Free Polo Clinic

Little Egypt Hosts Free Polo Clinic

Little Egypt Polo Club of Cape Girardeau will host a free polo clinic 9am Saturday Morning at Fox Run Stables on CR618. Wilbur O'Ferrall from the Polo Training Foundation is coming in from California to run the Clinic. Last year we had over 30 riders from 6 to 60 participate in the clinic and we hope to have a better turnout this year. Equipment and horses will be provided by the Polo Club and Fox Run Sables. The indoor arena is the perfect setting for training so that weather is not a factor. The program will start with a brief overview of the rules and then hands on using short walking mallets to practice hitting the ball and understanding the flow of the game while walking in the arena before mounting on a horse. After a lunch of grilled hotdogs the participants will mount horses to try their hand at hitting the ball in a walk/trot. At 3pm, members of the polo club but on a short demonstration of how a faster arena game would be played. Weather permitting an outdoor game may be played on Sunday. The basics of tacking a horse and their care will be covered on Sunday along with more mounted play.

The clinic purpose was to introduce new players to the game that is sometimes considered the Sport of Kings. According to Dr August Ritter, a long time member, polo is no longer just a sport of the elite, but that anyone who can afford to keep a horse or two can play. Like golf, there are more players in public courses like the JC course than play Pebble Beach. Come out and learn about this exciting game

Polo is not an idle sport. Experienced players reach speeds in excess of 35mph as they gallop up and down the 300 yard long field while trying to hit a 4" plastic ball through a 24' wide goal. It can be extremely competitive and the most fun you can have on a horse. Contact Willie Bahn 450-7976 for more information. Practices and games are played most weekends at August Ritter's field on CR 657. Bring a lawn chair and cooler and come watch a game. Admission is Free.

30

By Willie Bahn

Photos by Claudia Preuschoff

I have some other photos but could only submit one here.