Memphis Polo Club: Matches Made In Heaven The on-field action is fast and furious, but at the end of the day competing teams are friends again, regardless of how aggressively they played. By Ann M. Moore Even with your eyes closed you know they’re coming. The deep drumming rumble of pounding hooves and rhythmic breathing of the polo ponies give away their approach. Opening your eyes you see a rainbow tangle of horses and riders in hot pursuit of a small white ball on a field of green. Bays, chestnuts, and grays are topped with the bright flash of players’ team colors above white breeches with matching leg wraps on the horses’ legs below. The warm gleam of well-oiled leather ties the colorful scene together. In seconds the players have crossed a hundred yards and they loom large over the low boards that border the field a mere fifteen feet in front of your tailgating spread. The flex and stretch of straining muscles are clearly outlined on the well-conditioned animals. The players maneuver their mounts and push to get a clear swing at the ball. The cracking sounds of mallet hooking mallet ring out while shouts of encouragement blend into the mix. The ball is struck and sails back onto the open field. The players skillfully execute lateral moves, sliding stops, and rollbacks with their agile polo ponies. Accelerating to full gallop in a few strides, the horses sprint across the green expanse towards the goal posts. Similar scenes play out again and again on the 200-acre manicured polo field at 1705 Frazier Rd. near Rossville, Tennessee that the Memphis Polo Club calls home. The scene is framed by stately trees and gracious estate homes. Yet for all of the deep-South ambiance, the Memphis Polo Club has a decidedly Argentine flavor. Latin rhythms pulse and flow from a sound system at field-side as matches are underway. An asado, the Argentine version of the southern barbeque, is often the entertainment of choice after a tournament. The on-field action is fast and furious, but at the end of the day competing teams are friends again, regardless of how aggressively they played. Win or lose, all are welcome when it is time to relax. There is much camaraderie among players from different teams, who often trade the role of host from weekend to weekend as the teams travel to games away from home. Local equestrians attracted to the beauty and thrill of polo can become more involved in the action. The Memphis Polo Club offers polo lessons for both beginners and experienced riders, taught by the club’s professional players, Nick Cifuni and Alfredo Guerreño from Argentina, who is also the Club Manager. If a student doesn’t have a suitable mount, one can be supplied by the club as part of the lesson package. Fans of the sport content to watch from field-side can find plenty of family-friendly activities as well. Tailgating with picnic fare and socializing are important parts of the polo tradition. The family dog is even welcome as long as it is leashed. Matches held on Saturdays at the Memphis Polo Club are often fundraising events, so polo fans can cheer their favorite teams while supporting worthy non-profit causes. Fall tournaments this season benefit local charities such as Saddle Up for St. Jude, Youth Villages, Boy Scouts of America, the Wolf River Conservancy, and Fayette Cares. The Memphis Polo Club also offers opportunities for holding corporate events at the polo grounds and encourages sponsorships by businesses and individuals. More information about Memphis Polo Club, upcoming tournaments and schedule changes, are available on the club’s Facebook page and website at www.memphispoloclub.com. The website details the club’s history, membership, events, polo lessons, and directions to the polo grounds from Memphis. Whether in the game or watching the action, the Memphis Polo Club provides a chance to become involved with an exciting sport that has been a part of the equestrian scene in the greater Memphis area since the mid 1950’s. After all, sportsmanship, skilled horsemanship, and good old-fashioned southern hospitality never go out of style.