POLO Magazine - August 2023

THE OFFICIAL BI-MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION

Editor & Publisher

Gwen D. Rizzo

Contributing Editors

Heather Smith Thomas, Alice Gipps, Lucas Noel, Sarah Eakin, Cristina Fernandez

Editorial Board

Robin Sanchez, Tony Coppola, Tom Biddle, Dawn Weber, Ami Shinitzky

Art Director Gary Lattke

Designer

David Beverage

Prepress

Walsworth

Advertising & Editorial Offices

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VOL. 27, No. 4

POLO magazine (ISSN #1096-2255) is published bi-monthly by 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).

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U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship

The U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship will be hosted by the California Polo Club in Los Angeles, California in early December.

A whopping $100,000 is up for grabs (with a minimum of eight teams), drawing the best arena players in the country, coming together for some fast, adrenaline-filled excitement.

In conjunction with the event, a dinner will be held to benefit the Polo Players Support Group.

All games will be livestreamed on the USPA Polo Network via uspolo. org, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.

Dates: Dec. 1-10

Level: 12-16 Goal

Entry Fee: $6,500 per team

Prize Money: $100,000

For more information or to enter a team, please contact Dr. Katty Wong: californiapoloclub@gmail.com

NYTS Championship

The National Youth Tournament Series Championships, the most prestigious outdoor competition for youth players in the country, is moving to the East Coast this fall.

Hosted by New Bridge Polo & Country Club in Aiken, South Carolina, four teams are expected to compete in both the open and girls’ divisions.

Founded in 2000, the New Bridge development consists of five worldclass fields in a private, gated community on 861 acres in a natural wooded setting, framed by southern pines and surrounded by an effortless

Tournament Results

With many summer tournaments already completed, please remember to send in your results for inclusion in the USPA Bluebook.

Results should be entered as soon as possible following the completion of the event.

Results and photos can be submitted electronically through the tournament database. Once logged into the member portal, club delegates can access the database on their profile page by clicking on the “Tournaments” tab and selecting “Roster/Results Entry.”

Equine Drugs and Meds Testing Update

tranquility. The centerpiece of the polo club is its rustic colonial-style clubhouse, which includes a bar, restaurant and outdoor asado area.

The NYTS Championships bring together the best young players from around the country, and provide an opportunity for rated players to compete with their peers.

Players born after 1/1/2004 and USPA members in good standing compete at qualifiers across the country. All-stars are chosen at each qualifier based on their horsemanship, sportsmanship, team play and playing ability. A selection committee then invites 32 players from the all-star list to compete at the championships. Organizers put together the teams, which are coached by professional players.

All games will be livestreams on the USPA Polo Network.

The USPA began testing horses for prohibited medications in 2011. In 2018, the USPA Board of Governors approved an in-house testing program with all samples being processed by an independent laboratory. At that time the rules for equine drugs and medications were revised. Testing is now taking place year-round, and all clubs are subject to testing.

New for 2023, Penalty Matrix

An alleged violation will be processed under the EDMR violation procedures, which include the possibility of a hearing, and penalties that include probation, suspension, and fines. The minimum penalties set forth below were approved by the USPA Executive Committee in its meeting on July 11, 2023 and will serve as guidelines for the EDMR Hearing Committee, which adjudicates most violations. An alleged EDMR violation may be contested by the Responsible Party.

Frequently Asked Questions: Who Can be Tested?

Any event (USPA event, club event or USPA-supported activity) can be selected for testing. Once an event is selected, all participating players are subject to having their horses tested.

Who is Responsible?

Both the Owner and Player of a horse that is tested are both defined as Responsible Parties in the USPA Equine Drugs and Medications Rules. This means that even if you lease a horse, you could be held responsible for a positive test result.

How Does Testing Work?

The USPA contracts licensed veterinarian(s) to take samples from horses being played in the event selected. An hour prior to the game, a USPA representative, the sampling veterinarian(s) and the technician(s) meet with the teams and explain the testing process and answer any questions.

At least one horse will be selected from each period of the game. A minimum of eight horses must be selected in a six-period game and a minimum of six horses must be selected in a four-period game. These

horses are selected at random based on the period they are playing in.

The USPA reserves the right to choose a specific horse or horses for testing, such as a lame or injured horse, in addition to the randomly selected horses. During the game, the selected horses will be identified by the technicians, who will take photos of them and prepare written descriptions. The groom is also informed that the selected horse will need to be brought to the specified testing location after the game.

At the end of the game, all horses selected are required to come to the testing location to have three vials of blood collected. Each vial will hold a maximum 8.5 mL of blood, so a total of 25.5 mL will be collected. Blood volume of an adult horse is approximately 8% of body weight, therefore an approximately 1100-pound horse has 40L of blood. The tubes are then marked with a preprinted barcode and sample number that corresponds to the paperwork. The Owner, Player or a designated representative must accompany each horse and sign as a witness to the sample collection.

How Long Do Results Take?

Results typically take less than two weeks. Samples are sent to the

laboratory as soon as possible after they are collected. Samples are packed in a locked cooler and shipped to the laboratory. Once received, they are unpacked and tested. If a positive test occurs, the laboratory alerts the USPA. The USPA then contacts the Owner or Player (or both), who is charged with an EDMR violation.

What is a Designated Representative?

The person who brings the horse to the designated testing area will be the one signing as witness to the testing process. This person can be the player, owner, groom, or any individual trusted by the Owner and/or Player to act as witness.

Are Some Medications Allowed?

Players should review the Equine Drugs and Medications Rules in the USPA Rulebook to become familiar with the permitted and restricted medications lists. Permitted medications are allowed at any time. Restricted medications are only allowed up to a certain level, and there is a chart in the rules which provides the suggested latest administration time that the medication should be given prior to a game. If a test shows a restricted medication is present over the allowable blood level, it will be treated as a positive test.

Are Some Medications Banned?

All medications that are not listed as permitted or restricted are prohibited. These types of medications include tranquilizers, anabolic steroids, corticosteroids without an approved medication report form, antihistamines, and respiratory drugs.

What is Therapeutic Drug Use?

There are certain situations that allow for immediate medical attention within the 24-hour period before a game. These include minor injuries, colic, or other nonlameness-related conditions. In case one of these situations occurs, a licensed veterinarian can submit the USPA medication report form (located on uspolo.org) to alert the USPA that he or she has administered certain medications which may then be present in a tested sample and verify the horse is still in a safe condition for playing. The USPA medication report form is not a “free pass.” If a positive test occurs, it will be used to assess whether a violation has occurred.

Additional Questions?

For further information regarding the Equine Drugs and Medication Rules or the USPA testing program, please contact the USPA by phone: 800-2328772, or by email: equinewelfare@ uspolo.org.

Players of the Year

The USPA and the Polo Training Foundation recently announced the PTF Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Player of the Year award recipients. Chosen by a select committee involved with I/I polo, candidates were evaluated in three main categories: playing ability, contribution to the sport and sportsmanship.

The following individuals have been named for their supreme example of horsemanship and leadership on and off the field:

Parker

Maya Tantuwaya - University of California Davis, Davis, California

Will Mudra - Houston Polo Club, Houston, Texas

Elise Pardue - Lakeside Polo Club, Lakeside, California

Chairman: Stewart Armstrong

President: Charles Smith

Secretary: Chrys Beal

Treasurer: Steven Rudolph

The awards are tentatively scheduled to be presented during the USPA Fall Committee, Board of Governors and Annual Member Meeting in October in Indio, California.

Middle School

Do you have a group of youth players in 5th-8th grade? If so, sign up now to host a middle school tournament at your club, now available to be played anytime throughout the year. Contact Emily Dewey for more information or to secure your tournament date.

If you are interested in participating in a Middle School League, look for the schedule at uspolo.org to find a tournament near you. Tournament dates are being added as they are scheduled so check back often.

I/I Fundraising

Is your I/I club planning on hosting a fundraiser this year?

Teams are able to apply for up to

$2,000 in fundraising reimbursement. Staff and committee support is available during the process to plan your event and maximize your revenue. Please note, the fundraising deadline is rolling and open to both interscholastic and intercollegiate teams. To learn more about the program, check out the full guidelines and the evolving ideas document at uspolo.org.

Intent to Compete

Reminder to all teams planning to compete in the 2023-2024 intercollegiate/interscholastic season: the Intent to Compete form is due Oct. 3.

Please note, this is just the preliminary information and divisions can be changed, if needed, before the

final December deadline. To fill out the Intent to Compete form, please visit the I/I page on uspolo.org.

I/I Magazine

Would you like to submit an ad for the I/I Magazine? Contact Amy Fraser at afraser@uspolo.org to learn more about the rates and requirements for ad submission. Advertising deadline is Nov. 1.

I/I Contact Information: Amy Fraser, Director of I/I Polo afraser@uspolo.org

Ali Davidge, I/I Program Coordinator adavidge@uspolo.org

Emily Dewey, I/I Tournament Manager edewey@uspolo.org

Staff Spotlight

Matthew

Executive Director of Communications

In my current position, I manage internal and external communications for the association. A key aspect of my job is to collaborate with other divisions, LLCs, the board and committees to ensure the association is communicating effectively to its player members and member clubs. Our division also focuses on coverage of USPA tournaments to promote and grow the sport across digital and print channels. The main platforms I oversee are the USPA Polo Network, social media for the USPA and National Polo Center, website for USPA and NPC, This Week in Polo, branding and Polo magazine.

I am grateful to be leading a talented and passionate group of individuals who are like-minded and want to share the sport with the world.

I fell into the sport not knowing what a chukker was. I still can’t ride a horse, but I love the sport and continue to be fascinated with the horses. I have to thank Susan Present (USPA CFO) and Bob Puetz (former USPA CEO) who brought me into polo and gave me an opportunity to be successful at the USPA. As purely a fan of the sport, it has allowed me to market polo to a wider audience, many of whom have never seen it outside of “Pretty Woman.”

I grew up playing every major sport and was a Division I baseball player. I have a fervor for sports marketing and have applied it to polo over the past nine years. It’s the most beautiful sport to watch live and has a rich history dating back thousands of years. The culture and connection to the horses are so unique, there is a never-ending amount of captivating

content and stories to share with the world.

I grew up in the beach town of Jupiter, Florida, with one older brother and two wonderful parents. Summers were spent snorkeling, swimming and surfing at the beach and playing sports with the kids in my neighborhood. Starting at the age of 5, I focused on baseball and traveled all around Florida, competing in large youth tournaments. Through high school and college, I was fortunate enough to compete against the country’s top players, some of whom are still playing in the major leagues.

I am very close with my family, who still live in Jupiter, and I have extended family in New Jersey. My father, Frank, was a big influence on my baseball career and business as well. I picked up my artistic side from my mother, Sandra, who has a master’s degree in music and owned a successful music academy in Jupiter for many years. Sadly, I can’t sing or play an instrument, but not many can make a better Spotify playlist.

I graduated from the University of North Florida in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in advertising. Out of college, my first full-time job was working in the Public Affairs Department for the Flagler Museum, promoting and executing the mission

of the historic house museum. It spurred my interest in art, design and photography, which are some of my favorite skills and passions to explore.

I do not have a shortage of interests or hobbies to keep me busy. I love to explore new countries, national parks and forests. I am currently up to 22 national parks in the U.S. and 16 countries. I chase the feeling of being fascinated by our planet and do my best to capture those memories in mere fractions of a second through digital or film photography. Other hobbies include hiking, camping, backpacking, cycling, reading, softball, snowboarding, surfing, board games, astronomy and volunteering for the Grace Notes Music Foundation. I thoroughly enjoy high fantasy and science fiction books, movies and shows. I also play Dungeons and Dragons with a group of friends in Utah. It’s a fun outlet to explore creativity, improvisation and hone my imagination.

Someday, I would love to visit all seven continents and U.S. national parks, get scuba certified, visit Italy with my family, hot air balloon ride, walk around Hobbiton in New Zealand, castle tour in the UK, dive with whale sharks and start a business focused on helping the planet.

Staff Spotlight

Lindsey Ebersbach Director, Governance and Operations

I have been with the USPA for 10 years. My responsibilities span a wide range of areas. I organize and execute the committee and board meetings in the spring and fall, and am involved with the Constitution, High Goal, International, Nominating and Rules Committees.

Recently, I became more involved with National Polo Center operations, helping with special events, tournament draws and ceremonies. Last year, I helped plan and execute the XI FIP World Polo Championships. It was extremely rewarding to see all the teams come to the United States to participate in such a prestigious event.

One of two children, I grew up in Bailey, a small town in the mountains of Colorado. I had a great childhood, and my parents were extremely supportive of my passion for horses. My older brother never had an interest in horses, but he connected with my dad through a shared hobby of drag racing.

My interest in horses began when I was 5. I started taking lessons at a local Arabian barn with Lindsay Greenway, née Dolan. (Greenway is currently the USPA membership and handicap director). Eventually, I joined pony club and then, as a teenager, started eventing.

I was incredibly fortunate to find a horse that can only be described as a unicorn. Mac was not only remarkably brave, but also had complete trust in me. Together, we embarked on various adventures throughout Colorado, including during my college years.

I went to Colorado State University,

where I studied equine science and media studies. I briefly joined the CSU polo team, but it was not the right fit for me at the time. After college, Mac and I moved to the Sunshine State when I got a job managing a barn with a children’s riding program in Wellington, Florida.

Later, I was hired as a receptionist at the USPA. At the time, I was looking for a new place to board Mac so then-CEO Peter Rizzo introduced me to Joey Casey at Royal Palm Polo Club in Boca Raton. Mac stayed there until the facility closed down, then I relocated him to Boynton Beach where Casey built the Palm City Polo Club. After several years, the Palm City group finally convinced me to pick up

a mallet and I have been playing ever since.

Over the years, I stick and balled with Mac and played a few arena chukkers on him. Sadly, Mac passed away this winter after 23 years together. Recently, I started jumping horses again, and that has been extremely rewarding.

I enjoy being outdoors. When I am in Colorado, I like going hiking. I also enjoy seeing new places and hope to find time to travel more. I have been lucky enough to visit Australia, Argentina, England and Italy but, I would love to see more of the world.

GET A GRIP Overcome pre-existing mistakes when hitting

If you take tennis lessons, on the first day the teacher will keep you for at least two hours teaching you how to hold the racket correctly. If you take golf lessons, the teacher will begin his instruction with the proper way to hold the club. In polo, for some reason, this is not done. And precisely the basis of the whole sport is the grip. How you grip the mallet is fundamental. If you learn to grip the mallet well, the rest is easier.

Many factors influence whether you have a good grip: the pressure with which you hold the mallet, the size of the mallet so that it is appropriate

for the player and the correct mallet weight for a child, a woman or a man. There are many issues of that kind that are way behind the times in polo instruction. If you buy a golf club, they make it for you. In polo, they give you a mallet and tell you, “Go ahead and hit the ball.” You have to be more technical in that matter. I am convinced that the palm of the hand should copy the direction of the mallet head. Therefore, if you aim with the palm of your hand, the mallet is gripped correctly.

The grip has a position similar to that of a handshake. The most important

finger of the whole hand is the index finger. From there, you control everything. Then we have to worry about how and how much we tighten the grip so we don’t over-tighten it. Later, it will also be essential to carry the mallet correctly. I see many cases where people carry the mallet as if it were a spear, always using force on the arm. They have to keep squeezing it because they are carrying it in front of them.

The mallet should be kept up, next to the helmet, supported by the hand, and gripped with the sling. In this way, you ride the entire chukker without using any strength. Then, when it is time to hit the ball, the player has enough strength to execute the shot. Many amateur players make the mistake of holding it in front of them and, when they have to hit the ball, they arrive with such a heavy arm that they feel relief when they hit it. The correct position of how to carry the mallet is related to the grip.

Good players carry their mallets as if they were carrying nothing, almost

resting on their shoulder, their hand always free, the mallet is part of their arm. What must be achieved is that the mallet is the continuity of the arm, not an annoying instrument. The secret of the swing is not strength. The most important thing is to release the arm and achieve more speed than strength. The whole movement is related to the person’s balance and riding ability. I generally explain the swing in four steps, but then the player must make it flow in a single movement. And there I go back to the grip: if the mallet is an extension of the arm, the mallet naturally follows the swing. If you are actively thinking about what position the mallet is in, the swing is going to be a dreadful one.

The main thing about stick and ball is to have a target to execute the shot. When I teach, I fill the field with cones to set different points to aim at. I see that many people go out to stick and ball and hit to any side. They hit it well and far, but they don’t have the intention of directing the shot. So, what the player is doing is just riding a horse. But that is not stick and ball. Stick and ball means controlling the direction of the ball. Each shot must be directed to a spot so the objective of being able to build a game with your teammates is achieved.

Even many experienced players have established mistakes and bad habits with their grip, carrying the mallet and their stick and ball. I usually work on this problem with neuroscience. I have taken courses at the University of Barcelona on neuroscience and sports training.

It is more complex to work with people who play with errors that they bring with them from their initial learning. Correcting it requires the player’s predisposition and specific exercises to forget that muscle memory.

Even if people have been playing polo for 15 years, working with them can always improve some aspect of their game. They may have a bad grip, perhaps they bend the elbow, they think the strength should come from the arm instead of the chest, or because they stop the movement after hitting the ball.

These types of mistakes are the most common ones made by people who have been playing for years but have not been taught well or have never improved because no one explained how to do it correctly.

To correct stick-and-ball technique, first learn to hit the ball correctly. Hitting without direction is not hitting the ball well. That is why corrections to improve body positioning are very important. Sometimes a player who is 3 or 4 goals thinks they already know everything, and it is not usual for them to overlook improvement. Generally, polo players are not like tennis players or golfers who work with a coach during the week. Polo players often think they can learn on their own.

Coaching in polo must be updated to what happens in other disciplines and

sports. It must be more technical and professional in its processes. I put a lot of emphasis on the grip, on the correct ways of carrying the mallet, on perfecting the natural movement of the swing and on optimizing the aiming and hitting. The mistake is in believing these various concepts do not need to be revisited once you have a handicap. Polo players, no matter how long they have been playing the sport, can always improve their game.

Justo del Carril was born in Argentina and started his professional playing career in the U.S. He now has more than 30 years of experience teaching, coaching and playing in Great Britain, South America, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and the United Arab Emirates. He will soon release an updated edition of his famed book “Polo Tips,” with new photos, infographics and concepts accumulated throughout his career. His son Jerónimo (8 goals) and daughter Luisa (5 goals) play in the Argentine Triple Crown, representing La Ensenada with a men’s and a women’s team respectively.

KEEP YOUR COOL Tips for beating the heat this summer

The dog days of summer are upon us but, that doesn’t mean you and your horses can’t enjoy the time outside. As the temperatures rise, there are ways to keep your horses safe from the heat.

First, it is important to consider the temperature and humidity level. Horses can generally tolerate the heat if the combination of temperature and relative humidity do not surpass 150. So, for example, if the temperature is 90 degrees and the relative humidity is 70, adding those numbers equals 160, meaning it is too hot for horses to safely exercise.

Why? Moisture in the air prevents sweat from evaporating, which is needed for horses to cool themselves. At or above 130, it is more difficult for horses to regulate their body temperature. Above 150, there is an increased risk of heat stress.

Older horses or those with medical conditions may have a more difficult time regulating their body temperatures or tolerating even moderate heat.

If you must exercise your horses, avoid the hottest part of the day. Early mornings or evenings are generally cooler than the middle of the day.

In the barn

Keep salt blocks inside the stall or paddock so horses have free choice access to them. You can also provide electrolytes in the grain or water, however some horses don’t like the taste and it may actually prevent them from drinking or eating.

Keep buckets and water troughs clean and full of fresh water to encourage drinking.

Avoid turning horses out during the hottest part of the day and be sure they have plenty of shade when they do go out.

At the field

Limit the time the horses are in the trailer. When they are on the trailer, make sure it is well ventilated so air will circulate. Get the horses home as soon as possible after playing. Avoid stopping along the way and leaving them in the trailer longer than needed. Find shade to tie your horses in or park your trailer so the horses are in the shade while waiting to play. Allow access to plenty of fresh, clean water for both bathing and drinking. If your trailer doesn’t have a water tank, you can bring water in smaller containers. It is important to keep horses hydrated, especially when playing. To test for hydration, pinch the skin on the horse’s neck or shoulder. It should quickly return to its normal position. If it is slow to return or stays ‘tented,’ there is cause for concern.

Sips of water before and after playing, as well as in-between chukkers, will help keep them hydrated and will not adversely affect them on the field. Keep tack out of the sun. The metal pieces on a bridle, particularly the bit, can heat up quickly and burn the horse.

Do not leave the horses standing with tack for extended periods of time. Wait as long as possible to tack them up and remove the tack as quickly as possible when they come off the field. Bathe the horses and be sure to scrape off excess water, which acts as an insulator and will keep heat in. Adding rubbing alcohol, which evaporates faster than water, to the bath water will help cool the horse faster.

When possible, limit playing to one chukker per horse. If you must play them more than one chukker, keep the pace slower, and give them plenty of time between chukkers to recover. Untack them and wash off their backs and necks between chukkers. Bathing then walking the horses helps to prevent lactic acid build up. Don’t play

Know Your Numbers

this information.

them a second chukker if they are still breathing heavily. Large misting fans, if they are available to you, help keep horses more comfortable.

Some horses suffer from anhidrosis, which is the inability to sweat properly. These horses are more susceptible to heat stress, even without exercise, and need close monitoring.

Horses with anhidrosis may sweat in some areas or you may see sweat dripping from their manes but none on their necks. Hot, dry skin may be an early sign of heat stress.

Heat Stress

Signs of heat stress can include depression or fatigue, or increased heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature or capillary refill time. A horse may also suffer from decreased appetite, mild colic signs or refusal to work. Severely affected horses may collapse or develop neurological signs that can progress to coma or death. If left untreated, they may develop secondary systemic disease, including kidney problems, tying up, neurological issues or other organ dysfunction.

If you suspect your horse is suffering from heat stress, it should be treated as a medical emergency. Call the vet immediately. The vet may ask for the horse’s vital signs so be prepared with

Take the horse’s temperature with a digital rectal thermometer. A pulse can be taken by palpating the vein under the jaw, along the suspensory ligament above the ankle or the side of the pastern. To get the respiration rate, count as you watch the horse’s nostrils or torso at the end of its ribcage. To check capillary refill time, look at the color on the horse’s gums. They should be clear, moist and a soft pink color. Press your thumb onto the horse’s gums above the upper front teeth for a few seconds and count how long it takes for the color to return to the spot when you remove your thumb.

While waiting for the vet, try to bring the horse’s temperature down below 102° F as quickly as possible. Monitor the horse during cooling so it doesn’t get too cold. Use a thermometer to continually check the horse’s temperature.

Moving the horse can produce more heat within the muscle so avoid doing that but, be sure the horse is in a wellventilated and shaded area. Use fans if possible. Continue to offer drinking water to the horse.

Remove any tack and rinse the horse with cool water. At the same time, keep scraping off excess water to allow it to evaporate quicker. Use alcohol bath water on the horse’s neck, thorax and abdomen, if possible. An ice pack on the jugular groove on the neck can help enhance cooling.

Do not apply wet towels or blankets as it can trap heat in. It is also best not to medicate the horse unless directed by a veterinarian. Tranquilizers can cause respiratory distress, NSAIDS (such as banamine or bute) can change a horse’s vital signs, and other drugs can have a detrimental effect on the kidneys. The vet will likely assess the horse and give IV fluids.

DEVEREUX CUP Match celebrates polo’s historic roots in Colorado

The 19th Annual Devereux Polo Cup, a highly-anticipated event in Colorado’s Glenwood Springs and New Castle communities, took place on June 11, at the Stout Ranch, offering a picturesque setting.

The event attracted an audience of 250 guests who were treated to an intimate and unforgettable polo experience. With a 360-degree view of the awe-inspiring Colorado Mountains, the venue provided the perfect backdrop for the thrilling match.

Throughout the day, guests were entertained by the vibrant announcer, Will Schorre, who kept everyone on the edge of their seats with his expert commentary. The match was officiated by Tom Powell, ensuring fair play and an exciting atmosphere for all spectators.

In addition to the exhilarating match, the halftime entertainment featured a mesmerizing performance by the Rosin Cello Duet, captivating the crowd with their musical talent. John Riger also took the stage, delighting attendees with energetic beats that kept festivities alive and spirits high. To further enhance the experience, Wild Mountain Cellars provided a selection of exquisite wines, and Drifters Coffee & Fly Shop served up delightful libations, keeping guests refreshed throughout the event. The sponsors’ contributions added a touch of luxury and enjoyment to the day.

Among the distinguished attendees was event founder Larry MacDonald, general manager of Hotel Colorado, who revived the Devereux Polo

Cup in 2004, breathing new life into Glenwood Springs’ rich polo history. Hotel Colorado officials expressed their appreciation for the participating polo players by providing special gifts, symbolizing the community’s admiration for their talent and dedication.

In a nail-biting finish, Land Rover Roaring Fork (Selby Stout, Tye Reid, Heidi Reid, Barry Stout) edged UC Ranch Properties (Jennifer Stout, Morgan Julian, Santi Torres, Geneve Kashnig), 4-3 . The match showcased intense competition and exceptional

skills from both sides.

Glenwood Springs has a deeprooted connection to polo, with its history dating back to the 1890s. Walter Devereux and Hervey Lyle established the Glenwood Polo and Racing Association, with the Hotel Colorado constructing the town’s polo grounds and racecourse upon its completion in 1893. The town quickly gained national recognition by hosting world-class teams, with the Glenwood Springs team earning the title of World Champion in 1903, 1904 and 1912.

The Devereux Polo Cup showcased the continued passion and love for polo in Glenwood Springs, bringing together the community and highlighting the sport’s enduring legacy. With its breathtaking setting, thrilling matches, and outstanding entertainment, this year’s event will be remembered as a true highlight of the region’s social calendar.

CARE FOR UKRAINE Club opener supports humanitarian aid

Newport Polo opened their summer season by raising $7,000 for humanitarian aid for Ukraine. More than 250 attended the benefit premiere and associated events held on the eve of opening day of the Newport International Polo Series in early May.

The Ukraine and USA polo teams glad-handed supporters at a benefit screening of “Polo Passport” at Jane Pickens Theater and a cocktail reception at The

OUTBREAK Infectious diseases halt Southern California polo

Months after an equine herpes virus (EHV-1) outbreak forced Eldorado Polo Club (Indio, California) to end its season two weeks early, the state saw more problems in June with an wide outbreak of Vesicular Stomatitis (VSV).

In the first case, a 17-year-old polo horse was euthanized after developing equine herpes virus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the

neurological form of the disease. Days later, a 12-year-old polo horse tested positive for EHM. All 600 horses on site were quarantine for two weeks as a precaution.

EHV-1 is a virus with four manifestations of the disease, including the neurological form, respiratory disease, abortion and neonatal death. It is spread through horse-to-horse contact or indirectly

Vanderbilt hotel.

“We are very excited to have united sport and community on this occasion for a great cause,” explained series founder Dan Keating. “We are grateful for our generous sponsors and for the enthusiastic support from hundreds who joined us from throughout New England for these events on the eve of opening day and to enjoy Newport’s acclaimed restaurants and hotels.”

The following day, a record audience defied the weather forecast to witness Ukraine’s 10-7 debut victory in the Newport International Polo Series.

Funds were raised through a silent auction, featuring pieces of Ukrainian art and fashion.

through contamination via humans, equipment, buckets, trailers, etc. The virus can also be airborne.

In June, over 55 VSV-effected premises were identified in five counties and it was continuing to spread.

The Pacific Coast Arena League was postponed until October and some polo facilities self-quarantined as a precaution.

VSV is a viral disease causing blistery lesions on the nose, mouth, ears or coronary band. It is transmitted by biting insects, such as flies and biting midges, through contact or shared water or equipment.

Both diseases are contagious and require reporting to state health officials. Infected animals and those exposed to infected animals must be quarantined.

END OF AN ERA After 135 years, Victoria Polo Club closes down

The Victoria Polo Club is no more. The club of prestigious name, in various iterations since the first in 1889, hosted players and aficionados of the Game of Kings on Canada’s Vancouver Island for generations, has thrown in the ball for the last time.

The end was not unexpected. Recently the number of viable players had inexorably dwindled down to below the level of critical mass. The inevitable announcement came from Steve Mann, the most recent in a line of patrons of polo in Victoria that began in the late 19th century with officers of the Royal Navy, horseloving gentlemen of the Union Club and ranchers from mainland British Columbia.

Beacon Hill Park, the City of Victoria’s stunning nature preserve of legendary setting, overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca, was the first local venue for the ancient mounted stick-and-ball game. It later moved to The Willows Fair in Oak Bay, with the best polo field the region ever had, placed within the Willows racetrack overlooked by its magnificent grandstand (until it burned down in 1907).

The Willows, as it was known, flourished for nearly 25 years until its activities were interrupted when The Great War took a huge bite out of polo, and racing men and horses were seconded to the fight overseas. The Willows became a training camp for The Canadian Expeditionary Force during the war years from 1914 to 1918. After the costly victory in Europe, both racing and polo returned to Oak

Bay, where activities reached full bloom in the 20s and into the 30s. The halcyon days of horses in the city were threatened again, however, when Nazi Germany and its powerful allies challenged the British Empire for another go at a do-or-die fight in 1939.

Polo struggled back from the wreckage of inconceivable destruction and carnage of war once again only to face a new problem: the automobile age had reached full maturity and urban culture was beginning to turn up its nose at the heady aroma of horses in the city. Plus, more land was needed to accommodate a fast growing population. The well known landmark closed for good in 1949.

By 1960, Bill and Barbara Powell had built another grass pitch well away from urban centers, in rural Central Saanich, and began to present the galloping game to a surviving corps of faithful adherents. This club enjoyed popular success for many years and

probably hosted more international games on Vancouver Island than any other before or since.

Time heals all wounds but also took many polo players out of the action on the field. Eventually the once young and daring old guard retreated to their folding chairs to watch the next generation perform. That generation of players found a new home on nearby Wallace Drive in the mid 1990s when Mann took up the long mallet, opened the gates of his new facility, and welcomed others to do the same. A number of die-hards from the previous era added their physical and financial support to this effort led by Mann. His excellent facilities, which would see regular use for another 25 years to the delight of club members and visitors alike, included a clubhouse, two polo fields, an enclosed polo arena, a barn, and numerous paddocks.

Over the years, teams and players from near and far made the sea voyage to the Victoria Polo Club on Vancouver Island’s sunny summer shores to play their beloved game. They came from such diverse places as Vancouver, Kelowna, Alberta, United States, Jamaica, Mexico, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Iran.

In 2015, the International Polo Federation sanctioned an event on the Wallace Drive fields that lasted for nearly a week. The Victoria Polo Club also hosted fundraisers for a number of local charities and was among the first sporting organizations to recognize aboriginal title in British Columbia.

It would be splendid to think we have not seen the last of the Victoria Polo Club. Perhaps it will rise again someday as it has so many times over the last 135 years. But for now, only the occasional figure may be seen stickand-balling on the sun-parched fields.

LA FE WEDDING Polo couple exchange vows in magical ceremony

A rehearsal dinner was held on Friday, June 2, in the Mediterranean Ballroom at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach. The 70 guests in attendance enjoyed an intimate dinner seated at a long table surrounded by over 1200 candles. The marriage ceremony was held the following day at Bethesda by the Sea church in Palm Beach alongside a dozen each bridesmaids and groomsmen. Flanagan wore a stunning strapless floral lace gown designed by Oscar de la Renta. Devaleix was in a stylish black and white tuxedo.

Polo players Pamela Flanagan and Louis Devaleix ended their Florida season with a bang, exchanging vows in a front of roughly 300 guests, including dozens of polo players.

The pair both enjoyed successful polo seasons with Flanagan’s La Fe team winning the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship, and Devaleix’s La Fe teams competing throughout the season, including in the Gauntlet and the 16-goal Super Series, where they were runners-up in the championship final.

When the newly-married couple exited the church, 1,000 butterflies were released. The butterflies were specifically chosen by a butterfly farm that specializes in breeding disease-free, reproductively healthy butterflies that will enhance the local butterfly populations. The wedding reception was held in the Venetian Ballroom at the Breakers Hotel. The ballroom was overflowing with flowers and a half dozen trees to create a garden aesthetic.

“We wanted to incorporate nature and the natural beauty to compliment the rich and vibrant venue,” Flanagan explained. “It was absolutely magical!”

The couple plan to spend most of the year in Palm Beach with summers in upstate New York.

They have not yet confirmed their honeymoon plans, but before that they plan to travel to France to visit Devaleix’s family, including his 95-year-old grandfather.

Meeting for the first time in March 2022 at polo and after a whirlwind romance, the couple were engaged three months later.

PHOTO FUNDRAISER Fine art equine portraits benefit injured polo couple

This past March, polo player Juan Jose Gonzalez and his wife Becky were involved in a head-on collision outside Careyes, Mexico, near the polo resort where they were working.

Juan Jose shattered his pelvis and collarbone while Becky sustained a fractured skull, a C-1 vertebrae fracture and multiple facial fractures after being ejected from the vehicle.

Their injuries required multiple surgeries. After a lengthy stay in a local hospital, they were finally able to return to the U.S. and are continuing their recovery at home in California with their two young children.

Shortly after the accident, Meghan Gracida set up a gofundme page. The generosity of the polo community was evident as it acted quickly. To date, over $174,600 has been raised but, donations have slowed considerably. Meanwhile, the couple is making remarkable progress in their recovery but, they still have a long way to go. Medical bills continue to pile up and with neither able to work, paying everyday expenses for the family of four is difficult.

Photographer Kaylee Wroe has launched an ongoing fundraiser for them, with a goal of raising $10,000.

“Like so many family, friends, teammates and the like, I wanted to do something to help their cause,” Wroe explained.

For a $100 donation to the Gonzalez family, you will receive a complimentary equine fine art portrait session. Portraits of your horse with a black background will be available for purchase in a variety of sizes, with prices ranging from about $200 to $5,500.

Custom wall displays are also available for those looking for a one-of-a-kind statement piece for their home. Wall displays can be custom designed to fit your wall space.

“I have a big goal in mind with the Gonzalez fundraiser, to raise $10,000 for Becky and Juan Jo,” Wroe said. “They are an incredible family and I am happy to provide help anyway I can.”

Wroe has already done several portraits of polo horses, including those for Danika rice, Jana Conkwright, Brooks Ballard, Emma Tooth and Joe Wayne Barry.

CLASSIC POLO Annual polo match raises funds for local charities

Fieldview Farm in Pittstown, New Jersey, continued its tradition of family fun and raising funds for charity with its Hunterdon Polo Classic on June 10.

Teams included Tim Cheromcka, Affan Iftikhar, Dennys Santana and Cheryl Arnold, lining up for Fieldview Farm, and Daniel Arnold, Dennis Santana, Val Washington and Rhea Lowenthal, lining up for Hunterdon Polo Classic. Juan Vidal umpired.

Prior to the match bagpipers from Rampant Lion Pipe Band played and local actor and singer Maggie Dean sang the National Anthem.

Fieldview Farm came out on top after a spirited match. Cheryl Arnold was MVP, her son Daniel was Amateur MVP and Rosie, a chestnut mare owned by Dennys Santana and played by his father Dennis Santana, was Best Playing Pony.

Aside from the action on the field, hundreds of spectators participated in hat and tailgate competitions, bid on a variety of silent auction items, stomped divots at halftime, strolled classic cars on display and enjoyed presentations by Essex Foxhounds and Tewksbury Foot Bassets.

Charities benefiting from the event include the Hunterdon Art Museum, The Toshiko Takaezu Studio Project, Riding with Heart, Team Velvet, Home of Somerset County and the Flemington Food Pantry.

Dottie Driscoll, president of Home of Somerset County’s board of trustees told local news, “We are thrilled to

participate in the Hunterdon Polo Classic. The Hunterdon Foundation’s support helps us to continue to provide programs for at-risk families. We appreciate the foundation’s commitment to our mission.”

The event, now in its 23rd year, is made possible thanks to the McDevitt family and the many volunteers who help organize and run it.

GOAL-GETTER Young player makes the most of opportunities

Daniel Arnold is a remarkable 16-yearold polo player set on improving his game in the arena and on the grass. A member of Tinicum Park Polo Club (Erwinna, Pennsylvania), Arnold holds a 0.5-goal handicap. With his impressive achievements and

unwavering determination, Arnold stands out as a dedicated player in the I/I and NYTS programs. Arnold shares his journey into polo, notable accomplishments and ambitious goals for the future.

Early Beginnings

Arnold’s love for polo started at a young age, thanks to his mother Cheryl’s involvement in the sport. He began playing alongside adults and competing with kids his age when he was just 9 years old. With guidance from his mom, as well as support from club manager Hesham Elezaby and professional player Dennis Santana, Arnold honed his skills and learned the ins and outs of the game.

More recently, during the past winter season in Wellington, Florida, Arnold had the unique opportunity to attend the Elite Junior Training, a camp hosted by Team USPA alumni members Felipe Viana and Jesse Bray. This intensive week-long program was designed to provide participants with

a higher level of polo than regularly available, playing fast practices to quickly advance their skills.

Additionally, participants got a taste of managing a barn as a professional and learning the ins and outs of the winter season.

Each day, participants shadowed the players, learning the intricacies of the sport from meeting with vets in the morning and checking horses to making horse lists for the week. The program included two stick-andball sessions and three practices, featuring pros Rufino Bensadon, Facundo Obregon, Nachi Viana, as well as Bray and Felipe Viana.

The first day of practice focused on getting the participants playing at speed, while subsequent practices emphasized field awareness and smooth transitions. Every practice session consisted of two professionals and two training camp players, resulting in 15-plus-goal practices each day. In addition to mounted activities and video reviews, the

participants had the opportunity to attend high-goal games, enjoy an asado, workout with a polo trainer and fully immerse themselves in the thrilling atmosphere of the high-goal winter season.

A Special Bond

Arnold’s most treasured polo pony is a 10-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred named Cajun Colonel. Cajun Colonel is a 2013 gelding by Colonel John out of Sagitta Ra, bred in Louisiana by Cypress Bend Farm. Arnold and his mom bought the horse when it was just 3 years old. They quickly formed a strong bond, and Cajun Colonel has been Arnold’s loyal companion ever since.

“[He] really does so much for me. He is a special horse because we learned and progressed together,” Arnold explained.

Cajun Colonel was recognized in 2020 with the Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program’s USPA Polo Awards Low Goal Horse.

“Cajun Colonel embodies what amazing athletes Thoroughbreds are, and demonstrates how the breed can successfully transition off of the track to becoming winners on the polo field,” said Arnold.

Youth Polo

Arnold actively takes part in the USPA player development programs, particularly the National Youth Tournament Series and the Intercollegiate/Interscholastic program. He played his first NYTS tournament at Roseland Polo Club (Crozet, Virginia) in 2020, and has since competed in 13 NYTS Qualifiers at different clubs, including Aiken, Tinicum, Giant Valley, Gardnertown, Roseland, Boston and Southampton. Arnold loves the NYTS because he gets to play with kids his age, make new friends and see how they all progress together. He was named to the all-star team at the National Interscholastic Championships this past spring.

Future Ambitions

In the near future, Arnold aims to play in as many tournaments as possible, always striving to be the best player for his team. He wants to experience playing at different levels and improve his string of horses. His ultimate goal is to become a professional player and be part of Team USPA. Inspired by Santana, Arnold looks up to him for guidance and support.

Arnold is rapidly progressing as a player. With his natural talent, hard work and the support of his mentors, he has achieved success towards pursuing his goals. As he continues to refine his skills, participate in tournaments and pursue his dreams, the polo community eagerly watches his promising journey. Arnold’s story serves as an inspiration to all aspiring polo enthusiasts, showing that dedication and passion can lead to great achievements.

STAYING IN Feldman Cup helps alum keep connected

In its 10th year, the USPA National I/I Alumni Tournament--The Feldman Cup, took place on June 10-11 at Seneca Polo Club in Poolesville, Maryland. The Feldman Cup, named after the family who donated the trophy to keep I/I alumni engaged, is designed to offer a fun and easy

way for alums to keep connected and playing post-grad.

Feldman Cup donor Stan Feldman said, “I/I polo is a small world, and we all have these connections stretching back into our pasts. At its essence, the Feldman Cup commemorates

those relationships, and I hope that it continues to grow as future generations of alums celebrate their time in I/I.”

In order to qualify to compete in the tournament, players must be current USPA members and I/I alum, having competed in either the interscholastic or the intercollegiate program. Additionally, to encourage the spirit of giving back, entry into the tournament also requires a player to have completed one of the following: play in an I/I tournament, coach an I/I team, umpire or manage an I/I tournament, donate to an I/I program or volunteer with an I/I program. To keep the entry fee low for the participants, the USPA supports the tournament by covering the host site costs, providing certified arena umpires and supplying trophies and awards for the event. In turn, each player only pays a $100 entry fee in the form of a donation to an I/I team of their choice.

The format of the tournament runs a little bit differently than your typical USPA event as players enter as an individual versus entering a full team. This allows the Host Tournament Committee to make evenly-matched teams, making the tournament as competitive as possible. Players may list who they would prefer to play with on their registration, so accommodations are made when possible.

This year’s Feldman Cup boasted five teams of players, with a range of graduation years from 1997 to 2023, representing the teams of Brown, Virginia Tech, Yale, Culver, Colorado State, Texas Tech, Garrison Forest, Washington State, Commonwealth, Mountain View and UConn. In most instances, players elect to donate to their alma mater, but we also see other teams as benefactors and this year, donations also went to Charm City, Montana State, UVA, Georgetown and Morehouse.

The tournament started with a

round-robin for the first semifinal, with the Red Dogs (Dorn Cox, Cornell ’97; Lea Jih-Vieira, Mountain View IS, Cornell ’23; Bonnie Henry, Brown ’16) vs Polo Bears (Mark Tashjian, UCONN ’08; Riley Davis, Brown ’16; Jenna Gardner, Texas Tech ’20) vs Morning Sunshine (Patricio Fraga-Errecat, Commonwealth IS, Cornell ’23; Ford Middendorf, Commonwealth IS; Cara Skibitsky, TCU ’11) taking the field. The round robin ended in a tie, which ultimately had to be decided based on gross goals, sending the Red Dogs into the final.

In the second semifinal, Garrison Forest Alumnae (Jenny Schwartz, Garrison Forest IS, Virginia Tech ’15; Gabriella Chiasera, Garrison Forest IS ’22; Cailin Phebus, Garrison Forest IS ’18) defeated Military Equestrian Foundation (Alex Jenkins, Culver IS ’06, Colorado State ’12; Leila Chang, Yale ’19; Amos Peterson, Washington

State ’00) to advance.

The final was played on Sunday with Garrison Forest Alumnae taking on Red Dogs. GFS scored first off the mallet of Schwartz, but Jih-Vieira responded in kind to end the first chukker tied at 1-all.

Just getting warmed up, GFS came into the second chukker hot, each player scoring a goal with an added pony goal, all the while holding Red Dogs scoreless, giving GFS the four -goal lead, 5-1, at halftime.

Third chukker action held at one goal for each team, keeping GFS in the lead heading into the fourth and final chukker. Quick action by Chiasera and Phebus extended GFS’s lead, but the Red Dogs returned fire with

all three players finding the goal. It wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit, ending the game with Garrison Forest ahead, 9-4.

“These alumni tournaments are such a great opportunity to see people that you played with in the past through interscholastic or intercollegiate polo,” Schwartz said. “It’s really cool to see how many people are still in the industry now.

“When I was playing interscholastic polo we were always told to look around us and know that these people would be our peers in polo later on. That has never been more true than when you’re at the Feldman Cup! You’re able to see people you’ve known for years, and even though you’ve grown so much, your love of

polo is still there and everyone wants to give back.”

Garrison Forest took home the lion’s share of trophies. Chiasera was named MVP, and Stefi, owned by Garrison Forest and played by Schwartz, was named Best Playing Pony. Other awards included Sportsmanship, which went to Mark Tashjian, and Horsemanship, which was awarded to Leila Chang.

SUPER EIGHT New legacy for the 8-goal National President’s Cup

There is a renewed significance to the National President’s Cup. First played as the Eight Goal Inter-Circuit in 1969, teams traveled to Brandywine Polo Club (Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania) from the Northeast, Southeast, Northwest and Midstates circuits for a chance at the title. In 1974, the tournament was renamed the National President’s Cup. The idea to bring teams together from around the country was a popular one enjoyed by many. To encourage even more participation, it was often held in conjunction

with the U.S. Open Polo Championship. The tournament followed the Open from Oak Brook (Oak Brook, Illinois) to Retama (San Antonio, Texas), Eldorado (Indio, California), Lexington (Lexington, Kentucky) and International Polo Club (Wellington, Florida).

While at Retama, preliminaries were held at several surrounding clubs, allowing even more teams to participate. The format was officially changed in the mid1980s to allow the host club to designate various clubs as

host centers. The number and locations of host centers was left to the discretion of the host club. Winners from each host center played off at the host club to determine the National President’s Cup winner.

The host centers spread across the country, with participation swelling to over 80 teams one year, and nearly two dozen teams playing at Eldorado Polo Club alone. Eventually, the USPA Tournament Committee took over assigning host centers before restructuring it to instead awarding Regional President’s Cups to clubs across the country, however, despite the name, there was a disconnect with the National President’s Cup.

Winners of the regional events often didn’t participate in the national event, as was the idea, and for some years a national event wasn’t even played despite regional events taking place. After a period of time, teams could compete in the National President’s Cup regardless of whether they

played in a regional event.

Last year, after the USPA’s acquisition of the National Polo Center-Wellington, the Tournament Committee was looking for a way to connect Florida clubs around NPC by inviting winners of qualifying events at the 8- and 16-goal levels to come play championships. They were called Super Series and winners were crowned at both levels.

At the time, Tournament Committee chair Stevie Orthwein said, “The 8-goal series would be great to have it grow into something similar to how the President’s Cup used to be played, with the winners of circuit President’s Cups qualifying for the National President’s Cup. The 8-goal level is very special, as it is a level played across most circuits. So, it is important that we bring that level to NPC.”

Just a year later, the Tournament Committee has made that happen. Beginning this year, Regional President’s Cup tournaments held nationwide will serve as qualifying

tournaments for the National President’s Cup, which will be played at NPC for the first time. This will replace the 8-goal Super Series established last year.

The new format will encourage participation at the 4- to 8-goal level and restore the relationship between the regional and national events.

“I am very excited about the new President’s Cup format,” Orthwein explained. “I think it will allow for increased competition at the low-goal level, and with the qualifier concept, it will have an aspirational component, and certainly a sense of accomplishment for teams that qualify, especially the team that wins.”

Winners of qualifiers outside of Florida that travel to NPC to compete in the National President’s Cup will receive a $10,000 travel stipend, which will be distributed evenly between the four rostered players on the qualifying team, or to a designated team owner, once at least two of the original players arrive to compete in the National President’s Cup.

“I think it will be a nice draw to help teams with the cost of

sending a team to play for a week in Florida,” Orthwein said. “As I said before, I hope the National President’s Cup on its own becomes very prestigious and something players aspire to be a part of. The $10,000 is just there to help teams with travel costs. It is not intended as prize money.”

Aside from the 10 circuit qualifiers outside Florida, all with a minimum of four teams, four qualifiers will be held in the Florida circuit, with winners advancing to the national event.

“It is unlikely that all circuits will host a Regional President’s Cup qualifier, but I think getting four [winners] outside of Florida for a total of eight would be a great success,” Orthwein explained.

In addition to a small tournament fee, clubs that host a Regional President’s Cup qualifier will pay a $5,000 fee that will go toward the cost of hosting the national event. Clubs are also eligible for the Tournament Support Program, which will offset the cost of the tournament fee, as well as the Prize Money Matching Program.

“The $5,000 fee is significant, but if you consider that this cost can be spread over all the teams and/or players in

a regional qualifier, it becomes much more manageable,” Orthwein explained. “At four teams in a qualifier, it comes out to a little over $300 a player. Obviously, with more teams, this cost goes down. The hope is that the tournament and opportunity to compete for the National President’s Cup is a significant draw and a value-add way beyond the $5,000 expense for the clubs hosting a qualifier.”

Previously, there could be several Regional President’s Cups played in a single circuit. Now, aside from the Florida circuit, there will be only one per circuit, so ideally, the host club will see more participation.

“I think it can be a huge benefit to clubs that host a Regional President’s Cup qualifier in that regional teams will be more likely to travel to compete at that club for the chance to make it to the National President’s Cup,” said Orthwein.

The 2024 National President’s Cup will be played the same week as the USPA annual meetings and the U.S. Open semis and final. The National President’s Cup final is scheduled to be played on the newly-renovated Field No. 2, which organizers plan to use as a second championship field with permanent grandstands and scoreboard.

With a lot going on and limited time, the national event is expected to be played as a single-elimination tournament, however, Orthwein said teams that are traveling in will likely be able to play some warm-up tournaments in the area.

“The week of the U.S. Open final is always a great week to visit Wellington, with lots of players from around the world coming to watch the best polo in the U.S.” Orthwein explained. “The National President’s Cup will be played alongside the U.S. Open, and the players competing in the National President’s Cup will get lots of recognition. It will also be a great chance for the players in the National President’s Cup to network with players from other circuits.”

New Bridge Polo Club (Aiken, South Carolina) will hold this year’s National President’s Cup, the last played under the old format, Oct. 11-29.

The first of the newly-formatted Regional President’s Cup qualifiers was held in the Midstates circuit June 23-July 1 at Nashville Polo Club in Franklin, Tennessee.

“I like the format and the entry fee structure. ... I certainly think it helps attract teams,” said James Armstrong, who managed the Nashville qualifier. “Our tournament was a great success. We used a format where all four teams made it to the semis ... I would like us to host six teams in the

future but, we have limited stabling and only three fields.” Riverview won 12-9 over Mt. Brilliant, and is the first team to secure a spot in the 2024 National President’s Cup.

Riverview’s Orrin Ingram, a former USPA chairman, said he hasn’t played in Florida since he retired that position but the team is currently planning on making the trip to compete in the national event next spring. In fact, the President’s Cup in Retama was the first USPA tournament Ingram ever played in 40 years ago.

“Currently, we are planning to bring our whole team to Wellington for the tournament. I have not played in Florida since I was involved with the U.S. Polo Association,” Ingram wrote in an email. “Our team is special to me as I am playing with my son Aaron [Barrett], Armando Huerta (who makes and trains most of our fantastic horses) and Wes Finlayson (a special young man in my life ...).”

Regional President’s Cups are set to be played this month at Beverly Polo Club in The Plains, Virginia, and NYC Polo Club in Patterson, New York. Another will be held next month at Traveller’s Rest South Texas Polo Club in Sealy, Texas. There may be others added this year but, time is running out for many more to be played. With a whole year to plan, next year will likely have more regional qualifiers.

“I think it is important that the championship is played in Florida. The USPA’s purchase of NPC is for all USPA members, most of which play at a lower-goal level,” Orthwein said. “The hope is that the National President’s Cup becomes the most prestigious lower-goal tournament in the country, and it is fitting that it is played at the National Polo Center.”

MANNING THE WHISTLE

The first and only female professional umpire

Robin Sanchez is one of a kind. Not only is she the only full-time professional female umpire but, she has also been in the USPA certified umpire program longer than most of her peers, and her unique take on umpiring makes for an interesting tale.

“I always tell everybody I’ve been in polo since disco was cool,” said Sanchez, who has been riding all her life, and even before she was born as her mother rode during pregnancy, a fact she relays with her characteristic sense of humor. “That explains a lot. I got my head knocked as a baby, when my

mother’s stomach was hitting the saddle.”

Sanchez began umpiring as soon as she had an understanding of the game. “My dad started polo as an adult in the ‘70s and then pretty soon the rest of the family was playing polo in Oklahoma and Texas,” she said.

Sanchez’s father, Buzz Welker, ran multiple polo clubs, including Willow Bend Polo Club in Texas, owned by Norman Brinker, and Royal Palm Polo Club in Florida, owned by the Oxley family. He embedded in his daughter the idea that umpiring was a duty.

Robin Sanchez has been a professional umpire since 2015. She says she was raised to umpire.

“He instilled in us that you should do the best job you can umpiring someone else’s game, then you can expect them to do the best job they can when they are umpiring your game,” she said. “Umpiring was a duty and something that you had to do very well. You had to do your best. And train for it. So that was my umpire upbringing.”

Initially certified in 1985, Sanchez became a fullyprofessional umpire in 2015. Prior to that she ran and umpired the PTF Florida Junior Polo Program from 2000 to 2007. Later, she ran Brushy Creek, a PTF training facility, from 2007 to 2010 and umpired intercollegiate, interscholastic and other polo games.

As well as her father’s wisdom, Sanchez was able to draw from her mentoring by some of the best names in the sport.

“As a player I was very mediocre at best,” she said. “But, I was very, very fortunate to have some amazing coaches, which include Corky Linfoot, Ronnie Tongg, Graham Thomas, Rege Ludwig and Jeff Atkinson.”

One of the aspects of umpiring she enjoys most is passing on the craft.

“I did some of the medium-goal in Florida at one time,” she said. “But I would much rather umpire, No. 1, arena polo at any level and No. 2, lower-goal stuff where I can do the rules reviews and clinics and where I feel like I helped someone’s

game. I would rather help someone be a better player or help someone to better understand the rules and the game than just go out and officiate.”

To that end, Sanchez conducts umpire clinics upon request at clubs across the country. For a small fee, a three-day clinic incorporates classroom-based teaching, highlighting umpire officiating and positioning on the field. Rules are studied and videos critiqued. Finally, attendees are mounted and officiate chukkers with the help of advice and feedback via radios.

“Umpiring is not easy no matter what,” she said. “It’s a little bit easier for the people in the professional program that do it every weekend. I always tell everybody, the hardest part about umpiring is putting air in the whistle. If a play makes you gasp then you should really be exhaling.”

Decision-making, multi-tasking and confident riding are three components Sanchez sees as essential to umpiring. She knows the value of quick thinking after she had a brain injury in 2013 and lost her ability to multi-task.

“Until you lose that skill set you don’t realize what an important skill set that is,” she said. “I lost my ability to make decisions. Grocery shopping was impossible unless I had a list and even then I couldn’t look at stuff on the wall and push the cart at the same time.”

Sanchez finally made a full recovery, and back in the fray and mainly umpiring at the lower levels, Sanchez is often the sole professional and takes the field mostly with an amateur umpire.

“I rarely get to umpire with another professional umpire, almost never,” she said. “That means I have someone from the club umpiring with me. I assume that I have to carry 95% of a game every time I go in with an amateur. However, I also see it as an opportunity to train the local umpire. When I get somewhere to umpire, not only is my goal to call a good game and keep the game safe and do my job but, it is also to see that those people who are umpiring with me learn something from me while I’m there and they get better.”

Professional umpiring is largely a man’s world and not just in polo. Major League Baseball has never had a female umpire; nor has the National Hockey League; the National Football League hired its first female referee in 2015 and the first female referee appeared on the World Cup Soccer roster in 2022.

“Technically, I’m the only full-time professional female umpire,” said Sanchez. There are two other women who umpire college and high school. I got to umpire with both of them at the Division II national intercollegiate tournament, so that was kind of exciting to have an all-women officiating crew because I don’t think that has ever happened.”

Being a female umpire throws up a sartorial challenge: umpire shirts do not differentiate for the female form. Sanchez said she has two pieces of felt so the [red and yellow] cards will stick in her pocket. But, across the board, professional umpiring requires the same abilities, namely, in Sanchez’s opinion, a thick skin.

“I don’t use lotion,” she said, and joking aside, “You need an even temperament. You have to be a confident rider, make decisions and multi-task, and you have to be a good teammate with your other umpire. That’s super important.”

And having an understanding husband doesn’t hurt either. She admits her husband Ricardo picks up the slack on their farm while she travels to games.

Most of the time her presence on the field goes unremarked upon. “Where I go to umpire, especially because I get requested a lot and I do a lot of high school and college polo games, I don’t think anyone sees it as anything different,” she said. “But, when I suddenly get sent to Eldorado for a week and I come out on the field, they’re like, ‘Oh! a woman umpire.’ Every other game, ‘Oh, a woman umpire.’”

Sanchez said, “[Usually], it’s a woman who’s kind of excited about it.” But, for Sanchez, it’s what she does. “I don’t think much about it as I’ve been certified longer than most in the professional program,” she said. “And I don’t think about it much just because I was raised to umpire.”

HELMET SAFETY Latest testing focuses on rotational acceleration

The USPA Safety Committee recently requested a comprehensive evaluation of polo helmets under rotational loading conditions by an independent third party.

The evaluation, led by Dr. Steve Rowson of Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, tested 10 polo helmet models under various rotational loading conditions. The key findings from the study indicate that NOCSAE-certified helmets outperformed those without certification, and that both rotational test systems identified the same top performers in terms of concussion risk. The following summary explains the Rowson-designed Virginia Tech evaluation and its implications on concussion risk. The full report is also available on the USPA website (uspolo.org).

Background

Previous polo helmet testing methods have only assessed linear acceleration, neglecting the evaluation of a helmet’s ability to reduce rotational acceleration. Both linear and rotational accelerations are key predictors of brain injuries. While linear acceleration corresponds to intracranial pressure gradients, rotational acceleration relates to relative brain motion and strain. Understanding these measures is crucial for gauging the risk associated with each helmet. Therefore, the United States Polo Association Safety Committee requested a test series to evaluate current polo helmets under rotational loading conditions.

Testing Procedure

Ten polo helmets, available during the testing period, were assessed. Four of these complied with the current NOCSAE standard, and one integrated MIPS technology. NOCSAE is an independent and nonprofit standards organization that certifies various sport helmets. Information about USPA’s NOCSAEcertified helmet mandate, as well as a detailed comparison of polo helmet standards can be found at uspolo.org.

The test incorporated two different rotational systems: an impact pendulum and an oblique drop tower (shown above). Both systems were chosen to be used due to the uncertainty regarding which one best emulates the head impacts experienced by polo players.

Two impact speeds (3.46 m/s and 5.46 m/s), representing low- and high-impact severities, were selected in alignment with the NOCSAE standard. Impact locations were targeted at the front boss, side and rear boss to ensure consistency across all systems.

From these tests, peak linear and rotational resultant accelerations (PLA and PRA) were calculated, and the concussion risk determined. Mean values and 95% confidence intervals were computed by impact speed across systems and locations.

Test Results

Linear Acceleration

The Charles Owen Sovereign and Casablanca NEU helmets produced the lowest average linear accelerations, while the La Martina Windsor and Armis Edge helmets produced the highest.

Linear Accelaration

Rotational Accelaration

Rotational Acceleration

For rotational accelerations, the Instinct Askari and Charles Owen Sovereign helmets outperformed the others, with the Armis Edge and La Martina X-Volution helmets performing worst.

Concussion Risk

The Charles Owen Sovereign and Armis Vera helmets had the lowest average concussion risks, whereas the Armis Edge and La Martina X-Volution helmets recorded the highest.

MIPS

The only helmet model with MIPS technology tested was the Armis Edge. Its performance under linear and rotational acceleration varied between the two test systems. However, due to the limited sample size, we cannot draw a definitive conclusion about the effect of MIPS on helmet performance across different systems.

NOCSAE Certification

Helmets with NOCSAE certification outperformed those without, demonstrating lower linear and rotational accelerations. The NOCSAE-certified helmets also exhibited a 55% relative risk reduction in terms of concussion risk.

Summary

This evaluation tested 10 polo helmet models under various rotational loading conditions. While responses differed across systems, there was some consistency in the rank order of helmet models, particularly in terms of linear acceleration. Significant acceleration differences translated to even larger variations in concussion risk across helmet models.

The key findings from this study indicate that NOCSAEcertified helmets outperformed those without certification, and that both rotational test systems identified the same top performers in terms of concussion risk.

TIME TO CELEBRATE Queen’s Cup victory gives joy beyond just the title

Guards Polo Club, Windsor Castle, about 25 miles from London. All eyes are on him. A 10-goal player. A champion in Argentina, the United States and England. And, he is happy as rarely before after leading Murus Sanctus to an 11-10 defeat of La Magdeleine because not all victories are the same. It is not the same to win for any patron or integrate any foursome.

MVP Pablo “Polito” Pieres was the great star of the team’s unexpected success in the Queen’s Cup, a tournament with 17 teams competing. But, he is not only satisfied with his achievement. He is happy for his teammates Alejandro Muzzio, Marcos Araya and Madame Corinne Ricard, his French patron. He is happy because his mallet has just helped three people and an organization he cares deeply about to live the most wonderful experience they have ever had in their lives.

You have won a lot already in your career and in different places but, how special was it this time to win with an organization like Murus

Sanctus that invests so much in different countries and that needed an important victory?

Murus Sanctus really deserved it. Corinne, in particular, really deserved it. She is a person who contributed a lot to polo for many years. She always hired and employed a lot of people. She is a big fan of horses and she has a spectacular group of people working with her.

For me, it was very nice to have been part of it and to have contributed from inside the field for Murus to win this cup. To see the happiness of Corinne and all her people was fabulous. I had already won it, but being able to do it this time alongside Cacu (Marcos Araya) and Ale (Alejandro Muzzio) was very gratifying. For them, it is the most important tournament of their lives. They were some of the best partners I have ever had on the field. It was amazing. I take with me a very nice memory and a very important cup. I am very pleased and happy.

How did the team’s game flow on the field?

The team had a very nice atmosphere. That’s why for me this title was very special and has a different importance, because of my three teammates who had never won the Queen’s Cup but, also because of the people and the

grooms. They made me feel very comfortable, from Corinne to Cacu, Ale, the groomers and the managers. That was later reflected on the field and it was the reason the team performed very well.

Murus Sanctus dominated most of the matches with authority but,

almost all of them were won by only one goal. Perhaps in the semifinal, you were more comfortable. What were the toughest games?

All the games were very tough. We faced some really good teams. It was undoubtedly one of the most evenly-matched seasons in recent years. We actually won most of the games by only one goal with very close results. In the semifinal against King Power, we managed to win by three goals (10-7), but the match was extremely tough. I think it was precisely that semi-final that we played very focused in all six chukkers because we were afraid of King Power’s strength. Beating them required a great level of concentration and we wanted to win no matter what.

Beyond your good results, you have achieved a really complex goal, which is to be organized in three different countries. How difficult is it to manage strings in three countries?

The organization of horses is very difficult for guys like me who have not yet obtained many products from their breeding. It is very difficult to ride your own horses here in

England, in the United States and in Argentina. It is almost impossible I would say. Everything I have been spending on horses and investing during all these years of my career has been gradually paying off. And also, of course, all this is thanks to the people who are giving me horses to try and help me and giving me options. I am always very grateful to them. But the truth is that riding today in the three places is the hardest thing for me.

What goes into finding and managing good horses in more than one place?

During all these years we have managed with my pilot and my right-hand man Patán (Alberto Nigoul) to bring horses to test. Patán was with Cambiaso and he worked with Cuartetera, [Cambiaso’s famous horse]. He also worked with Nacho Figueras. When we started with him, everybody brought their horses to Cambiaso, to Facundo (Pieres), to La Dolfina, to Ellerstina.

We, with a very good vibe, treating well those who offered us

[My teammates] were some of the best partners I have ever had on the field. It was amazing.

POLITO PIERES

to try their horses and wanting them to do well too, we have managed to get them to start bringing horses to us as well. And we succeeded to get a group of people to trust us. That has been fundamental.

Do you have any horses that you take with you to other countries?

No, I try not to move the horses too much. I prefer to leave each one in its place. It may happen that one of them is not doing very well in a certain country and then I decide to move it, but I try to avoid that. I don’t like to move them so much.

Do you breed in more than one country?

No, I only do it in Argentina. But, I am starting stronger lately. In other countries I only buy horses, I don’t breed them.

What are your top three horses today?

Anay Sur Blondie (AS Salada x Open Padrino), Monkey Puzzle (Osh Kosh x Cheeky Monkey SPC), and Open Voina (Ellerstina Pícaro x Grappa). Those are my three best and I have all three in Argentina.

I imagine that all three will start to get ready very soon for what will be the new project of La Hache in the Triple Crown in Argentina.

Yes, without a doubt. I am very excited. I have a lot of faith because the team is good. We are four experienced players: Hilario (Ulloa), El Sapo (Guillermo Caset Jr.) and Fran (Elizalde) are also very enthusiastic. Expectations are high. We want to win. That’s for sure.

Later we will see if it happens or not, but we really want to win together. Today we have to be calm, have patience and manage our anxiety. Hopefully, we will do well and we will be in good harmony on the field. When that happens, the chances of winning automatically increase.

Polito Pieres won the Queen’s Cup in 2021 with the UAE polo team. This year’s celebration is not a new thing for him. Neither are the podiums where the most important cups of the polo world are raised. But, certainly, the experience of his 37 years adds new flavors to his successes. There are feelings of joy and satisfaction for those who accompany him along the way, who had not yet felt the sweet taste of victory that he already knew and who deserved it for their effort and sacrifice. To be able to give that away should also be considered the conquest of a title.

Everything I have been spending on horses and investing during all these years of my career has been gradually paying off.

POLITO PIERES

SILVER JUBILEE CUP

USA loses overtime heartbreaker on British soil

A women’s team from the U.S. recently competed in the Silver Jubilee Cup, a women’s test match at Cirencester Park Polo Club in England.

After plans for a women’s Westchester Cup fell apart, Cecelia Cochran, who serves on both the USPA’s Women’s and International Committees, worked with England’s Nina Clarkin to put together an alternative women’s event.

“We just wanted to make sure that we could get something on the calendar so that we could start building for next year’s women’s Westchester Cup,” Cochran explained.

Clarkin and her sister Tamara Fox came up with the idea for the test match. Cochran got to work, organizing horses, flights and accommodations, as well as who would play for the U.S. team.

The test match was 21 goals so she was looking for a balanced lineup of players in the 5-goal range. K.C. Krueger (6), Maddie Grant (6) and Anna Winslow-Palacios (5) had played the most recent U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship together, so that is where she started. Krueger was not able to get her passport in time so Cochran

had to find two more players. She looked to Kylie Sheehan (5) and Malia Bryan (5).

“Maddie and Anna played beautifully together. Maddie has played maybe with Kylie and played against her, so they are super familiar,” Cochran explained. “Malia was my choice because she can ride anything and she’s a phenomenal ambassador ... And Kylie is really, she’s a chameleon. She can play on any team and she’s a solid rider.”

England’s team consisted of Charlotte Pykett (3), Lottie Lamacraft (6), Sarah Wiseman (6) and Fox (6), coached by Clarkin.

“Honestly, Tamara and Nina bent over backwards to make this happen,” Cochran said. “[The event] was supposed to be England versus Argentina, and then that didn’t happen ... so it actually fell into place.”

The team arrived a few days in advance to ride the very nice horses generously lent by Clarkin, Ollie Jones and Adolfo Casabal and La Mariposa, and to practice.

In the match, Grant carried the ball end-to-end early in the first only to have the ball go wide. Shortly after, Lamacraft put England on the board. Grant sunk a Penalty 2 late in the chukker to even the score. England had a strong second chukker with Wiseman finding the mark and Pykett sinking back-to-back goals. Bryan carried the ball from the lineup to keep USA in the game. Moments later, Bryan had another great run but a hard bounce in front of the goal sent the ball out of reach, ending the half with England ahead 4-2.

Fully settle in, the USA came back in attack mode after the break. Bryan scored early and Grant capitalized on a Penalty 2 to knot the score at 4-all. With just over two minutes left in the third, Palacios backed the ball at midfield, finding Grant

We just wanted to get something on the calendar so we could start building for next year’s women’s Westchester Cup.”

CECELIA COCHRAN

who ran to goal to give USA the lead.

The fourth began with a throwin dangerously close to the U.S. goal, but England sent it wide. Bryan knocked in, finding Grant who muscled past Wiseman and carried it to the opposite end to score, putting USA ahead by two, 6-4.

A minute later, England got the ball in front of the U.S. goal. Bryan made a valiant attempt to block it but Fox pushed it over the line to bring England within one.

The U.S. team was unable to capitalize on a Penalty 4, but with less than two minutes on the clock, the U.S. caught the umpires’ whistles and Fox had no trouble converting the ensuing Penalty 2, tying the match and sending the game into overtime.

In sudden death, the U.S. won the opening throw-in but, got caught in a foul, giving England a free hit from midfield. Seconds later, England was fouled again, moving the

ball to the 30-yard line. Fox uncharacteristically sent the ball wide, allowing the U.S. to breath a sigh of relief but, it was short-lived. Moment’s later, England was given a Penalty 4. Bryan nearly stopped it, but Pykett was well-positioned to back it through for the win.

Grant, who scored four of the team’s six goals, was named MVP, while Charlotte Pykett’s Dubious wore the Best Playing Pony blanket home.

“Watching the dynamic between [Malia] and Maddie was incredible. Everybody had their place and fit very well,” Cochran said. “The fact that they all know how each other plays really was a big factor. The experiences they had together was what made the difference.”

Clarkin praised the U.S. team. “America brought a really good team and were super organized. We couldn’t have asked for better opposition,” she said.

America brought a really good team and were super organized. We couldn’t have asked for better opposition.

NINA CLARKIN

POLO JOURNEY U.S. women’s team plays arena tournament in India

When the call came in late 2022 from Ed Armstrong, inviting me to join the U.S. women’s polo team and play in the arena invitational in India, it was very well received news.

Hyderabad Polo and Riding Club was hosting the HPRC International Women’s Arena Cup tournament, Feb. 28 -March 4.

A team from the U.K. joined us, thanks to sponsor Suresh Khandelwal of Galaxy Impex. It was co-organized with Polo Yatra, a partnership of L. Somi Roy, Ed Armstrong, Satyajit Aribam and Nabarun Paul, based out of Manipur in Northeast India. Polo Yatra and HPRC collaborated to present the inaugural tournament in 2020. Back then, I was on the U.S. team with Alyson Poor and Neelu Rajkumari from Manipur. Poor and I had just played in Manipur on the local polo ponies before traveling to Hyderabad to compete against a young and newly-formed team from Egypt and the Indian Polo Association team.

The Back Story

In 2016, the Statehood Day Women’s International Polo Tournament Series was started by Roy, a cultural

conservationist and polo booster in Manipur, India; Armstrong, former USPA director of tournaments and clubs; and Steve Armour, former USPA governor-at-large, a polo horse breeder and longtime player from Texas; and was sponsored by Manipur Tourism.

Polo Yatra (yatra meaning journey or voyage) and the All Manipur Polo Association were the organizers. Built upon the women’s state tournaments, starting in the mid-1980s in Manipur, it was also the first and only women’s international tournament in India. And so it was, annually in January, for the next five years.

Roy, Armstrong and Armour were destined to meet, organize and travel to Manipur’s capital city Imphal, India, for the inaugural tournament and those that followed. Since then, Polo Yatra hosted six women’s teams each year from countries such as Argentina, Egypt, Kenya, USA, Canada, U.K., Australia and Manipur. By the fourth edition in 2019, Polo Yatra was able to convince the IPA to form its first women’s team and send it to play in Manipur.

Through their relentless efforts, women players from all around the world have participated in Manipur’s

international women’s polo. In addition to organizing tournaments, Polo Yatra has made it its mission to send the visiting teams to take USPA and Manipur’s message of women’s polo across India to cities like Jaipur, Mumbai and Hyderabad.

Local Manipuri women have improved their games by

playing with players from leading polo countries like the U.S., Great Britain and Argentina, and traveling within India to promote women’s polo. Of the 50 or so women players in India, approximately 40 are registered members of Chingkhei Hunba and other polo clubs in Manipur.

Polo Yatra has also been bringing awareness to the endangered Manipur Pony, the world’s first polo pony, and national and international attention to this little known and easily forgotten area of India.

Manipur is known to be the birthplace of modern polo, where the traditional game, called Sagol Kangjei, has been played for centuries. Polo continued in Manipur even after early forms of polo in other civilizations, such as China, died out. In 1854, a British army officer, Lt. Joseph Scherer of the East India Company, was riding in the foothills of the British Indian Empire where he witnessed local Manipuris riding ponies. To Scherer’s amazement and curiosity, these riders were striking a bamboo-root ball with cane mallets. Flash forward more than 150 years, in 2020, my teammates and I found ourselves playing regulation polo on the rugged, sturdy Manipur ponies, requiring 45-inch mallets. As the many men’s and women’s teams that have played in Imphal can attest, the game is basically the international style polo we play back home: riders hit a wooden ball with a bamboo cane mallet; four players to a side; and the team with the most goals wins.

Hyderabad

This year, still unable to organize polo in Manipur after three years of pandemic hiatus, the organizers set their sights solely on tournament play in Hyderabad.

HPRC is known as India’s largest polo and riding facility. With over 100 Thoroughbred horses on the property, the club has ample resources to host international teams. All games were played in the evening under the lights to avoid the heat.

The U.S. team included Sheryl Sick (3) from Washington, Madelyn Cobb (3) from California, Cecily Coors (1) from Colorado and me (4) from Texas. Armstrong, who organized the tournament, was our coach, traveling in from Massachusetts.

The Tournament

We all met up in New Delhi. The first day included sightseeing, visiting the impressive and massive India Gate, and watching a 20-goal game at the Jaipur polo ground of the Delhi Polo Club. The following day, we took one more flight and were on to Hyderabad!

We arrived on Feb. 27 at the Mrugavani Resort adjacent to the HPRC. The next morning was scheduled individual team horse evaluations. Horses were brought to the schooling ring where each rider was assigned four mounts to try, play, stick and ball and evaluate. That evening, we played our first game against U.K. The U.S. team lost to the 2020 Manipur tournament champions Rosanna Turk and Alice Walsh and newly-added Kristina Karailieva, along with Lottie Harper as alternate. These ladies certainly know arena polo and

made a very strong team. A press conference held on March 1, was a big to-do with all the newspapers and television outlets reporting, conducting interviews, etc.

On March 2, U.K. played a young, developing Indian team. Two of the IPA players were from Manipur: Rajkumari (who played in Polo Yatra’s first tournament in 2016); and Moirangthem Priya Devi, a promising young player, who started in 2021 and was experiencing many firsts: playing outside of Manipur; on full-size horses; and in an arena. Chaya Vaibase and Jaithra Kakarla (studying in U.K.) are local up-and-coming players from Hyderabad. Monica Saxena of New Delhi was captain of the team.

The U.S. and U.K. teams met again in the final on March 5.The British team’s penalty shooting and horsemanship was superior to the U.S. team .

Sick, Cobb and I showed great sportsmanship and solid skills in all the games we played. While momentarily disappointed in not winning, we all played our ratings, solid polo and did not give up until the last horn sounded. More importantly, helping develop women’s polo in India is about community, connections and competition, and is a very rewarding experience.

Along with the International Cup, HRPC also hosted a novice tournament. This allowed Coors, Harper and the Indian women to play internationally on a level of their skills. The games were fielded with men and women.

Coors won the Novice Cup with the Galaxy team. She enjoyed the mixed teams and liked the exposure of arena polo at a welcoming club. Traveling internationally with teammates and having a common bond of polo made our trip to India very fulfilling and rich. The gracious and over-the-top welcome for the international players was astonishing. From local dignitaries to grooms, everyone sincerely liked hosting and meeting the ladies. The awards ceremony was a red-carpet event, where everyone was formally recognized and made to feel like a star.

The U.S. Consul Gen. Jennifer Larson, who recently moved to Hyderabad, eagerly joined us at the game to watch and take part in the awards ceremony. His Excellency Raunaq Yar Khan, the newly crowned 9th Nizam of Hyderabad, hosted a lavish dinner for us at the Post Park Hyatt and came to the final match to join the festivities.

I was very fortunate to be able to represent my country and play with amazing teammates, as team captain and the senior player on the team. My heart swells with love and pride to have been a part of several new women’s tournaments in India. I, along with several other very

fortunate teammates, have taken part in Polo Yatra’s obviously successful and growing leadership in encouraging women’s polo in India. Today, I treasure and reflect on the many wonderful memories of playing polo, touring, and visiting India with fellow countrymen and other women players from abroad.

We ended our trip with a guided tour to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. This is truly a wonder of the world. The Taj has a very rich history, which includes love, family dynamics and war. We thoroughly enjoyed the early morning experience and breathtaking tour of the beautiful mausoleum. India can humble, amaze and mesmerize you all in one breath.

Whether for a tournament game, over-the-top party at a polo club or learning India’s vast history, polo players and travel enthusiasts with a thirst for adventure must tour India. The experience has been an inspiring chapter in my career and continues to hold extremely fond memories for me and other players.

WHIMSY & MAGIC Natalie

Fox’s passions for art and horses collide

Growing up in Virginia, Natalie Fox was surrounded by art and horses but, it would take many years and many different life experiences before those two passions intersected. On the artistic side, her grandmother and two uncles were painters and her mother taught art for 35 years.

“[My family] would foster any kind of creativity [with] art camps, and my mom was an art teacher in elementary school, so I would always be in the art room with her,” Fox explained. “She taught this really cool program ... so by the time you went from kindergarten to fifth grade, you would

have a whole history of art from cave art to present day. I was just totally immersed in the art world from basically, Day One.”

Horses came into her life when she was rather young as well. Her fifth birthday party had a cowgirl theme, and she still remembers the two cute ponies, Silver and Sydney, who were in attendance.

“I fell in love ... and it was just horses from then on out,” Fox fondly recalls.

She attended summer camp at Foxcroft School and would

ride at Paper Chase Farms, both in Middleburg’s horse country, and she rode at MadCap Farm in nearby The Plains. As the years went on she knew she wanted to continue to be around horses. She also enjoyed traditional sports, competing in field hockey, lacrosse and crew.

Fox wanted to do something artistic after high school, but she wasn’t sure specifically what. She dabbled in photography, graphic design, costuming and even handpainting macarons.

After high school, she attended Savannah College of Art and

Design, studying costume design and theatre. The school had a riding program so she leased horses and rode every day. She had her first child at 22 and took a short break from riding while pregnant.

“After my daughter was born, I had a quick recovery and sprung right back and was showing again after she was born,” she explained. “Then I went to Michigan and was riding every day there, too. It was freezing, but again, I was fully immersed in horses.”

She was there attending Michigan State University, where

I’ve been sucked into the polo world in a whole different way from playing. It’s just so amazing.

NATALIE FOX

she studied equine science and horse management, something that would prove useful years later.

When she left college, she didn’t have a clear career path in mind, but with a small child, she had to find a way to support herself.

She ran a small circus, appearing as a stilt walker and making all the costumes for the performers.

“You name it, I’ve pretty much tried it,” she said. “If it can either make me money or bring me happiness and it’s creative, I will do it.”

After a while, she decided to give painting a try. “I thought, what else can I do? What am I good at? I started painting and I figured out I happened to actually be kind of good at it,” said Fox.

She went from standing on a street corner in Alexandria, asking people if she could paint pictures of their dogs, to

self-promotion and doing charity events in Washington, D.C. Eventually, she took a job in government. During that time, she founded her company, Dogography, painting hundreds of dog portraits over 10 years. Eventually, she became burnt out and stopped painting altogether in 2016.

About a year ago, she moved to Middleburg, where she had spent so much time as a child. She met some people involved in steeplechase racing and that reignited her passion for painting.

Her first steeplechase painting was two horses jumping over a hedge. It is full of power and movement with bright colors.

“It’s a really cool painting and it got me excited about painting again. ... Finding that my passion for painting and my passion for horses collided at the same time, I thought it was something worth exploring,” Fox said. “It was really

Polo is a whole other ball game, so to speak. The pace of it, the energy of the riders and the horses ...

NATALIE FOX

exciting for me. ... Paint what you love, right?”

Soon after, she met polo player Greg Grigorian, who commissioned her to do a couple of paintings for him.

“After I met him, I started going to a lot of local games. I had never really experienced polo before,” Fox explained. “Polo is a whole other ball game for me, so to speak. The pace of it, the energy of the riders and the horses ... It just shows so much power. ... That was the beginning of this sort of love affair with the sport and painting it,” she explained. Fox started posting her work on social media, garnering international attention from places like Argentina and Brazil, which led to commissions from oversees.

Her work has appeared in private galleries, art shows and at charity exhibits, but she says, being mostly commissionbased, it is impractical to do a lot of gallery showings.

“Some people make a lot of money with gallery shows, but [I prefer] reaching out and making a connection with individuals [so] I can find out what their passion is, or about their story and who they are,” Fox explained.

She was recently commissioned by Grigorian to paint a 28-foot polo mural at his home. She prefers to paint in large

scale so she was comfortable taking on something this size.

“It was a huge process. We hired a local photographer to come out and we staged sort of a mock game with a bunch of guys who play together on a field near this property,” Fox explained. “We had specific positions we wanted them in for the mural so we took pictures of them doing those motions over and over to get the right angles. Then, I composited it together in Photoshop onto this massive scale and broke it down into sections so, when I drew it out, it would be broken down and in proportion.”

Many times her work is shipped off and she never sees it again, unless it is loaned to someone to hang in a public spot.

“It is sad, because I really enjoy those. ... Sometimes it is a nice surprise to see [my work] hanging somewhere like a restaurant,” she said.

Her commissions tend to be either very static paintings of horses, or those with a lot of movement, which she prefers.

“When I paint with movement, power and life, those are the

Continued on Page 75

TRIPLE CROWN Schedule and locations updated, teams confirmed

Until today there was nothing more traditional in Argentine polo than the chronology of the Triple Crown: first date at the Tortugas Open, continuity with the best teams at the Hurlingham Open, and the most transcendental stage of all at the Palermo Open to define the best team of the season. This year, however, the Argentine Polo Association has decreed a radical modification in its schedule with a clear and necessary objective: to preserve the fields of the Alfredo Lalor complex in Pilar.

After several meetings with their Tortugas and Hurlingham peers, the AAP authorities decided to rotate the start of the Triple Crown. The Argentine board determined that from now on, polo in the Pampas will begin with the 130th

Hurlingham Club Open, continue with the 83rd Tortugas Open and culminate with the 130th Argentine Open. In this way, the AAP seeks to preserve the grass of its venue in Pilar, since a large number of tournaments are held there during the high handicap season.

But, the schedule will not be the only big news this year. The Hurlingham and Tortugas Opens will be played with seven chukkers during their competition and their finals will have the usual eight. For its part, the Argentine Open will be played entirely with eight chukkers.

The Hurlingham Open will be a single-elimination tournament starting with the quarterfinals. Days one and two and the subsidiary final (Drysdale Cup) will be played in

Pilar. The semifinals on days three and four will be played at Palermo and only the final of the tournament will be played at the Hurlingham Club.

With no weekend off for possible inclement weather, the Tortugas Open will immediately follow the Hurlingham final. Unlike previous seasons, this tournament will be held entirely at Tortugas Country Club. It will have two groups of four teams and the winners of both groups will meet in the final.

Finally, and also sticking to dates, will be the pinnacle moment of Argentine polo: the Argentine Open. As last year, its days one and two will be played in Pilar and then it will be moved to Palermo’s La Catedral. The season’s big winner will be known on Saturday, Dec. 2.

The eight foursomes that will play the first two tournaments of the Triple Crown will be La Dolfina (defending champion in Hurlingham and Palermo), La Natividad (winner in Tortugas 2022), Ellerstina, La Hache, La Hache II, La Ensenada, Cría La Dolfina and La Irenita.

The top two teams of the qualifying tournament--the Remonta and Veterinary Cup--will fill the two remaining places. The nine teams that will play the qualifiers for their chance to be in Palermo will be Alegría, Nuestra Tierra, Cañuelas, La Esquina, La Irenita II, Don Ercole, El Overo Z7 UAE, La Fija and La Cañada. Here, players with a lot of experience and from different corners of the planet will be presented but, it will also be possible to observe the first steps of the next generation of illustrious names such as Heguy, Monteverde, Mac Donough, Figueras, Díaz Alberdi and Bensadón, among others.

The tournament will be played in three groups of three teams each. The winner of each group plus the best runner-

Triple Crown Teams

La Dolfina

Adolfo Cambiaso (10)

David Stirling (10)

Adolfo Cambiaso Jr. (10)

Juan MartÍn Nero (10)

La Natividad

Camilo Castagnola (10)

Facundo Pieres (9)

Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. (10)

Pablo Mac Donough (10)

La Hache

Pablo Pieres (9)

Hilario Ulloa (9)

Guillermo Caset Jr. (9)

Francisco Elizalde (9)

Ellerstina

Nicolás Pieres (9)

Gonzalo Pieres Jr. (9)

Bautista Bayugar (8)

Ignatius du Plessis (9)

La Ensendada

Juan Britos Jr. (9)

Alfredo Bigatti (9)

Juan MartÍn Zubia (9)

JerÓnimo del Carril (8)

Cria La Dolfina

Guillermo Terrera Jr. (9)

Tomás Panelo (9)

Diego Cavanagh (8)

Alejo Taranco (9)

La Irenita

Facundo F. Llorente (8)

Tomás F. Llorente Jr. (8)

MatÍas Torres Zavaleta. (8)

Isidro Strada (8)

La Hache II

Juan Ruiz GuiñazÚ Jr. (8)

Carlos Ulloa (7)

Facundo Sola (8)

JoaquÍn Pittaluga (8)

up will qualify for the final stage. The four teams will go to a draw to set up the two definitive matches , with the winners qualifying for the most important Open of all.

It will be 10 weeks of pure, top-level polo in a tight schedule in the Argentine spring. From Sept. 26 to Dec. 2, it will be important for every player to fit his personal agenda, paying attention to every detail, every play and every goal of the most competitive Triple Crown in the world.

(7) Ignacio

Qualifying Tournament Schedule

130th Hurlingham Open

Sept. 26 - Oct. 7

Days 1 & 2 plus subsidiary final played at AAP’s Alfredo Lalor Complex in Pilar

Days 3 & 4 at Palermo

Final at Hurlingham Club

83rd Tortugas Open

Oct. 10-28 at Tortugas Country Club

130th Argentine Open

Oct. 31-Dec. 2 at Palermo (Days 1 & 2 at AAP’s Alfredo Lalor Complex in Pilar)

FACE OF THE FUTURE

Mackenzie Weisz balances time between Argentina, US

Many players from the United States have competed in Argentina’s most important tournaments. And several of them have found it difficult to make the transition from local polo to the type of game that is usually played in the various fields in the South American country. Faster, stronger and harder; going to play in Las Pampas is not an easy task.

That is why the professional path that Mackenzie Weisz is taking is extremely interesting. His father, Andrés Weisz, is Argentinean. He started in Mar del Plata Polo Club and his handicap reached 6 goals. In 1990, he began to travel to play in the United States, married a New Yorker and had three children.

From a very young age, Andrés’ son Mackenzie was linked to both American and Argentine polo. As a child he played the Copa Los Potrillos in the south. Two years ago he was invited by Facundo Pieres to play the Jockey Club Open, and last year he won the U.S. Open with Pieres on Pilot. This year, he reached the final of the Copa República in Palermo’s Field 2 with Santa María de Lobos.

It is a beautiful, sunny fall afternoon in Buenos Aires and Mackenzie has just received a valuable lesson from the master mallet of Santiago Chavanne (a player with a lot of experience in the Argentine Triple Crown) and his son Lorenzo. Weisz’s Santa María de Lobos had a fabulous campaign in one of the most prestigious tournaments in Argentina, beating opponents with a very good game, fast in attack and strong in defense.

Mackenzie had been standing out with a great offensive participation. He even scored three goals in this final. But, the sporting beating that Cuatro Vientos gave him will help him to have no doubts in his future about how the matches that define an important title must be played.

“Beyond the result and wanting to win, this type of experience is very important. It is imperative to play from

Argentina.

a very young age in these scenarios so that it stops being a novelty to appear in Palermo and starts to be something habitual for him,” explained Andres Weisz, as his son made his way to the trophy stage as runner-up. “The only way to learn is to face players who challenge you. When you live in the United States and you only play in the United States and you are the new boy of the moment, everybody talks about you and it seems that you have already made it. And the truth is that you haven’t made it anywhere yet.

“You have to come here to Argentina and compete here and let what happened today happen to him. He

lost by six goals, he was beaten, he was pushed. That will give him the hunger and fury he needs to keep learning, to go and play in England, to be a better player in the United States and to come back here. It’s a defeat, but it has a bright side: it’s a huge learning experience.”

Once the ceremony is over, it is time to for the protagonist himself to tell how he experienced it.

How did you feel playing a tournament of this magnitude in Argentina?

The final result is obviously not what I wanted, but this is my first Copa

República and I made it to the final. It’s a good result to be honest. I was invited by my cousin Gonzalo Di Curcio, and the truth is that I’m very grateful. The tournament was great. From the beginning we improved progressively and got to know each other better with Benjamín and Marcos Panelo.

I had a lot of fun. As for today’s match, it was very tough. The Chavanne, father and son, play very well, they have very good horses and, added to the skill of Santiago Laborde and Tomy Ferrari, the match ended up being very tough.

Benjamín Panelo is one of the emerging names of Argentine polo in the Triple Crown, and you have just played with Facundo Pieres. How important is it to be part of teams with players who compete in the most demanding world polo?

Luckily, polo is a sport where you can play from a very early age with top players. It is very important to take advantage of that and learn as much as you can from them. No other sport has that. Polo in Argentina is very good at various levels. There is a huge number of good players, good horses, great organizations.

When you come here you play polo every day and that is essential if you want to improve and keep growing. Not many young players coming from the United States are lucky enough to be able to come and play the level of polo that I’m playing here.

How do you organize your horse structure?

I’ve been buying over the last few years. My dad is also a breeder and I’ve been acquiring horses from there. It is very difficult to be well mounted in two places. Now there are three,

adding England. I’m improving little by little to build my own structure.

What differences do you notice between playing in Palm Beach and a Jockey Club Open or a Copa República in Argentina?

Both places are very difficult. In both the players are very good and the teams are very well assembled. Both are very tough. I feel very satisfied with what I’ve been achieving in both countries, and I’ll return to Argentina in September to play the Copa Cámara de Diputados. It’s an even more competitive tournament because if you win, you have the opportunity to play a playoff for a place in next year’s Hurlingham and Palermo Opens. Andrés takes a couple of steps away while his son answers. But the sparkle in his eye and the smile on his face have only one meaning: fatherly pride.

“I’m very happy for the effort McKenzie makes every day to improve and grow in the sport,” he said. “The truth is that he is a very young boy who works very hard and, God willing, he will continue to grow based on sacrifice.

“He’s capitalizing on his opportunities. To achieve that goal, first you have to do your homework well. We’ve been coming to Argentina for the last 10 or 15 years. We’ve been here with a lot of effort and the intention of always playing, even if it is a small cup.

“We spend six months a year here, with the family divided in two countries. My wife and my other children in the United States and Mackenzie and I here. All of that is the reward of a long road. The truth is that he deserves it and all the opportunities he is getting are really the outcome of his effort and dedication.”

Poroto Cambiaso, Lukín Monteverde and Lorenzo Chavanne are just some of the names against whom Mackenzie Weisz’s temperance and game have been forged in recent years. The new generation of Argentine polo and the freshest face of American polo--a combination of talent and commitment that in any university would be considered a true master’s degree.

USPA NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS

REGIONAL CLASSIC-SOUTHWESTERN

12 to 14 goal | Brookshire Polo Club | Brookshire, Texas | May 24-31

Brookshire’s Torito Ruiz tries to avoid BTA’s Whistle Uys’ hook, while Milo Dorignac follows close behind.

Final score:

13-11

Winner: Brookshire Polo Club (Megan Flynn, Vaughn Miller Jr., Milo Dorignac, Torito Ruiz)

Runners-up: BTA (Whistle Uys, Steve Krueger, Mason Wroe, Kelly Beal)

MVP: Mason Wroe

Best Playing Pony: Torito Ruiz’s Don Ercole Demi Sec

Brookshire Polo Club finished the Regional ClassicSouthwestern undefeated, the only team in the tournament to do so.

On the way to the final, Brookshire defeated BTA (8-6) and Tonkawa (11-9). BTA, Eureka (Rene Campos, Jorge Cernadas, Alvaro Ara, Tomas Alberdi) and Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Jack Kiely, Herndon Radcliff, Pipe Marquez) all finished preliminary matches with 1-1 records, but BTA advanced to the final to take on Brookshire once again.

In the final, BTA took an early 2-1 lead before Torito Ruiz took control, connecting with the goal five times in the next 14 minutes. But, a balanced attack by BTA kept the score level, 6-6, at the half. Ruiz kept up the pressure, scoring five more times, added to two goals from Milo Dorignac.

Trailing 10-8 going into the last period, Steve Krueger made a valiant effort, scoring three times, but Brookshire matched those goals to keep the two-goal difference. Ruiz was high-scorer with 10 goals.

REGIONAL PRESIDENT’S CUP

4 to 8 goal | New Bridge Polo Club | Aiken, South Carolina | June 2-18

LBL’s

Final score:

12-11 OT

Winner:

LBL (Alison Patricelli, Harry Caldwell, Charlie Caldwell, Nachi Viana)

Runners-up:

Upatoi Green (Josh Escapite, Jake Flournoy, Tommy Huber, Harrison Azzaro)

MVP:

Josh Escapite

Best Playing Pony: Nachi Viana’s Dolfina Galardonada

LBL defended its title in the Regional President’s Cup, ousting a tough Upatoi Green team in an exciting overtime match. The win finished off the team’s third undefeated season in a row.

With five teams in the lineup, LBL was the only team to go without a loss, advancing to the final against Upatoi (2-1). Led by 5-goal Nachi Viana, LBL jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before Upatoi Green fought back to within one after the first, 3-2. Upatoi outscored LBL, 3-1, in the second to take a narrow lead before LBL shot back, ending the half ahead, 8-6.

The lead switched back to Upatoi after the fourth and it held the advantage into the sixth, though LBL was nipping at its heels. Viana scored a lone goal in the sixth to knot the score at 11-all and force overtime. Viana, who was later named MVP, scored the golden goal, his 11th of the day. His 8-year-old chestnut mare, Dolfina Galardonada (Open Chimento x Open Premiada), was named Best Playing Pony.

ALLIED SERVICES CUP

2 to 5 goal | Texas Military Polo Club | Poteet, Texas | June 3-4

Final score:

14-11

Winner:

Patton Legacy Sports (Lauren Sterr, Karl Hilberg, Ariel Mancebo)

Runners-up:

Williams Polo (Cody Goetz, Joss Leufrancois, Brady Williams)

MVP:

Joss Leufrancois

Best Playing Pony:

Horsegate’s Yammin, played by Ariel Mancebo

Best Playing Thoroughbred:

Nadir Khan’s Pippa

Sportsmanship Award: Wes Alston

Patton Legacy Sports commandeered the Allied Services Cup, battling Williams Polo, 14-11, to take the title. All participants or a family member served in the military. To get to the final, Patton Legacy Sports defeated Scuderia SA, 12-7, while Williams Polo topped Polo Interactive, 10-7. In the final, defending champion Patton Legacy Sports began with a two-goal handicap but, a two-point shot out of the opening lineup by Brady Williams quickly made it level. PLS took a narrow 4-3 lead after the first but, Williams Polo shot back with five points while holding PLS to one to end the half ahead, 8-5.

The teams matched points in the third to keep Williams ahead by three, 11-8 going into the last period. PLS capitalized on Williams Polo’s mistakes, receiving a Penalty 1 followed by three conversions by Karl Hilberg to take a 12-11 lead. PLS kept Williams Polo off the board while Ariel Mancebo and Lauren Sterr found the goal to secure the hard-fought victory.

FELDMAN CUP

Seneca Polo Club | Poolesville, Maryland |

June 10-11

Final score:

9-4

Winner:

Garrison Forest (Jenny Schwartz, Gabby Chiasera, Cailin Phebus)

Runners-up:

Red Dogs (Dorn Cox, Bonnie Henry, Lea Jih-Vieira, Jasmine Umrigar)

MVP:

Gabby Chiasera

Best Playing Pony: Garrison Forest’s Stefi, played by Jenny Schwartz

Garrison Forest prevailed over four other teams to take the Feldman Cup, a tournament for I/I alumni.

The first semifinal was a round robin between Polo Bears (Mark Tashjian, Riley Davis, Jenna Gardner), Red Dogs and Morning Sunshine (Patricio Fraga-Errecart, Ford Middendorf, Cara Webster). Each team won a round but, Red Dog’s gross goals advanced it to the final.

In the next semifinal, Garrison edged Military Equestrian Foundation (Alex Jenkins, Amos Peterson, Leila Chang).

The final had the teams knotted 1-1 after the first but, Garrison Forest muzzled Red Dog in the second while hammering in four goals and ending the half, 5-1.

The teams traded goals in the third and Garrison outplayed Red Dogs, 3-2, in the final chukker to ensure the win.

Garrison’s Gabby Chiasera was MVP and Stefi, a pretty bay mare owned by Garrison Forest School and ridden by Jenny Schwartz, was Best Playing Pony.

REGIONAL PRESIDENT’S CUP

6 to 8 goal | Nashville Polo Club | Franklin, Tennessee | June 23-July 1

Final score:

12-9

Winner:

Riverview (Aaron Barrett, Wesley Finlayson, Armando Huerta, Orrin Ingram)

Runners-up:

Mt. Brilliant (Bo Goodman, Juan Jose Basualdo, Julian Daniels, Hutton Goodman)

MVP:

Orrin Ingram

Best Playing Pony:

Mt. Brilliant’s American Dream, played by Juan Jose Basualdo

Four teams lined up for Tennessee’s Regional President’s Cup, the first qualifier for the 2024 National President’s Cup, to be held at National Polo Center-Wellington in Florida.

Riverview got off to a great start with wins over Gainesway/ Forbes Plunkett (15-8) and Manderleigh/Kyne Property Group (10-7), sending it to the semifinal where it defeated Manderleigh (11-6) once again.

Mt. Brilliant slipped past Manderleigh in its first game but fell to Gainesway 10-8. It faced Gainesway in the other semifinal and made the most of the opportunity, advancing with an 11-8 score.

Facing Riverview for the first time, Mt. Brilliant was unable to overcome the strong team and fell 12-9.

Riverview’s Orrin Ingram put in an MVP effort and Mt. Brilliant’s American Dream (Street Sense x Colour Party), a 6-year-old bay mare played by Juan Jose Basualdo, went home with the Best Playing Pony blanket. Graymar Farms’ Robert Lipman presented the trophies.

Continued from Page 61

ones my friends and family say, ‘Oh my God, this one is so much better. It’s so you. It’s so much more magical because ... it is obvious you loved painting this,’” she said.

Fox generally paints with oils, and has used a multitude of surfaces to paint on over the years. She has tried working with acrylic but she says it dries too fast and doesn’t allow her the time she likes to work on the painting.

That said, she paints fairly quickly. Most of her paintings are completed within a week or 10 days from start to finish. She works with canvases that are typically about 36 by 48 inches, and says she is very focused, sitting and painting for between eight and 14 hours at a time.

Her horse paintings have a realistic feel, and she infuses movement with color and light. She says she often gets comments about how anatomically correct the horses look, something she attributes to her equine studies at Michigan. “That program in particular helped me so much with my painting because [we learned about] the anatomy, muscle structure and movement of horses,” she explained.

“I try to infuse as much realism, but I call it whimsical realism because I feel like if it’s too realistic, it’s too severe or serious. I try to put a little whimsy and magic in mine, whether its kind of amping up the saturation a little bit or choosing a motion that feels fluid.”

She says she doesn’t look at a lot of other equestrian art specifically so that she keeps her own style, though she admits she loves British equestrian artist Alfred Munnings’ (1878-1959) work. His art is not reflected in her style, but she admires painters who use light creatively.

“Vermeer is one of my favorites for lighting, and Rembrandt lighting, that sort of dark background with nice, warm light. I use that in some of my work where I have a black background and warm lighting,” she said.

Now that her passion for painting and horses are firmly entwined, she looks forward to seeing where it will take her.

“It’s such a magical thing to paint. I don’t know that I’ll ever stop or find something that I enjoy more,” Fox said. “I’ve been sucked into the polo world in a whole different way from playing. It is just so amazing.”

CULVER HORSEMEN 126 years of a proud tradition: the famed Black Horse Troop

One of the most recognizable facets nationally of Culver Academies is its horsemanship program, which began with the storied Black Horse Troop, though there’s much more to the program, which celebrates 126 years since its founding this year, than that specific entity.

Horsemanship at Culver indeed owes its origins to the Black Horse Troop, originally a unit of the Cleveland Cavalry that wowed the nation in March 1897 when it escorted President William McKinley down Pennsylvania

Avenue in Washington, D.C., as part of that year’s inaugural festivities (in those days, inaugural parades were held in March rather than the January time-frame of today).

Among those impressed by the pageantry of the troop was a young Virginia Military Institute graduate, who had been hired just a few months earlier by Culver Military Academy founder Henry Harrison Culver to serve as the commandant of cadets at the fledgling school, which had opened its doors less than three years

prior, in 1894. Leigh Gignilliant would later become superintendent of the school (in 1911), a brigadier general after serving in World War I, and a figure of national prominence for his role in the Preparedness Movement of the early 20th century, which helped give birth to the ROTC, among other effects.

Perhaps more than any other individual, Gignilliant’s vision and methodology helped put Culver on the map internationally, placing its cadets in headlines and newsreels, its name into two Hollywood film titles (“Tom Brown of Culver” in 1932 and “The Spirit of Culver” in 1939), and its graduates among the most accomplished in the nation, not only in their military service but in the business world, the arts, politics and more.

One of Gignilliat’s first endeavors was to recommend to the Culver family the purchase of the mounts of the Black Horse Troop, shortly after the inaugural parade of that spring day in 1897. The first 16 horses were soon on campus, and Gignilliat lost no time, in the coming months and few years, in putting them in front of regional audiences. Culver’s Black Horse Troop escorted the governor of Indiana, members of the Grant Army of the Republic, and took part in the World’s Fair in St. Louis in 1903 (where it served as personal escort to legendary Admiral of the Navy George Dewey) and the Jamestown Exposition in 1907, to name a few early appearances of note.

By 1898, an impressive red brick riding hall graced the Culver campus, matching the design by renowned St. Louis architect Albert Knell of the campus’ other buildings. Cadets in the Troop were trained not only in general equitation but also jumping and rough riding, hearkening back to the hallowed tradition of cavalry in

warfare and making for an even more impressive spectacle in newspaper photos, films, postcards and inperson audience revues.

In 1906, an accomplished horseman in the form of Spanish-American War veteran and Cavalryman Col. Robert Rossow joined the Culver staff as director of its horsemanship program. One of his first suggestions, met with enthusiastic approval by Gignilliat, was the formation of a summer cavalry program to complement the recently-launched (1902) Summer Naval School, thus beginning, in 1907, a longstanding and cherished program in its own right, today known as the Summer School of Horsemanship.

By 1908, an event that would become a beloved annual tradition began within the summer cavalry program: the Troop hike. Initially known as the “100mile hike,” the event took summer cavalry cadets “on the trail” on horseback for miles away from Culver, often journeying through surrounding towns and tent camping along the

way (today the tradition continues, though not with quite the same scope of distance).

Perhaps its most visible manifestation began for the Black Horse Troop in 1913, when former Indiana Gov. Thomas Marshall invited the entire Culver corps of cadets to escort him down Pennsylvania Avenue during the inauguration of President Woodrow Wilson, under whom Marshall served as vice president. Culver cadets made an impressive showing at that inaugural and its follow-up in 1917, with the Troop in particular capturing headlines, media photos and film clips.

Over the following decades, members of the Black Horse Troop and its honor organization, the Lancer Platoon, appeared at a wide array of regional and national-level events, escorting a host of dignitaries, including President Herbert Hoover, World War I Supreme Allied Cmdr. Marshall Foch, the King and Queen of Denmark, Emperor Hirohito of Japan, Prince

Charles of England and many more. Perhaps as testament to the stature of the Troop, two popular juvenile novels were published in the 1950s: “Black Horse of Culver” by Helen Orr Watson, and “Tex Reins, Culver Trooper” by Robert Rossow. This was in addition to numerous recordings and sheet music compositions paying tribute to the Troop (including a march composed by legendary bandleader John Philips Sousa).

In the meantime, a new (and the current) riding hall replaced the 1898 structure. Completed in 1916, Culver’s riding hall was hailed as the largest indoor equestrian center in the United State, with its massive arena home to polo matches and a variety of riding exhibitions and events. Various additions have graced what is today known as the Vaughn Equestrian Center, including, in 2009, a largescale renovation of the entire facility, including the now state-of-the-art stables, which can house some 100 horses.

Culver students began playing polo in the early 1900s, and it was added to the school’s Summer Cavalry Camp program, beginning in 1907.

enthrall audiences locally, regionally and internationally as they carry on a hallowed equestrian tradition.

POLO

Polo has a long history at Culver that continues today. It became a varsity sport in 1925, though it was already played informally on Culver’s campus in the early 1900s, both by cadets in Culver Military Academy and participants in the Summer Cavalry Camp, launched in 1907.

The 1950s saw efforts by Culver students to revive the inaugural tradition. These finally bore fruit when, in 1957, the Troop participated in President Dwight Eisenhower’s second inaugural, beginning a consistent run of inaugural appearances ever since, with only the 1993 parade as an exception.

From the first female students at Culver Military Academy starting in 1957, horsemanship opportunities had been available to young women at the school,even if membership in the Black Horse Troop proper--as a living unit in the military school, which is male only--wasn’t possible. This had only increased by 1965 with the start of the Summer School for Girls, and into the 1970s for girls in the summer and high school boarding program (which by 1971 included the Culver Academy for Girls, today’s Culver Girls Academy), when equestrian hikes, jumping and polo became available for girls.

In 1978, a girls’ hunt club evolved into the CGA Equestriennes, the first honor organization for young women at Culver Academies, as of 1981. The Equestriennes can boast of a rich history in their own right, sometimes at events alongside members of the Black Horse Troop or Lancer Platoon, and sometimes in their own unique

appearances around the country. The Equestriennes were invited for the first time to join their Troop counterparts in Washington, D.C., for the 1985 Reagan inaugural, though that parade was canceled due to inclement weather. Thus the 1989 inaugural parade was the first for the Equestriennes, who (with the exception of the aforementioned 1993 parade) have joined the Troop at every inaugural since.

They have appeared in events (both on their own and alongside Troopers) surrounding the Indianapolis 500, the Kentucky Derby, the Fort Worth Stock Show, and the renowned World Equestrian Games, among many others.

Today, the rich tradition of horsemanship continues at Culver Academies under the direction of recently-installed Director of Horsemanship Captain Sean “Skip” Nicholls, who served since 1989 with the British Armed Forces Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in London, England, and began his Culver tenure [in 2021].

And so, a century and a quarter later, students at Culver continue to learn lessons instilled by four-legged, as well as human instructors and

In 1926, the school’s first formal team was coached by West Point graduate Lt. Davis Adams Taylor. Former Culver historian Robert Hartman wrote a book about the school’s horsemanship program titled, “Boots and Saddles.” In it, he wrote, “At the outset, the game won quick support among the troopers and there was a spirited competition for selection to the team. While the troopers embraced the game with great enthusiasm, initial progress was slow.”

Culver teams competed with outside clubs, as well as military units and college teams in the area. The host team provided visitors with horses so it was affordable and easy to travel.

After winning a circuit championship in 1930, the team qualified to compete in the interscholastic championship but were eliminated after losses to Princeton JV and the Hunt School.

According to Hartman, what held the program back was quality horses. The team was using what horses it had, but in 1931, the school purchased 10 horses specifically trained for polo. Hartman wrote, “Until 1943, the field artillery unit at the Academy was horse-drawn. The artillerymen were just as enthusiastic in their competition for recognition as were the troopers, and an intense rivalry quickly developed between the two units.”

A Culver team won its first National

Interscholastic Championship in 1933. The winners, Bruce Aitkin, R.J. Rasmussen and C. Maull Jr., were not troopers but members of the field artillery polo team.

According to Hartman, when the Army terminated horse-drawn artillery during World War II, the polo program came under the exclusive aegis of the Black Horse Troop.

World War II also put a stop to the interscholastic championship for almost three decades. After the war, however, horsemanship continued to be a vital part of Culver, including the Black Horse Troop and polo.

Culver horses are often used for more than one program. In the 1950s, a polo pony named Spirit of Culver became the Academy mascot, making regular appearances at football games over the next decade. Another horse, The Clock, became a symbol of the Black Horse Troop, but was said to be equally comfortable playing polo or doing dressage.

With no official interscholastic tournament to be played, members of the polo team sought competitions wherever they could. During spring break in 1957, members of Culver’s polo team traveled to Havana, Cuba, to play.

Col. Gerald Graham took over as director of horsemanship in 1958, a position he held for 10 years. Trained at Fort Riley, Kansas, Graham began his military career with the Governor’s Horse Guard until 1941 when the cavalry was changed over to other branches of service. During World War II, the then-major was Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s aide de camp.

After leaving Culver, the 7-goal Graham resumed his polo career with Army teams. He played with Gen. George Patton and celebrities such as Walt Disney, Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy.

When the National Interscholastic Championships returned in 1970, Culver was primed and ready. It took

the title four years in a row. Over the years, it counted a total of 12 open and one girls’ championship titles, and was runner-up four times.

Despite the school’s success in the championships, by the late 1970s, the school administrators decided to end support for polo.

Hartman wrote, “The reasoning was the horse world was constricting; the Army had long ago abandoned its cavalry programs; the acquisition of horses, particularly those with the stamina for polo, was increasingly expensive; and there were fewer

knowledgeable riders with an interest in the sport.”

Culver alumni jumped in, determined to keep polo part of the athletic and horsemanship program. They held successful fundraising events for five years until the administration decided to support it once again. Fortunately, the sport continues to be a vital part of the school’s great traditions.

Over the years, several recognizable polo names have graduated from Culver, including Troopers Michael Dailey, Harold and Eric Oppenheimer, Brad and A.P. Alexander, Brad

Scherer and Dale Schwetz; and Equestriennes Pamela Flanagan and Ali Davidge.

Davidge, now the USPA’s intercollegiate/interscholastic program coordinator, rode in Barack Obama’s 2009 inaugural parade.

“I was fortunate enough to be able to ride my favorite polo pony at the time, Cali, in the parade. She was a rock star that entire day. It can be a very intimidating situation for a horse and rider, so to see the students pull it off, looking as professional ... is impressive. It’s definitely a oncein-a-lifetime experience,” Davidge explained.

In 2017, the most recent inaugural parade in Washington D.C., all of the school’s polo players and 20 of the school’s 24 polo ponies made the trip to Washington along with coaches Frank Stubblefield and Savannah Kranich. Amid the global pandemic in 2021, many of the polo ponies again

took part in the inaugural parade, this time held virtually at Culver.

In 2017, to condition the horses, urban scenarios, such as blowing trash, police sirens and marching bands, were emulated in the school’s riding hall. The riders also had three mock parades through the Culver community to prepare.

Currently, seven of the school’s polo ponies are black, however they are no longer restricted by color. Nicholls explained the restriction limited growth and slowed the teams’ progress so they now are accepting horses of any color.

“This will enable us to find polo ponies

easier, which will enhance the program as finding polo ponies that are black and parade-ready are like [finding] unicorns,” he explained. The school is currently looking for about 30 horses to bring the Troop up to 64 black horses and 18-20 horses of any color for the polo program.

“Our aim is to expand the teams so we can pick the best players to fill [them],” he said. “Depth of quality is key, and we should be fielding an open and a ladies team this year.”

The majority of horses continue to have more than one role, which helps prevent boredom. Aside from polo and parades, the school’s riding program includes jumping, trick riding, trail rides, swimming and more.

Our aim is to expand the teams so we can pick the best players to fill [them].

SKIP NICHOLLS