Menlo member Bonnie Crater riding her mare Primavera goes for the ball.
Photo by Jessica Robinson

Catching up:  We got a nice update from Beth Collyer who says she’s a second generation polo player from Atlanta and spent most of her winters in Wellington until 2004, selling horses or grooming high-goal.  Beth stopped playing in 2006 to run her riding lesson/training business, and then had a baby in 2009.  She says to look for her on the field again in a  year or two, but in the meantime she’s been busy in the hunter/jumper world and coaching IEA (Interscholastic Equestrian Assoc.)

The irrepressible Sam Morton! In April, he was the featured guest at the Sheridan County Historical Society Dinner and Program speaking on “The myth of the Plains Indians, dude girls gone wild, cowboys on 4 wheelers, and embracing the invasion of the retired finger wavers.” Sam’s books, Where The Rivers Run North, and Land of the Horse: The Art & Photos of Absaraka are both available through Amazon.

Congratulations to Cristina Fernandez – she made Team USA and as more luck would have it, took Bart Frye’s place in the 8-goal at Hobe sound and WON the final!  Way to go Cristina!

Must’ve been a rough season at IPC for a number of reasons.  We heard someone was banned due to two separate fights with members.  Not a class act, for sure!

It is dangerous to leave town when you are blonde. Seems our fearless leader, Samantha Charles,  neglected to let the person know who was taking care of the horses that she had loaned out one of them for the weekly Mock Hunt in Aiken. He freaked thinking that surely she had jumped the fence and run away from home. When the horse-feeder contacted Sam at the beach to confess he had lost her prize fox hunter, her blondness ‘fessed up. And apologized.  Blonde?  Most definitely!

Polo Girls hit South Beach for the Miami World Polo Cup. Sounds pretty hot, and you’ll have to check in with Julia Charquero, Libby Scripps, Melissa Hornung, and Kata Gannon for the full story about the April 22 tournament on the beach. Melissa produced the Polo Girls calendar that was released at the game.

Another lady of polo, Tara Lordi, with Glen Straub’s daughter are working on getting medium goal polo back to PBPCC.

Kathie Roberts says that only in Aiken can you wake up, call the chukker line, and discover you are playing with Adam Snow and Tiger Kneece. “I couldn’t hit a ball for the first minute or so and then scored two goals. I had to call everyone and let them know!”

Jesse Pruitt hasn’t played in a few years and now it looks like he’s given up the lease on the park in Irving.  Dallas is definitely an interesting place for polo these days.

Club News:  Prestonwood’s spring polo season opener featured a party in the grand pavilion for SMU students and alumni. David Shaver and David Ferneding of Wells Fargo Advisors, both SMU alumni, joined Dena and Vaughn Miller (also SMU alumni), and host Brad Namdar on the Host Committee. Partygoers enjoyed horse races on two flat screen TVs, food and libations in the comfort of the pavilion furnished by Casual Living. An exhibition chukker pitted SMU blue against SMU red and included Kate Rinehart and Alex Rogers of SMU and 10 year old future SMU student Vaughn Sebastian Miller joined his alumni Dad for his first play in front of the crowd. Sebastian asked his Dad if he could play every weekend, we think he’s hooked!

Mark your calendars for June 12, because that when Polo & Wine on the DC National Mall kicks off at West Potomac Park,  Independence Ave & Ohio Avenue SW.  Feeling swanky (or just overheated)?  Reserve a VIP Umbrella table for four or larger by email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   In addition to polo there will be a runway fashion show, best hat contest, best dressed contest and live performances by bands from India and the US.  (The game is India vs USA).  Sounds like fun to us!

Diane Hensley checked in from Empire Polo Club in California to tell us about an unusual partnership with several area polo clubs that will make polo more accessible regionally and create an expanded schedule that will bring coveted international tournaments to the Coachella Valley.  

Club owners are banding with players in new ways that will open up the competition and offer superior playing conditions, while offering ideal venues for spectators and fans. Sounds like a great idea, Diane! For more info on what’s happening at Empire, give Diane a call at Empire Polo Club (760) 641-1484.

The Detroit Polo Club joined with On the Run Races and Land Rover & Maker’s Mark Bourbon for an outstanding and fun Kentucky Derby Party. They had it all: a beautiful area, horses, colorful apparel, live entertainment, Best Hat Contest, all inclusive great drinks, food and games.

Ever wonder why we don’t have news about YOUR CLUB?  It’s because you don’t tell us anything! If you read this column, you know what we want, so c’mon, already!  Share your news!  Just e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and let us know what is going on out your way.  We want to know. Really, really we do!

There are rumors floating around that 302 Polo and Aiken Polo may merge.
On May 29th the Menlo Polo Club held the first US Polo Association Sanctioned Ladies Tournament at Menlo Circus Club in Silicon Valley. Women are the fastest growing segment of the US Polo Association and now comprise 30% of registered members.

SMU finally has a polo team! Tom Goodspeed is coaching and 12 horses were purchased from Oscar Bermudez by a generous benefactor whose son is on the team. Two alumni from Denton and a current student hosted an SMU mixer in Prestonwoods grand pavilion on April 24th, sending the sorority girls are shopping for their fancy hats!


News to share:  New baby, engagement, pickup truck?  On the move, having parties, falling off horses?  Share what’s happenin’ with your polo friends by e-mailing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Be sure to put “News for Asides” in the subject line.

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