Started in 1923, the main purpose of the OU Polo team was to create an interest in riding among the students at the university.

During those first years, polo was a big happening at OU. Oklahoma was known to be the first school in the conference to play polo. The Polo and Riding Association was organized on campus in conjunction with the Army ROTC to give instruction in riding and jumping for those interested in equitation. Students requested polo classes and brought the game to campus by playing on work horses and fleet army ponies from the remount station at Fort Reno. At one time, before WWII, OU had between 50 and 100 horses. Major E.P. Parker, then-commandant of the ROTC of Oklahoma, and coach, believed polo would soon become a regular "Big Six" sport.


Momentum increased in the southwest region and the University of Missouri and Iowa State University followed Oklahoma's example and began instruction in polo. Then, conference play was abruptly ended with America's entry into World War II on December 7th, 1941. Clark Hetherington, team captain of the 1941 polo team, remembers: "We were playing the team from Texas A&M at College Station when we received the news of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It was about 2 p.m., but 7 a.m. in Hawaii. We all gathered around the radio between chukkars to hear about it."

With the advent of World War II marking the end of horse-drawn artillery units, so was the end of the OU Polo team. "The horses were all sold off when the ROTC went mobile", Hetherington said. "The ROTC batteries were thrown into the war effort, and the polo team was dispersed."


After a 48-year hiatus, OU polo made a triumphant reorganization and returned to the University of Oklahoma in 1989. The Crimson and Cream polo teams were once again a source of pride on the OU campus. OU's polo team became an organized intercollegiate sport that today is still governed by the United States Polo Association.

This new generation of OU Polo follows the same guidelines listed in the constitution written by the founding members nearly a century ago, instigating a structured dedication to reviving polo at the University and sharing the sport with the young people of Oklahoma. Steadily improving their game year after year, the OU Polo team has become a force to be reckoned with in Intercollegiate Polo. This year's team, through countless hours of practice, has evolved into a dynamic and exciting team to watch. With nearly two decades of growth under its belt, the reborn OU Polo and Riding Club is making great strides to ensure the success of the program for decades to come. The new year will bring about many positive changes for OU Polo which have been in the works for several years. The most exciting development is the construction of a first-class Equestrian Center for the University of Oklahoma.