He adds that polo could have been invented for Argentina's vast, fertile, lowland grass plains, known as the Pampas or Pampa. While polo in the UK may have an elitist image, in Argentina it is a populist sport, with big matches attracting crowds of more than 30, people, and being broadcast live on television. There are more than 3, active polo players nationwide, more than any other country. Yet unlike other sports such as football and rugby, which are dominated by global sportswear brands, most of the businesses that keep polo going in Argentina are small, often family-run companies.
The plethora of these companies again stems from the country's strong horse culture, says Bill Buchanan. These small firms do everything from provide the horses, to train the riders, and make the polo mallets, or sticks as they are also known. Polo was enthusiastically adopted by Argentines after the British began playing it in the country in the s, and its popularity has never waned.
To try to create the best horse for the sport, the native Argentine Criollo horses, known for their endurance, were crossed with English Thoroughbreds, for their speed and grace, to produce the Argentine polo pony. At the La Superba stud farm near the city of Lujan, 70km 43 miles west of the capital Buenos Aires, they have been breeding, taming and trading Argentine polo ponies for the past six years. From that moment on it's trained to learn the game," says co-founder Fernando Monteverde.
Just like in football there are precocious horses, and others are slow learners. Mr Monteverde, 59, adds: "By the age of five a horse can play in competitions and be sold. To breed the horses, La Superba and other centres are increasingly using embryonic transplantation - when a prize mare is newly pregnant the embryo is quickly transferred to the womb of another female horse.
He followed the horses to California and Long Island, where he became known as an exceptional player. He was not society, but society players were delighted to have him on their team, if only to avoid having to play against him.
He won the Monty Waterbury Cup in , held a goal rating from to , and is considered to be U. In the s and 40s, more U. In the early s, with the increased popularity of high-goal polo, the presence of professional players became more of a rule and less of an exception. Today, there are many professionals making a living as players, as well as training and selling ponies, managing clubs and teaching the sport. The s also saw the growing trend towards outside support of polo as men such as William T.
Ylvisaker courted corporate sponsorship and opened the eyes of marketers to the appeal and audience that polo offers. For many years, the U. Army supported polo, beginning in at Fort Riley, Kansas. Beyond improving the riding skills of cavalrymen, polo taught leadership, teamwork and strategy. West Point introduced polo in Celebrating its 17th season, the Bridgehampton Polo Club is the quintessential way to spend summer afternoons in the Hamptons.
Every July and August, the club hosts a roster of internationally acclaimed players, celebrities and socialites on the wide fields below Two Trees Farm. The sea breeze and iced cocktails are enjoyed field-side in comfort, among the stylish, yet relaxed attendees.
Luxury brand sponsors have VIP seating under catered tents, across from the tailgating spectators, all of whom are dressed to the nines, and sprinkled with famous faces. Anyone is welcome to attend, and matches are accessible to those new to the game, thanks to a running commentator offering explanations of the rules and plays as they happen.
Wellington, Fla. Polo enthusiasts descend upon the area each winter season to play and enjoy polo surrounded by equestrians of all disciplines, who also flock to Wellington for the warm weather. The season runs from January through April each year and concludes with the U. Open Polo Championship final. The game has had to adapt to diverse cultures, landscapes, communities, and climates, and this has ushered in a new era for the sport. The U. They have had years of investment into the sport, establishing the most prestigious polo clubs globally; however, the rest of the world is starting to catch up.
Fans of the sport start following a new polo season in England, starting in early May. Bear in mind that other world regions are setting up their polo competitions funded by wealthy Asian and Middle-eastern patrons. In particular, Polo patrons in the UAE are investing millions in the sport each year, setting up polo clubs and attractive pay packets and other incentives to attract the best talent from Argentina, Europe, and other parts of the world.
Argentina is the breeding ground for the most talented polo players in the world. It is also the home of great polo ponies that have gone on to dominate the sport.
However, in terms of playing at the best competitions, most of these players end up in Europe. In Europe, for instance, the May to July season involves the most prestigious tournaments, such as the English high-goal tournament.
Once the Gold Cup has ended, the players then move on from Europe, where in the past, they usually set up in Deauville, France, but in recent years this region has failed to keep up with competition coming in from other parts of the continent.
Deauville is no longer the center of polo in Europe or even in France , as most of the major players can be found near Paris in Chantilly and Sotogrande in Spain.
0コメント