Hale Bopp

The petite powerhouse “Hale Bopp” was a well-recognized equine hero of American polo during the early years of the 2000s. The phenomenal black thoroughbred mare was owned and played by Hall of Famer Adam Snow. Hale Bopp possessed amazing physical talents of speed and turning ability that were only topped by her assertiveness and heart.

“This is a horse so good she probably single-handedly changed my career,” said Snow, a former 10-goaler. “She had the heart to outrun, out-turn and out-push her opponents.”

At just 15 hands, the relatively small Hale Bopp started playing high-goal polo in 1998 as a six-year-old and had an 11-year career of playing in all the major high-goal tournaments, including the U.S. Open and the 40-Goal Outback Challenge matches, without ever missing a game.

She was a 6-time BPP award winner including 2001 Gold Cup, 2005 Robert Skene Memorial, 2007 Silver Cup and BPP of two separate Palm Beach tournaments the 2000 Sterling Cup and Challenge Cup.

Hale Bopp was retired to Adam’s farm in Aiken and lived for eleven more years, producing four outstanding foals. Hale Bopp passed away in 2022.

Watercolor portrait of Hale Bopp (Top Photo) by artist, Melinda Brewer; www.poloart.ca