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Friday, November 18 2011 / Published in Weekly Feature

A Ladder of Progress

Declining membership numbers in polo clubs are linked to much more than the declining state of the stock market.  Take a look at successful sports that have had explosive growth over the past decade like baseball and soccer.  Youngsters progress from youth or recreational leagues to traveling leagues that prepare a competitor for high school teams and can lead to scholarships at universities and take the most talented to professional status.

There are camps and clinics along the way to support this upward progression.  Polo clubs must learn from these successful sports organizations and offer their own ladder of progression.  Each level along the way builds a lasting foundation for the young person to be successful through each transition.  Polo clubs that offer a clearly defined approach to nurturing a new player from developing riding skills and learning the basics to competing in entry level tournaments are maximizing the longevity of their club membership.

Kris Bowman is the National Club Development Director for the United States Polo Association. She has achieved national acclaim for teaching and developing adult and Jr. Polo programs across the country over the past 20 years.

The USPA Houston Regional Polo Center has a recipe for success.  Led by a strong team of teaching professionals, RPC Director Mark Prinsloo and veteran instructor Barlee Flanders have a proven track record.  They offer introductory polo school packages on safe, reliable mounts each spring and fall.  These players then go on to a “Margarita League” where their skills are refined, and lessons take the form of a lesson combined with instructional chukkers.  There are summer and winter coaching leagues that prepare these new players for actual competition.  When students are ready, they are assisted in purchasing the proper beginner level horse and placed on teams in 2 or 4 goal competition.

Many players remain in the coaching leagues due to restrictions of ability or finances, but many progress to full playing members.  Each type of player adds to the culture of the polo club.  The students who remain in coaching leagues and schools are part of the incubator for new students to play with and of course the students who progress on to becoming new members of the club add enthusiasm, new ideas, and are the right fit for older, reliable polo ponies that may need to retire from more demanding players.  The polo ecosystem is now renewed in everyway.

Take an objective look at your club and evaluate if your training program may need an overhaul.  It may be missing a few rungs on the polo ladder of progress!

USPA Regional Polo Center Directors Mark Prinsloo in Houston, Jolie Liston in Atlanta and Erik Wright in L.A/San Francisco are available to lend valuable advice to clubs looking for new ideas.  National Club Development Director, Kris Bowman is always available to get you connected to the right program or person to help your club grow.  Please contact Kris at kbowman@uspolo.org

-Kris Bowman
USPA National Club Development Director | Director of Team USPA Programs 

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The February issue of Sidelines Magazine is here a The February issue of Sidelines Magazine is here and it's filled with love - including the love story of dressage riders Sarah Lockman Tubman and Lee Tubman! Thanks to photographer Kristen Scott-Crocker for the beautiful photos and Kimberly Gatto for sharing Sarah and Lee's story. 

We have so many amazing stories in this issue—get to know Sharn Wordley and Craig Martin of Wordley Martin Equestrian, LLC, the two Kiwis have had a fascinating journey in the equestrian world! And meet three day eventer Liz Lund who not only has a great story but wins the award for holding the most horses in one photo taken by Sidelines photographer Melissa Fuller. Hint, it's more than five but less than seven - and everyone had their ears up!! Amazing! 

Also meet hunter-jumper rider and photographer Kirsten Hannah Lafforthun, artist Vanessa Whittell Equine-art, dressage rider Brett Ingram and Emily Marquez-Dulin of Brooke USA, which is a great organization to support - make sure to visit them! 

Meet Madison Ibach and Reagan Ibach, sisters who work at the Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort and have a huge social media presence - make sure to follow them on Instagram! We are excited to continue our Women Entrepreneur stories and introduce you to Gigi Stetler, President/CEO of Broward RV. 

We also feature three great breeding and stallion stories and introduce you to John Almond and Margaret Hoffecker Almond of Loafers Lodge Welsh, and Craig Heckert and Patty Larson of Rivervale Farm, and Kelly Sigler Patterson of Looking Glass Farm. Mary Choate has great answers to share in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists Rob R.L. Jacobs, George Williams, Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing and Margie Sugarman. 

Make sure to sign up for a year's subscription to Sidelines by visiting our website, www.sidelinesmagazine.com so you can get a copy of the magazine sent to your house or barn every month! Enjoy reading this issue now - link in bio!
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#equestrianrealestate #realestate #luxuryrealestate #commercialdevelopment  #commercialrealestate #developmentrealestate #development #commercial #land #agland #agriculturalland #equestrianland #horseproperty #milliondollarlisting #equestrian #equestrianestate #pond #pondproperty #equestrianlife #dreamhouse #equestrianlifestyle #horselife #equestrianproperty #horsefarmforsale #horses #sidelinesmagazine
Warning, this column addresses the need for more v Warning, this column addresses the need for more volunteers! 

"However, I’m not talking about stuffing envelopes or other similar tasks. Don’t get me wrong, those are essential jobs and I’m grateful to those who do them," said Sidelines columnist, George Williams. 

"This column is for those of you who want to play a role in the direction of our sport, see areas needing improvement, or perhaps have a vision of where you want it to go in the future.

It’s true that over the years our organizations have matured and now seem more like institutions. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t still a tremendous need for volunteers. Perhaps in some ways there is more need than ever. Like most institutions that become settled in their ways, they need innovation, revitalization and sometimes even reinvention to keep them fresh and relevant in order to meet the needs of their constituents and/or adapt to new societal norms. 

There are constantly new challenges, and as so often has been the case in the past, it takes the different perspectives that come from a mix of knowledgeable staff and good volunteers who can bring those fresh ideas and innovations needed to continue moving forward," George said. 

"If you’re interested in getting involved, never fear—there’s still a lot of rewarding work to be done."

Read the full column at the link in our bio!

📸 Ruby Tevis #dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #volunteer #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #sidelinesmagazine
Mornings. You either love them or hate them. For p Mornings. You either love them or hate them. For parents of young children, and equestrians in general, it doesn’t really matter if you like mornings or not. The kids are up early, the horses are up early—parenthood and horse show life often run in parallels, the largest being that the days are long no matter how you look at it.

In the Welles household, through a carefully planned and practiced routine, Alex and Andrew rise between the hours of 5 and 6 a.m., packing lunches, packing bags for the horse show, maybe even squeezing in a quick workout—all before their daughters rise to start their days at 7 a.m. 

This morning dance routine has been perfected by Andrew, an international show jumper and head trainer at Team Welles, and his wife, Alex, an equally accomplished equestrian. No matter where the family is showing, mornings remain a time where Andrew and Alex find themselves fulfilling their roles as show jumper and parent side by side. 

But something will be different for the 2023 show season, and the future beyond it—Alex Welles is going pro.

Take a glimpse into the busy lives of Alex and Andrew at the link in our bio!

📸 Four Oaks Creative #hunterjumper #equestrian #horsesofinstagram #horse #showjumping #dressage #horses #equestrianlife #equine #eventing #equestrianstyle #horseshow #equestriansofinstagram #equitation #horsebackriding #ottb #jumper #showjumper #hunter #warmblood #equestrianlifestyle #pony #horseriding #thoroughbred #equinephotography #horsegirl #horselife #hunterjumpersofinstagram #sidelinesmagazine
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