New Orleans Polo Club
Junior Clinic
June 6-8, 2013
USPA Instructor Liz Holson
The New Orleans Polo Club hosted a two-and-a-half day clinic at one of their home fields in Folsom, LA. The clinic was attended by 15 young players, including two members of the US Pony Club, with the majority of the players take lessons or volunteer at the local therapeutic riding center, on the same property as one of the New Orleans venues. Participants ranged from age 11-19 and with the exception of one girl, none had previously had any exposure to polo.
Instructor, Liz Holson, used the two-day protocol for the clinic, with a slight modification to adjust for the extra half day. On the first day the clinic ran from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and the clinic began with the typical paperwork, followed by a brief polo overview and explanation of the game, during this time the players had the opportunity to observe a NO practice. This practice was a great way to explain and illustrate the real-life implications of ride-offs, hooks, and hitting. Next the kids moved to foot mallets to learn the basics of hitting and finally they ended the day with some riding, which was brought to a rather sudden stop as a thunderstorm rolled in.
Day two the kids were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to use a hitting horse to learn what it feels like to swing when they are mounted, with the added benefit of not worrying about crippling their mount with a poorly executed swing. After a quick lunch, the kids were back outside and mounted up to do some riding and hitting drills. Then at the end of a very long day the kids were divided up into four teams of three and they all played an introductory chukker in the arena, while properly attired in some New Orleans Polo jerseys.
All the participants thoroughly enjoyed their time in the saddle and were more than enthusiastic to come back the next day when they started with one last coaching chukker in the morning, followed by the finals of a New Orleans four-goal tournament. At the finals the kids took to the field at half-time to stomp divots and collect thrown shoes.
After a meeting with the New Orleans Club Manager, the staff at New Heights Therapeutic riding center, with the DC of the local Pony Club, they were all in agreement- they will be starting an Interscholastic team to help teach the clinic participants and will hopefully have them competing in the 2013-2014 I/I season.
This clinic was wildly successful. It helped the New Orleans management see that Polo School is a necessary addition and a full-time polo manager/instructor needs to be on staff to help the junior and the new adult players. At present New Orleans is one of the fastest growing clubs in the USPA, due primarily to the demographics of the area. However, if a polo school was established it would be an easy way to filter new players into the club in a structured and safe model. The PR and marketing approach they have taken has worked for the club, they produce rack cards and posters with photos and their season schedule, all building up to their Harvest Cup in late October, for which they partner with the Junior League, and bring in over 3000 spectators. If they had a polo school to promote, they could use similar techniques and accommodate a larger audience.