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98 SIDELINES AUGUST 2011 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE P O L O

By: Danika Rice

The development of the Team USPA program within the United States Polo Association is no doubt beginning to make its mark. Thanks to this unique program, America’s young polo talents are getting their chance in the spotlight through career development and playing opportunities all over the country. Among these shining stars is 2-goaler Josh Shelton, a Hutchinson, Kansas native who spent much of early 2011 traveling between Florida and South Carolina; before returning to Wichita for the summer to teach, coach and play at the Great Plains Equestrian Training Foundation. Although polo is a family past-time and childhood staple for this third generation player, 2011 has proven to be his breakout year, leaving his home state of Kansas for the frst time and heading down the “polo trail” that so many professionals now call home. Now that his travels have come full circle, Sidelines caught up with Josh as summer polo begins at the GPETF to chat about the year he’s had so far.

Sidelines: Most memorable moment you’ve had in a polo game?

JS: I don’t know about a single game, but this spring I played in Aiken with Team USPA. While I was there we got to play with Adam Snow, Owen Rinehart, and Julio Arellano in practices a couple times a week. That was very memorable for me and very important to me for improving my game. They coached us for almost two months.

Sidelines: Who has been the most infuential person in your polo career, and why?

JS: It is hard to pick one person, but outside of my family, Mike Carney has had a big impact on my polo career. Since I started playing, Mike has always helped me with whatever I‘ve needed. When I frst started he would let me play his horses in practice games regularly to give me the chance to play. Last winter was my frst time to leave Kansas, with chances to play in Wellington, Sarasota, and Aiken. He sent me with four of his best horses and his trailer.

Sidelines: If you could pick one horse to clone for yourself to play, which would it be and why?

JS: That would be easy. Mike Carney has a mare named Pumpkin. He let me play her over the winter in Florida and in Aiken this spring. She is one of the most amazing horses

I have ever played. She knows the game better than I do. She has everything: she’s very handy, has speed and a lot of heart.

Sidelines: If you could pick three teammates, who would you play with and where would you go?

JS: If I could pick a team, I would play with Adam Snow, Owen Rinehart, and my grandfather. I would go wherever I needed to just for the chance to play with that team!

Sidelines: What are the most important goals you’d like to accomplish within the next 5 years?

JS: I want to play as much polo as I can. I’d like to continue to grow as a player and horseman, and continue to improve my string (of horses). I’d like to play with and against as many different higher rated players as I can. I know that the more polo I get to play, the better chance I have of improving myself and my abilities.

Josh Shelton

Photo courtesy of Amy Wisehart

Five Questions with Josh Shelton