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Health & Fitness

Historic Equestrian Sport Helps Those In Need

When you think about polo you usually picture the British, beautiful horses, well kept greens and competitive players chasing a ball with a long-handed mallet.

Well that’s the gist of it. However, did you know that polo originally started as early as the 5th century BCE in Persia?  What began as an inspirational relationship between humans and horses became, over time, a training game for British cavalry units and a way for the soldiers and their horses to stay in shape.  

The game found it's way to England in 1869 and was referred to as  Hockey on Horseback.  It wasn’t until 1876 that James Gordon Bennett organized the first polo patch in the United States. He went on to establish the Westchester Polo Club and financed many projects for the sport.  Polo was even part of the Olympic games in the early 1900’s.

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Before World War II it had caught the attention of several Hollywood favorites, including Leslie Howard, Will Rogers and Spencer Tracy. In 1952 the West Coast's first U.S. Open took place at the Beverly Hills Polo Club in Santa Monica.

Fast-forward to the present and polo is still alive and flourishing. It continues to be a well-respected sport that remains popular worldwide.  If you haven’t had a chance to see a polo game or if you just want to want to learn more about the sport, then plan to attend the Stick and Ball Polo Cup 2013 Saturday, August 3rd  in Santa Rosa.  Located near some of the Sonoma County's most favorite wineries,  The Wine Country Polo Club will host this exciting day-long event, coordinated by Stick & Ball's Elizabeth Welborn.  Welborn, a polo player herself, decided to create this event after learning that several of her friends had been diagnosed with breast cancer.  Her goal – and the goal of this  tournament – is to benefit for the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, a SF Bay Area organization that provides assistance to those in need.

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All Stick & Ball Polo Cup 2013 guests will be treated to an Argentine asado lunch, wine, access to shopping, and event wine glass.  VIP includes lounge with a private bar and a luxury, canvas, Stick & Ball tote and picnic blanket. Tickets can be purchased at   http://stickandballpolo.eventbrite.com

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