By Alejandra Ocampo
Charlie Hanbury is a tireless and remarkable personality within the polo community. Once a very successful polo player, currently his career is specifically focused in horsebreeding, through his renowned Lovelocks breeding, that has several horses playing in major tournaments around the world, ridden by the brightest stars of the sport, as well as earning several BPP rugs.
In addition, and with the idea to promote “the equine athletes”, as he says, he is the heart and soul behing Best Playing Pony (BPP) UK. Founded bu Charlie in 2018, the idea is to promote and recognise all those horses that participate in the season in England. “Many horses from around the world travel to England to play, and BPP UK serves as a way to celebrate and acknowledge those horses while they compete in the UK wherever they were born”, he remarks.
PoloLine had the chance to catch up with the always kind Charlie, to know more about the BPP UK experience.
When did Best Playing Pony UK begin?
Best Playing Pony UK began in 2018, presenting rugs to the standout horse of each game in the Queen’s Cup and Gold Cup. Since then, BPP UK has expanded to include the Prince of Wales Trophy, Trippetts Challenge, Queen’s Cup, Gold Cup, Warwickshire Cup, and Coronation Cup.
What is the idea and concept behind BPP UK?
You cannot play polo without horses, and BPP UK was created to help promote and recognise the equine athletes at the heart of the sport. In polo, most of the attention goes to the players, but for me the horses are the real stars of the game.
In high-goal polo, each player typically brings a minimum of nine horses to a tournament. That means there are close to 700 horses involved in the Queen’s Cup alone, with around 72 horses competing in the final. Awarding only one Best Playing Pony prize per tournament felt insufficient. Every player — whether 0 or 10 goals — has a standout horse, and BPP UK was designed to give more horses the opportunity to be recognised.
Getting a horse to the field takes years of dedication, from breeding and training through to competition. BPP UK also recognises the breeders, grooms, pilots, and players who contribute to that journey.
On a personal level, what is your involvement with BPP UK?
I founded BPP UK with the aim of helping to promote the equine athletes competing throughout the UK polo season. I have personally funded the initiative so far and am now looking for sponsors to help it grow further. It is a great platform to showcase both the quality of horses competing in the UK and the strength of their bloodlines.
How many horses were presented with BPP UK rugs during the 2025 season in England?
A total of 107 rugs were presented throughout the UK season last year.
How are the judges chosen?
Judges are selected randomly from spectators attending the matches. They can be anyone who enjoys the sport – including professional players, patrons, fans, and even celebrities. Judges are simply asked to select the horse that stood out the most during the game that they are watching.
What qualities should a horse have to receive a BPP UK award?
There are no fixed requirements. The chosen horse simply needs to stand out on the day.
Is there any intention to expand BPP UK internationally, for example to Argentina’s Triple Crown?
No. The concept was specifically created to promote and recognise the horses competing during the UK polo season.