COVER STORY
I can and enjoy polo as a hobby, as long as I can afford it.
How do you manage the challenges of a corporate job with the time-consuming demands of managing a polo team, and playing yourself? Work will always remain my main focus, as it helps me afford these wonderful hobbies. But it is the most difficult schedule I’ ve ever had. The horses are the athletes and need to train twice a day – I have five. Also there’ s the basic care and tack up and untacking, and so on. I try to finish the first exercise before 7:30am, I work until 5pm and then go back to the barn for the second set. I practise or play on the weekends.( I play 2-4 goal at Will Rogers Polo Club.)
I believe you also have a product line? Yes, I started a little apparel line called Prima California – a premier brand of polo chic fashion and sportswear for polo players, spectators and the polo enthusiast. It will be based mainly via e-commerce marketplace and in some local equestrian / tack shops. I’ m working on the website and plan to release the e-commerce storefront in 2017. I’ ve sold some products from my line at local polo clubs. Follow us on instagram. com / primacalifornia.
Above left: On her way to winning the Hansen Dam Triathlon. Above right: Riding her carbon time trial steed to victory before she started polo. Below: Battling it out at Will Rogers Polo Club, where Team Malibu won the recent Hollywood Cup.
PHOTOGRAPHS: DAVID POTTER, SUPPLIED
What exercise / training do you do off the horse? I don’ t have much time for routine gym workouts but I exercise my horses in a deep sand arena and sometimes you’ ll find me running next to them. Usually it’ s only about 3 miles( 5km) but it’ s a great workout for the ponies and me. I don’ t have a groom during off-season so I do a lot of work each day preparing the horses and working them – I work up a good sweat doing so!
Do you still dabble in triathlon? No, I’ m fully committed to polo at the moment. I like to be dedicated and focused on my progress as polo player.
If you find the time, what do you do when you’ re not riding or training your horses? When my ponies are on break, I relax on the beach and spend time with my friends. I try to fit in a trip to my hometown Miami, Florida, to visit my family. I also teach horses tricks like bowing, smiling, fetching and so on in my spare time. ■
BEHIND THE LENS US-based David Potter was the photographer behind Jenny’ s cover and feature photos. He began his photography business in 2012 after quitting an unfulfilling job to follow his dream. He primarily shoots commercial and fashion and has a passion for action equestrian work. www. dcpphotographer. com
BMW INTERNATIONAL POLO 31