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P O N Y L I N E S
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Salsita is an eight-year-old grey mare, bred in the UK by James Beim. She is out of Salsa,
an American Thoroughbred, and by Clark (Claret x Night Opera), an Ellerston Australia
stallion transported to the UK. She played with Beim’s brother,Tom, in low goal, and this
has been her first proper season playing high goal.‘I normally play her early as a spare
and in the fourth chukka,’ says Beim.‘She has a lot of power, is very comfortable, has an
amazing mouth but her biggest asset is her sides at speed. I have never ridden a horse
that can turn at speed like Salsita.You have to hold on!’ She won BPP in the quarters and
semis of the Gold Cup this year, and was also awarded the prize in the Westchester Cup.
Beim is now creating embryos to breed Salsita, who already has a one-year-old mare.
P O N Y ’ S N A M E : S A L S I T A
S E X : M A R E
O R I G I N : A R G E N T I N A
L O V E O F M Y L I F E
When and how did you start playing polo?
With my father, around the age of eight,
in a small town called Underberg in South
Africa. There were 12 playing members.
What makes polo special for you?
Polo brings together my passion for ball
sports and my love of horses. I enjoy learning
from people and being part of a team.
Who do you respect most in polo?
Several important people have influenced my
polo greatly: Pite Merlos introduced me to
high-goal playing; Gaston Laulhe has helped
improve my confidence and understanding of
the game; and Pelon Stirling has encouraged
me on and off the field, and gave me the
opportunity to play with La Bamba.
How many tournaments have you played
in this year – and how many did you win?
I’ve played in six tournaments this year with
three wins, and I reached the finals of the
Gold Cup (22-goal) and the Challenge
(18-goal).
What is your most memorable polo game?
The semi-final of the Gold Cup against RH,
who we beat in overtime. The feeling of
winning that close game to go into the final
was unbelievable.
S A D D L E U P W I T H . . .
B Y R O N W A T S O N
C O U N T R Y : S O U T H A F R I C A
H A N D I C A P : 5 ( U K )
A G E : 2 2
A S P E N V A L L E Y
P O L O C L U B
This year’s Aspen Valley Polo Club
summer marquis charity event,
hosted by club owners Marc and
Melissa Ganzi and Aspen Valley
Hospital, raised an impressive
$537,200 for the Aspen Valley
Hospital Foundation, beating last
year’s total of $366,000. Held during
the 12 August Rocky Mountain
Open, the Chukkers, Champagne &
Caviar fundraiser raised money to
support Aspen Valley Hospital’s
construction project, plus help to
purchase state-of-the-art imaging
technology and will also contribute to
the hospital’s ongoing daily operations.
The live polo player auction was the
highlight of the day; with John Sarpa of
the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation
Board serving as emcee and auctioneer.
