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Polocross Oliver Speaks Combined Driving PC Tetrathlon Contents p. 5 Mix Polo With Lacrosse And What Do You Get? Polocrosse, Of Course! By Baker White

When I started playing agility of polo with the racket polocrosse in 2011, I was a and ball skills of lacrosse, timid rider who was not fnding polocrosse is a fast-paced much enjoyment in the standard equestrian sport that originated jumping and fat disciplines. in Australia in 1938. Now At Pony Club gatherings, I played worldwide, this exciting had enjoyed throwing the ball three-on-three game is great fun around with my friends. So, for all ages of riders and horses. when I heard about a local In the United States, organized polocrosse camp, I overcame under the American Polocrosse my riding nerves and took Association (APA), practices my jumper pony to the feld. and tournaments happen on any Although it was clear that my given weekend, in addition to Baker White and his OTTB, Aspen, ready to receive a pass in a hunter-trained mount would not many youth enjoying the sport polocross tournament. Baker took up polocross through Pony Club become the next big polocrosse through their local Pony Club. and has become a serious competitor. PHOTO COURTESY: ERIN WHITE star, I was hooked. Once I Polocrosse is easy enough to grew too tall for my pony, we learn, and not only are most Club is Pre-Novice, which for a Pony Club rally or an purchased a polocrosse horse, horses quite suitable, they tend translates to APA E grade. APA tournament. Contacting and we played every chance to enjoy the discipline as much A basic understanding of the your local Pony Club District we had, progressing from a as the riders! The only special rules and a little bit of racket Commissioner or fnding a club slow trot in E Grade to USPC equipment you will need to get practice will get any rider on the APA website will allow championships in Kentucky. started is a racket and a ball. safely onto the feld, not just you to fnd the closest group to Combining the speed and The entry level division in Pony for practice or a play day, but continued on p. 19

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Baker prepares to shoot a goal for Team USA while competing in Australia, as a member of the American Polocross Association Under 16 team playing in tournaments down under. PHOTO COURTESY: ERIN WHITE

Polocross...... from p. 15 polocrosse has given me my get started. Here in Virginia, we closest personal relationships, have Heartland Polocrosse Club best equine partners, and some in Round Hill. Nearby states of of the most fun times of my life. Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Polocrosse to me, and many North Carolina also have active others, is not just a game, but clubs of their own. a way of life. I would strongly In 2016, four years after encourage anyone looking to my frst tournament, I was have some fun on their horse to representing the American give organized polocrosse a try. Polocrosse Association on an I hope to see you on the feld! Under-16 team in Australia, About The Author: Baker riding guest horses and playing White, from Locust Grove, Va., in huge tournaments every is a member of Casanova-War- weekend. Here at home, I enjoy renton Pony Club in the Virgin- playing my OTTB, a hot mare ia Region, as well as Heartland that I would have been too Polocrosse Club in Round Hill, scared to even get on before I Va. He will be attending Virgin- started polocrosse. ia Tech this fall with his OTTB Besides fnding success in my Aspen, pursuing a degree in 36’ x 50’ Horse Barn, chosen sport, polocrosse has Equine Science. Middleburg, VA given me the confdence to ride in other disciplines and pursue Polocross Tack & my Pony Club certifcations. Clothing For example, I competed in There are very few ur silled comassionate sta is dressage on a borrowed horse at requirements and lots of available hours a da. the 2017 Festival in Lexington, fexibility regarding tack and tate o the rt uiment Kentucky. My experiences in apparel. Any saddle is OK, ometitive ates polocrosse have truly opened as long as it doesn’t have a up the world of horses to me, horn. (Even western saddles and the I feel as though I have are acceptable with the horn become a true competitor cut off!) White pants (jeans, 1236 Kimble Road, Berryville, VA and lifetime rider. I plan to breeches, jodhpurs, painter continue playing during college pants, etc.) are only required Mitchell Rode,DVM at Virginia Tech and I can’t wait for APA tournaments and Jennifer A. Jordan, DVM to have my horse at school with Pony Club rallies, otherwise, me. jeans, chaps, or any color From the foaling stall to the winner’s circle. My start in polocrosse breeches are fne. Any style of boot (paddocks to cowboy From your backyard to the show ring. through Pony Club became the boots) can be worn. Riding From active use through retirement years. driving infuence that changed helmets can also be of any Whatever it takes ~ me from almost quitting riding, kind or style (polo helmets to to becoming an international velvet hunt caps). The horses 540-955-9115 competitor pursuing a college tails are only done up for off ceclarkeeuine.com degree in Equine Science. tournaments or rallies. www.clarkeeuine.com More than that however, HorseTimes.net (540) 955-6219 Vol. 10, Issue 3 19