Polo Players Edition
PTF Pages September 2009

                                                       PTF-USPA  
                                   Instructor’s and Trainer’s Seminar
                                      Brushy Creek Ranch, Burleson, TX

The annual Instructor’s and Trainer’s Seminar jointly sponsored by the PTF and the USPA will be held November 5-7, 2009 at Brushy Creek Ranch in Burleson, Texas. This event is an opportunity for anyone interested in teaching polo to hone their skills and exchange ideas with some of the top instructor’s in the country.   This year the seminar will go beyond basic polo instruction, to encompass the entire package of developing and running a polo school and strong teams. 

Event organizer Kris Bowman has lined up USPA Southeast Circuit Governor Joe Meyer to make a marketing presentation.  Joe has been involved in  several successful endeavors that require a tremendous amount of marketing expertise.  Kris has also lined up Mark Brownlee a sports psychologist to address the many psychological nuances involved in developing successful polo players.  Scott Brown the developer of the Brandywine Regional Center and the hugely successful East Coast Arena Tournament for Interscholastic players will speak about business plans and budgeting.

PTF Head Umpire Instructor, Steve Lane will be there to give an update on umpire instruction.  Brushy Creek Field Director Robin Sanchez , USPA Club Development specialist Kris Bowman, USPA Executive Director Peter Rizzo and I will also be there to participate in various seminars.

The cost of the seminar is $200, which includes transfers to and from DFW airport, housing in the Brushy Creek bunkhouse, and food for the weekend.

If you are interested in attending contact Kris Bowmen for more information: phone 703-362-7656, email polovacations@yahoo.com

                                                PTF Strategic Plan

The 2008-2009 fiscal year was a challenging one for the PTF.  With the downturn in the market, most of the year was spent analyzing financials and making adjustments to the budget. An already tight budget was pared to the bone and PTF was able to continue operations at nearly the same service level as before.  In studying these budgets the PTF Board of Directors determined that now was a good time to take a serious look at our long term strategic plan.  Gaylord Villers, a facilitator, of Transmedia, Inc. was engaged to meet with a group of interested parties in order to come up with a long term strategic plan for the Polo Training Foundation.  The question to be answered was; How can the PTF best continue to function as an organization to be of high value to the sport of polo? After two meetings at the American Airlines conference center at O’Hare airport May 18 and June 8 followed by several conference calls the strategic planning committee determined that PTF is a valuable provider of training and educational services; and it leverages its training and educational identity through its 501(c)(3) status in order to raise funds to support these services.

Although at this writing the process is not completely finished the following strategies and action plans have emerged.

I.        PTF is a Provider of Education and Training
          PTF will leverage and strengthen introductory level educational and training      
          programs to create a strong brand that supports its value to polo, addresses 
          all areas of training and further strengthens its image for specialized polo 
          fundraising.

Strategic outcomes from this will be:
-An improved organization for delivery of introductory education and training, including  modified PTF position descriptions, and reorganization of staff/instructor accountabilities.
-Improved education/training offerings and management of clinics, programs, curriculum, and training infrastructure to deliver on a national level.
-Better marketing of PTF programs.
-Stronger brand and “educational identity” that can be leveraged for fundraising, especially for specialized segments—non-polo, families, clubs, youth stakeholders, etc.

II.Fundraising
PTF will leverage and improve its fundraising capabilities (that feature 501c3), which are strengthened by its image as the provider of introductory level education and training; this helps ensure that the PTF continues to financially sustain itself as an organization and reaches the many donors who are not registered/active players.

Strategic outcomes:
-A stronger training image and brand to underscore the focus of fundraising to non-polo, families, clubs, youth stakeholders, etc.
-Improved expertise in fundraising and marketing (job descriptions will have fundraising accountabilities and will use new technologies.

Action Plans

Out of these strategies the PTF has developed Action Plans.  Three committees will be formed Educational, Fundraising, and Publicity and Marketing.  Each committee will look at current programs within the current budget and determine whether they are successful programs or not and suggest changes or new programs that can enhance the training and educational mission of the PTF.

The educational committee will look at PTF umpire and player training programs including:
-Umpire Training
-Club umpire clinics
-Umpire schools in Florida and California

Junior Polo programs at clubs across the country and the Junior program start-up grants.
Brushy Creek – summer camp, junior, I-I, and adult clinics
Adult club player clinics
-Instructiors and Trainers seminar
-Training literature development

The fundraising committee will study current solicitations and fund raising events held in various place across the country, with a view to improving their effectiveness.

The publicity and marketing committee will work with both the other committees to determine how to best get the PTF message out in order to continue to provide excellence in polo training and educational services and encourage more financial support to help continue to grow the sport by training new polo players and umpires.

With the completion of these Action Plans the Board of Directors, the PTF staff and the polo public will have a much clearer understanding of the PTF’s training and educational mission.

Additional Inquiries

For any other questions regarding polo training or polo in general feel free to call the PTF office: 888-PTF-POLO (783-7656) or email dscheraga@polotraining.org.

by Danny Scheraga
One year ago in this column we wrote the following (if you remember it you can skip to the seventh paragraph):  Polo is a microcosm of society.  Anheuser-Busch just announced that the company was being sold to a Belgian company owned by Brazilians.  The Empire State Building was just sold by a German company to an Arabian company.  Our manufacturing has mostly been shipped overseas.  The Morning Line printed the teams in a 12 goal tournament at an American Club in July.  Out of ten teams entered, only one team had more Americans than the sponsor.  Polo like our economy is being outsourced.  John Rosene and Peter Rizzo have written articles in this the past two months addressing this issue.  Where are American players, and what can be done to produce more?

Rosene observed that the USPA is not keeping up with the population growth and postulated that if the influx of foreign members were deducted from the total membership, perhaps the number of American players had actually decreased.  He also correctly observed that a strong organization needs a strong base and the way to do that is to introduce many new players a few of whom will rise to the top as either professionals or team sponsors.  He closed by recommending a marketing strategy mainly though television to attract the horse oriented youth from established horse farms and ranches who already had  a support system in place to make polo affordable.

Rizzo addressed the changes that have occurred in American polo over the past 40 years.  He addressed how the rise of professionalism has changed how the game is played.  With the growth of professionalism has come a growth in foreign players and their support network of trainers, grooms, horse-shoers, etc. He mentioned that the USPA is considering an affirmative action rule to require one American player in addition to the sponsor on every team.  He fairly pointed out that this may or may not work to redevelop American polo players.  He also mentioned a key point that the cost/reward ratio in the United States might simply be too high for young American players to justify the effort to become a higher level player.

What does the Polo Training Foundation have to do with all of this?   Marketing the sport as suggested by John Rosene and the rule changes that Peter Rizzo mentioned are the bailiwick of the USPA.  The Polo Training Foundation is there to do exactly what the name implies.  Train polo players and umpires.  As the foundation has grown more resources have been used to broaden the base that Rosene aptly pointed out is necessary for a strong foundation.   The USPA Intercollegiate-Interscholastic tournament program has grown by leaps and bounds as have several junior programs at polo clubs across North America because the PTF working closely with the clubs that host these programs has encouraged teaching more young polo players.   Now the PTF and the USPA working closely with member clubs plan to expand that teaching concept by developing five regional teaching centers in major population areas across the continent.  The long range plan is to get them up and running successfully with a combination of grants, endowments, and fees for usage and then move on to create more until there are learning centers in every city where it is practical to play polo.  This plan will broaden the base from which the better players and sponsors will rise to the top and play higher goal polo. 

The process of establishing training centers is a long slow one, however, so what can be done to address the immediate problem?  Rizzo, in his article talked about, “in the good old days”;   if you were and adequate player for your handicap, and had a reputation of honoring your commitments to play, that you would be given the opportunity to play on teams with higher rated players and thereby through the necessity of creating good team chemistry be mentored by those players.  Mentoring is happening in spots across the country, but it needs to be encouraged more.  One example of such a program is the ECAT tournament at the Brandywine Polo Club.  Another example is the Young player’s tournament that was held at Steve Orthwein’s Port Mayaca Polo Club in Florida this past winter.   This concept needs to be expanded further by encouraging professional polo players to give back to the sport, by helping younger players along, whether it be merely talking with them about polo or letting them apprentice in their training operations with the chance to get some great pointers on the practice field and perhaps eventually the game field.

Peter Rizzo concluded by stating that the changes that have occurred in polo may be inevitable.  If, however, we don’t begin to try to redevelop our base, then it will be inevitable and there will be fewer and fewer American players.  If however, the PTF, the USPA and most importantly the polo playing public work together on all fronts perhaps we can re-energize our base and begin to re-grow our American base. Then we’ll have the best of both worlds, a strong American playing population with international interaction.   Perhaps the fact that so many people in polo are addressing the issue, an amalgamation of all these ideas will lead to better solutions.  And if you extrapolate that to the opening paragraph comparing polo to society, maybe, just maybe, there will be enough people out there that America’s outsourcing will evolve back into more stateside production, creating equilibrium within the world economy.

Progress this year
Progress has been made on all these fronts in the past year.   The USPA has hired Kris Bowman full time to oversee the development of the five regional centers and the PTF is working closely with the USPA to help develop the training curricula for these programs.  The Great Plains Equestrian Center in Wichita, Kansas created by former USPA Chair Jack Shelton is being run by Dan Healy and with Kris’s help and assistance with a clinic by PTF instructor Wilbur O’Ferrall, students are flocking to their lesson program.   Robin Sanchez at Brushy Creek Ranch in Burleson, Texas in conjunction with the Las Colinas Polo club has been attracting several new students to polo.  Brandywine Polo Club home of the ECAT mentioned above has also been named as a training center where Scott Brown and crew are doing a great job attracting youth and adults in their training programs.  The USPA is currently evaluating sites in California, Virginia, and Atlanta as possible future centers, so tremendous progress is being made in the development of training programs.  The USPA is also following up on John Rosene’s suggestion to study the possibility of marketing the sport through horse oriented cable television.  Both organizations are working to involve the US Pony Club more directly in polo.  The USPA has also joined the PTF in promoting the ongoing education of instructors at the annual seminar to be held this year at Brushy Creek Ranch Novemeber 6-8, 2009.

Finally mentoring programs continue to grow, albeit not as fast as they should.  Many players hire young students to work their ponies in exchange for chukkers.  These programs need to be expanded and professional players need to be encouraged to incorporate the more talented into their operations, and use them to fill out teams where lower handicapped players are needed. 

These programs, to become successful and gradually expand to most of the clubs across the country, need you the polo public to take part in this effort.  If everyone does their share to help bring in new players, the future of polo in America will be back on solid ground.

Additional Inquiries
For any other questions regarding polo training or polo in general feel free to call the PTF office: 888-PTF-POLO (783-7656) or email dscheraga@polotraining.org.

In his editorial this month Peter Rizzo talks about the need for enclosed areas for working horses.   A couple of years ago my wife and I took some green horses to Florida for the winter.   These horses were trained to ride and one actually had some polo experience and the other had stick and balled in the relative quiet of our polo field in upstate New York.  We arrived in Florida between Christmas and New Year’s when Florida can be cold and windy.  People who move to Florida claim their blood thins out and they can no longer stand temperatures in the 40’s & 50’s.  As someone who spends most of his winter in the frigid northern clines where we average twelve feet of snow during the winter months, I can personally attest to the fact that blood does not thin out.  The damp cold of a 45 degree day in Florida is far more painful that a 20 degree day in upstate New York.

Anyway, I digress.  Janet and I were excited to get moving on these green ponies that  had been fairly calm and docile while being worked at home, so we tacked them up and headed out on the exercise track that circles the 130 acre Ten Square Farms just south of the Vero Beach Polo Club.  The exercise track is fairly well maintained and in most spots wide enough that two sets of three horses can work side by side.  There is a canal to the outside and the ten square farms (from which the development got its name) lie to the inside.  There are also plenty of long grass marshy areas in and around the canals.  That day the wind was blowing probably at about ten or fifteen miles an hour, but the horses thought it was more like thirty as we tooled along.  We rounded the first corner and up flies one of those birds that you always find in crossword puzzles, an egret, a turn, an erne or one of those other exotic tropical bird that looks like a pterodactyl to a green horse in a cold windy strange setting. Both horses knowing this monster bird was about to swoop down and carry them off to its nest to feed its hatchlings jumped what felt like six feet in the air.  Mine then spun out from under me and started back for the barn while Janet managed to stay atop hers after convincing it that the barn was not where she wanted to go, and caught mine before she made the turn for home.  Remounted and sore we somehow gutted it out the rest of the way around the track that now felt about six inches wide as we watched for birds on one side and alligators on the other.

When we finally made it back to the paddock, a nine acre fenced field, we decided discretion was the better part of valor and worked the horses inside the fence.  Finding the horses much calmer we continued to work inside the paddock until the horses were more settled from the combination of regular work and the calming hotter weather that comes later in the season.

Training Centers

I relate the above tale because, just as Peter Rizzo and countless other riders have experienced, a controlled environment is a much safer place to deal with the unknown when it comes to horses.  This is true for advanced riders with fresh horses and it’s true for the beginning rider that needs to get his or her confidence before venturing into the wide open spaces of a trail or a polo field.  For these reasons most instructors prefer to have an arena to start new riders and polo players.  The USPA and the PTF have jointly developed a plan with a long term goal of having a polo school at every USPA member club in the country.   It will start out with the USPA naming five Regional Training Centers at polo clubs or schools, in areas where there is a sufficient population to grow membership.  The Regional Directors will wear several hats.  They will teach a polo school at their center, and will also be a resource to help start schools at other clubs in their region.  The USPA will partially support the Regional Directors with the idea that they will communicate the resources of the USPA and help to grow the membership by bringing new players to the game.  The PTF will also be a resource to these schools by helping with instructional resources.  In addition, support for the instructional part of the Regional Director will be able to be funded with pre-tax dollars donated to the PTF mostly from donors from that region of the country.

Going back to the experience most of us have had in an uncontrolled environment, it will be a requirement that the Regional Centers have an arena.  Not only can instructors have better control of their classes in the arena, but it also increases the numbers of horses available for lessons.  Many horses that are hot or runaways on the wide open prairie are docile little baby sitters when they can’t see the horizon.  There are other advantages to having arenas.  They lengthen the season, even if they are not covered.  If they have an all weather footing they can be played most of the year.  Even up here in snow country an outdoor arena could be used some years right up into December.  They also provide a great venue to start green horses or horses that have been off all winter and might think they are auditioning for a rodeo come spring.  Arenas also provide great training aids.  There are many more set plays that can be taught in the arena than on the outdoor field and those plays lend themselves to teaching riding aids while relating the exercises to game situations.  For example, most beginners will not realize when running at a ball on the wall, that the horse doesn’t really care whether or not the rider hits the ball.   Most horses, seeing the wall fast approaching, are merely concerned with not running through it and will take the easiest exit possible.  There are exercises to teach the rider to balance the horse using their weight and legs and very little rein to give the horse the confidence it needs to allow the rider close enough to the wall to take the ball with them.  On the same theme, the arena is great for green horses because the walls can be used to help collect the horse and they can be taught to stop and turn by using the walls instead of the reins to balance and handle.

Wilbur O’Ferrall who teaches countless clinics to Pony Club and 4-H groups on their own horses strongly recommends that the group that hosts him tries to find an arena for his clinics.   He is a master at introducing the game to these kids and in a three day clinic has them playing a scrimmage on horses that have never seen a polo ball before the clinic began.

It’s also an inexpensive way to get started.  Two horses are all you need to play a full game, and again because of the controlled environment, you don’t need quite the quality of horse that is necessary for a full sized grass field.

So if you have a polo school, want an inexpensive way to play, or just a spot to start your green or your fresh horses, an arena is the way to go.  It will be a lot of fun!

Kevin Fawcett was presented the 2008 Carlton Beal Umpire of the Year Award immediately following the finals of the US Open on April 26, 2009, a game which he umpired.  The award, named in honor of Carlton Beal was presented by his son Kelly Beal, PTF Head Umpire Instructor Steve Lane, and USPA Director of Umpire Services Rick Sears. “Kevin has been in the professional umpire program for four years, and he really stepped up to the very top level of umpiring in 2008,” said Sears.  In addition to umpiring in Florida during the high goal season including the Open, Kevin has umpired in the past three Opens and spent the last four summers umpiring during the high goal seasons at the Bridegehampton and Greenwich Polo Clubs in New York and Connecticut.  When not on the umpire circuit Kevin calls Point Clear, Alabama home.

Villa del Lago Hosts College All Stars
For the second year Villa del Lago hosted four collegiate all star players the weekend of April 24-26, 2009.  Chris Collins – Colorado State University, Charlie Hutchinson V – University of Connecticut, Steven Stimmel – Texas Tech University, and Wiley Uretz – Westmont College, flew in to West Palm Beach on Friday evening and settled into their quarters.  The four players who had only met each other on one other occasion spent the evening getting acquainted. 

On Saturday they attended the USPA-PTF Networking Day at the Polo Museum and Hall of Fame where they helped USPA Intercollegiate-Interscholastic Program Director Kim Syme tell attendees about the I-I tournament program and what their collegiate and in some cases high school experiences were.  

Saturday afternoon the all stars took on an eight goal Villa del Lago team in a four chukker match.  It was a wonderful game and the four players looked like they had been playing together the entire season.  Although they lost 8-4, they felt pretty good about the match since they were a four goal team against eight.  After the game, Villa del Lago hosted a reception for the PTF Board of Directors, and the USPA Board of Governors.  Chris Collins was presented the MVP award, a lovely Piaget saddle pad by Piaget Assistant Vice President Retail Lauren Duffy.

Sunday morning the group wanted to tour all the polo tack and mallet stores.  Since the Tackeria was the only one open on Sunday a considerable amount of time was spent there, checking out mallets and other polo goodies not readily available in college towns.  The final highlight of the weekend was spent watching the 2009 US Open Championships from fieldside seats right on the midfield stripe.  This year there was a lot of action near midfield so the all starts got to see lots of polo up close.

Summer Grass Roots Polo
Summertime is when the bulk of players in North America rediscover their riding muscles, leg up their horses, dust off their mallets, and hit the polo field or arena with a renewed enthusiasm, sometimes bordering on the sheer glee like that of a child waking up to a room full of presents on Christmas morning.  Much of this polo is grass roots polo where several players have banded together, found a field and formed a club.  They play practices during the week and try to schedule games on the weekend, and maybe even put on a tournament or two over the course of the season.  Sometimes they get a little more ambitious and recruit some naïve newcomer into trying this addictive activity called polo.  This scenario is exactly what it takes to grow the sport.  The new PTF-USPA joint venture regional centers are meant to be a hub to encourage just this type of growth at the many clubs in their regions.  The PTF already has programs in place to help these grass roots clubs.   Player and umpire clinics and even overnight camps are available through the PTF.  Below are some of the options out there to make your grass roots experience just a tiny bit better.

Club Player and Umpire Clinics
In conjunction with USPA member clubs, the PTF will co-sponsor one pre-approved player or umpire clinic at any club by paying half the cost up to a maximum reimbursement of $1000.  For player clinics, clubs can hire their own instructor or have the PTF locate an instructor.  For umpire clinics, the instructor must be pre-approved through Head Umpire Instructor Steve Lane.  Steve has been in polo since he was big enough to wield a mallet and has been professionally involved with umpiring and umpire training since 1992.  In addition to teaching many clinics himself Steve is often assisted by a corps of umpire instructors including Bob Stuerzebecher, Rick Sears, Dan Healy and Billy Sheldon.  For more information on this program contact the PTF office: 888-PTF-POLO (783-7656) or email: dscheraga@polotraining.org.  For scheduling an umpire clinic, contact Steve Lane: 717-645-8793 or email: slpolo9@aol.com.

Youth Clinics with Wilbur O’Ferrall
Wilbur O’Ferrall also has played polo since he was ten. While at UC Davis he won four Western Regional championships, captained the 1989 National Championship team, and won the PTF Player of the year award after leading his team to the National finals in 1990.  He has been a Field Director for the PTF since the fall of 1996 emphasizing youth training.   Wilbur’s clinics can be for a group new to polo such as a Pony Club or a 4-H group and he can also accommodate a full fledged junior program at a USPA member club.  There is no charge for these clinics other than his travel expenses, and  housing and feeding him while he is at your location.  To reach Wilbur call: 717-645-8715 or email: wofpolo@aol.com.

Brushy Creek Camp
Instructed by Robin Sanchez
Robin Sanchez is no stranger to managing and teaching.  The daughter of the late renowned polo instructor Buzz Welker, Robin was practically born with a mallet in her hand.  Her first lesson was with the late great 9-goaler Dr. Billy Linfoot and she has continued to contribute to every aspect of the sport from training horses to officiating games, and has played tournament polo up to the 16 goal level.  Brushy Creek camps are 5 days of total immersion in the polo including horse care as well as all aspects of polo horsemanship, hitting, rules and playing. Robin has also added adult and family weekend camps to the Brushy Creek experience and runs several specialty clinics throughout the year.  For more information in these acclaimed camps and clinics contact Robin at 717-645-8778 or email polodutoit@yahoo.com.  The $995 Early Bird special deadline for prepaid enrollment has been extended until May 1, 2009.  The regular camp fee is $1200.

Additional Inquiries
For any other questions regarding polo training or polo in general feel free to call the PTF office: 888-PTF-POLO (783-7656) or email dscheraga@polotraining.org.

by Danny Scheraga
We lost “Papa” Joe Bishop Friday March 20, 2009.  Joe was a great supporter of polo, with a deep commitment to umpiring and umpire training.  He was also a close personal friend.  In my polo career three men have been mentors and colleagues, who as volunteers have put in an effort far and above the call of duty to further the future of polo.  The first two Dan Colhoun and George Alexander, I met as a very young man and they helped shape my career and I still turn to them for advice.  Joe, I met later on but he quickly proved that his dedication to improving the sport and willingness to invest the time to do so was unsurpassable.  Joe was tenacious and would stick with causes he believed in until he accomplished his goal.  He developed a model for umpire training that is the most comprehensive training program to date that the PTF and USPA have jointly sponsored.

Two bouts with cancer kept Joe from playing polo, but he wanted to stay involved so he turned his passion toward umpiring.  Joe attacked learning to umpire with a vengeance that, I would later learn, he did with everything he set his mind to do.  I first heard of Joe when Dan Healy told me that a guy had hired him to travel for a month around Texas to umpire and teach this fellow to umpire.  Years later I learned this fellow was Joe Bishop. After I knew Joe, I saw him repeat this effort with the top umpires including Bobby Barry and Tom Hughes.

I first met Joe at the Las Vegas Polo Expo in 2000.  We had a brief encounter there and he told me he was interested in umpiring and in helping to develop training programs for umpires.  Joe began to call me with ideas for developing umpire training.  About that time we were kicking off the campaign to endow the Head Umpire Instructor position that is currently held by Steve Lane.  The Oxley Foundation had issued a challenge grant that when matched would raise $1 million to fund this position.  Joe immediately got on board and became a working Chairman to help organize the campaign.  Joe’s efforts were largely responsible for the PTF meeting its goal of funding this position in three years.

Joe developed a model for umpire training in Texas that we hope to duplicate around the country.   Steve Lane has run this program three times now.   Qualified umpire candidates from all around the Southwest come to a central location for classroom work and on field umpire experience.  Match games or a tournament is organized at the level umpires are trying to be certified.   Games are videotaped and reviewed.  Successful candidates are certified at the level of game that they umpire.  These clinics have been excellent with many umpires being certified or if already certified having their certification renewed.  Joe then took the program one step further.  He identified some of the better candidates, lined up the financing and had those candidates apprentice with some of the top umpires in places such at Houston, and Santa Fe.  In two cases of apprenticeship the umpires were then brought into the professional umpire program in Florida.

It was this type of work that inspired the PTF to award Joe the Volunteer of the Year award in 2006.  Joe was a good friend to many of the pros around Dallas who worked hard at their umpiring.  He had a lot of respect for their dedication to calling the game correctly.  They are the ones who called him “Papa” Joe.  When I first heard it, I thought boy does that fit and from then on I always greeted him as Papa Joe.

As dedicated as Joe was to polo he was even more dedicated to his religion, his family and his work.  I have the privilege of knowing his lovely wife Terri and his son Dusty and I met many of his other children and grandchildren at his funeral.  The love they showed for this man was beyond words.  His business partner Jim Shearer spoke of what an inspiration Joe had been to work with and how his life’s work was dedicated to bettering the plight of the downtrodden, constantly giving those in need a helping hand.

How he found time for all that, I’ll never know.  He certainly was an inspiration to me and to everyone I know whose lives he touched.  We’re going to miss you Papa Joe.

Brushy Creek Camp Instructed by Robin Sanchez
Robin Sanchez is no stranger to managing and teaching.  The daughter of the late renowned polo instructor Buzz Welker, Robin was practically born with a mallet in her hand.  Her first lesson was with the late great 9-goaler Dr. Billy Linfoot and she has continued to contribute to every aspect of the sport from training horses to officiating games, and has played tournament polo up to the 16 goal level.  Brushy Creek camps are 5 days of total immersion in the polo including horse care as well as all aspects of polo horsemanship, hitting, rules and playing. Robin has also added adult and family weekend camps to the Brushy Creek experience and runs several specialty clinics throughout the year.  For more information in these acclaimed camps and clinics contact Robin at 717-645-8778 or email polodutoit@yahoo.com.  The $995 Early Bird special deadline for prepaid enrollment has been extended until May 1, 2009.  The regular camp fee is $1200.

Youth Clinics with Wilbur O’Ferrall
Wilbur O’Ferrall also has played polo since he was ten. While at UC Davis he won four Western Regional championships, captained the 1989 National Championship team, and won the PTF Player of the year award after leading his team to the National finals in 1990.  He has been a Field Director for the PTF since the fall of 1996 emphasizing youth training.   Wilbur’s clinics can be for a group new to polo such as a Pony Club or a 4-H group and he can also accommodate a full fledged junior program at a USPA member club.  There is no charge for these clinics other than his travel expenses, and  housing and feeding him while he is at your location.  To reach Wilbur call: 717-645-8715 or email: wofpolo@aol.com.

Club Player and Umpire Clinics
In conjunction with USPA member clubs, the PTF will co-sponsor one pre-approved player or umpire clinic at any club by paying half the cost up to a maximum reimbursement of $1000.  For player clinics, clubs can hire their own instructor or have the PTF locate an instructor.  For umpire clinics, the instructor must be pre-approved through Head Umpire Instructor Steve Lane.  Steve has been in polo since he was big enough to wield a mallet and has been professionally involved with umpiring and umpire training since 1992.  In addition to teaching many clinics himself Steve is often assisted by a corps of umpire instructors including Bob Stuerzebecher, Rick Sears, Dan Healy and Billy Sheldon.  For more information on this program contact the PTF office: 888-PTF-POLO (783-7656) or email: dscheraga@polotraining.org.  For scheduling an umpire clinic, contact Steve Lane: 717-645-8793 or email: slpolo9@aol.com.

Additional Inquiries
For any other questions regarding polo training or polo in general feel free to call the PTF office: 888-PTF-POLO (783-7656) or email dscheraga@polotraining.org.

by Megan Kozminski
The future of polo in America.  This is an unrelenting issue on the minds of polo players and supporters across the country.  Spearheading a positive outcome for the future of our great sport is the Polo Training Foundation. For over forty years, the PTF has gathered and directed funds towards the development of current and future generations of players and umpires. This is no small feat, in the very best of times. 

Resolute towards the current economic challenges facing the country, the PTF continues to strive towards its goal of producing high quality players and umpires: and this year’s annual PTF Benefit Auction proved that hope does prevail for polo’s future. Meet the dedicated contributors and supporters who make the Annual PTF Benefit Auction a success, a group whose ongoing devotion to the sport perpetuates its legacy: Ambassador Glen and Gloria Holden; Deb and Derek Wolstenholme; Dick and Karlene Garber; Fred and Li-Anne Mannix; Dr. Christian and Mrs. Neumann; Paul and Margot Von Gontard; to mention just a few…

Gather a generous group of polo supporters in a room full of inspired auction items, add the enthusiasm of auctioneers Alex Jacoy, Bill Devane and Denny Geiler, and you have an entertaining evening of successful fundraising.  Derek Wolstenholme kicked the 2009 PTF Auction off with a short tribute to the Auction Co-chairs Deb Wolstenholme and Jan Ray, whose enthusiasm and optimism he characterized with the appropriate adage: Nothing Succeeds like Success.  Indeed. 

Danny Scheraga, Executive Director of the PTF, welcomed guests and expressed a genuine enthusiasm towards foundation supporters and initiatives.  “The PTF is defined by charity and volunteerism” declared Scheraga, recognizing the leadership of Ambassador Glen Holden and Karlene Garber in this regard. Deb Wolstenholme was awarded Volunteer of the Year by the PTF, for her unfailing fundraising work and commitment to the foundation.  Looking forward to the upcoming PTF polo camps, player training, and umpire clinics; Danny also recognized the work of Steve Lane, Head Umpire Instructor at the Eldorado Polo Club, for his work in bridging the gap between east and west coast polo in the US.

One of the youngest representatives of junior polo in the west then addressed guests at the auction: “I have been playing polo for a very long time… and I just love playing polo”.  The youngest playing brother of the Uretz family, 12 year-old Hank Uretz’s thoughtful words were a testimony to the work of the PTF and the country’s growing base of strong junior players. Having played polo since the age of 5 years old, Hank mentioned that his talented brothers Wiley, Patrick and Tony are “getting all the offers” to play league polo – and it seems that young Hank is determined to do the same. 

As the evening turned towards the exciting prizes up for auction, the spectacular array of international donors and donations took center stage: beautiful Baccarat Crystal donated by Greg and Stacey Renker; a classic Chanel clutch donated by Jeff Byron and Saks Fifth Avenue; a ski trip to Snow Creek Resort in Mammoth, California donated by Margarita and Chuck Lande; an Amangani Jackson Hole resort stay donated by Stuart Campbell and AmanResorts; a Thailand polo experience donated by Harald Link; an array of stunning jewelry donated by Wendy and Doug Lewis and Lesley Portman of The Estate Jewelry Collection.  Robert Langholz of the Eldorado Country Club purchased the guided fishing trip to the Queen Charlotte Islands, generously donated by Fred and Li-Anne Mannix. Wes and Clarisa Ru of Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club took away the trip to Peru with visits to Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca donated by Inkaterra and The Andean Experience. Murray and Lynda Farmer from the Victoria Polo Club in Canada purchased VIP tickets and accommodations for the Bombardier Pacific Coast Open in September 2009. Paul and Margot Von Gontard generously obtained the Mandarin Oriental Hotel New York prize for five-star accommodations and fine dining.

Complementing the live auction, a silent auction took place with items ranging from a Kim Kumpart Photo Shoot, to polo-inspired original artwork by Abe Flory, to a magenta leather Escada bag.  Special guests who generously placed bids and opened their pocketbooks for amazing live and silent auction prizes included Jeff Byron, Wendy Lewis, Lesley Portman, Steve Armour, Denny and Joanne Geiler, Geri Dardi, Pacific Northwest USPA Circuit Governor George Dill, Paige Beard, Shelley Geiler and many other polo players and supporters.  Several bidders also participated in the live auction over the phone, in the attempt to secure a prize in their absence of the event.

To wind up the successful fundraising event, guests and patrons raised their hands in sponsorship of teams participating in FIP World Cup Polo.  A generous group donated to both Team USA and Team Canada, hoping to further both countries’ opportunities to advance to the finals of the World Cup.

The success of the 13th Annual PTF Auction at the Eldorado Country Club testifies to the tireless efforts of Auction Co-chairs Deb Wolstenholme and Jan Ray, and the ongoing commitment of donors, guests and supporters. In honor of the contribution made by all, Dr. and Mrs. Christian Neumann hosted an exclusive cocktail party at their ranch in Indio on the evening following the auction event.

In 2008, over 1500 students participated in PTF player and umpire training programs.  In years to come, the PTF hopes to continue to expand its ability to improve and recognize the playing ability, sportsmanship and contribution of players to the game of polo in North America.  Fundraising events such as the Annual Benefit Auction ensure this progress, and bring us one step closer to realizing a successful future for the sport of polo in America.

Megan Kozminski is a freelance writer and the co-founder of Poise Publications Inc., a Canadian-based company that specializes in lifestyle publications related to wine, polo and leisure. She plays at the Calgary Polo Club in Canada and at Eldorado Polo Club in California.

By Dan Haro

Over the winter break from school, members of the Skidmore Polo Team traveled to Brushy Creek Polo Ranch to advance our polo ability with the PTF.  Fresh off the plane and unloading our bags at the bunk house we quickly began our week of polo skill building with Robin Sanchez.

The agenda of each day worked on the many components to playing polo.  In the mornings we gathered around the living room of the house- bagels and cereal in hand- to review foul shots, rules, and general polo safety.  This classroom component benefited players who had questions and confusions about the long list of fouls, sophomore Valerie Schwartz says she “[I] never looked into each rule as closely as Robin showed us, and this sort of “chalk talk” was important because most of the time at practice we’re on the ponies, focusing on them and the ball”.  These “chalk talks” helped the men’s and women’s team look into each play to develop strategies for different foul shot scenarios.

Polo at Brushy focused on three different areas, riding polo style, hitting, and chukkers.  Focusing on polo riding is something the Skidmore Men’s team devoted most of their attention to while at Brushy.  Juniors Dan Haro, Max Nager, and sophomore Alek Krazinski had taken to polo when first arriving at Skidmore, and their extensive English riding and hunter backgrounds were not comparable to the polo style of riding; “taking time out of the day to focus on riding is an important part of polo” says Dan, “players are often caught up in a play or searching for the ball that we can forget to ride the horse first”.  Max Nager notes “polo riding is completely different than what I am used to, and I realize now that having the right polo position and collecting the horse with your knees really advances each play”.  Robin demonstrated that the proper style of polo riding can command the most out of the pony and unite the rider and horse to move and think together.

In the afternoons the players saddled up the PTF ponies for hitting drills.  During these sessions Robin broke down parts of the swing with each rider to emphasize the importance of proper form.  Robin, paired with local guest players, helped improve each type of polo shot, showing us tricks and skills for hitting at all speeds and in every situation.  The techniques learned during the stick and ball time paired with the riding practice was then applied to the most anticipated part of the day—chukkers!
Taking advantage of the days training, the chukkers were when we were able to see all of our new skills put to the test.  “It was like magic” says junior Kim Keate, “you’d be galloping along and spot a text book example of a situation we discussed that morning, and right away make the best decision of what play to make”.  Having been immersed in polo all day and then have chukkers in the evening was the true test of our newly learned talents.  Not only were they a time for us to apply our abilities, but to have fun with our teammates and get competitive.  Capturing each part of the game on film and stopping play to explain each foul in detail helped to reinforce the rules and technique for the players when we would review the tapes at night.

Over a few boxes of well deserved pizza for the players, Robin would play back the tapes of each chukker, highlighting the great plays and strategies exhibited by the teams or the sticky fouls we got ourselves into.  “It’s important to relive your mistakes, and reinforce what you did wrong so you can avoid fouling in a similar situation” says senior Elizabeth Holson, “plus watching on video is slightly embarrassing, so when I am playing a chukker I don’t want to see it on tape later!”  The nights usually concluded with watching more polo video tapes, a blockbuster from the extensive shelf collection, or reliving past polo moments and talking ponies.

“It was a phenomenal time” says sophomore Liz Charpentier, “for a week you get “polofied” [immersed in polo] from 9-5, ride a dozen different horses, care for the ponies, learn everything you can about the game, eat lots of bagels, and bond with your teammates.”  The Skidmore Team agreed that traveling to Brushy Creek for a week and working with Robin and the ponies was a great experience for building the strength and skill of the school’s team.  This opportunity allowed us to promote our polo and enjoy the sport we love most- the sport of kings and college students.

An update from Danny Scheraga

We’re experiencing a heat wave in upstate New York as I write this on Ground Hog Day.  The temperature has soared above thirty degrees.  Shirtsleeve weather in the midst of the eighth coldest winter on record.  Tomorrow, I assume since the groundhog  didn’t see his shadow predicting six more weeks of winter,  we will be back to reality with the thermometer dipping back near 0 and below.  This relative warmth for two days has turned thoughts to spring and summer, or for those of us not lucky enough to sojurn in the sunny south for the winter, to dreams of POLO.   For those of you starting to plan your summer seasons, now is a good time to think about taking advantage of the many programs The Polo Training Foundation has to offer to enhance the training of players and umpires and thereby help to assure a safer and hopefully more pleasing polo experience. 

How the PTF Works

Founded in 1967 the PTF is  a charitable organization charged with training polo players and umpires.  Through the many programs below the PTF annually touches the lives of over 1100 polo and umpire students.   Donations to the PTF are tax deductible.  These funds to support training programs are raised through mail solicitations, personal contacts, and fund raisers held at clubs across the country.  Income is also generated from fees collected for some programs run exclusively by the PTF such as the camp at Brushy Creek in Burleson, Texas and the Florida club umpire school at the Vero Beach Polo Club.  The last source of PTF income is from endowment income, although 2008 was just as unkind to our investment accounts as most other income accounts across the nation.   

What is Endowment
and why can’t that money be spent?
One of the biggest misunderstandings in the polo community is how an endowment works.  The PTF has nearly three million dollars that is permanently restricted by the donors of those funds.  This means only income generated by those funds is available to be spent on programs.  The goal of these donors is to assure that the PTF will be sufficiently funded to accomplish its goals for the foreseeable future.  Donors also expect the organization they support to be fiscally responsible with their endowments.  Therefore the money is invested in a moderately conservative manner with the goal of achieving enough of an annual return so that five percent can be spent on programs and a percentage approximately equal to the inflation rate can be re-invested in the principal so as not to erode the buying power of the endowment.  Financial markets go up and down, and some years this can be an easily obtainable goal, but other years, as in 2008, it can be a quite a challenge to achieve these results.  Traditionally the PTF has been able to draw approximately $200,000 of its annual budget from these investments.  Because of the 2008 Market performance the PTF will be lucky to generate $150,000.  This coupled with possible reduced donations due to the economy has required a detailed review of the annual budget and considerable belt tightening.  Fortunately we have found ways to continue our core programs will substantially reducing an already strict budget.   The PTF is constantly reviewing programs to assure they fit the mission to help grow polo through education of players and umpires.  To begin new programs, either old programs need to be reduced or new money has to be raised.  If programs do grow, the best way would be through a combination of increased endowment to assure stability and increased annual giving.  A balance between endowment and annual giving is the ideal method of development.  Some donors prefer to have their gifts earmarked specifically for endowment while others would prefer to see their money put to work immediately.  The PTF strives to accommodate both while delivering quality instruction to the polo community. 

Programs Currently funded by the PTF

Brushy Creek Camp
Instructed by Robin (du Toit) Sanchez

Robin Sanchez is no stranger to managing and teaching.  The daughter of the late renowned polo instructor Buzz Welker, Robin was practically born with a mallet in her hand.  Her first lesson was with the late great 9-goaler Dr. Billy Linfoot and she has continued to contribute to every aspect of the sport from training horses to officiating games, and has played tournament polo up to the 16 goal level.  Brushy Creek camps are 5 days of total immersion in the polo including horse care as well as all aspects of polo horsemanship, hitting, rules and playing. Robin has also added adult and family weekend camps to the Brushy Creek experience and runs several specialty clinics throughout the year.  For more information in these acclaimed camps and clinics contact Robin at 717-645-8778 or email polodutoit@yahoo.com.  The $995 Early Bird special deadline for prepaid enrollment has been extended until April 1, 2009.  The regular camp fee is $1200.

Youth Clinics with Wilbur O’Ferrall

Wilbur O’Ferrall also has played polo since he was ten. While at UC Davis he won four Western Regional championships, captained the 1989 National Championship team, and won the PTF Player of the year award after leading his team to the National finals in 1990.  He has been a Field Director for the PTF since the fall of 1996 emphasizing youth training.   Wilbur’s clinics can be for a group new to polo such as a Pony Club or a 4-H group and he can also accommodate a full fledged junior program at a USPA member club.  There is no charge for these clinics other than his travel expenses, and  housing and feeding him while he is at your location.  To reach Wilbur call: 717-645-8715 or email: wofpolo@aol.com.

Club Player and Umpire Clinics

In conjunction with USPA member clubs, the PTF will co-sponsor one pre-approved player or umpire clinic at any club by paying half the cost up to a maximum reimbursement of $1000.  For player clinics, clubs can hire their own instructor or have the PTF locate an instructor.  For umpire clinics, the instructor must be pre-approved through Head Umpire Instructor Steve Lane.  Steve has been in polo since he was big enough to wield a mallet and has been professionally involved with umpiring and umpire training since 1992.  In addition to teaching many clinics himself Steve is often assisted by a corps of umpire instructors including Bob Stuerzebecher, Rick Sears, Dan Healy and Billy Sheldon.  For more information on this program contact the PTF office: 888-PTF-POLO (783-7656) or email: dscheraga@polotraining.org.  For scheduling an umpire clinic, contact Steve Lane: 717-645-8793 or email: slpolo9@aol.com.

There is still time in 2009!  Winter Club Umpire School
There are still places available for the Florida Club Umpire weekly schools at the Vero Beach Polo Club. The fee for the clinic is $350.  For more information, contact the PTF office at (888) PTF-POLO (783-7656) or dscheraga@polotraining.org. Bob Stuerzebecher can be contacted directly at 561-386-3991 or bobspolo@yahoo.com

Giving to the PTF has just gotten even easier! Every time you place an order on the
www.CountrySupply.com website, 5% of your purchase can be donated to the PTF. After you have chosen your merchandise, input "PTF" into the Care Code field. It's that easy! Thank you for continued support of the future of polo and the PTF!

by Danny Scheraga

Robin Wants You!
Early Bird Special At Brushy Creek
Robin Sanchez can’t wait for the 2009 camp season at Brushy Creek.  There will be six one week sessions in June and July followed by two more weeks in late August.  She’s also planning two family camps on Memorial and Labor Day weekends.  The $995 Early Bird special deadline for prepaid enrollment has been extended until April 1, 2009.  The regular camp fee is $1200.

Brushy creek is a self contained operation with a bunk house, arena and an outdoor field.  Students are immersed in polo for the five days they attend camp including lectures, video review, on horse instruction and lots of polo.   Past attendees have gone on to excel in both interscholastic and intercollegiate tournaments.  At a recent National Intercollegiate Tournament, eighty percent of the players had attended Brushy Creek Camp.

Robin would also be happy to set up specialty camps during school vacations or weekend clinics for anyone interested in furthering their polo education.   For more information contact Robin directly by phone: 817-645-8778 or email: robin@pololessons.com. 

South Florida Umpire Clinic
Bob Stuerzebecher Instructor
There is still time to register for the PTF Umpire Clinic taught by Bob Stuerzebecher at the Vero Beach Polo Club in Vero Beach Florida.  These week-long clinics are a wonderful opportunity for rated umpires wishing to improve their skills, people interested in learning the art of umpiring, and players who want to enhance their understanding of the rules to better themselves as players.
Clinics will be held at the Vero Beach Polo Club in Florida every week through April 4, 2009. Students should plan to arrive on Sunday in time for the 2 PM game. Each clinic ends on the following Sunday afternoon.
The clinic objectives are: 
* To help club umpires gain knowledge and experience needed to pass the current USPA Rules test and to improve field judgment through study and practice of the latest rules and umpire procedures.  
* To help players gain knowledge of when they can legally make a play, which plays they should avoid, and when they should move on to make the next play.
 Objectives will be accomplished through:
* Classroom study Monday and Tuesday, 8 AM until Noon 
* Practice umpiring one or two games on Wednesday (subject to weather and club schedule)
* Observing professional umpires at work officiating high goal games in Wellington on Thursday, as well as critiquing high goal players throughout these matches. 
* Review and critique performance, summarize progress and make plans for continuing experience
 Clinic preparation and what to bring:
Decide what you want to get out of the clinic.
Ride as much as possible (later, you'll be glad you did).
Read the 2009 USPA Rules (available on the USPA website).
Bring your boots, white pants, helmet and whistle.
Optional: umpire shirt, pick up stick and ball bag.
Umpire horses are provided.
Clinic fee is $350 paid to PTF with a check or credit card prior to clinic participation.
For more information, contact the PTF Office at: (888)783-7656 or
Bob Stuerzebecher at (561)386-3991. When you have selected a week, he can send directions to the Vero Beach Club, where to meet him, a list of motels and a complete schedule for the clinic.
 Remember: 'If it's training and/or teaching a clinic, it's the Polo Training Foundation'
 
Florida Junior Polo
The Florida Junior Polo season kicked off with a registration day December 28 at the Gulfstream Club House, followed by the Major Collin Coaching league and tournament.  Will Johnston has ably taken over and brought fresh ideas and enthusiasm to the program.  Will added a new twist to the Major Collin week.  George and Brenda DuPont graciously hosted the young players at the Polo Museum and Hall of Fame.  The junior players played a trivia game.  They were given a questionnaire in which all the answers could be found in the museum.  This was followed by a rules clinic taught by USPA Head of Umpire Services Rick Sears. Players are divided up into groups by ability starting with lead-line, followed by walk –trot which is affectionately called walker –trotter, and then intermediate and advanced.

 Twenty-nine players participated in the tournament.  There were three teams in the advanced division and two in each of the other divisions.   They advanced group  played a round robin(advanced teams Tackeria, La Martina, and Nanos Mallets). Tackeria won(Mathew Cappola, Lauren Biddle, Andres and Alejandro Gonzalez). Horsemanship award went to Matt Cappola. Sportsmanship award went to Merral Echezarreta, and Best team player went to Miguel Montolvo . In the intermediate group we had El Sur play Yaloak Estate. Yaloak won. Horsemanship award went to Brinkley Erb. Sportsmanship went to Peter Yunghanns, and best team player went to Ayaan Quraeshi. 

Special thanks to, Marla Connor, Perry Palmer, Robin Sanchez, Tommy Biddle, Henry Stevens, Carlucho Arellano, Clarissa Echezarreta, Diego Gonzalez, Patricia Yunghanns, and Leighann Fisher.

Umpire Instruction
Head Umpire Instructor Steve Lane will again spend January through March at the Eldorado Polo Club training their club umpires as well as offering umpire instruction to the membership.  To plan spring and summer clinics contact Steve by phone: 352-454-6611, or email: slpolo9@aol.com.

Youth Clinics
Wilbur O’Ferrall continues to be available to teach youth clinics from the junior level (up to 14 years of age) through the interscholastic and intercollegiate levels.  There is no charge for Wilbur’s time, but the host club is asked to pick up his travel expenses as well as housing, feeding and transporting him while at the clinic.  To host such a clinic, contact Wilbur by phone: 617-645-8715 or email: wofpolo@aol.com.

Eldorado Fund Raiser
The thirteenth annual PTF fund raiser will be held  at 6:00 PM Thursday February 19 at the Eldorado Country Club in Indian Wells, California.  Deb Wolstenholme and Jan Ray are co-Chairing the event.  They have a wonderful assortment of vacation trips, polo equipment, jewelry,  art,  clothing, and other items to auction that evening.  If you can’t attend, you can submit a bid and they will be taking live telephone bids at the event.  For a catalogue of items and the phone numbers to call for live bidding, contact Jan Ray: phone: 760-340-9029, email jankayray@earthlink.net

A message from Danny Scheraga                            

'If it's training and/or teaching a clinic, it's the Polo Training Foundation'

South Florida Umpire Clinic, Bob Stuerzebecher Instructor
There is still time to register for the PTF Umpire Clinic taught by Bob Stuerzebecher at the Vero Beach Polo Club in Vero Beach Florida.  These week-long clinics are a wonderful opportunity for  rated umpires wishing to improve their skills, people interested in learning the art of umpiring, and players who want to enhance their understanding of the rules to better themselves as players.

Clinics will be held at the Vero Beach Polo Club in Florida starting January 5th and continuing each week through April 4, 2009. Students should plan to arrive on Sunday in time for the 2 PM game. Each clinic ends on the following Sunday afternoon.

The clinic objectives are:
* To help club umpires gain knowledge and experience needed to pass the current USPA Rules test and to improve field judgment through study and practice of the latest rules and umpire procedures. 
* To help players gain knowledge of when they can legally make a play, which plays they should avoid, and when they should move on to make the next play.

 Objectives will be accomplished through:
* Classroom study Monday and Tuesday, 8 AM until Noon
* Practice umpiring one or two games on Wednesday (subject to weather and club schedule)
* Observing professional umpires at work officiating high goal games in Wellington on Thursday, as well as critiquing high goal players throughout these matches.
* Review and critique performance, summarize progress and make plans for continuing experience

 Clinic preparation and what to bring:
Decide what you want to get out of the clinic.
Ride as much as possible (later, you'll be glad you did).
Read the 2009 USPA Rules (available on the USPA website).
Bring your boots, white pants, helmet and whistle.
Optional: umpire shirt, pick up stick and ball bag.
Umpire horses are provided.

Clinic fee is $350 paid to PTF with a check or credit card prior to clinic participation.

For more information, contact the PTF Office at: (888)783-7656 or Bob Stuerzebecher at (561)386-3991. When you have selected a week, he can send directions to the Vero Beach Club, where to meet him, a list of motels and a complete schedule for the clinic.

 Remember: 'If it's training and/or teaching a clinic, it's the Polo Training Foundation'

Brushy Creek Early Bird Special
It’s not too late to take advantage of the Brushy Creek Early Bird Special!  The PTF is offering a holiday special for the five day camps in 2009.  Anyone who enrolls by February 1, 2009 will only pay $995 a substantial discount from the normal $1200 registration fee.  The fee includes room, board, horses and instruction. 

Robin Sanchez is really excited about the 2009 Brushy Creek camps.  There will be six one week sessions in June and July followed by two more weeks in late August.

Brushy creek is a self contained operation with a bunk house, arena and an outdoor field.  Students are immersed in polo for the five days they attend camp including lectures, video review, on horse instruction and lots of polo.   Past attendees have gone on to excel in both interscholastic and intercollegiate tournaments.  At a recent National Intercollegiate Tournament, eighty percent of the players had attended Brushy Creek Camp.

Robin would also be happy to set up specialty camps during school vacations or weekend clinics for anyone interested in furthering their polo education.   For more information contact Robin directly by phone: 817-645-8778 or email: polodutoit@yahoo.com. 

Youth Clinics 
Wilbur O’Ferrall continues to be available to teach youth clinics from the junior level (up to 14 years of age) through the interscholastic and intercollegiate levels.  There is no charge for Wilbur’s time, but the host club is asked to pick up his travel expenses as well as housing, feeding and transporting him while at the clinic.  To host such a clinic, contact Wilbur by phone: 617-645-8715 or email: wofpolo@aol.com.

Umpire Instruction
Head Umpire Instructor Steve Lane will again spend January through March at the Eldorado Polo Club training their club umpires as well as offering umpire instruction to the membership.  To plan spring and summer clinics contact Steve by phone: 352-454-6611, or email: slpolo9@aol.com.

Florida Junior Polo
The Polo Training Foundation welcomes Will Johnston as the new Director of Florida Junior Polo.  Will got his start in polo as a twenty-three year old beginner playing with the Florida Junior Polo players.  His polo career has taken him on to high goal polo, managing and playing for Skeeterville last year.  Will is excited about working with the young players in South Florida and is planning to spend time working on basic skills and understanding of the rules in addition to just playing chukkers.  A full season of coaching and tournaments is planned beginning with the Major Collins coaching league and tournament between Christmas and New Years Day.   The JoAnna Monaco Memorial will be played on January 19.  The Florida Junior Polo fund raiser will also take place that weekend on January 17 at 6:30pm at the Gulfstream Clubhouse.  February 16 brings the Avendano Tournament, the oldest and most prestigious junior tournament in the United States.  March’s tournament date had not been set at this writing but there will be an event that month.  Will is also considering organizing an interscholastic team to compete in the USPA Interscholastic Tournament.  For more information on Florida Junior Polo contact Will: phone (561)964.8400 or email: wjohnston@johnsouth.com. 

Eldorado Junior Polo
Janet Ludwig will once again be directing the Eldorado  Junior Polo program with Mark Register assisting as Coach.  Eldorado also has a full slate of tournaments planned for their winter season.  The Arty Cameron Memorial will be played February 7 -8, followed by the Joe Barry Memorial March 15-16.  Both Arty and Joe were instrumental in the development of the Eldorado Junior program.  The FIP/World Gym International Tournament is tentatively scheduled for April 3-5.  Janet Ludwig also has informed the PTF that Eldorado hopes to continue the exchange trips started last year when several Eldorado junior players traveled to Florida to play in the Avendano tournament.  Eldorado would like to play host to a group of Florida junior poloists this year.  For more information on the Eldorado junior program contact Janet by phone: 760-773-3558, or email at info@regeludwigpolo.com

Sarasota Polo Club hosted the second annual arena clinic and tournament December 5th- 7th.  There were eighteen participants this year, which included adults and junior players.  The weekend began with chukkers on Friday night in the arena.  On Saturday, the participants improved their knowledge of arena rules and strategies in an unmounted session with PTF instructor Wilbur O’Ferrall, then spent the afternoon in mounted penalty shooting drills and scrimmage.  On Sunday, four teams battled one another in a 4 chukker arena tournament with the “Polo Vacations” team of Julia Ancey, Morgan Bowman and Lane Ashcroft emerging victorious.  Gianni Ferringo and Kirstin Ashcroft also participated in the clinic and tournament for their first introduction to arena polo.

by Danny Scheraga
Thank You For Helping  The Polo Training Foundation Enhance The Future of Polo in America

The Polo Training Foundation has made huge strides the past few years helping the growth of polo.  Ten years ago we were reaching less than 900 students each year.  In 2008 over 1500 students participated in PTF player and umpire training programs.  We have a fantastic staff teaching in the field with Head Umpire Instructor Steve Lane, and Field Directors Kris Bowman, Wilbur O’Ferrall, and Robin Sanchez.  
Unfortunately, however, our country and the world are facing economic hardships not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930’s.  The PTF has not been left unscathed by this crisis.  Because of the downturn in the markets our investment accounts are not yielding as much income, leaving our budget $200,000 short for this fiscal year.  We pride ourselves on frugal management of our funds and therefore there is not much fat to cut out of our budget.  That said, we have been scrutinizing our expenses with a fine tooth comb in order to make a lean budget even leaner.
In a normal year we raise approximately $400,000 for our many programs.  This fiscal year we need to raise $600,000.  This number still represents a reduction of $100,000 in our previous years operating budget out of which we have squeezed every penny we could without a cut in our excellent instructional staff.
The good news is that with these cuts, with extra fund raising efforts, and some program incentives we are planning to continue our core instructional programs.

Brushy Creek
Robin Sanchez continues to do an amazing job at Brushy Creek and we plan to conduct the six weeks of camp in June and July followed by two more weeks in late August that have been the staple of this program since 2000.   The PTF is offering a holiday special for the five day camps in 2009.  Anyone who enrolls by February 1, 2009 will only pay $995 a substantial discount from the normal $1200 registration fee.  The fee includes room, board, horses and instruction. 

Robin would also be happy to set up specialty camps during school vacations or weekend clinics for anyone interested in furthering their polo education.   For more information contact Robin directly by phone: 817-645-8778 or email: polodutoit@yahoo.com. 

Florida Club Umpire Clinics
Bob Stuerzebecher will be conducting his thirteenth season of club umpire clinics at the Vero Beach Polo Club in South Florida.  The program includes classroom instruction, 2-3 days of on field experience with horses provided, and the opportunity to work with the referee (third man) in several matches.  The fee for the week long program is $350.  Bob takes a maximum of three students per week January through March so students receive a tremendous amount of individual attention.  To find a mutually agreeable date contact Bob by phone: 561-386-3991 or email: bobspolo@yahoo.com.

A message from Danny Scheraga
The Board of Directors and staff of the Polo Training Foundation would like to extend our heartfelt thank you to all of our benefactors and volunteers who have helped the PTF continue its mission to improve the future of polo in America.  This year we reached our annual giving goal because the donors gave over $465,000 to the PTF in the fiscal year that began July 1, 2007 and ended June 30, 2008. 

“Brandywine Polo Academy and Work to Ride have entered into a lease with Gloucester County, NJ for use of the newly constructed Dream Park facility to continue its polo training activities throughout the winter.   The Gloucester County DREAM Park is located on Rt. 130 South along the Delaware River and Raccoon Creek in Logan Township, New Jersey. The facility features a temperature controlled indoor arena 150’x300’ with bleacher seating for 600 spectators, and a separate area for auctions, exhibits, or off season instructional clinics. The building has restrooms and a concession area. The facility also has two barns to accommodate 238 horses, five outdoor rings, one which has state-of-the-art lighting for night events, and designated parking for trailers and RV’s. The DREAM Park also has 44 resident stables with three private warm up and exercise rings. 

With this facility we will hold practice every Tuesday starting the last week of November and extending through mid April.  During the same period we have also reserved 6 Friday and 5 Sunday sessions during which we will hold Interscholastic games.  See ‘schedule-BPA’ for more details on times and teams.”

Founders of polo club graduate, leave legacy of team to junior

By Brett Larson

(Reprinted from the TCU Daily Skiff April 25, 2008 edition, used with permission)

Four years ago, two women enrolled at TCU with the intention of bringing something new beyond two students.  Polo was their hobby, their sport a means of enjoyment and they did not plan on giving it up.  Molly Musselman, a communication studies major, and KC Beal, an entrepreneurial management major, started the polo club at TCU in 2004.

Starting off

The two played polo throughout high school for interscholastic teams, competing locally.  They chose TCU in part because of its close proximity to the No. 1 polo facility in Texas, the facility currently used by the team.  The start of their polo journey at TCU had a much different look than this past season.  The all female organization had little experience beyond its founders and only six horses to its name.  With no previous club pioneering experience, Beal and Musselman said they based their club on the knowledge and understanding of other clubs.  Modeling their own on from what they saw from others.

Gallop forward

Just four years later, the team has continued to expanded and grown into a nationally competitive organization.  Those six horses it started with grew to 18.  The group of women attempting to start something new, expanded to groups of men and women, establishing a name for themselves.  While the club has featured as many as 12 members, this year’s team has a total of eight.

Super competition

Not only did the club grow, but also got better, consistently better than its local competition.  Beal and Musselman’s club joined the Central Region of polo competion.  This conference is no slouch, either, including the University of Texas, Oklahoma State, Colorado State, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and New Mexico State universities.  “Most other colleges have like 60 in their club, like A&M and Tech,” Musselman said.    The past two years, TCU has defeated each team in its region, qualifying to compete in the Intercollegiate Polo Nationals.  The little team Beal and Musselman started, suddenly became a national competitor.  This past season, the team traveled to Kentucky where the team lost to the University of Connecticut, which won the championship for its fourth consecutive year.

Recognition

Beal and Musselman’s efforts have not only been rewarded through team success, but on the individual level as well.  Beal was named to the Intercollegiate Polo All Star team for the second year in a row, Musselman was named to Regional team, and Cha Cha, one of the team’s horses, was awarded best playing horse.  Beal said this is the biggest honor a team can receive because everyone rides each other’s horses and votes on the winner, and to have the best horse is a huge honor.

Game of Polo

“You’ve got a horse underneath you and you’re using all of that power to bump someone next to you,” Beal said. The game of polo is an extremely physical one, Musselman and Beal said.  While technically against the rules, Beal said it’s common for players to elbow, kick and slam their horses into each other’s legs.  “I can’t wear skirts during the season,” Musselman said.

Free rides

Beal and Musselman have not been alone in their club formation, relying on donations to fuel expensive needs that come with the sport.  Beal said that donations go a long way in keeping the program alive.  Each of the club’s 18 horses was donated to the club and the stables are completing grounds are donation based as well.  Musselman said the horses are mostly South American and have been donated because they were either runaways or deemed too slow or reckless for outdoor riding.  But put them inside for a polo game and they turn into Ferrari’s, Beal said.  “Polo is usually an outdoor sport and these horses usually aren’t very good outside and they don’t sell, so they’re donated to colleges,” Beal said.  “They have problems, but they go in the arena and it’s like a completely different horse.”

Future of polo
With the graduation of founders Beal and Musselman, Grace Lee, a junior studio art major, will be stepping up as the head of the women’s team and club.  Lee received the sportsmanship award, which Beal and Musselman said she is completely deserving of.  Lee said losing the team’s founders and two of its best riders will be tough, but she said she already knows of some polo players interested in attending TCU.  With losses to graduation, Lee is one of three riders on the team who played this past season.  “They taught me well,” said Lee about taking over for Beal and Musselman.  “Dividing the work will make it really easy.  The men’s team and club members will divide the responsibilities equally and I think we’ll get it done.”

Photo by Lauren Giannini
PTF Chairman Gene Burk, and PTF Intercollegiate-Interscholastic Liaison Lynn Thompson presented the 2007 Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Player of the Year awards Thursday September 11, 2008 during the PTF Awards Dinner and fund raiser at Dr. Stephen Seager’s Chetwood Park Polo Club in The Plains, Virginia.

The PTF Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Player of the Year award winners are judged on: Playing ability, including horsemanship, mallet skill, team work, and comprehension of the game; Contribution to the sport based on leadership, commitment, and assistance to new players; and Sportsmanship with emphasis place on conduct in and out of the playing arena, knowledge of the rules and their enforcement, and a positive attitude.

Marjorie Ewing “Meg” Greenhalgh

Garrison Forest School

Interscholastic Player of the Year

Marjorie Ewing Greenhalgh (Meg) was born and raised on a farm in Clarke County, Virginia, where she started riding at an early age. Showing and foxhunting gave way to polo when she rode Lonestar, one of the last of the last Ray Harrington ponies.

Meg attended Garrison Forest School where she was active in the Residential Life Leadership Program and the school newspaper.  While at Garrison, Meg played polo competitively under the coaching of Lissa Green, Cindy Halle, and Emily Kimball. During the summers, Meg played at Great Meadow and has just returned from working near the Bighorn Polo Club in Sheridan, Wyoming.

Meg was elected to the Cum Laude Society her senior year and was the captain of the polo team. She won the C. Markland Kelly Award for athletic service, the Jensen Award for academic and individual distinction.  Meg played in two Women’s Interscholastic National tournaments and won the USPA Women’s Interscholastic Sportsmanship Award.  Currently Meg is a freshman at the University of Virginia where she will start her intercollegiate polo career. She is planning on majoring in Economics and spending many hours at the polo barn.

Carl Bradley “CB” Scherer

Culver Academy

Interscholastic Player of the Year

Prior to high school, CB played polo at his family’s farm located at South Forty Polo Club where he was first coached by his father and Owen Rinehart. Up until CB’s sophomore year at Culver, they had been the two most influential figures in his polo career. Over the past three years Tom Goodspeed has taught CB everything he knows about arena polo, and is the reason for Culver's success in the interscholastic tournament. Although they did not defeat Toronto, after a rigorous 3 years of practice they were able to rattle them a little this past year. Polo is one of the most important aspects of CB’s life. However academics and military leadership at Culver were extremely important as well. Throughout the four years not only was he heavily engaged in polo, but he was also a top leader within the military program, reaching Squadron Commander in his senior year and induction into the Cum Laude Society for my academic performance.  As team captain over the past two years, he can look back on his sophomore year, "the iron fist of CMA polo" as they enjoyed calling it, and realize that he made a difference. Through coaching, competitive game schedules, and our extended practices, CB has been able to continue the team's success and maintain their competitive prowess in the national tournament with new teammates each year. With a simple dream and will to achieve success, CB helped lead a three man team to what he hopes will inspire a lasting competitive program.   He is now embarking on his freshman year at the University of Virginia, where he looks forward to success in their intercollegiate polo program.

KC Beal

Texas Christian University

Daniel J. Wallace, Jr. Intercollegiate Player of the Year

A passion to play polo has been passed down in the Beal family from generation to generation, so it was pretty natural for KC to become involved in the sport.  Her dad, Kelly Beal, played polo during KC’s younger years, while she rode ponies over fences and played tennis and soccer.   She did not have much interest in polo until her mother also began to play when she was 14.  KC played with the junior polo program at the Midland Polo Club and worked at the polo barn the summer she was 15.  From then on she was hooked.  After playing summer polo with her parents, she realized that she had found a sport so different from anything else, it was hard not to think about it all the time.  Her freshman year of high school was a crash course in arena polo for the Midland Polo Club Interscholastic team with Cody Woodfin as the coach.  KC attended the PTF Polo Camp at Brushy Creek to improve my game, and continued to play throughout her high school years, outdoor in the summer and fall, and interscholastic arena polo during the spring.  After high school she went to a college where intercollegiate polo did not exist.

KC and Molly Musselman arrived at Texas Christian in Fort Worth, Texas, the fall of 2004, and made it thier goal to start a polo team there.  With the help of their parents, Jesse Upchurch, Cissie Jones, Mike Micalef, and every other polo team in the central region, they were able to put a team in the arena for their first intercollegiate pre-regional tournament in the spring of 2005.  The club at TCU has since grown and the women’s and men’s teams were both able to compete in the regional tournaments, with the women’s team going to the National tournament in 2007 and 2008.  During her collegiate polo career KC has learned that she can always learn something new and teammates, hard work, and enjoying the game of polo make it all worth while.

Cooper Hibbard

Cal Poly

Intercollegiate Player of the Year

            Cooper’s family ranches cattle and sheep outside of Cascade, Montana, in the central part of the state.  He grew up near Helena on a small ranch where his Dad raised purebred Angus bulls and quarter horses for the main operation, however when he was eight the Hibbards moved and Cooper started spending all his summers at the main ranch.  Cooper has worked there about every summer since he was 16 years old and spent a year working there between high school and attending Cal Poly, from which he will graduate this December with a major in Agricultural Business and minors in Rangeland Resources and Spanish.  After graduating, he has a series of internships lined up in Northern Mexico and Colorado with some of the more innovative and impressive ranch managers in the world.  Afterwards he will likely return to Montana to hopefully begin managing his family’s ranch.

            Cooper was never around polo growing up.  Before going to college he had never really seen it played, let alone sat in an English saddle, and he had thought tall riding boots and helmets were for the faint of heart.  All Cooper associated horses with was training them and using them to chase or rope cattle.  The first week he was at school, however, he saw a flyer for Cal Poly Polo -- which he thought sounded interesting -- so he drove out to the arena where their coach, Megan Judge, got Cooper on a horse with a mallet in my hand, and he has been hooked ever since.  Cooper never would have believed polo was going to take him where it has.  He was honored to be selected by Ed Armstrong to travel with the Intercollegiate Team to Argentina this past fall.  Cooper is looking forward to finding his place in the world of polo after graduation.

By Danny Scheraga
Polo is a microcosm of society.  Anheuser-Busch just announced that the company was being sold to a Belgian company owned by Brazilians.  The Empire State Building was just sold by a German company to an Arabian company.  Our manufacturing has mostly been shipped overseas.  The Morning Line printed the teams in a 12 goal tournament at an American Club in July.  Out of ten teams entered, only one team had more Americans than the sponsor.  Polo like our economy is being outsourced.  John Rosene and Peter Rizzo have written articles in this the past two months addressing this issue.  Where are American players, and what can be done to produce more?

 Rosene observed that the USPA is not keeping up with the population growth and postulated that if the influx of foreign members were deducted from the total membership, perhaps the number of American players had actually decreased.  He also correctly observed that a strong organization needs a strong base and the way to do that is to introduce many new players a few of whom will rise to the top as either professionals or team sponsors.  He closed by recommending a marketing strategy mainly though television to attract the horse oriented youth from established horse farms and ranches who already had  a support system in place to make polo affordable.

Rizzo addressed the changes that have occurred in American polo over the past 40 years.  He addressed how the rise of professionalism has changed how the game is played.  With the growth of professionalism has come a growth in foreign players and their support network of trainers, grooms, horse-shoers, etc. He mentioned that the USPA is considering an affirmative action rule to require one American player in addition to the sponsor on every team.  He fairly pointed out that this may or may not work to redevelop American polo players.  He also mentioned a key point that the cost/reward ratio in the United States might simply be too high for young American players to justify the effort to become a higher level player.

What does the Polo Training Foundation have to do with all of this?   Marketing the sport as suggested by John Rosene and the rule changes that Peter Rizzo mentioned are the bailiwick of the USPA.  The Polo Training Foundation is there to do exactly what the name implies.  Train polo players and umpires.  As the foundation has grown more resources have been used to broaden the base that Rosene aptly pointed out is necessary for a strong foundation.   The USPA Intercollegiate-Interscholastic tournament program has grown by leaps and bounds as have several junior programs at polo clubs across North America because the PTF working closely with the clubs that host these programs has encouraged teaching more young polo players.   Now the PTF and the USPA working closely with member clubs plan to expand that teaching concept by developing five regional teaching centers in major population areas across the continent.  The long range plan is to get them up and running successfully with a combination of grants, endowments, and fees for usage and then move on to create more until there are learning centers in every city where it is practical to play polo.  This plan will broaden the base from which the better players and sponsors will rise to the top and play higher goal polo. 

The process of establishing training centers is a long slow one, however, so what can be done to address the immediate problem?  Rizzo, in his article talked about, “in the good old days”;   if you were and adequate player for your handicap, and had a reputation of honoring your commitments to play, that you would be given the opportunity to play on teams with higher rated players and thereby through the necessity of creating good team chemistry be mentored by those players.  Mentoring is happening in spots across the country, but it needs to be encouraged more.  One example of such a program is the ECAT tournament at the Brandywine Polo Club mentioned later in this column.  Another example is the Young player’s tournament that was held at Steve Orthwein’s Port Mayaca Polo Club in Florida this past winter.   This concept needs to be expanded further by encouraging professional polo players to give back to the sport, by helping younger players along, whether it be merely talking with them about polo or letting them apprentice in their training operations with the chance to get some great pointers on the practice field and perhaps eventually the game field.

Peter Rizzo concluded by stating that the changes that have occurred in polo may be inevitable.  If, however, we don’t begin to try to redevelop our base, then it will be inevitable and there will be fewer and fewer American players.  If however, the PTF, the USPA and most importantly the polo playing public work together on all fronts perhaps we can re-energize our base and begin to re-grow our American base. Then we’ll have the best of both worlds, an strong American playing population with international interaction.   Perhaps the fact that so many people in polo are addressing the issue, an amalgamation of all these ideas will lead to better solutions.  And if you extrapolate that to the opening paragraph comparing polo to society, maybe, just maybe, there will be enough people out there that America’s outsourcing will evolve back into more stateside production, creating an equilibrium with the world economy.

Brandywine Polo Academy  is this month’s featured school as the  PTF strives to recognize the clubs across the country, which have built strong polo schools on their own, carrying out the mission to grow the sport through education.  Started three years ago by Scott and Kathy Brown at Dixon Stroud’s Brandywine Polo Club, the Brandywine Polo Academy introduces new polo players of all ages to polo in the regulation size arena at the club.  They have accumulated twenty lesson horses for the program.   There are twenty juniors, and twenty-seven adults participating in this year’s program.   Junior’s practice on Tuesday and Thurday nights and play their games on the weekends.  On Wednesday night there is a seven week long “Orientation to Polo” for adults who ride that want to learn to play polo.  Friday nights are reserved for more advanced adult chukkers.  Scott and his daughter Martha along with club manager Juan Martinez and pro Pablo Avalos volunteer their time for the instruction.

The highlight of the summer for the youth program is the East Coast Arena Tournament (ECAT) now in it’s third year.  At this writing the 2008 version scheduled for July 25 – 27 had not been played, but 66 kids (22 teams) were signed up.  The tournament is divided into four levels of playing ability and two volunteer coaches/umpires are assigned to each group. Coaches meet with their teams before and after their chukkers for organizational and instructional purposes.  Chukkers are videoed and the coaches then review strategy and skills with their charges.  In addition to polo playing and instruction from coaches, lectures are offered on lameness, massage therapy, basic equine care, hoof care, arena tactics and hitting techniques. Most of the players set up tents and camp out on the Brown’s farm.   The organizational skills of the Brown family are phenomenal.  In 2007 with 16 teams participating everything ran like clockwork.  Games were on time and everyone had a blast. 

For more information on the Branywine Polo Academy email Scott Brown at scottwbrown@verizon.net.

The Polo Training Foundation elected a new slate of officers at their Annual Meeting April 18, 2008 in Lake Worth, Florida.   Orrin Ingram stepped down after three years of wonderful service as Chairman.   Gene Burk was elected to the Chairmanship.  Ian Angus President, Gillian Johnston Vice President, Glenn Holden, Sr. Treasurer, Chrys Beal Secretary. Board members elected to serve until 2011 were Chrys Beal, Tom Biddle, Sr., Julie Boyle, William Busch, Glen Holden, Sr., Jesse Pruitt, Lynn Thompson, and John Walsh.  Orrin was thanked for his long term dedication as a Board member and officer of the PTF.   Because Orrin could not attend the meeting Gene Burk and Danny Scheraga visited with him and his wife Lee Ann at their Riverview Farm in Franklin, Tennessee where they presented him with the Roenisch bronze titled "Thank You".

The PTF would like to recognize the clubs across the country, which have built strong polo schools on their own carrying out the mission to grow the sport through education.  The Santa Barbara Polo Club is a premier example of this.   Polo Instructor John Westley has done a marvelous job at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racket Club teaching polo players from the very young juniors who evolve into Interscholastic players.  They have also encouraged several Intercollegiate teams to base at the Santa Barbara Polo Club.  This past 2008 Intercollegiate season their Westmont men’s and Santa Barbara City College women’s squads qualified for the National Intercollegiate Tournament.  They also have a year round lesson program where they encourage adults to learn the game and eventually become members of the Santa Barbara Polo Club. If you would like more information about the Santa Barbara International Polo School, contact John Westley via email at sbpoloschool@gmail.com. 

Kris Bowman had overwhelming success at the St. Louis Polo Club National Club Development Clinic May 15th - 17th. Over 35 participants attended the "intro to Polo" clinic co-taught by Kris and club manager Scott Lancaster. This intro clinic will then leave a great contact list for Scott and the St. Louis club with which to start their new polo school. The weekend began with a steering committee meeting with Kris and the leadership members of the club to discuss growth and goals that the club was working towards. On Saturday , the Intro to Polo clinic was held at Billy Busch's arena and the success was largely due to the club's efforts of inviting participants and showing up to help with the clinic. Tina Natorp and Jack Chopp were instrumental in this clinic. Saturday night there was a bar-b-que with club president, Jason Rauselbach wielding the grill. Sunday chukkers were rained out but the hearty group played on in Billy Busch's arena.

While out in the mid-west Kris drove on to work with the Des Moines Polo Club. These members gathered together to talk about the future of their club as they have faced a steep decline in membership. Great strides were made at this meeting as one of the field owners, Britt Baker, offered to board new member’s horses if the promise of a polo school for next year proved fruitful. Kris gave the members many ideas on how to aquire a manager/instructor for their polo club next year. In attendance and on an entirely different path was the newly formed Quad Cities Polo Club. These attendees were awestruck with the machinations of the PTF and USPA and had a huge learning curve. This club proposed that they needed quite a bit of help from the PTF and Kris will be working with them in the future.

Kris then headed for the west coast where she met with Bonni McGill at the Sutter Buttes polo club.   They have an arena that acts as one two home bases for the UC Davis team and they have an outdoor field.   Sutter Buttes is reviving their membership working with the UC Davis program using their horses for an introductory lesson course.  Kris also quickly became educated about the plight of college programs struggling to make their budgets just to feed and care for their horses.  She and Robin Sanchez are developing a wish list for college programs to let the USPA membership understand their needs and possibly donate to those programs.

Kris then hopped over from the Central Valley to Napa and met up with Steve Lane who was teaching an umpire clinic (he had visited Menlo the week before)   Kris helped Steve with his clinic and also worked with club management to strengthen club committee structure. 

Then it was on down to Menlo Park where they have a flourishing club with many enthusiastic polo players, but are hemmed into one small field.  Kris worked with the club on future plans.  Across the valley she visited the Horse Park Polo arena club where she discussed league development.  After that it was on down the Pacific Coast highway to the Central Coast Polo Club where she met with Meagan Judge who has done a remarkable job keeping the Cal Poly program strong. 

 
On her way back east but after this article went to press, Kris stopped and visited clubs in the Denver, Colorado region, Nashville, Tennessee, and then headed to Northern Virginia to visit the hotbed of developing clubs and schools in the Eastern Circuit.

Kris was encouraged to see all these clubs and both the volunteers and professionals who were striving to help bring new players into the game.  Her hope is that the large clubs will reach out to the smaller clubs which can become feeders like farm clubs in baseball as players improve and move up the ladder of competition.

Announcing Summer Camps at Brushy Creek

June 3-8
June 10-15
June 17-22
June 24-29
July 8-13
July 15-20


Includes: Horses, Housing and Instruction.  Get a leg up on the 2008 Spring Season!

Contact PTF for an application at 888.783.7656 or Robin Sanchez 717.645.8778,  polodutoit@yahoo.com.  Space is limited, so sign up now!

KIDS RULE - Jennifer Poor does a great job with children in junior polo

Jennifer Poor has done a wonderful job taking over management of Florida Junior Polo. She has spent her life developing the skills to run a junior program. Jennifer, the daughter of USPA Northeast Circuit Gov. Peter Poor, grew up helping her dad run his polo school in Massachusetts. As a youngster she played in the Florida Junior Program, including the Avendano Tournament. She has since gone on to manage polo at major clubs, including Greenwich, Bridgehampton and International Polo Club Palm Beach. With anywhere from 40 to 80 kids participating in Florida Junior Polo, it’s like managing one of the bigger clubs in the country. She has attracted good coaches, among them high-goal players such as Jeff Hall and Nacho Figueras. They have complemented her loyal regulars, Russell Corey, Leighann Fischer, the Quraeshi brothers, Mauricio Devrient ... the list goes on. Former 3-goal patron Brad Alexander was even drawn out of polo retirement to help the youngsters.

February is Avendano Tournament month, the oldest and largest junior tournament in North America. In addition to the 70-plus regular entrants, this year the Floridians had invited a contingent from the Eldorado Junior Program in California to spend the weekend in South Florida. Scotty Mac Cunningham, Daniel Galindo, Andy Garcia and Ryan and Riley Uretz and their parents made the trek across the country. The plan was to have the Westerners fly in Friday night, practice with the Florida kids on Saturday, attend the Polo Player’s Support Group 40-Goal benefit game Saturday afternoon, play two exhibition chukkers Sunday on the No. 1 field before the 3 p.m. game at International and finally end up participating in the Avendano on Monday.

Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate as rains deluged South Florida early in the week, leaving fields sopped. There was no way the kids were going to be able to play on Saturday. Jennifer, however, through the generosity of Roberto Narvaja was able to secure his arena so that the California group could have a practice that day and finish up in time to watch the 40- goal exhibition tournament. Sunday turned out to be a gorgeous day, and 16 players were divided into four teams to play two exhibition chukkers.

As the trophies were handed out by Ambassador Holden, Russell Corey and Jennifer after the match, the clouds rolled in and the rains came once again. There was concern that the Avendano might have to be canceled. Monday, however, was beautiful and the tournament was played as usual on the South Shore field generously donated by Mark and Katherine Bellissimo. The California exchange was suggested by Russell Corey, who contacted Janet Ludwig and Ambassador Glen Holden of Eldorado Polo Club after clearing the concept with the PTF and the Florida Junior Polo group. Jennifer then organized all the logistics of mounting and housing the Westerners. From all reports the kids had a wonderful time and it is hoped these exchanges will continue in the future. The PTF would like to thank those who helped out by mounting the California players and for taking them into their homes, allowing the youth from both coasts to better get to know each other. The following Florida families housed the California kids: Ganzis, Coppolas, L. Escobar family, D. Gonzalez family and the Galindo family.

The following lent mounts for the California kids: Ganzis, Coppolas, Escobars, Gonzalezes, Quareshis.

Roberto Narvaja lent the arena; the Bellissimo family lent their fields; and International Polo Club lent use of facilities for the exhibition. The PTF extends thanks to all who volunteered during the Avendano: Mauricio Devrient, Omar Sosa, Shahmir Quraeshi, Gavin Guinan, Amber Owen, Clarissa Echezarreta, Claire Newman, Jesse Coppola, Perry Palmer, Mario Chaira, Melanja Jones, Brad Alexander, Silvia Firestone, Haley Bryan, and Leighann Fischer.

Florida Junior Polo is pleased to announce their new coordinator for the 2008 season, Jennifer Poor.

Jennifer is a graduate of the Florida Junior Polo Program. She grew up playing polo at Myopia Polo Club in Hamilton, Mass., with her father and two sisters. She has worked at the Aiken Polo Club, the New Bridge Polo Club, the International Polo Club, and currently manages both the Greenwich and the Bridgehampton Polo Clubs during the Spring and Summer.

For more information about the Florida Junior Polo Program, contact Jennifer at 203.550.3814 or the PTF at 888.783.7656.

INDIAN WELLS—Derek and Deborah Wolstenholme hosted a wonderful reception for the Polo Training Foundation in this polo stronghold Thursday as Coachella Valley patrons turned out to support development programs for future generations.

The foundation’s 12th annual live and silent auction at Eldorado Country Club raised $220,000 at the hands of featured auctioneers Bill Devane, Alex Jacoy and Andy Smith. Some 120 supporters bumped elbows to signal bids inside the increasingly cramped anteroom as the trio whipped up enthusiasm—and competition—for the 27 live auction items and 27 others in the silent auction

Wolstenholme’s charms inspired the goodwill of polo aficionados, retailers and philanthropists who comprised the more than 106 donors credited for their contributions. A tour of the silent auction tables revealed a marvelously diverse mélange—a Dr. Cosgrove cosmetic laser treatment, a haystack courtesy of Desi Keck, a magenta bag from Escada, and a three-day romp at the Grand Paw Doggie Dude Ranch—for a lucky dog.

Martha Brown and Larry Lichliter gave up four days and three nights at The Boulders resort and polo for two at the Costa Careyes Polo Club in Mexico was ponied up by Giorgio Brignone. Jennifer Johnson offered to come to your home and cook for six, and the Geiler Family extended a three-night stay in a spa villa at La Quinta Hotel. Susan Meyer put up bath and body products and Glen & Gloria Holden gave away the Magic Kingdom with a $1,000 gift card. Tiffany Mark Watches were given by Michelle Butler and Bill Nolan of Tiffany Pasadena and Palm Desert respectively. There was also a lovely getaway to Brocket Hall & Golf Club in the United Kingdom donated by Brocket Hall International, as well as three nights at any Ritz Carlton in the World donated by Bryan Ingrande, Director of Sports Marketing.

At the main event, Jacoy rallied the crowd, and a mysterious cadre of bidders by phone, on the first opportunity off the block. A bevy of bejeweled hands filled the air to be counted in for $1,000 lots to name a Junior Polo team and benefit the Eldorado Junior Polo Advisory Fund.

“All right, everyone, you’ve seen these kids on the field, come on and give ‘em a name. Counts for one year and I’ve already got a bid from John Leary,” he barked. Fifteen people bit.

Humor and generosity sparked a sense of giving that seemed to settle equally about the room. When Jacoy trotted out the four tickets to the Coachella Fest, bidders quickly upped the ante from $2,000 to $5,000. A lively rivalry between Greg Renker and Glen Holden ensued, and Jacoy offered up another set to please them both.

Dick Garber, bidding for Chrys and Kelly Beal, snagged three nights at Canada’s Queen Charlotte Lodge fishing camp, on the trio’s fishing recommendations. “If you know fishing, you know what we’re talking about,” Devane said. Bids jumped from $5,000 to $7,000. “Von Gontard told me the fishing is so good up there you get tired of catching fish,” Jacoy said. Numbers climbed higher on the lure of fine food and wine at Fred Mannix’s harbor hideaway. Free transportation from Vancouver was thrown in as an extra. “It’s one of my favorites,” Smith chimed in. Too much for Garber to let get away, he won the trip for $11,000.

A lovely black Chanel clutch donated by Saks fetched $1,600. Appealing to the women in the room, Smith gave the sleek leather bag a respectable pitch. For the men, Smith threw in, “It’s a purse, guys, but the girls know what it is.” Laughter rumbled. Susan Myers who had flown in with husband Joe from Atlanta won the bid.

Servers bustled around the standing-room-only crowd, maneuvering around photographers, a roving model and reached across rows of filled banquet chairs to offer trays of petite sandwiches and shrimp, keeping the crowd riveted to their seats. Alcohol flowed as fast as the bling, the baubles and exquisitely planned trips to Costa Careyes, Mammoth, Hotel Bora Bora, Salmon River and Santa Ynez.

Generating the most buzz during the two-hour spend-a-thon was a stay at actor Robert Duvall’s Virginia guesthouse and a Golden Russian Crown Sable stole donated by Donna Pappas and Somper Furs of Beverly Hills.

Billed as the Assassination Tango Package, Devane hawked the two-night adventure donated by Duvall and his wife Luciana. The holiday, at an undisclosed location, featured Tango lessons with the couple, a signed copy of their film, a signed movie poster and flipbook as well as a signed photo of the two. Duvall wrote and directed the 2003 film set in Buenos Aires starring Duvall and Ruben Blades. Bidding hiked quickly.

After another round of drinks. More hands shot up. Bidding escalated to $7,000.

“Wake up that guy on the phone! Can’t pass this up. Who wouldn’t pay $7,000 to dance with Bobby D?” Devane said. His banter rocked the house.

Not a soul would outbid the Pacific Coast’s circuit governor Tango aficionado Pat Nesbitt, who locked it up with an $8,500 donation.

Ahh, the stole. Modeled tastefully throughout the night by a lithe classic beauty, who was there for the evening compliments of Saks Fifth Avenue, Palm Desert, this to-die-for sable brought out the competitiveness in this group.

“I’ve been looking at this sable all night,” Devane said slyly. The model gave bidders a close-up look, and feel.

She offered it to Stacie Renker to give it a whirl. Bids flew higher. Dina Stuart wrapped it around her shoulders. Women poked their escorts, husbands and boyfriends as Jacoy and Smith worked to manage a flurry of signals.

“Don’t just sit there and rub it! Bid first, rub later,” Devane said dryly.

But when Ursala Krebes draped the velvety soft siena brown wrap around her shoulders, the attraction was most certainly fatal. Pat Nesbitt cast the final bid for $6500 that went unchallenged.

The last item on the live agenda were offers of sponsorship lots at $1,000 to support FIP teams USA and Canada for the 2010 World Cup and Team Canada who has qualified for the April 2008 final in Mexico City. FIP Ambassadors Nesbitt, Holden, and Wolstenholme spoke of the need to help this international competition recounting their arduous battle to return polo to Olympic status. While that goal has yet to be scored, the sport has been recognized and the pair endeavors to work some magic in Mexico that could potentially land a spot for polo in the Pan Am Games. Fifteen more donors raised their hands emphatically in solidarity.

All funds raised by the PTF are dedicated to support polo in collegiate or scholastic sports curriculums, promote international goodwill through competition, and encourage development and sportsmanship through teaching young people the principles of the game. However, for those who may have expressed doubt about the distribution and management of funds raised in this West Coast fundraiser, PTF President Burk delivered these words concerning the Pacific Coast polo progeny.

“People have said that the money that’s raised here doesn’t stay here. That is simply not true,” Burk said. “If it is suggested by anyone, and you hear of it, send them to me. We open our books for all to see.

Wolstenholme ended the evening with a thank you for the faithful support, acknowledging the power of the community in the success of the PTF’s mission.

Article by Diane Hensley