120 SIDELINES JANUARY 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Lauren R. Giannini
“I love to ride,” said Kylie Sheehan, who enjoys showing and
foxhunting at home in Maryland. “But I also love the team aspect
of sport and polo is the perfect combination.”
In November Kylie became one of eight standout players across
the nation to be selected by the United States Polo Association for
the 2013 Team USPA, a unique mentoring development program
launched in 2010. Players attend clinics, receive specialized
instruction and compete in various events, including international,
for Team USPA. The program is designed to develop their talents
as players and as ambassadors for polo. Applicants, 18 to 23, must
be actively playing polo on an interscholastic or intercollegiate
team.
“Some of my most memorable moments have been through
polo,” said Kylie. “Being named to Team USPA is a big advantage.
They offer a huge support system and networking. That’s an
important part of this sport – networking and getting to know
people. Team USPA will give me a great opportunity to play more.”
Kylie discovered the joys of riding in third grade gym class at
Garrison Forest School in Maryland where horses are part of
the curriculum. In 8th grade she began playing arena polo. As a
Kylie playing in the Royal Malaysian Polo Association Ladies
Championship.
Photo by Armand Ali
Girl Power
–Polo Style
e
Polo
Kylie Sheehan with Gaucha, one of her favorite ponies at the
University of Virginia.
Photo by Isabella Wolf
freshman, she joined the school team: in her senior year, Garrison
Forest won the interscholastic arena polo championship.
Kylie worked a few summers for the Dan Colhoun family, junior
and senior, in Maryland and played their ponies. In summer
2011 she groomed for Woody Keesee, gaining valuable outdoor
play experience at the Mashonack Polo Club in Millbrook, New
York. Last summer Kylie went to Malaysia with the Beh family
whose sons attend UVA. The Beh’s oldest daughter had started
a women’s team and Kylie enjoyed every moment of the seven
weeks she spent playing and traveling through southeast Asia.
“People have been extremely generous,” said Kylie, now a
senior at University of Virginia in Charlottesville. “I don’t have
polo ponies of my own and I am very lucky to have had so many
opportunities to work and play.”
Kylie credits her success in polo to her coaches at Garrison
Forest, Lissa Green and Cindy Halle, and to her current coach,
Lou Lopez, head of the UVA polo program. “I learned how to
balance school, polo and college life,” she admitted. “Lou taught
me how to prioritize and know what’s important to me – polo and
academics.”
Kylie’s major in Foreign Affairs concentrates on Latin America
(lots of polo). “I love to travel and would love to play in as many
places as possible all over the world.” Her goal to stay involved
with polo might combine her passion for the game with a career
in management or, on the business-side, in marketing or event
planning. Most of all, she wants to keep playing.
Asked her greatest triumph to date, Kylie replied: “Winning the
National Intercollegiate Polo Championship last year and doing
it with two of my best friends – Isabella Wolf and Julia Steiner. It
couldn’t have been better. It was a dream come true.”
Her favorite pony Tolderita has won countless Best Playing
Pony awards. Kylie is especially pleased about the BPP title the
mare earned when UVA won the 2012 National Intercollegiate
title. “I rode her – she gave me the best chukker – she knows
where the play is going before I do,” said Kylie. “I like playing
mares. They have a little attitude. Tolderita knows the game and
hasn’t lost any of her steam. She’s really sharp, really puts her
heart into polo.”
Kylie’s advice to aspiring polo players: “Go for it!’