La Conner Polo Club

01/13/2025

Part 3: Minnie Lee

Hawaii has some fun advantages when it comes to exercising your polo ponies and playing polo. Minnie is appreciative of these advantages!
"I’m so lucky to be able to play in Hawaii because our club is on the beach and in between the games we can go swimming right out front. Some of my bosses horses live in paddocks on the beach so we do beach rides everyday. 
We have a small club so it feels like a big family and there is lots of opportunities for up and coming players. Everyone is really supportive of the youth at our club."

Minnie is all in when it comes to riding and playing polo. When asked what other activities she enjoys, she said, "I’m pretty much always on a horse. If I’m not playing polo or stick and balling I’m usually working with horses, taking out sets, singles, or jumping. I really enjoy working with younger horses in my free time. I manage a few different polo strings and I coordinate everything from their feeding and exercise to vet care." 

If you see Minnie this week around the NYTS polo events, be sure to say hello and take the opportunity to chat with this lovely, friendly, competitive polo player! We can't wait to see where the sport of polo takes her.

Story by- Kathryn James 
 

PC:  Ron Morin

01/13/2025

Part 2:
Most equestrian's have a favorite horse as a kid, and story. Here is Minnie's'.
"Thunder was my first horse. I still have him and ride him all the time. He’s my heart horse and we have done everything together. He’s taught me so much I learned how to ride on him and he’s bucked me off more than any other horse and now he is my go to. We’ve done night time parades and every discipline. Thunder also loves swimming and will swim out to surfers if you let him."

What draws Minnie to polo over other horse disciplines? "Getting to ride a lot of different horses is one of my favorite things about polo. Also playing with a bunch of people and getting to connect with people around the world. I’ve met some of my best friends through polo."

With any sport there are obstacles or hardships to overcome. For those living on the Hawaiian Islands there maybe some that are unique to that region. Minnie is appreciative that others helped to find solutions this year. This is what she shared. "Living in Hawaii there isn’t a ton of kids that play polo. This makes it really difficult to find committed teammates that are able to play and travel. This year we had a player back out at the last minute. It was difficult to find a replacement but luckily we were able to have support from USPA and our coaches to find a solution so that I can play interscholastic for my senior year."

What does Minnie do in Hawaii's off season to keep the game alive?"I’m working on training some young green horses for the polo club and for myself. It’s something that I’m passionate about and really enjoy doing. I’m also going to go play in Eldorado this month."

I think it's important to share views from the up and coming players who will be taking over key roles for the future of polo. I asked Minnie what others can do just starting out to improve their game? "I think it’s very important to put the time in and practice however you can whether it’s playing chukkers, stick and balling, or working on your riding. There’s many points into becoming better at polo and I think your riding foundation is the most important."

Part 3 to follow next

Story by: Kathryn James/
📸 Ron Morin

01/13/2025

Part 1:

We are excited to share a new interview with you!

 Minnie Lee, a talented NYTS player, is flying in this week to participate at the NYTS Qualifier, held at Eldorado Polo Club on January 18th - 19th, 2025. 

Minnie learned to ride English and Western at age 11 from Tiare Watts, owner of Aloha Horsemanship on Oahu. She spent most of her time doing hunters and the eventing track in Pony Club. Minnie is nationally rated C3 Eventing for Pony Club, and currently is working towards her B. In 2024, Minnie won the Best Child Rider Perpetual Award for HHSA Hunter at year-end awards!  She leaned to play polo at Hawaii Polo Club, which is also her home club. 

Minnie was introduced to George Dill Farms through her I/I Coach, Devon Dailey, the General Manager at Hawaii Polo Club, and Professional Player on Equus Hotel Polo Team. 

 Minnie shared with me the following about George Dill and Dill Farm Ponies.
" I am so grateful for this relationship. George is so generous and supportive. He makes it very accessible for us coming from Hawaii, and his whole operation is well organized and pleasant to work with."

There is a large variety of horses and something everyone will enjoy. Dill Farm Pony’s check all the boxes they’re safe and consistent. I’ve been playing them since I was a freshman in high school, and I’ve played them in different states from Colorado to California. Coming from Hawaii I’m grateful that I can always rely on the Dill Farm operation."

While Minnie said, " I love all Dill Farm Ponies and have so much fun playing any of them! "  She also shared that she does have her favorites. "I’d say my favorites are Caviar and Tota! These mares are both so automatic, sensitive, agile, and are bumping machines. They both remind me of two of my mares at home."

Part 2 to follow next post
-Story by : Kathryn James/
📸 Ron Morin

01/10/2025

2025 Next up... Dill Ponies will be playing January 18 - 19
Margery Magill Memorial Scholarship Junior - Tournament , at Eldorado Polo Club.

Flashback to last year when Claire Abruzinni played
Dill Farm Pony Secretariat, and together, Secretariat made Best Playing Pony!! 🦄 title given by Claire 🫶

Secretariat is a very easy and quiet horse to play🐎

Dill Farms is the Best on the West Coast to rent your next Polo Pony, with horses for every level of polo rider or handicap.
Call George Dill Farms 253-732-3111 to book.
📷 credit: Jill Levake

01/05/2025

Faris Hanna Part 2. Rest of the story!

Faris and his team won the Western Regional Trophy as well as being personally selected as an All-star for the West Coast. At the 2024 NIS Championships in Houston, George Dill Horses gave his team a ride to the position of being the 3rd Best Highschool Team in the United States. This year, Faris has participated in three NYTS tournaments, and received three All-Star selections. This summer, Faris will be a working student for Shane Rice in addition to substituting in the 8-goal at New York City Polo Club. I’m pretty sure we will be hearing a lot more about this talented young polo player in the near future!

Continue following my journey through polo with George Dill Polo Ponies in the PNW!

-Kathryn James
Design By Kathryn Photography
📸Photos provided by Sara Hanna
(Thank you Sara!)

01/05/2025

For the Love of Polo...🐎
Interview with Faris Hanna

What a fun time I had chatting with this exceptional young man, and how he found the sport of polo!
Faris is a first-generation polo player, who has excelled at the sport through hard work and a willingness to learn from those that have embraced him. According to Faris, “I tried many sports before finding polo. When I was about 13 years old, I tagged along with my best friend to an introduction to polo lesson, and I knew from that moment it was my sport!”
Faris mentioned building his confidence took time in the beginning. He considered himself a timid rider at age 13 and was fortunate to take lessons from Heather Perkins, his first riding instructor. Faris continued taking polo lessons and played with OC Polo Club his first season of Interscholastic Arena Polo in 2019. He then moved to San Diego and went on to play with Lakeside Polo Club where his riding abilities continued to grow, and he eventually represented the Western Region in his first National Interscholastic Championship in 2023.
Faris has a long list of people he credits for helping him along the way, on the top of which is his “polo mom” Sherry Sheldon Gibson, her son and professional polo player Shane Rice, professional polo player Harry Caldwell, and George Dill.
George Dill, provided top-flight horses for Faris at every tournament, and helped Faris so much by allowing him to exercise his horses with Zak and Cinderella to give him more time in the saddle. Faris’s favorite George Dill Polo Ponies to lease are Iggy, Bandito, Macho 7, and Quiet Boy. Iggy is Faris’s favorite for “her insane ability to make stops, spin on a dime, and for her acceleration straight to the ball”. Faris leased Iggy for the 2024 Western Regional and National Championships this year and was amazed at how versatile Iggy was, not only on the grass but in the arena as well. When I asked him about what he does to make the horse work, he remarked the following:
“The key for polo horses is to stay out of the horse’s mouth and ride with your body.”

See the rest of the story in part 2 on FB
Story by: Kathryn James
📸 Sara Hanna

01/01/2025

Join us for Polo in 2025 at LaConner Polo Club 🐎🐎🐎🐎

📸

12/18/2024

Great Playing, Great Grooms, and Wonderful George Dill Farms Ponies played their hearts out 🫶🐎🐎🐎for the FAWKES Win! Well done by everyone ! Congratulations 👏👏👏👏

11/25/2024

Part 2: For the Love of Polo with Jade Hiltbrand

Jade shared some tips for those new to polo.
"My advice would be to improve your riding as much as possible firstly, then to just keep trying and putting in the work, it will pay off." 

What did you personally go through to make it to the USPA Women's Arena  Open? " I was in Texas training with my teammates for 2 weeks before the tournament, that along with pretty much non stop practicing and stick and balling at home was how I kept my self in shape. There was also a lot of planning and team strategizing that we did even before getting to California, which was a huge role in how everything played out."

Congratulations on the win! What would you like to share about that experience?
 " Thank you! It was such an amazing experience from start to finish. This was my first big tournament, and I learned a lot not only in the arena, but what it takes outside of the arena to have a successful tournament. It really does take a village and the support made it a unforgettable experience."

What's next for you, with regards to Polo that you feel comfortable sharing? 

"At home it’s currently off season, however I’m still schooling the greenies and preparing for the upcoming Interscholastic season, where I’ll be playing my last year as a senior!"

When not on a horse, Jade is happy outdoors, either hiking or going to the beach with friends. 

Thank you Jade for sharing your love of polo with us.
We look forward to watching you in the upcoming Interscholastic season! 

- Story by Kathryn James


📸

11/25/2024

For the Love of Polo Interview  with Jade Hiltbrand
Part 1

George Dill Farms appreciated the opportunity to provide Jade Hiltbrand of Wild Dog Polo with mounts at the 2024 USPA Women's Arena Open!

Jade is an amazing young rider who is also is a returning client! George Dill and his Ponies met Jade 3 years ago, at Jade's first Interscholastic tournament; the Western Regionals in Indio, CA. Jade and her team rented a string from George.

When I asked what she loves about Dill Ponies she shared, "What I really love about the Dill ponies is how they always try their heart out! They are all so amazing and talented in different ways, and how they are so willing for all these different types of riders really shows what amazing animals horses are. Over the past three years I’ve been lucky to rent from George, I’ve gotten to know the horses a little better and I’m so grateful to play them! "

Jade learned to ride when she was 4 years old and started her horse passion in hunter/jumpers . Currently she still competes at the 1.25 meter level. 
"My first horse was Bucket, a super naughty little pony and that’s definitely where I got my seat, he was a bucker." 

Jade learned to play polo at Hawaii Polo Club, on the North Shore of Oahu and it is where she still plays! "What draws me to polo over other horse disciplines is growing up jumping I never got to do any team sports, so along with the horses in general, the team aspect of polo has been super fun for me!"

When I asked, What do you enjoy most about polo in Hawaii? Jade said," The best part about polo in Hawaii is that it’s my home. While I love playing on the mainland, getting to play my own personal horses with my sister, and friends who have been there from day one is always something special."

Part 2 available

-Story by Kathryn James


📸

11/19/2024

Part 2 Interview with Kasey Morris :

Kasey, decided to try polo and had her first lessons with Hesham El Gharby from Tinicum Park Polo, and then spent the summer with Mountain View Polo in West Virginia. What drew Kasey to polo over other horse disciplines?  "I had been away from horse sports for years and decided I would "just try polo once." I was immediately hooked. Every practice, game, arena, and field is different. You're working with a team and figuring out your horse lineup. There's a lot of moving parts that always keep it exciting."

When asked to share some advice to players just starting polo? Kasey had some wonderful tips!

"Do lots of lessons with different people and try to pick up something new every time. Work on what you find the most difficult--near sides, rebounds, taking a man, playing a different position, etc.--instead of practicing the same thing over and over. "

To make the USPA Women's Arena Open Championships, Kasey mentioned what she personally did to get prepared.  
"I played my final American grass tournament of 2024 and then secluded myself in the arena for several weeks. My teammate, Marissa Wells, came down for a long weekend before we headed out to California, and we did some drills and practices together, as well as team bonding."What Kasey enjoys most about polo is the horses.  "They're such beautiful animals with their own unique personalities, and we owe so much to them." 

Kasey appreciates the polo community and said this about her experiences.

" Polo truly is like having a passport to the world. I've traveled to countries I don't think I'd have otherwise visited because of invitations from polo friends across the globe. It's a unique community with a lot of interesting people."

Some tidbits you may or may not know is that Kasey and her husband own Rebellis Farms in Fauquier County VA. Her lovely, Blog shows Kasey's passion for all the animals on the farm, including chickens, fowl, retired polo ponies, and bees. She is also a popular author and her books can be found on Amazon!

Thank you, Kasey fore interview and for sharing your love of Dill Ponies with us!

PC

11/19/2024

For the Love of Polo Interview with Kasey Morris:
Part 1

George Dill Farms had the pleasure to meet Kasey Morris during the 2024 USPA Women's Arena Open held on  October 20th, 2024, at OC Polo Club in Silverado, California. 

Flying in from Fauquier County VA, Kasey trusted her teammate Marissa Wells, who had been out playing in California to help organize ponies for the tournament.  Kasey agreed, and Dill Farms leased Kasey a string of Polo Ponies for the tournament. Kasey and her team played amazing !

When I asked  Kasey what she loves about Dill Farms Ponies, this is what she shared.

"They're solid ponies that you can get on, feel comfortable quickly, and immediately play without having to think too much or make a bunch of adjustments. Special shoutout to Stealth, who was my favorite pony in my string for the Women's Arena Open!"

Kasey has been riding since she was 5 years old and  began as a lower level eventer. From there, she experimented with horseback archery but has yet to compete.  I asked Kasey about what her first horse taught her that still applies today. She replied, "My first horse, Bonnie, was a Connemara/Thoroughbred cross who was young, green, and slightly unhinged. She taught me a lot about patience, working with green horses, and putting the horse first--even if that means putting your own dreams or competition aspirations on hold!

See the rest of her story next post Part 2

Story by Kathryn James
Photo Credit

11/07/2024

Dill Farms, Throwback Thursday...LaConner Polo Club 2024

📸 Design By Kathryn Photography

11/01/2024

For The Love of Polo Interview with Marek Sutherland

Marek is an impressive young man whose post caught my eye; after he played this September in the 2024 NYTS Championships at La Herradura Polo Club.

What struck me was how "genuinely grateful" Marek is for the opportunities and people that he has met along his way.

Marek started his passion for horses at age 5 when he took a homeschool riding class at Brighton Equestrian Club in Michigan. Prior to starting polo lessons at Hawaii Polo Club in Waialua HI, at age 10, Marek was involved in saddle seat and jumping.

When asked why horse polo is his sport, Marek shared, " I love how fast it is, that it is a team sport, the horses, and that you are always learning." When it comes to Arena Polo,"I like the physicality of it."

Marek currently plays at Aiken Polo Club in SC and told me, " The Aiken NYTS qualifier is one of the most completive anywhere. Having NYTS in Aiken, qualifier, or national means you are playing on great fields and have access to many amazing horses and great professionals. Plus, everyone is Aiken is really nice and welcoming."

For other young people interested in taking up polo, he believes that focusing on improving your riding and horsemanship makes a huge difference out on the field or in the arena. "You can be a bad or okay rider and play polo, but you will only be a great player if you are a great rider. That means trying to get better all the time."

Marek first met George Dill Polo Ponies at a middle school tournament in Denver Colorado, back in October of 2022 .Then again, in Indio, CA, in February of 2023,and most recently at La Herrradura for the NYTS 2024 Championships.

What Marek likes about playing Dill Ponies, "There's always horses at your level. They are safe and well-trained, The ones I had at NYTS in CA were really fast and super handy!"
Thank you, Marek, for sharing your love of Dill Polo Ponies.
We are looking forward to seeing where your love of Polo takes you next, Marek!


Story: Kathryn James
Photo credits:
David Lominska
Michelle Lauren
Nicole Wipp

10/23/2024

Great weekend of polo, OC Polo Club !

For more information about the 2024 USPA Women's Arena Open, visit: https://www.uspolo.org/calendar/tournaments/uspa-womens-arena-open-2024

10/21/2024

Thank you OC Polo Club for Hosting the
USPA Women's Arena Polo Championship and Supporting George Dill Farms Polo Ponies🐎🐎🐎
OC Polo Club

10/16/2024

Lindzi Cox will be playing Dill Ponies in the Shady Ladies Invitational this weekend at Orange County Polo Club; Team Yolo Polo!

Lindzi grew up in a horsey family and started riding before she could walk. Participating in Pony Club, Young Riders, and competing in eventing when steeplechase was included. Lindzi has been involved in many other disciplines throughout her life before finding polo.
She took her first polo lesson from her Pony Club friend Brandon Alcott at Tacoma Polo Club in Washington State! In 2021, Lindzi decided to devote time to learning about polo and started playing more.

Lindzi shared that she is grateful for many Dill Ponies; she calls "Unicorns.They are all a thrill to get to sit on, like little sport cars.They are fast, zippy, bold to get in the play, and really love their jobs!"

Lindzi loves that polo is a team sport. She enjoys the camaraderie, wonderful people, and ponies she has met, cool places she gets to visit, and asados.

Come watch the action ,
📸 and story