Sussex Polo

“As for the lesson yesterday… where do I start?   Absolutely first class teaching. I enjoyed every second of the lesson with Duane.  Duane is an exceptional, natural instructor from whom I learnt so much in one lesson.”

Duane discovered polo in 1998 and learnt to play following a stint in the arena at Mill Hill in London and several years playing up to 6 goal polo in the UK and Argentina.  He and his wife Sallie Anne founded Sussex Polo Club in 2002.  The Lents wanted to create an inclusive Low Goal polo environment with high quality teaching and facilities.

Duane grew up in the USA surrounded by horses.  His father was a champion rodeo rider, so it was probably the adrenaline rush and team work involved in polo that attracted him to the sport.  Rated with a zero goal handicap, Duane has played in and coached hundreds of chukkas, winning numerous tournaments.  He originally qualified as an HPA club instructor in 2007 as a way of understanding how polo coaching should be done to help keep the teaching quality high at Sussex Polo Club.

As a polo patron who converted to teaching others, rather than as a player adapted to teaching, Duane understands the needs of new adult players who come late into the sport.  “Professional people often need mentoring on many aspects of the sport from horse selection to team playing, riding and hitting skills.  I have learned about most of these from the ground up”, says Duane.

As one of the main coaches of his son Terence, now an England select player at 12 years of age, he also understands how to communicate complex ideas simply to a younger audience.  Duane explains “I have spent over a decade on a horse and have been fortunate enough to play with and learn under some of the UK’s best coaches. Coming from outside the polo world I believe I am able to empathize with people new to the sport.  I enjoy passionately sharing my knowledge and enthusiasm to those who have also been smitten by the most addictive sport I know!”