Born to ride

SARASOTA — Polo player Shane Rice was born to ride.

Born into a family in which everyone around him — including his parents, aunts and uncles, cousins and
siblings — played, it was only fitting that Rice would be thrust into the saddle at a young age.

Rice was 4 years old the first time he saddled up and began playing cowboy polo. Three years later, the California native was ready to move on to English polo, which proved to be the perfect learning opportunity.

“English polo was easier, because the ball was smaller and lighter,” Rice said. “When I first started, there were hardly any kids around, so I had to become stronger and quicker, because I was surrounded by better players.

“I loved it so much,” Rice said. “It was so much better for me. Not only did it give me an advantage, but (also) my family always like a challenge, and I’m a fierce competitor.”

Over the years, Rice’s passion for polo intensified. In high school, Rice won a national polo title with his cousin and sister, and it wasn’t long before Rice was focused solely on competing and turning professional.

At the time, his main goal was to become a six-goal player, but now Rice, in his third season competing at the Sarasota Polo Club, is more concerned with putting the best horses he can out on the field.

“When I first started out, I thought I had to make it to six goals to be happy, but now I always want to bring the best horses I can onto the field,” Rice said. “If we’re winning, I’m happy, and if we’re losing, then I’m talking to the crowd and having as much fun as possible.”

Rice already has seen tremendous success in his first season competing with Ten Oaks. Through the first six matches of the season, Rice has received the Best Playing Pony award three times and also has been named the Most Valuable Player once.

But of all the accolades he’s received over the years, this year’s Best Playing Pony awards are the most rewarding. Rice has 13 horses with him here in Sarasota and another six, including his favorite horse, Fifa, who was afraid of a polo ball when he first got her in Texas.

“Growing up, I loved the competition with the horses, and now, it’s the satisfaction I get when my hard work pays off on the field,” Rice said. “The Best Playing Pony award — I’ve been very fortunate. For me, it’s a new experience, and it’s joyous and fulfilling.

“It’s the best award you could ever win,” Rice said. “To be able to take less (productive) horses and make them better — not only to get along with them but to be effective. It’s the horse and you, and everything comes together for one chukker of that game.”

Prior to coming to the Sarasota Polo Club, Rice won the 12-goal polo tournament in Ocala with fellow Sarasota Polo Club player James Miller.

“That started me mentally on a good note and helped me get fresh and ready to go,” Rice said. “I’m just enjoying what I get. You don’t always get to choose whom you play with, and I’m really enjoying whom I’ve been able to play with, which is rare. I’m just taking it one step at a time.

“Field One isn’t always there for you, so we’re always working hard to try and get to the big show on Sunday,” Rice said.

When he’s not busy playing polo, Rice enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, Nicole Stringer, and playing golf with the Polo Players Golf Association — a group of eight to 12 polo players who play golf together every Monday.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].