Polo Match Goal to Score $30K for Charity Saturday in Chesterfield

A fundraiser for a program that provides life-changing experiences for disabled individuals will pair a polo match Saturday with a host of family-centric activities at Spirit Valley Farms in Chesterfield. It's located at Wild Horse Creek and Eatherton roads.

St. Louis Polo Club will play the charity match. The club roster includes the surnames Busch, Orthwein, Gross, Sansone, von Gontard, McGehee, and Porter.

The ninth annual Grapes on the Grass Saturday, 3 p.m., will center on a typical polo match to benefit the nonprofit Therapeutic Horsemanship (TH) program. Teams are four players each.

Separate from the polo match, the nonprofit provides horseback riding as therapy for those with autism, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions.

TH benefits more than 200 patients annually—the majority are children (87 percent.) Founded in 1975, a major goal of the fundraiser is aid more in joining the program, TH Director Monica Marsh said.

"One of the key reasons this program is so amazing and so highly effective is people with disabilities are in therapy their entire lives...it is really boring to be going to a doctor's office or therapist's office once a week and have somebody read you a book or work with a machine.

"When they come out here, there's 80 acres of flowers and trees, and it is a therapeutic experience the rider and horse make, and the volunteer and rider make, together. It really makes a difference in motivating and empowering people with disabilities. That's really the key to it all."

Saturday's polo match will be accompanied by wine tastings for adults, and food, crafts, pony rides, balloon artistry and face painting for families. Back by popular demand, a mini-polo match played with golf carts will take the field during halftime.

A traditional polo match is played with horses.

"There (will be) lots of activities," Marsh said. "During halftime, TH will have a demonstration as well as a golf cart polo match, which actually ended up happening last year when the field was too wet to play polo on horseback. People loved it so much we wanted to bring it back."

Marsh can't say enough about the benefits the program provides to others.

"We have specialized therapists using the horse as a therapy tool. It's very good for the body and it's very good for the mind. It motivates the children and gives them an opportunity they would not otherwise have.

"Many of them are not going to be able to do football, gymnastics, or soccer, but they can ride. They are able to go out and compete and do quite well. We have a waiting list of kids anxious to get into the program and this will help them."

Gates open at 3 p.m. and the polo match begins at 4 p.m. on McGehee Polo Field located at 17879 Wild Horse Creek Road.

Tickets can be purchased for a variety of ways to enjoy the match.

General admission tickets can be purchased for $20 per carload in advance ($25 at the gate) with partygoers encouraged to bring lawn chairs and a picnic to the match. Food vendors will be on site as well.

Tailgaters can enjoy the match with on-field parking for $40 per carload. And VIP tickets can be purchased for $60 per adult and $20 per child. VIP attendees will enjoy the match under a tent with a wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres.

For more information, visit the website or call 636-332-4940.

St. Louis Polo Club offers these directions: 

McGehee Polo Field
Access Via the Landings and Spirit Golf Club
180 N. Eatherton Rd.
Chesterfield, MO 63005

From Wentzville
Hwy 64-40
Take Chesterfield Airport Rd Exit
Gas Station on Right (first light)
Golf Club on Left

From St. Louis
Hwy 64-40
Take Long Rd. Ext - Left
Right onto Chesterfiel Ariport Rd
Gas Station on Left (Eatherton Rd) Left
Golf Club on Left