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| Back in the Saddle Again
A year ago, having never ridden a horse before, I certainly never thought that polo would interest me nor capture my heart the way it has. Polo is not only an intensely satisfying sport to watch, but a totally addictive and outrageous activity in which to participate. Polo ponies must be precisely trained in order to tolerate riding in a herd while sticks and balls are flying about them, and self-satisfaction comes of learning to control such agile and powerful animals.
What is most exciting is that Polo is back at the L.A. Equestrian Center located at Griffith Park in Burbank. Polo was a major feature at the Equestrian Center in the early ‘90s where the L.A. Polo Team held its matches. In its hey-day, stars and media personalities turned out in abundance to watch the four-chukka arena style games. Champagne was sipped and much enjoyment was shared by all. Then Polo disappeared from Burbank. Die-hard players dispersed to other fields such as Will Rogers State Park, Santa Barbara, Topanga Canyon and Indio. Today, another polo revival is underway at Burbank’s beautiful L.A. Equestrian Center arena thanks to the L.A. Polo Club. The L.A. Polo Club is now under the direction of four goal USPA rated arena pro, Ernesto Darquea and will be holding weekly chukkas here in Burbank. Ernesto (Ernie) instructs, referees and cheers on his intermediate players through these chukkas, while teaching the skills, rules, and horsemanship needed to love and succeed in this sport. If you don’t have your own horse, the school has a string of school ponies that will amaze you by their beauty, health, agility, skill and handling. It is my guess that the horses enjoy the sport as much as Ernie does. A professional polo player since 1986, Ernie is a master trainer, educated at Cornell University in Animal Science.
Susan Krieg is a noHo artist and muralist as well as polo player newcomer. |
Sexy steamy polo is back in our backyard after nearly two decades of vanishing from the East Valley, and Alma Aguirre of NoHo’s Kool Kat City couldn’t be happier. For 10 years she was part of the ultra happening, glitzy scene at Malibu Riding and Tennis Center, the Santa Barbara polo grounds, Palm Springs, Will Rogers, but especially, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. She played with everybody: Stephanie Powers, Sly Stallone, Geoffrey Lewis, Willian De Vane (and excellent player, she says), Pamela Sue Martin, drummer Stuart Copeland, Smokin’ joe Henderson from South Africa, Tom Goodspeed (he was the best) - in the mid to late ‘80s, it was the thing to do on a Saturday night, to either watch, or play.
In those days, she took several lessons per week and claims it’s great exercise besides being sooo much fun. “Everything’s coming back, so why not polo?” she says. Remembering hooking up with a doctor who was dying to meet “that blond on the black pony,” she’s been thinking of getting back into it. “He took up lessons because he knew that was the only way he would be able to spend time with me.” After buying a string of ponies for themselves, the doctor and Alma broke up, she trading in her polo horse for an iron horse. 
Learning how to ride seems to happen quickly once a polo mallet is placed in your hand. A certain unconscious ability to correctly manipulate your body happens when your mind is preoccupied with hitting a little ball around. Of course there’s a lot more than that. Polo is a team sport which requires understanding and implementing of the rules of the game in a team fashion. Since it is fast-paced and requires strength, focus and commitment, it is one of those activities that holds you in the moment while the world around seems to disappear. It is an art and like a meditation.
If you’re an intermediate player, you’re ready to jump in and join the many who will be frequenting the Equestrian Center. Ernie’s goal is to revive the atmosphere at the Equestrian Center for which it had once been world renowned, as well as to attract serious polo players of all levels. A strong school program is being developed and, in conjunction with other clubs in the area, will accommodate all learning levels from beginning to professional. Come and watch every Wednesday night. For information call (818) 293-0404. | |
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