Articles With Keyword "Polo"

Each year Don King Days is considered by over a thousand spectators to be the grand finale of summer fun!  This year marks the 22nd annual Don King Days at the Big Horn Equestrian Center, Sunday and Monday of Labor Day Weekend, September 5 & 6, 2010.

Events feature classic equine events like polo, steer roping, bronc riding and wild cow milking, beginning both days at 11 a.m.  The Big Horn Equestrian Center’s few fences and big fields put the crowd right in the middle of all the action.  Sunday features polo, the first rounds of the Wyoming Steer Roping Finals and wild cow milking. Taking place on Monday are polo, steer roping and the matched bronc riding.

The clubhouse is rockin’ and rollin’ both days and into the evenings.  Each day, following the events “on the grass”, there will be live music at the clubhouse and everyone is welcome.   Additional information regarding performers is to be announced.

The Don King Days events began when local ranchers came up with this unique combination of equestrian events to be held in honor of the community’s rich equestrian heritage and those involved in it.  Honoring our legendary cattleman and saddle maker, Don King.

Admission is $10.00 for adults and children under 12 are free.  For more information, contact Micah Olsen at molsen@sheridan.edu or 307-684-8776.

Between the two Sheridan area clubs and nine playing fields, polo is played somewhere in the county at least three days a week in June and from July through Labor Day, 5 days each week with the additional games of high-goal polo at the Flying H Polo fields.

As a sport, polo brings together teamwork between 4 players and a more important connection between 4 horses and their riders. Think of hockey on horseback and you will understand the basic premise of the game. The puck is the ball, the sticks are the mallets, and the players each have a man to mark. Now, put a thousand pound, fit, well-trained athlete into the picture and get out of the way. Sit on the sidelines, right on the field, and you will feel the vibrations of the horses galloping. You will see the malletwork and understand why the horse is 90% of the game.  

The best part is not the thundering hooves; you can hear those at a racetrack, with a hefty gate fee and a $7.00 beer. The best part is to be within 15 feet of the play and have a little thoroughbred mare stop, spin & set her rider at a ball 6 inches from her shoulder, right in front of you. The next split second she jumps forward to take her rider into a crowd of players, sensing she has the right of way, because he hit the ball last & it’s her job to finish the play. You are right there, within earshot as she bumps another horse off the ball in a legal maneuver to gain possession. 

You can watch these horses come on to the field with ears up & shoulders squared. When a goal is scored, they do the polo equivalent of a high-five by blasting around the goal posts & back to center line. After a chukker a polo pony walks to a trailer knowing a bath and a rubdown are next on the agenda.       

The polo games are free to the public. The Sunday games are professionally announced and spectators are encouraged to stomp divots at half time. The games usually last about 2 hours. You can walk by the trailers and see the horses, meet the players and have a good lunch. You can join us after the game at our clubhouse and have a beer that won’t cost you $7.00.  

Sunday games at the Big Horn Equestrian Center are played at 2 p.m. beginning June 6th and usually at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in July and August.  At the Flying H, starting July 8th through August 28th games are played at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays.

Each day, following the events “on the grass”, there will be live music at the clubhouse.  Additional information regarding performers is to be announced.

The Don King Days events began when local ranchers came up with this unique combination of equestrian events to be held in honor of the community’s rich equestrian heritage and those involved in it.  Fittingly naming the event after Don King, owner of King’s Saddlery and renowned saddle maker world-wide.

For more information contact: Big Horn Events Center, Leslie Olsen at 307-673-0454 or or Charlie Jorgenson 307-674-8687

July:

5	2PM	Lincoln Challenge
12	1PM	Eaton Cup
	3PM	WYO Rodeo Cup
19	1PM	Holiday Inn Cup
	3PM	D.A. Davidson Cup
26	1PM	Sheridan Physical Therapy Cup
	3PM	Ducks Unlimited Cup

August:

2	1PM	Photo Imaging Center Cup
	3PM	Michelob Cup – Dog and Cat Shelter Benefit
9	1PM	BHJ Cup
	3PM	CHAPS Cup – Sponsored by Morton Buildings
16	1PM	Pass Creek Foundation Cup
	3PM	Connell Cup
23	1PM	Paul Nicholson Memorial
	3PM	Coca Cola Cup
30	1PM	Polaris Cup
	3PM	Montaylor Cup

September:

6-7	TBA	Henry Burgess Memorial, Sharp/Wayman Cup
		Don King Day Championship Cup

Matches every Thursday and Saturday at 1:00 PM
July:

9 & 11	Gallatin Cup
16 & 18	Century 21 Cup
23 & 25	Bob Tate Cup
24th at 4PM	Archie MacCarty Cup
30 & Aug 1	Bradford Brinton Memorial Cup

August:

 

More spectators than ever before look set to make polo a regular part of their weekly recreation schedules.  Polo players from the Bendabout team and Flying H staff took to the streets on July 11 as part of the Big Horn Summer Parade and handed out over 2,000 flyers to the crowds thronging the streets.  One of over 100 floats in the parade, the Flying H team were thrilled to be a part of the spectacle.  Commenting on the parade, and especially the polo float, Jackie Walters from Sheridan, WY said:  “it is such a treat to have this level of polo played right here on our doorstep.  We take family and friends to enjoy a great day out – perfect for entertaining”.

Highlights of the season include the NAPL Skeeter Johnston Memorial Cup & The Flying H Cup, which are being played in the last two weeks of August. Six teams are expected to play for the closely fought trophy, some of which are Bendabout, Mt. Brilliant & Isla Carroll. This season the Club welcomes the following sponsors and special events: Bradford Brinton Memorial & Museum, BHJ Centry 21, Big Horn Beverage, Bozeman Trail Gallery, Bozeman Watch Co, Canyon Ranch Guide Shack, DA Davidson, Davis & Cannon, Downtown Sheridan Association, HF Bar Ranch, Heartland Kubota, Kings Saddlery, Mirr Ranch Group, Oliver’s Bar & Grill, Palm Beach Equine Clinic, Perks Hospital, The Power Horn Golf Community,

The Flying H Polo Club was created in 2005 specifically for high goal polo. Located in Big Horn, just outside Sheridan, Wyoming, Flying H Polo Club has four new fields and barns that can accommodate over 100 horses.

Big Horn, Wyoming is well known for its history of quality cattle ranches, outstanding horse breeding and raising operations and for its continuous support of polo. Polo has been played in Big Horn since 1898.  With a population of just 217 people Big Horn is a small town just outside Sheridan.

One of Wyoming’s historical and cultural jewels, Sheridan is a place where Western history and dramatic mountains meet New West comfort with the serenity of wide-open spaces. Picturesque, Historic & Vibrant. A pocket of world-class culture wrapped up in hometown hospitality and authentic real west charm. You can have it all, unlimited, easy to access recreation in the still-pristine Big Horn Mountains. Accommodations include one of the most prestige Golf Communities, The Power Horn, as well as, many locally owned, and national chain, and historical hotels/motels.

For further information on playing polo at the Flying H Polo Club, call Polo Manager: Jimmy Newman 561-202-5185. www.flyinghpolo.com. The NAPL season at Flying H Polo Club is played in August. For updated match information, please visit www.northamericanpololeague.com.

Opening Day Matches for the July – August 2008 Season