Founder and patron of the Standing Rock Polo Team, Philipp Müller, is the driving force behind the organization. His value-focused initiatives, rooted in a deep respect for the culture and beliefs of Native American tribes, are bringing a refreshing buzz and energy to polo around the world.
From advocating the highest standards of horse welfare and care on and off the field, to celebrating sportsmanship by introducing the Standing Rock Fair Play Award to polo’s leading governing bodies internationally, and championing charity with the launch of the philanthropic Standing Rock Foundation — everything Standing Rock does is guided by the Seven Lakota Values: the enduring principles of generosity, respect, kinship, compassion, fortitude, wisdom, and spirituality. Standing Rock has adopted these values and translated them into five key principles that lie at the heart of the team’s DNA — iconic, honourable, unbridled, proficient, and vibrant.
Indeed, the team is named after the Standing Rock Reservation, home of the Sioux Tribe, which straddles the border between North and South Dakota and is where the legendary leader Sitting Bull — a symbol of dignity and resistance — was tragically shot. The bold orange feather logo also represents the team’s proud respect for Indigenous culture.
So where does Standing Rock’s affinity with Native Americans begin, and how is it influencing the polo world for the better?
Captivated from a young age by the story, bravery, and fate of the Native Americans, it all began when Philipp’s godfather — a famous Swiss writer — gave him a book about Buffalo Bill. Fascinated by the Wild West since childhood, Philipp visited Native American reservations in South Dakota at the end of 2024 to see how Indigenous communities live today and to learn more about their history and values. He describes meeting real Native Americans — including the great-grandson of Sitting Bull, descendants of famous warriors, and ancestors of the people he had read so much about — as an unforgettable experience. “It was like touching history, and quite emotional,” he said.
Seeing first-hand the contrast between the historical suffering and the enduring spirit of these communities highlighted a need for action and solidarity. Therefore, Philipp decided to bring together all his existing charitable activities under one umbrella, creating the philanthropic Standing Rock Foundation. Inspired by the beliefs of Native American communities, the foundation supports carefully selected initiatives that reflect Standing Rock’s core values and mission.
With Philipp’s unparalleled ability to entertain and bring the polo world together for a good cause, the launch event for the Standing Rock Foundation became the event of the summer — one that everyone was, and still is, talking about. Held at the end of June, during the height of the UK summer polo season, Standing Rock hosted the spectacular celebration at the prestigious Guards Polo Club, uniting the sport of polo with Native American heritage and values — something the club, and indeed the polo community, had never experienced before.
Native American performers from South Dakota, USA, dressed in magnificent regalia, greeted guests before delivering a mesmerising performance of Indigenous music, singing, dancing, and storytelling that captivated the audience. The performers then joined guests for a thoughtfully curated four-course menu inspired by Native American culinary heritage.
The day before the event, Standing Rock orchestrated a stunning photo shoot at Flemish Farm, set against the iconic backdrop of Windsor Castle. This powerful image of the Standing Rock Polo Team standing and riding alongside Native American performers became not only visually striking but also a profound symbol of unity and mutual respect between the two cultures.
While the event served as a fantastic and important opportunity for guests to gain a deeper understanding of Native Americans and how Indigenous principles and beliefs
Inspired and guided by the ethos of Standing Rock, the key aim of the event was to motivate the polo world to give back and make a difference through support of the Standing Rock Foundation. By working with carefully selected charitable initiatives — including the Lakota Waldorf School in South Dakota, Children’s Hospital Bethlehem in Palestine, Sands End Associated Projects in Action (SEAPIA) in London, Laureus Switzerland, One Nation Walking Together in Colorado Springs, Bastifund, and James’s Place — the Foundation’s main goals are to help disadvantaged children and youth; preserve Indigenous cultures and traditions; respond to humanitarian and social needs; and promote the respectful treatment of nature and animals.
Keen to be a role model and promote a positive message with his team wherever they go, and guided by the graciousness of Native American values, Philipp has always believed polo should be a sport for gentlemen. While watching a game at Guards Polo Club one day, Philipp recalls seeing a player drop his mallet — and an opposing player picking it up. Believing this is how sport should be played, he began thinking about the idea of a Fair Play Award in polo: a way to reward good conduct and sportsmanship, and to give teams an incentive to follow the criteria for the award by demonstrating the highest standards of respect toward umpires, horse welfare, and discipline on and off the field.
Umpires fill in a report after each game, scoring the teams based on key criteria, and the team with the highest average score wins.
The first Fair Play Award, presented in 2024, was the Victor Ludorum Fair Play Award, open to all levels of polo — from 4-goal to 22-goal — within the Victor Ludorum and Victrix Ludorum (Ladies) Championships. The beautiful bronze trophy, crafted by renowned artist Emma McDermott, is now recognised as a symbol of Fair Play. It was first won by Ojo Caliente for the 2023 season, with the high-goal team Ferne Park awarded the trophy for the 2024 season.
The introduction of the Victor Ludorum Fair Play Award by the HPA was soon followed by similar awards at the Open de France in Chantilly, the New Zealand Open in Auckland, and the New South Wales Polo Association’s High Goal Series in Australia. Building on this momentum, Standing Rock aims to expand the award to all major polo nations and to create categories for younger players, instilling the values of Fair Play from an early age.
Umpires have acknowledged that it is refreshing for them to be able to reward good conduct and sportsmanship rather than penalise poor behaviour. The overall reaction from players and clubs has been that fair play and sportsmanship make polo much more enjoyable and fulfilling for everyone — including spectators.
In Philipp’s words: “Polo is a sport for gentlemen, and it should be played as such.”
While the Standing Rock Polo Team can’t win its own Fair Play Award, the team is determined to raise the bar of fair play and camaraderie in their own games — whether in competitive tournaments or friendly matches. This year, after playing the high-goal season in Australia and following another season competing in 8- to 15-goal tournaments in the UK, Philipp embarked on an adventurous world tour with Standing Rock, having so far played friendly matches at Dublin’s Phoenix Park, Krenkerup in Denmark, and Sweden’s Stockholm Polo Club.
The team has also enjoyed a winning streak, claiming the hotly contested Berenberg German Polo Masters title in Sylt, before winning the fun low-goal Summer Cup at Aspern Polo in Hamburg, and emerging victorious in the Subsidiary Final of the iconic Maifeld Cup, played in front of the Berlin Olympic Stadium, finishing among the top teams in the tournament. From there, the team went on to play in Morocco and Amsterdam, where they lifted yet another trophy — and where Philipp continued to share his uplifting enthusiasm, passion, and support for polo.
@standingrock.poloteam
www.standing-rock.com
Image Description
1 Native Americans, Philipp and Pierandrea Müller
2 Native Americans and the Standing Rock Team at Flemish Farm, Windsor
3 Ernie LaPointe (“Crow Foot”), great-grandson of Sitting Bull, with Philipp Müller in South Dakota
4 Michael Spears, lead actor in the movie Sitting Bull, at Flemish Farm, Windsor
5 Standing Rock event at Guards Polo Club
6 Philipp Müller and Jacqueline Sander at the HPA Victor Ludorum Awards.
7 Pierandrea and Philipp Müller
8 Standing Rock Polo Team
9 Pierandrea Müller
10 Max Charlton, Nick van Oppen and Philipp Müller winning the 10 Goal Museumplein Polo Cup in Amsterdam
11 Philipp Müller playing on the iconic homefield at Ellerston in Australia against Juan Gris Zavaleta
12 Standing Rock Polo Team at the 12 Goal Berlin Maifield Cup in Berlin
13 Standing Rock lorries in front of the Berlin Maifield Stadium
14 Philipp Müller and the Larapinta Polo Team, winning the 2025 Standing Rock Fair Play Award in Australia.
