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AMERICAN POLO HORSE ASSOCIATION STALL OF FAME
This idea was created by the Legendary Walt Kuhn to recognize the contribution that Polo Horses provide in our sport and in the careers of great players. This is a special honorary section for players to nominate 1-2 of their favorite polo ponies past or present, that have played a special role in that players' career or life.
"TAIPAN" Owned and Played by Dale Smicklas - 8 goals
Taipan was a Dark Brown Thoroughbred Gelding 15.3 hands tall.
He was Trained by Clyde Canino, he played for 8 years in 12 to 30 goal polo and was awarded Best Playing Pony honors in the Continental Cup (16 goal) at the Oak Brook Polo Club in Illinois. He was a race horse prior to playing polo.
Personal Quote about this horse's performance on the field from Dale Smicklas:
"He absolutely has the heart of a lion! I played him 2 chukkers on more than one occasion and he never quit trying. You never had to touch him with a whip or spur. By far the best 'pure' polo horse I had the pleasure of playing."
Favorite Story about Taipan - "I usually played him 2nd and 5th and on more than one occasion I came off the field after the first chukker and neither he nor my groom were anywhere in sight. He had to be kept in the trailer at games, so I would walk up and have a look... sure enough, he'd have my groom 'pinned' against the side of the trailer and I mean 'pinned'. I would yell at him, he would stop leaning and look at me like - "What?". He really had a lot of character."
"PLAYBOY" Owned and Played by Dale Smicklas - 8 goals
Playboy was a Bay Thoroughbred Gelding 15.3 hands tall.
He was Trained by Chava Gonzalez, he played for 8 years in 12 to 30 goal polo and was awarded Best Playing Pony honors at the Silver Cup (20 goal) at the Willowbend Polo Club in Plano, Texas and at the Retama Cup (26 goal) in San Antonio, Texas.
Personal Quote about this horse's performance on the field from Dale Smicklas:
"Playboy may have been the fastest horse in high goal polo in his day. He could absolutely fly! He was also so smooth to hit off of that you could not miss a penalty shot, and he hated to stick and ball!
Favorite Story about Playboy - " In the finals of the Retama Cup (26 goal), I was five goals at the time and in the 6th chukker I took three knock-ins the length of the field, scoring twice and just missing a third. I can't tell you how often I did that. I would tap it once, then hit it and just let him run. He was so fast I never had to check up and then take off again, you just could not catch him."
To download the request for submission form, Click Here.
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Copyright © 2007 American Polo Horse Association, Inc. All rights reserved.
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