Mashomack is riding high with 2014 polo season

The small rural town of Pine Plains is often praised for its softball and baseball programs; it’s frequently given a nod for its basketball program, too. What some might not expect is that the town is home to some of the best polo around — and draws polo players from near and far to play on its manicured fields.“We try to have different events every month,” said Mashomack Club Manager Juan Olivera, adding that those events sometimes change due to the tournament schedule. “We’re trying to get more people involved. Access to the games is free, admission is free, except for the June International event and the two July USPA [United States Polo Association] tournaments, which are something new for the family.”Olivera said the exclusive Mashomack Polo Club, which is located on a 1,900-acre preserve just 90 minutes north of New York City, is a full-service club for polo players of all levels. And it’s been making some major improvements to increase attendance and membership.As its website states, “Mashomack Polo has undertaken a multi-year capital improvement program and now features five tournament-class fields, one practice field, stick and ball areas and a regulation outdoor polo arena. Stabling is available on a first-come, first-served basis, as is turnkey boarding for players with smaller strings.“Mashomack Polo offers league polo from four goal to 12 goal, and various tournaments such as the prestigious USPA Eduardo Moore Invitational, the USPA Tracey Mactaggart Challenge Cup, the USPA Governors Cup, the USPA Officer’s Cup and the USPA Constitution Cup. There is polo to suit every level of player from June through September.”Olivera said the experience of playing polo is like no other.“When you jump on the horse and try to hit the ball at that speed it’s amazing,” he said. “I play different sports and this one is a combination of all factors — the mallet, the ball, the horse and someone taking you to the ball ­— that’s unique, and that’s why everyone likes it. That and the speed. It’s quite unique.”Olivera said the sport, coupled with the club itself, makes Mashomack especially alluring.“I think Mashomack is special right now because it’s the best grounds in the Northeast, and I’ve been playing around and it’s really hard to find the quality of fields we have here and the quality of teams,” he said. “You know you’re going to have fun, but it’s competitive polo.”The club manager added that the sport’s rising stars are also testing their chops at Mashomack.“All of the kids coming up come to Mashomack to play; they’re the next generation of players,” Olivera said. “If you come here you live and breathe polo, nothing else. There are horses and players and umpires and that’s it.”The polo season began at Mashomack the first week of June; it will run through the end of September. Aside from hosting tournaments throughout the season, Mashomack also teaches polo lessons. It provides the horses as well as the instructors, and teaches all skill levels. “It’s [incredible] to have this beautiful field and basically people can take advantage of it and come to an organized place to meet other people and play polo, and it’s fantastic!” said Olivera.Matches played on Friday evenings at Mashomack begin at 5 p.m.; matches on Saturdays and Sundays begin at 10 a.m. The majority of those matches are free to attend, though there is a fee to participate. The 17th Annual Mashomack International Polo Challenge is scheduled for Saturday, June 21. Tickets for that event are available online at www.mashomackpoloclub.com or by calling the number below. For a full schedule of Mashomack’s season turn to this week’s sports page. The Mashomack Polo Club is located at 7435 Route 82, Pine Plains. For more information contact Juan Olivera at 561-601-9316 or juanolivera@comcast.net.