Federico Cendoya
5-Goal Professional Player & World-Class Polo Coach
Meet Federico Cendoya
Federico Cendoya is a 5-goal professional polo player who has spent over 30 years competing across four continents. He has coached players from complete beginners to seasoned amateurs everywhere from Pennsylvania to Peru, New York to New Delhi.
What sets Fede apart in the high-goal world is his dedication to the art of coaching. While most high-handicap professionals focus purely on competing, Fede actually teaches. His hands-on, patient, and deeply intuitive method meets every player exactly where they are, whether you are holding a mallet for the very first time or trying to break through a handicap barrier where you’ve been stuck for years.
The Archives
Built & Run by Federico Cendoya
El Venado Polo School
In the 1990s, he took his family’s historic, 148-year-old estancia and hand-built El Venado Polo School from the ground up, turning it into one of the country’s most respected international polo destinations.
He is the driving force behind the school and spends every day with his guests. The experience is fully immersive; Fede is right there with you from the morning strategy discussions on the field to the relaxed, convivial meals at the estancia table, sharing stories and insights long after the horses are back in the stables.
While Fede leads the program, he has also built a world-class team of professionals to support you.
Engineered by Federico Cendoya
El Venado Polo Breed
Fede knows that a player is only as good as their mount. To ensure his guests and clients ride the absolute best, Fede created his own private breeding and training program on the estancia, drawing on over 40 years of personal experience selecting and making top-tier polo horses.
Under Fede’s management, El Venado Polo Breed has produced and exported more than 500 polo ponies to international patrons and high-goal players across the USA, Europe, India, Asia, and the Middle East—with many going on to win “Best Playing Pony” awards worldwide.
Because Fede breeds and makes these horses himself, he has an unmatched understanding of their temperaments. If you are looking for a competitive tournament mount, Fede handles the matchmaking. If you are riding in the school, he personally pairs you with an athletic partner tailored exactly to your riding style and skill level.
