FAQ About The Polo School

Everyone’s different – it will depend on a number of factors such as your previous experience with riding or sports. That said, 7-10 days is usually long enough to pick up the basics. From there, you can spend a lifetime perfecting your game, as there’s always something new to learn.

No, we can provide you with everything you need (helmets, boots, kneepads, mallets). If you do have riding boots that fit you well, it’s a good idea to bring them – we’ve also put together a few packing tips which you can check out here.

At El Venado we pride ourselves on our calm, responsive, well-trained horses, all of which have been carefully chosen for their temperament and physical conformation. We have horses of different sizes, but most are around 15hh (150cm – measured at the wither), a good handy size to play. There are horses to suit all types of people and levels of experience, from beginners to experienced players. We try to match you with a horse that we think you’ll like, and you’ll have the opportunity to ride several different horses during your stay.

El Venado will arrange transfers from the airport or your hotel in Buenos Aires. You’ll be collected in a private car and driven to the farm (around 2 hours from BA), and this is included in the cost of your stay.

For sure! We welcome non-riding partners and children to come along and enjoy a relaxing stay at the estancia at a discounted rate. There’s plenty to do apart from polo – you can swim in the pool, take a hike or trail ride to see the local wildlife, help the gauchos with farm work, play pool or watch TV. We can also arrange for other activities such as tango classes or Spanish lessons.

All our food is authentic Argentine style cuisine, with meals cooked right here in house. Breakfast is light, with toast, cereal, fruit, juice, tea and coffee available. For lunch and dinner, we sit down together for a more substantial meal – favourite dishes include spare ribs, gnocchi, stroganoff and meatballs. As you may have heard, Argentine food involves plenty of (delicious!) meat, but we can cater to vegetarians too. In general, the food is hearty, full of flavour and not too spicy. Our cooks also make great empanadas and desserts… you won’t go hungry, that’s for sure.

Argentina has a humid sub-tropical climate, with hot summers and cool, dry winters. The best time to visit to play polo is from about September to April, outside of the coldest winter months.

You’ll be on a horse for several hours a day at El Venado, so it is a good idea to build up your fitness before you arrive. This way, you can make the most of your time here, and your muscles won’t get too sore! You’ll notice that polo players are usually very lean and athletic, so it’s best to focus on cardio and strength training that builds lean muscle (rather than bulk). Regular stretching to improve your flexibility is also a good idea.

The native tongue in Argentina is Spanish, but many of us speak English too. We have visitors from all over the world, so you could easily find yourself hearing three or more languages across the dining room table!

The largest group we accommodate is 12 people, and often we have smaller groups of 4-6. This means you have the chance to get to know your hosts and fellow guests and get really personalised polo coaching. If you want to bring a group of your own, you are most welcome, and discounts are available.

Rates for high season and low season are very competitive and we have discounts for groups and long stays. For a quote, please drop us a line at info@polodays.com