Do horse people go to polo matches? I have a woman trying to get me to advertise in the program for a local polo match coming up - the mashomack international polo challenge. I kind of thought polo was more for wealthy house wives and such and wasn’t sure if actual horse people go. I own a tack shop and am not really interested in paying to advertise if my target audience (horse people) won’t be flipping through the program.
I would say, it depends… In our Poloclub there are a lot of connections to the local horse scene. I think at least 3 Poloplayer wifes boarded their jumpers at local barns, and some barns inside the Poloclub do only Dressage. So there are usually a lot of Horse people at Polomatches. I mean, Polo people are Horse people as well…
All the time and have been since I was a kid. Depending on where I lived. I’m in a horsey area Unionville Pa and our local is the Brandywine Polo club. Local teams, not high goal. Lots of horse people turn out on Friday and Sundays. Lots of none horse people also.
I like Polo but I like the cocktail/tailgating atmosphere even more. We advertise, support/sponsor in our small way horse events regardless of the “return on investment”. It only takes a few people to see your name to possibly get some business and or have your name passed on.
I will always take my business to businesses that support these sorts of activities before I spend my money on those who don’t. Even if they are located a little further away and or a bit more expensive.
We occasionally attend our local arena polo matches; the players tend to be college students, or relatively recent graduates, with an older rider here and there. When I was in college, polo definitely introduced some new people to equestrian sport, and that seems to still be true here.
The facility has some type of improvement every time we go, which is nice to see, and there is a modest amount of tailgating. We enjoy the casual, family atmosphere and do notice the sponsors’ signs hung on the fence.
Good to know thanks! I’ve never been to a polo match nor do I know anyone who has but maybe thats just because we didn’t really have polo where I grew up in Buffalo. I just always sort of envisioned it as a rich city dweller outing which is why I wanted to reach out before disregarding it.
If your store has more “equestrian lifestyle” type items it works regardless, just highlight that!
Personally I’ve never been to a polo match (though I think it might be fun) but have watched a little of their practice.
The children of Polo players often ride.
And polo folks need polo wraps, saddle pads, coolers, fly spray and lots of other horse keeping supplies.
It might be nice to let them know you stock many of the things they use.
I wish we had polo here! I would go and play if they offered riders lesson options. I played donkey polo as a kid and it was a blast. Would love to speed it up and try the real thing!
I go when we are in Palm Springs I like to go - the nachos in the clubhouse are great.
Polo is not for wealthy housewives - far from it.
My Dad had polo ponies when I was younger - so have an interest.
There’s a lot of crossover with foxhunting/ racing/ ponyclub people and our local polo club since it’s at the hunt club.
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I want to go. We are playing around with arena polo as one of my customers is leasing a mare and training her to play. We may go to Aiken soon and at least watch.
I watch a fundraiser Polo match once a year. So do handful of my riding friends. I used to board at a barn next door to the local polo pitch. The BO bought a table for 10 boarders every year (new boarders and a rotating list of existing ones.) If you decide to advertise, I’m pretty sure that the wealthy housewives won’t be the ones frequenting your store. It’ll be the horse-loving addicts like me, that can’t resist yet one more opportunity to spend their retirement on a girth their horse doesn’t really need. 
Yes, although usually only once a year or so. When I do go it is with other horse people. About 10-12 years ago a bunch of us would go several times per season, but that particular club shut down. I don’t think any of the ones I’ve gone to have had a program, though.
Yes, it’s a lot of fun to watch!
Life style items and basic equipment will sell. Take a look at some polo web sites or polo tack shops to get an idea of what they’d buy.
Thanks for all the feedback! I’ll definitely be advertising with them now! Its the 20th year so there will be a pretty big celebration. I would love to be a vendor there I’ll have to ask them about that as we have plenty of equestrian lifestyle items
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I love going to polo matches. Our local field it quite nice and attracts good competition.
I’m glad you decided to advertise! The polo scene is quite varied; yes there are wealthy pros but there are plenty of regular folks and kids that play grass and arena polo. My son plays arena polo in the interscholastic league; some of the moms have horses of their own and they all shop at the local tack store where I work. Polo people tend to be a lot of fun, too. If you’re a vendor there, make sure you have some cute hats on hand.
Our local polo fields host fancy galas as well as tailgate events. I think it’s 20 bucks for as many people as you can fit in the car. Tons of local horse people go, and quite a few make a fancy evening of it with lots of tailgate food.
There is the Hickory Hall Polo Club in Whitestown IN. Everything here is top drawer and nice people.
http://www.indypolo.com/ridiculus-lorem/
PM me if you want to name drop, the owner used to jockey my timber horse when he was 15. He’d be amazed to hear from me!
