26 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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polo, you might qualify for a “scholarship” from the Santa
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introduce new players to polo — whatever their playing and riding
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standing who are enrolled full time in an accredited junior high or
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up to 50 percent of the costs of enrolling in the Santa Barbara
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Intercollegiate Championships. Westmont College, coached
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this year.
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donations and an annual fundraiser: 95 percent of all monies
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Scholastic Arena Polo program runs from November through March
and involves area schools, including Santa Barbara City College,
University of California Santa Barbara, Westmont College, Santa
Barbara High School, Laguna Blanca, San Marcos High School,
Santa Barbara Junior High, Bishop Diego High School, Cate School
and Crane County Day School.
Participants ride and train at John Westley’s Santa Barbara Polo
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facets from training horses to polo club management. His wife,
Wendy Westley, teaches horsemanship and handles administrative
duties. Participants hone riding and playing skills through lessons,
games and clinics while learning the importance of sportsmanship,
teamwork and how to care for their horses.
“I feel our model is unique and one that has been successful
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running the polo school as a completely separate business,” said
Wendy. “John got involved back in 1999 when Buddy Linfoot and
the original organization at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club
asked him to coach the collegiate and scholastic polo program. He
took to it like a duck to water even though he hadn’t taught kids
before that. We teach children and adults to ride and play polo
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program, which has introduced and encouraged so many young
people to play polo.”
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standout players for Team USPA: Collin White, Remy du Celliee
Muller, Wiley Uretz, Patrick Uretz and Daniel Travis. The Polo
Training Foundation recognized the Uretz brothers as the PTF Male
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scholarships a year to kids for the last eight years,” said Wendy. “It
feels great to be able to do that.”
For more information and how to apply, visit
and
About the writer: Lauren R. Giannini is an award-winning journalist and
photographer, specializing in stories about the equestrian world. Crazy about
horses all her life, she combines her passion for reading and writing with her love
for horses. She lives in the heart of Horse Country Virginia, watched over by her
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vigor.” Lauren’s pleasures and pastimes include foxhunting and steeplechasing —
just about anything to do with horses.
Calling Young Polo Riders:
Saddle Up with the Santa Barbara Youth Polo Association
POLO
CALIFORNIA
By Lauren R Giannini
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Photo by Wendy Westley
The 2014 USPA National Intercollegiate Champions,
Westmont Men’s Polo Team with John and Wendy Westley
Photo by David Bergman
