Polo Life: Horses, Sport, 10 and Zen - Hardcover

S Onderdonk, A Snow &

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0997585420 ISBN 13: 9780997585421

Publisher: Shelley Onderdonk, 2016

Synopsis

Polo Life: Horses, Sport, 10 and Zen delves into the world of high goal polo through the uniquely situated lenses of former 10-goaler Adam Snow and his wife and veterinarian, Shelley Onderdonk. Together their voices provide an unprecedented level of access into the horse and human dynamics that make the sport tick, their passion, respect and commitment for the sport and each other shine through each page. Less polo manual than human interest story, their chapters cover a broad range of topics: there is a horse so good she single-handedly altered the trajectory of Adam's career; a farm named after the city where this couple met in college; a country and polo culture that shaped Adam as a player...and where they had luggage stolen more than once; and a serendipitous meeting with a sports psychologist that turned Adam's career around. Adam recounts his childhood obsession with ball sports; Shelley hers with horses. Together, they reveal how sports psychology has been integral to Adam's success, tell behind-the-scenes stories about teammates, grooms and trainers, celebrate their legendary equine partners, and provide an uncensored glimpse into the glamorous international component of the sport from Buenos Aires to Bandar Seri Begawan. The dynamics of maintaining a healthy marriage and family within the framework of a professional athlete's career are also fundamental to Adam and Shelley's polo life. Their prose--by turns humble, humorous, and inspirational--showcases the sport's enduring appeal.

About this title

About the Author:

Adam Snow is in his third decade as a professional polo player. He fully engages in the sport at many levels: there is a childlike fascination with the ball, an adrenaline junkie's love for speed, and a college graduate's immersion in strategic machinations. He has played polo on four continents and for hundreds of teams. Highlights of his career include US Open wins in 2002 and 2006, carrying a 10-goal handicap (the highest possible rating and a rare achievement) for three years, winning Player of the Year in 1997 and 2003, and being inducted into the Polo Hall of Fame in 2014. Currently, Adam is a broadcast analyst for polo productions in NBCSN and works with the United States Polo Association furthering polo development in the US. He graduated from Yale in 1987 with a BA in History.

Review:

Kenny Rice, sportscaster: A fascinating reveal of a sport and one of its greatest players from the unique vantage of the team--Adam and Shelley--at the heart of it all. They eloquently weave a story of goals both on and off the field. Tommy Lee Jones, actor, polo player: Juan Carlos Harriott, one of the greatest polo players of the 20th century, has said "If you find yourself out there on the polo field galloping around with nothing to do, try thinking." Adam and Shelley have written a book that gives us a clear insight into what it means to play polo at the highest level--while thinking. Melanie Smith Taylor, Olympic Gold Medalist, horsewoman, author: Polo Life offers a window into the life of an extraordinary couple and details their remarkable dedication to the pursuit of excellence in the sport of polo. Javier Tanoira; polo player, author, founder of All Pro Polo League: Adam and Shelley's Polo Life is a nice breeze of fresh air on the polo scene. Behind the cool-headed legend rises a super sensitive soul, horse and nature lover, who was lucky to find in Shelley a true companion to share a dream and a lifestyle that is not always a walk in the park. The book is inspiring, fun, and instructive; it goes from polo to yoga, from quantum physics applied in the search for a great mare to the mental strength necessary for winning games and tournaments. Everything is connected. And at the same time, the book is a poetic journey of the last 30 years of American polo at the highest level, narrated in very simple but powerful prose by its last great hero. A must read for everyone, especially for kids who want to become professional polo players.

About this edition

• Publisher: Shelley Onderdonk
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0997585420
• ISBN 13: 9780997585421
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224