Peter Blake, as one of the youngest umpires in the professional program, may have taken up the officator’s whistle earlier than most. But a shattered knee cap after a hard, but fair ride off, meant playing polo was no longer an option and umpiring became the best solution.

“My relationship with polo changed from grooming, to riding green horses, to playing, to umpiring,” he said. “It’s enjoyable to still be able to be completely involved.”

Peter did not come from a polo family and his accident meant he sold horses to pay for surgery. But he discovered polo at 13 years old and never looked back. The transition from playing to umpiring was made easier by Peter’s passion to absorb information about polo while he had his sights set on playing. He attended umpire clinics because he thought it would benefit him as a player, unaware of how beneficial that would prove down the road. “I was always trying to learn the rules,” he said. “And learn the intricacies of the sport to give me the best fighting opportunity.”

Umpiring provided its own challenges. “Physically umpiring is not quite as taxing,” Peter said. “But mentally it's much more so. You can’t take a play off.”

When Peter joined the program, his first assignment was to attend the Umpires LLC camp where he met his fellow umpires - some he knew. “It was great to meet the guys. It’s enjoyable to still be able to be completely involved in polo,” he said. “Although it’s a different aspect - it’s just another team. We’re just a team trying to provide the best umpiring possible.”