Established New York Polo Program Looking For Teenagers to Play

Growing up, you most likely played a sport or two, but my question is, did you know you could play polo? Most people don't realize that we have a polo team in the Hudson Valley. Normally, when you are thinking of signing your kids up for a sport, soccer, football even basketball come to mind first. Chances are, Polo never made the list.

Newburgh Equestrian Center Offers Polo for Teenagers

For more than 30 years, Gardnertown Farms on Route 300 in Newburgh has offered a polo program. It started with just an indoor series, then they built an outdoor polo field. Now they have multiple teams and offer a variety of programs, one of which is their Interscholastic program geared towards boys and girls in 7th to 12th grade.

If you have a teenager who is looking to be on a team and try something different, you may want to contact Gardnertown Polo and see what it is all about. Learning polo isn't just about the game. Riders also learn horsemanship, so for a teenager interested in horses, this might be another way to get them involved.

What is Polo

Polo is possibly one of the oldest team sports. It is what is referred to as a stick and ball game, which is played on horseback. It can be played both indoors and out, but is traditionally played on a large grass field. The Ralph Lauren brand has always kept Polo in the spotlight and may have given you the impression that the sport is not necessarily something a high school student would play.

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Truth is, all polo players need to start somewhere. You might be surprised how many colleges and universities offer it as a sport with scholarship opportunities. Locally, Vassar College had a team at one point, but it seems that is not the case any longer; however, Cornell University is listed on the US Polo List.

Here is something else you might want to know: there is no experience necessary to be on the Gardnertown Team, so even if your child has never ridden, they can sign up. Contact Coach Will at (914) 419 - 2723.