Record Breaking 2022 Polo Classic

Thank you to everyone for making the 16th annual Polo Classic held on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at Great Meadow in The Plains, VA such a huge success! The event raised a record-setting $300,000 to support program operations.

“What an unbelievable day! We are so grateful for all of our sponsors, guests, volunteers and staff that make Cloverleaf Equine Center's largest annual fundraiser such a success,” shares Cloverleaf Executive Director, Kelsey Gallagher. “It's crazy to think that this event has more than doubled in size and funds raised for the organization in the last five years. And that would not be possible without the support of our amazing community.” 

Guests were treated to an afternoon of polo, live and silent auctions, music, drinks and dining in the heart of Virginia's picturesque hunt and wine country. The event benefits Cloverleaf's mission to provide equine-assisted services to children and adults with disabilities, youth-at-risk, military service personnel and their families. All proceeds are used to subsidize lessons for Cloverleaf clients and assist with general operations at the farm. 

Competing in the polo match this year were Team Salamander: Debbie Nash, Jonas Larguia, and Greg Gregorian, and Team Crescent Cities: John Gobin, Teresa Nicole Taylor and Brock Taylor Bromle with Team Salamander taking home the cup!

Moving forward from the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's Polo Classic included a more robust individual ticketing section to this year's event. Renamed the "Goalside Party", ticket holders were treated to a spacious, tented seating and lounge area located along the west end of the polo arena. 

Special events included music by local band, 2MB; the Color Guard of St. Andrew’s Society of Washington, DC accompanied by Cloverleaf military riders; and Cloverleaf clients participating in a halftime quadrille - a choreographed drill pattern on horseback set to music. 

This year, we were honored to have the NFL’s Vernon Davis serve as the hat contest judge.

Cloverleaf board members Will Thomas, Vice President at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, and Sherrie Beckstead, partner at Liljenquist & Beckstead Jewelers, returned to co-chair the event, and were joined again this year by honorary co-chair and respected entrepreneur and philanthropist, Sheila C. Johnson -- who surprised guests with a last minute addition to the live auction: a stay at her Salamander HALF MOON Montego Bay, Jamaica resort plus airfare which raised $15,000.

Many individuals and local businesses donated more than 100 items to this year’s live and online silent auctions, including weekend getaways, golf packages, restaurant gift certificates, autographed sports memorabilia and more. 

A special thank you to the lead 2022 Polo Classic sponsors: Salamander Resort & Spa, Crescent Cities Charities, ITCON, Deloitte, TTR Sotheby's International Realty, and the Sherrie & Sid Beckstead Trust, Will Thomas, AT&T, Alla & Barry Cline, Gary & Kim Cubbage, Bill & Ginny Craig, Peterson Family Foundation, Sheila Clark, Campbell Wealth Management, the Norton Family, and KPMG.

SAVE THE DATE for the 17th Annual Polo Classic on September 30, 2023.

About Cloverleaf Equine Center

The Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program recently completed an extensive rebrand effort in response to organizational growth and future expansion. At the heart of the rebrand is a change of the program name to Cloverleaf Equine Center – representing that services offered now extend beyond the Northern Virginia area – and an update to the center’s logo. 

Founded in 1980, the organization began as a small operation in Clifton, Virginia with a couple borrowed horses and a handful of clients and volunteers. Today, Cloverleaf Equine Center serves over 100 weekly clients from the DC Metro area with the help of more than 250 active volunteers and a herd of 18 horses on a 17-acre farm in Fairfax County. In addition to therapeutic riding, Cloverleaf’s services include physical therapy incorporating horses, equine-assisted learning and psychotherapy incorporating horses.

MISSION:   Cloverleaf Equine Center, at O'Shaughnessy Farm, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that helps each individual realize their highest potential by providing equine-assisted activities to people with disabilities, youth-at-risk, recovering military personnel, and others in need in an inclusive, community setting.

​VISION: To inspire and enrich people, families and communities through the power of the horse.

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