Louisville Polo Club 2024 Program

The 2024 for Polo in the Louisville area is promising to be an exciting one! We are excited to be back at historic Oxmoor Farm for our 8th season. farm for being such gracious hosts. Several marquee events are planned, as well as our regular club games and practices. Some specifc event includeTheVirgil ChristianTribute tournament to beneft Maryhurst in July and the Makers House Polo Club tournament in September.

Although several of the Louisville area players enjoy polo at the highest level, polo can be accessible to almost anyone.We always welcome new players and spectators to come have fun with a horse, and a stick, and a ball. From beginner’s clinics for folks who have never been on a horse, to competing against some of the best players in the sport, the Louisville Polo Club enjoys a wide range of polo fun.We are pleased to announce that Luis Ansola will once again be our club professional for the 2024 season. His vast experience and passion for the sport makes him an asset to any polo program. Please feel free to introduce yourself to Luis, but be careful, his enthusiasm for the sport is infectious. Regular club practices areTuesday andThursday evenings at Oxmoor Farm from June through September. Games and tournaments are schedule for most weekends. Please check us out on line or via social media for more information. it! In closing, I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our families, friends,sponsors, advertisers and all those who work behind the scenes every day.They are the ones who truly make polo FUN!

See you on the feld!

Brent Boland

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LOUISVILLE POLO

Polo in the Louisville area began in the early 1920s. The Louisville Country Club (L.C.C.) felded the frst Louisville team, founded by Gilbert Colgate, Jr. In 1923, the Colgate Company purchased the Indiana Penitentiary for its plant site, prompting young Colgate to move from NewYork to learn the family business.While living at the Country Club, Gilbert persuaded Sevier Bonnie, Frank Hogue, F.W. "Nick" Carter, Baylor Hickman, Byron Hilliard, Bill Perkins, LowryWatkins, and Lawrence Jones, Jr. to join the new team.

The 138th FieldArtillery team was formed when cavalry ofcer George I. Smith organized a team made up of reserve ofcers of the 138th FieldArtillery units.Among the members of the 138th, which at the time was a horse-drawn artillery regiment, were Ed Hardy,Alex Heyburn, Col. C.J. Cronan, Jr., Col. George M. Chescheir, and Captain Smith (who was on the frst Meadowbrook team to defeat the British). In 1924, the team played in the riding hall on Liberty between 6th and 7th Streets.They then moved to a feld on Sidney Smith’s place across from Bauer’s Restaurant, later relocating to Bowman Field. By the time of the 1929 crash, the team was at Seneca Park.

This military-related polo emerged when, in 1900, the U.S.Army recognized the value of the game in the training of cavalry ofcers.Around the same time, polo was introduced into horsemanship instruction atWest Point.The phasing out of the horse cavalry and the fact that theArmy would no longer pay for the maintenance of a pony (especially one owned by an o temporary demise of polo in various parts of the country. During the 1920s, when the Louisville team traveled out of town, their ponies were shipped in

However, the heyday of shipping rail, scrub ponies fromTexas, and quality ponies from the celebrated Meadowbrook came to an abrupt end when Louisville polo felt the crunch of the Depression.

Polo resurfaced in Louisville in the 1950s.The action then took place in Seneca Park, and arrangements were made for playing arena polo at the Oldham County Fairgrounds.The grass infeld was graded, and boards were erected around the ring. Play later moved to the grass feld at Hermitage Farms of Shiloh Lane. Messrs.Warner Jones, Dinwiddie Lampton, Jr., LowryWatkins, Byron Hilliard, Robert Nash, Harry Castleman, Harry Byron, and BuddyWeir formed the nucleus of the club.

In 1957, a syndicate of the above-mentioned names provided the initial fnancing for the Harmony LandingArena. Mr. Patrick Calhoun stepped in to provide major funding for the arena, andVirgil Christian was brought in as Club Pro. Once again, polo faded slightly, and in 1964, tragedy struck when the stable at Harmony burned along with all the horses in it. In 1972, the presently active club saw a resurgence. Dinwiddie Lampton III, Harry Byron, Mason Lampton,Angus MacLean, and Dinwiddie Lampton Jr. formed the nucleus of the roster, appealing to cohorts who swelled the ranks to 35 members that year. Club Pro Jim Krohn spearheaded the action at the Harmony LandingArena and the Hardscufe Farm felds of Dinwiddie Lampton Jr.

During the late 1970s and into the 1980s, Club ProTommyAkers served for around 20 years, overseeing the development of many great members. Nana Lampton continued her family's tradition for many years as one of the greatest patrons of the club. Long-time member and founder of the current Boland polo-playing family, Jim Boland, began playing in 1972.There are now three generations of Boland family polo members. George Rawlings began playing in the late 1980s, and his Crab OrchardTeam went on to win many national tournaments, including the US Open three times (polo’s national championship). IrvinAbel’s Goshen PoloTeam went on to win theWest Coast Open and other prestigious tournaments around the country. Renowned horse trainer, cowboy poet, and former polo pro Nick Rennekamp has been a fxture of Louisville polo for decades. On any given practice day, some of the greatest players in the game could be seen showing up to a Louisville polo practice to try out Nick’s famous horses.

By 2016, the club moved exclusively to the Farm. Louisville Polo is now one of the most vibrant clubs in the Mid-States Circuit. Luis Ansola currently serves as Club Pro and oversees the highly successful Margarita League, where each year many new players are introduced to the sport of polo.

Barbra & TommyBullitt

Prospect, KY 1974

LamptonFieldat

Jimmy Boland,1977

Angus MacLean

Nick & Jim

Will, Stuart and Brent Boland

The Virgil at Hardscuffle Farm

Sophisticated Living Tournament

Louisville Polo Family 2018

LOUISVILLE POLO CLUB MEMBERS

Guillermo Fenoglio

Roman Franco

Facundo Fabbri

Kako Basueldo

Luis Ansola

Will Boland

Troy Connor

Stuart Boland

Brent Boland

LOUISVILLE POLO CLUB MEMBERS

Olivia Naber

Cara Naber

Julia Naber

Irwina Semana

Rob Mooney Lucas Tarditto

Nick Rennecamp

Ford Middendorf

LOUISVILLE POLO CLUB MEMBERS

Jorge Vasquez

Juan Valerdi

JeffWatts-Roy

JimWalker

Jared Zenni

SamWalker

Cait Walker

Frankie

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POLO 101

It takes two heads, six legs, and two arms to play polo on a feld that is 10 acres in size, the area of 10 football felds. It is a fast, fuid game where the player holds a mallet in one hand, striking a 3/4-inch ball seven feet away from his shoulder and directing a horse in motion with the other hand. Imagine, for a moment, you're swinging a golf club at a tennis ball while driving a golf cart.The analogy is imperfect because a horse is faster and more difcult to control than a golf cart.

In polo, eight players on eight horses combine stunt riding, a juggling act, and a keen sense of anticipation to win by scoring the most goals.Two underlying concepts govern this game.The frst is that polo is a team sport, with each player flling a specifc role and supporting the team efort on both ofense and defense.The second is the "line of the ball."

This is the imaginary line the ball creates as it travels from pointA to B.The line remains set until the ball is struck by a player, changes direction, and a new line is formed.A player may cross the line only when it does not create a hazardous situation, such as a collision with another rider.

Three umpires, two on horseback and one on the side of the feld, oversee the game and enforce the rules. Infractions generally involve hazardous riding and dangerous use of the mallet, some of which are associated with the four basic mallet strokes.

When two players ride to the ball, both hoping to hit it, they must ride on either side of the line so both will have access to the ball.They can only hit the ball to their right side, called "the of side," remaining on opposite sides of the line, thus minimizing the risk of collision.

There are general rules covering everything from the size of the ball to the colors of the team shirts, and feld rules set regulations for actual playing situations.When a foul occurs, a free hit is awarded to the fouled team from as close as 30 yards towards an undefended goal to as far as midfeld or the point of infraction.This depends on the severity of the foul and the danger it presents.

Scoring is accomplished by posts.The teams then change compensate for feld and wind conditions.The feld is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide, which is roughly ten football felds.

EQUIPMENT

HELMET - Hard surfaced, lined, and strapped.The helmet provides protection from balls traveling at speeds up to 100 mph and swinging mallets.

MALLET - Made of a cane or bamboo

beveled on one end to allow for a full swing, fush to the ground.The mallet

complete arc under the pony's tail or neck when swung hard.The length of the mallet varies depending on the player's swing and the size of the pony.

POLO BALL - Sized at 3 1/2" in diameter and weighing about 4 oz, the ball is hand-carved from willow or bamboo root.

SADDLE - Leather construction difers from both jumping saddles and western saddles.

special polo saddle, it puts minimal weight

BRIDLE & BREAST PLATE - his series of strappings and supports gives the player more precise steering control of the pony.

CLIPPED MANE - Eliminates interference of the pony's mane with tack and mallet and less encumbrance.

RIDING BOOTS & KNEE GUARDS - Provide both comfort and protection for the rider.

BRAIDEDTAIL -Allows less interference with the swinging mallet in the execution of back and tail shots.

BANDAGES - Protective wrapping for the pony's legs against contact with polo balls or mallets.

THROW-IN

Play begins with a throw-in at the opening line up facing the umpire who tosses the ball between them.

PENALTY- DANGEROUS HORSEMANSHIP

The player in the blue shirt is causing a dangerous situation by crossing the hind legs of his opponent's pony, which may cause the pony to fall.

PENALTY- CROSSING THE LINE

The green line represents the path of the ball.The red line represents the path taken by the player in the blue shirt who has "crossed" the imaginary line of the ball in front of his opponent to hit it on the near side. This creates a dangerous situation.

POLO STROKES

RIDING OFF

A basic defensive maneuver is where the player urges his pony to shove an to take a clear shot. Similarly, a player will ride of an opponent who is about to stroke the ball.

FOREHAND

The forehand is the stroke because it produces the most powerful drive.

BACKHAND

The near side backhand is another basic stroke that is also important because hands and must play right-handed.

THE OFF SIDE TAIL SHOT

The of side tail shot is also used to clear the ball and requires reaching back to stroke the ball when it is behind the pony. Like the neck shot, the ball is stroked with more of a fick of the wrist than the use of the entire arm.

THE NEAR SIDE NECK SHOT

The object of the near side neck shot is to clear the ball for a harder stroke, set up plays for shot from a difcult angle.

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- Th e Hi nk ebe i n Fam il y

BUMP -A player can ride into another player, but not into his swing, with horses meeting shoulder to shoulder at an angle of no more than 45 degrees, and the faster the horse, the smaller the angle to avoid a foul.

CHUKKER- Each polo game has six chukkers, each lasting seven minutes with a warning bell at six and a half minutes, and players use a diferent horse for each chukker, with an overtime chukker played if the score is tied.

GAME DURATION -A game usually lasts about an hour and a half, with the clock stopping every time a referee whistle is heard

GOAL-A goal is scored anytime the ball crosses the line between the goal posts, regardless of whether a horse or a mallet each goal to equalize wind and turf turf conditions. causes it, and teams change directions

PLAYERS -There are four players on a polo team.

The #1 is the most forward, ofensive player. He should be the most accurate at shooting at the goal and quick to jump on a loose ball.

The #2 is the quick, dexterous workhorse who pushes the play both on ofense and defense.

The #3 is the quarterback of the team. He is the play

The #4 backhanders and riding of opponents.

ABOUT VIRGIL CHRISTIAN

C.Virgil Christian: July 6, 1911 –September 27, 2007.

He was the son ofWilliam Bates Christian, a ranch foreman who had a WildWest show, and MabelWilliams Christian, who was from Kentucky. He was born in Oklahoma in 1911 and played polo during the golden era with the likes ofWill Rogers, Spencer Tracy,Walt Disney, and Robert Stack. Virgil was honored by the Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame for his exceptional lifelong contributions to the sport of polo.

Virgil Christian was adamant when he stated that he owed his success to his friends. He was humble when he said

“Polo was good to me”.

But none would argue that he was good for polo and truly gave a lifetime to the sport, which he started playing as a young man in the early twenties, inspired by his polo-playing father.

He was a polo “pioneer” who tirelessly traveled the U.S. and started many polo clubs from Connecticut to California to Florida.

Virgil was the frst recipient of the Philip IglehartAward, established in 2001, which recognizes exceptional lifetime contributions to the sport of polo either on a regional or national level.

He believed that the most fun he had was with the youngsters he started, inspiring and teaching them, which he considered his greatest accomplishment.

VIRGIL CHRISTIAN TRIBUTE POLO MATCH

In 2001,Virgil Christian was inducted into the United States Polo Hall of Fame as the recipient of the IglehartAward.

That same year, in celebration of this honor, Nana Lampton and Jim Boland spearheaded a picnic to acknowledgeVirgil and his prestigious award.Virgil's birthday in July was the perfect time to gather friends around this Louisville polo legend and watch some great polo.The event at Hardscufe Farm became a summertime hit! The crowds grew each year and ultimately evolved into a fundraiser for Maryhurst, a charity near and dear to the hearts of the Boland family. Presently held at the beautiful Oxmoor Farm, "theVirgil," as it is afectionately called, is the best of the best—just like our friendVirgil Christian.

OUR POLO FAMILY AND MARYHURST

The mission of Maryhurst is to create safety and stability for children, ultimately helping them overcome trauma and build pathways to independence and brighter futures. Maryhurst makes a diference in the lives of more than 800 kids and families every single year!

TheVirgil ChristianTribute Polo Match at Oxmoor Farm, with your participation, has been a valuable source of community support that enables their vital programs, such as counseling and foster care services.

Our family and Maryhurst thank you for stepping up and supporting this event.

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OV ER 3 5 YEA RS OF SU PPLYI NG O UR C OM MU NITY WITH EVERY THI NG YO U N EE D FOR YOU AND YOUR HO RS E.

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IN POLO NEWS

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LEARNTO PLAY POLO!

Louisville Polo is always looking for new players. Few of us will become high goal participants, but there is a place for everyone to enjoy our sport. Most players agree that

We are fortunate this year, to have the coaching expertise of LuisAnsola. the game. His emphasis for new players include the following:

* Basic equitation and care and conditioning of polo ponies

* Rules of the game, positions, penalties, strategy and safety

* Required equipment and the best place to purchase it

Newcomers can take their frst swing at a ball on "Splinter," our trusty wooden horse (so far he hasn't bucked anyone of ).When ready to move on to the real the ball on an experienced polo pony. From there, it's a small step to playing in a slow chukker, where coach LuisAnsola will stop the game from time to time to explain the plays and infractions. For those interested in furthering their skills, private or group lessons are available at modest expense.

Club members are happy to lend equipment to prospective players, and the cost of the clinics are modest.All you will need is a pair of jeans and a riding helmet, if you have one.Websites are an excellent source of information about polo.

Try www.uspolo.org, www.polonews.com and www.polomania.com. Louisville Polo on events, parties, charity games and with the assembly and distribution of our annual program. Call or text our club pro LuisAnsola 859.509.1287 for more information.

One of my favorites is SECOND STRIDE. On or off the playing field, horses represent a passion that give us their kindness, companionship and strength, and it is our responsibility to support them. Louisville's biggest day of online giving is on Thursday, September 12, 2024 (mark your calendar) for Give for Good Louisville! SECOND STRIDE believes that whether a horse retires due to lack of aptitude for racing, an injury, or it is just time to stop racing, there is a future for that horse. SECOND STRIDE offers a safe pathway to a second career.

As the SECOND STRIDE 2023 Volunteer of the Year, please join me in supporting the 2024 SECOND STRIDE goal. Every dollar donated goes to the care and training for retired Thoroughbred racehorses.

Second Stride is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for retired oroughbred racehorses (founded June 1, 2005).

Madison, age 32, Argentine polo pony living happily at my barn. 2002 Tournament wins: Virgil Christian Tribute & Brownsboro Cup – Pro Guillermo Usandizaga.

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