San Diego's Polo Scene Trots to the Top

Between horsepower and horseplay, San Diego holds a longstanding legacy and regard for the game of polo. It is a sport where both rider and pony are trained athletes, paired as a team; however, once the ball is thrown, you have no idea what happens next.

The siren call of polo is as ancient as the stories in "1,001 Arabian Nights" – 6th-century Persian literature and art depicting tales of the game. Embraced by royalty, it has developed into an elegant, international sport, rife with ceremony and élan.

The polo pony, a more traditional term for the horses, is usually a mare standing 15 hands high and weighing up to 1,100 pounds. Even though they are chosen for their speed, stamina, and agility, temperament is a critical factor; after all, a rider is only as good as their horse. And at $250,000 tops, a mount can be worth more than a good education.

"A great level of trust with your horse is needed to play well," shares Sue Landis, a former Women’s World Champion polo player with dual U.S. and New Zealand citizenship.  "The faster you’re galloping — the sooner you have to start your swing. You need to know your horse can calmly keep you safe and be agile at full speed."

After Sue’s team won the title in 2001 in England, dining with Prince William and Prince Harry was the "crown" of a memorable victory.

Notably, the San Diego Polo Club celebrates this year its 25th anniversary in Rancho Santa Fe – the same location since envisioned by Willis Allen and Harry Collins; polo has been played in San Diego for more than 100 years. The club’s agendas are community inclusive and philanthropic minded and have attracted some of the highest-rated (10 goals) players in the industry.

Several pro players from our hometown team recently took the time to share their thoughts regarding the game, the pony, and life on the road.

FINE Magazine: What first inspired a career in polo?

Ashton Wolf: I started grooming for Casablanca (an American team in San Diego) and took lessons with the White Family. I picked it up quickly and soon became pro.

Diego Cossio: I started playing in 1996 in the U.S. I played for ten years under the famous Steve Crowder. He’s a good man, and I owe him a lot.

Miguel Gutierrez: My father and my grandfather played. I was always around it. Polo helped with my shyness.

Colleen Wilson: I grew up with horses – I prefer an English saddle and dressage. It was a natural fit.

Tracee Brunetti [pictured below]: I answered an ad for a free lesson at the San Diego Polo Club! Patti Fitzgerald told me I didn’t have to know how to ride, and here I am.

FINE: How does the polo world work on the "inside?"

Gaston VonWernich: There is a lot of hard work that goes into preparing for a game [and] everyone has their duties that contribute to the club. The grooms are the unsung heroes working all day to exercise, feed, and groom the horses.

FINE: How do you relax?

Colleen Wilson, Ph.D. (animal nutrition and patron of team Adeptus): Playing polo is relaxing. I see my horses six days a week, and I have a string [seven or eight] of horses here.

FINE: How do you manage your family time around the traveling involved in playing polo?

VonWernich: It’s hard. I have four kids and a lovely wife. We do the best we can. We home school our kids in Argentina, and I’m able to spend time with them [when at home]. They come to San Diego when they are on holiday; [and] when they’re here, they bring their bikes to the barn, play polo, come to my games and spend time with me.

Ashton Wolf: My wife understands, but she doesn’t like it too much. We have three kids: a 5-year-old, a 3-year-old, and a 9-month-old. She lives in Santa Ynez, where we have a lot of family support. I try to help out when I’m home, but I am gone most of the time.

FINE: Do you buy your ponies already trained, or do you prefer to train them, and what do you look for?

Wilson: I buy "made" horses. The best is from Argentina, and I look for disposition, soundness of limbs, and with at least three years of polo training. I like mares because they are keener, more into the game, and easier to train.

Wolf: I breed, train (make) and sell. Sometimes, I buy horses that have been racing at Del Mar. I have been training polo ponies for ten years [now]. I look for speed, and the good ones follow the ball on their own. A good polo pony can play for about 15 years—[It is worthy to note that Wolf owns 30 horses].

FINE: What do you love most about the game?

Diego Cossio [pictued above]: Working outside with horses.

Miguel Gutierrez: Meeting good people, traveling around the world.

Sue Landis: Polo is the ultimate adrenaline rush!

Find San Diego Polo online at sandiegopolo.com