February 2021 Polo Players' Edition

F E B R U A RY 2 0 2 1

P L AY E R S’ E D I T I O N

La Dolfina defends Argentine Open title

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CONTENTS

P L AY E R S’ E D I T I O N

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 21

VOL. 24,

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

28 Worker bee by C. Maybe Ortiz

The importance of having a good groom

6

Association News

USPA Bulletin

32 Fab Four by Lucas Noel

10 Instructors Forum

38 Snow Play

12 Ask an Umpire 14 Equine Athlete 18 Polo Scene

La Dolfina takes the prize with resilience

From the archives

WPL glistens in polo championships

42 In the frame by Alice Gipps

News, notes, trends & quotes

Photos allow player to combine passions

22 Polo Development 24 Intercollegiate/Interscholastic 46 Polo in the Pampas

F E B R U A RY 2 0 2 1

TION P L AY E R S’ E D I

NO. 6

La Dolfina defends Argentine Open title

by Lucas Noel

OUR COVER An emotional La Dolfina team hugs after winning its 8th consecutive Argentine Open Championship.

Photo by Sergio Llamera

60 Calendar 62 Yesteryears 48 Polo Report Coast Guard wins Teddy Roosevelt

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OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN SIGNED COLUMNS ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLISHERS OF THIS MAGAZINE.

2 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

OP OR COMP CLINTON, SC

Jeep DODGF//

A.AIVI

P L AY E R S’ E D I T I O N THE

OFFICIAL MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE

UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION

Editor & Publisher

GWEN D. RIZZO

Contributing Editors

HEATHER SMITH THOMAS, ALICE GIPPS, LUCAS NOEL, C. MAYBE ORTIZ, SARAH EAKIN

Editorial Board BOB PUETZ, TONY COPPOLA, TOM BIDDLE, DAWN WEBER, AMI SHINITZKY Art Director DAVID BEVERAGE Prepress THE OVID BELL PRESS Advertising & Editorial Offices USPA Member Subscription Inquiries (800) 232-8772 OR FAX (888) 341-7410 ldolan@uspolo.org

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VOL. 24, No.6 POLO Players’ Edition (ISSN #1096-2255) is published monthly by Rizzo Management Corp. for U.S. Polo Association, 9011 Lake Worth RD, Lake Worth, FL 33467. Periodicals postage paid at West Palm Beach, FL and additional mailing offices. (USPS: 079-770).

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4 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

U S PA B U L L E T I N

Sundays respectively. In 2020, the C-Flight was introduced for new and beginner players, and it will be held on Fridays this season. Also, a 6- to 9goal flight will be played on Friday evenings.

“With the success of Texas Arena League and the Pacific Coast Arena League—the precursor to TAL—more and more regions are looking to arena leagues as a great way to grow the sport and create a shoulder season of fun, competitive polo,” said Arena Committee Chair Robin Sanchez. “Arena polo is on the rise all over the country.”

Players can join for one event or travel to all four. All locations have boarding and lease horses available from multiple providers. For more information on Texas Arena League, go to www.texasarenaleague.com where you can read about the TAL format and fill out an entry form.

You can also follow Texas Arena League on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Upcoming Dates and Locations: Feb. 12-14: Two Wishes Polo Club Lockhart, Texas Feb. 26-28: Legend’s Polo Club Kaufman, Texas March 19-21: Brookshire Polo Club Brookshire, Texas DAVID MURRELL

Texas Arena League The fourth year of the Texas Arena League is already underway with the first event held at Legends Polo Club (Kaufman, Texas) Jan. 29-31.

Texas Arena League includes four different events played at three different locations around the Lone Star State. Teams and individuals compete for points toward the End of League Awards and the coveted TAL belt buckles.

“TAL has grown exponentially since its inaugural year in 2018,” said TAL organizer Megan Flynn. “In 2021, we will have to cap the number of teams in each flight. It’s only the amount of hours in a day that’s limiting the league.”

All games count toward TAL points for both teams and individual players. At the end of the league, the points are tallied and the winners are announced. Players also receive points for the National Arena Amateur Cup when playing in USPA arena tournaments during the league.

“In addition to the points-based awards (winners, high-point individual, Most Valuable Player, Best Playing Pony, etc.), TAL has awards that are voted on by players and even fans,” said another TAL organizer Brady Williams.

Texas Arena League will play its regular 0- to 3goal and 3- to 6-goal divisions on Saturdays and

The Texas Arena League is now underway.

6 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

U S PA B U L L E T I N

NOCSAE ND050 Mandate As of Jan. 1, 2021, all players in any USPA Event or Club Event (does not include practices, lessons or grooms) are required to wear a helmet that passes the NOCSAE ND050 Standard Performance Specification. Qualifying helmets will have the SEI/NOCSAE logo attached to the outside of the helmet and the logo should not be removed. Before the throw-in, umpires will line up the players and do a quick helmet check. If a player plays any part of a game without a NOCSAE ND050 helmet, the team automatically forfeits the game. If helmets are switched at halftime it is the player’s responsibility to ride over to the umpire who will check that it is NOCSAE approved. Check uspolo.org for an updated list of helmets on the market that meet the standard.

Please contact USPA Membership and Handicap Director Lindsay Dolan at ldolan@uspolo.org if you have any questions.

developed a pinnacle event called the Gauntlet of Polo by combining the C.V. Whitney Cup, USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open Polo Championship, offering $1 million in prize money. Team entries rose from six in 2018 to 16 in 2019 and 14 in 2020. The execution and promotion of the Gauntlet of Polo proved to be hugely successful, creating a venue in which players and team owners wanted to compete.

In 2021, the USPA and Global Polo TV will continue to provide year-round content and live games for free to USPA current and lifetime members. To receive your free Premium Polo Pass membership to Global Polo TV, you must first pay your USPA membership dues in full and then you’ll receive access to the library of content, short films and live games. Additionally, USPA social members will also receive the Polo Pass complimentary.

If you currently have the Polo Pass and want to watch the Gauntlet of Polo beginning Wednesday, Feb. 17, you can upgrade at any time to the Premium Polo Pass (all live-streamed games) or the Gauntlet of Polo Pass (all Gauntlet of Polo tournament games).

Head to GlobalPolo.com/products to learn more about each of the pass options and make changes to your existing subscription.

The subscription model consists of three packages:

Global Polo TV The mission of the United States Polo Association is to promote the game of polo, and what better way to do so than to live-stream the best games via a television platform like Global Polo TV? After nearly seven years of live-streaming games with ChukkerTV and producing global broadcasts, the association together with Global Polo Entertainment is continuing to grow. The goals for the new platform are to build one premier destination for polo and showcase the best USPA polo tournaments in the United States.

Sustainability of the sport is dependent upon building public awareness and educating the sportsminded consumer about the game, players, horses and the lifestyle. In 2019, the USPA and GPE POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 7

U S PA B U L L E T I N

Rulebook by navigating to the ‘Sport’ tab and ‘Rules’ page. All USPA members receive a copy of the Rulebook as part of their member benefits.

Membership Renewal It’s not too late to renew your USPA membership for 2021 and activate your member benefits. In addition to continued benefits, such as ‘This Week In Polo,’ Polo Players’ Edition, savings on nationally known products, a 25% discount on U.S. Polo Assn. clothing and more, the 2021 membership includes the Premium Polo Pass free for playing and lifetime members. Social members will receive the Polo Pass with a paid membership. The fastest and most efficient way to renew your membership is through the USPA website (www.uspolo.org). When renewing, please ensure your contact information, including your email and mailing address, is current. If you require a paper renewal, please send a request to membership@uspolo.org.

Frequently asked member questions:

• The Polo Pass includes games for more than 18 live tournaments (excluding the Gauntlet of Polo) for an annual fee of $49.99 (a $75.00 value).

• The Gauntlet of Polo Pass includes all three Gauntlet of Polo tournament series games (C.V. Whitney Cup, USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open Polo Championship) for an annual fee of $125.00 (a $150.00 value).

• The Premium Polo Pass includes all live-streamed games of the Polo Pass and the Gauntlet of Polo Pass for a discounted fee of $175 (a $225.00 value).

Rulebook Now Available The 2021 Rulebook is available on uspolo.org by navigating to the ‘Association’ tab and ‘Bookshelf’.

You can also view summaries of the 2021 outdoor and arena rule changes under Key Revisions for 2021 Rulebook. You may also download the full 2021 Published by the United States Polo Association Offices at 9011 Lake Worth Rd., Lake Worth, Florida 33467 • (800) 232-USPA Chairman: Stewart Armstrong President: Tony Coppola Secretary: Charles Smith Treasurer: Steven Rudolph Chief Executive Officer: Robert Puetz

8 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Why can’t I pay my membership by phone?

The USPA requires every member to accept the “Terms and Conditions.” This can be done quickly by logging onto the member portal on uspolo.org or by mailing in the completed membership renewal forms.

Why can’t two members use the same email?

Our membership database uses e-mail addresses as a unique identifier. All information, such as handicap, member status and club affiliation, is tied to an email address and cannot be used for another member.

How do I obtain a handicap?

To obtain a USPA handicap, the club delegate at the club with which you are affiliated must send a recommendation via email to handicaps@uspolo.org.

This recommendation is then sent to the circuit handicap chairman and national handicap chairman for approval.

How long does it take to obtain a handicap?

A handicap takes up to two weeks to be obtained.

If you plan on playing in a USPA tournament, please make sure to allow sufficient time to receive a confirmed handicap.

National Youth Tournament Series The NYTS season officially begins March 1.

Clubs interested in hosting an NYTS tournament, contact NYTS@uspolo.org to discuss scheduling and available dates. USPA members in good standing born after 1/1/2002 with a minimum of a -1goal handicap are eligible to participate.

For more information and to view the latest schedule, please visit uspolo.org.

Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Deadlines A quick reminder that all I/I teams must secure a string of horses for tournament play. Tournaments will be played from early February to midApril. Intercollegiate academic paperwork, coaching requirements and entry fees are due Jan. 15.

Interscholastic paperwork, coaching requirements, and tournament entry fees are due Jan. 5. Make sure to renew your USPA player memberships for 2021 before participating in any games.

If you need assistance completing the paperwork by the deadlines, please contact Ali Davidge at adavidge@uspolo.org.

Schedule The Intercollegiate/Interscholastic tournament schedule is posted on the I/I program pages on uspolo.org. Click on the respective program for a full list of tournaments near you. Please note, tournaments may change depending on state and local guidelines.

Varsity Letter If you are an interscholastic player who competed in the I/I tournament season this year, along with completing 100 hours in the saddle, participating in four I/I games, and staying in good academic standing, you are eligible for an Interscholastic Varsity Letter!

For more information on the program and application please go to the interscholastic program page on uspolo.org.

JIM BREMNER

U S PA B U L L E T I N

Do you compete in the I/I tournament season?

Have you completed 100 hours in the saddle? Have you competed in four I/I games? Are you in good academic standing? You may be eligible for an Interscholastic Varsity Letter.

Fundraising The Start-Up & Enhancement program is in place to help programs through providing reimbursable grants to clubs participating in the I/I program. The I/I fundraising application is open to all intercollegiate and interscholastic teams looking to hold a fundraiser to support their I/I team. If you are interested in applying for a reimbursement grant, please visit the I/I webpage on uspolo.org for more details.

For more information on the I/I fundraising program, please contact I/I Program Coordinator Ali Davidge at adavidge@uspolo.org. • POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 9

INSTRUCTORS FORUM

Advanced plays Try ‘em if you can From the Archives:

In September 1983, then editor Ami Shinitzky sat down with 6-goaler Gabriel Donoso and 5-goaler Joe Muldoon III to discuss advanced plays. Donoso was considered one of Chile’s best players of all time. He died in November 2006 at age 46, following a fall while playing in Pilar, outside Buenos Aires, Argentina.

from hitting the ball is a good play in itself, if you can also come up with the ball you’ve done better still. The play to try here, assuming that the ball is between two players, is to bump and immediately separate while reaching with the mallet for the ball. Don’t look for the ball; use your instincts and fish for it. You’ll come up with it more often than you think.

Oh No, It’s Not Your Line Anymore Black No. 3 hits the ball up field. The White Back and Black No. 1 are after it in a ride-off. White Back now has the ball on his right; he arcs to the left to insure that Black No. 1 won’t ride him off across the line. His intention now is to arc back to the line and back the ball. But, at the apex of the arc, Black No. 1

It’s All in the Timing You are a Back. A long ball has just passed you. You look back to see the opposing No. 1 racing like mad to beat you to the ball while the rest of the players are a good distance behind. If you are reasonably close to the ball, here is a play to consider: Slow down with the ball on your right side. From the corner of you right

Figure 1

Figure 2

1

4

2

2

1

gives up the fight and continues ahead. Meanwhile, Black No. 2 charges up the line and when White Back arcs back to the line alone and unaware of the setup–you guessed it–he fouls. (See Figure 1) Never Say Die Although a ride-off that prevents the opponent 10 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

4

eye, watch for the oncoming player. Once he has reached the rump of your horse, tap the ball to your left under the neck or the belly, turn in the same direction and run with it. If you tap it too soon, however, the No. 1 can simply move to your left and pick up the ball. But when the timing is right, the No. 1 will sail on by, giving you the chance to look flashy.

INSTRUCTORS FORUM

4

Figure 3

Figure 4

2

4 1

1

3

2

The Knee is the Key When coming rapidly for a ride-off, the opponent is likely to check up trying to force either a crossing or dangerous ride-off penalty. You look at the front of his horse, trying to gauge the correct speed and timing for contact, but you find yourself in front of his horse all too often. The answer, say the pros, is to look hard at the opponent’s knee and let it be the reference for your move. It’s precise and manageable.

The Fake-and-Steal Play You are Black No. 1 and coming down along the sideboards with the ball ahead, closer to the center.

The opposing Back is rushing to ride you off and, he hopes, back the ball. Now comes the fake—the cat-andmouse game, that is. Check up some, so will he; check up some more, he’ll follow. Now add some spice—move slightly closer to the boards. Yes, he is right there with you watching you so hard that he tunes out the ball, now left open for your No. 2 to dive for the steal. The play is perfectly legal and good polo to boot. (See Figure 2) The One-Stroke Hook-and-Back This one takes practice and care. If you just miss it, it is no great loss, but if you foul you play the price twice. You are following an opponent who is about to strike the ball up field. Line up behind him just a hair to the right so as not to risk a cross hook. Also, don’t get too close, lest your horse’s front legs will tangle up with his. Now, in one motion and leaning well forward, raise your mallet, hook the raised mallet of the

opponent upward and then bring yours down for the backhand. The ball should be there on your right if your horse was positioned well and the stroke properly timed. Good luck.

The Knock-in Insurance The Black Back is hitting in. His No. 2 is to his left as he should be. The opposing No. 1 to his right is hoping to meet the ball. The knock-in is disappointing. It went past White No. 1 but not enough to reach Black No 2. White No. 1 turns into the line with the ball on his near side so as not to cross the right of way of the presumably panicked Back who must come from behind ... Now, see what the big boys might do.

The Back will keep his distance while his No. 2 will ride in to meet the ball. Can you hear the whistle? Of course you can! White No. 1 tried to take the ball on his near side and thus automatically fouled the player meeting the ball. The ball is moved to midfield and a bad situation did not turn out so badly after all. (See Figure 3) The Divide-and-Conquer Play You are in hot pursuit of the ball, with an opponent (White) closing from the right to ride you off. You look ahead and see two other players in an embrace. Use them. Time yourself to brush near them just as the other player would have reached you so that the two players in front serve as an obstacle. The opponent trying to ride you off will have to veer off. While he’s circling around the “screen,” go to the ball and make the play of your choice. (See Figure 4) • POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 11

ASK AN UMPIRE

A day in the life What it is like to be a professional polo umpire

By Dana Fortugno

This month, rather than a question, let’s have a little fun. Instead of the same old rule analysis I give you most of the time, how about an inside look at what it is like being an umpire for the USPA? Could you do it? Would you do it? Next time you are complaining about your team loss and how it was the umpire’s fault, think about this article. Let’s see if you have what it takes to do what our 27 USPA umpires do all the time.

Just for fun, we can skip over the qualifications and move to the job itself. We will assume you are qualified, meaning you have played polo for about 20-plus years, reached at least a 3-goal handicap (most have reached over 5 goals) and you have a solid concept of the game of polo. You have been trained by the USPA Umpires, LLC and passed all its evaluations. You have a few seasons under your belt. Now, here is what its like: The piercing alarm wakes you from a deep sleep on Friday at 3:30 a.m. You slip out of bed quietly, trying not to wake up your spouse, who hates it when you travel because she must stay behind all alone. You need to shower, eat something and be out the door by 4:30 to make your hour-long drive to the airport for your 7:30

Your umpire equipment takes up the room in your carry-on, so clothes go in a backpack.

12 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

flight. It is a good thing you packed your bags last night! You manage to fit all your polo gear into a carry-on and your clothes into a backpack. You are off to your destination, hoping the flights are on time because you are scheduled to be on a horse at 3 p.m for the first of two games you are scheduled to umpire.

You made it to the airport and thru the TSA checkpoint after explaining that your pick-up stick is not a weapon of any kind (you have an 80% chance it will not be taken from you). If they take it, that is $50-$100 out of your pocket and you better find one for the day’s games. Assuming all goes well, you land about 1 p.m. and are about an hour from the field.

Great, you have enough time to get your rental car and a bite to eat, change into your whites and head to the field. That is, if the flights weren’t delayed, the rental car company didn’t lose your reservation or run out of cars.

You get to the field at 2 p.m. and nobody is there.

At about 2:30 the trailers roll in and the manager comes over to you, unloading the club drama on you in all of 10 minutes. All you hear is they are running a little late and they need to find you horses for the first game (you hope the horses are not green, you can only hope). You are ready to mount at 2:50 but you wait for everyone else to start mounting up. You finally mount up at 3:20 and blow the whistle. After answering a few questions and listening to how much

ASK AN UMPIRE

the players hate any rules changes, you get started.

Game on! Appealing begins and player management is full on. One team loses and says they will formally complain, while the other team wins and thinks you did a fine job. Now, the game that was supposed to start at 5 gets under way at 5:30. So what, it did not rain so everyone is happy.

You are done at 7 and are invited to the after-game picnic. You want to be polite and are starving, so you attend. You grab some food and sit to eat when the complainers descend upon you. You cannot say anything bad that will come back to haunt you, so you just try and explain things as best you can, looking for

an opportunity to leave without being rude. But first, you check in with the manager about the next round of games scheduled for Sunday, and you are told the games are scheduled for 10 and 12 but they are not completely sure if one team can make it so stay tuned.

You need to leave the field by 3 to have time to return the rental car and make your 6 o’clock flight. You are hoping they stick to the schedule they presented when your flight home was booked.

You finally check in at the Holiday Inn and are

happy because it is a new one and seems nice. You get into your room by 9, call home, shower and go to sleep. You wake Saturday morning and FaceTime with your spouse for an hour then start your day.

You need to eat, maybe workout and entertain yourself for the day (as an independent contractor, its all on your personal tab by the way).

You made it through the boring day in a strange city without spending too much money—it’s a win for you. The manager texts you that the games have been moved to 12 and 2 because the club got a little rain and the field needs more time to dry. Great, now you must rush to make your flight, but you can do it, it is still possible. You do not want to stay another night and miss your dentist appointment on Monday or whatever you have planned.

You are back at the club ready to go. The game gets started 20 minutes late. The weather is good, and the field is dry—good enough. In the fifth period of the first game, a player falls off and hurts his back.

The team needs a substitute and has no idea what the substitution rule is all about. You explain it and tell them they only have 10 minutes. After repeated requests about using an unqualified substitute, the game resumes 25 minutes later. You are unsure if you will make your flight, which is the last flight out—it always is. You finish with the games at 4:15 (continued on page 57)

You hope the umpire horses provided are not green.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 13

E Q U I N E AT H L E T E

Hock Injuries Trauma, stress, disease and conformation can be factors

By Heather Smith Thomas

The hocks of performance horses are often under a lot of stress, which can lead to soreness.

The hock is one of the largest, most complex and hardest worked joints in the horse’s body so it must be strong and sturdy to avoid injury. The hock is often under great stress because of the activities we ask the horse to do, and it may be injured during high speed performance.

Dr. Olivia Rudolphi (Rudolphi Veterinary Services, in Noble, Illinois) says some of these injuries may be due to developmental/congenital lesions such as an Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) within the joint— and these might not show up until the horse is put into training and doing more exercise. “Causes of hock lameness can vary between the young horse and the more mature horse. In the young horses we may see a puffy hock or a foal with some sort of insult to the joint. As young horses start training, we may see the hock develop swelling if there is an OCD lesion, and there may be lameness,” she says.

Jillian Mills, DVM, DACVSMR (Presidio Equine Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, Encinitas, California), says hock injuries are interesting because this joint is a combination of high- and low-motion joints.“These joints can undergo different pathological changes that can lead to clinically relevant disease,” she explains.

14 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

“With hocks we will see either acute traumatic injuries, DOD (developmental orthopedic disease) or fatigue-related injuries. Acute injuries often involve fractures, which may include the tibia and cannon bones, as well as collateral and intra-articular ligament injuries,” says Mills.

“The upper joint (the high-motion joint) more often has developmental issues such as OCD fragments and subchondral bone cystic lesions. If there is an OCD fragment, the horse may need surgery to have the fragment removed, however this is not always necessary,” she says.

“We know that the joint environment is not as healthy as it would be if an OCD lesion was not present. On a pre-purchase exam, for instance it can be difficult to determine whether surgery may be indicated in the horse’s future to remove the osteochondral fragments. For a young horse that hasn’t had the opportunity to prove itself, if we find an osteochondral fragment in a joint that carries excess fluid, and where the horse trots off lame following flexion testing, there’s a higher probability that it will need surgery to remove that chip. The presence of the OCD fragment is an indication that the joint is less healthy, and the horse is more prone

E Q U I N E AT H L E T E

to developing arthritis,” says Mills.

“By contrast, if the horse is 10 years old and has already proven itself at the buyer’s prospective level of competition, the OCD lesion on a pre-purchase exam might not be an issue,” she says.

“Fatigue-related problems might include subchondral bone disease and a breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. When that happens we have to manage these horses for arthritis. We sometimes see arthritis in the upper joint, but this is significantly less common than in the lower joints and often results in debilitating lameness. Usually when we’re talking about fatigue-related injuries in the hock we are dealing with arthritis in those lower hock joints rather than the upper joint.”

If there are changes in the upper joint, these clinical signs generally include a significant increase in joint fluid, which creates a pronounced swelling. “If there is an osteochondral fragment in there, there is often joint swelling and the horse may be positive to flexion testing. However, when a horse reacts positively to hock flexion, this is not a specific finding; the pain could be originating from either the high- or low-motion joints.” says Mills.

“With the lower joints, sometimes we can palpate thickening of the joint capsule, but you cannot palpably detect an increase in joint fluid. It’s more of a clinical assessment, especially if we are not doing nerve blocks. In cases of under-performance, we might look at a horse and see that it is a little bit short-strided in both hind limbs and a bit worse on the inside versus the outside of a circle, and positive to flexion tests. The veterinarian might have a discussion with the owner about medicating the joint as a diagnostic therapeutic, which is essentially a treatment trial to see if the horse improves. Bilateral hind-limb asymmetry is most common in an arthritis type of presentation versus something acute, where you might detect pronounced soft tissue swelling. In those situations, we often see a unilateral lameness, meaning only one limb is affected.” One hock may have suffered traumatic injury.

“Between the talus and the calcaneus, within the high-motion tarsocrural joint, there is another articulation called the talocalcaneal joint. This is a low-motion articulation that can also develop arthritis. When this occurs, the pain can be quite debilitating and extremely difficult to manage, but

this is also relatively rare,” says Mills.

Duncan Peters DVM, DACVSMR, ISELP Certified Member (East-West Equine Sports Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky), says we often see hock soreness in performance horses due to strain and stress. “In young horses (weanlings, yearlings) we may see developmental orthopedic disease, such as OCD or bone cysts in the hock joints. These defects are usually discovered early on, and many are taken care of surgically. Occasionally some of those are not evident until the young horse starts training and then gets a little osteochondral fragment (usually in the tibial tarsal joint) and some associated swelling and lameness within the joint,” he says.

“Most of those chips in the joint occur early on in training or when the horse starts racing or doing more extensive exertion in competition. The horse then has to stop training/competing and have the chip removed surgically. Some of those horses can get back to work and training within 90 days or so and don’t miss very much time,” says Peters. If the problem is discovered early and taken care of, the outcome is usually good.

“More commonly, the hock problems we see in young horses are just a soreness. As the horse starts working and asked to do more, the hock joints get sore, just because of the mechanics of that area of the leg. The hock is unique because the upper joint is a high-motion joint and the lower joints are low-motion but must endure a lot of concussion. Those lower joints are held together with many small ligaments—holding those two rows of small bones together.” The hock has seven

When a horse responds positively to a hock flexion test, it could be originating from either the high- or low-motion joints.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 15

E Q U I N E AT H L E T E

Asymmetrical distention of the hock may mean there is potential for OCD fragments, joint chips, etc. These radiographs reveal bone chips in the joint.

bones and is similar to the human ankle.

If there is too much strain on the hock, there will be inflammation associated with the ligaments holding those small bones together, as well as inflammation within the joint itself--which causes synovitis in the joint. “Depending on what we find, it may require a different course of treatment,” says Peters.

“The other thing we might see in some of those young horses in training is some bone soreness related to concussion in the lower joints. This may depend on the surfaces they are working on, the level of activity, and the maturity and quality of the bone.” Some of these horses will experience bone bruising and bone soreness.

Dr. Mark Cassells (Homestead Veterinary Hospital, Villa Ridge, Missouri) says his practice deals with a lot of sport horses and in these disciplines he doesn’t see many hock problems in young horses, compared to what might be seen in racehorses, because horses in these other disciplines

With some hock problems, it is wise to monitor the changes by taking radiographs annually.

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don’t start training quite as young and are not asked to do extreme exercise with immature joints.

“We see hock problems later in the dressage horses, barrel horses, polo horses, etc. when the hocks are already broken down from the exertion they did 10 years earlier,” he says.

“When I see a hock problem in a fairly young horse I look at symmetry of the hock, making sure there’s no joint distention on one side compared to the other. If there is asymmetrical distention, this may mean there’s potential to find OCD fragments, joint chips, etc. so we check to see if that’s an issue.

There is some debate as to whether these joint chips truly cause problems as the horses get older. Many horses continue to perform at a high level of activity with a joint chip,” says Cassells. Whether that chip causes problems may depend on if it ever moves around and gets caught in the joint. If it is embedded in the joint capsule and not floating around in the joint, it may not be an issue.

“I think the bigger problem is what that chip represents. If it’s due to a defect in the cartilage, this may be more of an issue than the chip itself. With those horses I usually try medical management first, if they are having a problem. The medical management usually involves injection of the joint with regenerative therapies. I try to avoid corticosteroids in these horses because the cartilage is already impaired. I think the regenerative therapies such as Pro-Stride, IRAP, stem cells, etc. are superior to using corticosteroids in these joints, to try to reduce any cartilage damage or at least keep it from getting worse,” Cassells explains.

“I am a big believer in some of the supplemental systemic treatments like Adequan or Pentosan.

Anything we can do proactively that will reduce the likelihood of a problem due to joint inflammation will be helpful. Cosequin is a feed-through product that works very well, as does Platinum Performance CJ, for joint health. There are a number of products that people use, including Legend and polyglycan.”

The veterinarian can give advice on what to use. It may depend on the situation and whether the owner is comfortable giving shots or whether the horse will or won’t eat medication in the grain. What works on one horse may not necessarily work on another.

E Q U I N E AT H L E T E

“For me, if the horse does not have a lameness issue, then I try to manage it with systemic joint supplementation. If the horse starts developing lameness issues, then surgery becomes higher on my list of things to do, and medical management with regenerative therapies versus corticosteroids,” says Cassells.

If there is a questionable area on a hock that’s noted on radiographs, he suggests taking subsequent radiographs over time, such as every 6 months to a year. “This can show us any progression of the condition, or lack of progression of a disease condition. If it is maintaining well, and the horse is performing well, then maybe nothing else needs to be changed.”

Peters says synovitis and bone trauma can lead to arthritis in the lower joints. “This can progress and become serious if not taken care of early on. Usually we will use injections in those joints (steroids, hyaluronic acid, IRAP, stem cells, platelet rich plasma, amnionic fluid isolates, etc.) in an effort to reduce inflammation and curb development of arthritis. We’ll also back off on exercise and training for a while. If there is bone soreness and trauma— perhaps some micro-fractures associated with the bone bruising—this may take four to six months before the horse can go back to work.”

If the joint has synovitis, many of those horses will respond favorably if their routine is changed a little, backing off on the level of work, and treating the joints themselves with injections. “Those horses may only lose two to four weeks of work and then can get right back to it,” says Peters.

Several of these problems may show up with similar signs, but may need a completely different course of treatment and a different length of time off, in terms of how they respond, so it is important to have a good diagnosis.

“Another thing that’s interesting about the hock is that sometimes there is involvement with the proximal suspensory ligament. There may be some pain-causing damage to that ligament where it originates at the back of the hock. This may actually be the primary problem that leads to secondary hock problems. We find this on MRIs more than with any other type of diagnostic tool,” Peters says.

“These horses won’t be performing well; they have a soft-tissue problem related to the origin of the

suspensory ligament, either at the back of the cannon bone (just below the hock) or even into the plantar ligament—since some of those fibers attach up into the plantar ligament at the back of the hock.

That whole area functions as one unit. There may be general hock soreness that includes a soft tissue component. The high suspensory area may need to be addressed or explored to make sure we are taking care of all the problems that are causing the soreness,” says Peters.

There are also some unusual aspects sometimes encountered with hock joint soreness. “There may be collateral ligament injuries. These are interesting because the hock has two sets of collateral ligaments.

One set is under tension during flexion and the other set is under tension during extension of the hock joint. Occasionally we see ligament damage in one or the other set, depending on what kind of trauma occurred. Collateral ligament injury can certainly occur but is not quite as common.”

Depending on where the injury is located—which bone and surface within the hock—the horse might need arthroscopic surgery. “There might be interference with joint articulation,” says Rudolphi.

Some cases are more involved than others. “If we see a problem in one hock we definitely want to check the other one because these conditions can be bilateral, just at different extents,” she explains.

“If an OCD fragment is removed, then afterward we may put in a biologic product like IRAP to help heal those—to help the joint surface improve and ultimately have fewer problems on down the road,” says Rudolphi.

The x-ray on the left shows a normal hock with its many bones.

The x-ray on the right shows a fusion of the talocalcaneal joint (see arrows), which is the curved juncture between two of the hock bones—the talus and calcaneus. It also shows a fusion (see bottom arrows) of the distal intertarsal joint on the lower part of the hock.

(continued on page 56) POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 17

POLO SCENE

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MUSIC HEAD TO THE EARS Singers help raise money Subhead for childhood cancer

THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC has caused most everything to come to a screeching halt. But something

Tom Blake sings at the Polo for Life benefit at the Blake’s Pine Tree Farms.

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that never stops is children needing life-saving treatment for cancer. Or parents fighting to make ends meet while making sure their children receive the required care. These things are challenging at any time, but the pandemic has made them even harder.

Like many non-profits, the pandemic has forced Polo for Life to look at new ways to raise funds as it remains steadfast in its commitment to help ease the financial burdens of families in South Florida struggling with a sick child.

The organization, founded by polo player Brandon Phillips, held a socially-distant musical event called Music Under the Stars, featuring musical performances by singer/songwriters Wynn Varble and Tom Blake at the Blake family’s Pine Tree Farms in Wellington, Florida. Over 120 people attended the event, enjoying food donated by Ford’s Garage and wines donated from Out East Wines, while listening to music and generously giving to help Polo for Live continue its mission.

Monies raised at the event enable Polo for Life to help support families of pediatric cancer patients meet their financial burdens and obligations. Since 2014, the organization’s marquis event, Polo for a Purpose, has raised over $1.8 million for the benefit of several local organizations, like Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation and Miami Cancer Institute, that provide financial assistance to families impacted by a pediatric cancer diagnosis, fund programs for patients and their families and support child life programs, which provide emotional and psychosocial support during and after treatment. Phillips is a cancer survivor himself.

“A large portion of Polo for Life’s donation will be allocated to Baptist Health Foundation’s COVID19 Emergency Relief Fund to immediately assist patients and their families,” said Miami Cancer Institute CEO Dr. Michael Zinner. “Their gift also will contribute to our state-of-the-art proton therapy program, which shows promise particularly in pediatric cancer patients.”

Most recently, Polo for Life reported it has directly helped five families by writing checks to cover one month of mortgage payments, seven months of rent payments, two car payments and a car insurance payment. But as you know, monthly bills never stop so neither does the organization.

To learn more about the organization or to make a donation, please go to the website at www.poloforlife.com.

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SWEET! Fundraising opportunity offered by bakery

TICO’S FAMILY BAKERY in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania, is now offering an opportunity for intercollegiate and interscholastic teams to raise money for their clubs. The bakery makes Whoopie Pies, an oversized cake-like sandwich filled with fluffy crème. After ordering, customers can select the USPA interscholastic or intercollegiate club of their choice on the checkout page. The selected club will then receive 10 percent of the profit from the sale.

Tico’s Family Bakery was founded by Holly Holleran, the former coach of Skidmore College Polo Club and Virginia Polo, Inc. The whoopie pies are based on recipe’s from Holleran’s grandmother, dating back to the 1930s. Featured in New York Times, the whoopies are available in four packs or by the dozen in flavors including chocolate, peanut butter, pumpkin and red velvet. They are shipped nationwide via FedEx in decorative gift boxes with handwritten gift notes.

Taking advantage of the fundraising opportunity, Work to Ride’s interscholastic program has already raised muchneeded funds this year. The Tico’s 10% program is available year-round. Tico’s ships delicious, gourmet whoopie pies for any special occasion, including care packages at school, birthdays, holidays or as business gifts.

Interested interscholastic and intercollegiate teams can visit Tico’s website, ticoswhoopies.com or contact Holleran at 877-TICO-LUV (842-6588); or by email tico@ticoswhoopies.com for more information on the program.

The global pandemic has been difficult for some of the school programs. Some schools are not allowing club sports or organizations to be active. In these cases, polo programs have come to a screeching halt. Without polo being played, some clubs are not receiving student dues to support their programs and can use any help they can get. If you can, contact the school program of your choice to offer support, whether it is to donate equipment, supplies, feed or best of all, cash.

Some schools have come up with creative ways to fund raise. Tico’s whoopies is another way to help out. So, you can order a sweet treat for yourself or for someone else and help an intercollegiate or interscholastic team at the same time. How sweet is that?

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 19

POLO SCENE

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LET THE GAMES BEGIN Gauntlet kicks off this month

THE GAUNTLET OF POLO action gets started this month with nine teams competing for each of the three legs that make up the Gauntlet of Polo: the C.V. Whitney Cup, the USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open Polo Championship. The event features some of the best players in the world playing some of the best equine athletes in the world.

But first, the 2020 USPA Gold Cup, that was postponed as the semi-finals were set to begin due to COVID-19 last March, will be completed. Winner of last year’s C.V. Whitney Cup, Las Monjitas (Camilo Bautista, Mackenzie Weisz, Francisco Elizalde, Pelon Stirling) was on a roll last season, making it to the semi-finals of the Gold Cup. Unfortunately, last year’s team is unable to compete this year. Instead, Gracida Wine’s Carlitos Gracida, Juan Monteverde, Peco Polledo and Sterling Giannico, winners of last year’s $100,000 World Cup at Grand Champions Polo Club, will take it’s place, facing DRF (Costi Caset, Agustin Obregon, Jared Zenni, Tommy Collingwood). On the other side, La Indiana (Michael Bickford, Jeff Hall, Polito Pieres, Nico Escobar) will face defending champion Pilot (Curtis Pilot, Kristos Magrini, Facundo Pieres, Gonzalo Pieres Jr.).

Last year’s Gold Cup will be played from Feb. 10-14. Once that is finished, teams will focus on this year’s event. The C.V. Whitney Cup will be played from Feb. 17-Mar. 7; the USPA Gold Cup spans Mar. 10-28 and the U.S. Open Championship takes place from Mar. 31-April 18.

New this year, runners-up share in the $1 million prize money. The winners of the first two tournaments take home $100,000, while runners-up win $25,000. The winner of the U.S. Open takes home $200,000, while the runner-up takes home $50,000. Any team that wins all three events will receive a bonus $500,000 and be crowned Gauntlet Champion. USPA Global will make a $5,000 donation to the charity of choice of each finalist in the first two events. A $10,000 donation will be made to the charity of choice of each finalist of the U.S. Open.

The club is limiting spectators to members only, however games will be livestreamed on Global Polo TV. USPA playing members can watch for free. All others can purchase a subscription via globalpolo.com.

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NANO’S POLO MALLETS

POLO SCENE

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SUPER HORSEWOMAN Player recognized with award

KKERRI KERLEY

KKERRI KERLEY

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OLO PLAYER and renowned horse trainer Judith Baker was recently recognized with the Sunny Hale Memorial Horsemanship trophy, a bronze trophy Eldorado Polo Club created to honor Hale, the highest-rated women’s player and a renowned breeder and trainer who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2017.

The trophy recognizes women in polo that display great horsemanship skills, sportsmanship as well as special achievements in the sport.

This year, the club selected Judith Baker based on her multiple achievements this year. Most notably, a horse she trained, Silverada, was selected to be inducted into the USPA Hall of Fame Horses to Remember. Baker has dedicated much of her life to polo and continues to inspire people on and off the field. At 77, she is still an incredibly skillful player, playing high levels of women’s polo and big tournaments. The award was presented to Baker at the club at the end of the 2020 season. Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic, the presentation did not include spectators this season.

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P O L O D E V E L O P M E N T, L L C

Meet the players NYTS Championship Cecil Smith Cup

By Hayley Heatley

Eastern’s Reed Miller, Parker Pearce, Aiden Meeker and Winston Painter won the 2019 Cecil Smith Cup. Meeker and Painter are competing again this year.

The 2020 National Youth Tournament Series Championship was not immune to the cancellations caused by COVID-19. Originally scheduled for Sept.

8-13 at Oak Brook Polo Club in Oak Brook, Illinois, the USPA determined there were too many factors impeding its ability to host a safe and memorable event at that time. The USPA was able to reschedule the event for Jan. 12-15 at the Port Mayaca and International Polo Clubs.

Western Region

Alea Crespo splits her time between Aiken, South Carolina, and Wellington, Florida. Her favorite horse is a chestnut gelding named Petaco. “He is a big teddy bear who will do any trick for a handful of grain. He is an incredible polo pony who enjoys fighting for a good ride off and it’s easy to tell how much he loves the game.” Crespo also enjoys playing softball.

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Sixteen players divided into four teams competed for the USPA Cecil Smith Cup. These players have been recognized for their exceptional talent, leadership, horsemanship, sportsmanship and ability to work as a team. A girls’ championship will not be held this time. Current plans are to hold a 2021 NYTS Championship in Chicago in September.

The teams for the 2020 championship are as follows:

Colby Smith was introduced to polo through his father’s Seattle Polo & Equestrian Club. Learning to ride young horses and working on horsemanship has been a foundational part of Smith’s connection with polo.

His first homebred Thoroughbred, Aspen, is an all-around horse that plays polo and is a great ranch horse. Aside from polo, Smith has a passion for working on cars and is

P O L O D E V E L O P M E N T, L L C

currently rebuilding the suspension of his 1996 F-150.

Riley Jordan grew up on the back of horse in sunny Southern California. Jordan’s first horse Oakley allowed him to get into polo and start to improve as a player. He now has a filly out of her, Muskoka.

Jordan competed in the 2018 and 2019 NYTS National Championship.

Central Region

Niklaus Felhaber calls El Paso, Texas and the Rancho Naranjo Polo Club home. During high school, he played with Prestonwood Polo Club and won the 2019 National Interscholastic Championship with Vance Miller III and his brother, Johann Felhaber. Now a student at Texas A&M, Felhaber continues to play throughout the year.

Texan Lily Lequerica, is known for making a splash on the polo field and at the fairgrounds. She shows her horses at the county fair and saves her earnings for college. Lequerica’s polo role model is Cody Ellis. “Playing against me he still continues to coach me as if I were his teammate. He always has a smile. I’ve seen very few games where he doesn’t impress everyone on and off the field. He is the most hard-working player out there and deserves everything and more in the polo world,” she said.

Prestonwood Polo Club’s Vance Miller is eager for his final NYTS Championship appearance. Miller has had a successful run in the Interscholastic Program and is now playing Intercollegiate Polo at the University of North Texas alongside his brother, Vaughn Jr. Miller played in tournament polo in Houston, Tennessee, Chicago, Wyoming and Minneapolis this past summer while also competing in numerous NYTS Qualifier tournaments.

Grace Parker was introduced to polo through Paige and Barlee Flanders at the Houston Polo Club. Her first adventures with horses were in the show ring, but she quickly fell in love with polo. Her polo role model is Audrey Persano. “She is a great person both on and off the field. She is very tough with a man on the field and always gives it her all.”

Aside from polo, Parker enjoys fishing, golfing and hunting.

Lance Stefanakis carries an athletic gene, playing basketball, ping-pong and polo on his one wheel whenever he is not on a horse. He shares a love of the sport with his father and brother. The Stefanakis family is based out of Houston, Texas where they have a polo ranch just outside of the city. “I have looked up to my older brother, Sloan, my whole life. He is a good polo player.”

Florida

Vero Beach native, Finn Secunda was introduced to polo by his father and grandfather. He describes his favorite horse, Pitstop, as being sweet and friendly but also strong and powerful on the field. This summer, Secunda explored the West with his mother driving to Arches National Park, Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon.

Jack Whitman was first introduced to horses through his mother who participated in the hunter/jumper circuit. He took his first polo lesson at Gardnertown Polo Club and was hooked. Whitman is known for racing around playing foot mallet polo on his one wheel. This summer, he played in Bliss, Michigan. “Being so close to the lakes is incredible and the weather is amazing!” (continued on page 58) POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 23

I N T E R C O L L E G I AT E I N T E R S C H O L A S T I C

In the saddle Subcommittee member dedicates life to horses

By Emily Dewey

Beth challenges I/I player Parker Pearce to the ball at Maryland Polo Club.

I/I subcommittee chair Beth Supik grew up around horses, at times with a focus on polo. She competed in both interscholastic and intercollegiate competitions before starting a career with equine athletes.

A child of a racehorse trainer and a professional show hunter rider and trainer, Beth Supik’s birthday was a practically timed event. Her mother had a planned c-section scheduled for after Dec. 1 to give her an extra year in the junior circuit, so Beth was destined to ride.

“Like a typical horse crazy kid, I didn’t walk anywhere,” Beth laughs. “I galloped.” At two-and-ahalf years old she entered the show ring and began a childhood in the saddle.

PAUL ZAPPALA

Garrison Forest’s coach Kelly Wells, Cara Whelton, Melissa Riggs, Beth and Annie Buck in 1998. It was the only time all girls won the Open National Interscholastic.

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Supik’s childhood best friend, Elizabeth was the daughter of Tom Voss, a hall of fame trainer and one of the founders of the Maryland Polo Club in Monkton, Maryland. Beth and Elizabeth were allowed to ride the polo ponies and stick and ball.

“Young players have so many opportunities in polo now—the Middle School League, NYTS, so many things!” Beth exclaimed. “We were rarely allowed to even play on the main fields of the Maryland Polo Club when I was younger. When I did get a chukker, I was terrified of messing up!

Adult players are much more accepting of youth players than they used to be.”

Her fascination with polo took off when she transferred to Baltimore County’s Garrison Forest School and was able to participate in its nationally recognized polo program.

Beth stayed with the hunters until high school but was ready for something new. Polo took the front seat when she made the varsity team at GFS.

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Beth leads Irv Naylor’s Ebanour out of the winner’s circle after he won the Virginia Gold Cup Timber Stake in 2016.

DOUGLAS LEES

the manager ranks for I/I as well. Her knowledge of the game, horse performance and post-exercise care tips and tricks have served many I/I teams, staff and contractors well, whether at a tournament, during a club consultation or manager training session.

CAROL FENWICK

“I was lucky to have three of the best coaches in my high school career,” she reminisced. “Cindy Halle, Kelly and Trevor Wells were some of the top coaches on the East Coast.”

Two Girls’ and one Open National Championship later, Supik headed across the country to Colorado State University.

Beth was a starting player on the CSU women’s team for two years and captain of the team her sophomore year while enrolled in the equine science program at the university.

“I learned a significant amount while at CSU, both in and out of the arena, and I really loved everything about that experience. However, I chose to return to the East Coast and turn my focus towards other areas of the horse industry,” she said.

Beth secured jobs working for some of the top Olympic event riders, including Philip Dutton, Boyd Martin, and Mara DuPuy. She returned to Maryland and jumped back into a familiar horse world, working for Tom Voss’ steeplechase operation and Ann Stewart’s timber racing outfit.

She has been with Cyril Murphy and Irv Naylor for the last six years.

“I’m so grateful to have grown up in an area steeped in so many horse disciplines and top professionals to learn from—trainers, riders, and caretakers,” she said.

While she has crossed the borders into many disciplines, Beth knows there are things that work for any horse. She believes there are certain fundamentals that serve well: positivity, humility, open-mindedness, attention to details, strong work ethic and selflessness.

“Rhythm and routine are key whether in the saddle or on the ground, but I really try to listen to what the horse is experiencing in the moment and change a routine as needed to maintain its confidence, contentment and comfort,” she explained. “A horse that possesses those three Cs, both physically and mentally, has a much better chance to perform at the optimum. Rhythm is crucial from a personal perspective because I feel I need to be positive and leave negative/nervous emotions away from the horses. In the saddle, rhythm is key in matching their movements whether jumping at speed or swinging the mallet at the ball.”

An invitation to alumni chukkers at the Wells’ Marlan Farm sparked interest in the sport again.

Encouraged by local coaches and umpires, Beth began umpiring and working to attain a rating. To get more reps on tournament weekends, she joined

Beth schools Bruce Fenwick’s Daddy in the Dark in Glyndon, Maryland. She retrained him from Hurdle racing to Timber.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 25

JUDITH S. BUCK

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Beth, age 7, shows Starmaker in an A-rated Small Pony Hunter class in 1987.

Beth kisses Interscholastic Girls’ Regional Best Playing Pony June, owned by Kelly Wells. She is with Jordan Peterson. Beth managed the tournament and helped coach.

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“The standards across the board are higher than what I remember,” Beth remarked. “From horse care and equine welfare, to umpiring and managing. Standards have really changed and the USPA and I/I Program should be proud of it.”

When the I/I Committee was restructured in the spring of 2020, Beth was a top pick to lend her expertise to the Tournament and Regular Season Sub-committee. Leadership roles were another natural step for her as both of her parents had taken roles in the respective associations when she was younger. She jumped right into the fray, helping to organizing two “I/I Ask the Expert” zoom sessions related to horse care with fellow GFS alum and University of Virginia graduate Dr. Molly Muedeking during the summer educational series.

While the I/I fall season was less active than usual, Beth hopes to be on the road at I/I tournaments this spring.

“I’m really so grateful that Cyril and the Naylors continue to support my involvement with the USPA. It can be a real juggling act at times with my responsibilities to both, but it is absolutely worth it!”

Beth identifies in herself that working for top professionals and their big strings of competition

CAROL FENWICK

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Beth trains awardwinning steeplechase champion Black Jack Blues to be a foxhunter and show jumper in Glyndon, Maryland.

Beth with CSU’s Pata Blanca in 2001

Beth ponies friend Elizabeth Voss to the start of a medium pony race in 1989 when both girls were 9 years old.

horses truly make her tick; but that working with young polo players creates a healthy balance in her life.

“I feel I learn so much from the young players.

Their enthusiasm and questions help me keep my own perspective of the horse industry fresh and fun,” she said.

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Worker bee The importance of having a good groom

By C. Maybe Ortiz

Hiring a groom can be almost as important as choosing a bride (or groom). She or he must be knowledgeable, competent, willing, able and, dare we say, obedient. It’s helpful if he’s not encumbered by too many children and animals that would restrict his ability to travel. Also, his/her personal

Linda Martinez epitomizes all the finer qualities of a polo groom. She has been pleasantly assisting her husband Eddy and son Alan throughout their decades as professionals up and down the East Coast.

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attractiveness should be within certain boundaries to avoid unnecessary real or imagined threats to spouses.

Some ridiculously lucky advanced players have received preparation assistance from one or more of their parents for extended periods of time. Recently a powerful 5-goaler had decided it was time to mount up and was heard to cry out pleasantly but firmly, “Mama!” Within seconds a perfectly tacked and wrapped high-goal pony appeared at his side.

Polo used to be a two-person game—one to hit the ball and the other to dress and undress the horse.

Now, it’s not just the pros who want to change steeds in the middle of a chukker. It’s not unusual to see the worker bee groom continuing his duties at the trailer while another human or two holds a mallet and the spare horse as close to the action as possible. Often a relative is conscripted into this position.

Charlie Muldoon, executive director of USPA Umpires, LLC and a former 5-goal player, noted, “To me, grooms are equivalent to the pit crew in Formula One racing. They can make or break you in a game.

Most pros have a lead groom that implements the game plan from the ground and if they (or the support staff) mess up, it can be costly to the player and his/her team.”

“The Importance of Proper Grooming” was inspired by a recent news story. Things were going pretty well for golfer Segundo Oliva Pinto at the U.S. Amateur at Bandon Dunes in Oregon over the week of Aug. 10-16, 2020. Then on the 18th hole in the round of 16, Segundo’s second shot went into a bunker. His caddy “tested the texture” of the sand, according to Jack Baer of sports.yahoo.com. The USGA Rule 12.2, Restrictions on Touching Sand in Bunker, simply states, “YOU MUST NOT [my caps] … with hand, club, or rake.” Segundo lost the match.

The caddy remains unnamed.

The Onetto boys have been slinging saddles since their father was a 6-goal pro in Chicago. Four-goal Marcos (right) has been on a winning streak in Aiken for the past few years but cheerfully lent a hand to older brother Horacio Jr.

Getting back to Muldoon’s thoughts, he emphasized, “One rule that grooms sometimes forget is the helmet rule. All grooms must wear a helmet at all USPA events when mounted. The team will receive a yellow card if a groom is seen without a helmet, which will result in a penalty for the other team. This can be costly in a close game.”

Indeed, the 2020 Blue Book (available online) allows umpires to award a Penalty 2 through 5, or even a 10 (look it up) if a “member of a team organization” is seen without a protective helmet with a chin strap “worn in the appropriate manner.”

Seems fair, considering the groom is often riding the horse with the expressed purpose of getting the buck out.

Another situation punishable by the same choice of penalties falls under Rule 33, Unsportsmanlike Conduct— “inappropriate behavior by any member of a team organization.” Evidently groups of grooms have been known to express their opinions simultaneously concerning the veracity of the current call. Now that many umpires have a working vocabulary in Spanish swear words and phrases, it has become more dangerous to heckle the officials in any language.

Then there’s good old Rule 32— “A player requiring a mallet, a change of mount, or assistance from an outside person during a game shall ride beyond the end-lines or side-boards or side-lines to procure it. No person shall come onto the playing field to assist except when the ball is dead and when permission is granted by the Umpire.” Obviously the

If possible, try to employ a groom with a degree in veterinary science. Josh Escapite is fortunate to have his mother, Dr. Sarah Thompson of Estrella Equine, hold his spares.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 29

Sooner or later you’re going to lose a saddle pad or a wrap, but just like the nail that lost the battle, a missing blanket can result in a nasty fall or an insecure back shot. Her secure seat indicates that this gal may have had some equitation training.

“ball is dead” part is paramount.

The administration of drugs to polo ponies has been given a great deal of thought by the USPA. Reading the section “Equine Drug and Medication Rules” starting on page 189 of the 2020 Rulebook is recommended. The concept is to avoid “mood and/or behavior altering substances” that affect the performance of the horse.

Back before recorded history, my unnamed, wellmeaning, temporary groom/husband decided he would try to take the leap out of my only pony at the Polo Baez met Harry and Charlie, the Caldwell twins, at Bluewater Creek Polo Club before they had driver’s licenses. Charlie jumped at the chance to spend a short summer season with Polo at Bliss Polo Club in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Heading into his junior year playing for the University of South Carolina Aiken, Charlie does his best to assist his mentor at New Bridge games.

Zeferino Gallegos brought years of high-goal training and grooming experience to his position with Dennis Freeland in Florida and Aiken.

30 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

time, a reject from the Valley Forge Military Academy. I was reasonably overbooked, having organized an eight-team women’s tournament at Palm Beach Polo while publishing “The Polo Posts” bi-weekly newspaper. This horse never trotted. I was suspicious during the chukker but livid when I discovered that a bit of relaxant had been administered. This medication now appears on the banned substances list.

Also interesting in this section is the caution against the use of herbal/natural products that appears on page 193. In bold it states: “Specifically, this applies to cannabinoids such as CBD. Currently these products are known to effect mentation and behavior in horses and are thus prohibited.” It seems

It’s a team effort when the Leitner twins take to the field. While both girls tack their own horses, father Larry and Jesus Ontiveros, coach and occasional teammate, pitch in at the trailer.

that drugs can occasionally be used by grooms to substitute for exercise, training and general schooling of horse and player.

Moving on from the quality of a groom’s knowledge of the rules, we can package “competent, willing and able” together. Like balancing speed and temperament when choosing between a Thoroughbred or Appendix prospect, you can’t always get the maximum in each category. Veteran grooms can be superb but often your only choice is to train a local teenager. Hopefully the days of transferring a player’s frustration to his groom are long gone and the instruction process is patient and specific.

And lastly, it seems that “obedient” does apply to the player/groom agreement. Often, if grooms come from another discipline they can be accustomed to different procedures, especially in the area of calorie consumption. It can take some gentle reminders that polo ponies can not run at their maximum potential if they’re as fat as hunter hackers.

Eastern Regional Umpiring Director Dana Fortugno, a lawyer and former 5-goal player, remembers a situation from his youth that is easy to imagine. A well-meaning female groom was organized and competent but soon became controlling and bossy to the point where more than one of the four formidable Fortugnos found themselves not wanting to hang around their own stables. “It was hard to find grooms—very hard,” Dana noted, but a replacement was installed and the barn, “was a happy place again.”

Most players, including Matthew Fonseca who is certain that he lost a game when a gag was applied incorrectly, agree that the hiring process is difficult but crucial.

Fortugno emphasizes, “A good groom can provide a positive atmosphere and encourage the player to spend more time with the horses.”

•

Whenever Juan Carlos Gadea comes up from Argentina to visit his son James, he brings along decades of polo experience. He couldn’t help but lend a hand at a practice at Southeastern Circuit Governor Billy Raab’s Broken Arrow polo field.

One of the original four professional umpires, Raab adds that he has seen a groom’s actions affect the outcome of a game.

At the advanced age of 17, Hope Arellano is still able to hop from one pony to the next even if they’re not shoulder-to-shoulder. Her mother Meghan and friend Horacio Onetto kept Hope on a fresh horse last year in Aiken. Her brothers Agustin and Lucas are always holding a mallet when they’re in town, and father Julio is on the sidelines coaching.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 31

Fab Four La Dolfina takes the prize with resilience

By Lucas Noel Photos by Sergio Llamera

Adolfo Cambiaso escorts one of his 45 goals in the tournament through the posts. He has scored a record 1026 in the tournament during his career,

32 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

La Dolfina overcame all the adversities it faced in the 2020 season and came back to conquer the Argentine Open for the eighth consecutive year.

The season began with its four players facing serious physical problems as it prepared to play the first two competitions of the Triple Crown. Even after the players were healthy, the struggles continued with a lack of rhythm for the most important of the tournaments. All the while, the team looked to the horizon with a farewell poster after 10 years for one of the most successful formations in the history of polo.

La Dolfina started the Argentine Open as it has never done since its creation: full of unknowns. But it finished it as it usually does: as champion.

The year had started with Juan Martín Nero’s collarbone and left wrist fractures; then Pablo Mac Donough and David Stirling suffered muscle tears.

Adolfo Cambiaso was playing with a cracked rib, and then in Palermo he suffered a muscle tear in his right shoulder.

After the team’s complex appearances in the Tortugas and Hurlingham Opens, the team from Cañuelas began to regain its confidence with solid victories against La Irenita (20-11) and La Irenita II (24-9). It was challenged again by RS Murus Sanctus this season and was again defeated (14-13), but cleared up any doubts about its aspirations with a master class of polo in its last match against La Natividad (21-10), confirming a spot in the final.

Ellerstina was the exact opposite. With a superlative 2020, the Tortugas and Hurlingham champion aspired not only to glory in Palermo, but to the Triple Crown. Playing at a very high level against Los Machitos (25-10), Cría Geté (19-7) and La Ensenada-La Aguada (15-4), it unexpectedly hit a speed bump in its group definition against La Dolfina Polo Ranch, requiring extra time to overcome the team. At the most inopportune moment, the quartet from General Rodríguez sowed a small outbreak of uncertainty in the very preview of the most important game of the year.

The beginning of the final was very low scoring, something we are not used to with these two huge teams. Perhaps the wind (with gusts of more than 30 mph) did not offer the most pleasant of components to deploy the best possible polo. The poor condition of the field certainly didn’t help. The many chukkers already played on its surface left it extremely imperfect.

The clash itself was even and emotional, with touches of Cambiaso and Facundo Pieres, both to score and assist their teammates. The first big

La Dolfina: Adolfo Cambiaso 10 (6 goals scored, including three penalties, one safety), David Stirling 10, Pablo Mac Donough 10 (3 penalties), Juan Martín Nero 10 (1). Total: 40.

Ellerstina: Facundo Pieres 10 (6) (received a yellow card in the third chukker), Hilario Ulloa 10 (1), Gonzalo Pieres Jr. 9 (1), Nicolás Pieres 10. Total: 39.

Score by chukker: La Dolfina: 1-2, 3-2, 6-3, 6-5, 6-5, 6-6, 7-8, 10-8.

Umpires: Guillermo Villanueva and Martín Pascual.

Third Man: Gastón Lucero.

Adolfo Cambiaso took MVP, Top Scorer, Best Mounted in the final and tournament awards and two of his clones brought home three Best Playing Pony awards.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 33

Ellerstina’s Nico Pieres tries to stop one of La Dolfina’s Adolfo Cambiaso’s drives.

The road to Palermo Eight teams fill the roster for the Argentine Triple Crown. Those teams play off in the first two legs: the Tortugas and Hurlingham Opens. Meanwhile a Classification Tournament is played with teams divided into two zones. The winner of each zone earns a spot on the roster for the final leg, the Argentine Open. Cría Geté and La Irenita II led their zones, winning tickets to the 127th Argentine Open.

In Zone A, the Laprida brothers’ team (with Valerio Zubiaurre and Joaquin Pittaluga) had some problems in its debut, but managed to recover to get the two victories that ensured the entrance to Palermo.

Against La Cañada (Genero Ringa, Lucas Diaz Alberdi, Victorino Ruiz Jorba, Martin Aguerre), it initially led by up to five goals, but ended up winning by just one. It must be said,

34 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

the team suffered some physical problems among the players. Cristian ‘Magoo’ Laprida, the most important figure, started the game as a substitute due to an ailment, but had to enter at the beginning of the second chukker for Pittaluga, who came out with a small muscle tear.

Its second match against Coronel Suárez (Felipe Vercellino, Marcos Araya, Ignacio Negri, Deigo Araya), was easier, as it won by a comfortable 15-8. Tomas García del Rio, who was playing for Magoo in the first game, replaced the injured Pittaluga in the second. But, there were no doubts about its superiority. Iñaki Laprida capitalized on his opponent’s lack of concentration and the enormous number of fouls committed by Coronel Suárez to convert 10 penalties and seal its return to the main stage.

For its part, in Zone B, La Irenita

added a second team to the most important event of all thanks to the fantastic campaign of Santiago Loza, Tomás Fernández Llorente, Tito Ruiz Guiñazú and Pedro Falabella.

In its debut, it defeated La Esquina (Pascual Sáinz de Vicuña, Juan A. Garcia Grossi, Lucas James, Bautista Bayugar), 13-11, and later imposed its youth against Alegría’s (Gringo Colombres, Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, Sebastián Merlos, Frederick Mannix) experience. Merlos and Mannix did not have their best contest and the team fell twice.

In its opening match, the teams were level after the first chukker but La Irenita II managed to take control.

In the next match, Alegría needed to win by three goals, which it had in the first chukker, 4-1, but La Irenita II took the lead in the third and held on to it for a 14-12 win to qualify.

La Dolfina’s Adolfo Cambiaso, Pelon Stirling, Pablo Mac Donough and Juan Martin Nero celebrate their ninth and last Argentine Open win together as a team.

difference was for La Dolfina, that doubled up Ellerstina, 6-3, in the third chukker. However, the team seemed to run out of gas, going three straight chukkers without any goals for the first time in a Palermo final. Ellerstina seized the opportunity, bringing the game to a draw, 6-6.

Ellerstina managed to take a first-time lead in the seventh chukker, 8-7, helping its confidence. But, the key moment came with 5:35 left in the last period.

Nero was the protagonist. He fully recovered in the nick of time, allowing him to appear in Palmero, on the corner of Libertador and Dorrego Avenues. He gave it his all at just the right moment.

Born in Trenque Lauquen, Nero put together his initiative with time, patience and wisdom, and leveled the action at 8all. La Dolfina calmed down and continued the work Nero started.

Cambiaso let go and scored two more goals in the decisive chukker to decide the match, 10-8.

The numbers for this formation that disbanded after this campaign will have a preponderant role in the books of sports statistics. Since the four started

La Dolfina Saudi: .....................40

Los Machitos: .......................... 31

Adolfo Cambiaso ....................................10 Pelon Stirling ........................................10 Pablo Mac Donough ...............................10 Juan Martin Nero....................................10

Agustin Merlos .........................................8 Ignacio Toccalino .....................................8 Mariano Aguerre.......................................7 Santiago Toccalino ....................................8

Ellerstina Johor: .................... 39

Cría Geté: ................................. 31

Facundo Pieres .......................................10 Hilario Ulloa .........................................10 Gonzalo Pieres Jr. ....................................9 Nico Pieres .............................................10

La Natividad Las Monjitas ...... 36 Camilo Castagnola ..................................8 Polito Pieres ...........................................10 Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. .........................9 Ignatius Du Plessis ...................................9

Valerio Zubiaurre......................................8 Cristian Laprida Jr. ...................................8 Tomás Garcia del Rio ...............................7 Ignacio Laprida .........................................8

La Irenita: ............................... 30 Martin Podestá Jr. .....................................7 Facundo Fernández llorente .....................7 Juan Martín Zavaleta ...............................8 Juan Martín Zubía ....................................8

La Ensenada-La Aguada: ........ 29 RS Murus Sanctus: ................. 35 Facundo Sola ...........................................9 Francisco Elizalde ....................................8 Sapo Caset .............................................10 Alfredo Cappella Barabucci .....................8

Segundo Bocchino ....................................6 Alfredo Bigatti ...........................................8 Matías Torres Zavaleta .............................8 Jerónimo Del Carril ..................................7

La Irenita II: ........................... 29 La Dolfina Polo Ranch: .......... 33 Guillermo Terrera ....................................8 Juan Britos ...............................................8 Deigo Cavanagh.........................................9 Alejo Taranco ............................................8

Santiago Loza ............................................7 Tomás Fernández Llorente .......................7 Juan Ruiz Guiñazú ..................................8 Pedro Falabella..........................................7

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 35

Ellerstina’s Gonzalo Pieres puts on the brakes to try to intercept La Dolfina’s Pablo Mac Donough’s back shot.

playing together in 2011, they have played all the Argentine Open finals, losing just one (2012) and winning the Triple Crown three times in a row (2013, 2014 and 2015).

La Dolfina, created by Cambiaso in 2000, won its 36 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

14th title in Palermo as a team and reached 20 of 21 finals. It only missed out on the final in 2004. For the 45-year-old Argentine star, it was his 17th Open title in 24 finals. He has competed in the tournament 28 times since 1992 (he didn’t play in

Awards Gonzalo Heguy MVP Award: Adolfo Cambiaso Javier Novillo Astrada Top Scorer: Adolfo Cambiaso (45 goals) Rubén Sola Young Player Award: Jerónimo del Carril Fomento Equino Cup Best Mounted Player in the Final: Adolfo Cambiaso Gonzalo Tanoira Award Best Mounted Player of the Tournament: Adolfo Cambiaso Fair Play Award: David Stirling Lady Susan Townley Best Playing Pony: Adolfo Cambiaso’s Dolfina B09 (Cuartetera clone) Polo Argentino Best Playing Pony: Adolfo Cambiaso’s Dolfina B06 (Cuartetera clone) Sociedad Rural Argentina Best Playing Pony: Adolfo Cambiaso’s Dolfina B06 (Cuartetera clone)

1993). This win allowed him to join the podium of the most winners: he shares third place with Alberto Pedro Heguy. Higher up, with 19, is Horacio Antonio Heguy, and with 20, Juan Carlos Harriott Jr., all players of the mythical Coronel Suárez team.

As for his teammates, Mac Donough and Nero added their 11th celebration at The Cathedral while the Uruguayan Stirling celebrated for the 9th time, increasingly establishing himself as the most successful foreigner in the competition.

“It was an award that we deserved. It was a difficult, terrible year for La Dolfina. We all broke down. I was the only one who participated in all the games. Juanma (Nero) had a terrible year. In September, the outlook was not easy. But luckily, it ended up being a year to celebrate, to enjoy,” Cambiaso explained while he waited to get on the podium. He added about the final match, “The pitch did not help either [for] both, and the team that played a little better in the last chukker and scored the goals when it had to be scored ended up winning. Ellerstina had a great season, but we were able to play Palermo with the four starters and that gave us the chance to win.”

On the opposite side, Facundo Pieres oscillated between several states: frustrated, satisfied, angry and auspicious. “On the one hand, I am still angry for losing a game that could have been won and on the other hand, you realize that it was a good year.

We had few weak games and we lost only one in the whole season, which we could have easily won … It is a double feeling of satisfaction because the team is well, and that leaves me very calm for the future, and also of annoyance because the biggest goal was Palermo and it just escaped us there.”

Where the Ellerstina striker certainly isn’t happy

at all is with the umpiring. “Cambiaso was sent off in the Hurlingham semifinal for saying things to the referees. He was not punished with the same rigor in the final in Palermo. Things that were said at Hurlingham were more out of tune and with harsher comments, which should have been punished much more severely,” he said. “All of us who watched the game on television saw and heard everything that happened. It was very clear. Things happened that came to nothing and in the end the referees ended up favoring the person who had been complaining the most at the beginning of the season. That bothers me. It’s a bad sign for polo.

“I don’t think it is a problem of the players, but of the referees, of the person who manages the referees, of the Disciplinary Commission and of the polo association. I know that the comment can generate controversy and it is directed to Adolfito, but it is what I saw and it is what I think. I think the association has to make a self-criticism. As a polo player, I am very angry ... In the final, the referees were more influential than they should have been. Their calls did not seem at all impartial to me. From my point of view, they tipped the pitch. There were fouls that were charged for one team and not for the other.”

Beyond controversies and complaints, in the most atypical year of all—a pandemic, injuries, not seeing the Fab Four play together until Palermo, and in their last and 10th season—Cambiaso, Stirling, Mac Donough and Nero once again increased their legend and won their ninth title on the main stage, their eighth in a row. In the final analysis of the magnitude of this quartet there is clearly no possible discussion or physical problem that minimizes one of the most momentous achievements in polo history.

• POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 37

Snow Play WPL glistens in polo championships Photos by Nick Tininenko

The prestigious World Snow Polo Championship trophy

38 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

The Aspen World Snow Polo Championship, sponsored by NetJets and hosted by Aspen Valley Polo Club, was held in Aspen, Colorado, Dec. 18-20.

It is the only snow polo event played in the U.S., and due to the pandemic, is the only snow polo event in the world to be played this winter.

The event traditionally attracts a packed audience of polo fans and celebrities, however it was closed to spectators this year as the club strictly adheres to all local and CDC guidelines. Players were tested prior to the event and wore masks and social distanced when not on the playing field. The event was livestreamed so spectators wouldn’t miss the action.

In what was perhaps the most exciting final in the history of the Aspen World Snow Polo Championship, World Polo League (Riley Ganzi, Hilario Figueras, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) edged out Royal Salute (Sarah Siegel-Magness, Jason Crowder, Jesse Bray) in an overtime shoot-out. It was the first time both teams were captained by women.

Crowder blasted out of the first throw-in to score for Royal Salute. Novillo Astrada responded a few minutes later and a Penalty 1 for WPL gave the team a 2-1 lead. Crowder knotted the score, ending the first, 2-2.

Magness and Ganzi traded goals to keep it level. A goal and a Penalty 1 gave Royal Salute the 5-3 advantage but a goal by Figueras and a Penalty 2 conversion from Ganzi tied the score, 5-5. Crowder broke the tie, putting Royal Salute narrowly on top, 6-5, at the halftime break.

Crowder continued to pressure WPL in the second half, increasing the difference to 7-5. But a Penalty 1 for WPL and a goal by Figueras evened the score at 7-all. Ganzi connected on a pass from Hilario to break the tie, but Bray knotted it once again.

A defensive battle in the final chukker kept the

Jesse Bray stops Riley Ganzi from scoring.

Far left: MVP Alejandro Novillo Astrada finesses the ball along the groomed snow field.

Left: A mounted rider holds the flag during the National Anthem.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 39

Vinny Sangaline puts the pressure on Nic Roldan.

Traditionally attended by fans and celebrities, this year fans had to watch the action via livestream.

teams off the score board until the two-minute mark when Bray hit the target. A desperate attempt by Novillo Astrada in the last minute tied the match to force a shootout.

Each player took a turn from the penalty line.

Each of the WPL players connected with the goal, while Siegel-Magness was the only Royal Salute player to score, handing WPL the win.

Alejandro Novillo Astrada was MVP, while Sarah Siegel-Magness won Best Shot of the Day. The tournament served as a benefit for the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation, raising $15,000 through an auction. Items included fantastic Gucci items generously donated by the company. Marc and Melissa Ganzi also donated $15,000 to the Calaway Young Cancer Center.

The consolation Aspen Cup for third place went to Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Toro Ruiz) after an 8-6 victory over St. Regis (Tom Barrack, Sugar Erskine, Nacho Figueras). Casablanca took a 4-0 lead in the first chukker with tallies from each of its players. NetJets’

40 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Hilario Figueras gets tested before the games.

Brand Ambassador and St. Regis connoiseur Figueras fought back with two goals, ending the half, 4-2.

Ruiz traded goals with Figueras and Eskine in the third to maintain a two-goal advantage, 6-4. Figueras made up the difference but his goals were matched

by Ruiz and Ganzi, giving Casablanca the win.

The event kicked off on Dec. 17 with a team draw at the St. Regis Aspen Resort. Preliminary games were played on Friday, while teams played off for The High Alpine Cup, followed by a Celebrity Polo Chukker,

on Saturday. The final was played on Sunday.

In the High Alpine Cup, Richard Mille (Alex Potamkin, Juan Bollini, Nic Roldan) doubled up White Claw (Vinny Sangaline, Pablo Spinacci, Horacio Heguy), 6-3, for the title. White Claw narrowly led, 2-1, after the first half. Potamkin tied the score and Roldan struck to give the team the lead, 3-2. Bollini traded barbs with Spinacci to keep it within a goal. But Roldan and Potamkin

gave White Claw the one-two punch to take the win.

In the Celebrity Chukker, Aspen Valley (actor Sterling Jones, actress Saye Yabandeh, Horacio Heguy) edged ChukkerTV (Gussie Busch, Juan Bollini, Jacob Busch), 3-1. Jones struck first after walking the ball along the wall like a pro. Jacob Busch tied the score but it was short-lived as Yabandeh hit the mark to take the lead. Jones finished it off with his second goal for the win. •

Top Left: Ponies are bundled up; Top right: Jesse Bray piloted the Best Playing Pony; Left:Both Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation and Calaway Young Cancer Center took home $15,000; Above: Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Riley Ganzi and Hilario Figueras

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 41

In the frame Photos allow player to combine passions Words and photos by Alice Gipps

Alice Gipps has spent her life riding and working with horses, whether breeding, training, playing, drawing, writing about or photographing them. Her knowledge of horses and polo has helped her become a talented photography, allowing her to combine her artistic side with her love of horses and polo. She holds a 3-goal women’s rating, a 0goal mixed rating and a 1-goal arena rating. She shares her story here: Growing up on a farm in Wales, my love for horses and photography started at an early age, riding a naughty Shetland pony and borrowing my father’s Canon camera to photograph wildlife and the farm animals. Although I went on to study Equine Science at university, weekends and summer holidays were spent drawing horse portrait commissions, producing freelance articles and polo photographs while learning more about everything to do with polo by helping at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club in exchange for lessons.

My first commission was to cover the ‘Pony Power’ photographs and interviews for the UK publication “Polo Times” and it snowballed from there nearly 20 years ago. What started out as a hobby turned into a career, with images subsequently sourced for cover shots, published in international polo magazines, books, websites and national newspapers along with invitations to cover Royal polo events.

Knowledge gained from the Equine Science degree, and awareness of the game from playing polo has given me a deep understanding of both subject and sport, both valuable assets that have contributed towards my career as a polo photographer.

For many years, I spent time perfecting my skills shooting polo action, which is always an exciting challenge to capture the most dramatic moments 42 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Alice Gipps with Havana

that portray the energy and atmosphere of the sport. The image of Bautista Heguy and Adolfo Cambiaso with the mallets entwined touching the ball at exactly the same moment is an unusual image, especially of two of the most famous polo players in history at that time.

There is a large element of luck that such action happens in front of you, however, having the ability to predict the game helps hugely to capture them and achieve a shot with impact when it does come your way. Good equipment is also important. Most recently, I’ve been using the new Canon R5, which is incredible for portraits and action. The 100-

400mm lens is very versatile and easy to travel with.

I adore action photography and it is still a big part of my work. Although it requires artistic energy to portray the beauty and power of the game, it was not until later in my photography career that I sought an even deeper connection with my artistic routes and started creating fine art photographs. The intent was to produce equine images full of visual pleasure to become wall art for everyone to enjoy.

My own ponies were an early influence. The image of Nicotina, the polo pony mare with a rawhide halter, was my first picture to be sold as a

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 43

A photo of Alice’s horse Nicotina was the first image to be sold as a fine art print. It is displayed at the Orange County Polo Club in California.

Alice captured the most famous players at that time, Bautista Heguy and Adolfo Cambiaso, touching the ball at the same time.

44 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

This photo, taken at a traditional Argentine gaucho festival, is often mistaken for a painting.

fine art print in 2005. It has since been featured in top London galleries, Ralph Lauren Home and is the center piece in the Orange County Polo Club in Silverada, California.

Nicotina helped me win the Cowdray British Ladies Open in 2007, quite a feat against Clare Milford-Haven’s mighty Audi team with Nina Clarkin the first time, and then we won it with them in 2010. Nicotina retired from polo to breeding due to an injury and produced three lovely foals, which I’ve since trained and now form part of my own home-bred string. So, the image is not only one of my favorite pieces, it holds many personal memories.

My most famous piece to date is “Tropillas.” Often mistaken for a painting, this image was taken at a traditional Argentine gaucho festival. The array of so many different colored Criollo ponies, all galloping through the dust during the competition, creates an arty composition that captivates the viewer. It is not easy to capture the wow factor in an image, but when you do get a special image, it is a way of sharing the passion that drives you as a photographer with everyone. These festivals are full of wonderful authentic scenes that have led to several of my most prominent images. It was an honor when the Singapore Polo Club presented the Tropillas picture as a gift to HRH Prince Harry in 2017.

It is also another image that holds many personal

memories as I am very fond of Argentina, returning almost every year since 2003 to photograph the Argentine Open. Palermo has an unforgettable electric atmosphere, and Cambiaso on home turf with the crowd going wild, is something else.

Photography allows me to express my artistic side, combining all my passions. I am always on the lookout for beautiful scenes that capture movement, character or feeling that will evoke emotion. Polo images are often very personal to the players, whereas fine art images allow a far wider audience to share my love of horses.

Covid 19 has disrupted life significantly in 2020.

I was involved with the prestigious Gallery 8 exhibitions in London, held by the Country House and Stables, at the start and the end of the year alongside well known equine artists, sculptors and the famous equine photographer Tim Flach.

Throughout a large part of the year galleries were unable to open, however I felt a need to adapt to the situation so I set about creating a new website, solely for my fine art images. They are displayed in online galleries and I am also able to show my work in ‘virtual exhibitions’ where the pictures are available smartly framed or mounted as well as options of more sleek, modern looking HD Acrylics and Astral (aluminum) pieces.

For more information, please go to the website: www.alicegippsgallery.com.

• POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 45

P O L O I N T H E PA M PA S

His own path Poroto earns a spot in next Triple Crown

By Lucas Noel • Photos by Sergio Llamera

Brazilian Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade outpaces Manuel Elizalde in the final of the Cámara de Diputados Cup.

Early in the season, everything suggested ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso would have a place next season as a starter of La Dolfina along with his father Adolfo. That was until he won the Cámara de Diputados Cup with La Dolfina Brava, surpassing the play-off and earning the team a coveted spot in this year’s Triple Crown.

At age 14, Poroto became the youngest player in history to participate in the Triple Crown. The possibility was given to him by his father when he was chosen to substitute for the injured Juan Martín Nero on La Dolfina. The decision aroused controversy in the Argentine polo world when the association suddenly raised his handicap by two goals, enabling him to play. Eduardo Novillo Astrada, president of the association, admitted the decision included not just sporting considerations but marketing as well.

What is certain is once the season began, Poroto took charge of burying any discussion about his rating

46 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

with a daring and quality rarely seen for a polo player of his age. Now, 15 years old, the son of the best player in the world managed to lift the Cámara de Diputados Cup with his team La Dolfina Brava and obtained the qualification for the Tortugas, Hurlingham and Palermo Opens, thanks to a resounding victory in the playoff.

At the association’s Alfredo Lalor Complex in Pilar, LD Brava won its group undefeated in the Cámara de Diputados Cup. It debuted, beating Chapa Uno Thai Polo (Juan Zubiaurre, Bautista Ortiz de Urbina, Julián de Lusarreta, Alfonso Pieres), 15-12, then defeated El Overo UAE (Lucas Monteverde, Tomás Panelo, Guillermo Willington, Jacinto Crotto), 12-8, and La Cañada (Genaro Ringa, Lucas Diaz Alberdi, Victorino Ruiz Jorba, Martin Aguerre), 13-6. In the semifinals it turned an incredible match and won with two fantastic goals from Poroto: the tying goal at 6:22

P O L O I N T H E PA M PA S

of the last chukker and the golden goal just eight seconds into the overtime to overcome Trenque Lauquen (Alejandro Muzzio, Juan Jauretche, Santiago Laborde, Jaime Garcia Huidobro), 12-11.

In the final match it suffered much less. The clash against Chapa II (Alberto Heguy, Manuel Elizalde, Peke González, Tomas Beresford) was extremely favorable for the Cañuelas quartet. Isidro Strada showed a strong solidity in the back of the pitch and the Brazilian duo Pedro Zacharías and Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade dominated every action. Poroto had a crushing afternoon and scored half of his team’s goals for the 16-7 win.

The two lowest ranked of the 10 Argentine Open teams are eliminated (La Irenita and La Irenita II).

The winner of the Cámara then challenges the eighthranked team in a playoff for the final spot in next year’s Triple Crown. LD Brava ousted Cría Geté (Joaquin Pittaluga, Cristian Laprida, Tomás Garcia del Rio, Ignacio Laprida), 13-8. With Tomas Garcia del Rio (7) replacing Valerio Zubiaurre (8), Cría Geté still showed three more handicap goals than Brava (31 vs.

28). The key to the match was in the third chukker when the formation led by Cristian ‘Magoo’ Laprida gave up a four-point lead that it could never overcome.

Eliminated teams can try to rejoin through the qualifier tournament.

The triumph of the now third La Dolfina team in the Argentine Open lineup astonished most people by the ease with which it was achieved. It surpassed its opponent by five goals, knocking it out of the next Triple Crown, and for the first time since this promotion match has been played, the victory corresponded to the team that came from the Cámara.

“It is awesome. I want to play the Open with this team. We are friends and we get along very well. The game against Cría Geté was complicated, they had a great performance. It is a team that managed to reach the semifinals in Palermo. We knew that we had to play focused, and luckily we even reached the last chukker with a good difference and were able to maintain it,” explained Poroto. His father celebrated as much or more than the day before when he defeated Ellerstina in the final of the Argentine Open.

The journey of father and son is superlatively similar. In 1994, Adolfo set a record when he amounted to 10 goals at 19 years and 8 months. After the modification of handicaps at the end of this season, Poroto established an almost equally impressive mark: 8 goals at the age of 15. It can be an even greater achievement if you consider that shortly

Poroto Cambiaso, 15, scored half of his team’s goals in the 16-7 Cámara de Diputados Cup victory over Indios Chapaleufú II.

Continued on page 59 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 47

POLO REPORT DISPATCHES FROM THE WORLD OF POLO SOUTHWEST

DAVID MURRELL

COAST GUARD WINS TEDDY ROOSEVELT

David Crea holds steady while under pressure from Phillip Kampshoff. Chris Ballard and Minerva Lemesoff follow behind in the final of the Teddy Roosevelt tournament at Two Wishes Ranch.

T

HE CENTRAL TEXAS Polo Association hosted the USPA Teddy Roosevelt tournament Nov. 21-22 at its Two Wishes Ranch in Lockhart, Texas. The tournament, played annually since 2013, is the oldest named USPA military tournament. Initially played in the arena, it transitioned to outdoors about five years ago when it was played at the Houston Polo Club. The timing of the event in mid-November generally draws about six teams and this time was no exception.

48 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

USPA military tournaments require one player on each team to have a tie to the military. Due to the on-going pandemic, the tournament qualified for the USPA incentive program, which provides a professional umpire, prize money and trophy reimbursement.

This year, the teams represented the Navy, Marine Corps, two Army teams, Air Force and Coast Guard.

Players came from Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Houston areas to

participate.

The first round was played as two round robins. Coast Guard (Minerva Lemesoff, David Crea, Tom Crea, Jack Crea) edged Navy (Joss Leufrancois, Mike Lancaster, Nadir Khan, Zoe Lehmer), 3-2½, in round one of the first game. Marine Corps (Kitana StCyr, Ariel Mancebo, Lance Stefanakis, Carlos Ramirez) doubled up Navy, 31½, before falling to Coast Guard, 4-1.

In the next game, Air Force (Ismael Vazquez, Jessica Mignone, Javier

Coast Guard’s Tom Crea, David Crea, Minerva Lemesoff and Jack Crea won the Teddy Roosevelt. With them, center, is Karl Hilberg.

Insua, Ariel Rodriguez) topped Army Black (Jose Velez, Carter Heltzen, Wyatt Myr, Dave Barrons), 2½-2. Army Tan (Chris Ballard, Sylvia Kampshoff, Gal Shweiki, Philipp Kampshoff) also edged Army Black by a half goal, 3½3, and Air Force, 1½-1.

Army Tan and Coast Guard, both that went undefeated, would meet in the final. But first, two consolation matches were played in a continuous format. The first consolation was played as chukkers 1, 3, 5 and 7, while DAVID MURRELL

R E P O R T

DAVID MURRELL

DAVID MURRELL

P O L O

Navy Red’s Javier Insua, Zoe Lehmer and Jose Velez receive their Nimitz trophies from Karl Hilberg.

the second consolation played chukkers 2, 4, 6 and 8. The action heated up with Marine Corps scoring three goals in the first half and five the second to defeat Air Force, 8-5½.

In the other consolation, Army Black dominated Navy, 6-1½.

In the championship match, Army Tan got off to a great start with Philipp Kampshoff converting a Penalty 2 before his wife, Sylvia Kampshoff took the ball the length of the field to score. Tom Crea put Coast Guard on

the board with a Penalty 3 at the end of the chukker. The three Crea brothers combined for four goals in the next two chukkers while holding Army Tan scoreless. The husband and wife Kampshoffs finished off the game with a pair of goals to close the gap, but Tom Crea’s field goal ensured Coast Guard the win, 6-4½.

Tom Crea was named MVP; David Crea took home the Sportsmanship Award; and Sylvia Kampshoff’s Pandemia was Best Playing Pony.

Navy Red’s Zoe Lehmer leads the pack in the rain during the Chester Nimitz Cup final.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 49

R E P O R T

DAVID MURRELL

P O L O

Karl Hilberg congratulates Navy’s MVP Ariel Mancebo, Lance Stefanakis, Kitana St-Cyr, Zoe Lehmer and Ekaterina Kotova.

DAVID MURRELL

Action continued on Dec. 5 when the CTPA and Texas Military Polo Club held the USPA Adm. Chester W. Nimitz tournament in remembrance of Pearl Harbor.

The memorial match was played in the arena on a rainy day. Navy Red (Jose Velez, Zoe Lehmer, Javier Insua) began with a one-goal handicap and blew out Navy Blue (Dani Gibson, Tres De La Paz, Nadir Khan), 4-1, in the first seven minutes to lead, 5-1. Blue, led by Khan, turned the tables in the second, outscoring Red, 4-1, leaving

50 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Jack Crea’s Rubia was Best Playing Pony in the Gen. George S. Patton Jr tournament final at Two Wishes Ranch.

just the handicap separating the two teams, 6-5. The tempo slowed down in the third as the teams focused on defense, allowing each team only a goal each to maintain the difference.

Khan tied the match in the final chukker, but Insua shot back with a two-pointer, then added another for good measure to end the game with Navy Red on top, 10-7.

Back on the Two Wishes field, the USPA Gen. Patton tournament was played Dec. 12-13, also in remembrance of Pearl Harbor and all our

Navy’s Lance Stefanakis keeps the ball from Coast Guard’s Tres De La Paz in the final of the Patton Cup.

sailors, soldiers, marines and airmen, past and present. Established in 2017, the tournament is named after Gen. George S. Patton Jr. Four teams competed in the event.

Navy (Kitana St.-Cyr/Ekaterina Kotova, Zoe Lehmer, Lance Stefanakis, Ariel Mancebo) got off to a strong start against JD Polo (Jose Velez, Mike Lancaster, Javier Insua, Taimur Zeb) in the first match. Stefanakis converted a penalty then scored from the field and Lehmer followed with a goal while JD was silent. Insua’s Penalty 2 put JD on the board in the second.

Navy kept up the pressure in the second half. Stefanakis shot in back-to-back goals and Mancebo added a goal of his own. Trailing 8-1, JD Polo rallied in the final seven minutes with Insua slamming in three goals while holding Navy to one. While it was a good effort, it wasn’t enough and Navy advanced to the final with the 9-4 win.

In the second match, Marine Corps (Ismael Vazques, Pat Macleod, Ariel Rodriguez, Nadir Khan) took on Coast Guard (Chris Ballard,

P O L O

Granite Bay’s Carlos Galindo Sr., Cameron Smith, Jonathan Garnica and Eric Hammon won the 4-goal Holiday Cup at Empire Polo Club.

Tres De La Paz, Gal Shweiki, Jack Crea). Marine Corps came out of the foxhole first with Vazquez and Rodriguez splitting the uprights in the first chukker. Coast Guard shot back in the second with Shweiki and Crea scoring two each. Marines had a good chukker too, with Rodriguez and Macleod adding goals to tie the score, 4-4, at the half.

Shweiki scored two more in the third added to a goal from De La Paz to give Marine Corps the lead.

Rodriguez tallied to keep the game close, 7-5. The teams battled in the final chukker with neither able to reach the goal until Crea converted a penalty to end the match with Coast Guard advancing, 8-5.

JD Polo and Marine Corps met in the consolation, with Marine Corps beginning with a handicap goal.

Khan, Rodriguez and Vazquez--with a beautiful neck shot--added to it. The teams traded goals in the second. JD Polo once again rallied in the second half after trailing, 5-1. Insua slammed in three goals while Marine Corps was held to a single goal from Vasquez, his second impressive neck shot of the match. Having closed the gap to two, 6-4, JD Polo tried to hold the momentum but was unable to break through the Marine Corps’ defense. Meanwhile, the JD Polo defense also held steady. Marine

R E P O R T

Scottsdale’s Rhyo Rainsford, Cacho Galindo, Martin Vidal and Colby Smith won the 1-goal Holiday Cup at Empire Polo.

Corps held on for the victory.

In the final, Navy began with a handicap goal but would it be enough to overcome the favored Coast Guard team? Crea said his concern was how Mancebo would implement Lehmer into Navy’s strategy. Crea’s words turned out to be prophetic as Mancebo and Stefanakis sent passes to Lehmer for the first two goals. Crea put Coast Guard on the board with a Penalty 3.

The second chukker offered the best polo this year with both sides playing great team polo. Stefanakis tallied twice and Kotova added another while Coast Guard kept it close with two goals in reply. Mancebo’s lone goal in the third padded Navy’s lead, 7-3. Stefanakis and Crea traded goals in the final chukker, allowing Navy to hold on to its four-goal lead until the game’s end, 8-4.

Zoe Lehmer was named MVP; Ariel Mancebo was the Sportsmanship Award winner; and Jack Crea’s Rubia was Best Playing Pony.

PAC I F I C C OA S T

GRANITE BAY SHINES IN 4-GOAL HOLIDAY CUP Granite Bay ended the year with a win in the 4-goal Holiday Cup at Empire Polo Club in Indio, Califor-

nia, Dec. 27.

Three teams played off in a roundrobin over two days, with scores carrying over from one day to the next. Granite Bay (Eric Hammon, Jonathan Garnica, Cameron Smith, Carlos Galindo) faced Hyt/Luna Polo (Hannah Taylor, Jennifer Alexy, Diego Larregli, Ernie Ezcurra) in the first round, with Granite Bay leading, 3-1. Ezcurra started the scoring on day 2, trading goals with Galindo. Ezcurra added two more in the second to Galindo’s one but it wasn’t enough and Granite Bay narrowly won, 6-5.

Hyt/Luna Polo faced Mother Chukkers (Sukey Forbes, Nick Fernandez, Alejandro Gonzales, Nicolas Maciel) in round two. This time Hyt/Luna Polo led, 4-1, after the first day. Neither team scored in the first chukker on day two and the teams negated each other in the second when Larregli swapped goals with Gonzales, ending with Hyt/Luna Polo holding onto a 5-2 advantage.

Granite Bay carried a 4-1 lead into the second day against Mother Chukkers. Granite Bay was shut out on day two, but Mother Chukkers was unable to dig out of the hole it was in, falling 4-2, while Granite Bay held on to take the title.

In the final of the 1-goal Holiday Cup played the same day, Scottsdale (Rhyo Rainsford, Colby Smith, Cacho

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 51

P O L O

R E P O R T

California Polo Club’s Chuck Stanislawski, Robert Hong, Tom Schuerman and Domingo Questel won the January 1-goal at Empire Polo.

Calindo, Martin Vidal) took on Sutter Buttes (Bonnie Magill, Reanne Magill, Paul Sethi, Toto Socas). Reanne Magill struck first but Galindo shot back with one of his own. Socas split the uprights in the second, but Galindo again had the answer. Sethi found the mark in the third, but Galindo tightened the screws, scoring three in a row to take a 5-3 lead.

Socas cut the deficit to one early in the fourth, but Smith responded. Reanne Magill sandwiched goals around one from Smith, bringing the team within one, 7-6, but time ran out and Scottsdale had the win.

The season kicked off with the 4goal Jackalope Cup final on Dec. 20. It was a close battle between Sotheby’s (Jessica Dubin, Colby Smith, Ian Schnoebelen, Jim Wright) and Pasadena Polo (Jonathan Garnica, Ernie Darquea, Cameron Smith, Tom Schuerman). Garnica put the first goal on the board but a Penalty 3 in favor of Sotheby’s allowed Wright to level the score.

Wright added a field goal to end the chukker with Sotheby’s ahead, 2-1. Garnica scored again, but Wright converted a pair of Penalty 2s, then added a field goal to increase the lead to 5-2 going into the final seven minutes. Pasadena rallied in the fourth with Smith and Garnica cutting the difference to one but the team ran out of time and Sotheby’s took the win, 5-4.

52 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Sebastian Koga’s Mississippi was Best Playing Pony in the USPA Players Cup at New Orleans Polo Club.

SOUTHEAST

FOLSOM PRISON LOCKS UP USPA PLAYERS CUP The New Orleans Polo Club in Folsom, Louisiana, finished out an active tournament season despite the global pandemic. It held five USPA events beginning with the Players Cup. Four teams competed in the event for the $2,500 prize thanks to the USPA’s Covid Stimulus Relief Program.

Folsom Prison (Kasey Reeves, Lori

Summers, Dave Thomas, Guillermo Usandizaga) defeated Carpathia (Buddy Terral, Reese Straughan, Sebastian Koga, Valentino Echezarreta) for the title. Guillermo Usandizaga and Dave Thomas were co-MVPs and Sebastian Koga’s Mississippi was Best Playing Pony.

Later in the season, SO Bob Polo (Kim McGrath, Reese Straughan, Marcos Alberdi, Bob Edmundson) overcame Carpathia (Buddy Terral, Eden Gonzalez, Sebastian Koga, Valentino Echezarreta) on a technicality.

Carpathia was determined to be ineligible due to a rule’s violation. Marcos The USPA Players Cup was played under a rainbow, serving as a prelude to an afternoon storm.

P O L O

New Orleans Green’s Kayla Nussbaumer with the Champagne Chukkers Championship trophy after winning it.

Alberdi was named MVP and Valentino Echezarreta’s Tramposa was Best Playing Pony.

In the Mardi Gras Cup, Rough Riders/Garrett Estancia (Granville Semmes III, Mohamed Elkersh, Sebastian Bonorino, Inaki Echezarreta) defeated Top Gun Polo in a close match. Inaki Echezarreta was MVP and Lori Summers’ Melania was Best Playing Pony.

Granville Semmes III won playing in his first ever polo tournament.

The Governors Cup, originally scheduled for the spring, was played the first weekend of November with four teams competing. The Mercedes Benz Club of Mississippi arrived with a fine display of both vintage and modern automobiles and the Junior League of Greater Covington held its Fall Social during the matches. The final saw Mercedes Benz defeat Carpathia. Elio Yanes was MVP and Suzy Beck’s Petite was Best Playing Pony.

Three teams traveled from Point Clear Polo Club to join three home teams in the Congressional Cup, Nov. 14-15. In the final, Lori Summers’ Faux Pas Polo defeated Rough Riders by a goal. Luis Ansola was MVP and Oscar Hernandez’s Princess was Best Playing Pony.

The final week of the season featured the Retro Classic seniors tournament as well as the Champagne

R E P O R T

Sawyer Aviation’s Kathy Wood, Jennifer Nodwell, Vinay Bangalore and Sarah Flynn won the Skull Valley tournament’s A Flight.

Chukkers Championship for new players. After, players and guests enjoyed a fish fry sponsored by Jesse Wimberly.

Summergrove Farm (Bill Simmons, Mohamed Elkersh, David Fennelly, Sebastian Koga) topped the Retro Classic after defeating Crystal Hot Sauce and Nola Polo. New Orleans Polo Green (Kayla Nussbaumer, Jerold Murrell, Emily Guiza, Inaki Echezarreta) defeated New Orleans Polo Black and New Orleans Polo White in the Champagne Chukkers Championship. Polo White’s Elsie Saunders was MVP. BORDER

SAWYER AVIATION SOARS IN SKULL VALLEY ACTION Sawyer Aviation came away the winner in the A Flight of the 16th annual Skull Valley tournament Oct. 10 at the Van Dickson Ranch in Skull Valley, Arizona.

The first game saw Skull Valley Polo (Chelsea Groves, Kelly Goetz, Leigh Jason, Croix Waage) battle Sawyer Aviation (Jennifer Nodwell, Sarah Flynn, Kathy Wood, Vinay Bangalore). Both teams struggled to get on the board in the first half. Sawyer eventually found the mark, ending the half, 1-0. Skull Valley tied it in the third, but Sawyer

knocked in three more thanks to the combined efforts of Wood and Flynn for the 4-1 win.

The B Flight game had Columbia West (Natalie Camacho, David Barnett, Martin Vidal) quickly score the first three goals before William A. Clark Construction (Leigh McDaniel, Bill Clark, Andres Camacho) put up its first goal.

Columbia West led, 4-3, at the half.

Clark Construction tied the score in the third. Natalie Camacho put in two goals in the final chukker, but Andres Camacho responded with three and Bill Clark put the final nail in the coffin, 86. After the matches, Paul and Carolyn Harris opened up the barbecue and the band played on. Everyone enjoyed the Texas-style spread and the cool air to end the season.

EASTERN

BENNY’S PREVAILS IN WOMEN’S CHALLENGE The USPA Women’s Challenge Cup is the highlight of the Tinicum Park Polo Club (Erwinna, Pennsylvania) season, and this year was no exception. The global pandemic restricted travel and made outdoor venues more desirable. A surge of appreciative spectators, socially distanced along

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 53

JEAN VERGARA

P O L O

R E P O R T

REBECCA FOLTZ

women’s tournament.

In the first game, under the watchful eyes of umpires Dennis Santana and Juan Martinez Baez, Stars Aligned (Cheryl Arnold, Val Washington, Brooke Burke, Shariah Harris) took on Benny’s Kelly Wells with Women’s on the Beach (Holly Challenge Best Playing Pony Chalupa Chamberlain, Laura Willson, Ann Oniskey, Erica Lipton). The teams alterthe field, were a welcome sight to the nated scores until the final chukker players. when Stars Aligned seemed to run out Four well-rounded teams competed of steam. Willson, who made all the in A Flight while two teams played in B. goals for her team, hammered in the Some players came from afar, making a final two goals to end the match, 5-3, weekend of it to enjoy the games and and advanced Benny’s on the Beach to social events. Organizer Cheryl Arnold the final. dedicated this year’s tournament to the In the other match, Tinicum (Meg club’s longtime announcer, Carol Stahl, Mullen, Victoria Halliday, Kathy Fowswho has been battling a recurrence of er, Kelly Wells) dominated Arby Dobb pancreatic cancer. Stahl is a remarkable (Sue Spencer, Johanna Pederson, Ashwoman club members fondly refer to as ley Mackenzie, Sarah Martin), 9-4, to the mother of Tinicum Park Polo. Stahl advance to the final. Wells led Tinicum was on hand to announce this year’s

54 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

with six of the team’s nine goals.

In B Flight, Arby Dobb (Sierra Walt, Lisa Singer, Val Washington, Grace Fleischman) fell to Lampire (Robyn Bellaurdo/Carol Hails, Kylie Beard, Laura Willson, Rebecca Link), 3-0. Beard scored all of her team’s goals.

The A Flight consolation saw Stars Aligned soundly defeat Arby Dobb, 51½. In the final, Benny’s on the Beach overcame Tinicum, 4½-3. Meg Mullin was named MVP and Kelly Wells’ paint Chalupa was Best Playing Pony.

INTERNATIONAL

DUNDAS TRIUMPHS IN CONGRESSIONAL CUP Six teams competed in the 8-goal USPA Congressional Cup at Costa Careyes Polo Club in Jalisco, Mexico, Dec. 27-Jan 4. The club is located on the Pacific Ocean south of the lively city of Puerto Vallarta. The club, owned by Giorgio Brignone, is now being managed by Costa Careyes Partners, led by Chris Falk and Brian

Participants in the Congressional Cup at Costa Careyes

P O L O Boyd, which leased the mature and newly-refurbished fields. The global pandemic slowed down the usual festive climate but the polo was still fast and furious. Jerseys, provided by USPA Global, went home with the players to 12 different countries after the tournament.

The tournament was played in a cross-bracket format with the winner in each bracket advancing to the final.

Dundas 2 (Gary Magness, Nico Millan, Mariano Fassetta, Juan Marcos Cruz) topped Bracket 1, while Quinto Sol (Manuel Matos, Valerio Aguilar, Guillermo Jimenez, Joel Acosta) led Bracket 2.

Dundas 2 showed it meant business, holding Quinto Sol to a single goal in the first half, while amassing five goals.

Quinto Sol rallied in the second half with Acosta scoring two and Matos one in the third while holding Dundas 2 to a goal and cutting the difference to two, 6-4. Dundas 2 fought back, ending the match ahead, 8-5.

Mariano Fassetta was MVP and Gary and Sarah Magness’ Bonita, played by Fassetta, was Best Playing Pony.

La Karina (Brian Boyd, Patrick Boyd, Benito Hernandez, Carlitos Gracida) took third place; Dundas 1 (Cable Magness, Jason Crowder, Tony Uretz, Domingo Aldaco) took fourth place; Cabinet Connection (Will Falk, Josh Falk, Chris Falk, Federico Uribe) was fifth; and El Careyes (Miguel Gomez de Parada, Carlos Hernandez/ Isaac Hernandez, Adam Justin) was last.

The 2-goal Annual Copa de Careyes saw four teams compete. After the Colombian Las Piratas team (Mateo Espitia, Martin Espitia, Juan Martin Cabal, Marco Cabal) and Agua AltaClub 51 (Milo Ardissone, Gian Carlo Brignone, Coco Sandhu, Luis Perez) were eliminated in the semifinals, Los Hermanos (Chrissy Falk, Katie Falk, Sydney Falk, Patrick Boyd/Ace Boyd, Benito Hernandez) met Palomir/Polo House Prive (Miguel Gomez de Parada, Mariano Gomez de Parada, Dante

Munguia, Adrian Pia, Juan Chi) in the final. Los Hermanos dominated the first chukker with three goals, but Palomir/Polo House Prive answered back with two in the second. Los Hermanos kept up the pressure in the second half, ending the match ahead 8-6½.

Martin Espitia was named MVP and Kiss, a lovely mare from Mexico played

by Patrick Boyd, was Best Playing Pony.

OBITUARY

GEORGE RADCLIFF SR.

George W. Radcliff Sr. lost his long battle with cancer on Dec. 8, 2020.

Born to Herndon and Mary Radcliff in 1941, George was a longtime resident of Mobile, Alabama.

Radcliff was one of the original members of the Point Clear Polo Club.

Polo became a passion, and he went on to foster many players in the Southeast, including two sons and many nephews and cousins.

In the early days, Radcliff would say how if he had all the money, all he would do was play polo. At that time, he and friends would buy horses out of the kill pens to play on a cleared pasture.

That was before he struck oil. After, Radcliff competed in polo around the country, including Sarasota, Gulfstream, Memphis, Sheridan, Aiken and

R E P O R T Atlanta, making many close friends along the way.

Kenny Mclean wrote, “George was a man of many talents. Along with being a great father, he was a mariner, boat captain and even a one-time professional water skier at Cypress Gardens. He attended the University of Alabama on a swimming scholarship. He also owned and operated a fleet of tug boats and barges during his early years. He was responsible for bringing in oil fields in South Alabama.”

According to McLean, Radcliff was also an accomplished harmonica player and guitar crooner as well as a talented surfer.

“George loved his 55-foot Herreshoff schooner, ‘The Bounty,’ in which he sailed over many bodies of water and excelled in many regattas,” McLean added. “He was a dedicated friend who would give you his best horse to play at any time, if you needed. As his good pal Winston Groom would say of George, ‘He didn’t live no hum drum life!’”

Groom is the author of the novel “Forrest Gump” which is co-dedicated to Radcliff.

Radcliff’s daughter Fontaine Radcliff Howard wrote of her father, “He was the coolest guy I’ve ever known. He was so tough he could make you tremble with just a look, but he loved so big.

He was a larger-than-life character that lived every minute of every day and at least 10 lifetimes.”

In addition to horses and polo, George loved hunting and fishing.

George’s second wife, Kay, brought kids into their marriage, including Chip Campbell. Radcliff considered these kids his own and Campbell credits Radcliff for getting him into polo.

Radcliff is survived by his wife of 19 years, Karen McKenzie Radcliff; son George W. Radcliff II; daughter Fontaine Radcliff Howard; and eight grandchildren. His son and daughter both live on the family’s 2,000-acre Saraland, Alabama, ranch called Celeste as do all of his grandchildren.

•

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 55

E Q U I N E AT H L E T E

Joint injections can help some hock issues.

(continued from page 17) Other injuries may be due to a simple blunt trauma or a puncture if the horse runs into something while running around the pasture. “In older horses with hock changes we may see a narrowing of the joint due to arthritic changes. Some of this could be due to how they were used as a young horse (how much stress on the joints in an athletic career). If those early problems are not seen and addressed, there may be some cartilage weakening later on and arthritic changes later in life,” she says.

Some hock problems may be due to conformation, and how straight or angled the hind leg is, and which stresses are put on the hock joint. “Poor hoof management and shoeing can also have repercussions on up the leg. Sometimes arthritic hocks are simply due to overwork and overuse, with lots of wear and tear.”

Fortunately there are many treatments today that can help. “We have several types of therapeutic modalities that can be used if we know there are changes going on, and if there is pain in the joint. We also use a variety of biologics like IRAP, stem cells and PRP to help improve the joint environment and to manage or decrease the pain and damage. The world of biologics is constantly evolving, and we are able to continually provide more effective and successful modes of treatment,” she explains.

Sometimes with these horses it may be time to find a new less-demanding job, if the hock joints can’t stay sound in a strenuous athletic career. “Also, within the hock, some of the small bones can fuse together and sometimes this can decrease the pain the horse experiences. This is not always the case but

56 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

is possible. Ideally the horse upholds its normal joint space and function,” says Rudolphi.

With some hock problems it’s wise to monitor the changes and take radiographs annually. “This can help guide management of these horses; your management will probably change over time. If you have been treating the hock condition, it may become non-responsive to that particular treatment and you may have to try something else or add a different anti-inflammatory or joint therapy,” she explains.

There are some topical approaches such as shock wave therapy or magna waves. “These can be a useful secondary therapy, as well as making sure the horse is on a good exercise and conditioning program. It is helpful to keep the hind end strong so the horse can maintain adequate functional muscle mass. If the muscles, tendons and ligaments are strong and correctly conditioned, there is less risk for damage,” she says.

Shoeing can also make a major difference.

Shoeing can help or hinder a hock problem, so you want to make sure you have a good farrier who can keep the feet well balanced. “Sometimes we have to take radiographs of those feet to make sure we have them balanced in the hind end. We sometimes miss that when looking at the hind feet. If there is an imbalance or incorrect angle on the hind feet, it puts more stress on the hock joints,” Rudolphi explains. If the hind feet are not balanced, both the joint and soft tissue structures surrounding the hock will be stressed. There may be some soft tissue tears on the ligaments around the hock. These can also be due to abnormal work or strain.

Joint health is very important in the equine athlete, and many people use joint supplements to try to help protect the joints from wear-and-tear damage. “Some types of joint supplements are fed (added to the grain ration) and some are injected intravenously or intramuscularly. Horses are all a little different in terms of what they respond to, and what works best, for these complementary therapies,” she says.

Basically the things that can happen to the hock joints in a young horse are osteochondral fragments (chips) in the upper tibial tarsal joint, inflammation in any of the three joints for a variety of reasons (generally related to exercise), associated soreness of the proximal suspensory apparatus (as part of the functioning unit of the hock) and collateral ligament injuries. Some of these injuries may be due to conformation--putting more stress on certain parts of the joint.

•

ASK AN UMPIRE

(continued from page 13) and drive directly to the airport, stopping only to fill the car with gas. You change your clothes, pack your bag as best you can in the rental car return line at the airport and go to your gate after enjoying another round with the TSA agent. You made it!

Your flight boards in 15 minutes. You are starving again, so you buy some junk food at the airport magazine shop for 10 times the real price and eat it.

The flight is on time and you’ve got an aisle seat, another big win for you!

You get in at 9 p.m. and drive the hour back home, arriving just after 10. Everyone is asleep, so you shower quietly and slip into bed. You are asleep by midnight and consider it a good weekend. The next morning you unpack and throw a load of laundry in (or your spouse does, if you are lucky).

You got paid a modest stipend (about three hours with a mid-level lawyer) less gas, parking, food, incidentals, tax, self-employment tax and any state withholding taken out before you get paid. You really cleared just a portion of your check at best.

Now for the best part, you get a few days at home and then you will do it all over again but this week you are scheduled for a rules review Thursday evening before the games start on Friday. You hope more than two people will show up for the rules review because you are taking another day away from your family for the same pay but a higher cost to you.

On Tuesday, your boss wants to know why the

losing team is complaining that the umpiring was bad. You ask him to send you the plays that you missed. The plays never come because they don’t exist (they seldom do). The complaint was unfounded but expected. At least you did not have to review the entire game without any more pay just to prove you know what you are doing. Players do not seem to understand these days that one team will lose no matter how great the umpiring is. That means one team will win, every time, all the time. It is like a game. Oh wait, it is a game. News flash!

The example weekend is based on a real, unremarkable weekend I have experienced many times. My secret was I made it fun for me, and my mission was to leave the club better off than when I arrived. That is a very successful weekend. Now, knowing the regular routine, ask yourself honestly, would you do that every weekend for five months straight?

If the answer is no, then please have some compassion for your umpire. Often, he or she has gone to great lengths to visit your club, and believe me, the professional umpires know what they are doing. If you do not appreciate them, it is likely

When umpiring, Dana Fortugno’s mission is to leave the club better off than when he arrived.

because you do not understand the umpires and or rules, and you never umpired yourself.

Back in the day, the players umpired everything.

That’s right, the team you beat yesterday would be umpiring your game tomorrow. I know, because I did it and it was as bad as it sounds. What’s my point?

The point is just for you to get a peak behind the scenes and see what umpires go through to make polo better. I have peaked behind the scenes of many industries, and it did change my perspective. I hope its the same for you.

• POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 57

P O L O D E V E L O P M E N T, L L C (continued from page 23)

Hope Arellano splits her time between Aiken, South Carolina, and Wellington, Florida, playing polo as often as she can. Her favorite horse, Hippi Chic, was a standout in her father’s string and has now taken her place at the top of Hope’s list. This summer, Arellano rescued a baby deer and has been raising it as part of the family.

Eastern Region

The Maryland Polo Club player, Sophie Grant, is back for her second NYTS National Championship appearance. In 2019, she won the NYTS Girls’ Championship and her favorite horse, Sydney was awarded Best Playing Pony. Grant purchased her first polo prospect this summer, a four-year-old OTTB, and is excited to see her progress.

Hailing from Wainfleet, Canada, Hunter Van der Burgt plays polo alongside his mother, father and sister at Buffalo Polo Club. His favorite mare is Sombreada, a Thoroughbred that was named 2018 Buffalo Polo Club horse of the year. He said, “She is able to give little kids lessons and turn around and play competitive polo under my dad and me the next day.” Aside from polo, Van der Burgt enjoys playing golf.

Riley Jordan gets ready to stop Benji Daniel’s drive in the 2019 NYTS.

58 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Landen Daniels grew up in Wellington, Florida, sharing a love of polo with his entire family. Daniels’ favorite horse is Blue. “Blue is older than me. He really knows how to work a polo field,” he said. Daniels played in the Junior Nations Cup and has played in the NYTS National Championship Cecil Smith Cup. In addition to playing polo, he loves to play soccer and is quiet proficient at video games.

Polo mallets hanging on the outside of the show jumping ring at Gardnertown piqued Winston Painter’s interest and led him to his first polo lesson. He immediately fell in love with the sport and switched disciplines. Painter won the 2019 NYTS Championship Cecil Smith Cup in Aiken, South Carolina, with the Eastern Region team. This summer he worked and played at Farmington Polo Club.

Aiden Meeker of Crestview Polo Club won the 2019 NYTS Championship Cecil Smith Cup with the Eastern Region team in Aiken, South Carolina. He has two polo role models, his father and Hugo Lloret.

Outside of polo, Meeker enjoys coding and developing apps.

•

Jesse Bray coaches the girls’ team in the 2019 NYTS Championship.

P O L O I N T H E PA M PA S

Peke Gonzalez works hard to cover the young Poroto Cambiaso.

Continued from page 47 before the Tortugas Open, Poroto had a 4-goal handicap and the AAP moved him two steps without full conviction about his sporting stature at that time.

The 6-goal minimum handicap is a regulatory requirement to participate in the series of the three most important competitions and La Dolfina needed the teenager in its roster. His dad wanted him on the pitch immediately. Then, the entity, stimulated by curiosity, the attraction and the good news that would imply the presence of new blood in the high-goal season during a 2020 plagued by bad sports news derived from the coronavirus pandemic, helped make the decision to promote him. That is to say, for the association, which by then had last evaluated Cambiaso a year ago, the player doubled his handicap in 12 months, by raising his valuation from 4 to 8. A case beyond all records.

The challenge now for the Cañuelas club will be to structurally and competitively support La Dolfina, La Dolfina Polo Ranch and La Dolfina Brava in terms of horses and staff. Their breeding and clones are of proven quality at the best level, but supplying 12 polo players in the highest category of demand is not easy even for big organizations.

•

Copa Cámara de Diputados La Dolfina Brava: Pedro Zacharías 7 (4 goals scored), Adolfo ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso 6 (8), Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade 8 (1) and Isidro Strada 7 (3, 1 penalty). Total: 28.

Indios Chapaleufú II: Alberto Heguy Jr. 7, Manuel Elizalde 6 (1 goal), Mariano ‘Peke’ González Jr. 6 (3) and Tomas Beresford 6 (3, 2 on penalties). Total: 25.

Score Brava: 4-0, 6-2, 9-4, 9-5, 13-5, 14-7, 16-7.

Umpires: Gastón Lucero and Gonzalo López Vargas. Third man: Federico Martelli.

Play-Off La Dolfina Brava: Pedro Zacharías 7 (2 goals), Adolfo ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso 6 (2), Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade 8 (5) and Isidro Strada 7 (4 penalties). Total: 28.

Cría Geté: Tomás García del Río 7, Cristian ‘Magoo’ Laprida 8 (1 goal), Joaquín Pittaluga 8 and Ignacio ‘Inaki’ Laprida 8 (7, 6 on penalties). Total: 31.

Score Brava: 1-2, 4-3, 7-3, 9-6, 10-7, 11-8, 13-8.

Umpires: Gastón Lucero and Gonzalo López Vargas.

Third man: Matías Baibiene.

Best Playing Pony Polo Argentino: Dolfina Jal-CC- (Open Chimento x Dolfina C06 Lapa Clone ), played by Poroto Cambiaso.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 59

CALENDAR

February JA N UA RY 2 0 - F E B RUA RY 7 Ylvisaker Cup (18) International, Wellington, FL

F E B R U A R Y 1 0 - 14 2020 USPA Gold Cup (22) International, Wellington, FL

F E B R U A R Y 17 - 2 8 $50,000 National 12 Goal Grand Champions, Wellington, FL

JA N UA RY 2 6 - F E B RUA RY 13 Limited Edition 12-Goal Series Grand Champions, Wellington, FL

F E B R U A R Y 1 0 - 21 Iglehart Cup (18) International, Wellington, FL

F E B R U A R Y 17 - M A R C H 7 C.V. Whitney Cup (22) International, Wellington, FL

JA N UA RY 2 9 - F E B RUA RY 7 Carlton & Keleen Beal Cup (4, 8, 12) Eldorado, Indio, CA

F E B R U A R Y 11 - 2 7 USPA Butler Handicap (18) Port Mayaca, Okeechobee, FL

F E B RUA RY 18 - M A RC H 7 The Founders Cup WPL, Wellington, FL

F E B RUA RY 12 d Polo Hall of Fame Gala Cancele Museum, Lake Worth, FL

F E B R U A R Y 19 - M A R C H 5 Governors Cup (6) Hobe Sound, Hobe Sound, FL

F E B R U A R Y 1 2 - 14 Texas Arena League Two Wishes, Lockhart, TX

F E B R U A R Y 19 - 21 Central Intercollegiate Preliminary Prestonwood, Oak Point, TX

USPA Presidents Cup (8) National Amateur Cup (4) Empire, Indio, CA JA N UA RY 2 9 - F E B RUA RY 13 $100,000 World Cup (0-40) Grand Champions, Wellington, FL J A N U A R Y 2 9 - M A R C H 21 George S. Patton Jr. (3) Legends, Kaufman, TX JA N UA RY 3 0 - F E B RUA RY 7 USPA National Amateur Cup (4) Empire, Indio, CA F E B R U A R Y 3 - 17 Congressional Cup (6) Hobe Sound, Hobe Sound, FL F E B RUA RY 3 - 2 9 The Winter Equestrian Cup (4) International, Wellington, FL F E B RUA RY 4 - 27 The Woodcock (8) USPA Heritage Cup (14) Port Mayaca, Okeechobee, FL F E B RUA RY 5 - 7 Northeast Girls’ Preliminary Westchester, Portsmouth, RI F E B R U A R Y 5 - 21 The All-Star Challenge WPL, Wellington, FL F E B RUA RY 6 - M A RC H 1 The Winter Equestrian Cup (4) International, Wellington, FL F E B RUA RY 7 - M A RC H 1 Horse Scout Challenge (8) International, Wellington, FL F E B RUA RY 10 - 13 Sunset Polo Classic (2) Sunset, Loxahatchee, FL

60 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Northeast Men’s Preliminary Yale, Bethany, CT

Southeast Open Preliminary II Marlan, Freeland, MD

Southeast Girls’ Preliminary Garrison Forest, Owings Mills, MD

Southeast Open Preliminary I New Bridge, Aiken, SC

Northeast Open Preliminary Toronto, Markham, ON F E B R U A R Y 1 2 - 21 USPA Gen. Patton Jr. Tournament (4,8) Empire, Indio, CA Fish Creek Constitution Cup (4, 8, 12) Eldorado, Indio, CA F E B RUA RY 13 d 40 Goal Polo Challenge Cancele IPC, Wellington, FL F E B R U A R Y 1 3 - 14 NYTS Empire, Indio, CA F E B RUA RY 15 Avendano Memorial (Jr) Tackeria President’s Day Cup (Jr) PTF, Wellington, FL F E B R U A R Y 16 - M A R C H 6 The Grand Champions Cup (16) The Top Pony 8 Goal Halo Polo Trophy (6) Sieber Memorial Trophy (12) Grand Champions, Wellington, FL F E B R U A R Y 17 - 2 0 Ladies Tournament Hobe Sound, Hobe Sound, FL

F E B RUA RY 2 5 - 27 2020 U.S. Open Women’s Champ.

Port Mayaca, Okeechobee, FL F E B RUA RY 2 6 - 2 8 Texas Arena League Two Wishes, Lockhart, TX Northeast Open Regional Cornell, Ithaca, NY Western Girls’ Regional Empire, Indio, CA Southeast Women’s Preliminary Michigan, Mason, MI F E B RUA RY 2 6 - M A RC H 7 USPA Congressional Cup (4, 8) Empire, Indio, CA USPA Spreckels Cup (2, 8, 12) Eldorado, Indio, CA MARCH 2-6 Women’s Tabebuia Cup (18-22) Women’s Shady Lady (12-14) Port Mayaca, Okeechobee, FL M A R C H 2 - 14 Santa Rita Abierto Grand Champions, Wellington, FL

CALENDAR

DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS.COM

March

Gauntlet of Polo action begins with the conclusion of the 2020 Gold Cup semifinals and final Feb. 10-14

USPA Governors Cup (6) Amateur Cup (2) Eldorado, Indio, CA M A RC H 15 Buzz Welker Memorial (Jr) Yunghanns Charity Challenge (Jr) PTF, Wellington, FL M A R C H 19 End of Season Bash & Grooms’ Race Eldorado, Indio, CA M A R C H 19 - 21 Texas Arena League Two Wishes, Lockhart, TX

M A R C H 3 - 21 Palm Beach Open WPL, Wellington, FL MARCH 3-28 PBC Sports Commission Cup (4) International, Wellington, FL MARCH 4-27 USPA Presidents Cup (8) Live Oak Challenge (14) Mahogany Cup (18) Port Mayaca, Okeechobee, FL MARCH 5-7 Western Open Regional Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA Central Interscholastic Regional Brookshire, Brookshire, TX Southeast Interscholastic Regional Virginia Polo, Charlottesville, VA Northeast Girls’ Regional Gardnertown, Newburgh, NY MARCH 5-29 Tackeria Challenge (8) International, Wellington, FL M A R C H 6 - 17 Nat’l Inter-Circuit Championship (12) Sarasota, Sarasota, FL MARCH 6-20 George Brown Cup (6) Hobe Sound, Hobe Sound, FL

MARCH 9-27 The Power Horse Invitational (16) The Limited Edition 8 Goal Madelon Bourdieu Memorial (6) Top Pony 12 Goal Grand Champions, Wellington, FL M A RC H 10 - 2 0 U.S. Open Women’s Prelim games Port Mayaca, Okeechobee, FL M A RC H 10 - 2 8 USPA Gold Cup (22) International, Wellington, FL M A R C H 1 2 - 14 Western Intercollegiate Regional Central Coast, Los Osos, CA Central Intercollegiate Regional Legends, Kaufman, TX Northeast Intercollegiate Regional Cornell, Ithaca, NY Southeast Intercollegiate Regional Virginia, Charlottesville, VA M A R C H 1 2 - 21 Champions Cup (8) Empire, Indio, CA USPA Rossmore Cup Skins (12) Eldorado, Indio, CA M A R C H 1 3 - 21 Lions Cup (4) Empire, Indio, CA

MARCH 20 U.S. Open Women’s final International, Wellington, FL M A R C H 2 0 - 31 National Commander-in-Chief Cup (12) Sarasota, Sarasota, FL M A R C H 21 - A P R I L 3 Masters Cup (6) Hobe Sound, Hobe Sound, FL MARCH 22-28 National Interscholastic Championship Brookshire, Brookshire, TX M A R C H 2 4 - A P R I L 17 Triple Crown of Polo WPL, Wellington, FL M A R C H 3 0 - A P R I L 17 Pedro Morrison Memorial (16) Grand Champions, Wellington, FL M A R C H 31 - A P R I L 4 Women’s Championship Tourney Final Grand Champions, Wellington, FL M A R C H 31 - A P R I L 17 Stefano Laviano Cup (6) International, Wellington, FL M A R C H 31 - A P R I L 1 8 U.S. Open Championship (22) International, Wellington, FL Note: All dates are subject to change.

“USPA” refers to tournaments sponsored or sanctioned by the United States Polo Association.

Signifies prize money available.

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 61

Y E S T E RY E A R S

Ten-less No players with top rating the world over Adapted from Polo, February, 1935

Cecil Smith

The crown of polo lies empty. For the first time in 19 years, there is no 10-goal polo player in the world—not from the fastnesses of India where the game was cradled, to the plains of Meadow Brook where it was brought to its highest state of development.

There is no King of Polo today, though there are, so to speak, four Crown Princes. There are, in the world, four players rated at 9, which means that they are considered by those generally conceded to know to be extraordinary players but just a shade short of “great,” that descriptive adjective that sums up in one word the ultimate in any form of endeavor.

The four are Thomas Hitchcock Jr., for 13 years rated at the top; Cecil Smith, who enjoyed one year of fame; Winston Guest, who is making his way upward in brilliant strides; and the Nawab of Bhopal, India’s great back. Each has one leg on the crown, one might say, and it is a matter of fascinating conjecture which will grasp it firmly as his own.

A year ago, following a good deal of controversy, the United States had three players rated at 10: Hitchcock, Smith and Elmer J. Boeseke Jr., the versatile Californian.

For the first time in many years, the United States permitted itself the luxury of complimentary ratings, for it was generally admitted that while each of the three players was quite capable of playing 10-goal polo, that is perfect polo, none of the three showed the full season of such play in 1933, which one is entitled to expect from 10-goal players. Hitchcock was not at his best in the famous East-West matches at Chicago, in which he suffered so bad a fall that he could not even play in the Open Championship tournament, while Smith and Boeseke never again played quite so marvelously as they did at Chicago.

62 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Tommy Hitchcock Jr.

This year, obviously, the 10-goal ratings of 1934 could hardly be continued. Hitchcock played very little during the year, though he showed clearly that, barring accident, he could still be the greatest player of them all. Smith played well in the second EastWest matches at Meadow Brook, but suffered both defeat and disappointment. Boeseke, after an exceptionally long siege of polo, which included tours of Argentina and of England, was patently played out.

So the handicap committee of the United States Polo Association did the right thing at the right time, reduced Hitchcock and Smith to 9, Boeseke to 8, and raised Winston Guest, who was the actual star of the East-West matches, to the 9-goal rating that he so richly deserved.

There were other changes of interest, too. As predicted by Polo a month ago, Michael Phipps and

Y E S T E RY E A R S

POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 63

Y E S T E RY E A R S

RATED AT 10 GOALS This space temporarily for rent.

Winston Guest

RATED AT 9 GOALS The Nawab of Bhopal Winston Guest Thomas Hitchcock Jr. Cecil Smith

India United States United States United States

8 GOALS Rao Raja Abhey Singh Manuel Andrada Gerald Balding Elmer J. Boeske Jr. Humphrey P. Guinness Rao Raja Hanut Singh The Maharajah of Jaipur Lewis L. Lacey James P. Mills Michael G. Phipps William Post II José C. Reynal Aidan Roark Capt. CTI Roark Capt. P.B. Sanger Curtis Skene The Marquis de Villabragima Major A.H. Williams Wing-Commander P.K. Wise

India Argentina England United States England India India Argentina United States United States United States Argentina United States England India Australia Spain India England

7 GOALS Geoffrey Goulburn Ashton James Hay Ashton

Australia Australia

William Post II, who distinguished themselves in the Eastern victory, were raised from 7 to 8. Raymond guest, who played a dashing back for Templeton’s victorious Open Championship team, was raised from 6 to 7. R.L. Gerry Jr. and Tom Mather were raised from 5 to 6. Carl Crawford and George Pope Jr. were raised from 4 to 5.

The list of celebrated players in the world, published herewith, makes the supremacy of the United States quite outstanding. There are 17 players in the United States rated at 7 or better, while the nearest rival is India, with 12. England, which had 18 in 1929, now has eight; South Africa has eight too, and Australia 6. Argentina, which had seven among the best in 1931, now only has four. New Zealand and Spain each have one.

The United States can also put the strongest team in the field, namely a 35-goal side. India comes next,

64 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N

Robert Ralph Ashton Lt. Col. Eric G. Atkinson G.S. Bain M. Hugh Brown W.R. Burdon Capt. B.G. Dalrymple-Hay Major C.H. Gairdner Elbridge T. Gerry Ian Gibson Derrick M.J. Gould E.H. Green Raymond Guest M. Henderson Spencer Higgs Earle Hopping Jr. Stewart B. Iglehart Seymour H. Knox Capt. W. Selly McCreery Irwin Maple-Brown Devereux Milburn Jack D. Nelson Eric Pedley Capt. Claude E. Pert E.E. Pope R.E. Strawbridge Jr. Raj Kumar Shree Prithi Singh Robert Skene Thakur Prithi Singh John A.E. Traill E.H. Tyrrell-Martin Capt. H.C. Walford H.W. (Rube) Williams

Australia India South Africa South Africa South Africa India England United States South Africa New Zealand South Africa United States South Africa South Africa United States United States United States England Australia United States Argentina United States India South Africa United States India Australia India England England India United States

with 33 as a possibility. England’s best available team, according to the ratings, would only total 32 goals. While Argentina, depending upon veteran rather than younger players, could only muster a 31goal side.

These are, of course, only paper ratings, and it is well known a great deal can happen to four men not at the top of the handicap list who are perfectly mounted, play together as a team, and are inspired to brilliant heights. Manuel Andrada’s Santa Paula, which won the Open Championship here in 1931, was such a team. The Maharajah of Jaipur’s side, the champions of India, which swept all before it in England two years ago, was another such team. The “Big Four,” the Waterbury brothers, Harry Payne Whitney and Devereux Milburn, who did happen to be at the top and never were defeated, comprised the very last word indeed in such a team.

•

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