THE GEILER’S
Legacy Lives On
For the Geiler family, polo began as an unexpected adventure. Throughout her childhood, Shelley and her father, Denny, were active in the equestrian sport of hunters and jumpers. Their shared love for horses was undeniable, but Shelley’s mother sparked their passion for polo. While at an equestrian competition, Shelley’s mother came across a flyer for polo lessons and decided to gift Denny a single lesson for his birthday.
“He returned from that first lesson and said it was the most fun he’d ever had. Shortly thereafter, he sold his sports car and bought two polo ponies. The rest is history,” Shelley recalled.
Polo became a family affair from the start, with Denny and Shelley progressing in the sport together. The unique nature of polo allows men and women of all ages to share the field, creating an opportunity for camaraderie and connection that Shelley’s mom recognized. “My mom understood how powerful it was for a father and teenage daughter to play a sport together like that, and with her support, we were able to build a team and eventually a club together,” said Shelley. As the club has developed, so has the Geiler family’s involvement, with the third generation now actively playing the sport. Whether it’s club chukkers featuring players ages 12 to 82 or members gathering at the clubhouse for post-game meals, the OC Polo Club has evolved into a second home for many.
- The Scout Guide, Newport Beach
Denny
How did you get started with horses?
My mother ensured her children could ride a horse and shoot straight, so I did a lot of housework on family vacations and after-school programs. When I was in junior high school, my parents arranged for me to work on a cattle ranch in Wyoming. It was there that I found a connection with horses. My sister had a horse, which introduced me to the English saddle. Nothing much happened until Shelley was born, giving me my path back to horses. Shelley and I participated in English horse shows.
How did you get involved in polo?
Thirty years ago Joanne, my wife, gave me one polo lesson as a birthday present. I was surprised to learn I had so much in common with polo people: they loved horses and games. That was the start of my polo career. Roughly 20 years ago, I became the president of the OC Polo Club and worked hard to create a fun, family-friendly atmosphere and sustainable polo. I also became very active in the United States Polo Association, focusing on the Polo Development Initiative.
What do you enjoy most about polo?
Of course, I love the horses—each one with its own personality and skills. I love introducing people to this great sport and watching them develop into participating polo players. A key element to this is that I enjoy playing polo with my friends and family.
Shelley
How did you get started with horses?
My earliest memory of riding a horse was on a gentle old quarter horse on my great uncle’s cattle ranch in Arizona. I was about 3 ½ years old, and I think I rode that poor horse from dusk until dawn. It was definitely love at first sight. I started riding hunter jumpers when I was 7 years old. After a while, my dad couldn’t take being on the sidelines any longer, so he donned the breeches and velvet hat and joined me on the local show circuit.
How did you get involved in polo?
When my dad first started playing, I was in junior high school and still riding my hunter/jumper horse. But I would love to go to the polo barn with him, help tack up the horses, and “warm” his horse up for him. This usually entailed getting on and galloping around the arena as fast as possible until someone came out to stop me before I wore the horse out for the chukker. It was so exhilarating and not something you got to do in my world, so it was very tempting. It wasn’t long before I spent more time at the polo barn and less at the show barn. It took me a while to learn how to hit the ball because I am left-handed, and you have to play polo right-handed. We used to drive up to the LA Equestrian Center to watch the high-goal professional games, and it was magical to watch them play at such high speeds. There would be thousands of people there to watch the games and the stars that came along to see the show.
What do you enjoy most about polo?
One of my earliest and funniest memories was playing in a polo tournament in the Desert with Mickey Dolenz of the Monkeys when I was about 13 years old. I was so star-struck. I think he found it very amusing that a teenager in the 80’s knew who he was.