Polo with a special purpose

[As published in September/October BayBuzz magazine.]

Polo is known as the Sport of Kings and played by the rich and famous, but that hasn’t stopped Richard Kettle introducing the game to more than 300 teenagers, including many that have gone off the rails, or are at risk of doing so. 

It was an idea that came from Leg Up Trust founder Ros Rowe and a local youth aid police officer who was looking for a different approach to tackling teenage troublemaking. Ros used horses to support young people with behavioral issues, had been victims of abuse or had learning difficulties. 

They approached Richard Kettle, who had established the Birchleigh Polo Club on his property in Pakipaki, creating a half-sized polo field in a similar vein to the movie Field of Dreams. 

Richard himself was first introduced to polo in his late teens, giving it away, before picking up the reins again in his 30s and then deciding to pass on his love of the game – one regarded as elitist, mostly due to the costs of horses, equipment and travelling around the country throughout the summer season. 

After a bit of trial and error, especially working with troublesome teens, Richard now runs a successful polo training programme for teenagers at Flaxmere College and Hastings Girls’ High School. 

As Richard explains, horses can be quite difficult to break in or coerce into doing what you want them to do. They need to know who is boss but in a way that nurtures them and unleashes their potential. 

The same can be said for teenagers. 

Over the years Richard has seen many teenagers arrive at his Pakipaki property with an attitude, a tough exterior that in many cases is a legacy of a challenging upbringing. 

“It soon became very evident that they really enjoyed it, just having something different in their lives from what was going on at home. 

“The horses presented them with new challenges and you could just see them grow in self-confidence and self-belief and that reflected positively on their behaviour and how they communicated at home, school and in the community. 

“It also kept them at school, as we had a policy that if you wagged school then you couldn’t participate in the programme.” 

Richard proudly says the programme has a 100 percent strike rate of changing the lives of those that participate, which inspires him to go the extra mile in getting them to his property. 

“I used to have to drive around and pick them up from home and at one stage I went and got a whole lot of second hand bikes and made them bike out.” 

Today up to 25-30 students – 14-16 year olds – from both schools participate in the NZEA accredited programme each polo season (October to March). 

Students start with building familiarity and a connection with the horses before saddling up and riding for the first time. 

“Most of them haven’t been near a horse before and this is their biggest challenge. It’s when fear appears in their eyes, when they have to get on (a horse) and get going.” 

Richard says many quickly gain enough confidence to canter around the polo field and hit a ball. 

However he says some of the boys are a bit too bullish about their so-called horsemanship skills up until they’re given the reins. 

“They will say they’ve ridden before, so you take them over to a horse and all of a sudden they freeze and say they’re not getting on. 

“There’s also some really talented kids that by the end of summer you can see their potential to go a long way in the sport. 

“It also gives them a little more direction and help with behavioural issues as they seem to go back to school a more confident person and they are communicating better with adults and in school.” 

Richard gets enthused when he talks about the positive outcomes and experiences polo has had on his graduates. Hugh Moss, who overcame a tough upbringing, and Pam Haycock, who was contemplating leaving school are two great examples.

Hugh is now a local builder and remains a member of the Birchleigh Polo Club, while Pam gained two NCEA certificates and has volunteered and passed on her enthusiasm to new participants.

Pam says: “When I first joined my life was in a rough patch. I was heavily debating leaving school because I wasn’t enjoying it. It gave me an outlet to enable me to escape the real world.

“You can talk to the horses and there’s zero judgement.

“I completed 2 certificate levels and eventually decided I enjoyed it so much that I started working here.”

It’s not lost on Richard that some people are more fortunate than others, especially when it comes to horse sports, with de rigueur luxury horse trucks or flash horse floats being towed by the latest Range Rover.

“They may see it being a sport for the privileged, but my attitude is ‘stuff that’, everyone has a right to give it a go.”

The programme costs about $40,000 a season to run. It’s a big commitment, with a half-sized polo field to look after along with up to 18 horses to groom, feed and cover any dreaded vet bills. 

Fortunately the positive outcomes has seen the likes of Hastings District Council, Sport Hawke’s Bay, Eastern & Central Community Trust provide funding support. The programme is also propped up by club members, some of which also volunteer their time.

“It costs $2000 a horse but you can have some bad luck with vet bills and it was costing me a bit each year and it got to the stage my partner, an accountant, said we had to look at other ways of funding it.”

Sport Hawke’s Bay chief executive Ryan Hambleton says it’s really important that girls are gaining confidence and learning new skills. This helps them be more active in the future in sport and recreational activity and being more willing to give new things a go.

“It’s great to see past participants back helping run the programme and inspiring youth. It shows how much difference the programme has had on students as they are now willing to come back and dedicate their time to help new participants and perhaps inspire them to do the same.”

Flaxmere College teacher in charge of sport Toby Blakey says the programme provides a unique experience and immeasurable benefit, especially for Pasifika and Māori students.

“It has led to increased student engagement, better attendance, boosted self-confidence, improved social skills including empathy and communication. Additionally, participants have exhibited greater resilience and willingness to try new things.

“It may sound a bit dramatic but you’re giving these kids a greater chance of success in life. I’ve broken down a ‘them and us’ barrier and it’s neat when they spot you in town and they rush over and say hi. 

“There’s some that you have helped break a cycle of what’s not going right in their lives and they’re grateful.”

At the end of the season students and former students make up two teams to compete for the Codie Irwin Memorial Trophy, named after a former student who was tragically killed in a road accident. 

Richard says a highlight has been a game against local police, which was duly won by the teens, some of whom had previously been on the wrong side of the law. 

Richard is also proud that his little Birchleigh Polo Club continues to punch well above its weight, at one stage having over 30 members, making it one of the largest in New Zealand. It has also attracted overseas players to spend a summer in Hawke’s Bay, both playing and getting involved in the delivery of the programme.

The club has also won the Savile Cup, the oldest sporting trophy in New Zealand. 

Richard says he has plenty of Chukkas (a period of play) left in him and looks forward to saddling up and swinging a mallet with some of his energetic and determined young protégés. 

Kaweka Hospital is pleased to sponsor BayBuzz coverage of sport and fitness in Hawke’s Bay.