Polo Quarantine Hopefully Lifted Soon

Finally able to get a taste of what they know and love, polo players and horses galavant across the Eldorado polo grounds.

“We’re practicing in the zones stipulated by the state vet. All the horses playing here today have been contained on this property,” Eldorado Marking and Events Director James A’Court said.

After a polo horse at the empire polo club in Indio tested positive for equine herpes last month — polo matches stopped with horses quarantined.

“We were about a month into our season and we were super enthusiastic, but it was for the good of the horse and the good of the population around the area,” A’Court said.

As Eldorado hopes for matches to resume, it’s phasing polo back in.

Players are practicing here at the Eldorado polo club among themselves, so should the quarantine be lifted, they are ready for tournament play Sunday.

“If all goes to plan, we’re due to have that quarantine lift next week,” A ‘Court said.

Eager fans wait for that day to come.

“This is one of the great things about this area of the desert is that we’ve got polo,” polo fan Chuck Haney said. “It’s a fun thing to do on a Sunday afternoon. It’s free of charge, and you don’t have to know a lot about the game.”

Eldorado said it’s doing its part to help the process along.

“Lightly exercising our horses, monitoring them, taking their temperature, looking for any cases of it. We haven’t had any cases pop up thus far,” A’Court said.

Eldorado waits to hear from state veterinarians if the quarantine will lift.

“They’re getting tuned up again. Give them probably three weeks, and they’ll be top condition again,” Haney said.

He hopes in one week, they’ll at least be in playing condition again.