Horse play

Riders aim to form state's first polo club

June 30, 2006

By JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman

PALMER - Once the exclusive dominion of ancient Asian warriors, the oldest organized sport in human history is taking hold in Alaska.

This week, a nationally renowned instructor visited Palmer to help teach the legendary sport and traditions of polo.

Wilbur O'Ferrall flew to Alaska to spread his vast knowledge and love of polo for the second summer in a row.

A group of wide-eyed 4-H kids and their parents hung on O'Ferrall's every word Monday morning. Most of the beginners knew little about the sport, but desperately wanted to learn.

O'Ferrall is one of several instructors with the Polo Training Foundation, a group that sends teachers across the country, free of charge, to give clinics and help instill a modern day passion for the age-old sport.

Taking a short break, O'Ferrall explained his Alaska mission.

&#8220I try to dispel any myths that people might have about polo,” he said. &#8220Sometimes people think they have to own a lot of horses or money to play polo. But you can have just as much fun with a few horses in a backyard game with your friends.”

Historians believe the game originated 2,500 years ago as a tool for nomadic warriors to develop battle skills on horseback. Later, kings and royalty adopted the sport for recreation. By the late 1800s, the British drew up rules for modern polo matches to amuse privileged and royal families.

Surrounded by squealing adolescent girls and their supportive parents, O'Ferrall was a far cry from polo's historic beginnings. His goal, though, is to bring polo to the common

person.

&#8220The average person that has a horse can enjoy this game,” he said. &#8220This is a great sport.”

After two days, 16-year-old Mindy Nelson had heard enough.

&#8220I'm an adrenaline junky, so this is good for me,” she said after a scrimmage in the rain. &#8220It's hard to hit the ball, but it's fun just getting to ride your horse.”

Before World War II, polo was wildly popular across the United States. An Olympic sport in the 1930s, polo regularly drew more than 30,000 people for international matches at the Meadow Brook Polo Club on New York's Long Island.

Shortly after the war, however, the sport's popularity declined. The military once boasted more than 1,000 polo players, but after wartime cavalry became obsolete, it disbanded the polo teams.

It wasn't until the 1960s that the U.S. polo scene revived. More than 25 colleges and universities now boast teams, and most states have at least rudimentary polo clubs. The rising popularity is due largely to the work of the U.S. Polo

Association and its spinoff organization, the Polo Training Foundation.

The U.S. Polo Association is the &#8220polo hub” for the country, O'Ferrall explained. In conjunction with PTF, it organizes club competitions and high school- and college-level tournaments.

With a little work, Alaska could have its first polo club soon.

&#8220It's our goal to try that,” said Kathy Barenburg, whose three girls participated in clinics last year and again this year. &#8220This has been a rich man's game, but you don't need to be rich to play it.”

A critical component to any stable polo scene is establishing an arena where players regularly can compete and hone skills.

&#8220It's hard in Alaska because you have certain months where you can't play unless you have a covered arena,” O'Ferrall explained. &#8220It takes a group of people who like the sport enough to do something like that.”

James McCormick owns the 120-acre farm where O'Ferrall gave the recent clinics. He said he loves to see young riders enjoying the sport, and if the interest and support is there, he's willing to find a way to make polo possible in the

Mat-Su.

&#8220I was blessed with all this,” McCormick said, looking past the open arena to the rolling hills of his farm.

&#8220We're contemplating putting a building up over this arena,” McCormick added. &#8220Then we could do something year 'round.”

McCormick has entertained many offers from developers to sell his pastoral land, but said he feels a sense of obligation to help groups like the young polo players who need open space to play their sport.

&#8220These kids could be out walking the mall,” he said. &#8220If we don't replenish the riders with young riders, this will all

die off.”

While the sport may never recover its former glory from the 20s or 30s, O'Ferrall sees a possible future in Alaska.

&#8220If these people decide to develop a polo club here in Alaska, that's fantastic,” he said. &#8220If they just want to have backyard polo, that's great, too.”

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266 or joel.davidson@

frontiersman.com.