FORT SILL, Okla. -- Polo Field once again saw action that in years past was reserved for cavalry training. An audience comprised of bright colors, big rimmed hats and bow ties lined both sides of the field as the Dallas, Austin and Military polo clubs mounted horses for the 4th Annual Fort Sill Polo Classic.
Fort Sill Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation teamed up with the U.S. Polo Association to bring the special event for Mother's Day, May 11.
A former armored cavalry major, Joseph Meyer, U.S. Polo Association president, said he started playing polo 12 years ago.
"I didn't ride or play polo and now I'm fortunate enough to be out here in front of all these mothers on Mother's Day and some military moms at that. It's exciting to be out here."
Meyer said the game has military ties as the U.S. and British military used polo to prepare for combat.
"We're using polo mallets in our right hands. They actually used swords in their right hands, so they're very similar movements. It was literally used as training. There is still one full military brigade cavalry regiment in India that still practices polo."
The sport was popular in the U.S. in the early 1900s and Meyer said it is great that Fort Sill has brought the tradition back.
"I'm delighted to be here because General Patton played here and I've had fun playing in a couple of other places where General Patton has played," said Meyer.
The crowd, young and old, was mesmerized as the horses weaved around each other during each chukker. Meanwhile the polo players worked furiously to move the ball through their respective goals.
At halftime the spectators helped repair the damage on the field as part of the divot stomp and were rewarded with a glass of champagne.
"I wish I could enjoy that, but I can't," said Kathryn Peacock, who will soon give birth to her second child.
Peacock said this event was special for her family because it's the first Mother's Day she and her husband Aaron Peacock, 1st Battalion, 30th Field Artillery, have been able to spend together because of a deployment.
Their son, Everette, was ecstatic to see the horses and Peacock said second to baseball, she had never heard him say so much about a sport.
"He loves horses. I'm sure he'll be talking about it for the next week. It's fun to see the world through his eyes as a mom."
The horses used in the match are former race track horses. Meyer said they have special trainers who teach them to take their speed and transform it into agility.
"We really give them a second life. All the things we do all the rules are based on the safety of the horse first," said Meyer.
In the end, Meyer's team was shut out by the Dallas Polo Club, but the audience didn't seem to notice the gap in points. Meyer said the goal of the game was to give back.
"Military families do so much. We talk about the Soldiers, and the Soldiers have done great things for us ... but it's really the families at home who really have to go through a lot. So any time we can help them with events like this and let them see horses, the magnificent animals that they are, and a fantastic game that has a rich military tradition it's a lot of fun to do."
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