By Mary Anne McCarthy
Maaarco! …
Poooolo!
…
My first introduction to polo (the kind on lightning-fast
horses) came from a guy laying on a gurney in the Stanford Hospital
emergency room with a busted wing.
By Mary Anne McCarthy
Maaarco! …
Poooolo! …
My first introduction to polo (the kind on lightning-fast horses) came from a guy laying on a gurney in the Stanford Hospital emergency room with a busted wing.
His enthusiasm for the game was either real or morphine induced.
When I told him I was an equestrian, he began his recruitment, telling me you only need three or four ponies (at about $5,000 – $10,000 a hoof) and he’s only broken a few other bones previous to this most recent setback.
Not exactly the best advertisement for a sport that few people know about and even fewer play.
Always on the hunt for ways to enjoy other people’s horses and to get my fill of horsy smells, I ventured out to Buck n Horse Ranch this past weekend, followed a car through the automatic gates and became an uninvited, but graciously welcomed, guest of South County’s only Sunday polo match.
Gary Pollack, owner of the ranch, hosts these weekend matches with friends who share the gurney guy’s enthusiasm for the game.
Gilroy polo season runs from early summer to September or October depending on rain and whether the horses or riders need a break.
Long-time riders explain that newcomers to the game are often addicted and find drier fields in Southern California to winter.
Lucky neighbors of the Buck n Horse Ranch have even built a viewing deck to take in the games from their own backyards. I’ve heard they pay a premium for those views around the polo fields in Santa Barbara.
Some friends play croquet or golf or poker but Gary and his buddies buy a string of ponies (recall the estimated price!?), invite a professional player to make the game more interesting, and play up to six chukkers in an afternoon.
Chukkers, in the lingo of polo, are seven minute periods of play where four riders team up against another four riders to whack at a sphere about the size of a bocci ball down a regulation 300 yards to a goalie-less goal earning a grand score of one point.
Playing in this weekend’s games were Veronika Kirueshkin of Portola Valley who owns four ponies and works during the week as a paralegal at the Menlo Park Law Firm of Baldwin & McNamara. Kirueshkin, a Moscow native, is delighted to have learned that polo is now being played in Russia and plans to travel back on vacation and possibly play a pickup game.
Jim Hunter of Harbor Bay Island (across from San Francisco) rode in several chukkers on Sunday trading out for a fresh pony in his string of five.
Mr. Hunter switched from a western to polo saddle about 10 years ago when a friend sent him balls and a mallet. He cut a field and started playing.
Christopher Tack of Los Gatos is not derogatorily referred to as a low-budget player. In the eyes of these friends, its not important how you get to the field it’s that you do. Mr. Tack owns Shiloh, Molly and Chance and acts as groom, owner and rider.
Local rider Bill Craycroft of Gilroy moved from Monte Sereno 11 years ago with his wife Julie to be closer to the fields.
Experienced spectators Annie Oakley and Piccolo Pete, Jack Russell terriers owned by the Craycrofts, hardly contained their excitement, barking as the thunder of riders passed the tents.
Mrs. Craycroft, a 4-H leader for 10 years, explained that the dogs love the horses but sometimes are seen flying out of the barn as white footballs. Good to have an attentive vet like Dr. Rick Lenninger.
Also sharing the spectators’ tent was Janna Robertson, a long time South County resident and former barrel racer. Hard to ignore is the Gilroy Polo Pinup Guy Ted Schlosser – former male model and a presence on any team.
Trying to understand the intricacies of the game, Bill explained to me: “A good game is when you don’t fall off.”
That was enough to jinx the afternoon and send Gary Pollack to the ground on about the fourth or fifth chukker injuring his other shoulder … the one he hasn’t had surgery on.
A sympathetic sideliner asked Craycroft if the “beer thing” was still in effect.
Showing concern for Gary, Craycroft said softly, “Yes, he still owes his teammates a case of beer.”
In this crowd of friends, I doubt that Bud will do.
Ciao for now.
If you want to go watch, call ranch manager Kelly Holbrook, (650) 670-2100.
