Vermont isn鈥檛 Kentucky or Palm Beach, but there are some dedicated equestrians in the state. While some trail ride or show jump, there is a small group who love the stick-and-ball sport of polo.
The started playing in Waitsfield in 1962. But this summer, they鈥檝e added a new polo field in Shelburne.
For Shelley Henson from Hinesburg, this was her first time at the polo field.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know anything about polo, and I got an email saying there was a premier match on this new field, and decided to try it out,鈥� she said.
Henson, two of whose daughters show and ride horses, said she is interested to learn how the sport works.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a different style than we ride, and different kinds of horses,鈥� she said. 鈥淎 little bit faster, a little bit more energetic, and it looks like fun.鈥�
Other club members have been playing for decades. Jed Lipsky started playing with Sugarbush Polo in 1979. Since then, he has played everywhere from Ireland to South America.
鈥淸I] stopped to raise a family, three sons, and then about five or six years ago I got lured back in,鈥� he said.
He has two Argentine horses, which Lipsky described as 鈥渓evel-headed, quiet, quick turning, strong, sort of bold of mind.鈥� Lipsky also owns two American thoroughbreds, which he said are 鈥渧ery well broke.鈥�
鈥淎t my age, I like a smooth, light concussion movement of the horse,鈥� he said.
Justin Kenney from Charlotte, who has been playing for about 10 years, was invited to play by a friend.
鈥淚 think one of the amazing things about polo is that on a summer evening in Vermont, you can come out and ride your horses, and run around a field, and hang out with your friends,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it gets better than this.鈥�
Sugarbush Polo holds practices on Wednesdays, with pickup matches on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, according to its website.
For those wanting to take in a match, the will play on their new polo field Sunday, September 14 at 1p.m.
