POLO, Anyone?

On an Army post with several thousand horses and riders, it is natural for the sport of polo to be played.  Fort Sill teams won several international competitions over the years and brought home large bronze trophies to prove it.  The mechanization of the Field Artillery eventually eliminated the sport from play.

These are photographs I took today at the Polo Club at Fort Sill Polo Club.  Quality is not too good, but you will get the idea.  I did not get a photograph of the exterior of the building, but will add it when I get one.

Polo players at Fort Sill, circa 1890.

Enlargement of photograph above, note that the first and third individuals from the left are playing on western saddles.

Polo match in front of the Post Trader’s home.

Polo mallets on display at the Polo Club.

Odd light fixture with at thunderbird at the top and a horseshoe suspended.  There appear to be very old.  The building was built in the 1920’s, or there about, and I believe that the fixtures are contemporary to the building’s construction.

Mantle with trophies.

Fireplace and mantle with trophies.  Note the saddle to the right of the fireplace.

Saddle to the right of the fireplace.

Two of many photographs exhibited in the Polo Club.

New York Times Article: Fort Sill Wins Dull Polo Game

WASHINGTON, July 19 (1913). – The Fifth Artillery team from Fort Sill, Okla., to-day won a slow and rather uninteresting polo match from a Washington team of army officers by 4 ¼ to ¼ goals.  It was a consolation game following the elimination trials for the Narragansett Pier matches at which the mounted service school team from Fort Riley, Kan., won the right to represent the army.  Fort Sill displayed the better team work to-day, but the losers showed frequent brilliant individual plays.