The second annual Rege Ludwig Polo Clinic was hosted by the Black Diamond Polo Club this past weekend. The clinic was sold out again! Twelve people attended the three day clinic, ranging from beginner riders/players to players with some tournament experience. To help promote polo and Rege’s clinic the playing members of the Black Diamond Polo Club offered their horses free of charge (provided eleven horses for clinic attendees!) and grooms volunteered their services as well (their help was much appreciated, as were the tips they received).

Day one started off at nine in the morning at the clubhouse, well alright nine-ish. The morning air was fresh and crisp, I’m sure a startling difference for Rege having just come from teaching polo in Thailand, even the Canadians found it so. Crisp air was soon replaced by the crackle of fire and warmth of the clubhouse fireplace. Hot coffee and morning treats provided by The Stop from Black Diamond further fuelled the enthusiasm and morning class was on!

Rege Ludwig conducts class.

Each days morning classroom session was followed by a horseback session, then lunch (hearty sandwich platters, also provided by The Stop), another classroom session, and more time on horseback.

Day two, deep into Spring, weeks away from Summer, field buried under snow! Not such a surprise really, we are in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta after all.

June 6, 2009. Snow polo anyone?

As they say “If you don’t like the weather, just wait ten minutes”, or is it five? So the fire was stoked a little higher, everyone moved a little closer, and the hot coffee went a little quicker. Apparently the cold couldn’t affect the mood as laughter was carried with smoke from the chimney to those of us outside preparing to make the move to the indoor arena and lounge for the remainder of the day. Thanks to Black Diamond Land & Cattle for the use of the facilities, they made for another successful day despite the weather!

That wasn’t it for the day though, included with the clinic was a Saturday night dinner. Rege, the clinic attendees, BDPC members, staff, and friends all gathered at the ranch house for an incredible meal catered by the Wild Horse Bistro from Black Diamond. Weather was a “hot” topic of conversation over drinks after dinner, the skies seemed to be clearing, hopes were high for Sunday!

Day three. Sun peeking out from betwixt the clearing clouds, looking down at a field as green as it was white the previous morning. What a glorious sight! The day’s routine is as the previous days, but there was an excitement in the air. Polo to be played, by some for the very first time! It seemed, from the exclamations of delight and roars of laughter, that much fun was had by all on the polo field, and to an outside observer whom watched the entire clinic, much must have been learnt, the improvement was impressive!

Game on!

Many thanks to all that helped make this clinic happen. The members generosity with their horses and the grooms with their time was very much appreciated by the attendees and Rege. A special thanks to Rege Ludwig, who makes everything so easy and puts so much into his clinics and promoting the sport of polo. Rege is in Grande Prairie, Alberta to do a clinic the following weekend, polo interest abounds in Western Canada!

Well, that’s about all for now, time to ride.

Go on up, I’ll hit it to you.