114 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Lauren R. Giannini
If you ask Wyatt Harlow why he got hooked on the ancient sport
of polo, he says, “Everything about the game intrigues me. It’s a
lot different than any other sport I’ve ever played.”
Polo is also in Wyatt’s genes. When he was five or six, he started
helping his grandfather, Travis Worsham, a long-time polo player.
“We were living in Clifton, Virginia and we packed the grandkids
along with us to Blue Rock in Sperryville where Travis played,”
recalled Suzi Worsham, grandmother to Wyatt and several other
horse-crazy youngsters.
According to the Worshams, Wyatt was always interested in
horses. He took to riding and polo like a duck to water. “He was
so little he would walk under the horses’ bellies to help groom
them,” Suzi said. “Wyatt was fearless. One day when he was
about six, he was on a horse in the polo arena, but the gate was
open and the horse scooted out. All the players were chasing after
the horse. When they got him back, Wyatt was all smiles, saying
‘Wow! This is fun!’”
Like many teenagers, he is relatively reticent about himself,
but watching Wyatt in action gives the big picture. He commits
wholeheartedly to taking good care of his ponies, to playing his
best and to being a good sport. In arena matches, he races after
the ball, threading his horse into the tiniest space between another
player’s horse and the wall of the polo arena, provoking occasional
gasps from spectators in a nearby box. Playing on grass, racing
for the ball at mach speeds, riding off opponents, bumping horses;
Wyatt appears to be unaware of the risks inherent to rocketing
around on a half-ton of horse.
e
Polo
Wyatt Harlow in
action during the
inaugural 2013
USPA NCD NYTS
National Youth
Tournament Series
in September.
Photo by Elizabeth
A. Hedley - USPA
National Club
Development
Wyatt Harlow’s Lifetime Polo Journey
Wyatt’s skill level on
grass and in the arena
continues to improve
steadily, thanks to
hard work and focus.
Photo By Lauren R. Giannini
“Travis had a lot to do with Wyatt’s horsemanship skills – he is
an excellent rider and taught Wyatt for years. I was in charge of
the food,” stated Suzi, laughing (her cooking is no joke). “When
Wyatt was 12, he started playing at Great Meadow (Polo Club), in
The Plains, Virginia and his love for polo and involvement has just
grown over the years.”
When asked some of the most important lessons that his
grandson harvested from him, Travis said, “Taking care of the
horses, developing a solid work ethic, being on time – I’m a stickler
for punctuality – and good manners.”
Children live what they learn. Ever since Wyatt was 11 or 12,
he has worked all summer on his grandparents’ farm, north of
Leesburg, to show his appreciation for their support of his ponies
and his playing. He drives the tractor, takes care of the horses,
and bushhogs; any chores that need doing, he’s out there from
morning to evening.
Wyatt’s mentors include John Gobin, polo professional and
manager of Great Meadow Polo, and Amir Pirahsteh, the coach
at Natania Farm and Polo Club near Warrenton. They are among
a group of people who think that Wyatt could be a high-goal
American player if he gets the opportunity to play a lot of polo and
work for high-goalers.
“I’ve known Wyatt for about eight years and I’ve been teaching
him for about six – he really has a lot of talent,” John stated. “He’s
a lot stronger now and he plays like a man. The year before last,
he came down to Aiken to work for me for the fall. He has a great
work ethic – he works really hard, he wants to learn. I invited him
to come down and play for me again, but being in high school
slows him down.”
Wyatt, even when he was the smallest one out there in the
arena or grass, played a big game, a thinking game. Now 18, he
is in his last year of high school and hopes to attend the University
of Virginia and play polo. He has no idea what he wants to study,
but the goal is to make lots of money and keep playing polo.
Career achievements include distinguishing himself in both
