Obstacles, Clears And Finishes Coming Up With Unique Course Designs Is All In A Day’s Work For Andy Christiansen

By Mike May

To work in the equestrian field as a course designer for hunters, show jumpers and equitation competitors, some of the keys to success and longevity are to have a positive mental attitude, a passion for horses and a true love of the sport. If you can find the joy of being immersed in Wellington’s equestrian environment — which will involve long days and weekend nights — you will thrive.

In many respects, that sums up the mindset you must have to live the life of Andy Christiansen, who specializes in creating course designs for those who compete at the Winter Equestrian Festival in the hunters, show jumpers and equitation events.

Christiansen is now a certified international FEI Level 3 course designer. He’s good at what he does, but he plans to improve and move up the ladder in the course design profession. One of his career goals is to design CSI5* competitions and international championships, such as the Olympic Games.

So far, some of his big career experiences in show jumping are designing national and international competitions across the Americas and working next to world-renowned course designers at previous Pan American Games, World Equestrian Games and South American Games.

“I grew up with horses,” said Christiansen, 38, who is a native of Quito, Ecuador, and is now a full-time Wellington resident. “I have lots of passion for horses and show jumping.”

To work in Christiansen’s circles, you must have patience and be willing to invest time in the profession in order to learn and gain the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed. Christiansen’s ability to design courses for riders did not come from a textbook. It came from listening to others and asking questions.

For Christiansen, life as a course designer is an ongoing education. As long as you are willing to listen, and watch as the sports evolve, you will continue to learn and get educated to continue your professional growth. You also have to be a team player who is willing to help and assist others.

While Christiansen has a home in Wellington, he can usually be found at the Wellington International showgrounds off Pierson Road, especially during the 13-week Winter Equestrian Festival, which is now underway.

“The Winter Equestrian Festival is the biggest horse show in the world, and I enjoy being a part of it,” Christiansen said.

During WEF, it’s especially busy every week from Wednesday to Sunday, which are competition days. On Mondays and Tuesdays, Christiansen and his team plan and get organized for the next five-day gauntlet of competition.

There is far more to Christiansen’s professional life than designing courses at WEF. He is also busy at Wellington International with the Spring Series, Summer Series, Fall Series and the Holiday Series. In all, that’s roughly 30 to 35 weeks of competition in Wellington, where he’s in charge of getting jumping courses designed, installed, modified and removed many times a day, as the rings switch between competitions.

During WEF’s five days of weekly competition, there are three to five classes of competition each day, and three to five different tracks that must be installed throughout the day. To make it all work on a timely basis, Christiansen must plan ahead. He has a large team of professionals — a ring crew of at least 48 people, who transform the horse show’s outdoor jumping rings many times a day. It must be done efficiently and quickly.

“We don’t want our customers waiting on us,” Christiansen said.

This is where teamwork comes into play. In some respects, it’s no different than being a special teams player on a football team, whose job it is to efficiently perform on kickoffs, punt returns and field goal situations. If you make a mistake, everybody will notice.

“We don’t have a great deal of time to make changes, usually 15 to 20 minutes,” Christiansen said.

To be a part of his crew, he expects you to be humble, hardworking, attentive and alert, especially on those Grand Prix Saturday Night Lights events that draw big, enthusiastic crowds.

Christiansen is always committed to excellence. He wants to make it all happen with perfection.

“I consider myself a very organized person,” he said. “Before I head home every night, I make sure that my crew gets the arena ready for the first competition of the next morning. I make sure to leave behind all the needed paperwork and get all details done at the end of the day, just in case something out of the ordinary happens, and I’m not able to be there in the morning. After all, the show must go on.”

When he’s not in Wellington, his profession takes him to many places in the United States, Canada and South America. His U.S. destinations include Michigan, North Carolina, Maryland, Connecticut, California, Virginia and others.

As Christiansen reflects on his career, he said there are two individuals who have served as key mentors for him. They are American course designer Anthony d’Ambrosio and Brazilian Guilherme Jorge. Both have helped Christiansen grow and develop as a course designer, sharing their knowledge and providing sound advice to him over the last 20 years.

For Christiansen, it’s not easy creating a variety of course designs in confined settings, which are all different and diverse. After all, not all show jumpers are in the same skill class, so the degree of difficulty needs to change depending on the ability of the horse and the rider.

According to Christiansen, all competitive venues in show jumping are not created equal, which puts a premium on his ability to design a jumping venue that is always going to be competitive and fair. Some venues are indoors, and some are outdoors.

“The indoor jumping venues are not big arenas, and they are surrounded by walls, bleachers and different elements that cause many distractions, which sometimes makes it challenging to design different courses,” Christiansen explained. “Depending on the venue, the outdoor arenas are normally bigger, but not all the same size. It’s nice to have some variety and different shapes.”

When Christiansen has free time, he gets away from the equestrian world and spends it with his wife and children. They enjoy their free time together, relaxing, swimming, bike riding and fishing.

Help Find A Cure Challenge Of The Americas Features Dancing Horses And Family Fun To Fight Breast Cancer

Paint the town pink on Friday, March 10 at the Challenge of the Americas (COTA) and experience a colorful, family-friendly equestrian extravaganza, as horses and riders from around the world dance to music to help fight breast cancer. COTA is a spectacular evening of horses and fun, all to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) through Play for P.I.N.K.

This one-of-a-kind event showcases the Olympic sports of dressage and show jumping, and features some of the top international competitors from the United States, Canada, Europe, Central America, Australia and Israel as they maneuver their horses in precise patterns set to a musical theme.

General admission gates open at 5:30 p.m. at the Global Dressage Festival showgrounds on the corner of South Shore Blvd. and Pierson Road in Wellington. Grab some food and beverages available for purchase and enjoy pre-show entertainment by local singer Michael Boone. General admission ticket holders will have an ideal vantage point in the grandstands to see top show jumpers and their mounts performing choreographed jumping set to music starting at 6:30 p.m.

Next, horse and rider duos will impress with their pas de deux –– typically a dance for two people but, at COTA, it’s two horses and their riders moving in harmony.

The headline event features six teams of six horses and their skilled riders competing in the musical Grand Prix Quadrille Team Challenge. Competitors pull out all the stops with intricate choreography and colorful costumes in themed musical quadrilles to delight the crowd, and impress the world-class judges, while raising funds for breast cancer research.

COTA has evolved since its origins back in 2002.

Created by Mary Ross to honor her mother, who died of breast cancer, the event grew from an afternoon luncheon featuring three horse-and-rider combinations to an international event with 46 riders and their mounts. Its success and continued growth are due not only to its partnership with the top-rated breast cancer organization in the U.S., but to its uniquely entertaining format.

The Challenge of the America’s mission is to #challengebreastcancer through the BCRF and its partner, Play for P.I.N.K., a grassroots organization committed to raising funds for research through sporting and lifestyle events.

The BCRF is dedicated in its mission to prevent and cure breast cancer by advancing the world’s most promising research. It is the largest private funder of breast cancer research in the U.S. That research is saving lives, improving outcomes and uncovering new approaches to this complex, challenging disease.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide — surpassing lung cancer for the first time in 2020 — and the most common cancer diagnosed in American women. It knows no boundaries and doesn’t discriminate. It is a leading cause of cancer death in less developed countries, and the second leading cause of cancer death in American women. There are few people who have not been directly or indirectly affected by the disease.

General admission tickets for the Challenge of the Americas are available at the door for $20, and children 12 and under are admitted free. VIP tickets, available at www.challengeoftheamericas.com, provide the same top-notch entertainment with the bonus of enjoying this year’s festive, Western-chic Challenge Gala featuring dinner and dancing under the tents at the showgrounds.

Proudly wear pink and join the Challenge of the Americas for an exciting evening of horses and family fun on March 10 to #challengebreastcancer and help find a cure in our lifetime.

Learn more about the Challenge of the Americas at www.challengeoftheamericas.com.

Tenacity In Top Form How Hunter Rider John French Paved His Way To The Top

By Jessica Brighenti 

A professional rider with a reputation that precedes him, John French is known for his natural talent, horsemanship and, of course, many appearances in the winner’s circle. As one of the sport’s most accomplished hunter riders, French has been a prominent figure in the equestrian community for decades. He is now excited to permanently call the equestrian destination of Wellington his home.

Raised in “hunt country” outside of Baltimore, French learned the importance of horsemanship from an early age as the son of a riding instructor.

“I wasn’t in the ring all the time or competing. We did more riding cross country or over to my friend’s house,” he recalled. “We’d go on trail rides together in the woods, jump over logs and go fox hunting. I think growing up that way really helped me get a feel for the horse and a natural way of riding the show hunters.”

French enjoyed early success in the Green Pony Hunter division with a pony his mom bought for just $500, but once he moved to horses and set his sights on larger shows with stiffer competition, the cards were stacked against him. “I got discouraged and said I couldn’t do it,” French said. “We didn’t have the funds to show at that level.”

Determined to improve as much as he could, he sent a photo in to George Morris’ popular column at the time in Practical Horseman Magazine. In each month’s column, Morris would critique riders’ photos over fences and provide pointers to both them and the readers. French’s photo was chosen for inclusion, and although Morris was initially critical of French’s “long hair” and the untalented jump of his 15.2-hand-high Palomino, he made a remark that would forever change the trajectory of French’s riding career. “He said, word for word, ‘All in all, this is the best example of classic hunter seat equitation I’ve ever seen.’ That’s when I thought, maybe I could do this if I just had a different horse,” French said.

At the age of 16, French hooked up the horse trailer, picked up his friend’s horse and headed to the Maryland Equitation Finals. He not only won the championship, but he did so all on his own without assistance from a trainer — propelling him on the ride of his life.

From then forward, people asked him to catch-ride horses and ponies for them, allowing French to work for some of the most knowledgeable horsemen on the east and west coasts for decades. Before officially hanging up his square jumper saddle pads for the fitted show pads of the hunter arena, French went on to represent the United States around the world in multiple Nations Cups and FEI World Cup Finals.

After residing on the west coast for a little over 30 years, French packed his bags and headed to Wellington to join forces with a fellow powerhouse in the equestrian business, two-time Olympian Kent Farrington. “Kent called me up only six months after I moved to Seattle and said, ‘I heard you left California. How about working together with me?’” French recalled with a laugh.

He politely declined the offer at first. “I had just bought a house and said, ‘No it’s not going to happen.’ Kent and I talked at Washington [International Horse Show], and he invited me down to Florida over Thanksgiving that year to check out his barn,” French said. “Just like my initial move to California, it wasn’t my plan, but it looked so enticing to work with him and to be able to have such a strong operation and people to work with, so I thought, ‘Maybe this is the time I move back to the east coast.’”

Since pairing up with Team KPF in 2020, French has continued his success in the show ring with a few special hunter mounts and has been able to focus the rest of his time and energy on his clients. “I take pride in [my students’] successes. We keep the program small and select, but I am really enjoying teaching and working with them,” he said.

When asked what advice he instills in his students and to those who may be in similar financial situations to him growing up, French expresses the importance of horsemanship and gaining knowledge first and foremost. “Don’t be in a rush to start a business. Before you hang up your own sign and have your own clients, learn from as many people as you can. It’s important to find horsemen and get as much experience and knowledge as you can from them,” he said.

Look beyond the top trainers to learn from, he noted.

“They may not necessarily be trainers, but maybe barn managers, vets or blacksmiths. You can learn something from all of them,” French said. “A lot of people also just want to ride, but you have to pay your dues first and do more than that. Work hard and learn from your mentors. It’s going to make you a better horseman for when you do get to be a rider.”

This conversation took place just six months after French suffered a serious riding accident.

“I was riding a young horse. He jumped the fence nicely, but dropped his head on the other side, and lightly hit the rail with his hind feet. His head never came back up, and there was nothing in front of me,” recalled French, who fell off and broke his femur in two places, which resulted in a full hip replacement.

The doctors at Wellington Regional Medical Center worked diligently to get French out of the excruciating pain he was in and back into the saddle as quickly as possible. So quickly, in fact, that French was not only riding six weeks post-operation, but he went on to win the 3”/3’3” Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Incentive Championship aboard Suzan Moriconi’s Wyatt three months later in August.

“If I didn’t like my job and working with Kent, the clients and the horses we have as much as I do, I don’t think I would’ve been able to come back so quickly,” French said. “It’s what keeps me going, and what will keep me going in this business for a long time to come. Otherwise, I would’ve maybe thought that it’s time to stop riding.”

Luckily for all lovers of hunter competition, French doesn’t plan on going anywhere soon. “I feel fitter and healthier now, instead of three years ago. I feel like instead of coming to my end [after the accident], I have a new beginning here in Wellington and working together with Kent,” he said. “I can see myself going for many more years.”

When asked about his longevity in the sport, French declared, “I’m never going to be done. I will keep training and judging, and have more time to work with committees and things that give back to the sport to make it better. Even if I’m not riding, I can go to the show to train and help out. When it comes to horses, there will always be something to do around here.”

Learn more about John French at www.johnfrenchkpf.com.

WHS Band Goes To London Trip Of A Lifetime As Mighty Wolverine Sound Marches In The New Year’s Day Parade

By Deborah Welky

Wolverines disappeared from the British Isles ages ago, but a band of them invaded London in late December and early January, traversing in orderly fashion to Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square, and completing their two-mile march at Parliament Square.

It was the award-winning Mighty Wolverine Sound, of course, Wellington High School’s marching band.

First invited to participate in the London New Year’s Day Parade (LNYDP) in early 2020, the band had to wait nearly three years before they were actually able to participate due to pandemic cancellations. Then, with a live audience of more than 600,000, and approximately 500 million more watching on TV, the group quickly became the pride of Wellington.

Musically and logistically, it was a lot of work.

“We began practicing in early November, twice a week, working on our performance music — a Beatles medley and “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen — as well as our parade marching formations,” WHS Band Director Mary Oser said. “Once in London, we spent the five days prior to the parade seeing many of the most famous historical sites in London and the surrounding areas, including Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Windsor Castle, Oxford University, Abbey Road, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. After having had to postpone the trip twice, the high point was performing in front of such a huge, warm, receptive and welcoming audience.”

Michelle De Armas, mother of 15-year-old Wolverine trumpeter Christopher De Armas, served as the London trip coordinator. “The band director, band students and band parents at Wellington High School worked very hard to get this special recognition and gave a spectacular performance at the parade,” she said.

While Oser handled communication between the band and LNYDP representatives, as well as anything involving the student/parent communication, students’ instruments and uniforms, De Armas handled rooming logistics, passport and plane information, and handbook information. She also created numerous rosters to keep track of the 75 students and 33 chaperones at the hotel, on planes, on buses, during daily tours, at meals and during afternoon sightseeing times.

“Planning was key,” De Armas said. “Early on, I created a hierarchy structure in order to chart out everyone for board members and chaperones, so we could organize the groups. This allowed chaperones to verify attendance and get everyone safely on the planes and buses to each destination. I designated various board members as passport, bus and plane coordinators to handle the overall tasks of checking in at the airports and daily tours, so it wasn’t just me.”

This included room accommodations and assigning a handful of students to each chaperone, whom they would monitor and be responsible for during the entire trip. De Armas created a “pod” system labeled by color and letter.

“This made it easier to group our six pods on the planes and buses, and allowed everyone to easily determine where they would go each day,” she said. “I also identified two captains per pod to verify the attendance at any event and maintain curfew.”

De Armas was also in charge of what she called “endless forms.”

“I input and verified all the passport information for the airlines, checked and double-checked to make sure the names, numbers and dates matched exactly. I worked with Ms. Oser and other board members to create a roommate list based on student preferences, then collated the lists and updated them if someone needed to switch rooms,” she said. “I then provided all rooming info to the tour company.”

The logistics were so complex that a handbook was created to streamline the process. De Armas worked with Wolverine Band Booster Association Public Relations Chair Pepper Adair to write the “Wolverine Band London 2023 Trip Handbook,” meeting with students and chaperones and using What’s App to disseminate information, answer questions and plan itineraries.

“This worked out well, especially for giving out info and updates to students, as well as tracking students and chaperones,” De Armas said. “I had been to London twice, but this was the first time I coordinated an overseas trip for 108 people, so there was a lot of stress. All of us chaperones were counting all the time!”

It certainly was stressful headed to another country, in a big city, dealing with large crowds visiting for the holidays, but, in the end, it was a picture-perfect success.

“Once we arrived at the airport and got everyone checked in, I knew things would be fine, and all of our chaperones could handle whatever would come our way in London,” De Armas said.

Once the entourage arrived in London, LNYDP representative Olivia Konieczka helped with logistics related to daily tours and buses, hotel rooms, banquet rooms, equipment rooms, hotel meals and the parade. She also helped De Armas find places to sightsee, eat and figure out how to get around town.

It was quite an experience, particularly for the students.

Adriana Takvorian is the band’s head drum major and a tenor saxophone player.

“The most exciting part for me was being able to travel outside of the U.S. and see all of the historic sites in London,” she said. “I also enjoyed the environment of the parade. It was one of the best experiences someone could have.”

Trombone player Sydney Nembhard loved the sightseeing as well.

“The most exciting part of the trip for me was being inside Windsor Castle and sharing that experience with my favorite people,” she said. “This trip is something I will never forget.”

It was a trip flute player Anden Toale will also never forget.

“I never thought I would be marching in an internationally renowned parade, one that is broadcast live to millions across the world,” he said. “The excitement and joy that filled me while marching down the streets of London was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I also enjoyed exploring new places and seeing so many new yet famous places I’ve heard so much about, such as Windsor and Oxford. Being able to take in all these new sights with all my best friends is an experience I will forever treasure.”

Aside from the logistics, the trip took years of fundraising to accomplish. Over the last several years, the Mighty Wolverine Sound received donations from its boosters’ GoFundMe page, as well as from Wellington International, the Royal Foundation, the Wellington Rotary Club, former WBBA President Janell Leatherman, and, of course, band parents themselves. In addition, Good Greek Moving & Storage donated wardrobe boxes to ship all 75 uniforms.

“We could never have accomplished this performance without the support of our administration, especially Principal Cara Hayden, and the community of Wellington,” Oser said.

The high point of the trip for De Armas was still the parade itself.

“After all these years trying to attend, I’m so glad the students were finally able to participate in this amazing experience,” she said. “My older son, Alexander, who plays snare drum, was supposed to go two years ago. However, like many previous band students, he graduated during the pandemic shutdown. My younger son, Christopher, was there. For me, walking in the parade with the band, taking photos of them to preserve this special moment, seeing the excitement in their eyes and hearing them play so well was the highlight of the trip.”

Learn more about the Wellington High School Mighty Wolverine Sound marching band at www.whsband.com.

Investing In Our Village’s Future A Look At Wellington’s 2023-2027 Five-Year Capital Improvements Program

By Jim Barnes, Wellington Village Manager

As we continue in this new year, you will notice the Village of Wellington undertaking some of the projects that our Wellington Village Council approved last fall in the Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Budget and the 23023-2027 Five-Year Capital Improvements Program (CIP). The CIP is a five-year outlook for anticipated capital projects and is reviewed and updated annually by the council.

The 2023-2027 Five-Year CIP reflects the council’s continued investment in capital projects throughout the village in a fiscally responsible manner. The $24 million program, largely funded through the general and utilities funds and sales surtax, includes $5 million in ongoing funding for new and existing assets, equipment and vehicle replacements, as well as infrastructure to enhance our neighborhoods and home values; $9.4 million for one-time projects; and $10 million for utilities capital projects. In addition to the $24 million CIP, another $5.8 million is budgeted for major maintenance to maintain village buildings and facilities, and our extensive network of parks.

The remaining amount will be spent on enhancements and new infrastructure that will benefit residents and set conditions for the future. Examples include the refurbishment of Margate and Staimford neighborhood parks and the Olympia Park tennis and basketball courts, as well as the exotic vegetation removal and clearing from the 45-acre expansion of the Wellington Environmental Preserve at the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Everglades Habitat.

Work this year is also focused on the expansion of the multi-use pathway network. Transportation improvements and the continued investment in information technology are also central to our efforts to improve traffic safety and leverage technology.

In developing the Five-Year CIP, the following elements are taken into consideration: council goals, community surveys, grant funding opportunities, commitments made by the village, maintenance/rehabilitation of existing village facilities and infrastructure, technology improvements, and enhancements within the community. The proposed CIP was developed in support of the council’s strategic focus areas with emphasis placed on public safety, fiscal health and community livability. You can stay informed of the CIP process as the village undertakes its update for the 2024-2028 Five-Year CIP, as well as the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, by signing up for e-mail updates and by following the Village of Wellington on social media.

Every year, the council meets to discuss the strategic framework and vision for the coming year. The framework outlines goals related to economic, fiscal and environmental stewardship; best-in-class services and amenities; and the physical, mental, social and emotional well-being of our residents and employees. It also includes goals related to our infrastructure. I look forward to engaging with all of you and working together toward that vision.

We are committed to transparency and community participation in government. Public involvement and input are the cornerstones of everything we do, and we know that we make better decisions and build a better future when we have conversations and gather feedback from invested stakeholders like you. There are many ways you can become engaged and stay informed.

Wellington is known for being a well-planned community that puts residents first. With that at our core, we invite you to engage with your “great hometown” and stay involved in your community. I hope to see you at our public meetings, at our award-winning community events, and out and about enjoying the beautiful community we all love to call home.

Meet The Leadership Team USPA National Polo Center-Wellington Opens Its Inaugural Season With Visionaries At The Helm

Fresh off the massive success of hosting the FIP World Polo Championship, the USPA National Polo Center-Wellington (NPC) is gearing up for its inaugural winter high-goal season. Most notably, the calendar will feature the return of the prestigious three-part Gauntlet of Polo series beginning in February. As NPC prepares for what will undoubtedly be a historic first season, after the USPA purchased the former International Polo Club Palm Beach last summer, let’s get to know the faces behind the newly rebranded facility, and the people who have worked tirelessly to turn a promising vision into reality.

Stewart Armstrong: Planting The Seed

The mastermind behind the USPA-owned facility, USPA Chair Stewart Armstrong first detailed his vision for a permanent center for polo in America in the Spring 2020 issue of Hurlingham Polo Magazine in an essay titled, “The Sunday Field.” In it, Armstrong discussed the vitality of the Brackenridge Park field for the San Antonio Polo Club in Texas, and how the disappearance of that shared resource in the 1970s forever altered and stifled growth of the sport in the area.

This lived experience propelled his idea of a perpetual Sunday field as a principal element in the health and well-being of a polo club. Believing polo will not thrive without a centrally located Sunday field to underpin growth, showcase teams, players and horses, as well as unite the wider community, Armstrong approached the USPA Board of Governors and proposed that the USPA acquire a communal facility to ensure longevity and prosperity of the sport in America. With this idea in mind, NPC will welcome not only high-goal tournaments, but also tournament play at all levels, guaranteeing inclusivity across all realms of the sport.

Now serving as the committee chair of USPA Sunday Field LLC, which will manage the polo operations of the center alongside NPC Polo Operations LLC, Armstrong continues to eagerly lead the USPA in the height of this new endeavor to establish NPC as the epicenter of American polo.

Armstrong’s polo knowledge and passion comes from a lifetime in the sport. A third-generation player, Armstrong’s grandfather was one of the founders of the San Antonio Polo Club and established a horse breeding program. Armstrong picked up the sport when he was 11 and never turned back. He achieved a 7-goal handicap and won the illustrious C.V. Whitney Cup twice in the 1980s. His experience both on and off the field has made him an exceptional leader for the USPA, especially during a time that offers many thrilling new changes and challenges for the association.

Charles Smith: Cultivating Growth

Recently elected as USPA president after formerly serving as secretary, Charles Smith has been extremely active in the creation of NPC, especially on the operations side, also serving as chair of NPC Polo Operations LLC.

Much like Armstrong, former 7-goaler Smith draws experience from an incredibly successful career in polo, joining the NPC leadership team as a three-time C.V. Whitney Cup winner, two-time USPA Gold Cup victor and five-time U.S. Open Polo Championship title holder. To recognize his talent and excellence in the sport, Smith was also inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in 2004. Smith hopes to use his deep understanding of polo to create both a competitive and enjoyable atmosphere for players and spectators.

At the USPA Fall Board of Governors meeting that took place in early November, Smith relayed important updates about NPC Polo Operations LLC, detailing a progress report of the ongoing polo-related renovations. Similarly, he discussed the plans to revitalize the stadium, parking areas and main entrance in a multi-phase renovation project scheduled around the 2023 winter season schedule.

Tim Gannon: Nourishing The Idea

Tim Gannon, co-founder of Outback Steakhouse and three-time U.S. Open Polo Championship winner, has been a vital contributor to the vision of NPC becoming a reality. Outside of creating an empire in the restaurant business, Gannon has a long and fruitful history in the sport. He began playing in 1992 and, as his passion grew, he created the Outback Polo team, which went on to win the U.S. Open five times, three of which he competed in. The team’s success also produced three consecutive wins in the prestigious competition (1999, 2000 and 2001), a feat that has not been duplicated since.

Off the field, Gannon is widely known as a selfless and devoted supporter of polo and its players. In 2013, he was the recipient of the Philip Iglehart Award, an honor that recognizes exceptional lifetime contributions to the sport. Continuing to remain connected to polo despite not being in the saddle, Gannon now chairs NPC’s Hospitality Operations Inc., setting his sights on reinvigorating the club’s offerings with his extensive experience in the food service industry. He is inspired to use his expertise to add to the culinary side of the club and elevate NPC into a great entertainment and dining experience.

At the USPA Fall Board of Governors meeting, Gannon discussed many of the projects that are ongoing in those areas. He detailed projects aimed at updating the hospitality facilities, expanding and modernizing the Mallet Grill kitchen, bringing in new culinary talent, investing more in catering, and uplifting the experience and what people can expect from the hospitality assets and the club.

Chris Green: Ensuring Longevity

After 40 years as a USPA member and several serving as a governor-at-large and active member of countless crucial USPA committees, Chris Green stepped into the role of chief operating officer/in-house counsel in July 2021. Green is involved in nearly every aspect of the facility and its operations, contributing to all three NPC-focused subsidiaries: USPA Sunday Field LLC, NPC Polo Operations LLC and NPC Hospitality Operations Inc.

Green’s connection to horses began in Lexington, Kentucky, where he grew up in the horse racing industry. He was introduced to polo in his 20s while attending the University of Kentucky and now plays outdoor polo at Giant Valley Polo Club in Hamden, Connecticut, and arena polo at Gardnertown Polo Club in Newburgh, New York. Green’s vast knowledge of the game and the rules, formerly serving as chair of the Rules/Rules Interpretation Committee, have made him an invaluable resource in launching NPC and generating early success for the facility.

An overall incredible achievement for the association and the sport of polo, NPC will and already is redefining the American polo experience thanks to the leadership of these individuals, alongside the hard work of many others within the United States Polo Association, NPC Polo Operations and NPC Hospitality Operations. This is only the beginning of a revitalized and prosperous future for American polo, with many more developments and opportunities on the horizon.

Visit www.nationalpolocenter.com to learn more about the USPA National Polo Center-Wellington.

Faces of Polo 2023

The 2023 winter season heralds a new era in the sport of polo, both here in Wellington and across the United States. Over the summer, the United States Polo Association took control of Wellington’s signature polo destination, the International Polo Club Palm Beach, which has now been rebranded the National Polo Center-Wellington, or NPC. After its debut by hosting the prestigious XII FIP World Polo Championship in November, NPC is ready for its first winter high-goal season as the nation’s “Sunday Field” for polo. Watching the “sport of kings” on Sunday is a tradition to be enjoyed by everyone, from jet-setting socialites to year-round residents, polo experts to those new to the sport. As is our annual tradition, Wellington The Magazine this month highlights just a few of the elite players who will power their horses down the fields, mallet in hand, in pursuit of glory. We invite you to turn the page and start enjoying Faces of Polo 2023.

ADOLFO CAMBIASO
A long-time legend in the sport, Adolfo Cambiaso grew up playing polo in Argentina. Quickly rising in handicap, he obtained the illustrious 10-goal status at just 19 years old, the youngest player to achieve the sport’s top rating. In 2000, he founded La Dolfina with Bartolomé Castagnola, one of the most successful Argentine teams in history. That same year, he began his own breeding business from scratch. He went on to become a pioneer in horse cloning, producing the first clone in 2010 with Alan Meeker of Crestview Genetics. In his decorated career, Cambiaso has triumphed in a wide array of prestigious tournaments, many of them on multiple occasions. These include the Argentine Open, the Hurlingham Open, the USPA Gold Cup, the U.S. Open Polo Championship and more. He has played with Scone in the Gauntlet of Polo for the past two years alongside his son, Poroto Cambiaso.

POROTO CAMBIASO
Finding early success much like his father, 16-year-old Poroto Cambiaso emerged on the high-goal scene in 2020, when he captured the King Power Gold Cup in England as well as the Copa Cámara de Diputados, the Copa Pilar and the Repechaje Clasificación in Argentina. He played in the Gauntlet of Polo for the first time in 2021 with Scone, during which Scone won the USPA Gold Cup. He played with Scone again in 2022. Over the summer, he triumphed in the NetJets Pacific Coast Open with L.I.N.Y. Donning the same helmet as his father, which features the signature Argentine flag, 9-goaler Poroto is racing toward a 10-goal handicap and shows no signs of slowing down.

FACUNDO PIERES
Currently the No. 1-ranked polo player in the world, 10-goaler extraordinaire Facundo Pieres is fresh off a successful Gauntlet of Polo season in 2022, winning both the USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open Polo Championship with Pilot alongside teammates Curtis Pilot, Mackenzie Weisz and Matias Torres Zavaleta. Pieres grew up playing with his brothers Gonzalito and Nicolas Pieres in Argentina. He became a professional player in 1997 when he won the Copa Potrillos with the Ellerstina Jr. team. He continues to travel the world playing in the most prestigious tournaments, often finding his way to the podium in the process.

STEWART ARMSTRONG
Originally from San Antonio, Texas, and coming from a polo-playing family, Stewart Armstrong reached the status of a 7-goal handicap while competing in tournaments worldwide. Today, he continues to play while also serving as chairman of the United States Polo Association, a role he took over in 2019 and has used to continue his lifelong work to grow the sport in the United States. He received the Hugo Dalmar Trophy in 2019, played on the Aspen team during the 2021 Ylvisaker Cup, played in the 2021 Gauntlet of Polo series with Aspen/Dutta Corp, and competed again in the Gauntlet of Polo in 2022 with La Indiana alongside Jeff Hall, Lucas Criado Jr. and Mariano Aguerre.

POLITO PIERES
Born in New York but raised in Argentina, Pablo “Polito” Pieres is among the few polo greats who have achieved a 10-goal handicap. Becoming a professional in 1997 at age 18, Pieres was introduced to the sport by his father, Paul Pieres. Pieres has played on winning teams in the British Open, the Deauville Gold Cup in France, and the USPA C.V. Whitney Cup and USPA Gold Cup here in Wellington. He played with Santa Rita Polo Farm in the 2022 Gauntlet of Polo and found success in 2020 with La Indiana in the USPA Gold Cup. Most recently, Pieres triumphed in the 2022 Tortugas Open, and the 2021 Argentine Open, Hurlingham Open and Queens Cup.

HILARIO ULLOA
Achieving the elusive 10-goal status in 2017, Hilario Ulloa has remained among the top players in the world, competing in the United States, England and Argentina. Playing with Park Place for the last two years in the Gauntlet of Polo, Ulloa has experienced great success, winning the 2021 and 2022 C.V. Whitney Cup, as well as making it to the U.S. Open Polo Championship Final in 2021 and the USPA Gold Cup Final in 2022. He is a three-time winner of the U.S. Open Polo Championship, a three-time winner of the C.V. Whitney Cup and a one-time winner of the USPA Gold Cup. Outside of the U.S., this polo prodigy has triumphed in the Hurlingham Open, the Tortugas Open, the Ellerstina Gold Cup and more.

PEKE GONZALEZ
Mariano “Peke’’ Gonzalez Jr., 23, represents the latest generation in a polo-playing dynasty. The son of Mariano Gonzalez Sr., he currently sports a 6-goal handicap. Gonzalez has a wealth of experience in some of the most competitive tournaments here and in Argentina, as well as representing Team USA in the 2018 Westchester Cup. Gonzalez won the 2017 Copa Provincia in Argentina, playing alongside his father in a tournament won by his grandfather back in 1958. On the Iconic team during the Gauntlet of Polo in 2019, he was a part of the Postage Stamp Farm team in 2020. Gonzalez played on the victorious Scone team in 2021, claiming the U.S. Open title alongside Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso, along with David Paradice. This summer, he played with Farmers & Merchants Bank in both the Farmers & Merchants Bank Silver Cup and the NetJets Pacific Coast Open, making it to the final of the latter before falling to L.I.N.Y.

JEFF HALL
American Jeff Hall was raised in Santa Barbara, California, and Houston, Texas. He began riding when he was just four years old. He became a professional at the young age of 12. Still one of the highest-rated American players at 7 goals, Hall has won every high-goal trophy in U.S. polo, including the U.S. Open Polo Championship in 2003. He most recently won the USPA Gold Cup with La Indiana in 2020. Over the summer, he also competed with BenSoleimani.com and won the Farmers & Merchants Bank Silver Cup, marking his 10th win in that prestigious competition. While he travels for polo frequently, he calls New Pueblo, his Houston ranch, home. He also lives in Wellington during the winter season.

GRINGO COLOMBRES
Argentine polo player Raul “Gringo” Colombres is hard to miss in his bright red helmet. Rated as an 8-goaler, Colombres returned to high-goal play in Wellington in 2019. He wasted no time making his presence known, leading Dutta Corp to a string of early season victories, including the Herbie Pennell Cup, the Joe Barry Memorial Cup and the Ylvisaker Cup — and along the way capturing consecutive MVP awards for himself. Colombres returned in 2020 to play on the Palm Beach Equine team with Lucas Diaz Alberdi, Gonzalo Ferrari and Scott Swerdlin, again winning the Joe Barry Memorial Cup. In 2021, Colombres was back in action with Palm Beach Equine for the Ylvisaker Cup, and he competed with Aspen/Dutta Corp in the Gauntlet of Polo series. In 2022, he played with Cessna alongside Miguel Novillo Astrada, Camp Campbell and Will Johnston.

HOPE ARELLANO
Fourth-generation polo player Hope Arellano comes from a long line of polo players — with her father Julio Arellano achieving a 9-goal handicap at the peak of his career. Picking up the sport at a young age, Arellano played in her first adult tournament at age 11 and won her first 12-goal tournament alongside her father and two older brothers, Lucas and Agustin, at age 12. At 14, Arellano became the youngest player ever to win the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship. Now 19 years old, Arellano hasn’t slowed down a bit, recently competing for the United States in the FIP World Polo Championship, becoming the first woman to ever compete for the U.S. in that prestigious international contest.

Behind The Microphone Retired Polo Player Toby Wayman Is Now Known As One Of The Sport’s Top Commentators

By Mike May

Toby Wayman was born and raised to be a polo player, but his true destiny was to be the voice for the “sport of kings” as an announcer and commentator at polo matches here in Wellington and at top matches across the nation. Wayman has been found behind the microphone since 2010, and he does it very well. He is a natural, talking about polo with a microphone in his hand.

Wayman, who lives in Wellington with his wife and two sons, spends his time these days as a livestream announcer for polo matches in Wellington, as well as Sheridan, Wyoming, and Santa Barbara, California. In Wellington, he provides commentary at the Gauntlet of Polo, which includes the C.V. Whitney Cup, the USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open, as well as the Wellington Polo Tour, which is a 16-goal league.

While Wayman has the “gift of the gab” when it comes to talking about polo, his background as a polo player is the foundation for his current role. He can “talk the talk” because he has “walked the walk” in polo.

Wayman’s polo background goes deeper than his career as a player. He is a fourth-generation polo player — born into the sport and raised within the sport. As a player, he was a 4-goaler, while his father, Tommy Wayman, was a 10-goaler.

Wayman, 40, was a good polo player, but he was not among the greats of the sport. He, unfortunately, had to retire from playing at age 28 due to an injury. He didn’t realize it at the time, but his career-ending injury was probably the best thing that ever happened to him, career-wise, since he was perfectly qualified to make the transition to being a polo announcer.

“After I quit playing, I sold my horses, and I only had a high school education,” Wayman recalled. “All that I knew anything about was polo.”

While Wayman knows a great deal about polo, he added that his father was his top teacher.

“Everything I know in polo, I learned from my dad,” he said. “Polo is the only topic that I ever talked about with my father while growing up. We still only talk about polo every time we get together.”

Soon after he retired from being a player, Wayman received an offer from longtime friend Jimmy Newman to come fill in as an on-field announcer at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, now the National Polo Center-Wellington. If it had not been for that invitation from Newman, he probably would not be where he is today.

As they say, success in life is often based on who you know and not what you know. In Wayman’s case, he both knew all the key people in the industry and had all the background knowledge to make a go as a polo announcer.

Wayman is forever thankful to Newman for giving him a chance to do what he does best, which is talking about polo.

“Initially, I saw my role as an announcer as a way to use my knowledge of polo to stay relevant in the sport,” Wayman said.

Now, livestream announcing of polo is a way for Wayman to make a living in the sport.

Soon after his guest debut with a microphone in 2010, Wayman started working as a livestream announcer for Melissa and Marc Ganzi at Chukker TV, which included providing play-by-play commentary for the “Featured Game of the Week.”

He then made the transition to working for the United States Polo Association and is now providing livestream commentary for Global Polo TV.

Looking back since 2010, Wayman has probably provided commentary for more than 1,200 polo matches. Yet he honestly feels that his best days as a polo announcer are still ahead of him.

“Polo is a sport that is always evolving, and it always feels fresh,” Wayman said. “Today, there are so many brilliant players with the ball, and the horses are equally amazing.”

One of Wayman’s unique on-the-air skills is his ability to correctly anticipate what’s about to happen on the polo field, and then to analyze what just happened.

“I have good vision, and I can tell what’s about to happen before it actually takes place,” Wayman explained. “Then, I like to go back to review what happened and explain why it happened. I like to be precise and accurate. I want the viewers to understand what it is they are watching.”

After the polo season ends each spring in Wellington, Wayman and his family will relocate to his childhood hometown of Sheridan, Wyoming, where polo is big in the summer months. His parents also live in Sheridan, so it’s a great family time, as well.

From his home base in Wyoming, and with access to technology, Wayman provides commentary for polo matches in California, as well.

“On Thursdays and Saturdays, I’m commentating on polo matches in Sheridan, and on Fridays and Sundays, I’m announcing polo matches being played in Santa Barbara, California, from my home base in Wyoming,” Wayman said. “I can watch the video feed from California on my iPad and provide the commentary through a microphone. The two big polo events in California are the Pacific Coast Open and the Silver Cup.”

Clearly, Wayman has a unique way of making a living, and it’s a profession which he’s in no hurry to stop doing. “I’d like to do this ’til the day I die,” he said.

When he’s not providing commentary on polo, Wayman spends a great deal of time at home with his wife and two sons. When he needs to relax, he likes to sharpen his knife collection and look after his bonsai tree.

“It’s very relaxing to prune, water and nurture my bonsai tree,” Wayman said.

As someone who has been around polo for years, Wayman has his own thoughts about some of the best polo players and polo horses currently on the scene.

Two of his favorite horses to watch are Aji, ridden by Lucas Criado Jr., and Magnifica, owned and played by Facundo Pieres. According to Wayman, both horses sense the significance of any occasion and make things happen with their riders aboard.

The same thing can be said of Wayman when he’s providing commentary. He can sense the significance of the occasion, and he can accurately predict what’s about to happen. And, more often than not, he’s right.

POLO 101: All You Need To Know Get Ready For The Sidelines With A Primer On The ‘Sport Of Kings’

By Y.A. Teitelbaum

“Playing polo is like trying to play golf during an earthquake,” is a quote attributed to actor and avid polo player Sylvester Stallone.

While golf is generally an individual sport, polo is one of the oldest team sports, with its origins in central Asia more than 2,000 years ago. Mounted nomads played a version that had elements of sports and training for war, with as many as 100 men on a side and using the heads of their vanquished foes as the ball.

Polo has since evolved into an intricate sport of four players per team that combines intelligence, strength, power, flexibility and physicality while riding 1,000-pound horses at high speeds on a 300-yard by 160-yard grass field. Whoever scores the most goals, wins — like hockey on horseback, but without a goalie.

The best players in the world are in Wellington during the winter season, playing at the USPA’s National Polo Center-Wellington (NPC) and the Grand Champions Polo Club, among other area clubs.

Carlucho Arellano is a longtime professional player who grew up in the sport and currently is the USPA’s executive director of services.

“[Polo] is nothing short of the best sport in the world,” he said. “There is none other like it, really. A contact sport where you can get on an animal that requires excellent hand-eye coordination. Name another one like it. As a profession, it is the best. As a hobby, it is equal to snowboarding, skiing, flying and racing. As therapy, it takes you away from the hustle and bustle. And as a way of life, it is a family-oriented and healthy culture.”

Players are rated from minus-1 to a maximum of 10 by a committee, based on a player’s horsemanship, hitting ability, quality of horses, team play and game sense. Their handicap is not a reflection of how many goals they score. Each of the polo associations in the United States, Argentina and England update player handicap ratings at least once a year. So, a player could be a 10-goaler in the U.S. and England, and a 9-goaler in Argentina.

Player ratings, or handicaps, is a way to keep teams as equal as possible during a tournament. The four players’ handicaps must not exceed the tournament rating. For example, the U.S. Open Championship is a 22-goal tournament, so the combined handicap rating of the four players cannot be more than 22 goals. Most teams play with three professional players and a patron, an amateur who pays the other players.

Players, like in hockey, wear protective gear. There are leather boots specifically for polo, knee pads, white jeans, team jersey, a protective helmet and gloves. More and more players also wear protective eyewear and elbow pads. This helps protect them when bumping into an opponent, or if an errant ball or mallet hits them.

The mallet is made of bamboo and its length varies, depending on how big the horse is and how tall the player is. Mallets usually range from 49 to 54 inches and are changed throughout the game, depending on the horse or if they break. The ball is about 3.5 ounces and made of hard plastic that starts out round but quickly develops an odd shape after being hit many times.

The game starts with teams lining up at midfield, and an umpire rolls the ball between them. Play continues throughout the seven-and-a-half-minute chukker (period) unless there is a foul or injury. The most common fouls are “crossing the line,” an imaginary line created by the ball as it goes down the field. Some are obvious, others not so much, and it creates animated discussion both on and off the field.

Other interesting rules distinctive to polo is that teams switch sides after each goal to mitigate advantages of sun, wind and field conditions. And all players must play right-handed, even if they are natural left-handers, for the safety of the rider and the horse. This rule decreases the chance of a head-on collision if two players were riding toward each other.

Penalties are called by either of the two mounted officials on the field, and if they can’t agree, a third referee in the stands makes the final decision. There is also video review available during most major matches. Penalty shots are taken from 30 yards, 40 yards and 60 yards, or at the spot of the foul, depending on the severity of the foul. All goals are worth one point. There aren’t any two-point shots, except in exhibition matches.

Most team’s tactics use man-to-man coverage for defense, but sometimes the plan is to double-team the opponent’s best player. But no matter the tactics, many times the outcome is determined by which team has the better horses. Experts say that horses are at least 70 percent of the game. Most horses are Thoroughbreds trained specifically for the sport over several years. They usually play from about five years to 12 years old at the highest levels. For high-goal matches, the pinnacle of polo in the United States, each player will bring at least 12 horses. They usually play two horses per chukker and often will double their best horses. The better players have at least 16 ponies to play throughout the long, arduous season. Players are always trying to improve their string of ponies, either by buying from others or breeding their own.

The featured stadium match is usually Sunday at 3 p.m. at NPC and Sunday at 4 p.m. at Grand Champions. There’s pomp and circumstance, brunch, women wearing sundresses and hats, men in khakis and blazers. There isn’t a dress code at either venue; jeans, a collared shirt and sneakers are quite acceptable.

There are also games during the week on the club’s other fields in a more casual setting. Arellano has some insider tips for watching polo in Wellington at either of the major clubs.

“I recommend polo games during the week. They are free, and you’ll get a true feeling for it if you tailgate and just soak it in,” Arellano said. “The first time the players and horses come running over the boards by where you’re parked, you’ll feel the intensity and excitement. There will be family members cheering, kids practicing on the neighboring field with their foot mallets and one wheels, and the empanada guy will cruise by in his station wagon. You have to try the ham and cheese empanada or a milanesa sandwich. Befriend the polo player in the car parked next to you and ask him or her about the rules, line of the ball and teams. Polo players are friendly and outspoken.”

Veteran polo player Luis Escobar, whose two sons also play high-goal polo, suggests concentrating on the horses while watching the action.

“Look at how the horses and players move around the field with such ease, how they increase and decrease in speed, make big stops and small turns as fast as the rudder can stay on,” Escobar said. “Look at the players, how they hit and place the ball.”

He also had a warning for those new to the game.

“Polo is an addictive sport. Be careful,” Escobar said, smiling.

Silver Medal Finish For Team USA FIP World Polo Championship A Monumental Debut For The USPA’s New National Polo Center

In a successful and monumental debut for the USPA-owned facility, the National Polo Center-Wellington (NPC) took center stage recently, hosting the global XII FIP World Polo Championship.

The competition welcomed eight talented teams from across the world for ultimate international polo glory — Argentina, Australia, Italy, Mexico, Pakistan, Spain, Uruguay and the United States. Outfitting the teams with official performance jerseys and equipment as the official apparel partner and presenting sponsor, U.S. Polo Assn. was proud to join forces once again with the FIP World Polo Championship to promote the brand.

Visiting teams arrived by Oct. 26 and drew one of eight evenly matched strings of 22 horses provided by J5 Equestrian, then spent time leading up to the first day of competition riding and practicing them to develop strategies. Bracket play began Oct. 29, and the competition officially started in grand fashion with the Opening Ceremony at NPC, which featured a team parade in classic cars and plenty of sideline spirit from spectators.

Over the course of the week-long event, Team USA (Agustin Arellano, Lucas Escobar, Nico Escobar, Jake Klenter, Hope Arellano, Joaquin Avendaño and Nico Diaz Alberdi) and Spain (Nicolas “Tuki” Ruiz Guiñazu, Luis Domnecq Carrión, Pelayo Berazadi Rózpide and Nicolas Álvarez Cervera) rose to the top of the competition. Both captured a 3-1 record entering the final.

In their opening match, USA triumphed 9-4 over Australia, establishing their position as one of the tournament’s dominant competitors. A slight setback followed, falling to Italy 6-4. Desperate for a win in order to qualify for the semifinal round, USA worked tirelessly in a physically and mentally exhausting battle to edge out Uruguay 7.5-7. In the semifinal match, Hope Arellano entered the playing field substituting for Jake Klentner. Making history, the 19-year-old polo phenom became the first woman to compete for the United States in an FIP World Polo Championship. Her addition to the lineup continued USA’s forward momentum, allowing two sets of siblings — Hope and Agustin Arellano, and Lucas and Nico Escobar — to emerge with an electrifying 9-8 overtime win against the defending champions and competition favorites, Argentina.

USA and Spain met on NPC’s immaculate U.S. Polo Assn. Field One in front of a sold-out grandstand crowd. It was an exciting game, and regulation time ended in a 10-10 deadlock to force overtime. Fierce play on both ends kept the match going through the overtime chukker’s halfway point, but a foul from USA gave Spain a penalty opportunity, which Pelayo Berazadi Rózpide masterfully scored, sending the ball high above the USA defenders to capture Spain’s first FIP World Polo Championship title. For his five-goal performance, golden goal and leadership on the field, Rózpide was named Most Valuable Player. His third and fifth chukker horse, J5 Matilde, was awarded Best Playing Pony honors.

An event that was years in the making, USPA Executive Director of Services Carlucho Arellano expressed how meaningful the success of the competition was, especially after meticulous planning efforts. “One thing that I promised when the U.S. was still bidding to be the host of the world championship was that we would give the world the very best of the USPA — the very best horses we could find, the very best venue and the very best service,” he said. “I think all of that planning really translates into good polo.”

FIP Tournament Coordinator Felipe Del Sel also described his pride in being a part of the team to bring the FIP World Polo Championship to the United States. “I think that the event went smoothly and exceeded all expectations,” he said. “FIP and the teams were really impressed with all the attention to detail and the level of fields, horses and accommodation. It was the perfect event to present the National Polo Center-Wellington to the world.”