Hockey on horseback? Meet the MSU Club Polo team

On Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays, just a mile off campus at the Bob Miller Livestock Pavilion, a group of students gather on horseback to sharpen their polo skills. These students are members of the MSU Club Polo team, putting in hard work as they prepare to compete against other collegiate teams.

Polo is a team sport where players use mallets to hit a ball into the opposing team’s goal while riding horseback. For those unfamiliar with the sport, sophomore team member Tim Bedell described it as “hockey on horses.” 

“You have six players in the arena at a time — three on each team,” said Lauren Patoile, another team member. “A chukker is a period lasting seven and a half minutes. Every chukker, each player rides a new horse. The rules are simple enough to understand: score goals for your team and try to stop the other team from doing so, but within all of that are a set of rules that provide safety for the horses and players.”

The polo team is unique, as their performance does not only rely on each teammate’s physical and mental well-being, but also that of their horses, according to Patoile.  

“The horses are athletes just as much as we are. They need to be exercised and played six days out of the week, in order to keep them in playing shape,” she said. “They are the heroes of what we do.” 

Polo demands a great deal from these horses both physically and mentally, according to team member Skylar Bell. “They need to be fit, responsive and comfortable with the fast pace and quick movements of the game. Consistent training helps keep them in top condition and ensures they’re prepared for competition,” she said. 

The team has a horse manager whose primary focus is the horses' well-being. From daily care and feeding to ensuring that the horses receive a good balance of work, rest and exercise, the horse manager is an essential member of the team, according to Bell.

 “Having someone focused on [the horses’] care allows us to balance the demands of competition with the horses’ needs, because their health and well-being always have to come first. They’re athletes just like we are, and keeping them happy, healthy and ready to compete is essential to our team’s success,” Bell said.

The team competes with collegiate polo programs across the country. “Throughout the season, we are fortunate enough to travel far and wide,” Patoilee said. “Starting in September and going until April, we travel to Colorado, California, New York and more. We are honored to be participating in Mustang Madness, University of California, Davis (UC Davis) Aggie Invitational, Cornell, [Colorado State University], regionals and hopefully, nationals.” 

Each team member has a different goal for the season, alongside a special moment from past seasons. For Bedell, the goal is to win the regional tournament in the spring and to go to the Division II nationals tournament. His most memorable moment was the first game last season against UC Davis. 

“Our first game against UC Davis last year really sticks out to me because we were down six points at halftime and came back to win 12-11,” he said. “That was my first really competitive game and it was a great bonding experience with my teammates.” 

Patoile’s goal for this season is a bit different. “My goal for the season is to have a fun, competitive season. We have two newcomers and their first game will be this upcoming week. I'm very excited to be able to help them learn and have an amazing time,” she said. “College polo has lots of different goals for lots of different people. For me, my goals are close to home, with focuses on developing our program and myself in the process.” 

Her favorite game that she’s played in was in the regional tournament last year. “It was the best we played all season, and we all connected — flowing together very well. I didn't have to guess where my teammates were; they were just there,” Patoile said. “It is great when it all comes together, and this was our best game all season. We won one game and the horse string we had was truly amazing thanks to George Dill, who is a horse provider to many intercollegiate polo events here in the West." 

Bell’s goal for the season is to put in more work and become a more confident player. “I want to continue pushing myself, build consistency in my game, and take my skills to the next level while contributing to the team’s success,” she said.

Whether new or returning, every team member works hard to compete at this level. However, they also require support from their community to continue to compete at this level and to be a successful club sport. 

According to Patoilie, the team is largely self funded and always looking to get more involved in the community. “If you have a horse to donate, please give us a call, as we are always looking for horses and donations,” she said.

To see the club’s tournament dates and learn more, visit its Instagram, @montanastatepolo.