POLO VALLEY, SOTOGRANDE
At the beginning of every year, I set myself a challenge: what can I do to pull myself out of my comfort zone? How can I grow and change myself for the better. A trip courtesy of luxury tour operator Powder Byrne to Polo Valley, a purpose-built polo ranch in Sotogrande, is just what I am looking for. After all, I have no riding experience and terrible coordination.
Just 30 minutes’ drive from Gibraltar airport, Polo Valley is off the beaten track, down a dusty lane lined with palm trees. Hidden from passers-by, behind an understated gate lies a beautiful polo field with 50 horses, four dogs and a sassy miniature pony called Soto, which instantly make it feel homely. Though the ranch is expanding to include two full-size polo fields and a guest house with villa suites, a gym and spa, it’s clear a family spirit will always remain at the heart.
If anyone is going to be able to put Polo Valley’s ‘beginners welcome’ claim to the test, it’s me. Christian, whose father founded Powder Byrne, believes that polo should be accessible to everyone. He is our instructor for our first lesson (which includes how to hold a mallet for us beginners). Then there’s no time for nerves as I meet my horse, Harry, and begin trotting, cantering and finally enjoying a game of ‘tag’, which is the most effective way to make even the most nervous rider forget about being on horseback.
Each horse on the ranch is personally selected by trainer Santi and reared to be gentle with new riders. They make the perfect partners for a river hack, where my boots fill with water, but I am oblivious because galloping is extraordinary, exhilarating and unlike anything I’ve ever done before. By the time we return to the ranch, not one of us wants the ride to end. A gin and tonic is waiting for me, followed by a barbecue of steak, lemon and herb chicken, sticky ribs and salads (finished off with chocolate cake fresh from the oven). We eat alfresco and sing along to a guitar until late into the night.
Our accommodation at Polo Valley is simple but stylish: a rustic Andalucían guest house with stone floors and an honesty bar, which feels like a home away from home (one with eight bedrooms and a private swimming pool!). From my vast bedroom window I can see the horses being fed each morning.
On our last day, we finally play a polo match and I even score a point. It astounds me that I have a new-found confidence and have learned to ride in just a few days. It’s testament to the ranch and its fully immersive experience, where mental barriers of the everyday are lifted. The trip serves as a reminder that success can take many forms and, as I head back to London, I can’t wait to (quite literally) get back on the horse. JODIE DUNWORTH