Horse Around at Winter Polo in Newport

They'll compete on Easton's Beach as part of the Newport Winter Festival.

Polo fans, pull on your parkas, hats and scarves for winter beach polo. While it’s too chilly for paisley and seersucker, flannel, fur and boots can be just as chic. The horses will storm the sand on February 20 and 21 at 1 p.m. at Easton’s Beach as part of the Newport Winter Festival, which runs February 12 through 21. Plan to tailgate with thermoses of hot cocoa in hand, and be sure to bundle up and make a day of it by attending other winter festival activities, including a Polar Bear Plunge, an ice bar at the Hyatt, a chicken wing cook-off and more. “During a long winter, most people have a bad case of cabin fever, and they can’t wait to get outside,” says Agnes Keating, general manager of Newport Polo. For the polo match, two teams of three horses will go head-to-head in four chukkers (seven-minute periods) along the intertidal (read: snow-free) zone using an inflatable ball. “Even if it’s cold, it can be sunny,” says Keating. “It’s nice to get fresh air and enjoy an outdoor sporting experience.” Attendees can expect to stomp sand instead of divots and the sweaty palm slap might involve gloves and mittens. newportwinterfestival.com