You have a horse, I have a horse. You have friends with horses, I have friends with horses. We all live in the middle east centuries ago and want to participate in sports. So we do! But boy, do the paths diverge from there!
The Game Of Goat Grab
You and your friends saddle up for the rough and tumble ride known as buzkashi where two teams of horsemen play a violent game similar to rugby on horseback using a decapitated and disemboweled goat carcass as the “ball” You need to see a bit of it to appreciate it.
Ok, that was You and Your crazy friends! Wild eh? But on display was some crazy good horsemanship ….along with less than stellar sportsmanship!
However…
The Gentlemen’s Game
The OTHER path, also trodden by strong and nimble horses, led to the more refined sport of polo. Polo is a beautiful mix of croquet, hockey, and horsemanship played on a well-manicured field of grass where the only sign of a headless goat in the area might just be on a spit to be served as a snack between periods of play known as chukkers.
While buzkashi is the rough, rugged, bloody battle of barbarians, polo is the polished, refined, contest of kings. Polo was named the sport of kings because it was only royals and their courtiers who played it in ancient Iran where it started. Over the years, the British popularised it worldwide…even here in Yakima!.
Polo – The Gentlemans’ Sport
POLO for PEGASUS
Tournament Event ~ September 17th, 2022!
The Pegasus Project, central Washington’s therapeutic riding program is teaming up with Pingrey Ford in Selah to bring a day of Polo to the Yakima Valley.
The Polo Tournament fundraiser will take place in the beautiful Wenas Valley – 3905 S. Wenas Road, Selah Washington 98942
Pegasus organizers say the 2nd Annual Polo for Pegasus guests will enjoy 3 exhilarating polo matches, gourmet food, and beverages available, access to the Polo Lounge, “Best Hat Contest,” & a traditional “Sparkling Wine Divot Stomp!”
Plan To Attend
General Admission~ Grass area seating (bring your own chairs or blankets). Enjoy three polo matches, divot stomp, food for purchase, and a no-host bar of beer & wine in the Polo Lounge. VIP Admission also gets you to a table for 10 and includes box lunches, 2 free drink tickets per guest, and a meet the Polo Players after Party.
There are still sponsorship opportunities available and you can find out them and all the other details HERE.