The Virginia Polo Board of Directors discussed the condition of the outdoor arena and voted last fall to have the arena rebuilt. The former outdoor arena was one of the original structures at Virginia Polo (along with the old wood barn), built in the early 1980’s. As boards aged or broke they were replaced piecemeal, but after 40 years of use and weathering it was time to take more comprehensive action to keep the arena a safe playing space without warped or splintered boards.

Thanks to the significant support from UVA/Virginia Polo alum Jeep Holden UVA ‘76 the arena project was able to proceed without draining the operating budget as we carried on student polo as usual at Virginia Polo. A devoted polo supporter, Jeep served on the United States Polo Association Board of Directors for many years and helped develop many of the important projects the club benefits from today. One of the projects Jeep was instrumental in planning was the Polo Development Initiative Grant (PDI Grant), which was another source of funding for this project. To learn more about Jeep’s role on the USPA board and his family’s long commitment to polo, check out his Alumni Spotlight article Jeep Holden: How a Virginia Polo Alum Helped to Shape the USPA As We Know It Today from September 2022.

The newly rebuilt arena is ideally suited for collegiate polo, measuring 350’ x 150.’ Among the improvements implemented with the rebuild are a man gate on the announcer’s side of the arena, a lighter sliding door goal at the barn end, and new lumber around the perimeter. In addition to these features we also have a track around the perimeter of the outdoor arena— ideal for hot walking ponies during games, allowing players to keep an eye on the action, and for working ponies. The track is a great addition, allowing for even more polo activities to carry on at once.

The first students to benefit from the new arena are the hard-working summer crew. These are UVA student players and local high schoolers who work the ponies all summer long and help Assistant Coach and Barn Manager Abbie Grant with Starr Hill Pathways kids, the interscholastic clinics, and Intro to Polo Camps. Students exchange their time riding sets, feeding, and helping out around the facility to play chukkers and enjoy a summer immersed in horses and polo at the Virginia Polo Center.

We are excited to showcase the arena at the summer Virginia Polo Interscholastic Clinics where returning players will no doubt appreciate the graded surface and ideal arena conditions.

Come See it for Yourself & Celebrate This Fall

Please join us this fall during the FIP Arena Polo World Championship tournament week off day, Saturday October 11th at 6:30 PM at the Beh House to celebrate the new arena and express our gratitude to Jeep Holden for his leadership gift to this facility improvement project. We will celebrate the new Holden Arena with good food, drinks, and great Virginia Polo company. All alumni and supporters are welcome! Please RSVP to jenny@vapolo.org if you plan to attend.