Camilla Miller, a dedicated member of the Val de Vie Polo Club for the past eight years, describes her passion for the sport and her stable of polo horses with pride. “This is where I play polo every season, with the occasional visit to Plett.”
Her equestrian journey is anchored at Rancho Tinto in Paarl, where she keeps seven horses. Among her seasoned “playing” horses is Noble Lady, a Silvano mare Miller acquired straight off the track as a two-year-old. Now 12, she has become “an absolute powerhouse.” Another 12-year-old mare, Destiny, is known for her “sass.” “I also got her off the track as a youngster,” Miller notes, adding that she has been with Destiny for about eight years.
Then there’s Rosita Tibbs, affectionately dubbed “the granny in the group.” Originally a foster mare, she made a comeback to polo a few years ago. “She is incredible!” Miller enthuses. Twenty Ten, her 14-year-old “pocket rocket” from Plett, rounds out the group of seasoned polo horses.
Miller is also schooling three younger horses to introduce them to the sport. Greys Anatomy and Showtime Baby, both acquired off the track, and Sax On Fire, her home bred gelding she bred herself from her mare and the renowned stallion Jay Peg, are all learning the ropes.
Each of Miller’s horses is on Vermate, a choice she swears by for their care and conditioning.
I used to have a horse called Lily who really struggled to put weight on, her coat was dull compared to all my other horses, and whenever we’d had polo practice or game days she was incredibly nervous/would pace up and down the pony lines. We eventually scoped her and was told that she had stomach ulcers and needed to treat her asap. A friend of mine got me onto Vermate and I cannot explain the difference it made to Lily.
She finally started picking up weight, her coat was incredible, and she was a completely different horse in the pony lines. Much calmer and just overall a happier horse.
I cannot recommend this product more!!
