High handicap couple. Toly Ulloa and Clara Cassino pose together and talk about their love story and their passion for polo

Carlos María “Toly” Ulloa (28) and Clara Cassino (29) have been sharing their lives, their love for polo (they are professional polo players) and horses for ten years, but the story between them began much earlier. “We’ve known each other since school. She lived in Lincoln and I lived a few kilometers away, in El Triunfo, in the country. Then we met in Santa Helena de Duggan, my uncle’s polo school, and we played tournaments together in the interior,” he begins, saying that this year he played the Triple Crown for La Hache Cría y Polo (he has a handicap of 8) and will move to La Hache, owned by his brother Hilario, next year. “We started dating when I was 17, but we were already friends. I don’t come from a family of polo players, but dad loves horses and because of him I started saddling,” adds Clara, who took advantage of her 8-goal handicap this season at the Women’s Polo Open, where she played for the La Hache women’s team.

–What stage were you at when you started dating?

Tolly: At a time when we were both waiting to play outside with our boots and cleats on.

Clara: One of my first trips was to Kuwait when I was 19. A friend contacted me with Sheika Alya, a sheikh who needed a woman to accompany her, play with her and give her lessons. I stayed for three months and it was an impressive experience. There were more excursions; The same thing happened to Toly, who initially went to Thailand.

Tolly: The distance was very difficult. That same year I traveled to the United States, she stayed here and traveled to visit me for ten days.

Clara: It was like that for eight years. It’s only been two years since we’ve been more synchronized, we’ve settled in. Women’s polo has grown significantly around the world, so the destinations Toly visited, such as the United States and England, became places where women can play in the same seasons.

–Do you talk about polo all day at home?

Tolly: It can be a bit tiring, if you will, but I’m used to it because we talked about horses at home as a child (he is the son of Polito Ulloa, a well-known polo horse trainer, and besides Hilario, his brother Salvador is also a polo player).

Clara: There comes a point where I say: “Enough, let’s please stop watching polo matches at home.” (Series).

– Do you think about each other’s work?

Tolly: Yes, and that’s how we fight too. (Series). But it’s always about improving.

Clara: This year Toly was our coach at the Open. He was always there to help us and teach us; Without him we wouldn’t have achieved the system we had this year, the desire, the motivation. We motivate each other to improve and keep going.

– The best thing about each individual on and off the pitch?

Clara: I highlight his heart and determination, he leaves everything in every play, which makes him a winner and performs in key moments. He plays with his heart and when he gets off the horse his energy, motivation and good vibes are transmitted and contagious.

Tolly: Clari is a brilliant talent, she plays with such elegance that it is very nice to watch her play and ride. I really envy her. After all, she is a pure heart, good, a great companion, and the people who associate with her think the same.

–What other things do they share?

Clara: We like to go to the cinema, although rarely. We enjoy what we do so much that we don’t need anything else.

Tolly: There is something very beautiful about polo that goes beyond just going out on the field. You have to take care of the breeding, the training, the processing, the new mare and the mare you want to buy. There is also your working group on how to improve so that everyone is happy. There are many things we share…

–What assessment do you make of the year?

Tolly: It was a very good year, I played in the USA, England, Spain and here and was able to compete with the best and qualify for the Triple Crown. And now Hilario came along.

– They will play together next year.

Tolly: It’s a dream, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I have spent my whole life watching Hilario, cheering him on from the stands or on the field and always dreaming of playing with him. It’s like touching the sky… And the fear is eating me up. The team is very good (complemented by the brothers Tomás and Benjamín Panelo), we will fight and give up everything. We have a year to organize ourselves well.

Clara: I’m also very grateful because Hilario supports us a lot by putting a women’s team in the Open. The fact that an organization like La Hache supports women means a lot.

–How will you end the year?

Tolly: We spent Christmas here, but for New Year’s Eve I’m going to Dubai, where I’ve been for two years thanks to Guillermo Cutiño.

Clara: I’m going to Uruguay, where the Women’s Open is taking place for the first time. When it’s over, I’ll probably visit him because he’s staying until March 10th. We are very grateful for this great year and everything that is to come.