History

The Founding

Northrup R. Knox

William T. Ylvisaker

The Polo Training Foundation was officially launched on January 20, 1967. Northrup R. Knox, William T. Ylvisaker, and C. Heath Manning were named President, Vice President, and Secretary Treasurer respectively.

The PTF was founded to teach the game of polo to "young men" by promoting youth clinics, interscholastic and intercollegiate competition, good sportsmanship and good will through friendly competition. (Little did the founders realize that just a few short years later the women’s movement would also strive to bring equality to the polo world.)

Impetus for the founding was provided by a gift of approximately 28 acres of land on Long Island in Old Westbury N. Y. from the Barker Welfare Foundation. The land was given to the PTF contingent on the following:

• At least one polo game would be played on the field annually.
• The land could only be used for polo.
• No structures could be erected on the property.
• If the PTF did not meet the above obligations during the lifetimes of Charles & Katherine Barker Hickox and their four children the land would revert to the Barker Welfare Foundation.