Team USPA Update
By Kris Bowman of the United States Polo Association
Team USPA’s spring season was a success in Aiken, South Carolina. Beginning in April and wrapping up in June, the players were invited to two all pro practices at Adam Snow and Owen Rinehart’s fields every Tuesday and Thursday. On the days they were not practicing they each had responsibilities working one-on-one with their mentors. Danielle Travis and Pedro Lara have been working with Adam Snow everyday with his young colts and fillies. Each Team USPA player had specific goals they were tasked with achieving through Adam Snow. Jorge Estrada is being mentored by Owen Rinehart and Nick Snow had the opportunity to work with Julio Arellano. Apart from the two practices each week, they also had tournament polo opportunities. Danielle Travis was mentored by John Eicher of Crestview Polo Team and played with them in her first 8 goal tournament at Aiken Polo Club. Jorge Estrada, Pedro Lara and Josh Shelton had the opportunity to play in two 12 goal tournaments at New Bridge/302 Polo captained by Julio Arellano. Arellano not only coached the Team USPA players on the field, he also had weekly team meetings and game tape reviews. There were several lectures organized to broaden their horsemanship and polo knowledge. Nigel Allcock provided a clinic on turf management and Shelly Onderdonk, DVM, gave a lecture on the equine athlete. Julie Robins exposed the players to the world of natural horsemanship and has since been working with the players with horses in their own strings.
The training will resume in September and run into November. In addition to the on and off the field education, the players have been going through an intensive rules review with USPA Professional Umpire Coordinator, Tom Hughes, in preparation for an Umpire Certification Clinic with Professional Umpire Instructor, Steve Lane.
New Bridge/302 Polo, Aiken Polo Club and Brigadoon Polo Clubs have been very generous with their assistance to all of these young players. Other professionals who have donated time mentoring these players this season are: Alan Martinez (6 goals), Julian Daniels (6 goals), John Eicher (3 goals), Ka’ina DeCote (3 goals),Willie Hartnett (4 goals) and Tiger Kneece (5 goals).
In effort to support all young polo players, the USPA has launched the Young Player Outreach (YPO) program. This season’s participants also attended Team USPA practices and events:
Taylor Freeman, Matt McGee, Za Tilt, Liz Holson, Tyler Morris, Mason Primm, Meghan Scanlon, Elizabeth Pallardy, JB Leary, and Robert Orthwein.
Nick, Felipe and Pedro.
Team USPA Spring Participants :
Carlitos Galinido (3goals)
Nick Snow (4goals)
Will Tankard (3 goals)
Christina Fernandez (0 goals)
Mason Wroe (3 goals)
Ty MacCarty (0 goals)
Jorge Estrada (1 goal)
Danielle Travis (0 goals)
Pedro Lara (1 goal)
Josh Shelton (2 goals)
Neil Osburg (1 goal)
Felipe Viana (3 goals)