Has the sport of kings finally come down to earth? Long considered a pastime for elites, the centuries-old game of polo is made accessible and fun at Prestonwood Polo & Country Club. In tribute to mother Earth, the club hosted its 2nd annual Polo for the Planet on June 5th, a family-friendly, picnic-style community celebration. Judging by this event’s popularity, polo’s panache seems to add just the sort of luster that the green movement has been longing for.
The brainchild of polo club owners Dena and Vaughn Miller, Polo for the Planet gives green business owners, aka “ecopreneurs”, a way to sell their wares and spread the green gospel against a backdrop of grassy fields and galloping horses. The Green Market was assembled by this year’s event chair 
Debora Annino, the creative director of dNh Do No Harm medical scrubs: high-quality, sustainable apparel for use in hospitals, doctor’s offices, and spas. Green Market vendors in attendance and/or donating to the gift bags included: Anna Sova home, Avon Liv Botanicals, A.L.A.R.M women’s products, dNH Do No Harm, Dixie Piece Goods, EarthPeople, Earth on a Shoestring, GreenPet, Make Love Not Trash, Moss Gatherers, Nordstrom Galleria Beauty, Pure Dental, Rehoboth Ranch, Sila’s Soup, Susan’s Soaps & More, Texas Discovery Gardens, and The Spa at The Whole Foods Market.
When I asked Dena what gave her the idea for hosting Polo for the Planet, she told me, “My husband Vaughn has played Polo for over 15 years. We’ve traveled the world and made many friends through the sport. We enjoy using it as a charitable platform to help others.” Dena, a mom of 4, regards green as the right thing to do. Herself a savvy entrepreneur, Dena also recognizes that demonstrating sustainable values is a smart way to build brand awareness and goodwill. Her social consciousness indeed draws a diverse crowd. Guests ranging from folksy to frou-frou came together on the field to stomp divots and enjoy organic Bluecoat American Dry Gin's "Bluecoat Polo Breeze" cocktails.
Two great polo matches rounded out the day. Paloma Creek won the preliminary match and Savannah won the main match. Sophie Gleeson had an amazing game and took the MVP award. As the honorary chair, I got to pass out the trophies at the end of the match. Chatting with the players brought me back to my post-graduate year spent in Argentina. Similar to polo in the pampas, the vibe at this North Texas sanctuary is more estilo campo than the over polished screen set of Pretty Woman. In short, this is down-home polo where real people have a really good time doing a sport they really love.
Here’s to a great evening talking with old and new friends, all for a good cause. As a sustainability expert, I appreciate the sentiment behind Polo for the Planet. As a regular person, I appreciate all the more that Prestonwood offers Polo for the people.
