114 SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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Passion For Polo
Kerstie Allen
Photo by LuckyIndianFotos
Kerstie Allen’s Passion for Polo
& All Things Equine
By Kerstie Allen
I was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. Being a very big-
city-like setting, the last thing you’d expect to encounter would be
a horse. However, from my earliest memory, and me being me, I
could think of nothing but horses.
I have no idea what provoked this passion, but I would spend
days obsessing over how I could ride. As I got a bit older, I’d take
whatever chance I could find to even be near horses, let alone
ride one.
By about 7 years old, I hatched a plan. I sat in my room and
made a list of everything I could do to earn money. I’d take
whatever job I could find to earn enough to buy my own horse.
I didn’t care how long it would take or how many newspapers I
would have to deliver to make my dream a reality. My parents
were very supportive, but insistent that if I wanted a horse, I would
be the one paying for a horse.
I look back now and that’s one of the best lessons they could
have ever taught me. It was a long haul, but by my last year in high
school I had finally done it! We were off horse shopping.
The amazing things that have unfolded since that day are the
things of dreams. Through horses I’ve been invited to travel the
world and compete in nearly every discipline imaginable — from
hunters and jumpers to barrel racing and roping to mounted
shooting and polocrosse. But for me, the biggest thrill of all has
been the discovery of polo.
From the moment I stood field side at what looked like a green
ocean in front of me and felt the thunder of eight horses move the
ground beneath my feet as they raced after the ball at a full gallop,
I knew this was the sport for me. As Lyndon Lea, the famous
winner of two U.S. Open Championships with his Zacara Team,
said, “From the first second I played, it was like a shot in the veins.
I was hooked!” Or as Sylvester Stallone, the actor and polo player,
said, “It’s like playing golf in an earthquake.”
No two people describe it the same, but the overall effect is
similar … awesome!
The polo life is great and involves as much travel as the best
show jumping circuits in the world. Over the last year, I’ve had
the pleasure of playing 26-goal polo in Palm Beach, Florida, with
the best players in the world on the Crab Orchard team. To be
selected to play, especially as a woman, is a very high honor. I
suppose it’s true that hard work and dedication do pay off.
After playing in Palm Beach, I trailered down I-95 to Miami to
play in the International Beach Polo Association’s 10th annual
Beach Polo World Cup. From there, I headed to Texas to play
polo at some of the most beautiful farms, then to California to play
for the Hollywood Polo Team versus the Beverly Hills Polo team
in Hollywood. It was a rather star-studded event as you’d expect in
Los Angeles and I loved it. After that, it was on to San Diego and
Temecula Polo Club.
As I write this, I’m in Hawaii touring the islands, going to rodeos,
playing polo and getting the chance to mix the two childhood loves
of my life — horses and surfing. Who would have thought that if
you follow your heart, you really can be living the dream!
I look forward to sharing my ride with you in my new
Sidelines
column, and hope you’ll share yours with me!
Follow Kerstie on Twitter at @kerstiea; on Instagram
at allenkerstie; and on Facebook at Kerstie Allen.
About the writer: Ker-
stie Allen is a native of
Melbourne, Australia. Her
passion for horses has
taken her on a worldwide
adventure exploring and
mastering nearly every
discipline in the equestrian
world and opening doors
of opportunity for women
everywhere.
Surfing and riding
– Kerstie’s two
passions.
Photo by Keala Panzarini
