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Polo Testimonials

"Thank you Fede, Ines and everyone at El Venado, for your hospitality and friendship. Julian and Alex for your patience and introducing me to the game, matte in the mornings and the late night bars of Pila! Stephie for your encouragement, Manolito for making me laugh (you can't play pool, you can't dance, but at least you plant trees in Pila!) Gonzalo for helping me with the horses, Oscar for the cold beer and great food and of course little Nazareno, all my gaucho friends and everyone else who made me feel at home. I had a great time!" Karim Abbany, Kenya

"El Venado is without doubt a very well run and beatiful polo estancia. The whole team is fully dedicated to ensuring that players, regardless of their ability upon arriving, improve considerably whilst out there. The atmosphere is professional and yet relaxed, and the accommodation is of excellent quality. I would definitely recommend el Venado to polo enthusiasts wishing to improve their skills!" Daniel von Barloewen - Germany

"It was at El Venado that I truly fell in love with polo. I had had odd lessons here and there, but never had I received such comprehensive and attentive instruction. Federico and Julian fine-tuned my swing to perfection and the progress I made in all aspects of the game during my weeks spent at the estancia was unbelievable. Polo apart, it is the characters of El Venado and the beauty and tranquility of the farm that make it such a special place. Federico and Inés welcome you into their home like family, and the staff are always cheerful and accommodating. Sitting on the verandah eating empanadas with various guests, family and friends after chukkas is, I know, a favourite part of the day for El Venado regulars and new guests alike. It is a rare unspoilt gem among the mass of commercialised polo schools in business today. Nowhere else would you play chukkas with the gauchos as they train the green horses and simultaneously give you expert instruction on your game. El Venado has become a home away from home for so many of the close friends I have made here. It is wonderful to arrive back and find that some of them will be staying at the same time as you again! I can’t bear to be leaving in a week’s time, but I am looking forward already to my return in December." Alice Horlick - England

I just wanted to say thank you again for another amazing stay at El Venado... I am now officially addicted to polo and cannot thank you and Julian enough for sharing your skills and in depth knowledge and passion for the game with me.... 
As we talked about the other night around the fire and after another incredible asado (thanks Oscarcito!), sometimes we take for granted the simple things in life. I don't think I could ever take for granted any time that I would have at El Venado... watching the fireflies in the trees on dusk, shooting stars in the clear skies at night, the sun setting over the wheat fields, mate in the afternoon with the gauchos, empanadas and beers on the back deck in the afternoons, and of course the wonderful horses and afternoon chukkas on the polo fields. I could go on but I have to stop because it is making me too sad and I miss it more than ever. 
There is a big piece of my heart left at El Venado that will never be filled by anywhere else in the world. Gracias por todo, Fede. I cannot thank you enough.
Warmest regards, besos y abrazos to everyone at El Venado. " Lisa Nicholls - Australia

"Hi Inez & Federico, We returned in Belgium. After 5 minutes driving from the Schiphol airport to our house in Belgium we were already surprised with a photoshoot for speeding.... welcome back! Thanks for a fabulous time at your estancia! It was great, you have a nice family, the staff is really OK and we met a lot of nice interesting peaple from different internationalities. Hopefully you will have some rain soon as the "terra" could really use it! As we talked about funny advertisement here are the three I metioned. Actually it are three, but I have to sent it over in two times. As we left a message for your guestbook last year in English we will now write one in Dutch, for all the visitors from Belgium and the Netherlands yet to come. Greetings to all your guests and we really hope to see you in Belgium or the Netherlands soon so we can have some nice dinner in a fancy " Gucci Gaucho" restaurant CU, Harald & Diana

Beste Federico, andermaal bedankt voor een aantal hele toffe weken gevuld met polo, zon, lange gesprekken, het ontmoeten van diverse nationaliteiten en vooral veel gelachen. In Argentinië zijn er de laatste jaren meer en meer polo-scholen bijgekomen, maar ons inziens is de familiale sfeer waarin je tijdens een verblijf op El Venado wordt ondergedompeld onovertroffen! Ik hoop dat veel gasten uit Nederland en België de weg naar El Venado zullen ontdekken, wij kunnen het enkel maar aanbevelen. Daar onze eigen paarden tijdens onze afwezigheid van een maand aardig zijn aangekomen zullen we ons in elk geval de komende maanden niet vervelen :) Hopelijk ontmoeten we elkaar binnenkort eens een keertje in België.Groetjes uit België, Harald & Diana Hochstenbach-Adriaensen, Retie" Harald & Diana - Belgium

"Thank you so much for an incredible week. We had a fantastic time, in fact we wanted to tell the driver to turn around and go back once we got to BA. I can now officially say I am hooked on polo! I managed to score some goals in the games we played today and yesterday, and it's a fabulous feeling! 
Tim has found a new best friend in Oscar and I think he has mastered the making of one perfect asado.
We would adore to return soon, so we will be in touch. In the meantime let us know when you are in BA we would love to catch up and meet your girls. 
Looking forward to hearing from you." Tim y Sophie - Australia

"I turned up at El Venado on my own at the end of February 2003.  My sole intention was to spend a relaxing week and try my hand at polo before what I thought would be my "real" holiday -  trekking on horseback in Patagonia.  After three days at Federico's beautiful farm that all changed. All my carefully laid holiday plans flew out the window. The notorious bug had bitten too deep and the passion for polo and this amazing country took hold. 
From the minute you meet Federico, you notice two things straight away; twinkly green eyes with a hint of mischief and the sense that good humour and fun seem to follow him everywhere.  It's down to Federico's excellent polo coaching, his great friends who turn up for chukkas at 5pm sharp at the end of the day and the talented professionals who drop by - that five years on I'm still playing, have my own string of polo ponies and have returned to Argentina every year without fail.
Ines, Federico's wife is an excellent hostess and guests are made to feel very much at home in the family house full of beautiful family photos, polo cups and a warm atmosphere.  The asados and delicious three course meals are unbelievable and were it not for the polo,  one would need to make plans for a new wardrobe! Guests come from all over the world and lasting friendships are quickly formed.  For me, the best time of the day was always just after chukkas, relaxing in the late summer evenings a cool Quilmes in hand as the empanadas come steaming hot from the kitchen. It's with great difficulty that you pull yourself away from the conversations and laughter to change before dinner!  
If I have to think of my first trip to El Venado (I've been back twice since then) the following comes to mind: polo with the gauchos; visiting the brood mares and their gorgeous little foals as Federico speaks with passion about his breed; fishing on horseback; playing pool in the village, stunning sunsets and lots of laughter..."
AMRITA BILIMORIA - London, UK

"Dear Fedreico, Ines and Charlie, I can't thank you enough for your wonderful hospitality and all the care and consideration that you put into making my time at your estancia a memorable occasion. I have never had a vacation that felt so much like I was part of a larger group of family and friends. There was kindness, laughter, warmth, and a sense of acceptance, even on the polo field. I looked forward to every morning and the chance to stick and ball. I relished every minute of every game and I lived for the cool taste of a drink after a playing each day. I also really appreciated the chance to have dinner in BA with you Federico. There is a story for you about BA next time I come to visit... maybe over a glass of Frenet and coke! If there is anything I can ever do for you, please merely mention it and I will do everything I can to help. Thank you all for a life long memory and I hope to see you next year in late October-November. Please give my best to Dorita and Oscar. Cheers David"
David Watt - Calvary, Canada

"Frederico, I would like to  thank you and Ines for a wonderful stay at El Venado.  I had a wonderful and time and really enjoyed meeting Ines and Martina and Inesita and family.   I have not stopped talking about all the wonderful food and great hospitality you showed me.  For me it was dream to come and learn to play Polo in Argentina, but staying at such a wonderful place made it all the more special.  Stephanie and I are still in touch, and she and I may meet up in Germany next year, so not only do you have a wonderful time riding and enjoying great food at El Venado,  but you make friends too. Please give my regards to my private tutor Juan and all the guys Julian, Qui Quo, Martin . An all round great experience - Thank You! Cheers!" Shirley Portillo - Florida, USA

"Just returned from El Venado back to Belgium where autumn has started during our stay in Argentina.
We had a wonderfull time, not just with playing polo, but also with the nice surrounding and last but not least the great staff of El Venado. Federico is a great host who really knows how to entertain his guests, nationality doesn't matter, he speaks his languages fluent. His wide knowlegde is a guarantee for many subjecs / anecdotes to discuss during dinner. Julian, "Kiko" and Gonzalo did not only a wonderfull job teaching us the basics of Polo and helped us to improve our cantering, but also were very nice company during our stay.
They even were so kind to let us score during some chakka's we played, even if they still deny this :)
I think we really tried the patience of some of the above mentioned "three musketeers", and we always will remember all the statements of one of them: "No No No No No!, Don't kill the ball!, Extend your arm!, Look at me!, etc... :) If they are ever in Belgium or the Netherlands they are more then welcome to stay at our house and maybe visit the Scapa Polo days on the Knokke Beach or at Kapelle.
See Polo International No 73 for more details, you can even see sitting Diana and me in front of the Polo field. Dorita did a wonderfull job of mixing up our plans to lose weight during our stay :(
It was impossible to resist her cooking creations... Anna was always there when you needed her and even managed to tell us lots of stories in Spanish, a language Diana and I don't speak.... But Anna suceeded with legs, arms, etc. to tell us what she wanted to tell. The gaucho's did also a splendid job changing horses during the chakka's. They did this in a very efficient way which showed their expertise. Many thanks to all of the mentioned persons. Until we meet again, Harald & Diana " Harald & Diana Hochstenbach - Adriaensen - Belgium

"Hola Federico and Ines, I arrived back home in Portland safe and sound after a pretty uneventful trip.  Thank you both again very much for a great week at El Venado. Even the rain couldn't keep me from having a wonderful time.  I feel like I got a very solid start in the basics of polo, and can't wait until I get a chance to play again to practice what I already know and learn more skills. But, of course, the week was really much more than polo: it was an opportunity to meet some truly wonderful and interesting people in a beautiful setting, and enjoy some of the really important things in life. I hope to come back soon. All the best, Win  P.S. Thanks for the practice mallet, Federico. As soon as my hand is back to normal I'll start to work on my swing again, so as not to forget what I've learned. No more outside-in!!" Win - Oregon, USA

"Polo - An absolute beginner...
...for sure not anymore! After two weeks at El Venado I am able to play in a chukker with and against professionals without just watching and asking myself what the hell they are doing and what the hell I should do. I am in earnest able to hit the ball into the right direction while cantering and while controlling the horse (well...), okay, but I still foul a lot - but you know what? The professionals still do, as well!
And how is it possible to improve in such a short time?
Just come to great El Venado with it's wonderful people, who make you feel totally well and relaxed - really important to be prepared to do a challenged sport as polo is. An advantage I had was that I had the chance to do some yoga (after my daily morning swim in the pool) with the more than professional and passioned yoga trainer Emily, and I can tell you, it was not that much easy for me to relax and to be flexible with my body the way you need to be to play polo... But with the help of Emily I improved in this, as well.
Good food for sure is important, as well. After polo you need to eat, and at El Venado you feast! The dishes are not only traditional, but also unbelievable delicious!!! You cannot not start to love the Argentinien cuisine there (and the red wine - I am sure it will have a real good chance in Europe, as well!).
Okay, let us come to the polo training itself:
You know, Federico's motivation and ambition is to make you being able to swing the mallet the right way to be able to hit the ball perfectly not only from the wooden horse or at a canter on a real horse, but also in a chukker in the arena or the great polo field. And you will learn, as Federico and his trainers, who helps him with his guests (also professional polo players) are hard-bitten and passion. To be honest, there had been days of rain, as well, so we were "forced" to do a riding to discover the farm a bit more instead of playing chukkers - and I loved those days, as well ;-)
Can you imagine a German doing a siesta during the day? I couldn't, until I started to relax in my nice room or next to the swimming pool at El Venado -  even for a German it is possible loving it!
For sure while staying at El Venado you will fall in love with polo (or deepen it), the countryside of Argentina and it's people and the way of living at the Estancia!
You do not want to leave this place, but it helps that you take great memories and special experiences with you - and as we have e-mail, you will be able to continue "talking" with your new friends at El Venado or from England or Holland or...
Thanks again especially to Inez and Fede (and Martina for her help in BA), but for sure also to Emily and all the rest of the team at El Venado - the two legged as well as the four legged - you are all great!!!!"
Stefanie Schmalz - Hamburg, Germany

"For every polo player who is interested in a true master class in hitting the ball, a stay at El Venado with Federico Cendoya is not only a lot of fun, but also essential for taking your polo to the next level. That goes for both complete beginners and somewhat more advanced players. From my first day at El Venado I was happy to notice that Federico, as a 5-goal professional with many years of experience both playing and teaching polo, understands very well the needs of different levels of players and pays close personal attention to his students. His eye for detail and talent for explaining not only the 'how' but also the 'why' of what goes into a good polo shot, within days improved both my distance and accuracy considerably. Of course, it also helps that Federico's two full sized polo fields in their super smoothness resemble pool tables. But, besides a learning experience, a stay at El Venado is also a great way to relax and enjoy a vacation on a truly beautiful
estancia.
It is hard to imagine a better beginning to a day of polo than waking up in one of the estancia's spacious and very charming bedrooms - even Ralph Lauren could take a couple of lessons in styling here. The many framed photographs throughout the house tell the story of Federico´s long and successful polo career together with his beautiful wife, Inès. Together through the years, they look like the handsome prince and princess of polo-royalty. As everyone will find out from the first breakfast, lunch and dinner together, both posses a warmth and a sense of humor that immediately makes you feel at home. Outside waits a garden that in its grandeur and beauty would not be amiss at the better English country houses. Lunch is frequently under the magnificent trees and in the afternoons there is the full-size pool, complete with flagstone terrace and sun-beds, a perfect spot to relax from that morning's stick & ball session and prepare ones mind for the afternoons chukkas. After which there are snacks and drinks on the terrace, as well as abundant opportunity to discuss the days play and laugh at ones own mistakes.
El Venado is home to several professional polo players, which guarantees that chukkas are always of a good level for visiting students/players. Riding back to the stables in between chukkas to change ponies, Federico, Miquel, Juan and Kico often take the time and trouble to discuss and, when necessary, explain plays. What better way to improve your understanding of the game than during those peaceful moments while riding through the luscious scenery in the late afternoon sun. El Venado has an extensive horse breeding operation, which explains the abundance of good polo ponies and makes going on a ride across the estancia a pleasure for any lover of unspoilt nature and beautiful horses. Besides, the chance to drive cattle with Federico and his gauchos not only gave me a true appreciation of the wide open Argentine pampas, but also is wonderful exercise for riding. During my stay I enjoyed wonderful weather, but in case of rain there is both a indoor hitting cage and a full size arena (a rarity in Argentina).
Federico and Inès are living proof that polo is the most enjoyable when a sense of style and humor go hand in hand. I am lucky to count them among my friends, which, notwithstanding my 25+ year career in journalism, might not make me the most objective of observers. But then again, who can be objective when riding back home on your pony together with friends from an exciting afternoon of polo, as the sun sets over the Argentine pampas." Henri L de By from New York, USA

" I read all of the testimonials that were posted on this site (sorry if Federico added more later). If this is the first testimonial that you see, please read a few of the others before start reading mine. There is not much more I can say about how great the polo school is, i.e. facilities, stick and ball sessions, daily chukkas. What makes the school so great is Federico himself and the fact that he is the "Fountain of Knowledge." Not only has he mastered this complex sport as a professional, but also he has traveled around the world playing polo, met people with the wide range of backgrounds and had Ines as his life-long partner. Whether it is over dinner, polo sessions or drinks after chukkas, you will feel the constant flow of his knowledge pouring over your head. When you talk to him, you will learn life, love, friendship, religion, etc. There is not much more I can say about how great the stay is at El Venado, either, i.e. estancia, hospitality, food, siesta. The only few other things that I can add to this is that the food comes most likely from the farm. Since there are so many, you will hear Federico saying that "they are from here" so many times. It is great to know what you are eating. It does not say anywhere in his website, however, the polo school comes with free Spanish lessons. Depending on your skill levels, Federico and the people at the farm will speak to you in Spanglish, Portonhol or whatever you can manage in Spanish. At the end of your stay at El Venado, you will agree with me saying: Mallet, $80Helmet, $150, Boots, $400, Polo school, $1,900, Your experience at El Venado, priceless." Takuji Makino, Japan - New York, USA

"Also the pictures I took at the estancia are now downloaded - can I email them to your Hotmail account (mind you they are quite large in size - probably close to 60 Mb. Otherwise, I could try to put them on the web for you so you could copy them from the internet. Would this be better? Hope Federico is doing well - please send him my regards. My polo friends from Russia and I are planning our trip to Argentina now and I would like to make sure I come to the estancia if only for a short stay in second/third week of December. Best regards from sunny Moscow and take care!" Sergey Riabokobylko from Moscow, Russia

Hi, I would like to thank you for the wonderful time I had. Here's the testimonials: Life at El Venado is impossible to describe on paper. Calm but yet intense, cut of the world yet international and just amazing. The location is beautiful and there is no better scene than the sunset on the pampa while stick and balling of the perfectly maintain polo field. The staff is caring, present and extremely nice. Federico makes everything possible to make your stay unforgettable and to make you feel like a real friend. Time at the Venado makes you forget your classic everyday routine and brings a new relax vibe to it. I really cant recommend El Venado enough as both a Polo school and vacation place." Louise Owen from Paris, France.

"It doesn't get any better than this - El Venado is the perfect place for a polo holiday, whether you're a complete beginner or an advanced player. Federico is an excellent coach and the chukkas are of a high standard with pros patient enough for beginners to fit right in. The estancia itself is gorgeous - a nice place to just hang out even without the polo and Federico and Ines provide wonderful hospitality - you are a treated as a member of the family. The daily routine of lessons and stick and ball in the morning, the all important siesta after lunch and chukkas in the afternoon, followed by sundowners on the porch is just perfect!!." Paul Volbroker from London

"I just got back to NY a couple of hours ago and I couldn't wait to thank you again for a most exceptional stay at El Venado. Thomas and I had a splendid time. You have created a most unique atmosphere, which delighted all of our senses. We enjoyed the warmth of your family style hospitality and felt most at home sharing delicious meals at your table. I also found the interaction with the other guests most fascinating and stimulating as El Venado seems to only attract interesting people with a common passion for adventure, exciting travels around the world, and horses. The El Venado grounds and the surrounding pampa was a true pleasure for the eyes. The trail rides through the magnificent landscape were unforgettable. I would recommend a stay at El Venado, not only of course to those with a passion for polo, but to anyone looking for a memorable vacation and in need of escape and adventure. Please thank Ines and Martina for everything as well. It was a pleasure meeting them both. I look forward to seeing you in NY in the near future. Sincerely, Azadeh ". Azadeh from New York, USA

"El Venado-one of the few special places in the world where reality truly exceeds one's dreams. If paradise exists, whether you are looking for the ultimate polo experience or simply a fabulous, relaxing, true Argentine experience y 5 star vacation, then El Venado is it. Time spent with the beautiful Cendoya family, surrounded by their grace and hospitality is a timeless treasure not to be missed, rather one you will feel compelled to repeat, as I have twice and hope to again every chance I get." Dori Weymouth from Maui, USA

"We hereby want to thank you, Federico and your team, for the wonderful week we had in the Estancia El Vanado in November 2004. We were very impressed by your hospitality, your experience and patience to teach starting polo players from the beginning. We were very pleased with the program during the week, which gave us a good impression what polo is about. We especially enjoyed the chukkas we played after some days. And not to forget the nice food we had at the very relaxed bbq lunches and the wunderful dinners. Best Regards, Gerard and Madelon." Gerard van Cappellen from The Netherlands.

"I have not stopped talking about my trip to Argentina, and most especially my experiences at El Venado. I tell all my friends that it is a trip very worth taking, and that everyone should definitely give it a try at least once in their lifetime (even from all the way over here in the Philippines).
When Lorna suggested that we spend some time there to learn polo, well, to put in plainly, I thought she was nuts. Having not been on a horse in more than 20 years, it seemed overly ambitious, certainly dangerous, and perhaps beyond my physical abilities. But once I was there (and on an actual horse) I quickly realized that the point was for me to push myself into a totally unfamilar realm, thereby discovering a part of me that I never knew existed. As it turned out, there was nothing at all to fear. So what if I am not really a polo player (and not even really a rider); just someone out for an unusual and exciting adventure? Under your thoroughly competent tutelage, I felt safe and looked after.
If I have a chance to visit Argentina again, I promise you will see me! Given a choice between Tango lessons or Polo, there would be no contest! I a heartbeat I would choose to explore once again the heartland of Argentina's estancias. I would seek out the vast grassy plains that seem to go on forever, and of course that wonderfully macho sport that made me feel -- if only just for a few days -- connected to the world in a whole new way. Thank you for your guidance, your hospitality, your friendship, and your good humor. I enjoyed myself immensely. I believe my smile says it all in the photograph attached. All the best, Liana Romulo - The Yogi in Philippines" Liana Romulo from Philippines.

"El Venado is a great polo school with great surroundings. learning both strategies and actual techniques, it improved my polo dramatically. Everyone was so nice to me and i felt that i learned more in a week's stay at El Venado then i would in a month at polo school back home. I loved the polo ponies there and it was great playing polo twice a day; practicing in the morning and playing chukkers in the afternoon (giving me a chance to use what i learned that morning in a game). Federico is a great teacher and i am glad i was able to learn from him. from Issy". Isabella Wolf from Virginia, USA..

"Dear Ines, dear Federico,
when I decided to spend some time at El Venado, I had nothing else in mind but learning to play polo. Now I can look back to a vacation which would have been excellent even without the wonderful polo experience.
First of all I have to mention the homemade food. Many people warned me that the diet in Argentina would probably be beef with more beef. You can imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to be treated to an incredible variety of freshly prepared dishes. In this regard I hope that you will forgive me for letting you wait a lot because I could not resist getting a second helping.
The next thing I want to point out is the wonderful setting of your farm in a rural area which you cannot find any more in densely populated countries like Germany. Just riding around there or looking at the starry sky at night were worthwhile experiences in themselves.
I have found Argentine people in general and your staff at El Venado in particular very very friendly and helpful. The atmosphere at the farm was further enhanced by the interesting other guests I was lucky to meet and of course by your exceptional ability to make your guests feel at home. Thus I was never ever bored during my stay but on the contrary had much more fun than I would ever have expected, especially during our dinner conversations.
Finally I have to thank you for introducing me into the world of polo in a very professional, yet relaxed and patient manner. It was impressive how you, Federico, would always point out small things that made me improve further. Your attention to detail and your insisting on doing the swing correctly instead of trying to achieve a quick success were impressive.
Besides having an excellent teacher the perfect installations at your farm also helped a lot. E. g. both the fields for stick and ball and for the games were very well kept, almost like a pool table. Especially when you are beginning it is hard enough to hit the ball at all, you do not want any extra difficulty caused by an uneven field. Also the hitting cage around the wooden horse allowed you through ist sloped walls to work on your swing without someone having to assist you by putting a ball in place for you. Thank you for everything and best regards". Rolf Ostmann, Berlin, Deutschland

"Liebe Ines, lieber Federico,
als ich mich entschloss, ein paar Wochen in El Venado zu verbringen, hatte ich ausschließlich ein Ziel vor Augen: das Polospielen zu erlernen. Heute kann ich auf einen Urlaub zurückblicken, der auch ohne Polo wunderschön gewesen wäre.
Zunächst muss ich die vorzügliche Küche loben. Viele Bekannte hatten mich vor der Reise gewarnt, in Argentinien bekäme ich wohl nur Rindfleisch mit noch mehr Rindfleisch vorgesetzt. Umso überraschter war ich, welche Vielfalt an aus besten Zutaten frisch zubereiteten Gerichten serviert wurde. In diesem Zusammenhang bitte ich nochmals um Verzeihung für die unvermeidlichen Wartezeiten, während ich meinen Nachschlag verzehrte.
Hellauf begeistert war ich auch von der einsamen ländlichen Umgebung, wie man sie in einem dicht besiedelten Land wie Deutschland heute nicht mehr findet. Allein schon die Ausritte dort oder der Anblick des nächtlichen Sternenhimmels waren beeindruckende Erlebnisse.
Die Argentinier im allgemeinen und insbesondere die Mitarbeiter in El Venado habe ich als ausgesprochen freundlich und hilfsbereit erlebt. Die Atmosphäre auf der Farm wurde zusätzlich noch durch die interessanten anderen Gäste bereichert, die ich dort kennen lernen durfte, und natürlich nicht zuletzt durch Eure fabelhafte Gastfreundschaft. So kam es, dass ich zu keiner Zeit Langeweile verspürte, sondern im Gegenteil viel mehr Spaß als erwartet hatte, vor allem bei den abendlichen feucht-fröhlichen Tischgesprächen.
Zu guter letzt bin ich Dank schuldig für die professionelle, dabei aber stets entspannte und geduldige Einführung in die Kunst des Polospiels. Es war verblüffend, wie Federico immer wieder durch die Korrektur von scheinbar kleinen Mängeln meiner Technik deutliche Verbesserungen herbeiführen konnte. Insbesondere der Blick für Details und das Bestehen auf einer korrekten Schlagtechnik anstelle von schnellen Scheinerfolgen haben mich sehr überzeugt.
Abgesehen von Federicos Können als Lehrer waren auch die Einrichtungen auf der Farm sehr hilfreich. Ob es die hervorragende Qualität des Rasens war, der so eben wie ein Billardtisch wirkte, oder der Käfig um das Holzpferd mit geneigten Ebenen, der es erlaubte, auch ganz allein an der Schlagtechnik zu feilen, alles war vorhanden, um die Zeit bestmöglich zu nutzen. Vielen Dank für alles und beste Grüße!" Rolf Ostmann, Berlin, Deutschland

"An outstanding experience. I've just returned from my second trip to El Venado in two years and can't say enough about them, from the pristine beauty of the Estancia to the camaraderie of the guests. Federico and Inés are natural hosts with a gift for making their guests feel like one of the family. The only risk is that the quality of the polo is so high, from the horses to the instruction to the chukkars, that one is spoiled forever. El Venado is the one trip I know I will make every year". Hunt Taylor from New York, USA

"A visit to El Venado is so much more than a spectacular polo playing experience, it is the ultimate Argentine experience! We can hardly wait till we go back. After 2 week's at El Venado Polo School my game improved dramatically and the accommodations and the graciousness of our host's were incomparable! Jeffrey Justin from New York, USA

"Ik heb een heerlijke en fantastische vakantie achter de rug; in december 2003 bracht ik een week door op El Venado bij Ines en Federico Cendoya. Ik ging naar El Venado om Polo te leren spelen. Het was niet alleen mijn eerste ervaring met polo maar ook met Argentinië, en ik moet zeggen het is me allemaal zeer goed bevallen. Na aankomst in B.A. mocht ik meteen kennismaken met de beste polo-spelers van nu en vroeger tijdens the Argentine Open Polo Championship. Door de regen en het onweer werd de reis naar El Venado er één die ik niet snel zal vergeten, want Federico bleek niet alleen een zeer kundig polo-speler maar ook zeer bedreven in de 4-weel drive… Als ervaren hockeyspeelster en ruiter dacht ik dat ik dat polo-spel wel zo onder knie zou hebben….. dat viel dus tegen. Maar, na een week les van Federico, beginnend op het houten paard en eindigend in een gewonnen wedstrijd bij Dicky's ben ik zo enthousiast geworden dat ik in Nederland mij verder in het polo-spel wil bekwamen. Ik hoop een keer terug te keren naar El Venado, niet alleen om mijn polo-spel te verbeteren maar ook om weer samen met de gaucho's over de pampas langs de kuddes met koeien, paarden, schapen, of de vennen met al die vogels te rijden, en last but not least voor de gezellig kletsjes met en de lieve hartelijkheid van Ines!" Astrid Baalbergen from The Netherlands.

"El Venado is a truly wonderful place to play polo. Federico is a patient and encouraging teacher with a wicked sense of humour. His passion for his farm, his horses and his polo are evident and his enthusiasm for the game is infectious. My polo improved enormously during my stay and I can't wait for the Scottish polo season to begin so that I can put into practice what I have learnt. Thank you again Federico and Ines for welcoming me so warmly into your beautiful home and providing me with some wonderful memories - it is always sad to leave. I look forward to my next visit" Judith Grant from Scotland.

"When I was going to El Venado Polo School, I was a bit unsure since I had never met you before. But from the moment I met you and your wife at the airport I knew I had made the right choice of a polo school. Everyone at El Venado made me feel at home right away ... I felt like I'd known the people there since ages. Thanks to you Federico I really improved my polo. The way you explained various aspects of the game, it was only natural that I improve so quickly. Once I got back to Pakistan I immediately noticed an improvement both in my riding as well as in my game. I look forward to my next visit there, and feel that anyone who seriously wants to improve their polo should make the trip to El Venado." Jamal Iftikhar from Pakistan.

"Dear Frederico and Ines - Well I guess being back in Africa sets you back on African timing - better late then never!! I would just like to say a huge huge thank you for everything. I had the most fantastic time and it was worth every penny and every second. You were exquisite hosts and made me feel so at home - almost too at home, staying so long! Immensely generous, kind and fun. It reminded me alot of Kenya, especially the sense of humour, wine, beer and animals!!! I'm not sure that we will ever be able to compete with your catering services as I have never had meat quite like it, not to mention the puddings too! On the polo front - Federico you are a brilliant teacher with great patients and encouragement, especially for those with such a terrible 'Kenyan Style'!!! You did a great deal for my polo, riding and confidence. Everything feels so much more comfortable and effortless. We have just had two fantastic weekends of polo here after which my handicap was put up to a 0, so I was very pleased and hand it all to you (and a little bit to Charly!). I think I rode different horses every day as my farther had ours, but I didn't not faze me after riding so many different horses with you. We are buying 3 made polo ponies from Zimbabwe at the moment so my farther and I can share slightly smaller horses and my passion for polo can keep going!! I had a fantastic night in BA with Manu. The hotel was wonderful and the staff looked after me (a little too) well. I fell in love with the shops and spent all my money in one day, dangerous!! I hope all is well at El Venado. Send my love to everyone and once again a huge huge thank you. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas (with all your guests) - as'Merry' as can be. All the best for the new year and we may even see you out here - you are always more than welcome, whenever. With much love." Nikki Barlow from Kenya

"Ik was in februari 2003 een kleine twee weken bij Federico en Ines Cendoya op El Venado. Het was vooral in hoge mate ontspannen en gezellig. Er was een plezierige mix van mensen uit alle windstreken, waaronder zeer ervaren polo-ers en mensen zoals ik die er in een vlaag van overmoed, natuurlijk veel te laat, mee begonnen zijn. Ik was getroffen door de moeite die zeer goed spelende gasten gaven om de beginners enthousiast te maken voor het spel en hen beter te laten spelen. Ik heb zelden iemand meegemaakt met zo'n engelengeduld als Federico, die elke ochtend uren lang op het veld bij me was om de techniek bij te schaven. Zo lang ik het uithield, was hij erbij om op me in te praten, en telkens als de duim of de wijsvinger op het mallet iets verschoof dan zag hij het. Hij zag alles. Als het paard er geen zin meer in had, dan kwam er een vers paard. En dan, als ik nog puf had, nog een. Ik moet bekennen, tevreden is Federico nog steeds niet met me, waarschijnlijk zal hij dat nooit helemaal zijn, maar ik kan de bal nu wel tien keer zuiverder en harder raken. En dan elke dag, na de siësta, chukkas tot je erbij neervalt, of in elk geval tot ik erbij neerviel. En El Venado is een goede plek om de wat opgeklopte sfeer van dure auto- en horlogemerken te vergeten die er soms rond deze sport hangt. Als je van paarden houdt, dan is er geen leuker, spannender, uitdagender spelletje dan polo. Hier kun je er in alle rust mee beginnen, veel bijleren, gewoon heel veel spelen op fantastische paarden, en de hele dag over polo te praten. En los van polo, ik zou ook een paar weken met een stapel boeken naar El Venado gaan. Voor de dagelijkse asado onder de enorme bomen in de tuin, mate met de grooms, de door de wei galopperende merries met veulens, de zonsondergang bij de eucalyptus bomen en voor de onverbeterlijke stoute foxterriërpuppies Chukkar en Caruso." Willem Lust from Nederlands.

"I recently spent two weeks at El Venado with Federico, and can honestly say that it was by far the best polo experience I have ever had. I went to Argentina after having played in Lahore (Pakistan), in Berkshire (England) and in Indio (California) and have never enjoyed the game as much as I did at El Venado. I was well mounted throughout my trip and learned not only to hit the ball better, but have come away with good playing strategy. Playing with and against Federico and other professionals who visited us taught me more about the game than I have ever learned. Federico and his family make their guests feel like a part of their family and the atmosphere at El Venado is totally relaxed and friendly. I would recommend El Venado to any polo fanatic like myself."
Kassem Shafi from Lahore, Pakistan.

"Having found El Venado on the internet, I wasn't sure what to expect. In fact, I tried to eradicate any preconceptions I had of polo, the pampas and Argentina altogether, just to avoid any possible disappointment. I needn't have put so much effort into this futile exercise since the experience was a delight from beginning to end. From the moment of collection from the airport in Buenos Aires I was enveloped by a relaxed air of efficiency. With everything taken care of, I could concentrate on learning to play polo. Federico's instruction is precise, clear and infused with his own grace and flair for the game. As a complete beginner I was astonished to be able to hit the ball within hours of starting. The exquisite sound of the sweet spot started ringing in my ears as the week went by. With well trained ponies, the game became less of a mystery to me and goal-scoring was high on my agenda every afternoon that we played. Set in beautiful gardens, the house is a haven of tranquillity. The combination of delicious Argentine food, a good siesta and several refreshing dips in the pool were always enough to set me up for the afternoon after a hard morning of stick-and-ball. Federico's teaching style makes for constant enjoyment. Wrenching myself away after a week was dreadful. So I went back for more! Thank you so much for a truly wonderful time, and in Arnie's famous words "I'll be back!". Annabele Fell-Clark from London, UK

"El Venado is a fantastic place to learn polo. Having a couple polofields, one could experience the game of polo when Federico arrange to playgames with his wonderful friends. The hosts, Federico and Ines are very friendly and they make you feel as though you're home. They provide all the needs you want and make sure that you learn the basic of polo if you're a beginner before you leave El Venado. Federico has the gifted abilities to teach. Overall, mytrip was very enjoyable and had learn a lot from Federico and his friends. Federico loves red wine, so bring a couple of bottles to show your grateful and thank to him. El Venado and the Cendoya family is wonderful, and i hope to make a trip again in the future. All the best to you ." Najieb Ariff from Malaysiae

"If anyone could gave El Venado a handicap as a team, the 40 goals wouldn't be enough.The memories I got from El Venado are invaluable, I will always thank the Cendoya Family for the precious time they gave me in Argentina." Selim Doumet from Ecuador

"… a great mixture: a lot of polo, horses, and riding in nature and in a civilized, most friendly and warm way of living." Christian Voelkers from Munich, Germany

El Venado was a wonderful polo vacation experience. Federico gave great lessons in the mornings and the chukkers in the afternoons had fast polo. The ranch was beautiful with the tree-lined entrance and the homemade Argentine food was good too. Tracy Riff from Chicago, USA

Frederico, I want to thank you very much for the great time that you gave while I was at El Venado. Everyone on your estancia was so warm and friendly I. The highlight of my trip to Argentina was being able to play in the tournament with you, Gaston Dorignac, Pablo Dorignac, and some of the other great players of the past and present. It was a real thrill just being on the same field with all of them, and to enjoy the fantastic asado with everyone after the tournament. Hard fought competition on the field, but then relaxing and great fun together after the game. This is the way polo should always be. All of them could not have been nicer to me, and they made me feel right at home. Thank you for everything, but especially for your warm and gracious Argentine hospitality. Chuck Elms from The Blue-Sky Polo Club of New York

I have made three trips to El Venado ranging in length from two weeks to two months! The Cendoya family and their friends and neighbors welcomed me warmly and treated me as one of the family. The polo is fantastic and Federico Cendoya is an excellent teacher. We dubbed him "The Professor." I heartily recommend a visit to the estancia to anyone looking for a five-star vacation." Marianna Skowronski from Baltimore

El Venado was a wonderful place that exceeded my expectations. Federico and Inés were wonderful hosts and were most accommodating. Federico is a natural at teaching. Much time was spent on hitting technique and, as a result of the trip, I became much more confident and consistent on many shots that had been my weaker points. At El Venado, we were not treated as visitors, but as family. Kim Kopkau from Chicago, USA

"There is not much that one can say about El Venado without seeming fawning. As soon as I was home from my last trip I was planning the next! Federico has greatly helped me develop my whole game. He was always a brilliant and attentive teacher. When I was stuck he was patient and creative, rethinking the exercises to keep them novel and interesting. In my mind El Venado is an exceptionally welcoming place with a brilliant atmosphere that is perfect for learning and playing polo." James Cork from London

Polo References

Polo Opinions - Post your opinion on the Quote of the Month
"Polo is as easy as dominating two basic skills: riding and the swing." - Anonymous

"I feel polo has been made to look and feel so difficult that lots of youngesters think twice to take to it, thus the game is not growing as in many young people taking to it. Tthe fact is, it is easier than hocker or cycle polo where one has to run /cycle and hit the ball, here one has to only sit and hit the ball. We must make the ball follow us [it is all about anticipation and having a sprit for freedom and happiness]. If on earth exits heaven - its on the back of a polo pony." Mayor ajay ahlawat from India

"Your web site is very well and interesting. I have found the photos gallery very beatifful, congratulation! " Toussaint Clement from France

"Well I think this person is right because I think there is nothing that compares to being on horse back tring to controll a ball 49 inches below at full gallop to distances like 60 or even 100 yards away! I would do anything to be in that position any time of the day!." Wa´el Elzeney from Nigeria

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