With summer just around the corner, I found myself in desperate need of a new workout routine. Yet hitting an overcrowded gym didn’t quite tickle my fancy. So I began thinking outside the box. After a beautiful day of watching polo (while of course sipping champagne) at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club I had an epiphany. The players looked incredible, the horses were regal and full of spirit, and the match was exciting. I wanted to be a part of it. So I signed up for a a lesson—no prior experience required!
On a sunny Friday afternoon I met with Jeff, the Director of the Polo Academy, on the picturesque grounds of the club. With his fifteen-plus years of experience, he’s the perfect teacher, especially for a non-rider like myself. He introduces me to Rocky, my partner for the day. His kind mocha eyes and gentle nature ease my building nerves (I hadn’t ridden in seven years, and even that was on a vacation tour). Turns out, this is the very horse Jeff learned to play polo on, so I know I am in good hands (or on a good back...?).
We begin with walking in a straight line — for a human this sounds simple enough, but for someone who doesn’t ride it’s a tough feet. “You need to lead him, turn you body where you want to go and Rocky will follow. Show him who’s in charge,” Jeff explains. Once I followed those instructions, they made perfect sense, and my “line” went from a zigzag to perfection — or at least that’s how I remember it going. Just as I mastered directing my new four-legged friend, another task was thrown my way: standing! Don’t be fooled by the effortless rise of professionals, it’s a real workout. From having to balance with the use of your core, to activating leg and glute muscles I didn’t know existed, I came close to falling on more than one occasion. After more than 30 attempts, and more whining than I care to admit, I was up and steady. I have to say, that although nailing a new move in any fitness situation is cause for internal clapping, doing so on a horse is that much more special. It took connecting with Rocky and working as one. At this point I’m feeling like I’m ready for the big league — coach, put me in!
My confidence quickly fades as my next obstacle is presented. Jeff explains how to use the polo mallet to swing on each side, hand positioning, and how to keep my horse moving while aiming for the ball…It’s a lot, to say the least. Countless failed tries go by and I’m exhausted, this truly is a full-body workout. The lesson is nearing its end as the warm rays prepare for golden hour, and somehow, out of the blue, a miracle happens. I actually hit the ball! Granted, I was learning with a ball about twice the size of a traditional polo ball and nowhere near its weight, but it still counts. I feel so proud for not giving up — which is in large due to Jeff not letting me — and thankful for Rocky, he was a true trooper through all of my awkward turns and clumsy gallops.
I drove out of the club with a grin on my glowing (read: sweating) face, soon-to-be aching legs and glutes, and an experience that left me wanting more, more speed to be exact. If you’re looking for a challenge, to shake up your routine, or if you simply love horses, polo is a must-try sport especially since the season is in full swing. And of course, if galloping across an evergreen field with a sleek mallet just isn’t for you, there’s always watching, and that’s pretty damn good too.
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