HEATHER PERKINS

How did you get started with horses?
I grew up riding hunter/jumpers in Huntington Beach, CA. I was fortunate to have parents who (despite being non-horsey) supported my passion from a young age. For my 12th birthday they agreed to match me dollar for dollar in my quest to purchase and own a horse. I purchased my first horse when I was 14 and my second by the time I was 16. I was always looking for any type of horse to ride for both experience and money to pay my own horse expenses.

How did you get involved in polo?
When I was 15 years old I got a job working for OC Polo (then Playa Grande Polo). I rode sets, did basic horse care, game grooming, tack cleaning etc. I would take any opportunity to get into a polo lesson.  When students wouldn’t show up for their lessons I would always volunteer to work the horse knowing it was another opportunity for me to learn. I began playing polo immediately but never expected it to become more than just another equestrian discipline I enjoyed.

What do you enjoy most about polo?
My favorite thing about polo is always the horses. I’m grateful to be able to play polo with my Dad and husband. My son, Tanner, is already riding and I cannot wait for him to join us on the field.

What is the best part of your job?
Introducing new students to both horses and polo. I try to expose my students and club members to a variety of different activities to increase their horsemanship and improve their bond with their horse.  This includes horse camping, cattle sorting, beach riding and whatever else I can put together to get people out of the day to day routine of polo.