Brandywine Polo Club 2018

Established 1950

2018 Season

Brandywine Polo Club

w e n r u ! l o l o o t R e d ta r a r o g T p r U lo e z t e Pr

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Brandywine Polo Club Program

2018 Season Board of Directors Michael Bucklin, Lory Eighme, Nicholas Place, W.B. Dixon Stroud Jr. Lisa Scott Advertising & Sponsorships Elizabeth Hedley elizabeth@brandywinepolo.com Contributing Editor Cecille Brant Contributing Photographers Lory Eighme, Jim Graham, John Plecenik, Tisa Della-Volpe, Shirley Zwicker For information about this program, please contact the polo office or info@brandywinepolo.com.

Contents 2 Letter from our Club President

3 2018 Brandywine Polo Sponsors 4 Polo Gear 6 Meet the Staff 8 Understanding the Team 10 Learn to Play Polo!

11 The Brandywine Backshot 12 2018 Season Schedule 14 Why We Stomp

Brandywine Polo Club 232 Polo Road Toughkenamon, PA 19374 Mail: PO Box 568 Unionville, PA 19375 Main Office: 610-268-8692 info@brandywinepolo.com www.facebook.com/BrandywinePolo www.brandywinepolo.com @Brandywine_Polo All product and company names are trademarked or copyrighted by their respective owners.

All rights reserved. www.brandywinepolo.com

17 2017 Season Scrapbook 24 Game-Watcher Tips 25 Polo Glossary 26 Ten Questions for Umpire Ricardo Barros 28 About the Ponies 31 2017 Tournaments 34 2018 Club Members 36 Champagne and Sunshine

Established 1950

37 The Tradition of Sabrage 38 The Colts and Fillies Corner

Proud Member Since 1951 COVER PHOTO: JOHN PLECENIK

www.brandywinepolo.com

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Letter from our Club President

O

n behalf of the Brandywine Polo Club board, I welcome you to our 68th polo season, sponsored by Landhope Farms.

Expect an action-packed schedule this season, including 18 Friday night matches, 18 Sunday matches, and two arena tournaments. In September we will host players from “across the pond” in USA vs.

England, a rematch of the historic Battle of the Brandywine. Off the field, we will feature two new initiatives: The Players Club, a large tailgate under the trees, and Intro to Polo lessons.

New to the club this year are three polo professionals from around the globe. Our new club manager, Charly Quincoces, is a 3-goal player with vast playing experience. Our new instructor, Dan Banks, arrives from the U.K., where he helped produce many winning players. Last but not least, Elizabeth Hedley joins us after five years with the USPA. She will handle all aspects of the club “outside the boards,” including sponsorships, special events, marketing and PR. I have been lucky enough to call southern Chester County home since the 1950s. The lifelong friendships I’ve nurtured here have given me great enjoyment, and I hope that an important facet of those relationships, Brandywine Polo, will give you the same.

See you on the polo field!

Sincerely, W.B. Dixon Stroud, Jr.

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Brandywine Polo Club

2018 Brandywine Polo Sponsors We would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of our 68th season of polo: Title Sponsor Landhope Farms

Pavilion Sponsor Malvern Bank

Match Sponsors Chester County Hospital, The Jones Family, OneMagnify, Malvern Bank, Ronald McDonald House of Delaware

Ground Sponsors Knox Equipment Rentals, B&D Builders, White Clay Farms, JL Plumbing & Heating, Inc., Wayne Powell Custom Builder

Advertising & Banner Sponsors Cardinham Killigrew, Cavan Construction Company, Chester County Eye Care, Eastern Horticultural Services, Holly Gross Group, Janssen’s Market, Jeffrey A. Miller Catering, Lennar/CalAtlantic Homes, Malvern Bank, Meadow Springs Farm – Hicks Brothers, The National Bank of Malvern, OneMagnify, RJP Consulting Group

Supporting Members Richard Bickel, Greg and Cecille Brant, Frederic Claghorn Jr., Heather Conway, Sarah Doheny, Steven Funk, Phil and Betsy Gotshall, William Knox Jr., Cheryl Lamoreux, Elizabeth Mehl, Moira O’Neal, Stevi Richards and Steve Stackhouse, Eric Roman, Lisa Scott, Matt Stover, Matt Wetzel, Timothy Wilkens, John Winterbottom, Harry and Shirley Zwicker

www.brandywinepolo.com

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Polo Gear

The Polo Helmet is required equipment most commonly made of reinforced, padded plastic with a cloth covering. They are modeled after the pith helmets the British wore in 19th-century India. Modern helmets are designed to fend off flying balls and to protect the head if the player should fall off.

The Mallet

The Team Jersey

is made of root manau cane. It can bend quite a bit, giving it a fair amount of “whip” during a hard swing. The head is made of tipa, a very hard wood.

Both sides of the head are used to strike the ball.

sports the color of the team and the number of the player’s position (from 1 to 4).

The Bit Knee Pads provide protection from flying balls and rough ride-offs.

controls the horse. Polo players use many different kinds of bits. This one is called a “Gag.”

The Breast Plate fastens to the girth and keeps the saddle from slipping backwards.

The Martingale The Ball is made of hard plastic that dents a bit each time it is hit.

is the leather strap that runs from the noseband to the girth and keeps the horse from raising its head too high.

Polo Plates

Leg Wraps

are special lightweight horseshoes made of iron. Polo plates have an inner rim and an outer rim, with the inner rim slightly higher than the outer rim, making it easier for the hoof to pivot in all directions.

provide support to tendons and ligaments as well as protection from flying balls and stray mallets.

PHOTO BY JIM GRAHAM JIMGRAHAMPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

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Brandywine Polo Club

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2018 Club News

Meet the Staff

Charly Quincoces: Club Manager

CHARLY QUINCOCES

A big welcome to our new club manager, Charly Quincoces.

a fun and cheerful team player and is always happy to help out other players.

Charly is a professional 3-goal polo player with over 20 years of experience playing in the U.S. and internationally. He has played at many U.S. clubs, from Florida to Houston and Wyoming, and spent last winter playing at both Sarasota and The Villages. Charly has also played in Argentina and Peru, and was part of the winning Lagos International Polo Tournament team in Nigeria.

Charly’s wife, Michele, helps him with his polo ponies, and their three children share their love of horses.

Growing up on the family ranch in Argentina, Charly learned to love horses and polo. He is

Charly is no stranger to Brandywine Polo.

His uncle, 5-goal pro Federico Cendoya, was the club pro for over 20 years and played for Jimmy Kravitz and the Burnt Chimney Team.

We are excited to have Charly and his family at the club this season. Please help us welcome him back to Brandywine Polo Club!

Elizabeth Hedley: Club Relations and Sponsorships

ELIZABETH HEDLEY

From Santa Barbara to Long Island, Wellington to Wyoming, Elizabeth Hedley has traveled the country, working for polo clubs in the areas of sponsorship, marketing, PR and special events. After earning an MFA from the University of Texas, Austin, and working several years for the USPA, she launched a career as a polo club consultant with the single goal of connecting spectators with the sport.

As Brandywine’s new OTB Director (Outside

the Boards) Elizabeth is the go-to person for anyone wanting to hold an event or take advantage of the business networking opportunities polo creates.

Brandywine Polo Club offers the perfect setting to celebrate weddings, anniversaries, network with clients or hold employee picnics in a relaxed and elegant atmosphere. Social memberships are also available. Interested? Contact Elizabeth@ brandywinepolo.com

Dan Banks: Polo School Instructor and Coach

DAN BANKS

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Brandywine Polo School is very pleased to welcome Dan Banks as instructor and coach for the 2018 season. Dan is an HPA Certified Instructor and holds a 2-Goal HPA handicap. With more than 20 years of experience, Dan has taught polo in the UK to a variety of student levels, from juniors and university students to adults. He has trained many players that have gone on to

play professionally in England, Argentina, Australia and Spain and have played in the Gold Cup and Queen’s Cup, as well as some that have gone on to play for England. He has also worked alongside the Hurlingham Polo Association, coaching teams/kids selected to represent England.

Please help us welcome Dan to Brandywine Polo Club!

Brandywine Polo Club

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PHOTO BY RICARDO BARROS

Understanding the Team A team consists of four mounted players, which can be mixed teams of both men and women.

Each number assigned to a player has certain responsibilities:

1

is the most offenseoriented position on the field. This position generally covers the opposing team’s Number Four.

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2

has an important role in offense, either running through and scoring themselves, or passing to the Number One and getting in behind them.

Defensively, they will cover the opposing team’s Number Three, generally the other team’s best player.

Given the difficulty of this, it’s not uncommon for the best player on the team to play Number Two so long as another strong player is available to play Three.

3

is the tactical leader and must be a long powerful hitter to feed balls to Number Two and Number One as well as maintaining a solid defense. The best player on the team is usually the Number Three player, usually wielding the highest handicap.

4

is the primary defense player. They can move anywhere on the field, but they usually try to prevent scoring. The emphasis on defense by the Number Four allows the Number Three to attempt more offensive plays, since they know that they will be covered if they lose the ball.

Brandywine Polo Club

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Learn to play

POLO!

o A safe but exciting introduction o o o o

for the beginner Affordable Convenient Professional instruction Horses with an understanding temperament provided

Brandywine Polo Club

Orientation to Polo • During this fun introductory course, we will lead you in a group lesson with other new players through a graduated program covering the rules, tactics, polo swing and riding skills on a polo pony geared to your level of riding experience, from the occasional rider to the experienced rider of all ages.

• You will be introduced to proper mallet strokes on our wooden horse! You’ll practice your malletwork under the careful watch of our qualified instructor.

• You will be mounted on quiet, safe horses matched to your abilities. First you’ll focus on polo riding, then on hitting the ball. After successfully moving, stopping and turning your pony, you’ll “stick and ball” at your own pace in our arena. End with a tournament!

• Join us, have fun!

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FORMAT: 4 sessions plus a tournament. Class size limited to 6; first come, first served.

REQUIREMENTS: Riding helmet, boots (tall boots or paddock boots) and gloves (golf, baseball or polo gloves). Mallets will be provided.

AFFORDABLE: $475 credit card, $450 check.

CONTACT: Lory Eighme Tel: 610-310-0931 Email: poloschool@brandywinepolo.com 232 Polo Road Toughkenamon, PA 19374 www.brandywinepolo.com PRIVATE LESSONS AVAILABLE

Brandywine Polo Club

The Brandywine Backshot It’s always fun to rummage through the Brandwine Polo archives! A big thanks to Dixon Stroud and Annie Jones for documenting a wonderful club history.

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2018

Season Schedule

All Friday matches start at 5:30 p.m. unless specified otherwise. All Sunday matches start at 3:00 p.m. unless specified otherwise. Schedule subject to change.

Visit www.brandywinepolo.com or call 610-268-8692 for updates.

Opening Day Match: Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, 3 P.M. Friday Night Polo

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Sunday Polo May 28

Opening Day Match – Memorial Day

June 1

Grass Polo

June 3

Grass Polo

June 8

Grass Polo

June 10

Grass Polo: Chester County Hospital Cup

June 15

Grass Polo

June 17

Grass Polo

June 21 —Thursday – Arena Prelims - 0-3 goal

June 23 —Saturday – 0–3 Goal Arena Tournament Final

June 22

Grass Polo

June 24

Grass Polo

June 29

McHugh 4 Goal Tournament Prelims

July 1

McHugh 4 Goal Tournament Final

July 6

Grass Polo

July 8

Grass Polo

July 13

Grass Polo

July 15

Grass Polo

July 19 —Thursday – Arena Prelims 3-6 goal USPA Circuit Masters

July 21 —Saturday – Finals 3-6 Goal Arena USPA Circuit Masters

July 20

Grass Polo

July 22

Grass Polo

July 27

USPA Women’s Tournament Prelims

July 29

USPA Women’s Tournament Final

Aug 3

Landhope Prelims

Aug 5

USPA 4–6 Goal Landhope Challenge Cup Final

Aug 10

Grass Polo

Aug 12

Grass Polo

Aug 17

Grass Polo

Aug 19

Grass Polo

Aug 24

USPA Polo Ponies Prelims

Aug 26

USPA 6-8 goal Polo Ponies Tournament Final

Aug 31

USPA Gerald Balding Prelims

Sept 2

USPA 6–8 Goal Gerald Balding Tournament Final

Sept 7

Grass Polo

Sept 9

Grass Polo

Sept 14

Grass Polo

Sept 16

British Armed Forces Match

Sept 21

Grass Polo

Sept 23

Grass Polo

Sept 28

Grass Polo

Sept 30

Richie Jones Memorial Match

Brandywine Polo Club

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Why We Stomp

A

BY CECILLE BRANT

t halftime, polo has a longstanding tradition of inviting guests and patrons onto the field to stomp the divots. It is a chance to walk around and see the club from a different perspective, plus it gives younger spectators room to burn off energy. It is only from the grass that guests can appreciate how truly vast the polo field is. It is also a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends and connect with old ones. Aside from its social aspects, divot stomping serves an important purpose for any polo club. Horses are terribly hard on the manicured fields, and their hooves kick up flaps of dirt known as divots.

How do you stomp a divot? Use your foot to gently fold the flap of grass back into place and give it a firm stomp back into position.

By doing so, you’re helping the fields heal and assisting the club with maintenance. The debate of whether to go shoeless for this activity rages on, but it’s largely a matter of personal choice rather than etiquette. Frequently, adult spectators who venture onto the field are rewarded with a glass of Champagne. Whether it’s the exercise, the sunshine, the friends one finds or the ice-cold Champagne, having participated in a divot stomp is something well worth crossing off your bucket list.

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Brandywine Polo Club

2017

Season Scrapbook

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Brandywine Polo Club

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Brandywine Polo Club

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Brandywine Polo Club

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Game-Watcher Tips A grass polo field is 300 yards long by 160 yards wide. Goals are scored when the ball passes between the goal posts at either end. Whenever goals are scored, the teams switch ends and attack in the opposite direction.

• A match consists of six chukkers, each 7.5 minutes long. At the 7-minute mark, a bell or horn sounds to indicate only 30 seconds remain in the chukker. The chukker ends when the 30 seconds elapse, when the ball hits a sideboard or goes out of bounds, or when a goal is scored.

• Each team consists of four mounted players. There is no goalie in polo.

• Polo ponies are actually horses, but they are referred to as “ponies.” Each player rides several ponies during a match, changing them frequently to give every pony a rest. Generally speaking, any one pony plays a maximum of two chukkers in a match. Some players play 8 to 12 ponies in a single match.

• All polo players must hit the ball with the mallet in their right hand, including left-handed players. A stroke on the player’s right side is known as an “off-side” stroke. A stroke on the player’s left side is known as a “near-side” stroke. The ball is hit with the side of the mallet, not the mallet’s point, as in croquet.

• The rules of polo are written to promote safety of both player and pony in a fast, exciting and competitive environment. Toward this end, the two principal concepts governing the game are the Line of the Ball (LOB) and the Right of Way (ROW).

• With certain restrictions, it is permissible to hook an opponent’s mallet as he or she strokes at the ball. It is never permissible to strike any pony or other player with a mallet.

• Rule infractions incur penalties, and these may range from a free hit at the ball to a direct shot at an open goal. An egregious foul may warrant the ejection of a player.

• Two mounted umpires control the match on-field, and a “third man” referee off-field resolves the call, should the two umpires disagree.

ELAINE J. KUCHARSKI

• For an animated nine-minute video by the author expanding upon the illustrations in this article, visit www.ricardobarros.com/polo.

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Brandywine Polo Club

Line of the Ball

Polo Glossary

The Line of the Ball, or “Line,” is the straight path traveled by the ball at any instant, extended forward and backward from the ball. A player’s claim to hit the ball, or to address an opponent, is affected by the player’s position relative to the Line. A new Line is formed with every deflection of the ball. This constantly changing reference requires players to make complex, split-second decisions throughout the course of play.

Backshot or Backhand

Mallet

Describes a shot in which the ball is hit in the opposite direction from how the horse is traveling. A backhand can be taken on either the offside or nearside and may be “tailed” or “cut away.”

The mallet is used to hit the ball. A mallet is generally between 49 and 54 inches long. The cane is traditionally made from root manau cane, although some players, especially arena players, may use canes of a fiberglass composite.

Chukker A period in a polo game, similar to innings or quarters in other sports. Typically, there are six chukkers in a game, although it is common to see four-chukker games at lower handicaps and in the arena. In outdoor polo, a regulation chukker can be as long as 7 minutes and 30 seconds. At the 7-minute mark, a 30-second warning horn is sounded, indicating 30 seconds remain. Play stops when the ball is hit out of bounds, touches the sideboards or the 30 seconds expire, whichever occurs first. The clock stops running for penalties, making the actual time that elapses during a chukker longer than the 7 and a half minutes on the clock.

Cut Shot A shot or swing in which the ball is hit at an angle away from the horse. Typically a cut shot refers to a forehand, while a backhand is more often referred to as away.

Foul A foul is an infraction of the rules. The most common types of fouls are right-of-way infractions, walking the ball, turning the ball, dangerous riding, rough or abusive play, improper use of the mallet and unsportsmanlike conduct.

Hook To use your mallet to impede the swing of an opponent.

For a player to execute a proper and legal hook outdoors, the opponent’s mallet must be below his shoulder when hooked. Otherwise, a foul is called for a “high hook.” In both outdoors and the arena, the player hooking must be on the same side of the opponent’s horse as the ball or directly behind. You cannot reach over, under or across an opponent’s horse to execute a hook. If you do so, a foul will be called for a “cross hook.”

www.brandywinepolo.com

Marking a Man To have an opponent under your control to prevent him or her from making a play against your team.

Nearside A shot in which the ball is hit on the left side of the horse.

A nearside shot may be either a forehand or backhand. A nearside forehand may be hit straight or at an angle under the horse’s neck, called a “neck shot,” or away from the horse, also called a “cut shot.”

Neck Shot Describes a shot in which the ball is hit on either side of the horse, at an angle, under the horse’s neck.

Ride Off A maneuver in which two players, traveling parallel and at the same speed, come together at the horses’ shoulders to attempt to move the other to gain or keep possession of the ball.

Right of Way The Right of Way is a zone of safe passage. Players on the Right of Way are entitled to proceed without risk of collision. Other players can only enter or cross the Right of Way when it is safe to do so. Who is entitled to the Right of Way is initially determined by each player’s position relative to the Line. Once a player assumes the Right of Way, he or she is automatically entitled to a safe exit from the Right of Way. This may mean that a second player up field, who has just deflected the ball and created a new Line, must wait for the first player to pass and clear the old Right of Way before pursuing the ball he or she just deflected. The Right of Way is not to be confused with the Line of the Ball.

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TEN QUESTIONS FOR UMPIRE RICARDO BARROS

BY CECILLE BRANT

1. What is a polo umpire?

A polo umpire supervises play in a polo match. There are two mounted umpires and a third man at every match.

The two umpires are peers; either can call a foul. If one blows a foul and the other disagrees, then they go to the third man to resolve the call. The third man is also known as a referee.

2. What is the polo umpire’s job?

The polo umpire has, essentially, three responsibilities.

First is the safety of players and horses. This is paramount and trumps all other considerations. The second is to promote fair play in competition. Both teams must abide by the rules, and the rules must be evenly enforced. Third, the umpire is midwife to the spirit of the game. The game should flow. It should be fun. There is a delicate balance umpires must find in knowing which fouls to call and which to let pass.

3. How does one get to be a polo umpire?

The United States Polo Association certifies polo umpires.

The certification process includes a written exam and a field evaluation. It is not easy; umpires must qualify for their certification. Most polo umpires come from the ranks of professional players.

4. What was your path to get there?

I was just a player who got hooked on the game and saw umpiring as another way to participate in the sport. It was tough. I had to build experience as a club umpire for several years before I could earn my certification. A fringe benefit of umpiring, I discovered, was that it greatly enhanced my understanding of the game. I am a better player because of it.

5. What is your favorite part of the job?

I love riding horses, and polo lends immediacy to that experience. I am required to do what all other equestrians

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do, but I’ve got to do it in a split second, at high speed, and while focusing on something else. The players I umpire are amazing athletes—I am in awe of them—and I get to chase them around the field at close quarters.

6. What is the most difficult part of the job?

Getting the required experience. Armchair aficionados notwithstanding, it is no easy task to actually see a foul and instantly deconstruct the event. The steps preceding an infraction are often subtle. The interaction of eight players on the field is complex. It can be tricky to determine who was at fault and the appropriate remedy.

Unfortunately, there is no shortcut to be good at this.

The only way to do it is to accumulate years and years of experience. Even the top umpires are still working at it, and I am too.

7. Besides riding and knowing the rules, what else is essential to umpiring?

You have to be a centered individual. Players on the field are lured into tunnel vision by their own excitement. An umpire must maintain a meta-perspective; umpires must see the big picture and withstand the enormous pressure placed upon them by other people’s expectations.

8. Is umpiring ever boring?

Well, some games may be less exciting than others, but that doesn’t diminish the umpire’s responsibilities. In fact, it can make the umpire’s role even more critical. The stringency with which USPA rules are applied varies with the level of play. A line crossing in a 20-goal polo match may be a non-call because all players and their ponies are so agile. That same line crossing in two-goal polo, on the other hand, would be a mandatory whistle. Many low goal players don’t have as secure a seat, and their ponies are less nimble. But regardless of the level of play, another concern is the umpire’s concentration. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to stay focused on the game. Umpiring is an exhausting endeavor.

Brandywine Polo Club

9. The umpire’s horse doesn’t always look like the playing ponies. Why is this?

The umpire’s horse may look different for a couple of reasons. The tail won’t be braided because there is no need for that. There is also no need to wrap the umpire horse’s back legs. Sometimes the umpire horse will have a long mane. This is a signal to everyone in the vicinity that the horse’s training is not yet complete, so give it a larger berth. But most umpire horses are indeed polo ponies. They are typically loaned to the umpire by one of the players on the field. And most commonly, the umpire won’t know which mount is his or hers until just before the game. For me, it is always a surprise.

the rules in my own videos, which you can find at www. ricardobarros.com/polo. So learn the rules, remember that this is only a game, then go out and have fun!

10. What advice or guidance do you most frequently give younger players?

The same advice I give to all players: Learn the rules! Polo is so much more than just whacking the ball and chasing it around. There are strategies and set plays to employ.

The ball can travel faster than any horse, so pass to your teammate. Don’t make every run a horse race; this only exhausts your mount and eliminates you from the next play. And if you understand the rules, you can use them to your advantage. The USPA Rulebook may be difficult to read, but there are other, more accessible resources.

You’ll find videos on the USPA website, www.uspolo.org/ video, and also at www.poloskilz.com. I’ve broken down

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About the

PONIES

BY CECILLE BRANT

Despite the name, polo ponies are regular-sized horses, with most of today’s playing horses standing between fourteen and sixteen hands. Wherever polo is played around the world, local livestock are bred with thoroughbreds to produce the combination of speed and agility that makes a fine polo pony.

In North America, thoroughbreds have become prized as polo ponies, with thoroughbred-quarter horse mixes also popular. In Australia, stock horses are often bred with thoroughbreds to produce good polo ponies. In Asia and the Middle East, Arabians are sometimes mixed with thoroughbreds to produce ponies with impressive endurance.

Since Argentina is currently the center of the polo horsebreeding world, many polo players now purchase their horses from there. The South American stock horse, the Criollo, is mixed with thoroughbreds to produce exceptional ponies. These South American horses are calm and easily trained but also have nimbleness, stamina and a fierce competitive drive.

Not all horses are suited for polo. A polo pony must have intelligence, agility and endurance, and most of all, a heart for the game. A short back and a flexible neck are important qualities, too. Polo ponies must be what equestrians call “bomb proof” and must be able to deal with distractions. Mallets swinging near their heads, 28

crowds roaring their approval, and other horses bumping and jostling each other are aspects of a match that a polo pony must deal with calmly and professionally.

Do they like to play? Like people, some ponies are mad sports fans and love every minute of it. Most do seem to enjoy participating. Charging around at a gallop with a herd of fellow equines is a very natural behavior for a horse. It just feels right to them.

A polo pony’s life is one of rigorous training and conditioning. They are the PhDs of the equine world.

They start their training around three years of age and usually aren’t ready to play serious polo until they are five or six. From that point on it is a never-ending wheel of exercise, training, and schooling to keep a pony in top condition. Because of the demanding nature of the sport, these hardworking athletes are also given long weeks out to pasture to rest and relax.

Barring injury, a polo pony can play well into its late teens and early twenties, with some older guys and gals hanging on even longer. Older horses are sometimes used as umpire ponies, especially for slower-paced matches. Some are retired and become treasured pets and leisure riding horses. Others are turned out simply to be horses again.

The dedicated grooms who work with these animals will tell you that each one is unique. Like people, each has its own personality, strengths, likes and dislikes, and of Brandywine Polo Club

course, each plays a little differently on the field. Any polo player will tell you that the horse is responsible for 70-80% of the success the player finds on the field. Players tend to be greatly affectionate with and protective of their ponies.

Each horse is given assiduous care and attention.

You may notice that a polo pony is missing its mane and looks a little bald. Their manes are “roached” or “hogged” to keep the long hair from getting tangled in play and tack. The same reasoning applies to their tails, which are braided and taped or tied up. You may see some polo ponies with knots tied in their tails. This is known as the “Texas mud knot,” an interesting carryover from the

stock horse world, where knots were tied to keep tails out of mud and dirt when working with livestock.

Polo ponies are largely mares. Most players believe that female horses offer more heart and will work harder, but geldings with the right temperament are also used.

Stallions rarely are.

Even someone with a passing interest in horses can appreciate the polo pony’s beauty and grace. For equestrians who ride and play them, these athlete partners represent the best of what human and horse interaction can offer.

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Brandywine Polo Club

2017 Tournaments

Chester County Hospital Cup

Left to Right: Lisa Scott Nicholas Place Belinda Brody Dixon Stroud Juan Martinez-Baez June 11, 2017 PHOTO: TISA DELLA-VOLPE

Landhope Farms

Circuit Arena Masters Cup

Left to Right: George Hempt Pelham Hardy Alex Lopez July 22, 2017 PHOTO: LORY EIGHME

West Shore www.brandywinepolo.com

31

2017 Tournaments

Landhope Challenge Cup

Left to Right: Nicholas Place Mark Mulligan Leandro Barrios Juan Martinez Baez August 6, 2017 PHOTO: SHIRLEY ZWICKER

Barefield/Healex

Polo Ponies Memorial Tournament

Left to Right: Juan Martinez Baez Hernan Tasso Rich Weidel Mark Mulligan August 27, 2017 PHOTO: JOHN PLECENIK

Barefield Polo 32

Brandywine Polo Club

2017 Tournaments

WCT/USPA Brandywine Women’s Tournament

Left to Right: Sarah Lynch Demitra Hajimihalis Kylee Sheehan Cindy Halle August 30, 2017 PHOTO: JOHN PLECENIK

Ace Sportswear

Gerald Balding Tournament

Left to Right: Denis O’Flynn O’Brien Martin Ravina Kathy Fowser Whitman Juan Martinez Baez September 10, 2017 PHOTO: JOHN PLECENIK

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33

2018 Club Members

Ricardo Barros

Trevor Brant

Michael Bucklin*

Claire Campbell

Nicolle DuHamell

Lory Eighme*

Kathleen Fowser*

Steve Funk

Steven Genuardi

Melissa Harrington*

Bryan Kepner

Kyra Kepner

Shaun McCauley*

Joel McKeever*

Denis O’Flynn O’Brien*

Pablo Perego*

Nicholas Place*

Lisa Scott*

Pat Sertich*

Dixon Stroud*

Ellen Tracey*

Victor Verano

Crosby Wood

PHOTO: TISA DELLA-VOLPE

PHOTO: HEATHER PEZZOTTI

Don Aiken

Not Pictured: Michelle Collins, Martine Garzaron, Justin Hall, Nidish Mada, Raj Mundy, Patrick Tell

* Denotes Full Member.

34

Brandywine Polo Club

“The Voice” of Brandywine Polo This year marks the 11th season with Bradley Hendrix as our announcer. His endless energy, knowledge of the sport, upbeat personality and unique announcing style have endeared Bradley to casual fans and seasoned players alike. “I am honored to be announcing polo again and look forward to providing another year of fun and excitement,” Bradley says. “I try every match to give an overview of the rules and basic play so that even firsttime guests can understand and appreciate the game.”

Bradley is a local DJ and hosts several Quizzo/trivia games at area venues and also DJs weddings, benefits, special events, etc. Feel free to stop by the announcer stand and say hello!

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Champagne and Sunshine

BY CECILLE BRANT

Diamond Fizz  One shot quality gin, chilled Two sugar cubes 3–4 ounces lemonade  3–4 ounces dry Champagne

Peary Delicious  One can pears in sweetened syrup One sprig fresh rosemary Ice 3–4 ounces dry Champagne

Dissolve the sugar cubes in the chilled gin with ice in a shaker. Stir in the lemonade. Shake well. Pour the mixture into a large glass over ice. Fill to the top with Champagne. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Drain the juice from the canned pears into a small container. Place the rosemary sprig into the reserved pear syrup and muddle, then refrigerate the mixture overnight. To make the cocktail, pour about a tablespoon of the rosemary-pear juice elixir into a chilled Champagne flute. Fill to the top with dry Champagne. Garnish with a fresh pear wedge.

The Peach Bellini

The Sporty

 One ripe peach (frozen), peeled and cut into small chunks

 One shot of chilled Port wine

Lemon wedge

One shot peach schnapps  Sweet Champagne or sparkling wine (Prosecco works best) Fresh strawberry to garnish Blend peach chunks and chilled schnapps in a blender.

Pour 1/3 cup of this slurry into a chilled tall glass. Fill to the top with sweet Champagne.

Garnish with a fresh strawberry.

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Polo and Champagne have had a long and storied romance. Nothing tastes quite so fine as a glass of frosty bubbly during a hot afternoon match. This year, take your enjoyment of polo’s favorite beverage to the next level by savoring these new twists on an old love.

 3–4 ounces of chilled pink Champagne ¼ wedge of a fresh orange Frozen raspberry to garnish Squeeze the juice from the orange wedge in the bottom of a Champagne saucer.

Rub the rim of the glass with the orange wedge. Pour the Port into the glass. Top with Champagne and garnish with a frozen raspberry.

Brandywine Polo Club

The Tradition of Sabrage

BY CECILLE BRANT

On occasion you may witness someone opening a bottle of Champagne with a sword during the polo match award ceremonies. This tradition, which dates back to Napoleon’s cavalrymen, originated when soldiers tried to impress a young heiress by slicing off the tops of Champagne bottles with their swords. The dull side of the sword is used, and it takes skill to pop off the top cleanly. This entertaining nod to custom is best if practiced by awards officials and savvy sword wielders only.

Stephen Gross

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The and

olts Fillies

Math, Hands, and Horses A horse’s height is measured in hands. A hand is equal to four inches, a measurement that was originally based on the width of an average man’s hand. A hand is subdivided into four inch-long segments, so a horse might be referred to as 15.2 hands, which means 15 sets of four inches, plus an extra two inches. Therefore, horse that is 15.2 hands is 62 inches, or 5 feet 2 inches, tall. A horse is measured from the ground to their withers, or shoulder.

38

orner

BY CECILLE BRANT

Can you do the following horse math?

(Answers next page.)

1. A horse that is 16.1 hands is how tall?

2. A true pony is 13 hands or less. How tall is that in feet and inches?

3. The tallest horse who ever lived, Sampson, stood 21.2½ hands high. If Sampson were a basketball player, how tall would he be?

Brandywine Polo Club

A Polo Pony’s Story My name is Mia. I am a sixteen year-old thoroughbred.

I am strong and fast, and I happen to be a good polo pony. Like most thoroughbreds, I started out on a farm, where they trained me to be a racehorse. I did not like it.

Running around a big oval? Wasn’t for me. Very boring.

Luckily, I was bought by a polo trainer who taught me how to be a polo pony.

First, I had to have really good manners. I needed to get used to being fiddled with all the time, and I had to learn to be a good girl and stand quietly by my trailer during the matches. I had to get on and off trailers many, many times without freaking out. This became fun when my sisters and I all got on the trailer together to go to matches. It was like a big, fun, hairy school bus!

Next, my trainer taught me how to work out. I trained six days a week, with long trotting “sets” and endless cantering. I got into the best shape of my life.

Then my human trainer taught me how to play the craziest, most enjoyable game ever. He called it polo.

After I learned how to play—and let me tell you, I felt like I was in school forever—a really nice polo player came and bought me from the trainer. He took me to my new farm home. It was wonderful: big green fields and lots of friends. And guess what? My new friends like playing polo as much as I do! We love running around like wild ponies, chasing that little ball. This summer I even got to be a lesson horse at polo school, where I got to meet pretty much everybody and play with them.

Being a polo pony is pretty sweet. I get the best food and tons of fresh hay and grazing. I get all the fresh, cool water I want. The most awesome part is playing my favorite game all the time with my human friends. Yes, being a polo pony is all I ever want to do.

Can You Pronounce These Polo Pony Names?

Diva the Polo Pony’s Recommended Reading for Young Adults:

Tobiana (Tow-bee-ahn-a)

Artemis (Art-ee-meese)

 Polo by Susan Barrantes

Cereza (Sir-ray-zah)

Corazon (Kor-a-zone)

Xuxa (Zhu-zha)

Amarillo (Ah-ma-ree-jyo)

 How to Think Like a Horse

by Cherry Hill

Graciella (Gra-see-el-la)

Caliente (Cal-ee-in-tay)

Pimienta (Pem-ee-in-ta)

Chocolate (Show-ko-lot-tay)

T he Black Stallion

by Walter Farley  Polo by J. Moray Brown (especially the “Letters to Young Players” section)

Answers to Math, Hands, and Horses: 1. Five foot, five inches 2. Four feet, four inches 3. Seven feet, two and one-half inches

www.brandywinepolo.com

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