SPRING NEWS ROUND-UP

THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 2026 HAVE BEEN BRILLIANTLY BUSY FOR POWER OF POLO. We’ve been to the Bryan Morrison International and the SUPA finals, we’ve run a new pilot programme, we’ve had our first residential of the year and, to round it off, we’ve got some exciting news to share about the forthcoming La Martina Varsity Match! Read on to find out more…

Participants from our partners ML Community Enterprise and the Metropolitan Police at Cool Hooves Polo during our Pilot Programme with Ebony Horse Club.

“I think horses just have a good energy and they can feel your energy when you’re around them. They’ve taught me about patience and that you sometimes have to find a different way to approach things to get what you want.” Ben, 15

Sam, MVP at our Spring Residential with Alabare

IN MARCH WE TEAMED UP WITH OUR LONG-TERM PARTNERS EBONY HORSE CLUB to run a pilot weekend programme with young people from ML Community Enterprise and serving officers from the Metropolitan Police.

The aim was to use polo and horses as an intervention to bring together people from different backgrounds, taking them on a journey towards better understanding of each other and positively impacting communities beyond the programme. To read the full story please click here.

Participants at the end of the first day at Cool Hooves Polo at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club

SPRING RESIDENTIAL WITH ALABARÉ

Our first residential of the year took place at Offchurch Bury Polo Club and was attended by seven ALABARÉ young people, all of whom have suffered from homelessness. Despite having little or no riding experience it was incredible to see how quickly the participants developed polo and horsemanship skills, culminating in a (really rather competitive!) match on the last day. A huge ‘thank you’ to Grant Collett for being the most wonderful coach; we know who we’ll be voting for in the HPA’s Coach of the Year award!

Supporting activities are such a big part of our residentials and the week was packed full of wonderful opportunities to grow and learn. Our lovely brand partner Lady Grey & Co delivered a leather workshop, during which everyone created their own cuffs and keyrings out of old polo tack. There was a fascinating talk on horse care from Avonvale Vets, a bushcraft session, and the crowning glory was a trip to Knights of Middle England, hosted by our very own Karl Ude-Martinez, a trustee of Power of Polo, to watch the masters at work before the young people had a go at vaulting and Liberty activities themselves.

BRYAN MORRISON INTERNATIONAL AND SUPA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Power of Polo was proud to be asked by the Hurlingham Polo Association to provide flag bearers at the prestigious Bryan Morrison International at Hickstead in January. Four of our participants, from partner charities ALABARÉ and South Central Youth, carried the England and USA flags and it was lovely for Richard, Chloe, Kaira and Micah to chat to some international players, watch a seriously good game and, to top it off, see England win! We are so proud to be a partner organisation of the Hurlingham Polo Association, and are grateful to them for the feature on us in their February Newsletter.

We love getting our charity out into the wider polo world and so we were thrilled to field a team of supportive players for an exhibition match at the SUPA National Arena Championships in February. Our Founder and CEO Katy Hayward presented the prizes, and it was a great chance for us speak to so many people from the schools and university polo scene about our work. Thank you to the players who played in our name in the Power of Polo vs La Estampida match!

LA MARTINA VARSITY MATCH – WE’RE THE OFFICIAL CHARITY PARTNER!

We’ve got so much to look forward to this summer, including another residential in May and our annual Change Your Line Cup in June, but perhaps our most exciting piece of news is that we are going to be the first ever Official Charity Partner for the La Martina Varsity Match at Guards on 30th May! Please come along, watch some brilliant polo and support us; keep an eye on our social media pages over the next few weeks to hear about all the exciting things that are going to be taking place before and on the day.

Thanks to all our friends, supporters and partners for helping us get off to such a great start to 2026.

Power of Polo participants with the victorious England Team at the Bryan Morrison International