injury, or went back to the same helped us diagnose a subset of the level and never needed treated stifle problems and in the future again,” says Frisbie. will help us diagnose these sorts of “If we take the latter two catemeniscal injuries earlier,” he says. gories and compare this to the “When we looked at the horses number of cases that were sound, comparing surgery with surgery only one of the 35 grade 3s in the plus stem cells, we knew that the UK study went back to work; five of earlier we diagnosed the lesions, Traditional surgery, with the horse laying down, can cost about them were lame and could not go the better chance of treating it $3,000. When you can’t see anything on x-ray, but still want to back to work,” he says. successfully and getting full return find out what is wrong, standing arthroscopy costs much less. “We were able to improve the to performance. Ultimately, if we success rate with use of stem cells, can diagnose them earlier, our and increase the number of horses that Standing Arthroscopy treatment outcomes hopefully will returned back to work by up to sixfold Frisbie and other researchers at CSU improve,” he says. over surgery alone. So now, any horse that published a paper in a 2013 issue of has stifle disease that takes more than just Veterinary Surgery entitled “Diagnostic Gradual Progress an injection to make it better, we often Stifle Joint Arthroscopy Using a Needle “We are starting to scope stifles earlier treat with stem cells,” he says. Arthroscope in Standing Horses.” Their so we can intervene and realize we need “We use the bone-derived culturepaper discussed standing diagnostic to do something more aggressively with expanded stem cells (rather than fatarthroscopy of the stifle joint. “This is some of them.” There are more options derived stem cells) and put them into the still the hallmark of how we are making today than we had eight or 10 years ago. joint at least 30 days or more after the more progress in stifle diagnosis and “We are holding classes here at CSU to injury. We believe it is very important to treatment. We are doing this with horses teach veterinarians. Since developing the use bone-marrow aspirated cells and culin which you can’t see anything standing technique, every year I teach a ture-expanded. This way we can have 20 abnormal on x-rays and can’t see diagnostic stifle course. It combines million cells. With fat-derived cells only a anything you are really sure of on imaging (mainly ultrasound), along with few of the cells that you put back in are ultrasound, and yet these horses are not standing arthroscopy. The offering of a actually stem cells,” he explains. The studresponding to treatment. Most people course that focuses on just one joint is ies that show significant results are treating don’t want to spend $3000 to lay the unique. We offer an arthroscopy course, joints with at least 20 million stem cells, horse down if they don’t need to, yet still too, that focuses on this. We have anothand the only way you can get this many is want to find out what’s wrong. So now we er four-day course that is more encomby culture-expanding them. The other have another option, with our ability to passing--from normal anatomy through important thing is to wait at least 30 days put an arthroscope into the joint. The diagnosis and treatment. That course before putting the stem cells into the joint. scope is the same diameter as an 18 deals only with suspensory ligaments and 58 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
The arthroscope is the same diameter as the needle used to inject anesthetic into the joint.
stifles. These injuries are challenging—to locate the source of pain for proper diagnosis, and the treatment options are still being researched,” he explains. “There are not a lot of new techniques out there, but our comfort level in using the ones we have available has increased. We are more confident that we are on the right track since some of these methods are starting to stand the test of time,” says Frisbie. MRI and Other Diagnostics Diagnostic capabilities have improved. “Twenty years ago people didn’t even block stifles to try to pinpoint the source of lameness, and rarely treated stifles. Now it is routine to block the stifle during the process of arriving at a diagnosis, and most people are treating them. Coming up with a definitive diagnosis for why they are treating them is still a bit of a gray zone,” says Frisbie. “The first thing is realizing there’s a problem, and the next step is coming up with a way to fix it. We go through a process of defining exactly what the problem is and then engineering specific treatments for those diagnoses once we have
them. Today we are in the final stages of being able to do that with stifles.” There are several options for diagnosis. Today there are a few open-field magnets that can be used for doing MRI on stifles. “These are low-field magnets, about 0.3 Tesla, which isn’t very good. The state of the art right now is either a 1.5 or a 3.0 Tesla magnet. So the low field magnets are 10 times less than what we want. Sometimes it’s better than nothing, but the resolution is so poor that I don’t know if it’s worth laying a horse down under general anesthesia, when you can do a standing scope and look around in the joint,” says Frisbie. “We’ve been doing some contrast CT scans because they are a lot cheaper than MRIs and we are getting some pretty good answers from that. But again you have to use general anesthesia and there are only a few facilities that can do this,” he says. “We did a study looking at sensitivity and specificity of MRI and CT scans compared to arthroscopy and ultrasound. MRI was not as good as ultrasound. The problem with ultrasound, however, is that success is somewhat dependent on
the equipment but extremely dependent on the ability and experience of the operator. With an experienced person, the sensitivity (ability to say there is or isn’t something wrong, but not necessarily determine what is wrong) is relatively high. The specificity involves pinpointing what the problem is, after you’ve made the decision that there is a problem. Those are the two numbers we look at in comparing these modalities. The one that came out the best, for the non-invasive techniques, was the ultrasound—with an experienced operator,” says Frisbie. “The standing stifle arthroscopy was next, even though an MRI would probably be the same. The problem with MRI, however, is cost (usually about $2500) and the horse has to go through general anesthesia. This is a big downside and also drives the cost up,” he says. “The stifle has been a challenging joint in that we’ve had to figure things out via the school of hard knocks— because we were hamstrung in earlier years in diagnostics. The important thing to do first if you think the horse might have a stifle problem is to have the veterinarian do a thorough lameness exam and get the stifle blocked out, to determine for sure that this is where the pain is coming from.” Once you have a diagnosis, then you try to figure out what part of the joint and what the damage is, but that’s not always possible, especially if you live a long way from diagnostic experts. “In those cases, your veterinarian probably treats the stifle with a steroid injection, and maybe it does great for about six weeks. If the horse goes lame again, typically this means there is a more serious problem that needs to be addressed. Most of the time this is when I get involved, and there are multiple things that can be done. It is important to work with someone who does a lot of these cases and knows how to treat them.” When there is a serious problem, it’s wise to involve a good specialist. u POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 59
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J U LY 1 - S E P T E M B E R 2 Low Goal Challenge Southampton, Watermill, N.Y. A U G U S T 5 - S E P T E M B E R 17 Fall League (4) Southampton, Watermill, N.Y. A U G U S T 6 - S E P T E M B E R 17 Southampton Cup (8) Southampton, Watermill, N.Y. AU G U S T 2 2 - S E P T E M B E R 2 Ladies Charity Polo (12-18) Guards, Surrey, U.K. AU G U S T 2 5 - S E P T E M B E R 3 USPA Amateur Cup (0-4) Lexington, Lexington, KY AU G U S T 2 5 - S E P T E M B E R 10 USPA T. Mactaggart Challenge Cup (8) Mashomack, Pine Plains, N.Y. AU G U S T 2 7 - S E P T E M B E R 10 East Coast Open (16-20) Greenwich, Greenwich, CT AU G U S T 2 8 - S E P T E M B E R 2 USPA Sportsmanship Cup (3-6) Tinicum Park, Erwinna, PA AU G U S T 3 0 - S E P T E M B E R 2 Autumn Nations (10-12) Guards, Surrey, U.K. A U G U S T 31 - S E P T E M B E R 4 NYTS Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA
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SEPTEMBER 1-3 Gerald Balding (6-8) Brandywine, Toughkenamon, PA
SEPTEMBER 2-4 Don King Days Big Horn, Sheridan, WY
Polo Hall of Fame Tournament Saratoga, Greenfield Center, N.Y.
SEPTEMBER 2-25 USPA Amateur Cup (0-4) Fairfield, Haysville, KS
Labor Day Challenge (2) Maryland, Jarrettsville, MD Dave Chase Memorial Skaneateles, Skaneateles, N.Y. Bill Leslie Memorial Loretta Thompson Memorial 10th Anniversary Challenge Cup Polo for Polio Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada SEPTEMBER 1-30 Blue Ridge Cup (6-10) Virginia International, Upperville, VA SEPTEMBER 2-3 USPA Women’s Cup (2-4) Congressional, Rockville, MD Jon Moeller Memorial Des Moines, Norwalk, IA Lake Bonavista Cup Calgary, Alberta, Canada USPA Arena Challenge Cup (2-4) Pie Town, Pie Town, N.M. Club Championship Denver, Littleton, CO
SEPTEMBER 3 David O. Chase Tournament Skaneateles, Skaneateles, NY Club Championship Denver, Littleton, CO SEPTEMBER 5-6 USPA Centennial Cup (0-2) Austin, Manor, TX S E P T E M B E R 6 - 10 USPA Constitution Cup (0-4) Honolulu, Waimanalo, HI Mile High Women’s Invitational Denver, Littleton, CO SEPTEMBER 6-24 The Kentucky Cup (14) Mt. Brilliant, Lexington, KY SEPTEMBER 9 Labor Day Tournament South Bay, Gilroy, CA Polo Under the Stars Poway, Poway, CA S E P T E M B E R 9 - 10 USPA Sherman Memorial (3-6) Seneca, Poolesville, MD USPA Arena Masters Cup (3-6) Maryland, Jarrettsville, MD Mike Francis Cup Calgary, Alberta, Canada Intra-Club Matches New Orleans, Folsom, LA S E P T E M B E R 9 - 11 USPA Arena Amateur Cup (0-3) Fairfield, Haysville, KS S E P T E M B E R 9 - 17 USPA Presidents Cup (4-8) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA SEPTEMBER 9-24 Kentucky Invitational (14) Lexington, Lexington, KY
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S E P T E M B E R 10 Beach Polo Classic: Harvard vs. Yale Ocean House, Watch Hill, R.I. International Cup Oak Brook, Oak Brook, IL S E P T E M B E R 11 - 2 4 Autumn Cup (8-12) Cowdray, Midhurst, England S E P T E M B E R 13 - 2 3 Holley Tractor 4 Goal Wagener, Wagener, S.C. S E P T E M B E R 14 - 2 8 Northrup Knox Cup (12-16) New Bridge, Aiken, S.C. S E P T E M B E R 1 5 - 17 Fall Classic (2-4) Mashomack, Pine Plains, N.Y. USPA Masters Cup (0-4) Fairfield, Haysville, KS S E P T E M B E R 15 - O C T O B E R 1 USPA Copper Cup (8-12) New Bridge, Aiken, S.C. S E P T E M B E R 16 Cardinal Glennon Benefit Kraftig, St. Louis, MO S E P T E M B E R 16 - 17 USPA General Patton Cup (0-4) Congressional, Rockville, MD President’s Cup Calgary, Alberta, Canada Middle School League Bloomfield, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
S E P T E M B E R 21 - O C T O B E R 7 USPA Presidents Cup (4-8) Houston, Houston, TX
S E P T E M B E R 2 8 - O C T O B E R 15 USPA Governors Cup (6) Aiken, Aiken, S.C.
SEPTEMBER 22 Fall Classic St. Louis, Chesterfield, MO
SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 1 Richie Jones Memorial Brandywine, Toughkenamon, PA
SEPTEMBER 22-24 Smithfield/Shekomeko Open Mashomack, Pine Plains, N.Y.
SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5 USPA Copper Cup (12) New Bridge, Aiken, S.C.
SEPTEMBER 23 Polo College Fair Country Farm, Medford, N.Y.
SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 1 Congressional Arena Cup (4-6) Congressional, Rockville, MD
SEPTEMBER 23-24 16th Hector Sustaita Memorial Will Rogers, Pacific Palisades, CA
USPA Women’s Challenge (0) Middle School League NWA, Gravette, AR
Icelandic Cup Calgary, Alberta, Canada Middle School League Lakeside, Carlsbad, CA Rose Cup Barrington Hills, Wacounda, IL USPA Mardi Gras Cup (2) New Orleans, Folsom, LA
Note: All dates are subject to change. “USPA” refers to tournaments sponsored or sanctioned by the United States Polo Association.
MARKETPLACE
SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 1 Fall League (0-2) Seneca, Poolesville, MD Retro Classic Ladies Tournament New Orleans, Folsom, LA SEPTEMBER 24 Aloha Cup Honolulu, Waimanalo, HI
September League (0-2) Seneca, Poolesville, MD S E P T E M B E R 16 - 3 0 The Kentucky Open (14) Mt. Brilliant, Lexington, KY S E P T E M B E R 19 - O C T O B E R 1 Alan Corey Cup Aiken, Aiken, S.C. S E P T E M B E R 19 - O C T O B E R 7 USPA Masters Cup (0-6) Wagener, Wagener, S.C. SEPTEMBER 20-OCTOBER 1 Kaleen and Carlton Beal Cup (10-12) Houston, Houston, TX
SEPTEMBER 27-30 USPA Annual Meetings Skamania Lodge Columbia River Gorge, Stevenson, WA
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TACKROOMPRODUCTS.COM POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 61
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POLO PONIES Horses in the sport, real and otherwise
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early 100 years ago, an article in “Spalding’s Athletic Library’s Polo Guide” explained what goes into making a welltrained polo pony. Aside from adding a few zeros to the price of ponies, things haven’t changed that much when it comes to ponies: Does the ordinary individual realize what making a polo pony means and why the first-class tournament pony fetches nowadays from $1,500 to $2,000? Very probably not, for the average man has perhaps a hazy idea that a polo pony has to be taught stick and ball and thinks that once this is accomplished a pony is fit to play. Stick and ball is an infinitesimal part of a pony’s education, and might almost be compared with the learning of mensa in a classical career. The pony’s first lesson is “mouthing,” and in this stage more ponies are ruined than made, for the really expert horseman who can give his time to this consummate art is very rare. A hard mouthed, pulling pony is the devil; a light mouthed, easy pony is joy. The latter is the outcome of many months’ patient schooling from an expert horseman with “hands,” good judgement, and, above all, a perfect temper, for one bad tempered jab in the pupil’s mouth from an impatient rider will undo the laborious work of a month. Coincident with mouthing is the lesson of the “leg,” that most misunderstood and misapplied term. “Putting on the leg” is not a vigorous dig with the heel or spur, as even some of our best men to hounds and over a country apparently think, but a distinct pressure—to be perfect, it should be invisible—of the leg mus62 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Above: Riding off requires a determination just as great on the part of the pony as on that of the man to push his opponent off the line. Below: A hard-mouthed, pulling pony is the devil, according to the author, while a light-mouthed pony is joy. A light mouth comes from months of patient schooling from an expert horseman with good hands and judgement and a perfect temper.
cles and knee. This is the pony must be taught to recognize and obey. Under this pressure, he must start, stop, passage,
change legs, bend and turn. With the lessons of mounting and leg well learned, a pony may be said to be well
Polo Underground
on the way to being “collected and balanced,” a state which is the alpha and omega of a polo pony’s education, and if the trainer has brought a raw pony to this pitch inside 12 months he has done more than well. The pony which is played untrained is not only a menace to his own rider, but also to the other unfortunates playing, for crossed legs may mean a spill, and one spill may mean others. Yet one still sees ponies at our most famous grounds failing to change on a turn, generally with novices up, turning on their forehand, hanging on the bit—all faults due to lack of training. Then, by contrast, look at the perfectly trained pony, balanced and collected, almost, as it were, playing with his bit, answering the leg long before the rein, flinging himself round without giving his rider a moment’s discomfort and enabling him to concentrate all his energies on hitting the ball, which is the A, B and C of polo. “Riding off:” There must be no flinching here, but a determination just as great on the part of the pony as on that of the man to push his opponent off the line. Some ponies delight in it, going in without any effort on the part of the rider and revelling in a good hard tussle. To this the pony must be educated. Just as the footballer is taught in his youth how to tackle, so must the pony be taught to ride off. First, at the walk, up and down the school or paddock, shoulder to shoulder with an old hand, give and take. The youngster may be allowed to have the best of things at this stage to give him heart and encouragement; then he progresses by easy stages to the canter and finally the gallop. Those of us who play know the joy of “going in” on a pony who “goes in” on his own and is a glutton for the job, and realize what a different “proposition” is the pony, which needs riding hard to get there and much leg to keep him at it. So the pony progresses from school to stick and ball, from stick and ball to slow chukker, from slow to fast, from fast to tournament, from tournament to international, when we shall see him satin coated, muscles up, hard, keen of eye, eager, impatient, waiting his turn in the game.
Hitting cages in the early 1920s were built into the ground. Instructions for the building one were as follows: Polo pits are excellent for both beginners and seasoned players. They teach the beginner not to knock his horse about, and to sit on his horse without pulling its mouth every time the beginner hits at the ball. As the balls rebound with great rapidity from the walls of the pit, the use of the latter affords excellent practice in quickness and accuracy in meeting the ball. A polo pit can be made of mud, clay, wood or concrete. The pit may be constructed of any size required, but bear in mind that the larger the pit, the slower the balls will return. The dummy horse stands at the center. The best dimensions are eight to 10 feet in front of the six-foot dummy horse and behind it, and six to eight feet to the side of the pit from the horse’s legs. The walls should be built up to about five feet and gradually slope to the center where the dummy horse stands (14.2). The whole pit should be surrounded by wire to the height of another six feet. The horse should have a head and four legs. Boards can be nailed around the legs to prevent balls from getting under the horse. In the center of the pit should be a drain. it is best to cover the hole. Possibly it will be found expedient to build the pit rather larger than required and build up with mud. Try it by rolling balls until the correct slope is arrived at.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 63
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