Whether attendees prefer a button-up and ascot or flip-flops and a T-shirt, everyone is invited to The Nave Museum’s annual polo fundraiser at the McFaddin Ranch.
“There is no dress code,” said Julie McCan, board member and fundraising chairwoman for the Nave Museum.
After gates open at 12:30 p.m., the event will kick off with a gourmet tailgate of finger foods served from the backs of 14 vehicles.
“It’s the biggest smorgasbord,” McCan said of the tailgate, which is a polo tradition with hundreds of years of history.
And with plenty of beer, wine, soft drinks and water on hand, visitors will have no reason to lug their own coolers to the event.
For those not familiar with polo, McCan was confident the game will impress first-timers.
“It’s very fast-paced,” McCan said. “They’re not just walking. There are thundering hooves.”
Played on horseback, two teams of four players attempt to score goals by hitting tiny, white balls with long-stemmed mallets.
McCan said the game resembles basketball in many ways.
Despite the game’s intensity, McCan said safety is always a priority for both the players and their horses.
Following the game, guests are invited to participate in silent and live auctions.
Items for bid include premium seats at an Adele concert with VIP parking, a multiday Argentine dove-hunting trip for four, a weekend in Rockport with couples massages, fire pits and jewelry.
And it’s all for a good cause.
McCan said considering the afternoon of polo is the Nave Museum’s biggest and most fun fundraiser, there is no reason not to attend.
“There’s beautiful sunshine. There’s green grass, there’s horses running and kids playing,” she said.
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2016/mar/30/polo-match-offers-smorgasbord-of-activities/