Hope Arellano of Polographics outraces defender downfield on her Best Playing Pony. Photo by Scott Fisher WELLINGTON, FL-March 17, 2014- —The Buzz Welker Memorial Tournament offered junior polo players of all ages and ability levels a chance to improve their skills and have fun at the same time Monday at Grand Champions Polo Club. With more than 80 players, polo’s grass roots level never looked better during the Polo Training Foundation event.

Read more at the source: Buzz Welker Memorial Polo Tournament Helps Sport’s Growth At Grand Champions Polo Club

Article excerpt posted on Sidelinesnews.com from Show World.

Carlos and his sons, Mariano, left, and Carlos, Jr., who are both professional polo players.
Photo by Alex Pacheco

By Darlene Ricker

What kind of polo superstar gives one of his best-trained horses to another player who can’t afford to buy a safe mount? Treats a beginner with the same respect he does a student from the British royal family? Stops after a match to chat with a stranger who cheered him on from the sidelines?

The kind of guy named Carlos Gracida.

Unfortunately there was only one of his kind, and his recent death has left a hole in the heart of the sport. The polo world – indeed, anyone who knew Carlos – recognized him as one of the greatest polo players, and finest human beings, of all time. The legendary player died February 26, 2014 after a tragic accident in which his horse fell on him during play at Everglades Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.

It’s difficult to quantify what the loss of an international icon like Carlos Gracida means. Among the elite handful of 10-goal players in the world, he won more national and international titles than most people can count. Those who knew Carlos personally, however, have no lack of words to describe the man who brought so much to the world in his 53 years.

Carlos Gracida
Photo by Alan Fabricant, www.alfabphoto.com

“I can tell you he was a great polo player, but everyone knows that. I can tell you he was a great guy, but everyone knows that, too,” said John Fulton, a bloodstock agent and racehorse owner in Argentina who was a close friend of Carlos for the past 10 years. Members of International Polo Club (IPC) in Palm Beach, the two often worked out together at the club and went to dinner afterward with their families. “We had a lot of fun times together,” John recalled. “He was such a social guy, always very open and entertaining.”

Underlying his personality was the fabric Carlos was made of. “Prejudice never entered into his way of thinking – whether you were a groom or a patron. If you were a good person, it was all the same to him,” said John.

Born in Mexico City into a family that had played polo for generations, Carlos learned to play polo on foot, then on a bicycle. By the time he was 10, he was competing in tournaments, already showing his uncanny skill and a deep connection with horses. His finesse was appreciated by polo fans and players from every walk of life. Remembered as “the best polo player ever” by his student, Prince William, Carlos was Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite player.

When Carlos was inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, the museum set up a display of his trophies in the marquee – a display that filled an entire wall.
Photo by Alex Pacheco

“Lots of players are great with a mallet, but you can’t compare them to Carlos,” said John. “Watching him play was like watching a work of art being created right in front of your eyes.” At Carlos’s memorial ceremony at IPC, his brother Memo Gracida (also a top player), observed that when people talk of skillful players, Carlos transcended that.

“Carlos was magic,” said Peter Rizzo, CEO of the United States Polo Association. “I’d watch him play and think, ‘I don’t know how he does it.’” Peter, who knew Carlos more than 30 years, counts him among the top three polo players of all time. “He could play anywhere, with anyone,” he said. “He was extremely approachable, always had a smile on his face. He always had time for you, whoever you were.”

For Sunny Hale, the most famous female polo player in the world and the first woman to ride on a winning team in the U.S. Open Polo Championship, the word that epitomizes Carlos is inspiration. “I believe inspiration is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give and receive,” Sunny said. “Inspiration for me comes from great people in history, no matter what they achieved…it’s the exceptional ones that take a stance to be what they are and to give themselves to what drives them no matter what their talent. This is what changes the way we think and the way we live our lives.

Carlos, right, and his brother Memo Gracida.
Photo by Alex Pacheco

“What inspired me was something I could feel from my earliest childhood memories.” Sunny added,“ – this burning desire and dream that I shared with no one. I wanted to play polo with the best polo players in the world, with no special circumstances, but because they asked me to be there. Carlos Gracida gave me one of my first invitations to live my dream in 26-goal polo and something to aspire to in the way he played. I’m truly thankful for these gifts he gave to me without even knowing it.”

Samantha Charles, polo player and publisher of Sidelines Magazine, received a gift from Carlos that took her breath away. “One day I was playing practice chukkers at Ruben Gracida’s [Carlos’ cousin], and Carlos saw me getting bucked off of a really pretty little black mare,” she recalled. “He rode over and asked me why I was riding such a horse. I didn’t want to say it was because it was all I could afford, so I gave him some lame excuse about the horse being in training.

“A couple days later his secretary called me and asked when I could pick up Monica. I was shocked to find out that he had given me one of his top ponies who could no longer play high-goal. She looked exactly like the one that had bucked me off, except this mare was awesome to play. Carlos asked nothing in return – that’s how kind he was.”

Brandon Phillips, left, Carlos and Luis Escabar at a polo luncheon at the beginning of the 2013 polo season.
Photo by Alan Fabricant, www.alfabphoto.com

If there can be any consolation in the loss of such a man, it comes in Sunny’s words at a memorial service: “I can only say one thing, and that is that he passed from this world doing what he truly loved.”

Godspeed to one of a kind.

Carlos enjoying a ride on one of his favorites, Valars, the polo-playing stallion he competed and showed.
Photo by Ami Polo Photography

About the writer: Darlene Ricker, CEO and Editorial Director of Equestrian Authors, LLC (equestrianauthors.com), covered polo for many years as a staff writer for the Boston Globe and the Los Angeles Times. She met Carlos Gracida on one of her early assignments and remembers him as “the person who turned me on to polo and taught me what having passion – and compassion – for horses and humanity is all about.”

The photo Carlos chose to put on his plaque for his induction into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame.
Photo courtesy of the Museum of Polo

Carlos, with John Walsh, was inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in 2012.
Photo by Alex Pacheco

Carlos’ son, Mariano, leads his dad’s horse during a touching memorial ceremony at the International Polo Club, in Wellington, Florida.
Photo by LILA PHOTO

Carlos with his fiancée, Monica. The two were planning to marry in August 2014.
Photo by Alex Pacheco

Four-goaler Jesse Bray, who has made his mark on the West Coast, traveled 3,000 miles to receive the prestigious Equus & Co. Award, which honors the Team USPA player who best exemplifies the program’s principles, which includes leadership and a commitment to growing the sport. The 21-year-old Jesse received a check for $10,000 and a unique belt buckle designed by Jim Whisenand, the Equus & Co. Chairman and CEO whose vision helped launch the award. The award was given in a post-match ceremony following the Maserati U.S. Open quarterfinal game between Coca-Cola and Lechuza Caracas at International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. From left to right: Jim Whisenand of Equus & Co., Charles Smith of Team USPA, Kris Bowman of Team USPA and Jesse Bray.  Photo by Elizabeth Hedley

Newport Polo is pleased to announce Roger Williams Park Zoo as the beneficiary of this year’s International Polo Charity Ball, dubbed the Safari Ball. The Newport Polo Club will host the annual black tie charity gala on Friday, August 1, 2014, at 7pm in Rosecliff, one of Newport’s legendary Bellevue Avenue mansions. The gala weekend festivities include the ball on Friday night, followed on Saturday by the USA vs. Kenyapolo match, a highlight in the Newport International Polo Series, and will conclude with a New England Lobsterbake served field side at the polo grounds.

Tickets to all the associated events are available online. Early-bird supporters can reserve discounted tickets through June 15th. For more reservations & information visit www.nptpolo.com/calendar/safari-ball or call the Newport Polo office at (401) 847-7090. For more information on the Roger Williams Park Zoo, visit www.rwpzoo.org.

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  Glenn Straub of Palm Beach Polo battles his way out of a crowd with defenders Neku Atawodi and Marc Ganzi of Ride To Shine in pursuit. Photo by Scott Fisher WELLINGTON, FL-April 27, 2014 —-Palm Beach Polo rallied for four goals in the final chukker to capture the USPA Spring Challenge Cup on a sun-drenched Sunday at Grand Champions Polo Club. Trailing 8-7 going into the final chukker, Palm Beach Polo (Alejandro Gonzalez, Brandon Phillips, Tommy Biddle, Glenn Straub), battled back for a hardfought 11-10 victory over  Ride To Shine (Marc Ganzi, Neku Atawodi, Nic Roldan, Martin Estrada)

Read more at the source: Palm Beach Polo Wins USPA Spring Challenge Cup; Glenn Straub Named Most Valuable Player

Article excerpt posted on Sidelinesnews.com from What’s Happenin’.

Polo, Roping, Mounted Shooting, Barrel Racing, PoloCrosse: Is there anything Kerstie Allen CAN’T do on a horse?  

By Lauren R. Giannini

Kerstie Allen
Photo by Barbara Bower, www.BarbarasVisions.com

After growing up in Australia, Kerstie Allen took off to explore the world, literally and figuratively, on horseback. She has played high goal polo alongside royalty and some of the best professional players, competed in rodeo events, and, at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, played demonstration games as a member of the USA PoloCrosse World Cup Squad.

“We won the USA-versus-Australia test match in PoloCrosse in 2010, and I’ve won best (polo) player in the WCT (Women’s Championship Tournament), but my biggest achievement so far has been playing in the 26-goal tournament in Wellington, Florida,” Kerstie said.

Her first 26-goal experience took place in the semi-finals match of the Butler Handicap, the subsidiary of the U.S. Polo Association (USPA) Piaget Gold Cup on March 20. Crab Orchard team captain and sponsor George Rawlings had been dealing with a persistent bad knee so Kerstie stepped into the line-up and stayed in the team through the finals, playing alongside 10-goaler Facundo Pieres, Magoo Laprida (8) and Paco de Narvaez (8). Crab Orchard won the 2014 Butler Handicap Title.

“It was the greatest honor because I am a 0-goal player,” Kerstie said. “I’ve never even seen a 26-goal game and to play in one and win was just a dream come true. I was riding 12 horses I didn’t know at all against top players with really high handicaps. I played in every match of the Butler Handicap and we won every one.”

When it came to the next 26-goal tournament, Kerstie found herself watching the ultimate high goal polo tournament, the 110th Maserati US Open. Women have made a lot of progress in polo, but there’s still a bit of a man’s-world bias. Polo’s a tough sport with bumping, riding off and racing at speed, and accidents can happen to the biggest and the best players and horses.

Kerstie plays for ERG a 20-goal tournament in Santa Barbara, California in 2013.
Photo by David Lominska, www.polographics.com

Kerstie, with her long blonde hair, looks like a girly-girl, but don’t be fooled by the package, because she takes the concept of cross training to extremes and thinks way outside of the box. She enjoys rodeo events and also has a compulsion for the thrills of snowboarding and wakeboarding. Her grand passion, truth to tell, is playing polo.

“Polo is physical-mental – you’re in the middle of seven guys with mallets, moving at speed on horses, and you don’t get a second chance if you mess up,” Kerstie said. “Maybe I am 0-goal, but I hold my own as a player. They used me against the other 8- or 9-goal players in those matches and I held my own. I was hoping to go on to the Open with them, and I was there, just in case they needed me. I was cheering them on from the sidelines.”

In a soft Aussie accent, she talks about her dreams and ambitions. You can hear the strength of will behind her words, the steely-minded determination and the mind-set that transcends ordinary common sense about personal limitations. You know that Kerstie will figure out a way to get where she wants to go. In fact, she recently signed on to play beach polo for the first time at the Miami Beach Polo Tournament for team Fontainebleau Aviation. She’ll then travel to Via Reggio, Italy, to continue playing for Fontainebleau Aviation.

Kerstie and 9-goal player Facundo Pieres, Crab Orchard teammates for the Butler Cup 25-goal finals championship
Photo by David Lominska, www.polographics.com

“I was on the way home after playing polo in England and I came to the USA to check out the polo scene,” she said. “I was also fascinated by rodeo and western riding, having heard about it all my life growing up in Australia. I was skiing in California and overnighted my horses to me and they wound up stabling at the Indio Polo Club and that was the start of my polo here in the States.”

Kerstie admitted to being obsessed with horses as long as she can remember. She didn’t get her own horse until she was in high school, and her family wasn’t at all horsey. She was born in Melbourne and stayed there until she graduated from college. When she had an opportunity to travel, she leaped at it and has never looked back.

“There’s no BS about me – we are what we are,” said Kerstie. “I do team roping and barrel racing professionally, and calf roping as an amateur. I also do cowboy mounted shooting. I’ve won a lot of buckles, probably hundreds, and saddles. I’ve never had a lesson. I taught myself to do everything. I’ve had to pursue my dreams pretty much on my own.”

Kerstie rides off Facundo Obregon in the 26-goal handicap finals, Crab Orchard versus Coca-Cola.
Photo by David Lominska, www.polographics.com

In addition to being totally self-taught in all of her endeavors, on and off the horses, Kerstie is totally self-supporting. “I buy and sell horses for polo, roping, barrel racing, hunter/jumper – I find out what the horses’ talents are and what they enjoy doing best,” she said. “I sold my best roping horse, a heel horse, to Tuff Hedeman. He was a champion bull rider and best friends with Lane Frost, who died bull riding. They made a movie about it, 8 Seconds.”

Kerstie travels with her horses all over the USA, according to the season and the sport. Right now, she has 20 in her string, but she has had as many as 300 horses in one year. For polo, she has a mentor in Facundo Pieres.

“It was an honor to play on the same team with him this season in the 26-goal matches,” Kerstie said. “As a woman, it is rare to even have the opportunities I have had. I have to thank the Rawlings and the whole Crab Orchard team, including Paco, Magoo and Facundo. I just want to continue playing high goal internationally. I want to go as far as I can in polo.”

Kerstie at Crab Orchard
Photo by Barbara Bower, www.BarbarasVisions.com

About the writer: Lauren R. Giannini is an award-winning journalist, specializing in stories about the equestrian world. Crazy about horses all her life, she craves more stable time, especially in the saddle. Right now, she rides her beloved MacBook, a genuine work-pony, and reads voraciously to escape the everyday world. Her plans for 2014: do more teaching and thereby share her love of books, reading, writing and telling stories. Big goal: to become a published author in the not-too-distant future. 

In Memory of H. Ben Taub

H. Ben Taub, better remembered in his worn cowboy boots and well-worn cowboy hat, in a rare dressed up moment with Sidelines Magazine publisher, Samantha Charles, on the fields of Palm Beach Polo and Country Club. By Ed Scanlon

There is a kind of immortality that comes to us all in memory and the reflective affection of our family, friends and loved ones. H. Ben Taub passed into immortality in the early morning hours of May 20, 2014.

I met H. Ben on a polo field in San Antonio, Texas, over 35 years ago. He was playing back for a Houston team and I was playing 1 on a team from Willow Bend out of Plano (Dallas). We spent six periods trying to kill each other. The “ride-offs” were barely controlled crashes, the hooks were full on shots against each others’ mallets. At the end, sitting on the fender of my trailer very sore, slightly bloody, in trouble with my groom for the trial I had subjected my horses to, I thought I might be a little angry. Up walked my opponent with a six-pack of Bud in his left hand and an outstretched right. “Hi, I’m H. Ben Taub from Houston. Glad to know you.” We were best friends from then on.

“H” was a polo player’s polo player; it was all about the horses. He bought the best and kept them at home where he could supervise their care. When he went to Florida to play in the Gold Coast League (remember that) at the new and spectacular Palm Beach Polo and Country Club, he went to stay for the duration to be with the horses and work on his game. His “work” work was done on the phone from there. And, contrary to the impression he liked to give, he did work. I know, I was one of his brokers and I never knew a more diligent investor or business owner.

Over the years we played against each other as much as together. It was always a good-natured battle. In 1987, he decided we should make an all-amateur 12-goal team and enter the Intra-Circuit 12-goal. H. Ben, Tom Gose, David King and I added up to 12 goals, entered in San Antonio and won. We took the team to Lexington for the National 12 Goal, and lost in the semi-finals. Had a helluva time and scared some people. H. was, most of the time, a happy warrior, but a warrior nevertheless.

In recent years, H. Ben played ranch polo at his home, Paradise Lost Ranch, and so it was on March 2nd, playing ranch polo with his friends that H. Ben had a fall. His horse caught a toe, stumbled and went to the ground. H. Ben was slammed face first into the turf. He broke his nose, a rib, some teeth, and had three contusions on his spinal cord. All together, he was paralyzed from the chin down. He regained feeling over most of his body, but unfortunately passed away. Friends from all over the country gathered in Houston to wish him on his way. Those who knew him know they will not see his like again and we will miss him.

The San Diego Polo Club (SDPC) kicks off its 28th season in Rancho Santa Fe on Sunday, June 1st with Opening Day presented by Land Rover of San Diego. Gates open at 12:30 p.m. for two action-packed matches at 1 and 3 pm where local and international polo players will compete in front of an estimated 2,500 spectators. At 2:30pm, guests will enjoy a fashion show presented by stylist, Raina Leon, featuring fashion from local Del Mar boutique, Van de Vort. Join Riviera Magazine and DJ Here after the matches for the anticipated 7th Chukker After Party until 7pm. Polo is presented to the public every Sunday from June 1 to September 28 with the exception of July 27, August 3 and August 10. Each Sunday, the SD Polo Club features two competitive matches, intermission entertainment, and a divot stomp – which is a chance to stretch your legs and walk on to the polo field with a glass of champagne and stomp the divots that have been kicked up by the polo ponies. Each Sunday, the San Diego Polo Club partners with various groups, brands and charities, making each Sunday event unique.

Virginia International Polo Club has planned a packed summer season from June to September with polo for everyone. They have polo school four times a week, where seasoned veterans and beginners enjoy relaxed and social grass scrimmages on the many Club ponies. There are two 4-goal leagues every Saturday. A Sunday Challenge League (6-10 goals), and an 8-10 goal weekday league. There will also be a National Youth Tournament series on July 8. And Women’s Championship Tournament qualifier games the week of July 23 – 27. There will be Junior games every Tuesday and two weeks of Kids Polo Camp: June 24-27 and July 15-18.  With a friendly staff and a stunning historic estate, VIPolo truly offers something for everyone! For more information/reservations please call Kirsten at: 561 203 0400 or kirsten@poloconcierge.com. Visit our website at: www.vipoloclub.com . Photo by Maureen Brennan

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New York, NY. June 3, 2014  – Equestrian community members in the Northeast gathered on Saturday, May 31st for an Equestrian Aid Foundation fundraiser in Flemington, NJ. The event was held at Sand Hill Farm, the private residence of Scott Stewart and EAF board member Ken Berkley, who co-chaired the dinner party along with fellow board member Mimi Tashjian

Read more at the source: Equestrian Aid Foundation Supporters Cher The Love at Dinner Party in New Jersey

Article excerpt posted on Sidelinesnews.com from What’s Happenin’.

By Lauren R. Giannini

Hugging Magic gives a young girl comfort.

During the recent tornadoes in Moore, Oklahoma, Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy horses found themselves both the heroes and the victims. When disaster stuck, the little horses remained calm while founders Debbie and Jorge Garcia-Bengochea made a decision that would result in renewing hope to a town that had nearly lost everything.

“Gentle Carousel had been asked by the community to bring our therapy horses to Moore for the children who survived the destruction of their schools on May 20,” recalled Debbie. “We had just gotten back to the hotel when the news announced that the tornado that had been heading north turned around and was heading south again toward Moore. Who would think that an EF-5 tornado would hit the same place twice?”

Alerted by hotel staff that the best shelter they could offer was for guests to bunker down under their bed mattresses in the hallway, Debbie and Jorge opted to hit the road immediately with their horses. “Had we left two minutes later, we never would have gotten out of there,” Debbie said. “The tornado kept going – so much energy around it. It was two-and-a-half miles wide. All we saw behind us was blackness, smoke and accidents. Our horses weren’t bothered. They thought we were fine, doing one more unusual thing. We were stressed, the horses weren’t.”

After fleeing the tornado, Debbie and Jorge pulled over and waited until they lifted the roadblocks on the interstate back to Moore. “We had to go back for the children who had been attending funerals and who needed us. We promised that the little horses would be there again the next day, and we couldn’t go back on our word,” Debbie said.

Harriet and Magic arrive in Moore, Oklahoma to help the children who survived the May tornado that destroyed their schools.

When they returned to Moore they learned how lucky they were. The second five-in-one twister totally destroyed the farm where their horses had stayed and also resulted in severe damages to their hotel. That close encounter made Debbie and Jorge even more cognizant of the power of the therapeutic benefits of their Gentle Carousel horses.

Although Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy emphasizes that the organization does not chase disasters, they knew they needed to help the people in Oklahoma.“Going to Oklahoma really fit what our horses do,” Debbie explained. “People were homeless. There was so much sadness. Seven children had died and others were injured when the first tornado destroyed the two schools. Our horses bring joy and comfort to people who have suffered great loss. They feel encouraged, they’re excited and smiling, their parents are smiling. They go home with happier memories, plush toy horses and a photo of them with their therapy horse.”

The help offered by Gentle Carousel isn’t limited to towns that have been decimated by major tornados. Every year the 501(c) (3) non-profit charity’s miniature therapy horses work with more than 20,000 people. They visit hospitals, hospices, rehab centers and schools, as well as communities and families recovering from traumatic events.

When Gentle Carousel received requests to visit Moore in the aftermath of the EF-5 tornado that blasted that initial mile and a half wide swath, various volunteers discussed the calls with Debbie and Jorge. They all agreed that the importance of this road trip outweighed Gentle Carousel’s budget.

John LeCain, a pastor from New York, is learning to operate an electric wheelchair while therapy horse Wakanda practices adjusting her speed to walk with him at the University of Florida Health Rehab Hospital (formerly Shands Rehab Hospital) in Gainesville, Florida.

“We are an all-volunteer non-profit, and probably our greatest challenge is finances,” Jorge said. “We’ve been doing this for about 15 years, and our little horses are trained to go anywhere and give joy, inspiration and hope to people. But there are times when we have to consider the expenses of travel and lodging. We hadn’t planned on going to Oklahoma. We did it out of pocket, because we felt we had to be there. We wish we could accept every invitation, but sometimes we can’t.”

One invitation that Gentle Carousel didn’t turn down was the opportunity to work at the University of Florida Health Rehab Hospital (formerly Shands Rehab Hospital) in Gainesville, Florida. “It has been an interesting partnership,” Debbie admitted. “To get ready for the trip to Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut we practiced at UF Health, including using the elevators. Our therapy horses can go into hospitals and rehab hospitals across the country – for many, it is their first encounter with therapy horses.”

Gentle Carousel’s horses bring joy wherever they go. This is especially true at UF Health where children and adults learn to cope with daily life after suffering strokes, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, amputations, burns or major joint replacements. They practice everyday tasks in a room set up like an apartment with a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. The horses learn how to approach beds, move around on different floor surfaces and work in small areas.

Sometimes horses and patients practice at the same time on the steps and ramps in the therapy gym. The horses might walk alongside patients as they learn to use walkers and wheelchairs. In occupational therapy, learning to perform everyday skills like cooking can involve patients making special treats for the therapy horses. The blessings the patients receive from the horses are not only educational, but inspirational as well.

Therapy horse Magic demonstrates rehab training stairs and ramps for the patients.

“We’ve always felt very blessed. After we survived Moore’s second tornado, we know that we are also very lucky,” said Debbie. “Someone in Oklahoma told us that God looks after his angels, and we do think the Gentle Carousel therapy horses are little angels.”

For more information and to get involved visit horse-therapy.org.

A patient at UF Health Rehab Hospital spends a sweet moment with a Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horse.

Photos courtesy of Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses

A Magical Book – Magic Loves Me

Debbie Garcia-Bengochea, a former school principal, wrote a children’s book about Magic, one of Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses, to read to children at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Magic Loves Me is about how Magic loves friends facing different kinds of challenges. Many children have asked to keep the book, but Gentle Carousel has only the one copy.

“We would love to be able to give the book to the children – we have used Magic Loves Me to help children who need desperately to heal,” said Debbie. “It will cost around $5,000 to publish, but we need help meeting the printing costs.”

Therapy horse Magic reads with Taylor Kimmel, a survivor of Briarwood Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma. Taylor’s father, Toby Kimmel, was driving to the school to pick up his first grader when he saw the tornado destroy the school. Just hours after this photo was taken Taylor was in a storm shelter and became a two-time tornado survivor.

The demand for Magic Loves Me would exceed the supply in no time, considering how many people Gentle Carousel helps annually. Debbie pointed out that “sponsorship on the local and national level would be a godsend to keep the little book in print.”

Kerstie Allen
Photo by LuckyIndianFotos

By Kerstie Allen

I was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. Being a very big-city-like setting, the last thing you’d expect to encounter would be a horse. However, from my earliest memory, and me being me, I could think of nothing but horses.

I have no idea what provoked this passion, but I would spend days obsessing over how I could ride. As I got a bit older, I’d take whatever chance I could find to even be near horses, let alone ride one.

By about 7 years old, I hatched a plan. I sat in my room and made a list of everything I could do to earn money. I’d take whatever job I could find to earn enough to buy my own horse. I didn’t care how long it would take or how many newspapers I would have to deliver to make my dream a reality. My parents were very supportive, but insistent that if I wanted a horse, I would be the one paying for a horse.

I look back now and that’s one of the best lessons they could have ever taught me. It was a long haul, but by my last year in high school I had finally done it! We were off horse shopping.

The amazing things that have unfolded since that day are the things of dreams. Through horses I’ve been invited to travel the world and compete in nearly every discipline imaginable — from hunters and jumpers to barrel racing and roping to mounted shooting and polocrosse. But for me, the biggest thrill of all has been the discovery of polo.

From the moment I stood field side at what looked like a green ocean in front of me and felt the thunder of eight horses move the ground beneath my feet as they raced after the ball at a full gallop, I knew this was the sport for me. As Lyndon Lea, the famous winner of two U.S. Open Championships with his Zacara Team, said, “From the first second I played, it was like a shot in the veins. I was hooked!” Or as Sylvester Stallone, the actor and polo player, said, “It’s like playing golf in an earthquake.”

No two people describe it the same, but the overall effect is similar … awesome!

Surfing and riding – Kerstie’s two passions.

The polo life is great and involves as much travel as the best show jumping circuits in the world. Over the last year, I’ve had the pleasure of playing 26-goal polo in Palm Beach, Florida, with the best players in the world on the Crab Orchard team. To be selected to play, especially as a woman, is a very high honor. I suppose it’s true that hard work and dedication do pay off.

After playing in Palm Beach, I trailered down I-95 to Miami to play in the International Beach Polo Association’s 10th annual Beach Polo World Cup. From there, I headed to Texas to play polo at some of the most beautiful farms, then to California to play for the Hollywood Polo Team versus the Beverly Hills Polo team in Hollywood. It was a rather star-studded event as you’d expect in Los Angeles and I loved it. After that, it was on to San Diego and Temecula Polo Club.

As I write this, I’m in Hawaii touring the islands, going to rodeos, playing polo and getting the chance to mix the two childhood loves of my life — horses and surfing. Who would have thought that if you follow your heart, you really can be living the dream!

I look forward to sharing my ride with you in my new Sidelines column, and hope you’ll share yours with me!

Follow Kerstie on Twitter at @kerstiea; on Instagram at allenkerstie; and on 

Facebook at Kerstie Allen.

About the writer: Kerstie Allen is a native of Melbourne, Australia. Her passion for horses has taken her on a worldwide adventure exploring and mastering nearly every discipline in the equestrian world and opening doors of opportunity for women everywhere.

Kerstie as a little girl.

The What2WearWhere team at the Mashomack International Polo Challenge.

By Don Rosendale

All Photos Courtesy of Rebecca Barldridge

When John Klopp plays a few chukkers at the Mashomack Polo Club in Pine Plains, New York, he’s carrying more than just a polo mallet on his shoulder. If not for his organizational skills and the checkbooks of friends he enlisted, polo in Millbrook might still be played on a nearby back pasture.

Instead, Mashomack players enjoy a 2,000-acre estate with six polo fields, a regulation arena for winter play, stalls for 250 horses and a clubhouse that looks as if it belongs in Architectural Digest.

Pine Plains sits on the outskirts of what’s known as the “Millbrook Hunt Country,” where there’s a long equestrian tradition. The Millbrook Hunt ran its first fox to ground in 1907, and the area also plays host to the Fitch’s Corner and Millbrook horse trials.

But the first polo matches in the Millbrook area that anyone can remember were played in the 1980s when Eric Rosenfeld, a New York City lawyer, flattened his back pasture and invited a few friends for a match. When Eric gave up polo and sold Chestnut Ridge Farm, the polo action moved 16 miles north to Mashomack and Pine Plains.

And that’s when John’s formidable organizational skills came into play. John explains that the Mashomack “club” was not so much a club in those days as the idiosyncratic empire of one Dan Daly, who had moved his club from Shelter Island to Pine Plains in 1979.

“If Dan Daly liked you,” John remembered, “you could become a member of his ‘club.’ But if Dan Daly didn’t like you … don’t ask.”

Dan died in 2003. “He hadn’t left his affairs in very good order,” said John. Mashomack’s broad plains, not far off the Taconic State Parkway, were a prize for real estate developers. That’s when John stepped up.

Polo at the Mashomack Polo Club in Pine Plains, New York.

A graduate of the Wharton Business School and a long-time serious player in the New York real estate arena, John has been co-CEO of Morgan Stanley’s real estate investment since 2010, a division which has a $185 billion real estate portfolio. With his expertise in real estate, he was able to put together a group of investors, including Oakleigh Thorne and Bruce Colley, to buy Mashomack from the Daly estate. (Note: There are two Thorne family members on the Millbrook equestrian scene. “Big Oakleigh” descended from one of the founders of the Millbrook Hunt and his son, “Little Oakleigh,” who fields his own team. According to John, Big Oakleigh was among the first of those who dug into their own pockets to save Mashomack from the developers).

It took three years, but the group closed the deal on the Mashomack Club in 2006. The biggest challenge was restoring the old cattle barns and making them habitable for polo ponies. “Until the ’50s, when Dan Daley moved in, Mashomack was a large working farm where beef cattle were fattened for the butcher,” John said.

John had his first taste of polo 17 years ago, at the age of 43, and “just fell in love” with the sport. He moved his family to an estate in Amenia, 15 minutes from Mashomack, and established his own polo team, Smithfield Farms.

Juan Olivera, the polo manager at Mashomack, has high praise for John’s skill on the polo field. “He plays back,” said Juan, explaining that this is the Number 4 position and the key player in defending a team’s goal. “He has very soft hands with the horse, sits the canter really well and he has a good eye for horses; he’s very well-mounted.” John (together with Bruce) is rated as a 1-goal player.

But while he fields his own team, John says he doesn’t want to be “just a patron, spending money on the team and riding around watching and letting the other people do the work.”

His Smithfield Farms team has won several Mashomack polo tournaments, and John himself won the Hermes Trophy for Most Valuable Player at this summer’s Mashomack International Challenge.

On the afternoon he was interviewed for this article, he’d just flown back from a 72-hour round trip to inspect Morgan Stanley’s real estate holdings in St. Petersburg, Russia. But despite the potential jet lag from traversing eight time zones, John was fresh enough for a polo match a few hours after landing.

He didn’t need Mashomack to play; Smithfield Farm, with its yellow Dutch Colonial mansion located just across a country lane from where artist Frank Stella breeds Thoroughbreds and raises race horses, has its own polo field.

“But it’s not regulation size,” said John almost apologetically. “So we can only play a three-man team.” (A normal polo team consists of four players.) The polo season finale for local players is a three-on-three tournament, the Smithfield Farms Cup.

The Klopp clan includes wife Karen, a former TV producer who runs the fashion-themed website, What2WearWhere; Jake, 27; Adam, 28; and Kell, 18. Adam and Jake play on the Smithfield team; a recent photo of the Klopp boys in a New York area fashion magazine could have passed for a Ralph Lauren catalogue shot.

The Klopps are part and parcel of just about every aspect of the Millbrook equestrian scene. Karen is co-chairman of the Mashomack International Polo Challenge in June. When the polo season is over, John rides with the Millbrook Hunt. What2WearWhere sponsored a mini-tournament called “The Young Guns” as a preliminary to the main event at this year’s Mashomack Polo Challenge. The match was for the children of Mashomack team players, and Jake rode. For the main match of the day, John donned the livery of the winning What2WearWhere team.

Just a month after the polo challenge, the Klopps and What2WearWhere were one of several sponsors of the show jumping phase at the Fitch’s Corners Horse Trials, and hosted a champagne brunch field side.

What2WearWhere offers women advice on what to wear to a wide variety of events — for example Wimbledon, a hunt ball, a black tie party … and of course a polo match. All of the carefully curated ensembles can be purchased by clicking on a link.

Polo is not the only option at Mashomack, as there are actually two “Mashomack” clubs. The mother ship, called “Big Mashomack,” has 400 members and an elegant clubhouse filled with sporting art and antiques. Members shoot sporting clays and the odd pheasant, cast for fish in its lake and dine on sophisticated cuisine in the club’s dining rooms.

The Mashomack Polo Club is a club-within-a-club, with 40 riding members. John is a director of the main club and carries the title of “El Presidente” of the polo club, and while Bruce has no formal title, he’s the acknowledged locomotive behind the Polo Challenge.

After taking over Mashomack from the Daly estate, the members added a new wing, a few Munnings racing and foxhunting prints and a dining room wing. As John said, the biggest challenge is updating and restoring the old barns. Juan points with pride to what has been restored and built to date, but estimates it will take another six-figure sum to bring the facility up to for the level of a major polo center.

That’s a task for John.

About the writer: Don Rosendale has won ribbons at third level dressage, prelim eventing and A show hunters, but never tried polo. He says that is because he is hopelessly left-handed.

Karen and John Klopp

Polo Gives Alex Ebel His Wings

By Lauren R. Giannini

Nacho Figueras and Alex Ebel

Alex Ebel was 5 when he discovered Ralph Lauren’s signature line of polo shirts. Made from the softest pima cotton, they felt good against his sensitive skin and became a mandatory element in his daily attire. Now 18, Alex still wears Ralph Lauren polo shirts.

They’re the reason why, two years ago, he decided he had to play polo. He didn’t know that learning to control a horse and swing a mallet at a ball would be monumentally life-changing, but that’s where and how Alex found confidence, comfort, strength and empowerment. Today, he’s funny, charming, gracious and outgoing — an inspiration to all.

“I think the biggest thing I have overcome is the ability to socialize in groups — I used to be very shy,” said Alex. “Polo has taught me how to be strong and how to stand up for others and how to stand up for myself. It has also taught me how to get through life’s obstacles that get thrown at your feet. I have what most kids may never have, and every day I am thankful for this life I was destined to live.”

Born in Russia, Alex was adopted by Suzanne and Bob Ebel of St. Louis, Missouri. While the Ebels were dealing with the paperwork, Suzanne learned that she was pregnant. When it came time to go to Russia, she was close to term and couldn’t accompany Bob, so he went alone.

Sibling Fun: Nick, Audrianna and Alex Ebel
Photo by Suzanne Ebel

Three weeks later, he brought home their 16-month-old son, severely malnourished from a stark diet of cabbage soup, no protein and no healthy fats. Alex, totally overwhelmed, clung to his new daddy, especially when they were met at the airport by the enthusiastic welcome of 50-some people, led by Suzanne and the eldest Ebel offspring, Audrianna, 3, clutching a red, white and blue bouquet of 12 balloons. About two weeks later, Nicholas was born. The three siblings bonded and grew up together. The family felt complete.

“Alex was in junior kindergarten, a very structured school, and his teacher suggested that we get him tested,” said Suzanne. “Alex was diagnosed with PDD (pervasive development delays) and later they added NOS (not otherwise specified). His immune system was weak and he was sick a lot until he was about 12. That’s when the doctors said that he was on the Asperger’s end of the autism spectrum.”

Alex and Lucky, Scott Lancaster’s horse, at the St. Louis Polo Club.
Photo by Bob Ebel

Alex had some issues, but he was charming, smart, talented and, in many ways, precocious. He read architectural magazines, produced detailed architectural drawings of European estates, and mastered CAD programming. By the same token, he felt uncomfortable in social situations. He liked order and routine. He was extremely sensitive to fabrics, preferring the softest cotton and short sleeves. His mother observed this phenomenon and bought Ralph Lauren shirts in bulk at the local outlet.

Because Alex didn’t like to sweat, he wasn’t into sports. Siblings Audrianna and Nick were gifted athletes, but Alex liked books, chess and his computer. Suzanne recalled being told by her mother, Gloria Harper, an early childhood specialist, that all intelligence is motor-based. She told Alex that he needed to pick an athletic activity. At almost 16, he was skinny with long legs, a weedy 80 pounds, standing about 5’6”. Today, he’s 6 feet tall and lean, and his “athletic activity” continues to develop tensile strength throughout his body and his mind.

“I will never forget the day he came down the stairs and said, ‘Mom, I need to play polo,’” said Suzanne. “I had told him that we needed to find something athletic for him to do, so his body would catch up with his brain a little bit, but where would that come from — after 14 years of refusing all things athletic? Alex said, ‘I wear polo, I should play polo.’ I said okay.”

The Ebels had attended charity polo matches, designed as family events complete with activities for children. Audrianna had a school friend, the daughter of Billy Busch (of the beer dynasty), who owned the Blue Herron Polo Club. A few hours after that fateful announcement to his mother, Alex spotted the polo patron in a local diner, marched up to him and said: “Excuse me, Mr. Busch, I want to play polo. Can you teach me?”

Three generations of Ebels: Bob, Bob Junior and Alex.
Photo by Suzanne Ebel

Billy suggested that Alex contact the St. Louis Polo Club and take lessons from pro trainer Scott Lancaster. Within a week, Alex had his first lesson and was hooked. “My first time on a horse, I was very excited and eager to learn — I wasn’t scared at all,” he recalled. “Scott gave me some basic instruction like how to position my toes in the stirrups, how to hold the reins and make a clicking sound to get the horse to move. Then he gave me a mallet and we rode to the ‘sand box’ as he called the arena. I was very focused. Scott was very patient and really good at making me feel like I could do this.”

Soon Alex was riding five times a week, working hard to master the principles of horsemanship, learning horse care, getting totally immersed in this new world and interacting with other teens who took lessons from Scott. In retrospect, it’s easy to say that Alex made a brilliant choice: Horses and polo did double duty as outstanding therapy, spiced with fun and excitement as well as physical and mental challenge.

“Alex started showing improvements in everything,” said Suzanne. “He had been awkward with his movements and mannerisms, but as soon as he started riding, everything started to improve. He walked better, he expressed himself more easily and his language usage improved immeasurably. His anxieties became more manageable, his social skills developed, and his confidence absolutely soared. Polo — the game, the team and the community, along with the speed, skill, sweat and focus — gave Alex more benefits than 15 years of therapeutic interventions. It has been nothing short of miraculous.”

In November 2013, a Fox News video of Alex playing grass polo shows a helmeted teenager looking totally at home on a horse, having a blast, mallet at the ready, galloping after the ball, focused on the play. “I learned to play in the arena when I was 15 and it was easier to learn the game in a smaller space, but now that I have played on full-length fields and on some really great grass, I prefer grass polo so much more — mostly because you can ride flat out,” explained Alex. “I ride in the arena when the fields are too wet for play and I still practice in the arena at Billy Busch’s field. I take lessons in the arena, because it’s a great place to work on riding skills, but oh my gosh, I like the full grass field so much better!”

Bob and Suzanne Ebel with Alex after he received the 2014 Most Improved Player award from the St. Louis Polo Club.
Photo by Cindy Allen/St. Louis Polo Club

In the beginning, Alex wasn’t crazy about the contact aspect of polo, but he was learning to ride and play at the same time and, as he pointed out, there was a lot for him to concentrate on. “Now I really love the speed, the contact and the competition,” he said. His equestrian education included several falls and, following Scott’s advice, he remounted each time. The worst was the spill he experienced in a ride-off against Umberto Sanchez at Spirit Valley (McGehee Polo Field, Chesterfield, Missouri). His account of the incident speaks volumes about his evolving character.

“I really didn’t know what an amazing player Umberto was — I just wanted to do my best and not let him get the play,” recalled Alex, currently rated B (-1) on grass by the USPA. “I was still pretty green, like an unmade pony. I was riding Lucky, one of Scott’s horses I leased for that match, and I threw myself over her neck. I was determined to keep playing so I got back on. I played several more times that week before giving in to the pain and finally getting an x-ray. I was in a cast for about six weeks. I felt pretty tough after I realized I played for a week with a broken wrist.”

Alex’s mentors include Billy Busch (“The first polo player I ever met, the nicest guy you’ll ever meet — really down to earth”); Scott Lancaster (“My first instructor, totally patient, great at explaining the game and making sure we knew how to take care of our horses. You can tell that Scott loves his horses, and he makes his students feel like a big family”); Steve Orthwein (senior), former 6-goaler, now playing at 2 goals (“The nicest person in the world, an amazing man — he gives me tips on perfecting the game and a thoughtful critique as we ride off the field between chukkers. I want to practice and someday have all the skills and knowledge he has. Right now, I board my horse Rio at his farm and play several times a week with him and his pros, JJ Celise and Ariel Loza.”)

Of course, what better role model than polo player Nacho Figueras, the iconic “face” of Ralph Lauren’s Black Label. “I wanted to be just like Nacho,” admitted Alex. “I thought it would be fun to be a polo model and ride horses wearing those great Ralph Lauren clothes. I know it sounds silly, but he just made it look so natural and amazing. Nacho is very down to earth and easy to talk to.”

The Ebel family will always remember Summer 2014 for its polo milestones: Alex received two awards and, thanks to the Orthweins, got to stick and ball with his idol. “Last winter my husband Steve and I received an email from Nacho, requesting to come to St. Louis because he wanted to meet the young man who had been featured in a Fox News special,” recounted Ginny Orthwein. “We helped to set the wheels in motion, and on September 12, Nacho and his son Hilario arrived in St. Louis to play in a benefit game for the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital’s Danis Pediatric Center.”

Alex and his polo pony, Rio.
Photo by Bob Ebel

Stevie Orthwein and his wife, Margaret, took Nacho and Hilario to visit the hospital and see the pediatric center in action. Afterward, they escorted the Figueras to Steve and Ginny’s home to ride the horses they would be playing on the next day in the benefit match, which raised $220,051 for the hospital, and to meet Alex.

“We did some stick and ball on the Orthweins’ field,” said Alex. “We talked about cars, horses and life in general. Nacho gave me tips on riding, how to get in position and how not to get discouraged when you miss the ball. He was just so very nice and natural. He really put me at ease as we practiced.”

That evening, Billy Busch and his family hosted a reception at their home. In front of about 150 polo enthusiasts, including Nacho and Hilario, Alex found himself honored with a special award, the Spirit of St. Louis, voted on by the St. Louis Polo Club members. On August 30, at the end-of-season party at the von Gontards’ farm, the St. Louis Polo Club had presented Alex with the 2014 Most Improved Player of the Year award.

This is a success story still being written, but it points out that there’s more to learn about the healing power of horses. Equine-related therapy takes many forms, but there’s no denying the thrill and magic associated with these magnificent animals. Some are helped into the saddle of a quiet equine and steadied by sidewalkers. For Alex, it was a quest to learn to control himself and a half-ton of galloping horse while playing a tough, contact team sport that involves hitting a small white ball with a mallet (easier said than done) and scoring goals.

“I love polo — the adrenaline rush I get from it is something I can’t even explain,” said Alex. “Hitting the sweet spot of the ball is the greatest feeling in the world. It puts a smile on my face. My parents have done so much for me, like letting me have a horse and play polo. I have worked hard. I am honest. I love to learn new things, and I have overcome a lot of things. I used to be very closed to sharing anything personal about myself. Ever since I started playing polo, I have been more open to expressing who I am and more open to showing people who I am through the game.”

According to Shakespeare, “… the apparel oft proclaims the man…” and Ralph Lauren polo shirts certainly played a pivotal role in Alex’s choice of athletic activity.

An Arabian proverb, however, goes directly to the heart of the matter: “Horses give us the wings we lack.” Alex accomplished more than learning to ride and to play polo — he learned to fly.

About the writer: Lauren R. Giannini is an award-winning journalist and photographer, specializing in stories about the equestrian world. Crazy about horses all her life, she combines her passion for reading and writing with her love for horses. She lives in the heart of Horse Country Virginia, watched over by her CEO (canine executive officer), a rescue who sums up perfectly the term “hybrid vigor.” Lauren’s pleasures and pastimes include foxhunting and steeplechasing — just about anything to do with horses. 

Kerstie during a photo shoot for Nicole Thompson Designs, a custom handcrafted jewelry and tack designer

By Kerstie Allen

When I’m not galloping around the polo field, I like to catch up with friends who ride in other equestrian disciplines. While still seeking the adrenaline rush of playing polo, I also enjoy being a stunt woman and specialty rider in the movies and for television shows.

Early call times, often at 3 or 4 in the morning, having to dress up in awkward and oftentimes uncomfortable costumes and sitting hours on set waiting to be told what to do and hearing the word “action” are offset by the joys of a full gourmet food wagon that’s available to us 24/7. I guess you now know the secret that the way to my heart is through my stomach!

Western movie sets require a large amount of horses much like playing polo. In the interest of the horses’ safety, each horse only works a few hours on set. An interesting tidbit you may never have noticed is that most movie horses are solid colors. This is done intentionally so they can be doubled by one or more other horses while on set. I know they aren’t fooling any of you, though, as you can tell the difference between horses at a hundred yards.

I recently did a western series for HBO and after riding in my period costume the first day, I give credit to women who back in the day had to ride for days in corsets, petticoats and stockings on an A-frame western saddle! But once again my discomfort was offset by having a first class seat watching some of the most famous stunt men and women in the world and their amazing trick horses at work.

Kerstie gallops down the beach during a photo shoot.

Problem horses that rear, paw and lay down, the ones you and I couldn’t give away if we wanted to, are seen as stars in the movie business. The horses really enjoy their work and add a majestic, action-packed element to the movie. It’s always inspiring to see and meet horse people who handle and train horses in a different field. I always manage to learn something new and interesting that I can apply to my daily routine that only serves to make me a better horsewoman.

The idea of directing horses with different aids and especially liberty work is always fascinating to watch. Polo horses are clipped and shaved, so if you see me galloping down the polo field with a mane flying it’s probably not a young green horse, but one of my movie horses!

My favorite two hot spots for polo and show jumping are Indio, California, and Wellington, Florida. After spending my summer and fall in California, I decided to head to the East Coast to visit my friends and once again experience the horse heaven that is Wellington. After 3,000 miles, 12 horses, eight states, three blowouts and one dog, I finally arrived in Wellington.

January in Wellington is the start of a three-month wonderland for horse enthusiasts. Every day is a horseman’s paradise. Words really cannot even describe what I mean. World class horses and facilities are all within one fairly small town. Most of the biggest names in dressage, show jumping and polo riders and their mounts are there within a few-mile radius. It’s a veritable Who’s Who of equestrian all stars!

It’s a Disney World of barns, arenas and polo fields. I believe there are approximately 60 polo fields within the city limits. It’s the most amazing equestrian city I’ve seen. Every barn is bigger and more glamorous than the next, all still within a 15-minute drive to the warm, blue ocean water of Palm Beach. A visit to Wellington between January and March is a must. The amount of activities, shows and horse events are endless.

I’m constantly reminded of a powerful quote that you should never really forget — “Not all those who wander are lost.” See you soon …

About the writer: Kerstie Allen is a native of Melbourne, Australia. Her passion for horses has taken her on a worldwide adventure exploring and mastering nearly every discipline in the equestrian world and opening doors of opportunity for women everywhere. Follow Kerstie’s adventures at: Twitter: @kerstiea; Facebook fan page: kerstie allen; and Instagram: allenkerstie.

Photos courtesy of Kerstie Allen

Life as a stunt woman!

By Kerstie Allen

Every school has that kid who was obsessed with horses. I was that kid. I never grew out of the “I love horses” phase. I’d speak, draw and even run like a horse, and still do to this day. On a sunny day, you can still see me lope and possibly change leads as I approach the boards at the polo fields.

I believe horses have made me richer in so many ways and I don’t regret a minute of my horsey life. I have traveled and made forever friends just because we all adore the power and grace of the horse.

Being an equestrian year-round can be challenging, but the luxury of polo is that we’re all mobile and we travel with the seasons. I came to Wellington last year not knowing what to expect. I just knew the weather was going to be amazing and if I was going to play polo anywhere in the world this time of year, this is the place to be.

After spending a season in Wellington, I’ve found the opportunities are endless for anyone interested in learning, working or playing polo. Within a 10-mile radius there are several public and private polo clubs that you can learn and watch to your heart’s desire. Polo is played almost every day of the week from dawn to dark. Wellington also has all levels of polo, youth and women’s-only tournaments, United States Polo Association tryouts, lessons, clinics and facilities for the amateur and pro.

With so much going on, it’s essential to stay fit for the season — and I do it the old fashioned way. On game days, the horses sense the tension so I usually start my day with an adrenalin-filled jog by chasing any number of horses in a large open pasture who will do anything to avoid a halter. They’re all wise to carrot and feedbag tricks, so there’s no getting around it. We then start the game of musical loading where I try to guess who’s getting along with whom and who had a bad breakup the night before and refuses to stand anywhere near each other on the trailer. This usually involves at least 50 climbs up the ramp and back down, sort of like a treadmill on full incline that never got plugged in.

Arriving at the field, I then move to my arm workout. Brushing each horse an endless amount of times in order for them to look game-ready does wonders to get the circulation going. Then it’s on to squats. I average around 100 before each game. That breaks down to 40 for polo wraps, 40 for tape and another 20 for front boots. The best part is that after the game I get to do it all over again in reverse!

Then it’s on to the shoulder and back exercise portion of the program, lifting saddles overhead from trailer saddle racks onto the horse and then cinching girths. It’s also a great balancing exercise with the saddle pads and bridles. This is all before my two-hour core body workout that’s about to take place.

The core workout — the game — is the best part. My trip last year as a player to the International Polo Club in Wellington was very memorable. I’d been asked to be the alternate for the 20-goal tournament. As if I wasn’t nervous enough, the game was being played on field one, the main field that’s surrounded by a huge grandstand, tents and lavish vehicles. Riding out onto a field at the International Polo Club with up to 10,000 polo fans watching is daunting before the game, but as the ball is thrown in and the game begins, everything else disappears.

The galloping hooves sound like the Kentucky Derby as we race toward the goal posts. As the game continues, the intensity erupts as eight players battle for the line of the ball. It seems to get more intricate as the game progresses. Trying to not cross the imaginary double white line that the ball creates every time it’s hit, trapped or kicked by the horse is like to trying to cross an eight-lane highway on foot. One false move and you can cause a penalty and give your opponents a chance to score a goal.

During the game we have two umpires that ride on the field alongside us, and a third man who sits in the grandstands or a location that’s centered to the field, and who has the final say. The modern-day drone camera flies overhead and follows our every move on the field to help in the many technical rules that the umpires might not see. The sidelines are also ringed with cameras to provide instant replay if needed and for broadcast on TV.

I still compete in several equestrian disciplines, but polo is called the Sport of Kings, and is aptly named. You’re never too old or too young to play. In no other sport can men and women, young and professional, all compete at an equal world-class international level.

As a female athlete, it’s difficult to be recognized in a male-dominated sport but thanks to polo, a whole new world has evolved — which leads me to a saying I like: “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” — George Eliot

By Kerstie Allen

Last year, the 10th Miami Beach Polo World Cup was played just an hour down the turnpike from Wellington, Florida. With Miami being one of my favorite destinations, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to play in the sand for my very first time. Although I had originally planned to head West to Texas and California for the upcoming season, I decided to stay and play beach polo. I asked around and was fortunate enough to find two other players who wanted to form a team.

Beach polo is a combination of grass and arena polo. It’s played on beaches all over the world from Spain to Australia to England and Dubai.

After rolling out a flat area of the local beach, tents and seating were set up around the field. The arena had side boundaries so spectators could get an up-close and personal feel of the action, but had open ends and goal posts like a grass field. The area we played in was smaller than a regular polo arena with much more difficult terrain. It was literally a sand pit.

We used brightly colored Pro Chukker arena balls to help with visibility for both the players and spectators. Also, like arena polo, we only played with three players, unlike the four-man teams that play on the grass fields. All of the other tack and equipment were the same. The aim of the game: shoot a goal. Highest score wins.

We had the good fortune to be sponsored by a fantastic company, Fontainebleau Aviation. After a few meetings, the Fontainebleau Aviation Polo Team was born. We even got to do a photo shoot at their hangar in front of a Gulfstream IV jet with our horses! Going into the tournament, we were the underdog, as neither me nor my two teammates had never played beach polo before, so we weren’t sure exactly what to expect. Miami’s skyline on one side and the crisp white sand, stunning crystal-blue ocean dotted with multi-million-dollar yachts on the other made for a spectacular backdrop.

It was a large event with hundreds of people buzzing around the beach and arena walls while they played the American national anthem, all of them just as anxious as myself to see what was about to unfold. I knew the crowd wanted a show, and being the only professional on our team, it was going to be up to me to figure the game out quickly.

The sand was deep as the umpire threw in the ball to start the game. My days of scooping the ball up with my polocrosse racket came into play as I proceeded to scoop and hit the ball toward the goal. It was a little slower paced than I had been playing but my technique paid off and after winning all our games we went on to the finals.

Somehow, between the endless battle of sun, wind, sand and some furious competition, I scored seven goals and we won the World Cup Finals 7–1. I won MVP and my beloved pony Kiwi won Best Playing Pony for her efforts. The crowd was chanting in awe at the conclusion of the event, especially the adult section. I think it was due in part to the endless supply of free alcohol samples from the several liquor companies that were sponsoring the event. For me, this was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

As the sun went down, we headed to our after-party, held on a lavish $20 million yacht brought to the event by the Cambridge Yacht Group. I’d noticed the yacht when we first arrived at the event, as it was anchored about 100 yards out from the coastline. As we all sat on the yacht, I looked back at the magnificent setting and couldn’t believe the journey of this weekend’s event.

“Sometimes on the way to your dream, you get lost and find another dream.” Keep Riding …

By Susan Friedland-Smith

My first real-life exposure to polo took place when I was a teenager and somehow my non-horsey parents acquired tickets to a match at Oakbrook Polo Club outside Chicago. My impressions were that I’d love to gallop on that immense green field and the audience was dressed to the nines. I’d never been to such an elegant sporting event before.

Aside from the competition itself, the highlight from that day was a chance to walk out onto the field to help replace and tamp the divots produced by the thundering hooves. I’d been to many Cubs or White Sox games at that point in my life but I’d never been invited down onto the field. The polo experience was something special!

Other than admiring the clothes in the print ads by Ralph Lauren and dining a few times at RL Restaurant off Michigan Avenue — and dreaming of converting it into my own horse-themed downtown apartment — my path didn’t cross with polo again until just a few years ago. During a Thanksgiving visit with family in Illinois, my husband Mark and I (newlyweds at the time), had the unexpected chance to face off at the sport of kings.

The Polo Backstory

My then-12-year-old niece, Mattie, was regularly riding her friend’s mom’s horses that were seasoned polo ponies. My niece suggested we go to the barn to watch her ride. Bundled up in Midwest-appropriate winter gear (meaning puffy clothes consisting of many layers), we departed for the barn, Mark with camera in hand.

We met my niece’s friend from school, friend’s mom and the two polo ponies. The girls groomed and tacked their mounts and then we adults took up post at the end of the indoor arena. The girls cruised around and practiced swinging their mallets. Occasionally they made good contact on the ball, which was pretty exciting. None of this was remotely close to the blazing action I’d witnessed at Oak Brook Polo Club decades before.

There was a lot of slow trotting and when they hit the ball, it’d make halting progress in one direction or another on the arena footing. I was pretty sure if given the chance, I’d be a respectable newbie polo player given my many years in the saddle. I certainly would be better than a couple of kids.

After the girls had ridden for a while, the friend’s mom turned to Mark and me and asked, “Would you like to ride?” I had no idea this would even be a possibility! I wasn’t dressed appropriately, in my snow boots, jeans and a black beret. Mark had on a black ski cap that resembled something a bank robber in a movie would wear. There was nothing elegantly Ralph Lauren-ish about our attire, but clothing does not a polo player make! How could we say no to such an incredible opportunity?

The Natural and the Horsewoman

Before we hopped on the small Argentine ponies, the owner said they were bombproof. “They’re great horses because you can do anything with them and nothing scares them, but they don’t really have a lot of personality,” she said. This was welcome news since Mark had only ridden once before in his life. I repeat. Mark had only ridden once in his life. At a walk. On a trail ride. Many years before.

Being the veteran horse person of the family, I walked my mount several laps to get the feel of her. I then began a cautious trot while holding the long, awkward mallet. I was worried I’d clock the horse in the face. I’m really not that naturally coordinated when it comes to sports with gear such as a golf club, tennis racket or baseball bat.

Meanwhile, in the back of my mind, I thought how stupid it was to ride without a helmet. The girls’ helmets were too small to borrow. In the end, I rationalized my decision, figuring this was an aberration, not my normal practice. And besides, I couldn’t say no to this generous offer to ride the highly trained polo pony! If I did fall, my mount wasn’t that tall and she was bombproof.

As I was carefully walking a lap then changing direction trying to have perfect equitation with my jeans rubbing the inside of my calf against the stirrup leather, Mark was already cantering. He flew up one side of the ring and down the other. He hit the ball and made excellent contact. At that point I was still contemplating how I’d swing the mallet without endangering the well-being of the pony. After much maneuvering, the pony and I were aligned in the perfect spot, right next to the ball. I swung the mallet with gusto and the ball basically stood still.

Lifelong Polo Player?

Immediately after that polo fail, Mark passed me from the other side of the arena and hit the ball. It soared through the air. It was as though he’d been playing polo his whole life.

My niece, who was on video duty, said, “Why don’t you try a canter?”

I replied, “Not with this thing in my hand,” referring to the mallet. We rode a little longer, my husband wearing a grin the entire time, wove around me, followed the ball and smacked it across the arena, then cantered on to hit it again. When he dismounted, Mark asked the owner, “How much does one of these cost?!?” He was clearly sold. The owner told him he was a natural and that we should play polo.

I knew that was a good sign for my relatively new marriage. We went home that day and watched the video footage and I was literally in tears laughing at what a terrible polo player I was and how professional the non-rider looked — despite his black bank-robber ski hat.

A year or so later for a birthday gift, Mark bought me a polo lesson. I’m happy to report that experience went much better. The instructor gave me very strategic tips for holding the mallet and making connection with the ball. By the end of the hour, I was able to hit the ball respectably. My second experience was way more fun than my first attempt. And maybe one of these days I’ll challenge Mark to a rematch.

By Kerstie Allen

We’ve all loved that one special horse. Whether it was a naughty first pony or a seasoned show horse, equines hold a special place in our heart. We may love that horse or pony so much we give them the title of being the “best.”

In the game of polo, one horse in each tournament is named the best playing pony (BPP). It’s decided in the finals of the tournament, usually by a neutral party and by a player that’s not competing in that tournament. Most commonly it’s a higher-rated player who can watch from the sidelines and gets to pick and choose from the dozens of ponies that appear throughout the game.

Although we refer to them as polo ponies, polo horses can be any size.
We all like different things in a horse and each of the four positions on the field requires a slightly different ability. It takes a keen eye and hundreds of hours of game time to be able to accurately judge which of all these incredible athletes will be selected as BPP.

The number 1 position is usually the Patron (in the polo world it’s pronounced puh-trone) or owner of the team. This requires a steady, smooth-riding and honest horse, usually more stocky than the others, that may not be the fastest or quickest turner but will probably be the most seasoned. This horse will stay cool-minded and balanced for his more novice rider.

The 2 position is usually a bolder, stronger and more aggressive horse that plays the attack. Playing offense is a lot of pressure. The horse needs to be competitive, run and want to win like a racehorse, pushing and riding off other horses to get to the finish line — in our case between the goal posts — with as much desire as their rider.

Number 3 is ridden by the best player of the field and therefore must be the most skillful. He must also be able to play offense and defense at the turn of a hand. He must stay light and supple and be able to stop and go with bursting speed like a cutting Quarter Horse. At the same time, the number 3 horse must stay calm in order to maneuver through hectic situations, and then when asked, run like the wind or make a rollback and go full-on defense — combining the qualities of a race horse, sprinter and a working cow horse.

The number 4 is the back — the defense. This horse doesn’t have to be as fast but needs to stand his ground. He must also be handy and steady, as his rider is usually the hardest hitter. This position stays in the back of the field so this mount should be content with being passed by several horses at high speed without the urge to join in. If you’ve ever been on a trail or group ride and tried to hold your horse back from taking off as everyone else runs for home, you know what I mean. It takes a special horse to have the mindset and self-control to be the number 4.

All polo ponies neck rein, as we can only use one hand — our left — to control them. In polo, we all hold the mallet with our right hand as a safety precaution; there are no lefties. To coincide with us trying to hit the ball on our right side, the off side, we tend to always choose the right canter lead to counter balance our weight and aid their action. This way we travel as smoothly as a vaulting horse making acrobatic maneuvers while hitting the elusive white ball.

Some of the best qualities I personally like in a polo pony, no matter what position I play, is the will and heart to play. Some of my best-playing ponies don’t have the same ability as some of my others, but they want to play and actually know the game. They love what they do and can almost play it by themselves. In polo, horses are 80 percent or more of the game. If we can’t get to the ball, we can’t hit it. The best horses know where the goal is and that’s where they’re taking me, if I can only keep up and keep hitting the ball in the right direction. I may even get a little help from them kicking it too — whatever it takes to get the ball between the goals! In polo, if my horse or another kicks the ball through the goal, it’s still a goal, so I suppose horses can almost play without us.

It’s the heart of the player, or pony, at the end of the day that determines who wins — the one who really wanted it. The teams are all rated the same and their ability should be the same. All of the horses have four legs and a tail, but who made it all come together? This is one of the reasons I love polo so much. No matter if we win or lose, I love knowing my horses did their best. Maybe one did her best rollback ever, stopped faster or pushed a bigger horse that extra stride for the advantage. Each horse did something or excelled for a moment that lets me know the hours of repetitious training were worth the time. Even though one of my ponies may not have been chosen BPP, for me each one deserved it for some reason or another. Being a polo pony is one of the most demanding roles to ask of a horse. All ages, sizes and breeds can play. They just have to love it as much as we do.

“A winner is just a loser that tried one more time…”

1. Juan Martin Nero (left) and Miguel Novillo Astrada battle it out for control in bracket play for the 111^th U.S. Open Polo Championship. Lechuza Caracas defeated FlexJet 10-9 in overtime against the stunning background of the Lechuza Caracas facility.

Photo by Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group

2. Lucas Diaz Alberdi accelerates down the field as he makes a breakaway to goal. Alberdi was named MVP of the Polo Training Foundation George Oliver Memorial Cup, which took place April 17 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) in Wellington, Florida.

Photo by Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group

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By Lauren R. Giannini

Loreto Natividad takes his passion for polo very seriously. His all-out commitment to polo is a recurring theme among members of Team USPA who all agree that whatever challenges crop up, it’s totally worth every effort to play polo.

“One challenge has been maturing as an adult and understanding that polo is not a walk in the park,” said Loreto, who turned 20 in March. “There are lots of things necessary to being a professional — taking care of your horses, maintenance of your truck and trailer, and insurance. You have to put in a lot of long days and late nights. It’s not so much quantity as it is playing quality polo that improves your game.”

Playing with and against better players is often cited as the best way to improve your game. High-goal players have one thought — to get the ball and score. That kind of polo, played fast with enthusiastic bumping and riding off opponents, is the ultimate in sport.

“When you get the opportunity to play, you have to be ready to go,” said Loreto, who spent part of January in California, playing 4-goal polo, then headed east to Palm Beach, Florida, where he was working in conjunction with his father showing horses for sale. “The goal was to sell some horses, pay some bills and find another gig,” he said. “I have my horses ready to go wherever polo takes me. If a gig doesn’t happen, I can go home to Midland, Texas, where I’m set up and can work on my green horses. I’m always doing something. I’m not one to sit on the couch.”

His father, Ernesto Natividad, got Loreto hooked on polo as a young boy. “Seeing how happy my father was playing this amazing sport made me want the same happiness,” he said. “I learned so much about polo and horses from my father, but the biggest lesson he taught me is that the best things in life that come to you are what you have earned; that if you work hard, you will progress. Hard work got me where I am now.

“I’m very fortunate,” he continued. “My mother Leticia is a very good rider, and my father was 3-goal and played as a professional for 15 years. Harley Stimmel, of Midland Polo Club in Texas, has been a good coach and gives me advice whenever I need it and I always listen to what the professionals say.”

Career highlights so far include winning the USPA Interscholastic National Championship in 2009 and playing on the winning team in 2013 with Jared Sheldon (3), Cholo Donovan (5) and Shane Finemore (-1) in the 8-goal tournament at Mashomack Polo Club in Red Hook, New York.

“My most memorable moment was traveling to Argentina from January to March 2014 and experiencing their culture and polo firsthand,” said Loreto. “Having the opportunity to practice and learn from some of polo’s greats was really life-changing.”

His ideal dream team includes himself playing number 1 with Facundo Pieres, Argentine 10-handicap professional, at 2; Adolfo Cambiaso, rated 10, Argentine and possibly the best player in the world, at 3; and Julio Arellano, 9-handicap and top-ranked American polo player, at 4.

Loreto, currently rated 2 in arena and 1 on grass, has set himself the goal of becoming one of the best polo players and playing in both the Argentine and the U.S. Open.

The best horse he ever played was a gray Thoroughbred mare named Mona Lisa. “We picked this mare up when she was 6 as a semi-made horse,” said Loreto. “After realizing she had a clubfoot and shoeing her accordingly, it took only about a month for her to make a great polo pony.”

His string includes 12 made horses and six green ones, primarily mares that are either Thoroughbred or Appendix-bred. “The horses are the best part of this sport,” he said. “They’re amazing animals to begin with and to be able to play a sport involving horses is something special. I look for the obvious physical build and ability and then it comes down to heart. No heart, to me, is a deal breaker.”

For Loreto, that’s true in all aspects of life. In high school, he belonged to Students in Philanthropy. “Every Thursday, we would have lunch with kids with special needs,” he said. “They were so innocent and enjoyed life as best they could. They made me appreciate everything that I have. Every chance I get, I volunteer and try to help out as much as I can.”

Team USPA, inaugurated in 2010, is a program designed expressly to remedy the decline of young Americans in the sport of polo by providing exceptional players, 18-23, male and female, from across the U.S.A., with unique training, mentoring and playing opportunities. 

Canadian Artist Melinda Brewer

By Katie Navarra

Canadian-based artist Melinda Brewer has dedicated her life to chronicling the sport of polo and its most accomplished horses. She’s been honored with countless awards and her artwork has hung in galleries across North America and around the world. This year marks the fourth consecutive year she’s been selected to participate in the Art of the Animal Kingdom show in Bennington, Vermont.

Sidelines wanted to learn more about this artist whose endless talents range from painting wildlife and farm animals to polo ponies and hounds so we visited with her to learn more about her life in the art world.

Sidelines: When did you first discover your talents as an artist?
Melinda Brewer: I’ve been painting for more than 30 years. My professional career began in 1982 after graduating from university but I’ve been drawing pictures of animals from the time I could draw at 6 or 7 years old. We’d take sketchbooks on our family trips and we’d draw what we saw; it’s just what we did.

Sidelines: Did your career start with wildlife art?
MB: Yes, I was very lucky that in the 1980s, a lot of wildlife art was popular. The World Wildlife Fund, Ducks Unlimited and the Canadian Nature Federation, among others, held big juried art shows. I got in and it was really exciting. I was fortunate to have participated in several prominent wildlife and animal art exhibitions across North America. It was the encouragement I needed to carry on as an artist.

Sidelines: Do you love painting polo ponies?
MB: I’ve painted close to 70 portraits of famous polo ponies and award winners in addition to scenes depicting the sport of polo. Polo ponies are remarkable athletes. They’re as great as any racehorse or jumper. It’s extraordinary that they stand so quietly at the trailer, but on the field they morph into competitors and warhorses. Then when the match is done, they come back and stand at the trailer.

Sidelines: Your love for polo ponies extends to an annual collectible publication. Tell us about that.
MB: Polostars is a distinctive, high quality, annual souvenir publication featuring 10 fine art portraits and multiple sketches as well as stories documenting the past year’s Best Playing Pony awards during the high goal season in the United States, including major tournaments such as the CV Whitney, Piaget Gold Cup and the prestigious U.S. Open. It’s the only existing publication of its kind. Last year marked the 10th anniversary for this project.

Sidelines: Are hounds another subject you enjoy painting?
MB: As an avid fan of the sporting dog breeds, myself an owner of black Labs, I look forward to any opportunity to capture the hunting hounds either at the kennel or working at the hunt. In 1990, my painting “Springtime Red Fox” was selected by Ducks Unlimited Canada as part of their annual art print program. Taken from one of a pair of original watercolors featuring red foxes in a springtime moment, these images are still sought after today. Since then I’ve painted many fox paintings, portraits and studies, probably more than any other animal.

Sidelines: Of all the paintings you’ve completed, which has been your favorite?
MB: Every one is my favorite at the time I’m working on it. I have a large body of work. Each piece is as important as the previous one.

Sidelines: You really don’t have a favorite?
MB: Recently, I told my husband that if I had to rescue one painting from a fire it would be a painting that hangs in our house. It features a flock of Canada geese flying in a V formation against a dramatic November sky. I don’t know why that piece stands out so much — it’s not a spectacular piece of art — but maybe it’s because of what was going on in life when I painted it or because I miss the annual migration of the birds since I spend every winter in Florida.

Sidelines: Have your horses ever been the subject of your artwork?
MB: ThreeMagicBeans, an English Thoroughbred that I owned and cherished for 18 years, was the only horse of many I’ve owned that I actually painted a portrait of. He was an all-around guy who did everything. I may have to save that one from a fire as well!

Sidelines: What medium do you paint?
MB: Ninety percent of my work today is watercolor. I also love oil painting, but it’s much more of a time commitment and it has to be done in the daylight. I just don’t have five hours to set up before painting and then spend five more hours painting. Watercolors I can pick up at any time of day and spend as little or as much time painting as I have available. I absolutely do not like acrylics!

Melinda has four different websites. For more information, visit www.poloart.ca, www.mbrewerfineart.com, www.polostars.ca, www.sportingart.ca.

By Kerstie Allen

This month I’d like to give a big shout out to my fellow teammates of the American Polocrosse Association U.S.A. World Cup team as they head to South Africa in July to represent the United States against five other countries in the 2015 Polocrosse World Cup.

Polocrosse is “the king of one-horse sports.” It’s a sport close to my heart that I started playing in Australia, where polocrosse was originated. I’ve traveled the world playing polocrosse but the highlight of my career was representing the U.S.A. on the 2011 World Cup team. We played several international test matches around the United States and even took part in a demonstration at the World Equestrian Games.

Polocrosse is a super-fun family sport that all ages and abilities of both horse and rider can compete in as a team and play together. Polocrosse is a combination of polo, arena polo and lacrosse on horseback. Only one horse is allowed per player per weekend tournament.

Each team consists of six players, which are split into two groups of three players called sections. International polocrosse tournaments play six chukkas per game, also like polo, but each player/section plays one chukka then the other section of the same team plays and vice versa, giving the player and their horse time to recuperate after their six-minute chukka. Overall, each section will play three six-minute chukkas per game. Polocrosse is played on a smaller, preferably grass field, similar to polo, that’s 60 by 160 yards with three separate areas. Goal posts are the same as in polo and are at each end of the field.

Like polo, each player has a particular position but in polocrosse only the number one can shoot a goal and the defending team number three can defend and play in the end zones that are 30 yards long from the goal posts. The number twos play in the center, helping to assist with passes and block opponents.

Polocrosse rackets are comparable to polo mallets with a racket head and a net to scoop, throw, catch and carry the ball. The ball is a 4-inch rubber ball — bigger than a polo ball but smaller than an arena ball — and bounces to allow for players to easily catch during the game.

Any saddle can be used but the Aussi stock saddle is probably the favorite as it helps keep you in the saddle while you reach and turn in attempt to gain possession of the elusive bouncing ball. To start the game, we line up in the center of the field, same as polo, and one of the two umpires will throw the ball in. You can catch, hit or throw the ball — whatever it takes to get it to the number one in your team’s direction for them to score. The aim of the game is to score the most goals to win your game, make it to the Sunday finals and hopefully win the tournament.

Polocrosse is a great, safe and affordable way for equestrian teenagers and adults to travel and visit other states and countries, as weekend tournaments take place in all corners of the world and are always accepting of new and interested players and fans. For a weekend fee, you can bring or borrow a horse, camp out, enjoy playing some polocrosse and make new friends or just show up and cheer for your new-found friends. From lead line, masters and beginners to the advanced players of the A grade, everyone has a moment to shine. Polocrosse is definitely worth a try!

Good luck to Team U.S.A. in the 2015 Polocrosse World Cup! For more information on polocrosse, visit www.americanpolocrosse.org.