No snooty attitudes, high-noses or condescending stares. No funky Queen Elizabeth hats, pearl necklaces, or outfits made from the furs of endangered species. The “sport of kings” appears rather posh in other venues around the world, but at the field
No snooty attitudes, high-noses or condescending stares. No funky Queen Elizabeth hats, pearl necklaces, or outfits made from the furs of endangered species.
The “sport of kings” appears rather posh in other venues around the world, but at the field lining Anini Beach, where the Kauai Polo Club opened its summer season last Sunday, crossing someone with a “better than thou” attitude is harder than spotting a feminist at an Eminem rap concert.
The social club welcomed the doubtful and curious (yours truly) with open arms, explained the rules of the game without making me feel like Dan Quayle in a second-grade spelling bee and expressed a love for the sport only the bleacher creature with ‘Derek Jeter’ tattooed on his forehead could top.
Is it unfair to have preconceived notions about the sport of Polo and the people who grace its sidelines?
Maybe. But if you ever watched ABC’s new reality series, “The Hamptons,” you would think Polo is more a fashion expose than an actual sporting event.
In Monday’s asinine episode, a player was knocked off his horse and suffered a nasty cut that extended down the length of his arm. The injury should have showed the dangers of Polo and why the sport is often compared to hockey. Instead, the pettiness of Hampton’s high society are all viewers could take from it.
“The local doctor said we need to take a look at my arm,” the player had said. “But I know he’s just trying to get a hold of my money….could you call up a specialist from the city to get down here and take a look at it?” (Keep in mind, New York City is a 3-hour drive from the Hamptons.)
But the Kauai Polo Club is nothing like that.
“There are elite clubs with that kind of stigma in places like Florida, New York and Texas,” said Jack Leyton, treasurer of the Kauai Polo Club. “But in general, that’s just an urban myth. In a place like Kauai, where there is not alot of money for the sport, we work together to support the club and its players. We just love the sport.”
Stuart McKenzie, a seasoned Polo player from New Zealand who had formerly played on a top-notch team with Prince Charles, agrees with Leyton.
“Kauai’s Polo Club is unlike other clubs in that it’s laid back and fun,” said McKenzie. “It’s about the people, the horses and having a good time.”
McKenzie says Polo can be compared to a fraternity.
“No matter where you go and no matter what your rating is (which is similar to handicap rating in golf), you will be generously received by Polo clubs in Africa, Asia, South America etc. Once you become involved, you are incorporated into its lifestyle.”
What’s unique about Kauai? Polo made its debut on the island in 1887, and Anini Field is currently the best Polo grounds in Hawaii.
But even after 100-years of existence, some island residents have yet to warm up to the equestrian sport, citing concerns the sport of Polo is abusive to horses.
“Have you ever seen those horses by Anini beach?” someone once told me. “You can tell they don’t feed them just by looking at how their ribs pop out, and they risk injuries to the horses every time they play on that field.”
It’s obvious this person has never attended a Kauai Club Polo match.
I was amazed by the beauty of these horses, by the way they shine, and by the care they receive during games. After each chukker, the horses are hosed down so they are kept cool and, more often than not, take the bench for the remainder of the game.
“Animal abuse is not an issue in Polo,” said Max Secunda, who travelled from England to play in Kauai this season. “These are beautiful animals, and we love and care for them. Polo is a wonderful sport for the horses. A good Polo pony is kind of like a good athlete. They are more important than the player.”
Every member of the Kauai Polo Club agrees that the ability of the horses determines the outcome of each match.
“I would say the player only accounts for 25-percent of the game, and the rest is up to the horse,” said Leyton. “People don’t realize how smart a horse is, and that it plays the game as much as the people who ride them do.”
The polo season will continue through September. Games start at 3p.m. on Sundays, but come a bit earlier to reserve a spot for your car by the sidelines and bring refreshments. Those polo fans give a new meaning to tailgate parties.
