NEWS

The Spring USPA Committee and Board of Governors Meeting was held from Tuesday, April 16 through Saturday, April 20 at the National Polo Center – Wellington (NPC) in Wellington, Florida. The meetings were conducted both virtually through Zoom and in-person, enabling maximum participation for all members. The USPA Spring Meetings offer USPA members and staff the chance to observe and participate in committee processes and engage more actively in the Association's governance.

The week of meetings began on Tuesday morning, and the Chairman's Reception took place on Wednesday evening at NPC’s Mallet Grille. Following four days of productive meetings, the week culminated in the Board of Governors meeting on Saturday. In addition to the meetings, events over the week included the U.S. Open Polo Championship semifinals and final, the annual International Intercollegiate Challenge Cup: USA Intercollegiate players versus Schools & Universities Polo Association (SUPA) Britain event, a USPA Member BBQ & John Deere Meet and Greet, an NPC Polo Operations/Hospitality Asado and the National President's Cup semifinals and final.

During the Arena Committee meeting, several reports were made, highlighting a range of activities and developments in the arena polo community. The updates included upcoming USPA arena tournaments such as the 2024 U.S. Open Arena Polo Championships and the United States Arena Handicap, which will be hosted at Brookshire Polo Club in Brookshire, Texas. The meeting also covered a recap of the highly successful Texas Arena League season that drew 54 teams. Additionally, the committee reviewed the USA team’s victory at the International Arena Tournament in Hyderabad, India. There was a presentation from Work To Ride about its fundraising efforts for an indoor arena and facility upgrades, as well as updates on the Polo Training Foundation’s support for various arena clinics, awards and programs. Discussions also touched on military arena polo, umpire clinics and arena umpire training. Federico Levy from Formula Polo was also present to discuss the company’s innovative arena events, which are held in downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina, and at various other locations around the world.

The possibility of a joint effort between the Women’s and Arena Committees to organize high-handicapped women’s arena matches around the country was explored. It was noted that the Battle in the Arena: 2023 USPA Women’s Arena Open video by Running Iron Creative was the most viewed video on the USPA Polo Network in 2023.

Robin Sanchez, Arena Committee Chair, presented the results of an arena club survey. At the time of the meeting, over 50% of arena clubs had responded. Mrs. Sanchez also provided membership data specific to USPA arena clubs, highlighting that 16 of the 20 clubs with the highest total membership in the USPA feature arenas. Furthermore, 21 of the top 23 clubs for new USPA members are equipped with arenas. It was highlighted that the top two clubs in the USPA for new members are exclusively arena clubs. It was also noted that if the Texas Arena League were considered as a standalone club, it would surpass the number one club in the USPA for new members.

Finally, the Arena Committee sent a resolution to the board for a strategic review of arena polo and its various facets within the USPA. The strategic review will be conducted by a subcommittee under the Strategic Planning Committee and facilitated by Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Committee Chair Liz Brayboy.

The Armed Forces Committee highlighted the success of the previous year and the projects to come. The committee provided mounted color guards for several high-profile tournaments in 2023 including the U.S. Open Polo Championship, Military Appreciation Night and the Commander-in-Chief Cup. In 2024, the colors were also presented at the National Intercollegiate Championship finals and the U.S. Open Polo Championship.

Committee Chair Mark Gillespie presented an article he authored for the Association of the United States Army, which explores the profound relationship between polo and military training. As for military-centered events, the Argentina-United States Inter-Military Polo Cup took place in March of 2024. The committee is in the process of assembling a team to play in England in July 2024. Tournament Manager Kaila Dowd confirmed that 2023 set a new record with 42 Circuit Military Events. Among these, Army clinched the 2023 Commander-in-Chief Cup. Additionally, there are plans underway to host a team from Mexico.

The 2023 General George S. Patton Award winner was presented to Barbara Donahue for her contributions to the Armed Forces Committee. Nominations for the 2024 General George S. Patton Award are open until December 1, 2024, and can be sent to Armed Forces staff member Kynzie Watahomigie at kynzie@uspolo.org.

The BASDC reviewed the MBO, which included the following: policy reviews presented by Chief Operating Officer Chris Green; a project to update committee chair role requirements; a continued focus on staff development offerings from external providers; and a Human Resources review of time off policies, job descriptions and cybersecurity precautions in place with I.T. Solutions.

The Constitution Committee held a productive meeting on Thursday, April 18. The committee discussed proposed changes to the Disciplinary Procedures Policy (DPP). Effective April 20, 2024, the USPA Board of Governors approved revisions to the DPP. These updates include new language in the Costs section, outlining the required reimbursement of USPA fees and costs by any respondent who is found liable for a conduct violation after a hearing, and the addition of a table of pre-approved settlement terms to the Equine Medication Rules Violation section of the DPP policy.

Additionally, discussions revolved around proposed revisions to the Constitution and By Laws, slated for further review over the summer. Revisions are scheduled to be presented for approval at the 2024 Fall USPA Committee, Board of Governors and Annual Member Meetings.

The Club and Membership Administration Committee discussed current USPA Club Compliance. At the time of the meeting, 209 out of 226 clubs were in compliance for the year. The committee reviewed the list of non-compliant clubs and their reasons for non-compliance, noting that seven clubs would not be renewing their memberships for 2024. The committee also discussed Provisional Clubs eligible to become Active Member Clubs. The committee voted to move 11 clubs from Provisional to Active. The committee discussed the requirements for active status. Several clubs that were not recommended for active status failed to provide proof of hosting either two USPA events or four club events.

Provisional Clubs moved to Active Status:
Big Tree Polo Club (Salley, South Carolina)
Flat Out (Rockford, Michigan)
Folded Hills Polo LLC (Gaviota, California)
La Bourgogne Club de Polo LLC (Wagener, South Carolina)
Lake Shore Polo Club (Little Elm, Texas)
Marlan Farm Polo Club (Freeland, Maryland)
Mayer Ranch Polo Club (Cross Roads, Texas)
Mokarow Farms Polo Club (Little Elm, Texas)
Oak Bend Polo Club (Ledbetter, Texas)
Starr Creek Polo Club (Cumming, Georgia)
The Hamptons Polo Club (Watermill, New York)

A report on the Equine Medication Testing Program was presented, indicating that 240 horses have already been tested in 2024. Testing has taken place in four circuits at six clubs. A total of 24 games have been tested in 12 tournaments, covering intercollegiate, arena, women’s, low-goal and high-goal polo. The committee reviewed proposed revisions to the Equine Medications Rules. Effective April 20, 2024, the USPA Board of Governors approved revisions to the Equine Medication Rules, which may mandate immediate expulsion from the USPA for refusal to participate in Equine Medication testing. All other violations will result in the filing of an EMR Violation Complaint pursuant to Paragraph C.1 of Part IV of the USPA Disciplinary Procedures Policy. To review the most up-to-date Equine Medication Rules, please refer to page 213 of the USPA Rulebook.

Additionally, the committee explored the concept of creating a page on the USPA Member Portal to serve as a platform for Intercollegiate/Interscholastic teams and polo schools to request horses. The page would also enable players to list horses that are ready to retire or need rehoming. The committee plans to continue discussing the initiative. Lastly, and most importantly, the 2024 Clint Nangle Equine Welfare Award was presented to Equine Welfare Committee Chair Dr. Mike Manno.

Finance Committee Chair Sam Ramirez Jr. introduced representatives from the Meketa Investment Group. They provided an overview of the investment returns for 2024 as of March 31, 2024. The portfolio is conservatively positioned and remains in line with the USPA’s approved Investment Policy objectives. Returns since inception are within the USPA’s targeted range of 5% - 7%.

USPA Global Licensing President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Prince presented an overview of the U.S. Polo Assn. brand, which celebrated another record-breaking year with over $2.4 billion in global retail sales and multiple industry awards. Mr. Prince discussed numerous global challenges in the marketplace yet emphasized that the brand’s growth continues to surpass that of many world-class competitors. He also noted that the current year has begun on a strong note.

USPA Treasurer Steven Rudolph reported on the USPA's financial status, noting $168.2 million in Cash and Investments on March 31, 2024. Discussion touched upon budget planning for 2025, debt management and maximizing returns. Mr. Ramirez stated that the USPA is in a good position to manage its current financial obligations and impressed upon attendees that due to volatility and election year concerns, the USPA should continue a conservative approach in this area.

The High-Goal Committee met on Friday, April 19, and discussed umpiring standards, the integration of new technologies (automatic laser or photographic goal detection) and potential rule changes. The topic of sponsor substitutes in the Gauntlet of Polo was a focal point of the meeting.

After thorough deliberation, the committee agreed to suggest a recommendation to the Rules Committee. The recommendation proposed a new regulation that specifically requires any substitute for a designated sponsor with a handicap below 3 goals to meet a minimum age requirement. The board approved the following revision to Rule 1.f to address this request:

"In the Gauntlet of Polo® only, any Registered Player Member, other than an immediate family member, who substitutes for a playing sponsor or a designated sponsor whose USPA Outdoor Handicap is less than 3 goals must be 21 years old or older."

During the 2024 Spring USPA Committee and Board of Governors Meetings, several changes were proposed to both the current outdoor rules and play-related tournament conditions. Changes have been approved by the Board of Governors and will become effective immediately, with others taking effect on January 1, 2025, as detailed in the summary.

Please note, the updated Rulebook is now available on the website, with changes highlighted in bold for easy reference.

The Safety Committee featured renowned neurosurgeon and polo player Dr. Thorkild Norregaard, MD, who presented the 2022 Injury Survey Data. Survey results mirrored data collected in 2021. The discussion then turned to enhancing the collection of injury data reports and improving methods for tracking the information. A brief discussion took place regarding a device known as the Q-Collar, which is designed to help prevent concussions. The committee plans to investigate further and will present its findings at a later date. Committee Chair Dr. Ulibarri shared insights from his research on mouthguards as a means to prevent concussions. Dr. Ulibarri cited several articles suggesting the benefits of mouthguards, which he will share with the committee for further review.

The Tournament Committee and Board approved 57 2024 and 2025 National, Sanctioned and NPC Event applications. Eight 2025 National Tournaments were contested and the Committee heard proposals from interested club representatives before voting to award the Bronze Trophy to Grand Champions Polo Club (Wellington, Florida), the Rossmore Cup to Eldorado Polo Club (Indio, California), the National Copper Cup to Sarasota Polo Club (Sarasota, Florida), the Heritage Cup and Butler Handicap to Port Mayaca Polo Club (Okeechobee, Florida), the Monty Waterbury to The Hamptons Polo Club (Watermill, New York), the Silver Cup to Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club (Carpinteria, California) and the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship to California Polo Club (Los Angeles, California).

The Women’s Committee reported on the growth and success of women’s polo. 2023 was a landmark year, setting new records for the number of USPA women's tournaments held and the highest enrollment of female members in the USPA. The Women’s Tournament Incentive Program provided financial support for the inaugural Women of Wellington Polo Series (WOW), which consisted of three 10- to 14-goal tournaments played January through April. The series provided a season of competitive polo for amateurs and professionals and the format will no doubt be replicated in other circuits. Port Mayaca Polo Club (Okeechobee, Florida) hosted the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship with an impressive eight teams and included the Florida Women’s Open as a subsidiary tournament. Prize money was awarded in both finals. The committee also discussed creating a high-goal Women’s Arena Test Match to be played at the highest possible goal level at a club to be determined. The Women's Committee announced Committee Chair Meghan Gracida as the 2023 Louise Hitchcock Woman of the Year award recipient.

Chairman of NPC Hospitality Operations Tim Gannon and President Craig Callen reported notable improvements at The Polo Club at NPC, attributing the positive results to effective cost control, a rise in membership, an increase in events and greater member participation. Mr. Callen emphasized the need for certain capital expenditures related to both safety and member experience. Mr. Callen referenced documents previously circulated to the board by independent consultants related to ongoing maintenance of The Polo Club's property, plant and equipment. Mr. Callen concluded by thanking the board for their ongoing support and use of The Polo Club at NPC.

Charles Smith, Chair of the NPC Polo Operations, LLC Advisory Committee, spoke about NPC’s successes in its second year of operation and things to come during the off-season. Following the first season, the committee focused on developing an organizational chart that splits responsibilities within Polo Operations into three main groups: Polo Management, tasked with scheduling and executing polo, supervised by Jimmy Newman, the Polo Director; Fields and Grounds, responsible for maintaining the fields and grounds, managed by Drew Summerill, the Superintendent; and Services and Special Projects, which support the administrative and operational infrastructure between NPC Polo Ops departments and the Advisory Committee, led by Patrick Marinelli, Director of Services and Special Projects.

NPC has made progress towards expanding the levels of polo being played at the facility. In the 2024 season, over 50% of the games played at NPC were below the 22-goal level. This includes mixed levels from 8-goal polo to 16-goal polo, women’s polo and youth polo. The fields at NPC have continued to receive compliments from professionals and sponsors in all levels of polo. NPC ticket sales were strong in 2024, including a completely sold-out U.S. Open Polo Championship final.

Looking ahead, NPC Polo Operations will continue to focus on improving NPC's image and brand value. Polo Ops plans to upgrade the facility entrances and the general appearance. These efforts are strategically aimed at boosting demand for non-polo events at NPC and expanding sponsorship activation opportunities. Additionally, these improvements will enhance the experience for both polo players and spectators.

USPA Polo Development, LLC held its Spring 2024 presentation on Thursday, April 18. The presentation focused on two main areas: (1) updates from the following USPA Polo Development, LLC Advisory Committees: Junior Polo, Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) and Polo Development Initiative (PDI); and (2) a review of the E-Learning Platform performance metrics, utilization and future development aspects.

In Junior Polo, the Player Development department continues to support the National Youth Tournament Series and Young Player Opportunity (YPO) programs. The location for the 2024 National Youth Tournament Series (NYTS) National Championship has been announced. The event will take place at La Herradura Polo Club in Santa Ynez, California. The NYTS program continues to work with the I/I program, training tournament managers and coordinating scheduling to ensure players can maximize their participation in USPA events.

Additionally, the presentation announced the establishment of new perpetual awards for the NYTS Championships. The awards include sportsmanship awards for both divisions, generously presented by the Beal family. A Best Playing Pony (BPP) perpetual award will be presented in the Open Division in honor of Badger, a Polo Museum and Hall of Fame Horse to Remember and Cecil Smith’s legendary "war horse." The women’s division will be named in honor of the Hale family—Sue Sally, Sunny and Stormie Hale. Also announced was another BPP perpetual award for the women’s division to honor Silverada, another a Polo Museum and Hall of Fame Horse to Remember, trained by Judith Baker.

Finally, the YPO Program adopted new language in its funding guidelines to provide support for high-level U.S. based training programs that emphasize horsemanship. The YPO grant continues to support players pursuing unique playing and training opportunities.

In I/I polo, staff and leadership reported on concluding a successful 2024 I/I tournament season. Highlights included introducing the Clyde C. Waddell Jr. Memorial Award and the Division II National Intercollegiate Sportsmanship award, which was graciously donated by the family of Clyde Waddell. The program also implemented environmentally friendly practices at each of the national events. The new initiatives included equipping all players, coaches and officials with reusable water bottles, setting up hydration stations and eliminating paper programs to reduce waste. The middle school point system, now in its inaugural year, will see its first set of award winners crowned this summer. Moving forward to summer, the I/I program will undergo its annual summer review and select the host sites for 2025 & 2026 nationals. The meeting concluded with a reminder that the annual USA Intercollegiate players versus Schools & Universities Polo Association (SUPA) Britain event would take place following the Board of Governor’s meeting at Palm City Polo Club in Boynton Beach, Florida.

PDI Chairman Bob McMurtry reflected on the impact the PDI program has made on the critical infrastructure needed to develop the sport of polo. Over six years, the PDI program has partially supported infrastructure projects estimated as having a total cost of $10.45 million. Mr. McMurtry reviewed the justification for his request that the board consider a significant budget increase for PDI in the future.

The PDI presentation also outlined the strategy for future planning at the committee level. This strategy includes several key focus areas: first, establishing funding criteria for regional associations and cooperative leagues; second, setting standardized funding levels for “new club development initiatives”; third, refining the guidelines to better define what constitutes "good standing"; and fourth, considering how PDI positions the Association and the brand in the polo ecosystem.

Finally, Justin Powers walked guests through a one-year review of the USPA Polo Development E-Learning platform. The E-Learning platform contains over 800 courses in horsemanship, riding, ball striking, strategy, etc. In its first year, 1,300 users produced almost 30,000 views, with an average engagement rate of seven minutes and 45 seconds. Those in attendance were encouraged to explore the platform, provide feedback, and make suggestions on ideas for future content development.

During the Communications Division presentation, Executive Director Matt Baran and Communications Manager Cristina Fernandez led a comprehensive overview of the team’s communications and marketing strategy since the USPA Fall Committee and Board of Governors Meetings with an emphasis on 2024. The presentation covered key areas such as the USPA and NPC websites, USPA Polo Network viewership, produced video content, USPA and NPC social media, tournament coverage and National Polo Center – Wellington marketing efforts.

Mr. Baran highlighted the remarkable growth of the USPA Polo Network and partnership with livestream providers International Polo Academy, noting an average 79% increase in live views and 64% increase in total views in 2024 for semifinals and finals, as well as a significant increase in subscribers. The figures presented did not include data from the U.S. Open Polo Championship, which had not yet taken place at the time of the presentation and were expected to be strong. Mr. Baran discussed several enhancements such as an expanded graphics packages, in-depth player statistics and spotlights, player interviews and rich historical context during livestreamed events.

Mr. Baran also highlighted video content produced in collaboration with Running Iron Creative (RIC), which serves to elevate the USPA brand and the sport. The content is utilized across various platforms including livestreams, social media, ESPN and other digital channels. Video content is a vital aspect of marketing, and the partnership with Running Iron Creative has proven especially fruitful, attracting significant interest from leading production companies that stream on major platforms, with many expressing a desire to produce a docuseries. So far in 2024, seven episodes of "USPA Presents" have been released, with more to come. The episodes showcase fascinating and occasionally underrepresented facets of the sport, bringing them into the spotlight.

Ms. Fernandez elaborated on the division's successful social media engagement strategies, primarily Instagram reels. Two viral videos on USPA platforms featuring Gauntlet of Polo action reached over 10 million users resulting in nearly 12,000 new fans of the sport on Instagram. In 2024, USPA social media boasted a 75% increase in followers across Instagram, Facebook and X, including an increase of 27,000 Instagram followers in just three-and-a-half months.

Similarly, NPC's social media strategy has been enhanced through key partnerships, attracting influencers with a combined following of 5.2 million to polo events during the winter season. These engagements boost visibility without high costs, as brunch tickets are often traded for influencer content. Efforts to distinguish NPC's social media voice from USPA have led to more curated and creative content focused on the spectator experience and event promotion, including a robust organic and paid advertising push for general admission and brunch tickets. Social media was also effectively utilized to create bespoke sponsorship opportunities throughout the season, with ongoing plans to further develop and monetize this valuable asset.

Baran concluded by providing an overview of NPC’s rebranding strategy including the new NPC logo and website build. The team’s advertising strategy for the 2023-2024 season with an emphasis on events, along with ongoing brand activation and expanded media opportunities, were also outlined. Overall, the presentation showcased the division’s dedication to advancing the sport of polo through innovative communication and marketing initiatives.

The complete presentation is available here.

USPA Umpires, LLC Executive Director Fergus Gould discussed the various team building and leadership activities that Umpires LLC executed with its professional umpires this year. The 2024 metrics show that the number of games officiated continues to rise and break records. The department continues to find new and creative ways to improve and innovate.

The Annual Umpire Training Camp was held at NPC in January. All umpires, staff and several board members, were in attendance. The training camp focused on communication and self-improvement. At the helm of the event was guest speaker Rachelle Strawther, Founding Director of the Center for Lifelong Learning for Gonzaga University. Ms. Strawther worked with Umpires LLC to create a “360 Review” process that evaluates strengths and areas that need improvement. The survey covered everything from understanding the application of rules and procedures, to communication with players and other umpires. Participants were asked to evaluate themselves, a group of other umpires and management staff. The survey was conducted anonymously, and Ms. Strawther led exercises with the group and assisted in reviewing the results.

In February, many umpires and USPA senior staff members participated in an Echelon Front FTX field training workshop that focused on ownership and leadership. This program has been utilized by smaller groups of umpires over the years, but this workshop was specifically tailored for Umpires LLC and USPA staff. Echelon Front was established by a team of former Navy SEALs who translate lessons from the battlefield into strategies for everyday challenges.

The professional umpires' toolkit has been enhanced with the introduction of new body cameras by Reveal, a company based in the United Kingdom. These cameras are traditionally used by law enforcement officers and offer pre-record features and automatic uploading to the cloud that can be accessed for editing and sharing content. These cameras will augment better video replay for game analysis and officiating.

The American International Polo Foundation (AIPF) held its Annual Board Meeting on Saturday, April 20. The Class I Directors were appointed as follows: Jacek Grotnik and Tim Dutta Sr. were reappointed, while Megan Judge was appointed to the seat vacated by Tommy Biddle, who recently resigned from the board to focus on other commitments.

The board of directors then nominated and elected Edward J. Armstrong as its President and Treasurer, and Stephen S. Armour as its Secretary.

AIPF managed the donation for the inaugural Clyde Waddell Division II Sportsmanship award, which was presented to Elyse Warren of Colorado State University and Ford Middendorf of Georgetown University. The award ceremony took place at the Division II Championship in March, with Mr. Waddell's family doing the honors. AIPF is available to manage similar donations to support this type of initiative.

AIPF, in cooperation with the Arena Committee, is in search of an appropriate perpetual trophy to be presented at the newly created Buddy Combs International Arena Challenge. AIPF is actively seeking donations to support this initiative. This year, the Indian Polo Association has been invited to compete for the cup. The date and venue are to be determined.

Mr. Dutta Sr. and Joel Baker initiated a discussion on developing a player optimization program. The program would target candidates who demonstrate commitment, drive, and potential, selected by a panel of qualified experts. Participants would have the opportunity to train under the guidance of either a current or former high-goal player who is also a top-level instructor and mentor to optimize their skills. A dedicated committee of qualified people in the sport, formed by Mr. Dutta Sr. and Mr. Baker, will design a framework for the program. The initiative is aimed at complementing the ongoing efforts of the USPA.

Mr. Armour invited Chuck Stanislawski, a CPA and USPA member, to discuss strategies the AIPF can use to solicit donations from individuals approaching the age at which they are required to take taxable distributions from their retirement accounts. A committee will be formed to organize this effort.

The Board of Governors approved Denver, Colorado, as the host site for the USPA Fall Committee and Board of Governors Meetings. The meetings will take place October 8-12.