Santa Ynez Polo Pony Session

Meghan, Petito Feo and Sampson

This Santa Ynez Polo pony session with Meghan Gracida took place at the stunning Piocho Ranch in Happy Canyon Vineyards on a beautiful glowing evening.  Meghan decided to use her two main polo mounts Petito Feo and Sampson. Loosely translated, Petito Feo means “ugly duckling” in Spanish. I think we can all agree that the grey beauty featured below is anything but ugly. He was given the name as an awkward foal and was assumed “not athletic enough” to be a future polo pony. Luckily he met Meghan a few short years later. Meghan Gracida learned to play polo from her husband; world renowned polo player Memo Gracida.

Meghan instantly liked the grey gelding. Soon enough Petito Feo became her mount to learn polo aboard. He has blossomed into a gorgeous horse since his awkward early days and the pair make quite a duo on the polo fields. Meghan rides on the La Herradura team and often plays on the beautiful fields in Happy Canyon as well as the Santa Barbara Polo Club. With a great temperament to learn on and enough spice to keep it interesting, Petito Feo has helped Meghan become one heck of a polo player. About a year or so ago, Memo had a friend looking for a horse to learn on. Thinking nothing of it, Memo sold Petito. Meghan was heart-broken over Petito leaving. She didn’t have to stay heart-broken for long because after about two weeks the woman called back and said she wasn’t getting along with Petito. The little grey gelding came home, where he has been ever since and will remain forever.

The bond between Meghan and Petito is clear. He wanted to come home, so he did. Meghan typically switches from Petito Feo or Sampson as her main mount for riding and polo. Sampson is a gorgeous dark brown quarter horse gelding that was originally trained as a reined cow horse. He has taken to the polo fields nicely and seems to enjoy being around Meghan as much as she loves being around him. Check out a few images from our session below at the beautiful Piocho Polo Club in Santa Ynez, Ca.

To book your very own Horse+ Rider session contact me here and I look forward to chatting with you!