The short answer: Seneca Polo Club is in Poolesville, Maryland, about an hour from Washington, D.C. Wayne and Kate Briere started it in 2012, and it's known for its arena: the U.S. Polo Association calls it one of the best arena surfaces on the East Coast. When I visited, there wasn't a speck of dust in it, and the Brieres were so kind to me.
These notes come from my 2021 and 2022 tour, when I tried to visit every polo club in America as a playing USPA member. Seasons, contacts, and prices change, so check each club's Instagram or the U.S. Polo Association before you go.
Seneca Polo Club at a glance
Where: Poolesville, Maryland, about an hour from D.C.
Founded: 2012, by Wayne and Kate Briere (U.S. Polo Association).
Known for: Its arena, which has LED lights added in part through USPA grants.
What's offered: A polo school, low-goal tournaments, and USPA tournaments on the Eastern Circuit.
Nearby: Congressional Polo Club is also in Poolesville, so you can play more than once on one trip.
The arena
Not a speck of dust. They water the arena twice, with well water. A baseball-style fence runs around it, and there's a proper place to hold your mallets.
If you've played arena polo on a dusty day, you know why this matters. Dust gets in your eyes and makes the ball harder to see. A well-kept arena makes for a better game.
The people
Wayne and Kate were so kind to me. They were getting ready to host a women's tournament when I came through, and I left with a Seneca shirt.
The Brieres built Seneca to grow polo around Washington, with a school for new players and tournaments that bring in players from other clubs. That's exactly the kind of club a region needs if it wants more people playing. I wrote about why that matters for the whole country in Can America Be the Best in the World at Polo Again?
Tips for visiting
Stay a week. There are enough clubs within driving distance of D.C. to play several times, including Congressional in Poolesville and Roseland Polo near Charlottesville for a free Sunday of watching.
Follow clubs on Instagram. Schedules change often, and many clubs post there first.
Start in the arena. If you're new, arena polo is the easiest way in.
For the rest of the region, see my guide to polo clubs in Virginia and Maryland.
Juggling five clubs' schedules by text is exactly why I'm building PoloFlow. Polo, wherever you are. Join the waitlist.
