“Unleash your passion for polo half a world away”

Testimonials

 

We've had some great times over the years with people who share our love of polo. People who visit the polo school particularly enjoy the family atmosphere we provide. And parents sending their young people far from home appreciate the fact that we provide a safe environment for both polo tuition and extra curricular activities.

Here are a few comments:

 

Rusyl and Mark,
I just wanted to thank you for your time and effort in putting Rebecca and myself up at your wonderful facility in Rangiora. We had a wonderful time and even though we were there for only a few days, I have left with a better understanding of Polo and the ways that I can improve quickly.
We really enjoyed the company also; you have wonderful kids who you should be very proud of and they were very engaging.
The flight back reminded me every time that I moved, that I need to get Horse fit fast, ride in a bigger saddle and continue to learn to ride the bumps during the trot.
I will send you an update after my next few weeks of riding.
David Tilbrook, Perth, Australia
November 2008



Fantastic time, I would of course love to stay longer. Great ponies, great field, great teacher, healthy constitution for chukkas - exactly what I was looking for and of course sunshine, warm, incredible beach, lots of tasty food ... only problem is not being able to stay longer, would love to return next winter. Many, many thanks.
Sinead Devine, Menlo Park, California
March 2008



Many thanks for a brilliant three weeks. We had great fun, enjoyed meeting everyone and the polo was fantastic. We particularly like how you customized things to fit our needs as this allowed us to work on particular aspects of our game, particularly the hitting which is much improved. We really got to work on the basics and will put our new skills to good use back in Europe. The fields were perfect. We particularly liked the New Zealand ponies. We already have two in our string and I guess we'll be adding more soon! We also enjoyed your beautiful surroundings including the whales, dolphins and sealions at Kaikoura, the wildlife park at Orana, and all the things to do in Christchurch and little olde Rangiora. Many thanks for a wonderful time.
Anthony & Simone
Dec 07- Jan 08



Dear Mark and Rusyl
I feel awful not having emailed before but the time has whizzed by. It is so wonderful having Bess back and we are so impressed with her, not just the muscles but also the riding and determination and so grown up! You have done wonders for her and we are so grateful she obviously had the time of her life. Your place sounds fab we have seen all the photos. I do hope you all come to England this summer and come and stay with us we would love to meet you and hopefully return some if your kindness to Bess!
Love Lucy
Lucy Boggis-Rolfe
2007



Bessie obviously had a wonderful time in New Zealand. he loved it and it was obviously enormously good for her. She said that you were a wonderful family to be with, that the place was fantastic and she enormously enjoyed the polo. All in all it was a huge success.
We have just heard that Bess has got a job working with a new polo club for a few months. It is perfect for her and I am sure it is because of what she learnt from you that she has been chosen.
Richard Boggis-Rolfe
2007



Hi there Mark, how are you and how is Rusyl? I hope all is well for you both. Mark I wanted to say a huge thank you for the wonderful opportunity you gave me to play in your Easter tournament. Thank you so much! I had a brilliant time and am totally inspired to play, play, play. I hope your lovely Pihar and Tarragon survived me unscathed and didn't require too much remedial work from you! They were both wonderful and I felt very privileged to be riding them.
Yvonne Kaveney
2007



Dear Rusyl and Mark
This note to say thank you so very much for having taken Gala and Thandi on board - they are ecstatic in their praise. I will be sending you a second daughter in three years, but if Gala has her way she will be back next year for the open you have invited her to ... and once a year after that.
Rusyl you made it such a home from home that they did not even miss us ... and they loved the way it all felt and worked out. Thank you for your care. Mark, you are I am told an amazing coach ... and more than anything else, you have given Gala huge confidence. Thank you.
Be well and I hope to meet you some day to say thank you in person.
Josie Rowe-Setz
2007



Dear Mark, Rusyl and family
I would just like to say thank you so much for everything that you did for me while I was staying ... thank you for opening your house to Thandi and I and for providing the most amazing horses and just generally for doing everything that you did for me ... the 24hr doctors, the bread eating extravaganza, the Fruit Loops etc ... I really appreciate it, and I hope to be back soon! and hopefully we'll win the Open when I come back... that would be great!
To all of you, thank you for accommodating me and putting up with all the rubbish that I know I probably caused ... and spoke! as usual ... oh well, we have landed safely here in Singapore and are now waiting for our connection to Beijing ... will be sure to send you some postcards and pictures of the forbidden city etc!
Much love to you all,
Gala Rowe-Setz
2007



Dear Mark and Rusyl
Thank you for a wonderful month. I have immensely enjoyed every second of living and breathing in polo heaven. I have nothing but praise for the fantastic setup you have. The accommodation was first class, Rusyl's cooking sublime.
I have learned more about Polo in this month than I ever thought was possible. The horses I rode were all wonderful. Mark chose just the right combination in my string to challenge my game and riding ability without placing me outside my comfort zone. Mark's ability to translate his knowledge into a teaching medium was outstanding. I feel lucky to have had such a wonderful exposure which encapsulated all facets of polo. Everything from,learning about horses, equipment and horse husbandry, riding some of the 'greenies', stick and balling on the beach, the afternoon chukkas, the tournament polo and afternoon 'friendlies' with some of the locals have helped improve my game exponentially. Thank you! I cannot wait to be back playing polo in the land of the long white cloud!
Douglas Martin, South Africa
6 December 2006



Thank you again for a fabulous 12 days or so living, breathing, and playing polo. Just what I needed. I could not believe how well I was hitting the ball ... my all round general play has improved out of sight.
Gus Booth, Australia



Amy has arrived home safe and sound, full of New Zealand polo ... she really enjoyed her stay with you as 20 miles down the road from Heathrow she asked me to take her back ...
Michael and Leslie Bletsoe-Brown, of England, in a letter after the return home of their daughter



A fantastic week ... I feel I have progressed leaps and bounds. The overall concept is fantastic ... I had a fantastic time. The highlights (off the polo pitch) would be the evening meals. I thought the outdoor dinners were superb. It gave Annabel and I a chance to get to know all of you at a more personal level.
James Dee, Adelaide, Australia



The Harris's hospitality was outstanding, the polo ponies fantastic ... we look forward to a return visit.
Julie, Jennifer and Kendra Lawrence, Illinois, USA



Wonderful introduction to New Zealand. We'll be back with a vengeance. Thank you for the faultless hospitality.
J. Stanek, England



The best people, the best polo, and best ponies! I cannot say in words how much you hospitality has meant to us.
Sophie Cook, England



Thank you for the great stay and excellent polo, laughs, food, horses, etc, etc.
O.J. Taylor, England.



What a great way to start a new millennium. Good horses, good friends and great company.
Jerry Kagan, USA



Thank you so much for everything, the hospitality, the polo, the friendship. You guys are one in a million.
James Neary, England



Thank you all so much for a wonderful holiday and honeymoon. We have enjoyed every minute (even the rainy bits) and have loved meeting the polo crowd at Sefton and Culverden.
Andy and Gillian Thom, Dubai



I cannot tell you how lovely it has been ... I have learnt an incredible amount - far more than 15 years of school education. I cannot imagine not being here next season.
Camilla Hicks, England



Thank you very much for providing a truly once in a lifetime experience ... there were a lot of long faces at the prospect of leaving New Zealand. To a man, all swore that we would return someday, and from a group that perhaps travels far too much and is jaded to the world. That is indeed a compliment.
J. Curtis Gwilliam, Washington DC



This was a great break from England. I loved every minute of it. I hope to see you all soon, maybe for my GAP year?
Sophie Stanek, England



I have learnt a huge amount. The task now is make it stick and apply it back home.
Peter Benn, England



Excellent food, fabulous company and polo - what more could you possibly ask for?
Tina and Brendon Fahey, Australia



Brilliant horses, want to take them all back; and brilliant place to stay.
Charlie Budget, England



The polo has been fantastic and the hospitality overwhelming.
John Welsh, England



I have reached my goal of improving my polo, but, more importantly, my horsemanship. This is all down to Mark.
Adrian Rands, England



We were knocked out by this country, this weather, this polo, and, above all, you guys!
Paula and Jeremy Cooke, England



I have learnt such a lot, not just about horses and polo, but also many valuable lessons in life. I am in denial that I am actually leaving.
Sarah Nicholson, England



Henry loved the polo and we enjoyed getting to know you.
Alice, Henry, Hugo, and Skye Rourke, of New South Wales, Australia



The most hospitable family in the world.
Tim and Gilly Walker, England



What a brilliant week ... I could have asked for nothing more.

Gus Booth, Adelaide, Australia



Being able to play on such a great field, on brilliant horses, with a full stomach, was a real treat.
Ed Magor, England



You've increased my confidence on the field and given me the chance to play great polo. The horses have all been fab and you have such a wonderful setup ... it has been the perfect start to my GAP year.
Amy Bletsoe-Brown, England



We couldn't have fitted more polo into the week ...
David, Roz and Hamish, of Kerrie, Australia