Ernesto Ezcurra’s polo journey has had a few bumps along the way. A second generation Argentinian polo player, his father, a 3-goal amateur, instilled in him a love of the game after he first sat on a horse at two-years old. “From day one my dad taught me the passion for the sport and especially for horses,” Ernesto said.

With two older brothers, Julio and Tommy, who went on to be 6-goal professionals, Ernesto started playing polo at the age of 12 and working within the family’s breeding operation and training off-the-track Thoroughbreds.

He had just started playing in Argentine Polo Association tournaments at 14, when a polo accident cost him his vision in his right eye. After the doctors gave him the all clear he took up his mallet again, but at 16 he quit the sport and pursued a career in journalism and agriculture. Fate soon dictated another sharp turn.

“After three years of working hard, the Argentinian economy collapsed and I got fired,” he said. “I quit Journalism and got back into polo training polo ponies in Monte, Buenos Aires. That’s where it all began for me.”

Ernesto secured a grooming and playing job in Calgary and proceeded to train horses and play polo, a highlight being when he won all the 8-goal tournaments at Mashomack Polo Club in 2007. In 2022 he joined the umpire program. “I still wanted to be attached to the sport,” he said, citing his main motivation for signing up. “Yes, it’s challenging because it requires 150 percent of your attention and a lot depends on you, but I love it.”