R IDER S WE LOV E
boys, Stuart’s typical day will be a coffee
or South American Matè before practise
chukkas, some casual riding and some
stick and ball work, followed with his own
time with Caiden and Ashe. He likes to
ride, so on non-practise days the same
will generally apply. That is if he is not
chasing a smaller white ball around a golf
course. Stuart likens himself to a Jack
Russell that likes to chase balls.
‘It’s all I know. My interests off the polo
field are golf and trees. Sometimes those
two things are just too close together
which is frustrating. If I didn’t play polo,
I’d be a golfer but that just seems tough.
Perhaps a game ranger or a guide on
horses.’ This laid-back approach to life
is summed up in Stuart’s personal motto
‘it is what it is’. When asked if he boasts
any special skills or party tricks, he will
tell you that he can see the future; a handy
ability when your match superstition is to
tell your grooms that you will see them in
seven minutes’ time.
But it isn’t all just about taking from
On near-death
experiences: ‘Others
may think I have had
many, but I have always
seen a way out of every
situation.’ He can predict
the future after all…
the sport and having fun. To give back,
Stuart works closely with a foundation
called Horses Healing Hearts (HHH).
The organisation helps children who have
been affected by a family member with
addiction to heal, build up self-esteem
and learn important life-coping skills
by working with horses. In the future
– and we’ve learnt that Stuart sees the
future – he sees himself working in horse
rehabilitation or something similar to
HHH for veterans with PTSD, a fastgrowing health concern in the USA.
When asked about getting involved
in the breeding process, Stuart says, ‘There
are two kinds of breeders: the lucky ones and
the broke ones. I am lucky to be involved with
Gaston Laulhe, aka Gato, who has probably
helped every young South African polo player
navigate the murky waters in Argentina.’
Stuart currently plays off a 7 handicap and
has a preference to the number 2 position.
Asked why, he claims, ‘Noodsberg had a rule
when my dad and uncle played there in the
eighties: the number 2 can go anywhere on
the field. And, of course, my dad was a 2.
‘For me it was always about trying to
make a career out of horses,’ he continues,
‘it wasn’t possible back home in the early
nineties.’ The reason, I suppose, so many
South African players end up abroad.
On polo in South Africa, Stuart believes
the sport is in good stead. ‘Polotics’, as he
refers to them, are in every sport and polo
is no different. ‘As long as eight people
have a long stick in their hand and swing
at something, it’s all good. It’s about family
and community and it should always be
about that.’ ■
In full gallop for team
Coca-Cola at the
2015 Ylvisaker Cup.
At the time of going to print, Sugar was the highest-ranked South African on the World Polo Tour. He’s ranked 50 with 206 points.
World no. 1 is Adolfo Cambiaso of Argentina with 1 380 points, who, incidentally, Sugar rates as the greatest player of all time.
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