Most people have never actually watched a polo match. They know it exists. They’ve seen it referenced in films and magazines. But they’ve never been to one. If that describes you, then a Sunday afternoon at the Skaneateles Polo Club is about to change something.
The Skaneateles Polo Club has been part of this community since the early 1960s. It hosts free matches every Sunday in July and August at 3pm on Andrews Road — just about a mile south of the village off Route 41A. Teams come from across eastern North America. Cleveland, Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Buffalo, and Aiken, South Carolina are all regular visitors. The club also plays benefit matches for local charities throughout the season. And through all of it, admission remains completely free.
What to Expect on the Day
The game itself moves fast. Two teams of four players each compete on a field the size of nine football fields, driving a small hard ball toward the opposing goal using long-handled wooden mallets — all while galloping at full speed on thoroughbred horses that weigh upwards of 800 pounds. A modern match lasts roughly two hours and divides into periods called chukkas. The action is physical, thrilling, and surprisingly easy to follow even for first-time spectators.
Bring a picnic, a lawn chair, and binoculars for when the action moves to the far end of the field. Kids can visit the horses after the match and learn more about the sport — a highlight for younger visitors. The atmosphere is relaxed and genuinely community-minded. It has the feel of a proper Skaneateles summer tradition, which, of course, it is.
Find them at 783 Andrews Road. Matches run every Sunday in July and August at 3pm. Free admission.