Jesse Weaver (second from right) battles for the ball in an intense polo match. (Photo by Robin Higgins Allen)

Story by Simone Del Rosario

As the New Mexico State University Polo Club gears up for its regional tournament in mid-March, the focus is fixed on continuing to be a competitive force, with hopes of earning a spot in the National Intercollegiate Polo Tournament.

A self-sustained, self-coached team since starting at NMSU in 1997, the Polo Club competes in the central region against the likes of Texas A&M University, University of Texas – Austin, Texas Tech, Colorado State, Oklahoma State University and other competitive, well-funded programs. As the most competitive region in the nation, the team that wins the central regional tournament will most likely go on to win nationals.

“I came to NMSU from Illinois in 2006 for a chance to compete on a team that had a great chance at winning nationals,” Jesse Weaver, a senior varsity polo player, said.

Battle for championship begins

Weaver, along with Logan Joseph, John Nance and Jared Sheldon, went on to place third that year after falling to Texas A&M by only four points. Four years later, Weaver and Joseph are eagerly trying to take a national championship away from Texas A&M, the only team in the region they have not beaten in their college career. Texas A&M won nationals in 2007 and 2008 and were runners-up in 2009.

The NMSU Polo Club is not only committed to winning tournaments and championships. Introducing and promoting the sport of polo to anyone interested in learning about the “Sport of Kings” is the club’s main mission.

“There’s a lot of horse lovers in the world,” Weaver said. “Our polo club is committed to bringing in people who love horses and want to be a part of something.”

Open to all levels of riders 

NMSU Men's Varsity Team celebrates a victory. (Photo by Robin Welker Sanchez)

The Polo Club relies on donations for their string of horses, so owning a horse is not required in order to get involved. Novice riders to the most experienced polo players are encouraged to take part in the sport and this team. There is a men’s varsity and junior varsity team and a women’s junior varsity team.

“Our fear is that not enough people will get involved with the team, and that it will fizzle out when Jesse and I are gone,” Joseph said. “We want to get more people involved. The more the merrier.”

College polo is played in a sand arena about the size of a football field. There are three players on a team and four periods, or chukkers, in a game. Six horses are needed, as the physical demands of the game require horses to be switched out.

The NMSU team practices at the Rancho Santa Maria Polo Club outside of El Paso, Texas. Their horses are boarded at La Georgina, a horse facility owned and operated by Jorge Bustamante and his son, also named Jorge, who is a NMSU varsity player.

If interested in getting involved with the NMSU Polo Club, contact Jesse Weaver at (309) 645-5663 or Logan Joseph at (541) 910-3719.