Welcome to Destination Polo
- Polo - In a world of ordinary, be unique…. But to be unique you have to follow a different path…
- Polo is more than just a sport—it’s a legacy. As the oldest team sport in history and the fastest played without a motor, polo combines speed, strategy, and horsemanship in a way no other sport can. With only 5,500 active players across North America, it remains one of the most exclusive yet thrilling experiences available.
- At Destination Polo, we’re proud to break down the barriers to entry and make polo accessible to anyone with the passion to play. For over 20 years, we’ve specialized in taking people from the sidelines to the saddle—quickly, safely, and successfully. Whether you’re new to horses or an experienced rider, our expert team and exceptional horses are here to guide your journey.
- What sets polo apart is its unique format: amateurs and professionals compete side by side, relying not only on individual skill but also on the deep connection between horse and rider. This partnership is at the heart of every chukker.
- We maintain a curated string of over 40 top-tier horses for lessons, practice matches, and tournament play. Each horse is carefully selected for their temperament, talent, and compatibility with our players. Once a horse proves invaluable to our program, we keep them in our lineup to ensure consistency and confidence for our clients.
- We are also proud to call the historic Phipps Polo Field our new home. Nestled between Middleburg and Upperville, this field is the oldest in Virginia and among the best on the East Coast. Its lush Bermuda grass and modern irrigation system offer premier playing conditions—just one more reason players trust Destination Polo.
- We know your time is valuable. That’s why we’ve designed a program that eliminates the hassle and maximizes enjoyment. From world-class horses to a championship-level field, we provide an efficient, rewarding polo experience tailored to your goals.
- Ready to take the reins? We’re always just a phone call or email away. We can’t wait to welcome you to the field.
Doug Barnes
Destination Polo
HOW TO LEARN THE SPORT OF POLO
Learn To Ride
- First things first—learn to ride. We’ll start you on well-trained, responsive horses that help guide you through the basics. But to truly succeed in polo, learning to ride is essential. It’s the foundation of everything. Without it, we’d be doing you a disservice and limiting your potential. If you already know how to ride—great! You can jump right into the game. Who knew all those riding lessons your mom insisted on would finally pay off?
- Never been on a horse? No problem. You’ll learn to ride as you play—just like 85% of polo players. And if you’re a lefty? Don’t sweat it. Everyone learns to play with the mallet in their right hand, and you’ll pick it up in no time.
- Play your first game—make history. The moment you step onto the field, you become part of one of the world’s most elite and time-honored sports. You’re not just learning to play—you’re joining a legacy. Welcome to the Sport of Kings.
You Need A Horse - We Have Them
- Quality Horses, Exceptional Learning - We provide a carefully trained string of horses for every stage—from learning to ride, to hitting the ball, to playing full games. As they say, a great horse is 80% of the game—and we make sure you have the best.
- Polo Without the Hassle of Ownership - Polo is an expensive sport, especially when it comes to horses. Our cost-sharing model allows clients to enjoy high-level polo without the financial and logistical burden of owning and maintaining horses. We handle everything so you can focus on playing.
- Flexible Horse Access You can choose to lease horses from Destination Polo or purchase through us. As a fully integrated operation, we offer both options to fit your goals and ensure a seamless polo experience.
Leasing - The Smart Way to Play
- Leasing is the most popular—and cost-effective—way to play polo. It’s simple: you show up, enjoy the game, and leave the rest to us. We handle all the care, training, and logistics so you can focus on playing and having fun.
- This stress-free approach creates the ultimate polo experience without the responsibilities and complexities of horse ownership. While we occasionally sell horses, many become permanent members of the Destination Polo family. Once they’ve proven their value on and off the field, they’ve earned their forever home with us.
How Buying Horses Works
- For those dreaming of owning their own string of horses we can make that a reality almost immediately. The bond that is created between horse and rider is like no other. The thrill and excitement that a player gets by learning how to get the most out of each equine athlete as well as growing as a team on and off the field makes it one of the most rewarding aspects of the game. If horse ownership is your goal please let us talk you through all the different variables that come with the process and let us help you get it right the first time.
- With almost 2 decades of experience we implore you to lean on our experience so you don’t risk the pitfalls of everyone that has tried to just figure it out as they go. In real world terms, if you try and do it yourself you’re going to spend twice the amount of money and twice the amount of time to get where you want to be. When it comes to polo it’s just easier to do it right the first time.
- The first step is pairing you with a horse that suits your riding style. Some people are timid, some more aggressive and we firmly believe that the horse you buy is one that will suit you at the present moment as well as help you get to the goal where you want to be. Horses are adaptable somewhat, but we tend to shy away from horses that individuals have to learn to ride or will grow into. Our goal is to match you with a horse you can ride right now. Once we identify a style of horse that suits you we have a baseline and match all the horses so there is continuity between chukkers and you are able to develop a rhythm during a game. From there we build your string adding horses until we have created a string of 4-5 horses (or more if you want) for our clients.
- The custom selected string of horses becomes the foundation on which your experience of polo will be built on. As a service to our clients we will help you organize all the equipment (trucks, trailer, tack, etc) and most importantly the staff that is responsible for the care and oversight for each horse to make sure that every aspect of care is attended to ensuring that the stress of horse ownership is kept to a minimum.
- We have a failsafe method in place to ensure that every horse purchased can perform in its intended role and we stand behind that promise with our "Smile Back Guarantee". If you don’t love the horse as much as you did when you first bought it we will be happy to take it back or trade it out for another one.
Our Mission at Destination Polo
- At Destination Polo, our mission is to share everything we’ve learned—about horses, the game of polo, and the strategy behind it—with you. Our goal is simple: to help you ride down the field and send the ball through the goal with confidence and joy. When you’re happy, we’re happy.
- We understand that every player is different. With over 20 years of experience, we’ve developed a personalized approach to teaching this unique team sport—one that maximizes your time, investment, and enjoyment. We’re here to support you every step of the way, both on and off the field, and we look forward to earning your trust.
Polo Lessons In Virginia
Two Locations - The Plains, VA and Middleburg, VA
Start Playing from Day One
Polo is one of the rare equestrian sports where beginners get on a horse from their very first lesson. Thanks to our calm, well-trained horses, you’ll feel confident and safe as you learn. (Yes, there’s still a waiver—safety first!)
From the start, you’ll learn to ride and hit the ball at the same time, with each lesson building on the last. After just 4 or 5 sessions, most players are comfortable riding down the field and making solid contact with the ball.
The Plains, Virginia
We offer polo lessons both on a private field as well as an outdoor arena. Times will be scheduled based on availability of instructors and students.
Middleburg, Virginia
Private lessons are offered at a time convenient for both parties.
Come try the sport first hand and see what the game is all about. All you need are jeans and hard soled shoes. We provide all equipment necessary.
Please contact us to reserve a spot for either location.
(Times are subject to change depending on weather and schedule changes)
Learn to play polo
Destination Polo Experience
$1,500.00
One step payment applied to lessons/chukkers/packages
"Polo in the Park" - 2025 Season
Join us every Saturday starting at 6pm on June 7th until July 26th
- Saturday night June 7th kicks off the 2025 season of “Polo In The Park” at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA. A seven week polo event that combines the exhilarating sport of polo where you can see the action up close in the newly rebuilt polo arena and the amazing outdoor beauty the historic Westmoreland Davis has preserved for the people of Loudoun County to enjoy.
- There’s no better place to spend the evening with family and friends in an amazing outdoor setting. We encourage you to make a night of it with friends and experience the unique sport of polo firsthand. You can either bring a picnic or if you are pressed for time there are always food trucks and beverage vendors from the local area to sample.
- Games are at 7 pm and 8:15 pm so no matter your schedule you always have time to catch one game before or after dinner at one of the local restaurants or if you are pressed for time to get the kids to bed. We look forward to hosting you as our guest.
For tickets or more info go to:
Exciting Polo
See teams and players from all over the area
Enjoy the evening
Experience a night with old friends and make new ones
Doug Barnes - Owner - Destination Polo
Meet Doug Barnes:
- Doug Barnes has been in polo for over 30 years. He has started and trained many players in both Virginia and Florida who are passionate about their love for horses and the game of polo. Using his in depth knowledge of the game of polo as well as a deep understanding of horses he is able to progress players at a rapid pace to learn the game of polo while keeping safety as a top priority. In addition he has created a network of contacts to be able to play polo in unique venues around the world. Feel free to contact him directly with any questions you might have.
- When he isn't playing polo or working with horses you can usually find Doug in the outdoors, fishing, hunting or camping accompanied by his lab Piper. Always up for adventure, he's traveled all over the US, and Canada in pursuit of the outdoors. HIs top three places to go are Colorado, Canada and pretty much anywhere in South America.
