Texas Tech Polo Men's Team Travel to Nationals

Texas Tech Polo Club seeks travel funding to help send our men’s Team to USPA Intercollegiate Nationals in Los Osos, California. The goal of $3,000 has been set, the money will be used for travel, lodging and horse rental costs.

(For any donors wishing a tax write-off please contact us, we are a 501.c(7) charity and would like to accommodate you with one.)

Below is written our journey.

There is always an opportunity to stop trying, turn off your engine at a roadblock, or simply give up. No one bats an eye when this happens, in today's world people are bred and have been conditioned to roll over and feel compelled to abandon their desires. It is easy for people to do that, most are consoled when they give up. The Texas Tech Polo Club has had many opportunities to do this and be pat on the head saying they tried this season. They had been impeded at every corner, challenged at every pass and had conflicts arise that could have never been foreseen. Despite the daunting happenstances that befell them, The Texas Tech Polo Club did not collapse, it thrived.

Texas Tech Polo Club was established in 1982 as one of Texas Tech University’s first sports club and it quickly became the epicenter for polo in West Texas and New Mexico. The club is and always has been a place of learning and development, emphasizing the education of members and developing deeper connections between the bond of horse and rider. The past 41 years have seen thousands of Texas Tech students experience something that many would have thought both monetarily and just rationally out of reach. The club is one of few college polo clubs that is completely run and managed by its members. Individual club members feed and take care of the horses, maintain the property, as well as manage the club as an organization with both a National and local governing body. Providing an experience that is not readily available for the next steps post-college. At its peak the club consisted of over 60 horses and nearly twice as many members, it was the largest collegiate polo program at its time and opened up the world of horses to new generations of Red Raiders. From novice riders to top horsemen/women and polo players, the Texas Tech Polo club has had a lasting impact on the lives of many.

However, Texas Tech Polo Club despite its history and contribution was not immune to the outside world. Our Shangri La like the rest of the world was devastated by covid. From a thriving community to a shell of our former self, 2019 - 2021 saw us struggle as an organization. Keeping our horses fed, not competing was our priority. Our entire organization was flipped upside down, and like many other non-profits we fought to keep our heads above water so we could continue to serve our mission. Through dedication, accommodating members and perhaps some divine intervention the club is now on the road back to its former glory. We are gradually returning to full strength in members and horses, but are not past the point of having excess funds to help pay for travel expenses for our members to compete. This year our Men’s team has qualified for Intercollegiate Nationals in Los Osos, California, as we are on a college kids' budget and our dining bucks don’t swap for Southwest points we are reaching out to our friends, family and alumni as well as the general public for support in pursuing our goals of a National Championship. All funds will be used for travel, lodging and accommodation for our boys and their triumphant quest for victory. We hope that you would consider a donation to help us achieve this.

Guns Up, Mallets Down!

(Quotes from our Men's team players about Texas Tech Polo Club)

“I’ve always wanted to be a cowboy, but I’m from Brooklyn , New York. Do you know how hard it is to find a horse in Brooklyn? Texas Tech Polo Club has let me live my childhood dream, I’m a cowboy now! A cowboy from Brooklyn!”

“I’ve always wanted to be around horses I was a 4H kid, but I never thought I’d be able to afford it. Now in college, I’ve been able to experience something I never thought was possible”

“I joined Texas Tech Polo because I thought it would help me get experience for Vet School, not only has it done that but it has also brought me friends and a new appreciation for this type of community.”

“You go to college to find out who you are. I came to college and was still lost. It was only through Texas Tech Polo that I found out who I really was. I grew up with Polo, it has given me everything that I have and has allowed me to have a relationship with my Grandfather I would never have had without. But, until I came to our Polo Club I had never associated myself with anything but the sport, I used to be just an individual player now I’m a member of a team on the field and off.”

Sincerely Your Friends,

Texas Tech Polo Club