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Sue Sally Hale, will be missed by many in the Polo World. Sue Sally was a true competitor who demanded that the Sport of Polo be played with Sportsmanship first and winning second. She was unique Lady who had a love of Horses, People and Polo. Sue Sally loved to teach young (and old) persons how to play polo. I know of several very fine players who Sue Sally introduced to the sport, teaching them many valuable lessons that they are and will be carrying the rest of their lives. They have represented those values she taught by playing well in Youth, Interscholastic, Intercollegiate and because of the love of Polo she instilled in them, continuing on their Polo career's as adults. Many have the desire to continue those values by becoming mentors for other new young players and help carry on the tradition of Sportsmanship.

I have enjoyed my brief time (12 years) of knowing Sue Sally Hale and some of her family. We enjoyed playing with and against each other. From the Seniors Tournaments, Arena League and just fun polo, Sue Sally was fun to be around. She was a multi talented Lady, a good artist/painter, poet and writer. Sue Sally Hale had a love of Polo that will be missed. --Russ Sheldon

"Tournament Champions from left to right: Sue Sally Hale, Tom Lockhart and Cathy Wynn. Nov. 5th, '00, Empire Polo Club"

Sal was a monumental part of so many peoples polo careers. The memory of her will stand by us for all our polo lives. She was there for me at times of the greatest test. The death of my mother, my own accident and for the careers of many. My smile has left me and tears fill my eyes at any thought of the lose of this soul. I know with time I will be able to handle all this, but for now my heart is so damn heavy. I miss this lady. Every time someone calls to ask about Sal the tears fill my eye and the breath leaves my body. God take care of this soul, she was one of your good works, we have all at one time or another been in bad graces with SSH but have all been forgiven and loved once more. Her wonderful kids are a testament to her life and will stand to remind us of what once was. WE ALL LOVED YOU SAL
--Kathy Bachelor

Sue Sally was one of those rare individuals who not only left their
mark on the sport they loved, but on everyone who was involved with
it. At times you'd have thought she had six children. With Polo
being the sixth. She fought, defended, encouraged, supported and
loved the sport as only a mother could. Polo is a better place
today because of Sue Sal. I've feel very fortunate to have known
Sal and to call her my friend. I will truly miss her. --Randy Russell

I think everyone that knew her, had a story about her and how she crossed their lives. This is my story. My daughter, her friend and I were at the Monterey Horse show one year "many " years ago and ran into Sue Sal whom I had met thru polo . She had one of her kids riding in the show and lived in Carmel Valley at the time. She invited the three of us to come to her house for dinner and to spend the night. We accepted. After many wrong turns and stops for directions, we arrived at the barn. What a great place that was. Kids all over and every kind of horse there is to be had. Sue Sal greeted us and took us down the road to her house. I remember thinking what an interesting house this is. There were memorabilia all over. A very comfortable place. Very homey. We had spagetti for dinner. What else does one serve 7 kids and 2 moms after a horse show. The kids of Sals had stayed at the barn to feed and I asked her how they would get home.(the barn was maybe 1/2 mile away) She told me to look out the dinning room window. From across the field came the children , all on horse back, jumping fences and ditches. It was a sight to behold. I have eaten dinners in some fancy places in my life as a polo wife, but I will never forget the hospitality or the adventure of that meal in the home of Sue Sal . I will miss hearing about her and her doings . Our loss.
--Margaret Linfoot.

Vista Santa Rosa Racehorses won the Flight B Finals. From left to right: Veronika Kirueshkin, Dawn Weber, Bob Bradley, Sue Sally Hale and Therese Volmer.

I am having a hard time believing that Sue Sal is gone. I just played
with her a couple of weeks ago in the ladies tournament. Even though Idid not know her that well, I remember the first time I met her and sheasked where I was from. When I said Pierre, South Dakota she was so excited to tell me she was part Sioux Indian and that her Grandfather or Great Grandfather (I can't remember which) had a Headdress in the Museum there. He had been a great warrier in the Indian battles with the whites in the area known as the Black Hills. Very fitting for a women who was also a warrier in her own rights. I will miss playing with you. -- Therese Volmer

Sue Sally Hale influenced many with her art, her poetry, her equestrian
flair, her genuine affinity for animals, even her political views. But a
more innate sense she possessed far eclipsed those attributes--an abiding interest in welcoming new people into her world. Central to her world, of course was polo, and she embraced polo activism for the right reason-expanding the playing population regardless of age, sex, or income. She did this with advocacy and by personal intervention. The MCAS El Toro Polo Team, at the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro is home to the first All-Marine polo team, thanks to Sal's chance meeting with a marine there in 1995. She sought political means to protect the equestrian atmosphere in Vista Santa Rosa neighborhood during a period of unbridled growth in the East Valley. Her persuasiveness on the Vista Santa Rosa Community Council with Tracy Darroll and others won over a reticent city council. An advocate of collegiate polo, Sal was key to many refinements in tournament organization. She encouraged polo's governing bodies to broaden its efforts to include the middle class in the sport--efforts that could easily have failed on behalf of someone with less conviction. I am indebted to Sal for her patience and constant friendship since 1991 when she agreed to bring an ill-funded, equine-illiterate polo enthusiast into the game on a groom apprenticeship in exchange for polo lessons. She loved to educate and I loved to learn, and we became close friends. She has repeated that mentoring with scores of others time and again--touching lives with the benefit of her rich experience. May she rest forever on the laurels of her achievements here. --Diane Hensley

If you would like to post a message about Sue Sally Hale on this Virtual Memorial please e-mail your submission to lynn@polobarn.com.

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