NEWS

The USPA is a proud sponsor of the polo division of the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium taking place Thursday, October 27 at the Kentucky Horse Park located in Lexington, Kentucky. The division has grown since last year with over 15 polo horses entered for 2016. The highly successful symposium features top professional and amateur equestrian trainers, competing 500 Thoroughbreds in 10 disciplines for $100,000 in prize money. For more information, please visit retiredracehorseproject.org. This year's polo division schedule and format below:

Thursday, October 27, 3pm – 5pm ET -TCA Covered Arena

View all 17 polo horse entries here.

Format - Riders will complete an agility pattern to include the following: figure-eight with lead changes at the canter both directions, two roll-backs (left and right), two turns (left and right - tightness of the turn will be judged), two tight circles (left and right), a check and release and two complete stops and step-backs.

After the agility pattern, contestants will demonstrate each of the following strokes, hitting the ball and following it: nearside forehand, offside forehand, nearside backshot and offside backshot.

Scoring - Polo Agility will be judged with a maximum possible score of fifty points. Each of the following will be scored on a scale of 0 to 10: calmness of horse (10 points), responsiveness to rider’s aids (10 points), adjustability of pace (10 points), quality of lead changes (10 points), quality of stops (10 points). Stick and Ball Work will be judged with a maximum possible score of fifty points. Each of the following will be scored on a scale of 0 to 10: calmness of horse (10 points), responsiveness to rider’s aids (10 points), adjustability of pace (10 points), willingness to maintain straightness and pace during strokes (10 points), speed and agility (10 points).

Saturday, October 29, Finale at 2:30pm ET – The top three contestants will perform both the agility pattern and stick and ball work for an additional score to determine placings.

Coordinator – Justin Powers of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is Director of Club Development at the United States Polo Association and grew up in the renowned Powers polo family.

Steward – Lara Straussfeld

Judges - Charles Muldoon of Poolesville, Maryland, is Executive Director of USPA Umpires, LLC, was a 7-goal professional player at top tournaments worldwide, has trained hundreds of off-track Thoroughbred polo ponies and owns and operates Summerhill Farm.

Jorge Vazquez of Lexington, Kentucky, manages the Commonwealth Polo Club, coaches the University of Kentucky polo team and has played professionally in seven countries. He also works in the Thoroughbred industry at Gainesway Farm.