The Tech Polo Club gives people a chance to explore the world of horsemanship and what it is to ride horses (Provided photo)
The Texas Tech Polo Club has provided students with an affordable way to learn and play the sport of polo since the 1980s.
Jeremiah Valles, a junior at Texas Tech, began his polo career when he was in high school in Midland. After working and playing at the Midland Polo Club, he was encouraged to come to Tech and join the team here.
“It’s mainly new people who don’t know anything about polo or horses,” Valles said, “so my knowledge, hopefully, I can give it, pass it on to them, and they can be like, ‘Oh, this is a really cool thing to learn.’”
Jenna Gardner, treasurer for the club, said she was part of the Texas Tech Equestrian Team before joining the club but made the switch when she was looking for something different. She had been a horse jumper from childhood and had heard of polo but never played.
Giving members a chance to learn new skills gives them a chance to explore the world of polo (Provided photo)
“A lot of the physical elements of being around horses, and basic horsemanship, and riding abilities translated over no problem,” Gardner said.
Gardner said, like many others, she got interested in joining the club by seeing the horse-on-campus event that happens at the start of the semester.
Club members and officers take a horse to the free speech area by the SUB in full polo tack or equipment. Students walking by can pet the horse, ask any questions they have, and are invited to a welcome party.
The rush event, or welcome event, is for potential members to go out to the club property, the event provides a chance for people to get a firsthand experience of polo.
Valles said once the pandemic hit in earnest, the club lost many of its members who left Lubbock during the shut downs. He said most of their rules were for masks and social distancing at the barn, the only people not required to wear masks were those on horseback.
Sydney Flynt, Tech graduate and out-going president of the club, said losing their members meant the club took a big financial hit. She said the majority of the funding for the club comes from membership dues.
Flynt said the club was able to survive thanks to alumni of the team and with the support of the remaining members.
Lexi Harlan, horse manager and in-coming president of the next year, has been charge of all things related to horse care. From workout schedules to caring for injuries, all things horse are Harlan’s domain.
Harlan grew up in Lubbock and riding western style on trail rides and local properties. After being a gymnast for 15 years, Harlan had a surgery that forced her to find something new to occupy her time.
Like many others, Harlan said she found out about the polo club from the horse-on-campus event and it took off from there.
Harlan said, when she started, new members learn much of what they know from other students and older members. She said it was rare for anyone to have experience in polo outside of college.
“That was interesting to kind of see, like someone who’s kind of learned, but not really, teaching someone who hasn’t learned anything,” Harlan said.
In her term as horse manager, Harlan stated a program she calls “Horse Care 101”. The purpose of this is to teach members as much as possible from terminology to how to tack up a horse, and everything in between.
“It’s definitely so awkward at first,” Gardner said, “but once you get that first moment of clicking, it just clicks and there isn’t anything like it.”
Harlan has been a member at the club for four years coming up on five. She was on the junior varsity team for two years and is now on the women’s varsity team for the last year. In that time, she said she has spent a lot of time traveling with the team.
Harlan said something she appreciates about the Tech Polo Club is that everyone is involved, team members and club members alike get to travel with the team and experience what it’s like.
“Our members travel with us and they play with us and all that kind of stuff,” Harlan said, “so, I like that aspect of it better than maybe like a bigger club, it’s very team focused and the members don’t get to do as much”
Having newer members practice with the main team lets them learn from experience from older players (Provided photo)
The differences in club members and team members are just that. Team members are either men’s or women’s varsity or junior varsity players who compete against other schools in the region.
The club officers said members pay their dues and can ride on the property, get lessons, and practice in mock games to hone their skills and have fun.
Harlan said while she learned polo from other members, she did clinics with alumni and with instructors from the United States Polo Association.
For new members, Harlan said, they are given mandatory lessons on tacking horses, or putting the equipment on the horses, and on how to ride. At that point members are either given the okay to practice or are given more private lessons.
Harlan said she hopes she can get members to come in and learn, not only the game, but about the horsemanship side of polo as well.
“If you just do it, try it and really put effort into like learning this sport, you’ll love it,” Flynt said.
Teaching players teamwork is one of the most essential aspects of polo (Provided photo)
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