Polo

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The Polo Club is already at full gallop here on the Hilltop

In that Mustangs have led so many efforts both on and off the athletic fields of this University, it was only a question of time for more horses to eventually follow. The most recent herd to come stampeding onto the Hilltop are the SMU polo ponies. These dozen new four-legged thoroughbreds are the very foundation for our developing polo club right here on campus. The polo club began their chartering process in the Fall of 2009, and are now merely one hoof print away from their final stage, to become a fully recognized club here at SMU.

SMU “Polo” Club….sounds like it should have already been a part of so many wonderful programs here at school. And in fact, there have been several previous groups of students that have actually galloped around in our red and blue, representing SMU in various matches and tournaments. However, those teams and students never found their way through the club chartering process…until now.

How did polo finally find its way……like so many other great programs here in place…it has started through the generosity of a student’s family and other members of the community who also seem to agree that polo sounds like a perfect fit.

After just a few months, polo already covered a great deal of ground. Their new off-campus “home” is the Las Colinas Equestrian Center…only 15 minutes from dorm door to stall door. There are a group of horses and regular practices. Their head coach brings decades of experience.

The club’s purpose is twofold. One is to produce both men and women’s teams to represent SMU in USPA Collegiate local, regional, and national competitions. Two, to offer interested students and the SMU community at large, the opportunity to learn about a sport that dates back to Persia B.C., a sport that has captured the interests of both royalty and celebrity, a sport that defined leadership qualities in militaries throughout the ages.

Polo’s Officers

The Polo Coaches

Coach Tom Goodspeed             polotom@usapolo.com

Coach Goodspeed has won numerous National Polo Championships in his career, amongst them, a record six Arena Opens. He won two national collegiate titles, playing for the University of Connecticut in 1973 & 74. He was one of the highest handicapped players in polo at 9 goals. Has been voted “Arena Player of the Year” and is well known for his coaching and teaching across the globe. He is the producer of the instructor series, ”Polo Basics”, which has become the reference manual for the sport of polo. Most recently, Coach Goodspeed helped take the Culver Polo Varsity Men’s team to the past four consecutive scholastic National Finals. He has also managed some of the top show and polo operations around the country, including… the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, The San Diego Polo Club, and the Ox Ridge Hunt Club in Darien, CT.      

Coach Waernlund grew up around horses and played for the Texas Tech women’s varsity for the past four years. She graduated the Spring of 2009. She lives and works locally and is presently assisting Coach Goodspeed with the teams and the stable management. Coach Waernlund already took a SMU women’s team over to Burleson, Texas to compete in a women’s Invitational that included Texas A&M, TCU, and UT.

Polo Club News

The polo season is from mid-November to mid-April. There are practices every week on Wed & Thursdays at the Las Colinas Equestrian Center at 5:30pm. Previous riding experience is required for students interested in becoming part of the teams, but students interested in learning about the sport are always welcome. The polo club also provides the opportunity for students to learn how to develop and promote a new club, providing the ability to further develop leadership skills.

For additional information please contact Jack Harper (jharper@smu.edu) or Michael Sasala (msasala@smu.edu).