The Story Behind PoloGear: Tradition, Innovation, and a Renewed Vision
Coverage Article on ClickPolo - 12/4/2024
PoloGear’s journey began with a love for polo and horses, evolving into a global brand dedicated to innovation, quality, and faith, while supporting the backbone of the sport—polo clubs worldwide.
The PoloGear story began with its founders' love for polo and horses—two inseparable passions. Gary Fellers, a passionate horseman, understood that to be a good polo player, you must also be a good horseman, mounted on great horses. In polo, the horse is at least 80% of the game. It becomes your partner, your alter ego, enabling you to perform at your best.
The journey started on the humble club polo fields of Sugarbush Polo Club in the Mad River Valley of Vermont, an area famous for its skiing. In the summer, skiers turned to polo. The founder, originally a skier and part of the ski industry, helped test and develop skis with engineers for a global ski brand for which he worked. He also played a role in building a small ski apparel company into the largest in the world and later ran a group of retail stores, developing an apparel brand. Once he was introduced to polo, it became the driving force of his life.
His introduction to polo came from his uncle, Brigadier General Harold E. Eastwood, a cavalry instructor, 2-goal polo player, and member of MacArthur’s staff during World War II. Harold was responsible for supplying the Pacific campaign and later led the United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency (UNKRA) in rebuilding Korea after the war. Gary shared his uncle’s fascination with polo, but it wasn’t until after college that he had the opportunity to play.
In Vermont, with a steady job and free time during the summer, Gary started spending time around the polo fields. Many of the players were familiar with the ski slopes and they encouraged him to get involved. Before long, he was invited to play in a chukker. Life changed in an instant. “It was all the thrill of skiing, but with the added excitement of horses, teamwork, and hand-eye coordination,” Gary recalls. “I was hooked, perhaps obsessed, from the first minute of my first chukker.”
Gary believes that our passions should be honored, and throughout his life, he has sought to make his vocation a labor of love. First, it was skiing, then polo and horses. The idea of building a real polo brand began in 1980. At the time, he and the owner of the ski clothing company he worked for planned to develop a polo apparel brand together. While that project never materialized, the seed was planted.
Over the years, Gary honed his skills, traveling to Palm Beach during the winters to play and improve his game. He achieved a 3-goal handicap and played throughout New England and the East Coast, participating in many tournaments. Along the way, he joined clubs like Sugarbush, Saratoga, Myopia, Aspen, Royal Palm, Palm Beach, Gulfstream, and Big Horn. Reflecting on his experiences, he says, “Club polo is the backbone of the sport. It’s where you find real camaraderie and the day-to-day joy of working with horses and friends. The club experience is why we at PoloGear are so committed to supporting clubs, not only in the U.S. but internationally.”
In the early 1990s, Gary sold his business and home, moved to Florida, and pursued his dream of becoming a professional polo player and launching the authentic polo brand he had envisioned for over a decade.
At that point, his life took a major turn. In Wellington, he met Jeanette Sassoon, a dressage rider and the woman who would become his wife. Jeanette had just moved to Florida from California, and from the moment they met, Gary was swept off his feet. Over 37 years later, his admiration for Jeanette continues to grow. Together, they co-founded PoloGear, with Jeanette training the polo ponies and playing a vital role behind the scenes. She even chose the company’s logo—a picture of Gary playing high goal in Saratoga on his favorite horse, Texas.
Jeanette brought not only her passion for horses but also a wealth of experience from the world of advertising, film, and tv production. She had developed marketing campaigns and worked in pre and post-production for major corporations in California, NY, and London. Her unique background, combined with her love for horses, helped shape PoloGear’s branding and design. Beyond polo, Jeanette is a USDF gold medal Grand Prix dressage rider, competitor, and trainer and together with Gary co-founded and managed Centaur Farms, the very first premier dressage training facility in Wellington hosting top international riders, Olympians, and horses worldwide. Her dedication to equestrian sports and the care she provided to her blind horse, Valiant, led her to co-found the Valiant Trust Foundation, promoting equine medical research and supporting rescue initiatives.
PoloGear flourished during this time, becoming recognized worldwide for its high-quality team uniforms and equipment. The brand served many top players and teams, and PoloGear’s store in Wellington, along with its production facility in Lakeland, Florida, was thriving.
But in 2003, Gary’s life changed dramatically. During a practice game at Royal Palm Polo Club, his horse tripped and flipped, leaving him with a severe injury. His polo career was over in an instant, and his direction in life was shattered. “I knew the Lord’s hand was in this, though I didn’t fully understand it at the time. It made me want to learn more, so I began reading the Bible,” Gary recalls. Thirteen years later, he accepted Jesus Christ as his savior and dedicated his life and businesses to Him.
Jeanette, too, found her path to faith through her horse, Valiant, who suffered a severe injury and went blind due to uveitis. The care Jeanette gave him was unrelenting, and through this experience, she also found her way to Jesus. She always knew innately there was a greater purpose in life. Through the love of a horse and because of the trust, joy, patience, and appreciation of life she experienced through Valiant, the last message he left with her "To Believe” was the answer. From that point on, her faith and dedication has grown exponentially. The couple was baptized together, and their journey continues today.
Their new outlook changed their approach to PoloGear as well. “We gave the company to the Lord for His purposes, to serve His kingdom and His glory.” For several years, they operated in a more reserved manner, but by 2024, they felt a renewed sense of purpose.
“We believe a new chapter is unfolding,” says Gary. “New leadership, fresh enthusiasm, and a revitalized spirit are driving PoloGear forward. Our goal is to bring the best technical tack products and team gear to the global polo market and continue to develop our non-polo playing apparel customers and brand while supporting the backbone of the sport—the clubs. We’re also launching two new collections to honor Jesus: Polo For Christ and the 4 Horsemen.
PoloGear is also seeking more youthful leadership. “We are seeking to bring along a new younger generation of owner/operators at PoloGear to operate and direct PoloGear. We wish to continue the dream with new blood, enthusiasm, and vision of a younger generation of polo players and business managers who will be able to take PoloGear back to the field where it started, but with a higher sense of purpose.”
More on the “New PoloGear and its Revival” in Part 2 of the article to follow.