JUNE NEWSLETTER
RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMME AT OXFORD
Participants, families and friends celebrate a wonderful camp at Oxford.
“It’s been such a fun week – intense and exciting! I couldn’t ride before and now I can ride and hit a ball at the same time…it’s given me such confidence. Polo is even more of a team sport than football and it’s taught me how important it is to have a positive attitude to trying new things and working as a team.”
Oxford Course participant, age 13
LA MARTINA VARSITY DAY AT GUARDS
We are incredibly grateful to La Martina for asking us to be the Official Charity Partner of La Martina Varsity Day 2026, and the day itself didn’t disappoint.
The highlight of the day for us was the charity match between ‘Power of Polo Oxford’, featuring Sam Dracott @samdracottfarrier and ‘Power of Polo Cambridge’ featuring Hannah Sims @sillyprune. These two have incredible social media followings and have done brilliant work bringing visibility to our charity but most importantly, they’re lovely people who’ve taken the time to understand what we do and to talk to our young people.
photos: @theartofpolo
A VISIT TO PARK LANE STABLES
Kaira Goes Racing!
The visit to Park Lane was an especially helpful experience for Kaira, who set off for Newmarket the following week to the Riding a Dream Academy at the British Racing School. Kaira is the second person from Power of Polo to be invited on this amazing course and she loved every minute. “I’ve only ever ridden polo ponies, so it was good to practise riding in a different way at Park Lane before I went to Newmarket!” said Kaira. “I absolutely loved my week at Riding a Dream, and I want to thank them for inviting me. I can’t wait to ride at Guards now as I have improved so much.”
Our second residential of the year was especially exciting as it marked the start of a new partnership. Oxford Community Action is a grass-roots charity which works with young people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, and we were thrilled to team up with them on this programme at Oxford Polo, with the added support of Active Oxfordshire.
As well as polo, horse care and teamwork, the week included a visit to Kirtlington Park Stud, a tour of Christ Church College, Oxford, and even an afternoon trying out the exciting sport of e-polo! To read the full report click here: Power of Polo x OCA
Participants looking relaxed and happy at Oxford.
Many of the Oxford Community Action participants and their families joined us at Guards for this special day, as well as former participants and Youth Leaders. Jhemar Jonas was let loose on the commentator’s mic alongside Glen Gilmore, and our charity raffle, full of lovely prizes donated by generous supporters, raised vital funds to help us in our work.
Our eternal thanks go to La Martina for bringing it all together and creating the most beautiful Power of Polo team kit for the match, and to Sam and Hannah for agreeing to take part in it. Thanks also to our brilliant playing ambassadors Harry Earnshaw and Jack Hyde, to Max Sponer, Robin Ormerod, Alva Markelius and Izzy Kekwick for taking to the field alongside them, and to everyone from the Power of Polo family who helped on the day!
Earlier in May our Youth Leaders Kaira, Micah and Isiaih were invited to the incredible Park Lane Stables by our friends at Riding for the Disabled, as part of a programme to develop the relationship between our two charities. Along with RDA members of the Diamond Centre, they got the chance to ride in beautiful Bushey Park and to spend time with other Youth Leaders, comparing experiences and sharing stories about the impact horses have had on their lives. This was a wonderful opportunity for different charities to bond over a love of horses; we are looking forward to welcoming the Park Lane and Diamond Centre young people to Guards on 19th June at our Change Your Line Cup.
photo: @robaddisphotography
And Finally…Harry Earnshaw and Jack Hyde, long-time friends of the charity, both became official Power of Polo Ambassadors and we’re so excited to continue working with them in the future; we got invited to the glamorous HPA Polo Awards, where Anna Cher’s wonderful painting, painted live at last year’s Cartier International, was auctioned off to raise funds for us; and finally, we loved visiting Badminton Horse Trials and cheering on our dear friends Ebony Horse Club when they rode in the main arena in front of the Queen! We are looking forward to seeing them, and our many other partners and friends, at Guards for our annual Change Your Line Cup later this week.
