All Heart: A Sunday of High-Goal Polo
On Sunday, August 28th Annabelle Gundlach of Postage Stamp Farm celebrated her teamâs victory against Tupungato in the late afternoon match on opening day of the East Coast Open. Held at the Greenwich Polo Club, the ECO is considered to be one of the most prestigious polo competitions in the United States, featuring eight of poloâs top teams competing in the 20-goal tournament. This is high-goal polo and the best of the best are playing. And Yours Truly was there to experience it first-hand.
Above Left: Annabelle Gundlach of Postage Stamp Farm celebrates her team's victory as Postage Stamp Farm defeated Tupungato in Sunday's East Coast Open match-up. Above top-right and bottom-right: A bit of the action as viewed from the Grandstand.
Admittedly, Iâm a total newbie to Polo. I know nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero. From my perspective (probably shared with a whole lotta other folks, too), the world of Polo seems almost impossibly glamorous: a private elite club of the well-financed set, with a few royals thrown in for good measure, horses everywhere, and of course lots of champagne parties that are seemingly swarming with extremely beautiful people.
Yes, there were plenty of beautiful people at GPC on Sunday; riders and spectators alike - though I wouldnât count myself as one of them. It was hot and humid and I was somewhat of a sweaty mess, slowly melting into a puddle of damp hair and damp clothing. Not much to be done about it, but smile and just enjoy myself. I was there, after all, to learn about this sport and little did I know that I would be schooled by the best of the best.
What I learned is that polo is indeed all those things we think of, but look closer and there is so much more to it. Seriously. It is a bit of a game for the wild at heart; all guts and glory and high adrenalin. But also a game dedicated to excellent horsemanship, humbleness, and a focus on lifeâs most important: friends and family. This is a world where a talented kid from Canada that wasnât supposed to live to see his 15th birthday can rise to become a sought after polo star. Itâs also a world where amateurs and professionals often compete together, and where women can and do compete with, and against, men (though apparently the pay has yet to break through the glass ceiling. And yes, those are Annabelleâs breeches in the photo below**.).Â
**Editorial comment: Annabelle clarified for me that âPay Me Like A Manâ is one of her sponsors and is an organization/company working to shine a very bright spotlight on the issue of equal pay by bringing attention to the fact that women in all industries earn less than men for doing the same job and the same work and isnât specific to polo.
Above: Nick Manifold, Yours Truly, and Michael Davis. Sidenote: many of you know that I come from a hunter/jumper background and now as an adult rider, my focus is on dressage. That means I follow dressage a bit more closely and tend to know the names and horses and such as any fan would. So,I just about fell over when I realized that the âDavisâ I was sitting next to was none other than the father of the accomplished junior dressage star Bebe Davis. Yeah. That girl. The one that just won the National Championship for Young Riders. Congrats, Bebe!
I was so lucky to be introduced to many of the players, including a few that are considered legends of the sport and current superstars, like that gentleman to my right, Nick Manifold. Yes, I KNOW! Nick Manifold!!!!!! Both Nick, and friend and amateur player, Michael Davis (the gentleman to my left), were so kind in answering my questions and sharing their time with me. Nick and I talked âshopâ when it comes to breeding polo ponies - heâs a wealth of knowledge and the preferred breed is a 7/8th's Thoroughbred crossed with a Quarter Horse or Argentine pony, that has a good, medium-bone to them, with the stamina of the Thoroughbred and the agility of the Quarter Horse. When I asked him what he looks for most in a horse, he was quick to respond, âYou always look for a horse with good conformation; one that is well put-together but that also has a great character with athletic ability.â Good breeding is good breeding, regardless of the discipline.
And Michael filled me in on comparisons in riding style of polo ponies versus dressage horses. Just like good breeding is good breeding, good riding is good riding and the polo ponies are very much tuned into seat, thigh and knee pressure and riders prefer horses that are responsive to the seat and light in the bridle. (P.S. - Michael has also earned his scores for the USDF silver medal, so the guy knows a bit about the nature of the question posed to him.)
I also sat and spoke with Nic Roldan (sorry ladies! He was a bit camera-shy...), Brandon Phillips, Annabelle Grundlach, Joao Paulo Ganon, Naco Taverna, Kris Kampsen, the one-and-only Matias Magrini, and Leighton Jordan, who is also the managing director of GPC and the Northeast Circuit Governor of the United States Polo Association. I learned all about what a chukker is (7 1/2 minute period of play), how long a game lasts (about 2 hours) the tack used (bridle differences vary between type of bits, reins, and use of martingales and the saddles are pretty bare bones compared to my dressage saddle), the different shots a polo player can make (too many to describe here), and what the âline of the ballâ is (think of it as the âright of wayâ of the ball that canât be crossed, or a penalty is given. All for safety.). I simply cannot thank them enough for their time, kindness, and generosity in showing this polo ânewbieâ the ropes. Rest assured, my curiosity is piqued and I see a polo lesson outing in my future.Â
Above: Brandon Phillips and Yours Truly. This man has a heart of gold and an incredible story.
I hope to see you right back at the Greenwich Polo Club for the final match of the East Coast Open on September 11th. Itâs sure to be a wonderful time, filled with tons of action. Pack a cooler and grab the lawn chairs and a blanket. Bring the kids. And your dog. Come and check it out, or find a match near you. Polo is everywhere. So go. Mix. Mingle. Be seen. Or not. Up to you. Make it your Own. Because that is what Polo is all about.Â
TICKETS & INFORMATION
Tickets are available for the East Coast Open at www.greenwichpoloclub.com/eco/tickets/. Gates open at 1:00 p.m. and matches start at 3:00 p.m. The field address is 1 Hurlingham Drive, Greenwich, CT 06831
Where to Stay:
The beautiful Delamar Greenwich Harbor is convenient to everything and offers nothing but the best to guests. Be sure to book some time in their Spa and take a walk to explore the harbor and town. Below: The view from my room.
Where to Eat:
No trip to Greenwich would be complete without visting Gabrieleâs for a delicious steak and all-the-sides meal, complete with excellent wine choices for the oenophile. Gather your friends for an upscale but casual dining experience after the match.
Or, if seasonal ingredients and grilling is your thing, you cannot go wrong with booking yourself a table at Geoffrey Zakarianâs The National. You can reserve your table in advance of the match (recommended), or even field-side day-of. Below: The bartenders busy mixing it up and pouring for guests at GPC.
All photos by Mikaela Stroop (aka: Yours Truly) for The Scout Guide Equestrian, except for the photo of Annabelle Gundlach, which is courtesy of the Greenwich Polo Club.