Powerful words, but all you have to do is look at the more populated polo playing countries in the world to see that the invasion of the players from the pampas is remniscent of the Huns sacking of Rome.
At one time the occasional Argentine polo player would spend a couple of years abroad as a guest, playing polo with friends, but that was before the sport went professional.
Today large paychecks and a desire to win has made these masters of the mallet hot commodities, but are they really good for the growth of the game?
The Argentine pros represent more than 85% of the hired players in the United States, England, France and Spain, and have made significant marks on other European nations. The question is, At what expense?
The major cost is the loss of a progressional ladder of excellence that allows young players to get better, and that is the pipeline to a country’s development of high goal players.
There was a time when the occasional Argentine pro would work with young players. He would teach him how to improve their malletwork, their horsemanship, their strategy. But today, that same professional is figuring out how he can bring his brother, nephew and cousin with him and get all of them on the payroll.
Contracts are made by the Argentines with the provision that he (the Argentine pro) gets to pick the balance of the team, and the odds are that they are fellow countrymen.
England tried to limit the number of “foreign” players, but under threats of lawsuits, they have since backed off. In the interim, however, England managed to develop some international caliber players. The problem is, that pipeline has been shut down.
The United States used to boast a handful of young up and coming five and six-goal players, but when the Argentines arrived, they were forced to either retire or become professional umpires. And the names of top American players who will be watching the high-goal season from the sidelines this year is impressive.
There is nothing more exciting than to watch the finals of the Argentine Open at Palermo, to imagine yourself in the saddle, scoring the winning goal in overtime, but the direction the sport is taking today the only opportunity non-Argentines have of taking to the high-goal fields will be in the positions of patrons.
th0000001211am07, 22007vUTC12bUTCTue, 11 Dec 2007 09:42:07 +0000 11, 2007...08:46p12
Argentina is Destroying Polo Around the World
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19 Comments
th0000001211pm07, 22007vUTC12bUTCTue, 11 Dec 2007 22:47:37 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
Dear Backhander,
I don’t argue that what you say is happening but is it really the Argentinean Pros’ fault? I think they are doing their job and following the Patron’s orders who want to win at all costs. For that what I would do is bring the best players possible and today those are in Argentina (and will be forever I suppose) and if I get to know them the better because will probably work better as a team.
Shouldn’t you be making these arguments to the patrons instead of the pros?
PS: I am not a pro and I am not from Argentina, although I am from Uruguay. We’re similar but not the same
th0000001212am07, 32007vUTC12bUTCWed, 12 Dec 2007 04:43:42 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
Mateo-Thank you for your comment. I agree with you. The pros are acting very professionally. The blog was not an indictment against either Argentina or the pros. It was merely an observation. If the other polo playing countries of the world are content to be mere passengers rather than growing participants it’s their own fault.
th0000001212am07, 32007vUTC12bUTCWed, 12 Dec 2007 05:43:26 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
Backhander-Although Argentina produces the most players, and the best players, you cannot blame the United States. Argentina is still an agrarian country, and the United States is almost the opposite. To say that it is their own fault is wrong. They cannot help what environment they are put it or where they grow up. Argentines grow up around horses, on ranches, and this is why they are ingraved into the life of polo at birth. Its almost automatic that they become good when their neighbor is a Castongnola, an Amaya, Ulluoa, Aguerre, Pieres, and so many more. The reason they get so good is because they play everyday amongst each other. Who are American pros playing with? Not 8 great players in a practice that do it everyday or whenever they please. But there still are chances for American players, they are out there.
th0000001212am07, 32007vUTC12bUTCWed, 12 Dec 2007 05:59:11 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
You misunderstand me, my friend. I am not blaming the United States or England or France. I am blaming their respective polo associations. I feel that by allowing the wholesale participation of foreign players in their national championhips at the expense of their own native players tells any aspiring young and talented players that there is no career for them in polo. For once they achieve any measure of success they are replaced by our talented Arentine friends, and relegated to watch frrom the sidelines. Its time for the national polo associations to make a move to insure the future of the sport in their respective country.
th0000001212am07, 32007vUTC12bUTCWed, 12 Dec 2007 06:06:16 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
Just a quick statement.
I think Mike Azzaro said it best on pololine TV when he said that today our potential highgoal pros don’t work hard enough at fitness and their horses and their own game. They seem to take some of it all for granted.
In my day we never complained about the argentines ruining polo. We talked about how hard we had to work to have ourselves and our horses prepared to play with them and ultimately beat them. Mike and I beat Eduardo and Bautista Heguy in the finals of the Warwickshire cup in 1989(?). We won two World Cups(30goals) as an american team playing against argentines in the finals both times… But we were as prepared as we could possibly be.
We felt that what we proved was if a PATRON was willing to put together a team of Americans that he was confident would come to the field as prepared as we did that Americans could compete with the Argentines at the highgoal levels of competition. They will always dominate polo at the highest level(argentine open) because they have access to the ingredients from a much younger age than the average american player does. Thats not their fault in any way, shape or form. We just have to want it, really want it… and live for it every day and night. We have to work alot harder than they do as most of us didn’t grow up doing it. They can sleep in til whenever they want and get up and play 8,9 and 10 goal polo. We have to work on our fitness, our horses and our game right up until we take the field. A few have proven in years past that it really can be done. But it will be the players that become wanted commodities thru working on all facets of their very own game. Patrons want to play with winners regardless of their nationality. That also will never change. Should it?
th0000001212am07, 32007vUTC12bUTCWed, 12 Dec 2007 08:13:37 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
Dale-Great input, and I accept many of your premises, but in your heydays there weren’t the number of high-goal American players sitting out the major tournaments, and there weren’t the percentage of foreign players competing that there are today.
You were one of the high-goal big hitters of the game, but then all of a sudden you disappeared. Why did you leave the game?
th0000001212pm07, 32007vUTC12bUTCWed, 12 Dec 2007 22:23:26 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
Good question, and actually I didn’t leave the game, I just switched gears so to speak. In 1994 I had a nasty fall on field 1 at Palm Beach Polo and I severed my left acl, tore my mcl and broke my collarbone in 3 places. The acl made it almost impossible to stand up in the saddle to properly hit any shot. I played until 97 with a metal hinged knee brace and alot, I mean alot of advil. Having had 4 previous knee surguries on the same knee for torn cartilage it was basically hopeless as far as being able to truly compete. In 97 I stopped playing proffessionally and had my acl replaced. After rehab for the knee I began pursuing a career in business that provides me the ability to have a string(which I still do) and play a little summer polo in my hometown. I still am addicted to the sport and continue to try to stay involved in every facet of the game I can. Maybe some day I will manage a big polo club and give lessons, help players manage their horses and help people learn the game and play the game in a fun and instructive manner.
You know that this article talks about patrons deciding to play with americans. In my day there were at least 12 argentine pros with a handicap of 8 or higher competing in highgoal polo. I would be happy to name them. Gonzalo and Alphonso Pieres, Nache, Eduardo, Gonzalo and Horacio Heguy, Ernesto Trotz, Christian Laprida, Benjamin Araya, Martin Zubia, Juni Crotto, Esteban Panelo, and Alex Garahan were 8,9 and 10 goals and we had to compete for the same jobs. Not to mention Julian and Howar Hipwood, Antonio Herrera and Stewart Mckenzie. Fortunately as I earlier stated our patron was Adolphus Busch and he believed american pros could play with the argentines. We almost always played with 1 argentine on our teams because he didn’t want to exclude them and we thought it would help all of us to play with one of the best argentine, and play together as a team.
He allowed us to prove that it could be done, we could compete.
Thats what it will take to attempt to prove we can play with them. We have to believe they are good for the game and make us all(pros) better players. I truly believe that if one patron would try what Abolphus did the polo community might be suprised.
th0000001213am07, 42007vUTC12bUTCThu, 13 Dec 2007 04:25:20 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
Dale-Thank you for your information (ouch), your dedication and your advice. I would like to think someone is listening.
th0000001213am07, 42007vUTC12bUTCThu, 13 Dec 2007 05:19:41 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
Backhander-by what you said about there being no career for U.S players because of the invasion of Argentine players is not only because of the U.S.P.A. It may not sound as hopeless as it does either. Argentina is a polo country. All you see are fields, with horses, and polo clubs that hold practices of great magnitute. Where can you find that here? There is a reason for why Americans are not playing, and that is a problem. Is it because internal elements that are invlolved between patron and player. Really, as Dale said, it is up to the Patron who he hires. I think that this year some of the Americans who are not playing in the high goal simply got unlucky. It is not that Argentines are given gifts saying “you group of guys are going to be the best players because you have extreme talents at playing polo.” Although they are very talented, and perhaps extremly, they are simply products of their environment. They happen to live on ranches that carry over 500 horses and are able to get on them and train from day one. They play with each other, and make each other better, and have been doing it for years. Lolo Castongla grew up right across the street from Cambiaso, as Cambiaso grew into the sport, so did others, and they learned from him. Yes some players are extremly gifted, but there are American players that are just as good as them. And history shows that, and so does the present. I think this year that some of the players got the cold sholder because they got unlucky. Why did they not get hired to play on teams in Florida? And who is to blame? We will see …
th0000001213am07, 42007vUTC12bUTCThu, 13 Dec 2007 07:09:00 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
You make some good points, but I question the efforts of the USPA to promote US polo. I think that they need to step it up if they don’t want to be administrating an association of seasonal foreign players (for the most part). On the other hand, the USPA is charging foreign players more money than Americans to join this year. Maybe they do have a plan. Sure.
th0000001214am07, 52007vUTC12bUTCFri, 14 Dec 2007 00:28:44 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
They should create a club that hosts some of the best American players. A club that would offer everything from horses to housing for young players to come and train. They can do drills, hold high goal practices, and have meetings that would teach strategy and how to play the game. To have something like this to focus on polo in the U.S would give a boost to the young up and comers who don’t have it all at first like some of the Argentines do. Stabling would be included, and horses would be supplied. Its an idea. Would the U.S.P.A have the funds to support something like it? I have no idea. Also, this question is for you, Dale, if you don’t mind. As being one of the best players in the world at one time in your polo playing career, what would you say is the best piece of advice you would give a player who wants to make it to the top of polo like you? If you could just take one second to answer this question, it would be the chance of a lifetime to ask you this.
th0000001214am07, 52007vUTC12bUTCFri, 14 Dec 2007 02:39:39 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
It took me an incredible amount of will power, drive and desire. I can tell you when I first started to play I only thought I was working on my game. As I had earlier commented I also took some of it for granted. When I finally got to Florida to play my first winter I was 21 years and 3 goals. Fortunately for me I got asked to play in a highgoal tournament(no pay) while I was playing in an 8 goal league. I asked my sponsor if he minded if I played. Afterall, I was being paid by him to play. To play more polo on my horses for no $ at least in my opinion had to be ok with him. He was kind enough to allow me to play and that one tournament I played for nothing was as important to advancing my career as any had been to that point. I got asked to play more and more and this time I was being offered good money and with good teams. It was during that tournament that I realized that I only thought I was working on my polo. I starting working on my fitness, and stick and balling like there was no tomorrow. 2 years later I was 5 goals, I weighed 40 lbs less and I was on my way. I was already a good horseman, that was demanded of me before I was allowed to pick up a stick at 7 years old.
Anyway, I guess the best advice I can give is simply this;
Learn how to ride a horse properly, to be as one with the horse.
Its hard to play great polo if you don’t REALLY know how to ride. You must learn to exploit the strengths of each horse and learn to stay away from its weakness’. Then, stick and ball like it is the last day of your life! Work on getting your shoulders parallel(sp) with the topline of your horse for EVERY shot. And when you have stick and balled 4 or 5 horses in the morning and your back is burning and your legs are getting weak, grab a sandwich and a bottle of water. Then pick out the 4 or 5 more to stick and ball in the afternoon.
Be sure to work harder on the nearside, it is the most difficult.
Polo is alot like life in one respect. When chance meets preparation ones luck can change. I truly feel that I was prepared enough to show myself well when I got a chance to play some better polo. And then I went to work on everything I could touch with regards to my polo, everything. There is alot to talk about but hopefully this will get us started.
Thanks for asking, Dale
th0000001214am07, 52007vUTC12bUTCFri, 14 Dec 2007 07:07:04 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
Dale, I want to thank you for what you just wrote, I have just copied and pasted it and printed it and framed it. (just incase I cant find this site.) I will take your advice and carry myself like there is a chip on my shoulder. Sometimes is it very easy to find horses besides your own to stick and ball. On the other hand, sometimes it is difficult to find 10 horses to stick and ball a day even trying. I have approached white birch, who i was working for in Argentina for 2 months and didnt get one practice, and asked them to let me stick and ball and ride their horses for December. What did you do when you could not find horses, the tools, for you to improve. Yes you can improve your fitness by yourself, but to improve horsemanship and stick and balling you need horses and a lot. Where did you go when you needed horses to ride and stick and ball? If you dont mind me asking these open questions it would be greatly appreciated.
th0000001215am07, 62007vUTC12bUTCSat, 15 Dec 2007 06:13:07 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
Polo,
I am sorry for assuming you had access to more opportunities to work on your polo than you do. I did not want you to take the #s literally, just the thought. Work as hard as you can at whatever part of the game you have access to.
You might try to find a different job that might enable you to spend more quality time in the saddle although some nice young players have come thru the Whitebirch organization. I know Mariano Aguere quite well and if he sees something in you and you approach him the right way(thru his horses) that may be your ticket to ride so to speak. I know myself that if you took an interest in my horses and why I take care of them the way I do you were likely to experience it for yourself sooner rather than later. Hopefully you are thought of as a good rider or that will be difficult in alot of cases.
If you are not, than you need to work on that first and its going to be hard to find a polo JOB where they will allow you to learn on their polo ponies… I can tell you this, the first time Gonzalo Pieres went to England he was a 3 goal groom. He obviously impressed someone somewhere along the way or like many other argentines he may have accomplished it at his own home.
Anyway, I can remembe telling my father when I was 14 I wanted to quit school and play polo. He obviously laughed and told me how it would be. At 21( my first year to go to Florida) I could do whatever I wanted however until then I would graduate and I would work in his business and ride alot and play a little summers in between. Once he decided to play as a hobby we had 4-5 horses around or more most of the time.
So, I just did as much as I could do when I had the chance. I recommend you look for every opportunity to pursue your passion thru whatever venue you can possibly find. And as you know it isn’t easy. I will continue to help you in any way I can but in this case just learn everything about animal husbandry that you can is all you have. Some day your ponies will play better and more years because you did. It would be nice if the uspa was big enough to completely fund some type of yearround polo training camp so to speak. All of it wouldn’t necessarily need to be free either. Those who couldn’t pay could be allowed to work there for a predetermined period of time and move on so others who couldn’t pay have a chance to learn. It would be a huge undertaking and I would be proud to be a part of it but realistically I do not see that anywhere in the immediate future. Until then keep the faith and stay in touch if you like.
th0000001215pm07, 62007vUTC12bUTCSat, 15 Dec 2007 21:32:26 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
Dale, Thank you for responding. I have to tell you, I had an opportunity to work for Whitebirch, which taught me a lot about horses, but I think I was there at a very bad time. There were too many patrons and too little horses for myself to ride. Mariano’s horses (for the open) were being taken care of but I tried to help them as I could. I was taking care of Nako’s/Nick’s horses for 2 months. I decided to leave because I got a chance to go practice at the LaPlacette’s place over in Lobos. The practice’s were very slow, as they had a group of patrons on vacation and they were running a business. I was seeing the same episode as before and it was tough. However, I have been riding since age 6 and started polo at 11. I have been wanting to go abroad to work and get a chance to play shortly after I was introduced to the game. My mom would never let me go until now, and it wasnt a bad experience, but it wasnt what I had expected. On the other hand, I am going back next October to practice with the LaPlacette’s. As of right now, I am 2 goals and stabling at Gulfstream. If I could, I would be riding everyday, (stick and balling) like a maniac, but when you do not have the horses because yours are not ready and you do not want to tire them, what did you do? When it is all you can think about and there is nothing you can do about it but try to call people but they dont have anything for you, maybe I just need to relax.
If you have any advice for me as far as animal husbandry goes, or on how to choose the right horses, please let me know. Also, “if you build it, they will come.”
th0000001218pm07, 22007vUTC12bUTCTue, 18 Dec 2007 15:50:24 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
Wow!!! Backhander, I , Claudia Hodari, am listening and living today in la-la land. A world unimaginable, to me, as recently as 2004, almost undreamt of in even my childhood, has recently become my reality. Privileged, and due to extraordinary “luck” I now “pretend” to play polo near Pilar Argentina. Taking full advantage of this wonderful opportunity, I cannot help but desire to LEARN,SHARE, and ADD to the game, history and future of polo. Learning to play by watching,listening,reading and living polo is a joy. Sharing this blessing is a perceived responsibility. Successfully aiding, as a positive resource and influence, the future of polo is a new personal goal.
Thank you for the discussion I would be happy to supply the coffee and cigars.
1. I am very proud to be Argentine so the Title: ARGENTINA is DESTROYING POLO AROUND the WORLD immediately raised my defenses. The Huns and Argentina each “won” a specific “battle” during a very short era along the earth’s time-line of civilized history. Where are the Huns,today ? Winning a battle does not imply winning the war. Th sport , “todo los deportes sigo incluyeno los buros de Palermo y San Isidro” , every sport including the “nags” at Palermo Race,Track, our neighbour has an incredible memory, and is a statistical genius, for sporting facts . When asked, he lives in downtown Buenos Aires and owns his own retail shop, who is Adolfo Cambiaso ? He answered ” Que se yo” or what would I know ? This is crying shame. Today’s newspaper spent endless pages on FUTBOL and Boca’s loss yesterday: RUGBY is a hot topic; Also at least a paragraph on the following sports: MOTOR RALLY in London: The big news there is that Finland’s Jari-Matti Lavala (22) will become the new driver for Team Ford , replacing compatriot Marcos Gronholm who retired after losing to Citroen’s Fench champion Sebastian Loeth. His partner Mikko Hirvonen is the new captain of Team Ford . This now means Ford will remain with an all Finnish line up at next years world championships ; MOTOR RACING has a new winner with Sweden’s Matias Eksroern in “Race of Champion Finals” at Wembley Stadium in London, England ; SPEEDSKATING in Erfurt Germany ( I will spare the details); SWIMMING in Debrcen, Hungary: TENNIS in Santiago, Chile; AMERICAN FOOTBALL; AMERICAN BASKETBALL;GOLF in California, Sydney Australia and Paarl, South Africa; ROWING has a 1/4 photo of 20 oar-boats in the River Plate. Quick mentions of scores for ICE HOCKEY;SKIING,EUROPEAN SOCCER,CRICKET,ands BOXING . Full 1/2 page articles with color photos of SHOW JUMPING and HORSE RACING were interesting. However, the 1/2 page on FIELD HOCKEY and the Local Men’s and Women’s National League lacked substance.Although, the Argentine Hockey Confederation announced a 4 team Women’s Field Hockey Tournament that will take place in Mendoza, Argentina from January 23rd to 27th. Germany, South Africa, the United States will join the current Pan American champions ARGENTINA . WOW !
They forgot to mention La Dolfina now posses 40 goals. Forgotten was the subject of who will replace Matias on Ellerstina and might not Mariano play with his family in 2008,? Handicap changes to ten for Pablo, Nachi, and Lucas is newsworthy. Discussion on the merits and non merits, positive and negative changes, in AAP handicaps and how they are decided are important, I believe, for the future of polo. There was, unlike Women’s Field Hockey, any mention of the International 4 Team Woman’s Polo Tournament in Punta del Este, Uruguay on January 9th-11th with second stage in Rio this July and stage three in Buenos Aires next November. What can I do to help share this oldest of ball sports with fellow Argentines and the world ? Talk is cheap, however, it helps the soul. Thank you for reading and spreading the word so eventually polo will once again become an Olympic, male and female ,sport. I believe this is the key. Keep eack countries National Polo Associations looking towards the future while protecting, encouraging and economically supporting their own countries pool of young talented players until they mature and reach 9 and 10 goals. An Olympic Team brings out national pride in everyone, countries love to make a hero’s out of their best players, perfect for younger kids to idolize their hero in polo and try to mimic their carrer. The Olympics will popularizes this beautiful sport to future generations , and present day horse lovers, who otherwise would have never been exposed to the sport on World Prime Time Television. PD Pardon, I forgot to mention one of today’s newspaper articles on AMERICAN Baseball’s where a new acquisition of Japanese right-hander Hiroki Kunoda for only 35.2 million dollars was negotiated for a three year contract. Top athletes, in all sports, are professionals, and they deserve good pay. World , unabated, competition for each spot on all the best teams is mandatory for the future quality of any sport, or business. Besides the Polo Associations, I believe that the entire structure of Patron Polo, plays a large role in keeping the sport and the enviorment surrounding polo more exclusive than necessary. Keeping the Argentines out, or limiting their ability to play high goal tournaments in foreign countries,is a good idea all around. Most Argentine players, and their managers and grooms, would prefer to live and work in Argentina , close to their families, anyways., The world’s patrons are invited, and have started to come, more and more, to Buenos Aires in order to play the spring polo season and Polo Tour. . Feb-May , in Argentina , is an option to the more costly winter season in Wellington. During January through March patrons and non-patrons, women and children can enjoy beautiful Aerelauquen Polo Club in Bariloche as well as other Patagonian destinations with a wide variety of polo tournaments being offered , Additionally, they can enjoy the close proximity to many National Parks, like Calefate’s Petito Moreno Glaciers, adding a vacation ,to their polo schedule, before or after the Tournaments. Keep your hot summer season in England, France and Spain private. Good Idea? Yes, it will be good for Argentina’s tourism industry and economy. Snow Polo in Bariloche, Beach Polo in Pina Mar, Mar del Plata and Punta del Este. Please help spread the word to the world’s majority % of polo players ,whom have 2 goals or less, about the great opportunities to play low and mid goal polo in Argentina . Why only focus on the top, few, Patron’s and the smaller % of high-goal polo players?. Also, the largest and fastest growing market in polo is now Women’s Polo. Argentina has finally accepted this fact, and that that we are not going away, even if they ignore us. Today, girls and women in Argentina are becoming a part of this traditionally all male sport, not only as players, but as professionals ,patronas, grooms and even event organizers. Polo families, like the Lalors, are now encouraging their young girls to play polo right alongside their brothers the near future will include high goal women polo players. This was not the case 20 , or even 10 ,years ago. The Woman’s Polo Market for Tournaments and Tourism has noticably increased in Argentina during 2007. Quality International Tournaments were held all year long from Bariloche to Buenos Aires, Lobos to Mar del Plata, and Cordoba to Rosario. These events have even been published in the top Argentine Polo Magazines : Polo Mundial, Polo Today, Polo x Polistas, Guia Polo and Buenos Aires International Polo. as well as the main Buenos Aires Newspapers like La Nacion, and Clarin. The international “polistas” from 6 continents have enjoyed Argentine Women’s Polo in 2007 and want to most return for more and bring along their friends and families. By combining, these largely untapped polo niches, low goal and FEM polo, with 5 Star Tourism, and offering Excursion Packages especially designed for non Spanish speaking , low goal polo players and making their polo dreams come true, of actually playing polo. in Argentina,, not only watching Palermo Finals , is good for the future of polo. Argentina will show off to more polo players and polo visitors its’ world class cities, the country’s natural beauty it’s ski towns and mountains, its friendly hospitable people, totally delicious cuisine and .top of the line red and white wines.Naturally these along with the world’s top polo clubs, its male and female players, and the greatest polo ponies in the world are good for the future of polo to become discovered by a larger per cent of polo players from across the 80 countries were the FIP is recognized. Lastly, the best idea for all individual counties, including Argentina where polo lacks popularity due to lack of publicity ,to pay more attention to their youth, publisize their polo heros, and allow the national pipeline of players to grow while allowing them time to ripen their own young superstars of polo is for each country to be looking and thinking ahead 4, 8 and 12 years down the road, to every sports ultimate challange , where national pride is at stake, and a medal is the countries, and every young polo players dream: Winning Gold for their country at the SUMMER OLYMPIC S in POLO . Cheers. Claudia
I forgot, “If you build it, they will come” is absolutely true . It happened again, and in Argentina, with the world’s first all women’s snow polo tournament organized this past August. Incredible roaster of women from 14 countries, desending upon Bariloche, Argentina to participate and help write a new chapter to the history of polo. Europe (took the gold) beat Africa in a well fought 4-3 final (leaving them with silver) North America (took home the bronze) easily beat South America and won the FEM polo tournaments secondary cup.
nd0000001222am07, 62007vUTC12bUTCSat, 22 Dec 2007 04:12:17 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
Polo, had some time on my hands and I thought I would continue our discussion.
As far as how to pick the right horse for yourself I would apply myself to two thought process’. One would be to remember that usually the most valuable horses are obviously the ones that can do it all. However having said that I will also say the 2 most expensive horses I ever sold($100k each) were exceptional at one of those main ingredients, and that was that they could be running at abosolute full tilt and literally stop on a dime!
Alot of your thought process has to be based on what position you play the most or seems to come the most natural to you.
At #1 you need long speed more than quick speed, lateral movement and power more than a great stop. At #2 you really need the same 3 plus some quick speed. Once again your speed and power and lateral movement become even more nec. At #3 and 4 you must have all 4, especially at #3. In fact you could probably give up some long speed if you had to as long as you have alot ton of quick speed as well as lateral movement and a good stop. At #4 you don’t want to give up long speed so you really need all 4 components as well, at least in my opinion.
Some players like a horse to be in the bridle, meaning you have to hold them at the speed you desire and when you release pressure on the mouth they instantly get faster.
Some like to have to push a horse and would rather have to get into a horse for more speed. All that is a matter preference.
As it relates to animal husbandry that revolves around being aware of a horses mind as well as its body. I prided myself in knowing my horses to the best of my ability. I thought about them at night sitting at home listening to music all the time. As I had earlier stated you must know your horse well enough to stay away from its weakness and exploit their strengths. Your team should always coordinate their horses so not all 4 of you are out on the field in a given chukker on horses that each share the same weakness. Some horses thrive on work and and others like to be pampered. Some horses need to be ridden the day of a game for peak performance and others can be ridden the night before. Others may not require anything other than sets and chukkers and will always play well.
You can’t know which need what if you don’t take the time to really know your horses individual needs. Anyone who says to do the same thing with every horse all the time hasn’t ever needed everything a horse has to give and then some, or they asked for it without being entitled and didn’t get it. In the big game at the highest levels we do need to know for a fact that we are entitled to asked for everything they have to give and more. We more often than not crossed that threshold in asking for alot more than 100%.
I could go on and on and on as you can probably tell. Hopefully this stuff is helpful. Until nextime, Dale
nd0000001222pm07, 62007vUTC12bUTCSat, 22 Dec 2007 20:41:54 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
Dale & Polo,
I enjoy, and appreciate, reading the only honest MASTER/APPRENTISE relationship that I have witnessed, heard, or read about in the very limited 3 years that I heve been “involved” with the trade, sport, world and blessing of polo. Thanks and please keep it up. Happy Holidays to all reading. Saludos especiales para Backhander.
cHe
rd0000001223am07, 72007vUTC12bUTCSun, 23 Dec 2007 03:12:59 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p12
Claudia,
I don’t know you but I must say thanks for the kind words and happy holidays to you and yours as well.
Dale