Nick Snow, who has shown tremendous dedication and commitment to the sport of polo, was selected as the winner of the prestigious Team USPA Equus & Co. Award, which honors the Team USPA player who best exemplifies the program’s principles.
Equus & Co. CEO and Chairman Jim Whisenand presented a check for $10,000 and a unique, engraved belt buckle to Snow on Sunday (Feb. 17) at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Finalists Stephanie Massey and Tiamo Hudsepth were also honored and received beautiful Tackeria “Ultimate” saddles in recognition of their contributions to the Team USPA program.
“Nick exemplifies all the great qualities that our Team USPA members have,” said Polo Hall of Famer Charles Smith, Chairman of the Team USPA Committee. “We are proud to have Nick, Stephanie and Tiamo as members of the Team USPA program.”
Whisenand founded the Equus & Co. Award three years ago to acknowledge the outstanding efforts by up-and-coming players from the Team USPA program.
“This award is something that I am very proud of because I believe that it’s important to bring new players into the sport and teach them the right way to do things and to give back,” said Whisenand. “Nick, Stephanie and Tiamo are perfect examples of that.”
Snow, a member of Team USPA since 2010, represented the USA in the FIP 2011 Zone and World Championships in Argentina. Snow won the 2012 USPA National Copper Cup in Aiken where he was named MVP, and has been chosen to captain the professional Houston USPA team in 2013. He actively mentors young players in Aiken, Boston and Wellington. Currently, he is mentoring Agustin and Lucas Arellano while helping to run the polo horse training program with 9-goaler Julio Arellano, the highest-rated U.S. player, in Wellington, Florida. Snow, who assisted in organizing the junior polo training series in Aiken last year, volunteers on the USPA Junior Polo Committee.
“It means a lot to me, it’s a great honor to be selected,” said the 27-year-old Snow, who grew up in Ipswich, MA and now lives in Aiken, SC. “There’s a lot of kids who are doing a lot for the sport and giving back to the sport and Team USPA. I like to think that I can help the kids that are just coming into the program now the same way some of the older players helped me when I was just beginning.”
Snow and Team USPA members have a terrific support system in place, including current and former players who have a wealth of experience and knowledge to share.
“Those first couple of years when you’re putting everything together it really helps to have people give you advice on how they were able to overcome certain challenges,” said Snow.
“There have been numerous players who have helped me through my growing pains in the sport. My older brother Adam, Owen Rinehart, Nic Roldan, Julio Arellano, Charlie Muldoon and John Gobin have all helped me in one way or another. Kris Bowman and the Team USPA program have also been essential in providing me with me opportunities and helping to cultivate these polo relationships. ”
Nick Snow added that Team USPA is evolving into a self-sustaining program and he is proud to be a part of that.
“Players that got into the program with me in the first year can now help the newest Team USPA members,” said Nick Snow. “We can relate to some of the things that they are going through, like struggling to put together a string or paying the bills or whatever it is, and we can offer constructive feedback based on our individual experiences.”
Team USPA Program Director Kris Bowman is most proud of Team USPA players because they are tremendously dedicated to the sport and so willing to help others in a variety of ways.
“They lead by example and hopefully it becomes a way of life for all of them,” said Bowman. “It’s our job to identify the outstanding talent as displayed by Nick Snow and do everything within our ability to help him succeed in his high goal pursuits. Nick plans to use this money towards purchasing a new horse and that is exactly one of the small ways that this program is helping him achieve his goals.”