Meet the Expert: Polo
An interview with Charles Smith, President of the United States Polo Association
What true use is knowledge if we are not applying or sharing it?Â
Meet the Expert is our fourth segment of a themed Week or Month here at
. We meet today for the final chapter of Polo Week. At this stage, we have traveled back in time to Persia in 600 BCE to learn that polo is the oldest consistently played team sport in the world, we have discussed the impact fashion and lifestyle businesses have had on polo, the globally loved ‘polo shirt’ and how Ralph Lauren has grown into a billion dollar behemoth marketing the ‘world’ of polo. We even hosted a cocktail party, Wemple’s Polo Bar, reveling in the glamor of polo in an ode to American cultural traditions of bygone days.ÂNow, we look to the final chapter of Polo Week, for a tactile, real life example of all that we have been posit-ing on for the past weeks.
It is Meet the Expert: Polo featuring Charles Smith1, the President of the United States Polo Association (USPA).
Enjoy learning about Charles, the USPA and consider spectating a match near you or perhaps even picking up a mallet - just be warned, polo is addicting.2
LLW: Charles, for our Readers less familiar with the sport of polo, would you introduce yourself and share how and when polo came into your life?
I grew up with polo since my father, Cecil Smith, was a professional polo player and horse trainer. He was a 10-goal rated player for 25 years. I played polo while in high school and college and then began work as an aeronautical engineer/Program Director with General Dynamics, which later became Lockheed Martin.
I played polo actively for 55 years and now am very active with the United States Polo Association (USPA). I serve as the President of the USPA and the Chairman of the Polo Operations Board for the USPA’s National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida.
LLW: The USPA is the heart of polo in the USA, managing and setting standards, building community across the country, and nurturing the position of US polo globally. Many of our Readers will have likely seen the USPA logo in cities around the world or on apparel but are not necessarily familiar with the sport or Association. Would you introduce the USPA?
Founded in 1890, the United States Polo Association (USPA) is the non-profit governing body for the sport of polo in the United States, the largest voluntary polo organization in North America and one of the oldest sports governing bodies. The USPA exists to promote the game of polo and maintains an overarching goal of improving the sport and coordinating the activities of member clubs and registered players. The Association encompasses over 200 clubs and arranges, allocates and supervises more than 400 tournaments a year across 11 circuits. At the core of our responsibilities is the regulation and standardization of polo within the U.S. The USPA provides rules, player handicaps and conditions for competitions and games, highlighted by the safety and welfare of participants and equine athletes. Our commitment to safeguarding the quality and fairness of polo across the nation helps nurture a vibrant polo community, fostering an equitable environment where players, enthusiasts and supporters can come together to celebrate their shared passion for the sport.
U.S. Polo Assn. is the official brand of the USPA with a multi-billion-dollar global footprint and world wide distribution. Managed by USPA Global Licensing Inc. (USPAGL), U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel for men, women and children as well as accessories and footwear in more than 190 countries worldwide. USPAGL is the steward of the USPA’s intellectual properties, providing the sport with a long-term source of revenue.
Last year, the USPA acquired the National Polo Center (NPC) in Wellington, Florida. The venue has become the perpetual home of polo in the United States and showcases the finest the sport has to offer. Located in the heart of South Florida’s legendary horse country, NPC hosts premier polo events, such as the Gauntlet of Polo®, and other prestigious national tournaments throughout the year. Spectating From the stadium, private boxes, fieldside tailgate for special hospitality tents, all overlooking the U.S. Polo Assn. Field One, is an unparalleled experience. We invite everyone to visit us and enjoy the best polo in the country at one of the most beautiful venues in the world!
LLW: At the USPA, what are your goals for the coming year? And do you have any specific hopes for the sport in general in the coming year or so?
At the forefront of the USPA’s mission, the Association is constantly striving to expand the sport and grow our member community, enticing more people to become involved in polo. One way we accomplish this is by fostering our membership from a young age. The USPA supports youth development programs which include the National Youth Tournament Series (NYTS), Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) polo, Team USPA and Young Player Opportunity (YPO) grants.
The USPA’s Polo Development Initiative (PDI) is another example of how the Association continues to invest in membership, support clubs and grow the sport. We believe the success of the sport depends on the success of its clubs. The PDI program is designed to facilitate the sustainability of polo by empowering clubs and polo schools with grant-based reimbursable awards. The intent is to support thoughtfully presented applications that address specific, club-based, sustainability needs. Grants are distributed in support of addressing those needs, improving the quality of the polo playing experience and promoting the development of the sport.
These support programs are critical to the sport’s longevity and continued evolution in that they provide expanded opportunities for players to develop their skills and clubs to showcase talent.
Regarding what lies ahead in the next year, we have our sights set on the upcoming 2024 winter season at NPC. Our team has been working on renovating and revitalizing the property to deliver a premium guest experience and has something special in store every Sunday from December 31, 2023, to April 28, 2024.
The Gauntlet of Polo will once again return to NPC. As the premier spectacle of the winter season, this heart-pounding competition attracts both seasoned polo enthusiasts and new spectators and draws the best high-goal players from around the world. The Gauntlet is a true survival of the fittest, with three distinct stages, each building on the last, creating a captivating narrative that unfolds throughout the season. The challenge begins with the C.V. Whitney Cup in February (February 9-25) then the USPA Gold Cup (February 23-March 24). The Gold Cup serves as a pivotal stage where the competition intensifies and the stakes grow higher; if the team who won the C.V. Whitney Cup wins the USPA Gold Cup, the season boasts a Gauntlet contender. The three-month competition concludes with the most coveted title in American Polo, the U.S. Open Polo Championship (March 22-April 21) with the final on Sunday, April 21. Only one team in history has captured the series! For teams, athletes and fans, the Gauntlet is polo's toughest test and sets the bar for high-goal competition across the U.S.
We look forward to welcoming back elite women’s polo to U.S. Polo Assn. Field One with the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship final Sunday, February 18. We also look forward to introducing the National President’s Cup to NPC this year. The tournament, which consists of up to fourteen qualifying tournaments played June 2023 through April 2024, will unite some of the country’s most talented 8-goal teams. The USPA is committed to supporting various levels of play at NPC and showcasing these teams at a national level.
LLW: For me one of the most rewarding parts of playing polo is the team work required, between your teammates, which is unique in the world of equestrian sports, and your horses. What is it that you love most about the sport?
I really enjoyed the horse related interactions. I was involved with the selection of new prospects, their training, and then playing them in the top levels of the sport. There was great satisfaction in seeing them take to the sport and develop.
LLW: For our Readers interested in taking up or spectating polo and feeling daunted by the prospect, how would you recommend getting started in polo?
First, I would recommend finding a club near you. The USPA has hundreds of member clubs across the country—you can search for polo clubs or schools in your area at uspolo.org/clubs. Member clubs often offer introductory lessons for beginners that focus on teaching the fundamentals of polo, including the rules, equipment, hitting techniques and horsemanship. Your local club is likely going to be the best resource for watching polo matches, which will help you understand the dynamics of the game. Watching experienced players in action affords deeper insight into the sport and its strategies. Many clubs host tournaments that are open to the public, providing an immersive experience to all.
Our YouTube channel, USPA Polo Network (USPAPN), also offers a variety of resources and content for both beginners and seasoned players. USPAPN is the official live streaming and on-demand video platform of the USPA which provides accessibility to the sport and an innovative production experience. Matches can be watched free of charge across several of our platforms, including uspolo.org, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter/X and Twitch.
If you decide to pick up a mallet, bear in mind that, like any sport, mastering polo takes time and practice. Be patient, stay persistent in your efforts to improve and practice good horsemanship. The best aspect of the sport are our equine partners. Riding fosters a deep bond with these animals that requires trust, communication and cooperation. Join your local club, learn from your polo peers and enjoy the ride!
LLW: Last, I would be remiss to not inquire as to your most memorable match or horse come across in your career. Any matches or clubs that stand out? And are there specific events you are looking forward to?
There are many memorable matches, but probably participation in the international matches between USA and Argentina known as the Cup of the Americas really stand out. I was fortunate enough to win the Silver Cup eight times and the U.S. Open Polo Championship five times. I am also very proud to have trained and played four horses that have been inducted into the Polo Hall of Fame Horses to Remember.
It is a delight to connect with people like Charles.
People who have lived full, inspiring lives and alongside all of that life lived still maintain a commitment to personal growth and lifting up community in the sport or hobby they love.
My husband, Wemple, often says that in these divisive, difficult and chaotic times we exist within today the one thing that always gives him hope is how much people believe in one another when it comes to sports.
It is so true. Sports, particularly here in the USA, have an ability, unlike anything else, to bind communities together, away from hate, fear, frustrations - affording us a moment of complete human optimism.
As a life long horsewoman focused on hunter jumping and cross country alongside enjoyable Western shows (where are all my barrels ladies at?) I did not expect polo to be the equestrian discipline and sport that deepened my love for our four legged, mystical equidae friends. But after my first time playing at South Bay Polo Club, I knew it was always going to be polo.
Unlike any other sport I have played, polo is an extreme mental and physical challenge that requires you to partner with both human and equine teammates - all while riding, controlling the horse with your left hand and wielding your mallet with the right. Stating that polo is not an easy sport to master is an understatement. Given how much multitasking is required of each polo player and how much is asked of the horse there exists verbal and emotional strategies that must co-mingle while you are on the pitch - well, they must if you want any chance at playing successfully as a team.
As Charles mentioned above, there are several ways to get involved with watching and enjoying polo, either for free digitally or at a nearby polo club - when you next have a chance to spectate a polo match, notice how the professional players are almost in a meditative focus when the clock is running. As with any sport that somehow looks simple and easy, this effortless grace takes years, years and more years of dedication and practice.
If you take anything away from ’s Polo Week, I hope it is this: In addition to being one of the oldest sports in the world, polo is an art requiring skill, athleticism, grace and intelligence. However the most incredible part of the game is the player’s chemistry with their equine teammates. That humans can move in sync with the horse at their most active is nothing short of magic.
Thank you to Charles and his wonderful Communications team at the USPA led by Matt Baran for being open to pulling back the curtain on polo in the United States and to the entire USPA team for giving structure and togetherness to the sport. We appreciate you.
To you, Reader, I also appreciate you and your time. If you are keen for more equestrian content find us on Instagram (@21stand18th) and subscribe below.
will return this week with WIOW3: Marie Antoinette.Until then, stay well,
LLW
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Acronym for What I’m Obsessed With, our first segment to a themed Week or Month at 21st & 18th