NEWS

On June 14-15, a class of five began working toward their coveted USPA Instructor Certification. The Instructor Skilz Clinic, hosted in Brookshire, Texas, was a preparatory event designed for instructors to learn about the program and qualify for the final step, the Certification Field Test. Attending instructors included, Mike Denby of Arizona Polo Club (Scottsdale, Arizona), Eduardo Amaya of Houston Polo Club (Houston, Texas), Ariel Mancebo of San Saba Polo Club (San Antonio, Texas), Pud Nieto of South Padre Island Polo Club (South Padre Island, Texas), and Sebastian Ayincena, Team USPA member of Las Canchas Polo Club (Guatemala). The event, co-directed by Certifier Erik Wright and USPA staff member Jess Downey led the instructors through a myriad of best practice training and interactive teaching lessons.

Instructor Mike Denby noted “Polo is one of the most difficult sports in the world to play, and teaching others to play polo is equally difficult. A great polo instructor is more than just a database of polo knowledge. A great polo instructor is one who integrates and applies their well-defined polo knowledge in a way that encourages students to learn, makes learning fun, keeps the students and horses safe and builds a strong foundation for continued growth in the sport. The Instructor Skilz Clinic in Brookshire last week was well designed to create great polo instructors. The clinic provided me with the correct tools and training to integrate essential elements of safety, equine welfare, teaching styles and polo skills into my core knowledge base of polo instruction. I look forward to using these new skills to help my students learn, make learning more fun, keep horse and rider safe and help new students grow to love the sport of polo.”

For more information about the USPA Certified Polo Instructor program please contact Jess Downey at jdowney@uspolo.org.