FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES APRIL 2014 87
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SI LINES JUNE 2012 3
Martin was 19 at the time, and that first job with White Birch
became a training ground for the player he is today. “Working for
White Birch taught me everything about how to take care of the
horses,” said Martin. “It was pretty nice for me to get to know what
the horse needs. Then I moved to Black Watch and worked for
Nacho Figueras. From 2005 on, since I was working for Black
Watch, I started building my reputation and playing polo with
sponsors of five and six goal teams. Now I’m playing high goal
with them.”
Martin, 34, is rated 5-goals by the USPA. This winter he played
professionally in Palm Beach for Hutton Goodman’s Faraway
Team. He also plays for Equuleus and a few other teams. During
the summer he is based in New York and plays at Southampton
Polo Club. “I love playing for both Faraway and Equuleus because
they make me enjoy the sport,” Martin said.
In addition to contributing to various wins here in the U.S.,
Martin has played around the world, including the Super Nations
Cup in China, as well as tournaments in Mexico and Argentina.
Last summer he was part of the Equuleus team when they won
the 10-9 decision over White Birch in the 2013 Monty Woodbury
Cup Finals at Bridgehampton Polo Club in New York.
During the winter, Martin snowbirds to Palm Beach with his
string of ponies. “Alita, Rusa and Haragana are my favorites –
they give me the confidence to play better,” he said. “I have my
best horses with me, the rest are in Argentina on the family farm.
I think that the horses are at least 70 percent of the game – they
might count for even more at times. The horses are so important.
When a horse goes well, it is sound and happy to play the game. I
try to keep my horses comfortable, not to push them too hard. The
horses’ comfort is very important to me.”
Martin likes to play #1, the most aggressive forward position
which requires a bold pony who won’t back down from bumping
and being bumped or riding off an opponent. “I’m a little wild and
polo is kind of crazy and a lot of fun,” he said. “I like to play some
defense, too. I don’t know if I have the talent to be a great player,
but I have the energy and I never get tired.”
If being a dedicated athlete who practices four times a week
and rides all of his horses on other days at the barn, works out,
stays healthy, doesn’t party hard, and prefers to spend a relaxing
evening at home with Paige Allardice, his girl friend of four years,
then Martin is definitely on course to achieve his goals.
“Martin is the hardest working person I know. He’s really serious
about polo,” saidPaige, 22, whowill graduate inMay fromUniversity
of Miami, having majored in Sociology and Environmental Science
and Policy. “When he’s playing, he doesn’t drink or even go out for
dinner the night before a game. He’s the most generous person I
know. He goes out of his way to help everyone. He treats people
the same, whether they’re his sponsors or his grooms. He is the
nicest guy.”
He’s also a really good horseman. Martin credits Julio Arellano,
the top-rated American player at 9-goals, for influencing his riding
and his game. “I admire Julio’s talent and his organization with
everything,” said Martin. “He’s a very nice person. If you play on a
team with him, he will help you to play better – he will teach you.
Polo is not about himself. Julio’s always thinking of the team.”
As the Florida season winds down with the approach of spring,
Martin continues to follow his routines with horses, practices and
matches, all the while working toward his goal. “I would love to
keep having opportunities to play in high goal polo and to find good
horses to add to my string,” Martin said. “I’m looking forward to
what happens next. I hope for the best for me, for my teammates,
for everybody. Hard work pays off. I expect good things to happen
for everybody.”
Martin playing polo.
Photo courtesy of Martin Pepa.
Martin Pepa
