30 SIDELINES JUNE 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
e
Polo
Miguel Questel:
Polo Reins Supreme
By Lauren R. Giannini
Like many of the Team USPA Developing Players, Miguel
Questel, 19, has a genetic connection as well as a personal
passion for the game. “Ever since I could ride – when I was three
or four – we started out really early with polo,” Miguel said. “My
brother Francisco is fve years older. I remember watching my
father Francisco and my uncle Domingo play polo when I was just
a little kid. I fell in love with polo – it’s all I have ever really wanted
to do.”
His father played professionally, but now just plays for fun. His
uncle still plays professionally. Polo reigned supreme in Miguel’s
family and he grew up with horses in Campo, California. His
mother Angelita, who rode when she was younger, has supported
her sons’ involvement to the nth degree.
Miguel played at California Polo Club and Poway Polo Club.
Twice he contributed to the Poway team taking the western
regional title in the USPA Interscholastic tournament. He also
enjoyed three wins in the Arena Master’s Cup. He opted to take
a job with Kris Bowman in Aiken, taking care of the Team USPA
horses. He hopes to be working with Adam Snow in the near
future.
“My dad and my brother were major infuences on my
horsemanship and also on my playing skills,” Miguel said. “The
most important lessons were always to have patience, never
get mad at the horses, and keep myself calm. At Poway Russ
Sheldon always did a lot with the I/I kids – he helps us all. He’s like
a father fgure for polo players. His son Billy coaches and helps
out the kids too.”
For Miguel, the only place to play arena is the #3 position. “I like
to play back – it’s easier for me to play in the back than up front,
I’m not sure why,” he said. “Playing back, I guess I feel I have more
control of the
ball. I’m looking
forward to getting
more grass time –
practice chukkers
with Adam Snow
– I’d really like
to play back on
grass too.”
Being on Team
USPA has helped
Miguel to get
his swing down
a lot better. He
also feels the clinics have helped him to sit in the saddle and be
able to move with more ability. He has set a goal for his polo
career: “I want to become the best player I can and to become a
professional – I want to take this as far as I can.”
He recalled playing polo on normal-sized horses when he was
fve. “My father would adjust the stirrups – wrap them if there
weren’t enough holes,” he said. Nowadays, he’s doing a lot more
with horses: starting young horses under saddle, hacking out and
trail riding the polo ponies.
“I feel that the mares, most of them, learn quicker and are more
willing to learn than most geldings,” Miguel said. “Sometimes they
have attitudes, but they are easier toworkwith and aremorewilling.”
Miguel’s favorite all-time polo playing horse is TJ. “I grew up with
her – she was just amazing,” he said. “TJ was an Argentine horse
– we got her when I was around seven and I still have her. She’s
on retirement – she’s 26 or 27 and I think she does miss playing.
She was just so handy and it seemed she took care of me on the
feld.”
Being in Aiken has been part of Miguel’s polo adventure on
Team USPA, which is how he got the job looking after the Team’s
horses. He hopes to get a summer job in polo. When asked his
immediate goals, he groaned. All he really wants to do is play
polo, and he offered some advice to anyone interested in applying
for Team USPA. “You have to work hard, really hard, but it will be
worth it if you make Team USPA,” Miguel said. “I’ve been having
fun. If you have the opportunity, you should do it. You learn a lot
and it helps you to meet people who can be helpful if you want to
make polo your career.”
Miguel Questel
Photos By Elizabeth A. Hedley, USPA-NCD
Miguel Questel
(left) defending
the boards in a
practice game
during Team
USPA’s three day
clinic in February
at the Everglades
Polo Club in
Wellington,
Florida.