When a well-traveled and highly successful Middleburg lawyer volunteered to help polo players and Buddhist monks with their immigration applications, she had no idea that her understanding of immigration law would lead to romance, serenity and the establishment of the Middleburg Polo Academy.

Ilene Tognini met her future husband when she donated legal services to one of his friends. Once introduced, she decided to take polo lessons with Daniel and within a year and half, they were happily married. Last year when their two sons, Tenzin and Tiernan, were approaching the age when they could learn to ride, the couple decided they would teach their sons to ride by teaching them the legendary sport of kings.

"It's a wonderful way to learn superior horsemanship and sportsmanship," Ilene explained. "That's why it made so much sense to establish the Middleburg Polo Academy so others in our area could enjoy the sport as a family activity as we do."

Daniel Tognini, a native of Argentina, has been playing polo for over 25 years. He has played internationally in Malaysia, Switzerland and Belgium as well as regularly in Santa Barbara, California and Palm Beach, Florida. He plays regularly at Great Meadow and at many neighborhood polo fields.

Middleburg Polo Academy offers world-class polo training for the young and for the young at heart. "At the heart of our philosophy is our desire to create a family friendly environment," Ilene continued. "We teach using authentic Argentine training methods and our exceptional horses are individually chosen for their good temperament and for their enjoyment of polo schooling."

Ilene, a tall, classic beauty was born in California and grew up in Florida before she went to Florence, Italy to study fine arts and scenic design. She traveled around the world with theatre companies and performance artists designing installations as an artist in residence in many fabulous places before she realized that what she really loved was the business side of the arts. That realization led her to law school and after she passed the Florida and New York bars, she started to build out her loft in New York City.

"I'm also a carpenter," she said laughing. "So I'm very handy to have around. When any of my friends needed help, I pitch in happily."

One friend who was working at the Metropolitan Museum in New York was in need of help raising the last portfolio of funding for a show. Ilene had often been on the development side of the arts and she was glad to help. "I loved working at the Met, and before my volunteer assignment ended, I took my resumé to the legal department and said, 'If you ever need anyone to tie the general counsel's shoes, please call me!'"

Fortunately, new non-profit FASB rules had just been instigated and the Met needed to enlarge their house counsel staff to establish protocols for FASB compliance. Ilene's specialty is not-for-profit law, so she was a perfect candidate for the position.

After her Metropolitan Museum assignment, Ilene spent a short time in South Korea and was in private practice in the United States for a time before she was recruited for a position as general counsel for a company in the Dulles corridor in April of 1997. She met Rico Vargé of Vargé International in Middleburg when he was a vendor to her firm. Rico was then president of Great Meadows Polo, Daniel's was the pro at Great Meadows and Rico was his patron. Suddenly, the pieces of her life today began to fall neatly into place.

Daniel Tognini grew up in a small town, Lobos, about sixty miles west of Buenos Aires. He began riding at three years of age and his grandfather taught him what he calls "the artsmanship" of horses. He grew up riding and training for polo in the Argentine tradition and by the time he was eleven, he was responsible for a string of five horses.

Well known for his extraordinary natural instincts and connection with horses and the game, he has traveled the world playing polo. In 1997, while playing at Great Meadow he fell in love with Virginia. The intense, dashing and ruggedly handsome professional player travels constantly during polo season, and works diligently with Ilene to ensure that "El Relincho" (which means the laugh of the horse), the farm he and Ilene purchased in Fauquier County is running well. Their clients include many international polo teams and high goal players and Daniel maintains a string of outstanding polo horses for his own use in competition, for lease and for schooling.

Lessons for inexperienced and experienced riders began in May and will continue through October at Middleburg Polo Academy. Students range in age from three to sixty-three years. All day polo camps are also offered in July and August.

"This is our second year," Ilene said. "Last year we were thrilled and amazed at the response and enthusiasm from the community. We were busy all summer and many of our students have become proficient at the game. In fact, we are very excited that our students will be showcased in exhibitions at Great Meadow during Twilight Polo this summer."

To learn more about Middleburg Polo Academy, please visit www.mddleburgpoloacademy.com or telephone 540 687 5734.