Polo: work begins before entering arena

By Emily Neumann













Polo players have quite a bit of work to do even before they enter the arena. Dr. Jim Dinger, coach of the UConn polo team, weighed in on what it takes to ready a pony for the game.

Some of the equipment for polo ponies is standard for regular riding:

- A saddle pad is placed on the horse's back. Whether or not a pad or blanket is used is up to the rider.

- Polo ponies are then outfitted with an English saddle, which is slightly longer than a standard saddle. The extra length is designed to compensate for the rider's constant movement.

- Next is the bridle. The type of bridle used depends on the horse. In the case of Spider, this 20-year-old gelding, Dinger uses a gag bridle.

In addition to standard equipment, polo ponies wear a few additional items:

- Their legs are wrapped with cloth polo wraps to prevent damage from mallets.

- Some polo ponies, including the ponies at UConn, wear bell boots around their hooves. These prevent the horses from catching the heels of their front feet with the toes of their back feet as they run. Polo ponies are built for speed, so bell boots are necessary for most of these horses.

- Dinger said players also tie up their ponies' tails so the tail doesn't get tangled in the swinging mallets. In general, the horse's mane is also shaved, according to Dinger.

The tack for each horse costs thousands of dollars, and every pony has its own equipment.

If a horse is limping or bobbing too much, the rider must remove all of the tack and start over on another horse. Dinger said lame horses still run even if they are injured, so each player has a responsibility to recognize the symptoms that indicate the horse is in pain before they take them into the arena.

Polo fan base not enormous, but enthusiastic

Click the pic at right to view a YouTube video of the UConn women's 2008 championship game.

"We love an audience and the cheering just gets our adrenaline pumping," - UConn polo player Kaila Dowd

By Kierstin Wesolowski

A crowd comprised of about 30 people arrived at Horsebarn Hill arena just before the start of a 3 p.m. polo match. Friendly chatter that sounded like a buzzing beehive filled the once-quiet arena. The unexpected blare of the announcer's voice over the loudspeaker interrupted the conversations.

The crowd then abandoned its previous discussions and focused its attention on the players before them.

Yale's player introductions were met with polite applause, typical of a golf match. However, the UConn players' introductions were barely audible through the cheers and whistles emanating from the stands.

Although the bleachers may not overflow with fans, the enthusiastic cheers gave the impression of a football stadium filled to maximum capacity.

"We love an audience and the cheering just gets out adrenaline pumping," player Kaila Dowd said. "A general misconception is that you must be quiet and classy at a polo match, but in reality when we are playing, we're screaming and yelling. So we love to get the feedback from the fans."

The fans seemed to be aware of the players' enjoyment of the ear-piercing noise level. UConn's more than 10-point lead did little to satiate the fans' desire for victory. Each additional goal increased the cheers another octave. Shouts of "shoot now," and "the ball is behind you," continually rang out from the stands.

"My two boys love watching the game," Ana Fidantses said.

She and her twin 4-year-old boys, dressed in matching UConn Husky T-shirts, had seen their first polo match during UConn's open house Oct. 25. They enjoyed the game so much, the family returned three weeks later to see another match.

Fidantses and her sons arrived considerably earlier than the other fans. The boys snacked on cupcakes she purchased at the bake sale in the foyer of the arena and seemed entranced by the prancing horses.

"They like everything about it: the horses, the painting of the lines, the track tour and, of course, the game itself," Fidantses said.

Fidantses' two boys stood on the bleachers with their hands in the air, fists pumping. They jumped up and down and squealed with joy at the conclusion of the game.

UConn was victorious.

Snapshot of a game

By Brittany Perotti

Thud. Bang. Slap.

The players slam against the boards. Their mallets crash into each other with a clank. The sound of quick-clopping hooves pounding against dirt rings off the metal walls.

The arena smells of wet dirt - a testament to the pre-game ritual of watering down the field. The watering prevents dust from choking horses and players.

The giant animals - from bays to chestnuts - crash into each other, sandwiching players and ponies to the wall.

"It's hockey on horseback," says University of Connecticut polo coach James Dinger.

A fresh set of horses is rotated in for the next chukker. The riders and horses line up on either side of the midpoint of the field. The horses flip their lips and blow air through their noses.

They are impatient to start.

The umpire, also on horseback, stands in front of the pack - six players total. The ball, no larger than a softball and made of now-dirtied white leather, is in his hand. It is pounded by the 160-gram mallets throughout the game.

The umpire tosses the ball with a quick, snapping underhand motion. It rolls to the ground.

The game begins.

In no more than a few seconds, the race is on. The players lean over the horses, looking as if they are going to fall off. Somehow, they hold on with their legs.

The players dash toward the goal. They hold wooden mallets up high in their right hands as they race after the ball. They hold the reins in their left hands. Their bodies bob and flow with each stride of their horses.

A metal cage protects their faces as they shout to their teammates over the noise of the horses' heavy bodies pounding the dirt.

They prepare to hit the ball. Their mallets swing in a clockwise motion around their arms. Smack. The ball crashes into the boards with a thud.

The horses are excited by the game. Their heads thrash wildly.

Assistant coach Marc Tufts assures spectators that the horses love crashing into each other. Their energy betrays their 20 years of age, a fairly advanced age for a horse.

Spectators' shoulders tense. Their eyes are wide while they watch, letting out an "ooooh" each time the horses slam into each other. Sometimes, the onlookers hold their breath.

National champion banners hang around the arena. Last year's has not yet been displayed.

The players chase down the ball, bodies leaning over like jockeys. They are playing in the widest arena in New England.

This is UConn polo.

The polo workout? Ride, ride, ride

"The more you ride, the better and stronger you will get," - Coach James Dinger

By Lindsey Itzkowitz

The polo players ride around the indoor arena. A young man in a navy blue shirt hangs off of his horse, clinging on with his left hand. He strikes the ball with a mallet held in his right hand.

He rides and swings again.

How do polo players develop such skills?

University of Connecticut polo coach James Dinger says: "The ideal way to get into shape for polo is to consistently ride. The more you ride, the better and stronger you will get."

Gym workouts and running also are great ways to build strength and endurance.

But ...

"The best thing a player can do is ride a horse," Dinger said.

Likewise, UConn polo player Michael Wenning said, "The more lower body strength you have, the easier it is to stay on the horse. The best way to develop [this] necessary lower body strength is to ride a horse as much as possible."

Wenning said accuracy in hitting the ball is more important than the power behind it.

"The best players are not the ones with a hard power shot, but rather players who are perhaps not as strong, but have great techniques," he said.

Teammated Michael Mizrahi agreed.

"A polo swing is primarily about technique and precision, followed by strength that can be added once technique is down pat," he said.

Information on the website woodmallets.com says the average polo mallet ranges from 160 to 205 grams, or about a third to a half pound, with an average length of 52 inches. The weight and height varies for each athlete.

Each polo player also has an individual fitness routine. When Wenning is not riding, he said he kayaks and bikes to strengthen both his arm and leg muscles.

"I don't know how many other polo players use these two activities for training," he said. "But for me, these two activities are more exciting than lifting weights in a gym."

Mizrahi said that he's focusing on his flexibility.

"To be a great player, you need to be able to make the shots that others can't and that opponents won't expect you to make," he said. "This can mean that your body will be twisting and turning in different ways."

Dinger said: "There are textbooks with certain exercises on how to get into shape for polo."

Players have their own methods and know what works best for them.

"If you're in shape, you're in shape," he said.

Meet a team member

By Ashley Owens

Name: Michael Mizrahi

Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Age: 18

How old were you when you started playing polo?
I started riding at Jamaica Bay Riding Academy, on the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. It's one of two barns/riding facilities in Brooklyn. I grew up there from a very young age and started to ride there at age 6. When I started playing polo, I started traveling out to Long Island to do so. I was invited by Belinda Brody, who rode at the same barn as me in Brooklyn. I was hooked at first sight.

Is Brooklyn known for polo?
In the summer season (May to September), Long Island is one of the biggest polo destinations in the country, along with Santa Barbara. Long Island has some of the highest goal polo (high levels of professional polo) played in the country - up to 20-goal. There are four to five big polo clubs on the island today, with Bridgehampton being the most prestigious, followed by Southampton polo club, Meadowbrook polo club (the club I play at), and others. In the 1930's, Long Island was "Polo Capital of the World" - drawing crowds as large as 100,000 for large games such as the Open and 30,000 to 40,000 on a typical Sunday afternoon from New York City.

When did you join the UConn team?
The moment I stepped foot on the UConn campus! I'm at college to get an education, but I'm at UConn specifically to play polo.

Who are your inspirations?
I think most polo players would automatically say Adolfo Cambiaso - as he is THE best player in polo, undisputed. I'd say, just to have a slightly different answer, that I'm inspired by other intercollegiate players who are simply amazing players. I think this is better inspiration because I know that I can get to that level realistically at some point in the next four years.

Who is your favorite horse to ride?
For the moment I'd say Fortunera. I don't believe she's anyone's favorite pony. She's not outstanding, but she's always there for you for a good ride. You know when a polo pony is thinking for you/with you, and it's a great feeling.

What is one interesting quirk about you that others may not know?
I guess I'm a bit of a tech geek, though I'd say most people who know me well know that.

Meet a team member

By Ashley Owens

Name: Mike Wenning

Hometown: Longmeadow, Mass.

Age: 21

How old were you when you started playing polo?
I began playing polo when I was 13. I started when I was watching my sister take a riding lesson. The owner of the stable (who would later become my coach throughout high school) took me aside and told me I should try polo. Once I tried it, I loved the sport and have continued playing ever since.

When did you join the UConn team?
My freshman year.

Who are your inspirations?
Hal Vita has been a coach and mentor for me both on and off the field since I met him back when I was in middle school. Before I met him, I really wanted nothing to do with horses at all, but once he started teaching me polo, I became addicted to the sport. Also, he was the one who encouraged me to go to UConn, as he was the one who started the program here.

My family has also been quite helpful and supportive in polo. Between making hotel arrangements, driving to games, helping to provide food for after the games with the other parents, and videotaping games for later review, they have always been supportive of polo.

Do you plan to pursue polo professionally?
While I always hope to be involved with polo (especially teaching/coaching kids), I do not plan to pursue polo professionally. Instead, I hope to pursue a career in business.

Who is your favorite horse to ride?
Julietta (winner of the best playing pony award) is my favorite at the UConn barn. She's quick, fast turning, and easy to control. We generally do not pick the horses we ride for practices or games. For games, we must be able to ride all the horses (especially because when we travel we must ride the opposing school's horses). The horses we ride in practice are on a rotating assignment so everyone learns to ride every horse.

What is one interesting quirk about you that others may not know?
Before I played polo, I was involved with martial arts for 12 years.

Meet a team member

By Ashley Owens

Name: Belinda Brody

Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Age: 20

How old were you when you started playing polo?
I began playing polo when I was 17 years old. I started after my English riding (jumping and such) trainer decided to try to rekindle her love with her old favorite sport and brought me along with her. This was something that truly changed my life for the better. After the first time I was hooked forever!

When did you join the UConn team?
My freshman year, 2006.

Who are your inspirations?
Sunny Hale, American 3 goal Olympic medalist; and Adolfo Cambiaso, Argentine polo player. Sunny for being the highest rated woman in polo and Cambiaso simply for being the best in the world and inspiring to watch.

Do you plan to pursue polo professionally?
Professionally as in my play, yes, but not as a polo professional. I plan on trying my luck in the horse industry, training, buying and selling polo horses. Although going pro is not a bad idea either.

Who is your favorite horse to ride?
My favorite horse to ride in the UConn polo barn is Marcos. He is a talented athlete who has played in the highest levels of polo, the likes of which I am lucky to watch at this point. He knows the game better than I do and he teaches me while helping me become a stronger player with each ride. While we do not get to pick our horses, everyone has horses that they get along with better than others. A good team will match the riders and horses based on how they play with each other.

What is one interesting quirk about you that others may not know?
I used to be on the cast of the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" in New York City.