Alison Patricelli has been riding horses since she was three years old. She trained and competed as a hunter/jumper, but her love of team sport eventually led her to polo. The mixed team she owns and plays for, LBL, has not lost a tournament since 2021, giving up only one game. Aiken City Lifestyle caught up with Patricelli to get some insight into the world of polo from a woman's perspective.
Why Polo?
I have always been an athlete and have enjoyed many sports and equestrian passions. Polo is the perfect mix of team play and partnership with your horses. I also appreciate the tremendous challenges that playing polo presents physically, mentally and emotionally.
Compare and contrast playing on a mixed team versus a female-only team.
Both mixed polo and women's polo offer exciting and competitive experiences. Still, they differ in terms of the physical challenges faced, the style of gameplay and the opportunities for skill expression. Mixed polo requires me to adapt to playing against larger opponents and contend with testosterone-driven advantages. In contrast, women's polo provides a more level physical playing field and emphasizes close contact and fast, skillful play.
What does the polo season look like for you?
I play polo in the fall and spring in Aiken and in the summers in Connecticut. In Aiken, I support all of the polo clubs that I can. I live in New Bridge Polo and Country Club and play in all their eight-goal tournaments. I will play in all the women's tournaments at Aiken Polo Club and New Bridge Polo Club this year. I also occasionally play in a six-goal tournament at Wagener Polo Club or at Aiken Polo Club and at some exhibitions at La Bourgnone Polo Club. In Connecticut, I play at the Farmington Polo Club during the season. The polo ponies get a vacation from November through March. That's when I foxhunt with the Aiken Hounds!
What is your perspective on polo in Aiken?
Polo is an essential part of the equestrian history and community in Aiken. The polo here is fast-paced and competitive while avoiding much of the elitism and politics in other communities. The fields are incredible here, and I hope all the clubs continue well into the future. Polo requires lots of resources, and I hope that polo remains a priority in Aiken.
