Behind the scenes individuals usually go unnoticed and it’s no different for Kaua‘i Polo Club’s grooms. Peter Cameron, David Spears, Diego Bayugar, Melissa Dragoo and Becky Cameron were preparing for Sunday’s season opener around two months ago. “We are up
Behind the scenes individuals usually go unnoticed and it’s no different for Kaua‘i Polo Club’s grooms.
Peter Cameron, David Spears, Diego Bayugar, Melissa Dragoo and Becky Cameron were preparing for Sunday’s season opener around two months ago.
“We are up at the polo fields at 8 a.m., taking out all the horses, brushing them, taking care of their cuts and spraying them,” Becky said.
Becky, 15, has been working with the club for seven years.
“I just grew up around it,” she said. “My dad, Peter, was always up there and so was I. After a few years, I was hired by polo players.”
Becky also packs the horses up and takes them out on the track for exercising.
“I have them walk and trot and then I bring them in to wash them off,” Becky said. “We try to exercise them two months before the season.”
Polo players will utilize 21 horses this season, but Becky and the other grooms worked on 30 animals in the two-month period.
“It’s just time consuming,” Becky said. “They’re just now in shape and since the middle of May we’ve been exercising them.”
Polo riders start “stick and balling” or practicing with the horses two weeks before the season.
Bayugar is in charge of taking care of the horses with one on one care.
“Horses get hurt and they get cut,” Becky said. “I don’t like watching veterinarians work on horses.”
Although she’s been working with horses for awhile, Becky still doesn’t get bored with the four-legged animals.
“Being at the beginning of the season, seeing all the horses come out, seeing them do well and the players seeing the horses do well, motivates me to do well,” Becky said.
Still, the hardest part for Becky is game days.
“It’s really hard and lots of work,” she said. “I’d like to be able to do it where I go to college.”
Meanwhile, Peter, who has been playing polo for 10 years, will be grooming at the start.
“They’ll toss me a ball now and then to play,” he said. “I might play later on in the season.”
Peter said many world-class players will be back this year.
“There’s Stuart Mckenzie from New Zealand, Ronnie Tongg, Ron Bonaguidi, Krista Bonaguidi and a few other top players,” he said. “Ron’s the big chief. He has 30 horses down here and most everyone is playing on his horses. He also brought in a lot of the big names.”
Scott Sims, the club’s veterinarian, also plans on competing this season.
Kaua‘i Polo Club, a nonprofit organization, opens up its 13th season on Sunday.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 to 17. Children 11 and under get in free.
Annual membership is available for $150 per family or $75 per adult. Gates open at 1 p.m. and the match starts at 3 p.m.
For more information about the Kaua‘i Polo Club, contact Bobbie at 823-0865.
• Duane Shimogawa Jr., sports editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or kauaisports@kauaipubco.com.
