La Herencia Polo Club: Why I Keep Coming Back
By Celio Garcera, founder of Krono Polo
When people think of polo in Sotogrande, they
often picture the summer tournaments: exceptional horses, famous players and
closely fought finals. I love watching those matches, and I enjoy competitive
polo myself. But there is another part of the sport that means just as much to
me: riding with people whose company I enjoy, sharing a good game and staying
afterwards for a drink and a conversation.
That is what brings me back to La Herencia PoloClub.
I play there from time to time, and each visit reminds me how much the atmosphere of a club contributes to the pleasure of playing. La Herencia is small and very private, with a personal welcome that makes you feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. Pablo Roldán and his wife, Leticia, have created somewhere people can learn, play and spend time together.
Playing for
the pleasure of the game
I have a two-goal handicap and feel comfortable
playing medium-goal polo. I enjoy the speed, the competition and the
concentration it demands. There is satisfaction in being part of a team,
reading the game and making a contribution when everything is moving quickly.
I also love low-goal polo. For me, an enjoyable
game depends on the horses, the people and the spirit in which everyone plays.
A relaxed afternoon can be just as memorable as a competitive match,
particularly when you finish feeling that everyone has had a good time.
At La Herencia, I especially enjoy meeting and
playing with newcomers. Their enthusiasm brings something valuable to the
field. When someone is discovering polo, a clean hit or their first goal can be
a moment they remember for weeks. Being part of that experience is a pleasure.
It also reminds me to appreciate my own game. After years of playing, you can become preoccupied with what went wrong: the missed shot, the poor decision, the chance you should have taken. Playing with people who are still discovering the sport brings your attention back to how enjoyable it is simply to be on a horse, chasing a ball.
Learning with
Pablo Roldán
Pablo’s coaching talent is an important part of
La Herencia’s appeal. He understands polo, but he also understands that every
player arrives with different experience, confidence and ambitions.
For a beginner, there is a lot to absorb. Riding,
handling the mallet, approaching the ball and understanding the rules can feel
like separate challenges happening at once. A good coach helps those pieces
come together gradually, while keeping the experience enjoyable.
For someone who already plays, the challenge may
be more specific. Perhaps a particular shot feels awkward, or a habit has
developed that is difficult to identify without another pair of eyes. Pablo has
the ability to help players work through those problems.
I appreciate that because I am still learning
myself. A two-goal handicap certainly does not mean every swing is right or
every decision works. There is always something to improve, and sometimes a
clear explanation or a small adjustment is more useful than another afternoon
of repeating the same mistake.
For anyone thinking about trying polo, having the right introduction matters. La Herencia offers a way to discover the sport with guidance, rather than feeling you have to understand everything before you begin.
A welcome from
Leticia
Leticia is a big part of why the club feels so
welcoming. She always makes people feel at home, whether they have come to
play, take a lesson or spend the afternoon with someone who is riding.
That hospitality stays with you. A drink after
the game, an introduction to someone you have not met, or an invitation to stay
a little longer can turn a visit into an afternoon you want to repeat.
Because La Herencia is small, the welcome feels
personal. You get to know the people behind the club and the players around
you. There is space to have a conversation, ask a question and become familiar
with the place.
Pablo and Leticia complement each other very well. His coaching and knowledge of polo give the sporting side its strength, while her warmth helps create the social atmosphere. Together, they make La Herencia somewhere I am always happy to return to.
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Staying for
the asado
The after-polo asados, which happen almost every
weekend, are one of the things I particularly enjoy.
After the horses have been put away, the
afternoon continues around food and drinks. You talk about the game, laugh
about a missed shot and get to know the people you have just shared the field
with.
Those conversations are part of polo for me.
During a chukka, your attention is on your horse, the ball and the next play.
Afterwards, you have time to discover someone’s story: how they started riding,
why they tried polo or what they hope to do next.
For a newcomer, that is a lovely way to become
part of the community. You may arrive for a lesson and leave knowing people you
look forward to seeing again. The next visit already feels more familiar.
I think clubs benefit enormously from that continuity. People return for the game, but also for the friendships and the feeling of belonging.
My connection
through Krono Polo
As the founder of Krono Polo, I spend a great
deal of time thinking about the sport. I began by making equipment I wanted to
use myself, and that practical experience still shapes the brand.
I ride regularly and work with young horses, so I
appreciate the patience and everyday effort behind polo. Progress is often
quiet: a horse becoming more confident, a movement feeling easier or a shot
beginning to come together.
La Herencia fits naturally into that part of my
life. I go there to enjoy playing, meet people and spend time in an atmosphere
I value. Those experiences matter to me as a player, and they influence what I
want Krono to represent.
I want us to celebrate the whole polo community,
including the people taking their first lessons and the small clubs that
welcome them.
La Herencia is one of those places. With Pablo’s coaching, Leticia’s hospitality and the pleasure of staying for an asado, it offers much more than time on the field. For me, it is a wonderful place to play—and a place I look forward to returning to.
