The Charlotte Skaggs Approach To Sports

By Carolyn Richardson


Polo is one of the fastest and most dangerous sports in the world. Older than Jesus, the sport dates back to 600 BC in Central or Southern Asia, possibly in Persia, or what is now Iran. The sport is played on a grass field measuring 300 x 160 yards. The players are mounted on horseback and use long wooden mallets to try and bat a solid plastic ball into a goal to score against the opposing team. In many parts of the world, the riders are mounted on elephants. Water polo is another popular variation. Polo is big in Texas, mainly down to the efforts of a woman known as, "The Polo Lady, " Charlotte Skaggs.

Texans for Polo was founded in 2006 to connect people with the sport. The Polo Lady, using robust networking strategies and a small database, managed to mastermind a 500% increase in attendance within a six-month period. She raises awareness of the sport by organizing event like the Brinker International Polo Cup, unveilings and driving events of luxury cars, and arranging fashion show co-sponsorships with luxury brands.

It was her mother and grandparents who fostered her love of horses. Her passion is polo and her main desire is to shout to the world about this powerful sport of kings. She has established the Polo World Network, a form where players and fans alike can post videos, photographs and commentary about their experiences on and off the field.

Although she hates heights (they tickle her tummy), she is an avowed speed devil. This is evident by the way she spends her spare time. One of her passions is for cycling. One year, twelve weeks after undergoing an operation to fuse the bones in her neck, she was racing her cycle to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis. She completed 150 miles within two days.

On another mad cycling occasion, she and almost a thousand other cycling enthusiasts traversed the entire state of Oklahoma, a distance of 400 miles, over the period of a six-day camping trip. On at least one night, the daring campers were battered in their tents by 75 mph winds. In her view, these events are less about racing than they are about endurance.

Charlotte also enjoys sailing her Coronado sailboat, "Wild Fire, " around Lake Grapevine. She took up sailing during the summer of 2011. Her first boat, a Scorpion she named "Horse 'n' Round, " after her grandparents' small yacht, held only two people so she upgraded to "Wild Fire, " a six-seater.

Among her other interests, Charlotte enjoys target shooting. Handy with a rifle, she has demonstrated skill at hunting mason jars in Alabama. She also likes poking around caves in Robbers Cave State Park and playing with baby alligators on while on boat trips in New Orleans.

This is a talented woman with a zest for life who makes a success of anything she turns her hand to. The world of polo is lucky to have her involved in raising its profile. It can only be a matter of time before Texas is hosting major international matches.




About the Author:



No comments: