I have found another polo club in the bay area - Saratoga Polo Association.
Polo -
Playing polo is super duper expensive for a beginner, at least for me. The private lesson is $150/hr and group lesson is $100/hr. I also need a polo helmet, which is different from my other 2 regular riding helmets. A polo helmet can easily cost about $300 each. I also need a Polo Club membership, may need a liability insurance (could be mandatory for some Polo Clubs) just in case I injure another player in the field. So Polo = $$$$$!
But Hey Price William and Prince Harry both play polo really well!
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| my sporty helmet - not a polo helmet |
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| my velvety helmet - again not a polo helmet |
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| Price Harry of Wales playing Polo |
Cross Country -
Beside many years of training, you need one thing to be able to do cross country - GUTS
I personally think cross country is about courage, bravery, mental and physical toughness and endurance for both horses and riders. Cross country is many times more dangerous than riding a motorcycle, possibly one of the most dangerous sport in the world. According to statistics, there is a severe injury for 7000 hours on a motorcycle or 350 hours on a horseback. So horseback riding is way more dangerous than motorcycle riding. Cross country will likely increase the chance of serious injuries, paralysis, and fatal accidents. Remember Christopher Reeves, the Superman? He was paralyzed from an accident in cross country.
Money wise, cross country is also pretty expensive. I need to invest for a lot of training hours, average about $70/hr or more. I need to invest on a riding vest to protect my spinal cord, which costs about $300-$500. I need a high performance horse, which is into jumper/hunter, with huge pile of vet bills, if the horse get injured in the competition. Since it's endurance rides, the horse needs shoes = frequent visit of professional farrier = more money to spend. I need a huge sponsorship.
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| cross country |
Jumper / Hunter -
Jumping is do-able for me, financially, physically and mentally. You need mental toughness to operate 1400 lbs of horse beneath you!
Trail Ride -
Trail ride is my favorite now! I have been to everywhere: country side rides in Redwood City, ocean view rides in Half Moon Bay and a mountain rides in Saratoga, with a guide or without. I got to ride Dijon every Wednesday in a small private barn in Cupertino. Dijon doesn't jump, but he is pretty good with trail rides. It's super fun to go to trail with a gaited horse.
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| A Palomino Tennessee Walker - Dijon |
Western Riding -
I have not much interest in western riding, definitely not into rodeo or roping, just not my thing. May be barrel racing or pole bending. I still prefer a close contact saddle rather than a deep seat western saddle. Plus the saddle horn is always in my way when I'm trying to do two-point. I do two-point when going up the steep hills on trail rides. I really like the quarter horses used in western pleasure.
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| Western |
Dressage -
Not very much interested since I'm not a disciplinary person although I admire the trotting of the dressage horses.
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| Dressage |
Other sports -
Golf -
I picked up golfing when I was back in college. Over the years, I have lost interest in golfing. Playing golf still gives me some advantages in learning Polo. It's about making a perfect swing!
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| Golfing many years ago. |
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| My golf club without the sand wedge. I used 9 iron in the sand. |
Hiking / Outing with my pugs -
My dogs will always be the love of my life. Spending time with them is a must. Hiking also helps to build my leg muscles, and hence enhance my balance on the horseback.
Yoga -
Will practice yoga every Friday morning to enhance my flexibility on the horseback.
Fencing -
Will practice fencing this winter. Need to strengthen my upper body too.
