501(c)(3) organization
Membership Information
Come join us and play polo! There are three REQUIRED memberships to play polo. Scroll to learn more about each item. Questions can be emailed to the Aggie Polo club: aggiepoloclubucd@gmail.com
Aggie Polo Club Memberships
Memberships are broken down into categories for students and non-students. Students include high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. Our goal is to get more people from different parts of the club involved to make it a more inclusive environment for everyone.
How do I sign up?
To sign up for lessons or stick and ball, please use our Calendly link (https://calendly.com/aggiepoloclub).
Signup deadlines: Midnight the night before lessons occurring on weekdays, and noon the day before for lessons/stick and ball on weekend days. Late sign ups are not accepted.
Remember to sign release forms for the new year! This can be done when you get to the property but BEFORE you do anything with horses.
What does the quarterly membership include?
Nine lessons (including horses) throughout the quarter within your lesson group, given weather permits. Lesson Rain Dates will be released with the quarter schedule
Entry to the annual Fall end-of-quarter tournament, including a horse rental
Access to club social events
~2-3 times per week opportunities for riding and stick and ball in addition to lessons
Discounts on horse rentals for tournaments and chukkers
All members are expected to untack and put away their horses/take care of equipment after lessons.
Horse rentals are not included for club chukkers, except for officers
Payment Due Date for returning members: October 15th
How much does a membership cost?
Non-student membership: $800/quarter
Student-membership: $700/quarter
Varsity: $800/quarter: (includes USPA entry fees)
The payment deadline for memberships is October 15th and all payments from returning members after this date will incur a $50 late fee.
Do you offer discounts?
You bet! We offer discounts in exchange for help running the club. The minimum age for all deputy/officer positions is 16 years old, and reliable transportation is required. Volunteer hour verifications are offered! Deputies+officers must be able to attend short weekly check-ins.
Officer: $350 off plus horses for weekly club chukkers (40+ hours/quarter)
Gold Deputy: $350 off (20-25 hours/quarter)
Blue Deputy: $200 off (10-15 hours/quarter)
Additionally, we always welcome exercise riders to help keep our horses fit! If you are a confident independent rider, comfortable at the walk trot canter and interested in being an exercise rider, please reach out to our Horse Manager- Meredith Crothall at macrothall@ucdavis.edu or (760) 573-0157.
To apply to become deputy officer, please reach out to Emi (209) 304-0030 to check for available positions before paying for your membership. Participation in previous quarters does not guarantee a spot for this quarter. All deputy officers (or parent/guardian for minors) must sign a contract agreeing to fulfill the number of hours required by their membership. Except in extenuating circumstances, if the hours are not filled, the full amount of the membership will be owed on the last day of the quarter and the member will not be eligible for a deputy membership for one quarter.
Can I get a discount for using my own horse in lessons?
No, we don't offer discounts for using your own horse/leased horse.
What if I am new and am not sure I want to join?
Are you brand new to the club and not sure if you want to commit to a full membership? That's totally fine! Students can pay per-lesson for up to three lessons (These lessons are 3x ONCE; they do not reset each quarter) before deciding to commit to a full membership. Our students are welcome to decide to purchase a quarterly membership after lesson #1 or lesson #2, and start their membership without paying for more individual lessons. After the third lesson is completed and paid for, a Membership must be paid for prior to your next (4th) lesson registration. If you attended our Intro to Horsemanship classes last year and have NOT taken any additional lessons through the Aggie Polo Club, you still have the 3 Polo lessons pre-membership available to you.
*Non-Student Single Lesson (up to 3 lessons): $70 each
*Student Single Lesson (up to 3 lessons): $60 each
What do the different lesson groups mean and which one should I be in?
Competitive Varsity Team:
Undergraduate or graduate student carrying at least 12 units
Advanced understanding of the game, strategies, riding, and technique
Fits all other USPA intercollegiate eligibility requirements.
Intro to horsemanship class: Currently NOT scheduled for Fall Quarter 2025- Keep an eye out for announcements in the future!
This is for members without significant horse experience (defined below). It is a 4 week introductory class with the intention of joining the beginner group in the following quarter or after completion. The cost for this class is $225 which includes one lesson a week for 4 weeks. Attending this onboarding class will not use up your 3 trial lessons! The first lesson will focus primarily on horse care from the ground, learning to mount/dismount, and a short ride. The rest of the weeks will involve more riding. This is a horsemanship class, not a polo class, but it is still required if you don't fit the below criteria for Beginner or Main group lessons.
Alternatively: You can complete the Riding 100 Horseback Riding Lessons through the UC Davis Equestrian Center Campus Recreation. If you have completed this program within 18 months of Fall Quarter 2025, you may provide proof of completion in order to join our Beginner lesson group this quarter! To join our Beginner group in Winter 2025, Fall Rec Riding Registration opens September 30th at 7am and spots fill quickly, so be prepared online to sign up before it opens!
Beginner group:
This group is intended for beginners to polo. This includes returning members who are not yet comfortable hitting at a walk, trot, and canter. It is also intended for new members who are coming from other riding disciplines and have significant horse experience. In order to be in this group and skip the intro to horsemanship class, you must be able to walk and comfortably post a trot at a minimum. You must be able to steer and stop independently. On the ground, you must be able to catch, groom, tack up (experience with regular english tack is fine), untack, and rinse off a horse safely. You must know how to clean tack. If you are not confident that you can do all of these things or you aren't sure what these terms mean, that is ok! Sign up for an Intro to Horsemanship in future quarters or the EQC Riding 100, and next quarter you can join the beginner group.
Main lesson group:
We will be combining the intermediate/advanced groups this quarter into one main group. This is for returning members who are comfortable with all aspects of horsemanship on the ground, understands the rules, and can hit at the walk trot and canter. Approval is required to move into this group from the beginner group, and please understand it is totally normal (and common) to stay in the beginner group for a few quarters! No new members may join this group without approval (people with previous polo experience may be accepted on a case-by-case basis).
What is stick and ball (aka S/B)?
Stick and ball is open practice time for you to get on a horse and practice your hitting and riding skills without an instructor present. This is offered for all memberships except those in the intro to horsemanship class. Previously, we did not allow scrimmaging or 2+ person drills, but this quarter scrimmaging and multi-person drills are allowed weather permitting. Please limit your mounted time to 30 minutes (and limit scrimmages to 10 minutes running per horse). Stick and ball will be offered 3 times per week during certain time windows. It is very important to contain your arena use to fit within the provided S/B blocks as we share the arena with other clubs and private boarders. If you would like to go in a different time window on that day, you must have it approved by Bonnie Magill (bonniemagill57@gmail.com) and our Horse Manager, Merideth Crothall (macrothall@ucdavis.edu).
Please join the United States Polo Association before purchasing your membership. Yes, a USPA membership is REQUIRED to become an Aggie Polo Club member for insurance reasons.They now offer non-competing memberships which are $50 yearly and run from Jan 1st to December 31st which are suitable for almost all of our members. Competing middle/high school students must pay for the $100 student competing membership. Members must select Sutter Buttes as your home club-- it will help the club get grants and funding for improvements. You can register using this link: https://www.uspolo.org/association/membership
Additionally, all adult non-student members are required to have a yearly Sutter Buttes Polo Club membership through the club owner, Bonnie Magill. Her email is bonniemagill57@gmail.com and please contact her for the latest fee schedule. Students and youth are exempt from this requirement.
If you have any other questions, please email aggiepoloclubucd@gmail.com and we will answer you as soon as we can. Please feel free to forward this email to anyone who is interested in trying polo!
Reduce your Aggie membership Fee!!!
Where does my money go?
Great question! Membership money goes directly into horse board and care. Every school year, the club expends upward of $45,000 to keep our horses fed and healthy, and to keep the club running smoothly. At the moment, the Aggie Polo Club is responsible for the care of fifteen horses. By becoming a member of the club, you directly impact the longevity of the club for years to come. We rely on fundraisers, memberships, sponsorships, and donations to cover the entire $45,000.
Pay less by helping with the Aggie Polo Club!
We need your help to keep this club running! Our “deputy officer” roles give our members a discounted membership fee in exchange for helping out with a few administrative tasks/barn chores. The discount either reduces the membership by $200 or $350 depending on whether members decide to take on a role as a Blue Tier Deputy Officer or a Gold Tier Deputy Officer. Keep reading to learn more.
All deputy officers are expected to attend at least 2 club events per quarter. Depending on your class schedule, you can always change your membership at the start of each new quarter.
Blue Tier tasks require less commitment than Gold Tier, but are subject to change and are more physically intensive (think barn chores). These roles and the jobs associated with them are created on an as-needed basis, but we've listed examples of roles you might be assigned to below.
Gold Tier Deputy (Primary Deputy Officer) -$350 discount!
Pricing includes access to all lessons for Fall Quarter (reserved on a first-come-first-serve-sign-up basis), entry into our quarterly student tournament on December 2nd, access to club social events, and discounts on tournaments held at the Sutter Buttes Polo Club. In addition to tacking and untacking your horse at practices and taking proper care of your equipment, deputy officers help to oversee barn chores and assist the officers with their administrative roles. Deputy officers will have more "fixed" roles, will check in with their supervising club officer weekly, and will attend monthly club meetings.
Example of Gold Tier Deputy Roles:
-Equine Health Monitor (works with Lili and Melinda): Keeps track of horse health, including noting if horses are lame, colicky, have sores, are missing a shoe, or are losing weight. Can administer meds under Melinda's direction. In charge of recording when horses were used in our notebook log.
-Equipment/Barn Manager (works with Charlize): Records when tack is broken, in charge of cleaning tack weekly, sweeping out barn, keeping polo balls inflated, maintaining updated list of which horse uses which tack.
-Crowdfund Queen (works with Marisa and Maya): manages UC Davis fundraisers specifically on the Crowdfund website
-Finance Minion (works with Marisa): Helps Marisa keep track of finances on the spreadsheet
-Fundraiser Fairy (works with Maya): Manages sales of merchandise, smaller fundraisers like Cane’s, Chipotle, or a bake sale
-Tournament Manager (works with Maya/Bonnie): Works with Maya and Bonnie on FB Hart plus Fall Alumni Tournament—specifically with the logistics of putting teams/chukkers together and matching players with horses. A scheduling role.
Blue Tier Deputy (Secondary Deputy Officer) -$200 discount
Pricing includes access to all lessons for Fall Quarter (reserved on a first-come-first-serve-sign-up basis), entry into our quarterly student tournament on December 2nd, access to club social events, and discounts on tournaments held at the Sutter Buttes Polo Club. You will float around taking care of smaller tasks that need to be done for the club. Tasks will mostly be barn chores (mucking stalls, helping to drag the arena, cleaning and organizing tack) with the occasional minor administrative job (flyering around campus, tabling).
Examples of Blue Tier Deputy Roles:
-Acting as a secretary for officer meetings
-Rolling polo wraps and washing saddle pads
-Organizing and cleaning tack
-Scooping poop after lessons/making sure our barn stays tidy
-Posting flyers around campus
-Set up and take down for tabling events and on-campus events
Non-polo Membership ($500)
For those who want to get some saddle time but aren’t interested in polo. Can only access the horses on non-polo days.
Social Membership ($400 **for the year!!)
For those who aren’t interested in riding but want to stay in the loop with all of the Aggie Polo news and events. You’ll receive our weekly emails, pen pal notes from some of our amazing polo ponies, and have access to club socials.
What is expected of deputy members?
There are two levels of Deputy members, blue and gold, with blue requiring less commitment than gold. Deputy members of both levels get discounts off of their quarterly membership in exchange for their time and help. Gold tier deputies receive a $350 discount off of their base membership rate (student 700, non-student 800) and blue tier deputies receive a $200 discount.
Blue Tier memberships require less commitment than Gold Tier, but are subject to change as needed. For students living in Davis, this may mean logistical work, tabling, helping with accounting or IT work. Additionally, if members have their own transportation they may also help with barn tasks if they want. For those living in Yuba City or other areas, tasks will include helping with barn chores, cleaning tack, and tacking up horses for full-price members. Gold tier members and/or members living in Davis can expect generally more consistent jobs over the quarter such as fundraiser management, whereas blue tier deputies may expect more sporadic jobs such as grooming or equipment inventory. Gold tier deputies must attend monthly officer meetings and may be asked to act as meeting scribes. The meeting dates for this quarter are October 5th, November 2nd, and December 7th at 7:30pm on Zoom.
What if I don’t know if I want to purchase a membership?
Are you brand new to polo and not sure if you want to commit to a full membership? That's totally fine! Students can pay per-lesson for up to three lessons before deciding to commit to a full membership. Our students are welcome to decide to purchase a quarterly membership after lesson #1 or lesson #2, and start their membership without paying for more individual lessons. We do not offer pro-rating, and memberships for the quarter must be paid prior to registering for a 4th lesson.
*Non-Student Single Lesson (up to 3 lessons): $70
*UCD Student Single Lesson (up to 3 lessons): $60
USPA Membership
You must join the United States Polo Association before purchasing your membership. Yes, an USPA membership is REQUIRED to become an Aggie Polo Club member for insurance reasons.They now offer non-competing memberships which are $50 yearly and run from Jan 1st to December 31st which are suitable for almost all of our members. Competing middle/high school students must pay for the $100 student competing membership. Please select Sutter Buttes as your home club-- it will help us get funding for club improvements. You can register using this link.
Sutter Buttes Polo Club Membership
Unless you have an existing home club, you must choose Sutter Buttes Polo club when registering for a USPA membership, which is the facility where the Aggie Polo Club Practices.
Good news! For all kids under 18 years of age OR students (college students included), membership for the Sutter Buttes Polo Club is FREE.
For all adults and community members that are playing or taking lessons at the Sutter Buttes Polo Club facility in any capacity (including through the Aggie polo club), membership fees apply. Contact Bonnie Magill at bonniemagill57@gmail.com for fee structures and payments.
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Problems with this form? Email us! aggiepoloclubucd@gmail.com
Our Mission is to bring the sport of polo to UC Davis students and our local community in a way that is both exciting and accessible. Students of all levels and backgrounds can learn more about horsemanship, the fundamentals of polo, and have the opportunity to play in a non-competitive environment.
Aggie Polo Club at UC Davis is a non-profit registered 501(c)(3) orgniazation