James Rice

James Rice earned his reputation as one of the most respected polo trainers in America. As a youngster in the 1920’s, he started his career by exercising horses and cleaning tack and stalls for the Farish family at the Houston Riding and Polo Club.

His natural ability and uncanny rapport with horses was observed by the famous 8-goaler, Ray Harrington, who hired Rice to work for him at Brandywine, Pennsylvania. There he refined the fine points of horse management that made him an expert horse trainer and polo player. He later worked for Cecil Smith, Michael Butler and Matt Richardson and has the distinction of having a tournament named after him at the Santa Barbara Polo Club.