New Flying Cow Polo Club Growing Strong In Wellington
By Deborah Welky
Veterinarian Dr. Richard “Doc” Fredericks of Cedar Croft Farm has been coming to Wellington since the 1980s, attending polo matches, practicing his own game and playing in and around the area as part of his Cedar Croft Polo Team. Last year, he decided to expand his reach with the creation of the Flying Cow Polo Club.
“He wanted to bring more friends and family down,” explained Robert Piacente, vice president of the club. “He wanted to get a club together, get his affiliation with the USPA and expand.”
Fredericks turned over his Rustic Ranches estate to the newly formed polo club, including its arena and practice area. Work is underway constructing a new barn.
“The snowbirds’ horses are beginning to be transported down from New York this month,” Piacente said. “The horses are kind of anxious. They’ve been playing all summer. So we have to give them some time to calm down and get settled in.”
More horses will continue to arrive until polo season kicks off, but Piacente is greatly anticipating the end of December, when the club holds its own first match. “Right after Christmas, we have a Santa Claus rally,” he explained. “It’s not an official public game. There’s no advertising, but we’ll have a small crowd for sure.”
Then things kick into high gear. Matches and tournaments will be played, lessons given, horses rented and stables full. Resident pros Cristian Vasquez and Horton Schwartz will be on hand to offer help and advice through hour-long private or group lessons and coached chukkers.
“We’re a rustic kind of club,” Piacente said. “We offer low-goal polo for the beginner, the weekend warrior and the fly-in. We attract some medium-goal players from other clubs as well. Although we keep a tent at IPC, we are more cowboy-oriented.”
Parking and grandstand seating are free for matches. VIP seating is $25 with food and wine included.
In 2017, the Flying Cow Polo Club will host its second Women’s Arena Polo Invitational — an event that was hugely popular in the club’s inaugural season.
This year, the club is introducing an umpires’ clinic and a youth polo program. Piacente is seeking sponsors for the youth program in order to keep tuition low.
“We teach kids ages 7 and up, with little or no riding experience, how to take care of horses, about the game of polo, teamwork and riding,” Piacente said. “We try to do this at little or no cost to the student.”
The club does not require membership to play, but expects to double its membership rosters within the next 12 months. Chukkers, riding, practice and stick-and-ball are free to members, who must also register with the United States Polo Association. Match fees are reasonable, and there’s a clubhouse with a pool.
For the Flying Cow Polo Club, plans for the future include deciding whether to designate a second house on the property as a guest house, or working with a polo travel company to offer it as a bed-and-breakfast.
Piacente projects strong growth, keeping with the club’s mission to bring the joys of polo to everyone.
To help sponsor the youth program, call (631) 897-9174. For more information about the club, visit www.flyingcowpc.com.
