Where the polo story began
Ernie began playing polo at Cornell University, learning under freshman coach Steve Kraus and varsity coach Danny Scheraga.
Meet your instructor
Decades in polo. A first lesson that still feels personal.
Ernie Darquea brings a lifetime of playing, coaching, and teaching to a beginner experience built around patience, clarity, and the simple thrill of trying polo for yourself.
CornellPolo alumnus
1992Teaching at Royal Palm
USCFormer team coach
USPAHonorary instructor
The experienced version
A career built inside the sport.
Ernie's polo career began at Cornell University. By 1992, he was teaching at Royal Palm Polo Club. He later coached the USC team, and the United States Polo Association lists him among its honorary certified polo instructors.
After returning from Washington, he served as an instructor and professional at a Los Angeles-area polo organization, then settled in Acton with a goal of helping polo grow throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.
Those credentials matter. The reason beginners enjoy learning with him is more human: he still likes helping new players get started.
Already teaching the game
The United States Polo Association records Ernie giving lessons at Royal Palm Polo Club in 1992.
Experience coaching a team
Ernie later coached the USC polo team for several years, helping another generation learn the sport.
Bringing polo to the Santa Clarita Valley
After returning from Washington, Ernie served as an instructor and professional at a Los Angeles-area polo organization before settling in Acton to help promote polo in the Santa Clarita Valley.
A personal first step in Acton
At Centaur Polo, Ernie introduces beginners to the horse, the mallet, and the game one clear step at a time.
A life around polo
Experience you can see.
From time in the saddle to the daily care and training behind each horse, Ernie's connection to the sport extends well beyond the lesson itself.
The beginner version
You do not need to impress him.
You do not need a horse background or a working knowledge of polo. Ernie's job is to help you understand the horse, the equipment, and the first movements at a pace that makes sense.
A welcoming first step for every new player.
Whether you are trying polo for yourself or helping a rider age 12 or older discover the sport, the introduction is designed to feel personal, encouraging, and clear from the start.
Your first hour
Meet the horse. Learn the first move. See whether polo belongs in your life.
The Beginner Polo Introduction is 60 minutes and $150 per person. Horse, tack, mallet, helmet, and instruction are included. Weekday and weekend times may be requested.