Polo Clinics:  Clinics will be held on weekends in May.  Don't delay in contacting us since we'll fill these weekends fast and want you to join us for what is always a very memorable and fun training weekend.  May is usually ideal for the clinics with fine weather and good field conditions.  Please be sure to have joined the USPA, either as a student or full memeber prior to clinics. (that means now for anyone who has forgotten to take care of this).  The USPA is offering a one-time only $50 rebate to first time, full status members.  So if you joined for the first time this year, be sure to check with member services to collect your rebate.

Polo Pony Leasing:  We continue to offer leasing to qualified riders.  Currently, we have quite a few people leasing and welcome more.  However, opportunities for leasing are limited so don't spend too much time weighing the pros and cons.  You either lease or buy, otherwise you'll be a polo school student forever.  It's pretty simple.  The school is tremendous fun, I should know since I participate in just about every class, but at some point you do need to graduate.  The thrill of polo is not to wear white pants, boots and a cool jersey to Starbuck's after a school scrimmage (although actually that can be pretty cool). The real point is to experience the game at its full level on a 10 acre field with six chukkers and tournament competition.  But to do that you'll need to ride more (that's where leasing comes into play) and you'll need to own horses.

Polo Pony Purchase:  Buying your first horse can be intimidating.  Buying your fifth or sixth horse or fourteenth can be just as intimidating.  Why?  Because while most people in polo can ride and hit the ball, very few are true horsemen and horsewomen who really have an eye for horses and the life experience to enable them to separate the great horses from the average or worse.  There are lots of people in the horse world who will say they know horses but can't back it up with successful results.  You need to be with someone of integrity that you can trust, not someone who is living for and dependent upon the next sale.  Mary is exceptionally talented and uniquely qualified in this regard.  She has grown up in the horse business and has lived the life since childhood.  This is not a hobby, she's been a professional since her teens.  She has trained green polo ponies and sold them to some of the best players in the world.  Even champion Memo Gracida has purchased polo horses from Mary.  She has bought and sold more horses than most polo teams could count.  It takes this level of experience to be confident in your purchases.  If you are ready to buy for this season, and you should be if you want to get in the game, then talk to Mary.  She'll be traveling to Aiken, SC in the coming weeks to examine prospects coming off the medium-goal season in Palm Beach.  This will be an excellent opportunity to begin to build a string—it starts with your first horse. 

Potomac Polo Club:  We're moving on the preparations for the 2006 50^th Anniversary Season.  The main field has been fertilized over the weekend.  Field aeration will occur in the coming weeks and the cosmetic repairs to the outdoor arena are almost complete.  We delighted with the strong interest in this year's special, 50^th anniversary membership rates.  There will never be another value priced opportunity like this so don't hesitate—if you are ready or think that you might be ready (and we can take care of that with the clinics and the school) then contact the Club right away and get started with the Potomac Polo Club.  http://redeagleranch.com/Newsletters/Potomac%20Polo%202006.pdf 

Of the 240 or so registered polo clubs in the USA, the Potomac Polo Club has the distinction of being the 14^th oldest.  That's a pretty impressive history when examined and we'll be providing facts about the Club's distinguished history throughout the year within this newsletter.