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Thursday, April 09 2015 / Published in Sidelines Spotlight

Having a Go at Playing Polo

The perfect birthday gift for a grown-up horse girl: a polo lesson! (Photos courtesy of Susan Friedland-Smith)

The perfect birthday gift for a grown-up horse girl: a polo lesson!
(Photo courtesy of Susan Friedland-Smith)

By Susan Friedland-Smith

My first real-life exposure to polo took place when I was a teenager and somehow my non-horsey parents acquired tickets to a match at Oakbrook Polo Club outside Chicago. My impressions were that I’d love to gallop on that immense green field and the audience was dressed to the nines. I’d never been to such an elegant sporting event before.

Aside from the competition itself, the highlight from that day was a chance to walk out onto the field to help replace and tamp the divots produced by the thundering hooves. I’d been to many Cubs or White Sox games at that point in my life but I’d never been invited down onto the field. The polo experience was something special!

Other than admiring the clothes in the print ads by Ralph Lauren and dining a few times at RL Restaurant off Michigan Avenue — and dreaming of converting it into my own horse-themed downtown apartment — my path didn’t cross with polo again until just a few years ago. During a Thanksgiving visit with family in Illinois, my husband Mark and I (newlyweds at the time), had the unexpected chance to face off at the sport of kings.

The Polo Backstory

My then-12-year-old niece, Mattie, was regularly riding her friend’s mom’s horses that were seasoned polo ponies. My niece suggested we go to the barn to watch her ride. Bundled up in Midwest-appropriate winter gear (meaning puffy clothes consisting of many layers), we departed for the barn, Mark with camera in hand.

We met my niece’s friend from school, friend’s mom and the two polo ponies. The girls groomed and tacked their mounts and then we adults took up post at the end of the indoor arena. The girls cruised around and practiced swinging their mallets. Occasionally they made good contact on the ball, which was pretty exciting. None of this was remotely close to the blazing action I’d witnessed at Oak Brook Polo Club decades before.

There was a lot of slow trotting and when they hit the ball, it’d make halting progress in one direction or another on the arena footing. I was pretty sure if given the chance, I’d be a respectable newbie polo player given my many years in the saddle. I certainly would be better than a couple of kids.

After the girls had ridden for a while, the friend’s mom turned to Mark and me and asked, “Would you like to ride?” I had no idea this would even be a possibility! I wasn’t dressed appropriately, in my snow boots, jeans and a black beret. Mark had on a black ski cap that resembled something a bank robber in a movie would wear. There was nothing elegantly Ralph Lauren-ish about our attire, but clothing does not a polo player make! How could we say no to such an incredible opportunity?

The Natural and the Horsewoman

Before we hopped on the small Argentine ponies, the owner said they were bombproof. “They’re great horses because you can do anything with them and nothing scares them, but they don’t really have a lot of personality,” she said. This was welcome news since Mark had only ridden once before in his life. I repeat. Mark had only ridden once in his life. At a walk. On a trail ride. Many years before.

Being the veteran horse person of the family, I walked my mount several laps to get the feel of her. I then began a cautious trot while holding the long, awkward mallet. I was worried I’d clock the horse in the face. I’m really not that naturally coordinated when it comes to sports with gear such as a golf club, tennis racket or baseball bat.

Meanwhile, in the back of my mind, I thought how stupid it was to ride without a helmet. The girls’ helmets were too small to borrow. In the end, I rationalized my decision, figuring this was an aberration, not my normal practice. And besides, I couldn’t say no to this generous offer to ride the highly trained polo pony! If I did fall, my mount wasn’t that tall and she was bombproof.

As I was carefully walking a lap then changing direction trying to have perfect equitation with my jeans rubbing the inside of my calf against the stirrup leather, Mark was already cantering. He flew up one side of the ring and down the other. He hit the ball and made excellent contact. At that point I was still contemplating how I’d swing the mallet without endangering the well-being of the pony. After much maneuvering, the pony and I were aligned in the perfect spot, right next to the ball. I swung the mallet with gusto and the ball basically stood still.

Taking a shot at polo, Susan celebrates a small victory of making contact with the ball — from a walk. (Photos courtesy of Susan Friedland-Smith)

Taking a shot at polo, Susan celebrates a small victory of making contact with the ball — from a walk. (Photo courtesy of Susan Friedland-Smith)

Lifelong Polo Player?

Immediately after that polo fail, Mark passed me from the other side of the arena and hit the ball. It soared through the air. It was as though he’d been playing polo his whole life.

My niece, who was on video duty, said, “Why don’t you try a canter?”

I replied, “Not with this thing in my hand,” referring to the mallet. We rode a little longer, my husband wearing a grin the entire time, wove around me, followed the ball and smacked it across the arena, then cantered on to hit it again. When he dismounted, Mark asked the owner, “How much does one of these cost?!?” He was clearly sold. The owner told him he was a natural and that we should play polo.

I knew that was a good sign for my relatively new marriage. We went home that day and watched the video footage and I was literally in tears laughing at what a terrible polo player I was and how professional the non-rider looked — despite his black bank-robber ski hat.

A year or so later for a birthday gift, Mark bought me a polo lesson. I’m happy to report that experience went much better. The instructor gave me very strategic tips for holding the mallet and making connection with the ball. By the end of the hour, I was able to hit the ball respectably. My second experience was way more fun than my first attempt. And maybe one of these days I’ll challenge Mark to a rematch.

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Tagged under: California Hoofbeats, polo, Susan Friedland-Smith

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

#dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #cheval #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #paard #dressurpferd
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