Polo America put on a very good Polo and Equestrian Expo at the LA Equestrian Center this past weekend.  Randy Russell and his staff only know one way to put on an event, First Class.  20 Seminar Speakers, various topics, Maximizing your arena game, Equine Insurance, Polo Marketing Concepts, Power Hitting and Penalty Shots, Improving your Polo Pony String,  Feeding Nutrition and Supplements,  Riding Exercises for Polo, Effectively using the Hitting Cage, Creating Plays for the Knock-in and Throw-in, Barn Concepts, Ask the Umpire, Polo Destinations.  45 Sponsors/Vendors, Tack, Mallets, Polo Gear, Ford Trucks, USPA, PTF, FIP, Polo Clubs, Jewelry,  Rege Ludwig, hitting Cage (with instruction clinic), Virtual Polo just to name the type of booths.

Monty Roberts gave a horse handling demo, including the first bridling, saddling and riding or a green horse, horse communications and loading an exceptional difficult horse that was very set against loading. 

At the request from past Polo Expo events, arena polo games were included in the schedule  Seniors, 0-2 Women's, 3-6 Goal, which all produced exciting polo matches for the spectators  Games were played from8 AM until 4 PM every day.  All the games were exciting, with the 3-6 goal Finals an exceptional game being decided by one goal in the last minute of play.  Bob Stuerzebecher, suffered a fall when dismounting his Umpire horse at half time (horse spooked when the pickup stick was dropped) Bob is in the Burbank hospital undergoing tests on his spleen and has 2 broken ribs.  We all wish him a speedy recovery.

The social activities included a Friday night roof top cocktail reception at the Universal Sheraton Hotel with breath-taking view of the Universal Studios and surrounding skyline.  Saturday evening featured a Cocktail Reception on a Universal Studios Movie Set, then the Black Tie & Blue Jeans Award Dinner at Universal Studios Sound Stage 6 where Stefanie Powers was presented the Polo America Lifetime Achievement Award for her many years of championing Celebrity Polo Matches for the William Holden Wildlife Foundation and various Charities, she also became an Polo Ambassador, playing polo in 12 countries.  Polo Angel Awards were presented to Jesse Pruitt (Texas), Phil Karber (Virginia), Russ Sheldon (California) for their dedication to promoting and improving the sport of Polo. 2 Angels played in the Finals of the Senior Tournament.   Sunday was brunch at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum and a bus trip to California Polo Club  -  Just not enough time to squeeze in all the Great Things to do and still play Polo.

Unfortunately there was not enough support from the Polo and Equestrian Communities, so we have probably lost Future Polo Expo's unless a need and support is shown in the future and possibly a different format and locations.

Polo America will hosting the F.I. P, Global Cup - The Ultimate Polo Tournament - Eight Teams - 8 Ten Goal players -  4 Countries in Four Weeks - Argentina, Australia, Spain and United States - for more information see their website and in our polo magazines.-  http://www.poloamerica.com/    

 Randy Russell
President
Polo America

78-365 Highway 111, #106
La Quinta, CA 92253

Tel: (760) 342-3976
Fax: (760) 342-3499
www.poloamerica.com