The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
. . . Ellerstina. She is undefeated in ’09 and what makes her a little different is that she has never been beat. Zenyatta is 14 and 0 and this time she did it on a world stage . . . the World Championships of the Breeders Cup against male champions from around the world. It was awesome. She is a huge mare at 17 hands + and most big polo ponies are more like 15.3 and some. Very few polo horses are 16 hands. It was very similar to the report from Argentina in the finals there. Zenyatta was never really in control of the race, but never doubting she would get there. Ellerstina was never gone, but they did it in the end and so did Zenyatta. There is little doubt who the champs are.
I have bet getting a lot of comments about new rules in Argentina about turning the ball and it has been recived extremely well by the people paying the bills. England upgraded their Polo this summer as well and it seemed to be the motivation to change. Somehow we need to look at this by way of the USPA as we do need Patrons to enjoy the game more and it is our lifeline to survival. I know we need to do what ever we can to improve Polo for the Patrons and for the public. I think others are going ahead with this and we are waiting to see what works . WHY? Polo is a sport and only a sport for those who pay the bills, so lets make them happy to pay the bills. We need them . . . they do not need us. As I always say . . . if you can afford to play polo you can definitely afford not to. So let’s get it done .
Around the world in Polo . . .
Its time for polo in the Phillipines, but they have been having a water problem like Housto and Buenos Aires (too much rain), but maybe Mother Nature is going to take a break soon. Remember you can always come to El Dorado where it never rains very long or very much. The polo there starts in about two months. So leave your umbrellas, slickers and rubber boots at home and come and see us in the California desert.
WELL DONE ELLERSTINA AND THE FANTASTIC ZENYATTA!
see ya.