Polo has been in America since the late 1800’s and things have changed every decade it has been here. In maybe the first Century of Polo, only the rich played, and only because the wealthy kids started getting cars instead of horses, did many drift away from polo. Then came the need for players not of wealth around 1930. Army players were probably first to enter this world, but then trainers were brought in as players, and the era of the pros began by the 50’s. There were few, if any, all Patron teams, as some of the pros, such as Cecil Smith, became as good or better than the 10 goal Patrons. This opened the gate to a new Polo and it became the way of Polo for the next 2 decades.
All players, pros and Patrons, were mostly Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, or all North Americans, but then in the late 70’s, I believe, we started to see some English Pros, a few Aussies and Kiwis, and a sprinkle of Brazilians, Argentines and Columbians. By the 80’s, the Harriots, and Tanoria and Eddie Moore were here, and then came Gonzalo Pieres, who lit it up coming from the Pampas to England, and America rose from 7 to 10 in like 3 years. From Mexico came the Gracidas. And the World of polo changed overnight.
Still we had a lot of good Patrons from 3 to 7 goals such as the Buschs, Brands, Orthweins, and Uihliens, and at that time Polo was still a team sport, as the Superstars of the 80’s and early 90’s (Barrys, Waymans, Hipwoods, Galindos, Armours, Azzaros, Rhineharts, etc.) slowed down. But the number of Patrons also decreased, and by the year 2000 we had very few Patrons of high goal, as more and more became Payers instead of Players, and said goodbye.
With the new millennium came a new breed. A. Cambiaso changed the world of Polo so fast no one saw it. His ability, skill, and tactics were unmatched by anyone ever in the game. His ability made him the Michael Jordan/Tiger Woods of our sport, and you know how that changed those sports. His ability to get anyone to improve was awesome, but he was just doing it mostly to set himself up, like MJ did in round ball. And he did it well no matter where or who he was with, from 10 goal teammates to 0 goal Patrons–no matter the team, he made it work. He was and is still at the top, maybe not by leaps and bounds as before, but he is nearing 50 and has been 10 goals for 3/4 of his life. It was the change of Polo in the early 2000s–AC was on his own with super star horses. And this was at the time when most players had 8 to 10 horses, 6 maybe in the big games, but usually 4. Even in the Argentine Open a lot of good horses played 2 chukkars, sometimes 3 (as it was 8 chukkars). But AC found Tim Gannon, who always wants to win and said “need more, get’em,” and he did. For 3 years running, nobody could beat him.
Tim made it and played solidly. He was usually “picking” someone, which became illegal because Tim and George Rawlins were stars at it. No matter 3 or 10 goal players, if they took on one of them and cleared the way, giving AC 3 seconds alone, you were history. And they won about 6 Opens doing it. I remember watching George in an Open Game, and someone said “George is not doing anything,” and I said “that is really a stupid thing to say–he picks an 8 to 10 goal player on every knock in and every penalty #5. Why don’t u try it goofy.” Sarcastic I know, but they were awesome. However, when people were forced to face Cambiaso with 10 to 12 horses, suddenly the hunt was on for more, as a fresh horse is always just a little better most of the time, and 2 or 3 fresh horses kill the others, especially if they are all good horses.
It was that that changed Polo in many ways. It took away the team sport, tripled the cost, and saw the 50 + Patrons start doing the same as Gannon– if they had the money just do it! But we lost a lot then, as wealthy young men who liked Polo, said “this is bulls—t. If I’m not part of the game, forget it,” and they did. Read the List from USPA. How many young Patrons do we have in High Goal?
Unfortunately, it is not a team sport anymore, neither is it the Sport of Kings, or as Pat Nesbitt used to say the King of Sports since there are no other sports where the Patron is really involved. For 40 some minutes, usually over an 1 hr, you are running and hoping to hit. Not 2 minutes and you’re out, like roping, jumping, or halter team penning.
Javier had the best idea for Polo I have heard in close to 20 years: Cut strings down to 7 per game. He says 6, but to be fair, if there’s a problem you need a spare, so 7 horses per player per game. First, quality of horses will improve. There are so many half breeds now that it’s 2 minutes and done, change and get another quarter horse. Second, it will force pros to use Patrons like Memo, Gonzalo, and Hector did–make Patrons players not just payers. The young Patrons will return. Make the rules so young Americans can participate. It worked in England. Why do we have the USPA? It is not for the UNITED STATES POLO PLAYERS, for sure. We haven’t had a U.S. player above 8 goals for HOW LONG? Or a Patron over 3 goals that wasn’t 10 yrs ago. Polo costs American Patrons 3 times as much now, and every year forward maybe more. Hay is $500 a ton and a horse eats his weight every month, and yet you need 14 instead of 8.
Just my opinion
steve c
internationalpoloconnection.com 