Stomping of the Divots

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

By Lucille Rice

The sound of galloping hooves filled the air, louder than the rolling thunder of the imminent storm cloud approaching from the north. Men in polo jerseys sporting white pants and polished leather riding boots swung their mallets atop sculpted equine wonders with braided manes and clipped tails to facilitate the agility-requiring game of polo.

The Jackson Hole Polo Club, located near Melody Ranch south of town, has drawn players from around the world to the cool valley summers ideal for afternoon games of polo. Hailing from Argentina, Australia and the United States, riders bring their horses and horse hands to Jackson and play each other, often times building teams based on the decades old rivalry between the Anglos and the Latinos.

Valley philanthropists saw the rivalry come alive during the 5th annual Stomping of the Divots, a fundraiser for the Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding Association. Hundreds of spectators gathered under a white tent erected adjacent to the polo field to watch the riders lead their players up and down the field, demonstrating agility and skill.

Attendees took the opportunity to dust off their Kentucky Derby hats, slip on their loafers and, of course, button their pastel-colored Ralph Lauren shirts.

Ramming into one another like football players, the polo ponies stop and turn on a dime, changing directions to sprint after the ball and pass it among teammates in an attempt to score by placing it between the two goal posts of the opposing team. The ball is wooden or plastic and measures 3-3.5 inches, weighing in at 4.25-4.75 ounces. A polo game is played by two opposing teams of 4 on an outdoor field (160 x 300 yards) in six seven-minute periods called chukkers.

The polo ponies run an average of four miles per chukker, compared to the Kentucky Derby’s one and a quarter. Therefore, the ponies are switched out every chukker. When they come off the field, the riders jump from one horse to the next without ever touching the ground.

Polo ponies are some of the best-trained horses in the world, with four years of regimented training before they can be part of the team. The first two years center around polo specific training and the following two are spent seasoning the pony. Although most of the horses crucial to the game of polo (riders say the horse is the player) are not technically ponies (14.2 hands – approximately four inches – or under), the term remains from last century’s use of ponies in the game of polo.

The Stomping of the Divots fundraiser is the most important benefit for JHTRA. The Therapeutic Riding Association helps students with developmental and physical disabilities gain confidence, flexibility and patience, to name a few of the many benefits riders gain from lessons.

A silent and live auction, dinner, drinks and dancing followed the polo game. During the live auction, Lisa Price, a mother of two JHTRA students, auctioned off a glass of water for $50,000. She was so touched that tears strew down her face, and she hugged and kissed the high bidders. Last year, a glass of water went for $20,000. Donors on Saturday night bid on every item in the silent and live auctions.

Photo by Mary grossman
An polo fan pats one of the polo ponies during half time at Saturday’s “Stomping the Divots” chukkar, a benefit for JH Therapeutic Riding.

PERMALINK:
Stomping of the Divots | Planet JH News Article: Sports & Recreation

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