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Tuesday, August 12 2014 / Published in Weekly Feature

Kerstie Allen’s Passion for Polo & All Things Equine

Kerstie Allen Photo by LuckyIndianFotos

Kerstie Allen
Photo by LuckyIndianFotos

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!

Surfing and riding – Kerstie’s two passions.

Surfing and riding – Kerstie’s two passions.

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: Kerstie 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.

Kerstie as a little girl.

Kerstie as a little girl.

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Tagged under: kerstie-allen, polo, sidelines-magazine

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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
We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

 ✨ALVESTA OWAIN✨
Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre
13.1hh, Welsh section B
Stud Fee $750 (plus collection)
AI only and EVA negative
Fairfield, VA

Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #sidelinesmagzine
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