Page 89 - 2306_full

FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE SIDELINES JUNE 2011 87 P

O L O

Polo Ponies Show Their Stuff

By Danika L. Rice

The Second annual National PoloPonyShowhit theWellington show scene in late March to showcase the top polo ponies in the country in conjunction with the United States Open Polo Championship.

Players, Owners and Breeders alike converged on the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center for halter, performance and skills classes to show off their equine athletes. Grand Champion honors went to Melissa Ganzi’s Open Quarzo, with Reserve Grand Champion going to Carlos Gonzalez’s Cibby, who was named the 2010 Grand Champion in the show’s inaugural year. Also noteworthy was 7-goal professional polo player Sugar Erskine’s performance, which garnered frst and second place fnishes, respectively, in the Open Performance class on mares Shellrock and Haley. Shellrock in particular was a sight to see, as the 18 year old polo veteran showed off the amazing agility and fnesse that has won her multiple Best Playing Pony awards in her distinguished career. For full show results, please visit www. americanpolohorse.com

Junior Polo Horsemanship class winner was Grant Ganzi

All photos Courtesy of www. americanpolohorse.

com

Sugar Erskine won frst and second place in the Open Performance Class. He’s seen here on the winner, Shellrock, who at 18 is still demonstrating why she’s won multiple Best Playing Pony awards

Grand Champion Open was won by Quarzo, owned by Melissa Ganzi