LivingPolo.com

LivingPolo: For those who do not know you, tell them about who Santiago Novillo Astrada is and what he does (family, marital status, children).

Santiago Novillo Astrada: I was born in Argentina, I am 34 years old, son of Julio and Malu, married to Agustina Lacroze, no kids. I studied Business Administration, I am a 5-handicap polo player. I have a polo school together with my business partner Gustavo Combes, mainly directed to foreigners. It is in Open Door. We receive people and we give them lodgings, the food, and the polo practising.

LP: Tell us briefly about your career in polo.

SNA: I began playing when I was very small, because everyone in my family played polo, ever since my grandfather, my father and my uncle, so that’s how we all started off.

LP: What does it mean to be a Novillo Astrada?

SNA: Nothing out of the ordinary, I have the same responsibilities as any other citizen has.

LP: And to have that surname in the world of polo?

SNA: Well, in a Polo environment, you are recognized by your surname, that’s good, but at the same time you also have more responsibilities.

LP; What do you most remember about Don Julio Novillo Astrada, founder of La Aguada and a leading man in this great dynasty?

SNA: My grandfather was passionate about this sport and about horses, it was always good fun and very instructive to bad able to talk with him.

LP; What teachings did he leave you?

SNA: I’ll tell that the lot or the little which I know about this sport I owe to him and my Dad (Julio). I’ll tell you an anecdote, I was 12 years old and I was very bad at the game, my cousin and great friend Javier says to me if you improve a bit you’ll play with us in the juniors this year with Juan Sánchez Elía and Churly de Narváez (great friends). That was in January, so I immediately got hold of Yayo, as we used to call my grandfather, and I spent all February practising at La Aguada, and he kept correcting me. Conclusion: we won the Copa Potrillos two years running !!!!

LP: Nowadays do you spend more time playing, or breeding horses?

SNA: I love playing polo, but at the same time I very much like the horses which one ends up breeding.

LP: How did that change come along, going from being a player to a horse breeder? Or did you always do both things?

SNA: As I told you before, I’m 34 years old, I hope to continue playing some time more, (laughs). The breeding aspect was started off by Dad, and one follows in his steps, you always have that good mare which you haven’t sold and then she gives birth.

LP: What aspects are not known of the job/trade of being a breeder and which you consider should be better acknowledged, due to the required effort, the time it takes, the necessary dedication...?

SNA: Breeding is something which has its complications, it’s a long process and you can make mistakes in one-thousand things, that is why when you obtain a good horse from the breeding, the satisfaction is immense!!!

LP: Was your university degree useful at some stage, apart from allowing you to continue studying and growing in an intellectual way?

SNA: I think that the fact of studying opens broadens your horizons in a different way, not for better nor worse, because there are many people in polo who did not study and who are tremendous, they play, they breed, they sell, they do all sorts of business deals, etc. I thank my parents for having pushed me to study. It is something more that is useful to one.

LP: Should all polo players continue studying something related with the camp or administration?

SNA: As I just said, nothing guarantees anything, studying helps to excercise your brain more.

LP: Are you frequently asked about the four Novillos who play for La Aguada? Do those questions bother you, when people are interested in the other family members and not you?

SNA: Look, thank God all of us Novillos have had a similar education, and we grew close together, we have a very good relationship. I would have liked to be as good a player as they are, but that did not happen, or I did not do all that was needed when I had to. I’m a fanatic of La Aguada, so imagine how proud I feel when I see four Novillo Astrada family members on the field, plus my brother Julio who is their reserve player??????

LP: You have played in many parts of the world... how is the life of a polo player? Is it a life of sacrifices, is the fact of being far from home very tough? Or does one enjoy things more than what he suffers, or is it the other way round?

SNA: This question of being a polo player and traveling around the world is very nice, I have my wife who accompanies me all over the place and we have a splendid time. Like all jobs it has its sacrifices, there are great moments and others which are not so great. I enjoy what I do very much.

LP: For example, how is it to play polo in Ecuador, where the polo tradition is not much, and the sport is practically unknown?

SNA: That was a very good experience, there is not much polo over there, but their level is good, so it was great fun, I got to know many people, and I keep in touch with them. It also helped me to get in contact with people from the United States. One has to go to all places, it is always useful. And their beaches are very nice!!!!!!

LP: In what other different place did you play?

SNA: I played polo all over Europe, America, Africa, I have not played in Asia or Oceania so far.

LP: And which other strange places did you get to know thanks to polo? And people?

SNA: This year I had the luck of being able to play in Morocco, which is spectacular, the people, the culture are so different, from all them you learn something. I played for the Royal Guards, which was very good.

LP: What are your plans for the future?

SNA: I am seeing what I shall do next year, I already have some horses in France, I hope to finalize what I have been working on and spend 5 months of the European summer over there. I am also dedicating much of my time to Open Door Polo, which is where I receive people. The website is www.argentinapolovacations.com. I love teaching, and luckily the people go away very happy, and then they wish to come back.

By Santiago Martella, Argentina Correspondent