On any given brightly sunlit summer afternoon in Santa Barbara, the rumblings of hooves trampling over the California grounds reverberate throughout the field. Majestic horses run about with their riders appropriately suited and armed with long-handed mallets chasing a solitary ball. A swing and a perfectly-placed hit hammers the ball through the goal, eliciting wild celebration from the winning team and its supporters.
The continuous surge of female players in the past decade allowed them to establish two tournaments a year—the Women’s Pacific Coast Open and the 12 Goal Invitational. These tournaments are played by the likes of Lia Salvo and Hazel Jackson, both of which are rated with 10-goal handicaps and considered the very best in women’s polo.
Other notable participants include rising young star Hope Arellano, Dawn Jones, and homegrown players Cory Williams and Mia Bray, making Santa Barbara a premier destination for women who want to make a mark in the sport in the United States.
There are numerous polo clubs in the US, but what sets Santa Barbara apart is its constant improvement with a decided emphasis on fun. Their programs are always evolving to cater to contemporary needs and push the sport forward and be accessible to everyone who has a genuine desire to saddle up.
While it is proudly the third oldest club in the United States, their innovation is never seen as breaking away from tradition. Instead, it is accepted as a part of polo’s natural progression and evolution. History shows that while men predominantly play polo, women played as much as men. With its growing expansion of women’s polo programs, Santa Barbara has yet again shown that it is a 10-goal club.
