SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Sidelines Caps
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
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.

Double D Trailers Info

Share this page:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Tagged under: kerstie-allen, polo, sidelines-magazine

What you can read next

New Vocations – Giving Racehorses A Fresh Start
Aubrey Torrez Believes in the Underdogs
On Course With Schaefer Raposa

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Jessica West always rode any horse that was availa Jessica West always rode any horse that was available to her throughout her Junior career, so she knew she had an advantage when she decided she wanted to ride on an NCAA team in college. Now a senior at @@auburnu and majoring in psychology, Jessica has enjoyed everything about the equestrian team and is ready to move on to her next adventure. 

Read more about Jessica at the link in our bio!

#ncea #ncaa #equestrian #collegiateequestrian #huntseatequitation #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #collegelife #showjumper #hunterhorse #horseshow #sidelinesmagazine
In the unique and challenging sport of combined dr In the unique and challenging sport of combined driving, Jacob Arnold has proven himself to be a bona fide star. It’s been said that success develops from a recipe based on hard work, perseverance, learning and sacrifice, paired with a love of what one is doing. Since the time he was a boy, Jacob has had the right combination of all of those ingredients, which have culminated in a meteoric rise to stardom.

Beginning his career as a Junior, Jacob earned the coveted @usequestrian Junior Equestrian of the Year award in 2011. Since then, he has taken the combined driving world by storm, competing successfully in four @fei_global World Championships. He also won the USEF Advanced Pair Horse National Championship in 2020 and 2021, among other victories—all before the age of 28, in a sport that has historically been dominated by older drivers. Last September, he placed 12th—the highest of any American driver—at the 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs in a field of over 100 top-level drivers.

Read more about @jacobarnoldcombineddriving at the link in our bio!

@alex.banks.photography #combineddriving #drivendressage #dressage #driving #carriage #horsedriving #equestrianstyle #equestrianlife #horselover #drivinghorse #carriagehorse #showhorse #sidelinesmagazine
@rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the f @rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the first equestrian Major of 2022, winning the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters. In doing so he also claimed an additional bonus for non-consecutive Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping wins, following his victory at CHIO Aachen last year. The German champion’s outstanding performance riding his trusted partner Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z once again makes him the live contender for the coveted Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

Catch up on all the action and watch the free highlights video on the Sidelines Show World blog (link in bio!)

#showjumping #rolex #grandslam #rolexgrandslam #showjumper #dutch #netherlands #dutchwarmbloods #equestrianlife #hunterhorse #hunterjumper #equestrianstyle #showhorses #showjumpersofinstagram #jumpinghorse #grandprixjumer #grandprixhorse #sidelinesmagazine
Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 ac Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 acres in Jupiter Farms, Florida.

Jupiter Farms is an equestrian community with a trail system and a sand riding arena at the park. Charming home features vaulted ceilings, custom trim, custom lighting in master bedroom that changes color with a remote. Granite countertops in kitchen and laundry room. New 2022 stackable washer/dryer. Privacy fenced backyard with beautiful tall pines for shade, many palm trees also on property.

Secure fenced  25’ x 25’ pen with wood fencing , for a horse, dogs or a garden.  Wonderful property in desirable Jupiter Farms. 45 minutes to Wellington, 25 minutes to Jupiter Dog Beach. Perfect oasis for dog and horse lovers, close to everything in South Florida. MLS# 10778333, Agents welcome.

$655,000
Contact 561-246-9317
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • MARANATHA MEADOWS
    SEVERAL YOUNG PONIES FOR SALE SECTION B WELSH PONIES Beauty, Talent, Intelligent kid friendly ponies Located in Spring Grove, PA 561-797-9199 maranathawelshponies@gmail.com

    [Read more]

  • Holsteiner Stallion - Lieutenant Kije
    Lieutenant Kije (Laurinn x Carolus I x Rocadero) 17'h North American Studbook Approved Holsteiner Proven Hunter & Jumper Offspring thru Derby's & Grand Prix. USEF #45986 Fresh Cooled & Frozen LFG $1200 Frozen Straws $350 per dose www.Phoenixequestriancenter.com

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • A Paris Horse Adventure: Saut Hermes 2022
  • Better Business with Malvern Bank: Michael Meller’s Secrets to Success
  • Third Annual Painted Ponies Art Walk takes over Southern Pines, NC!

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Jung Ends as He Began — On Top — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™
  • ROLEX TESTIMONEE DANIEL DEUSSER WINS ROLEX GRAND PRIX AT 2022 DUTCH MASTERS
  • STABLE VIEW IN AIKEN POSTPONING ‘A’ RATED $400,000 H/J CHALLENGE SERIES DUE TO RESTRICTIVE MILEAGE RULE

Category

Recent Posts

  • Unbridled with Bev Bedard

    By Britney Grover     Other than leaving f...
  • Katie Duerrhammer: Driven by Love and Respect for Horses

    By Kimberly Gatto Portraits by Melissa Fuller &...
  • The Importance of Finding the Right Bit for Your Horse

    By Liz Halliday-Sharp Anyone who knows me is aw...
  • Martha Ingram’s Family Ties, From Horses to Philanthropy 

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Brenda Black &nb...
  • Course Designer Spotlight: Alan Wade

    Course Designer Spotlight: Alan Wade Our next S...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!