'BUT DON'T CALL US COOKIES'

After a few weeks' practice together—and some pretty primping—these three Connecticut girls rode their polo ponies out onto the tanbark at Manhattan's Squadron A Armory. The Connecticut Cookies was the billing matchmakers wanted, but the girls rebelled, firmly selected the name Southbury (Conn.) Polo Club. They are the only members: Cynthia Michaels, 24, a magazine editor; Ann Braun, also 24, a schoolteacher; and Helen Putzel, 17, a high school senior. A women's polo team is such a rarity that there was nobody to play but men. Against a threesome known as the New York Knights the girls rode hard, played well, captured the crowd with their slim good looks and lost by a respectable 4 goals to 5.

STUMPED BY HER BOW TIE. HELEN GETS HELP FROM ANN

HELEN MAKES NEAT BACK SHOT AS ANN AND OPPONENT MOVE IN

THE MEN TAKE OVER THE OFFENSIVE IN MID-ARENA AS THE GIRLS, CAUGHT OFF GUARD, HUSTLE UP IN HOT PURSUIT

SMILING BUT FEELING "SOMETHING LIKE STAGE FRIGHT," GIRLS LEAVE THEIR DRESSING ROOM, HEAD FOR STABLE

TALL CYNTHIA CHATS BETWEEN CHUKKERS

FIVE PHOTOS

LEO CHOPLIN