Kokopelli Polocrosse

Originally published in the Fall 2019 issue of Spoke+Blossom

The best horsemen and women are those who participate in the sport of polocrosse, according to Al True, who started the Kokopelli Polocrosse Club 20 years ago.

Polocrosse is a team sport combination of polo and lacrosse. Played on horseback, each rider uses a lacrosse racquet and net in which a sponge rubber ball is carried. The game is played three-on-three on a grassy field 160 yards long by 60 yards wide. The objective is to score goals by throwing the ball between the opposing team’s goal posts.

“We say the horse already knows how to play polocrosse, since they’re doing what is natural,” says True. “The rider needs to learn how to communicate with them.”

Kokopelli Polocrosse Club welcomes new people of all ages and abilities. The same goes for the horses. From quarter horses to Tennessee Walkers to thoroughbreds and even mules, the field is wide open. The club practices two to three times a week and hosts Rocky Mountain Region tournaments under the American Polocrosse Association at 2053 L Road.

Current participants in the club range from 12 to 68 years old. Higher-level riders teach new players riding skills as well as ball and racquet handling. Teams are coed and mixed by skill level. True says women and teens are particularly drawn to the sport.

For more information about the club, call Al True at 970-858-0733.