SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Sidelines Caps
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Monday, February 02 2015 / Published in General, Sidelines Feature

Tireless Tony Coppola: The Voice of Polo and The Tackeria

Tony at The Tackeria Photo by Carrie Wirth

Tony at The Tackeria
Photo by Carrie Wirth

By Carrie Wirth

On any given Sunday during the season at International Polo Club Palm Beach, the recognizable, booming voice heard calling the game belongs to Tony Coppola. He’s been announcing the action on the Sunday field for countless years. His voice has become part of the fabric of the rich experience at the country’s most important clubs. Tony has announced the Argentine Open, broadcasted on ESPN and given voice to top matches around the globe.

Tony’s love for polo began when he was a child in Long Island, hot walking horses. He was introduced to the game by the late Joe Rizzo and started playing at the age of 12. Tony became a solid player and a respected horseman before moving on to manage some of the country’s top polo clubs including Burnt Mills, Gilbertsville and Saratoga.

“He’s probably the most knowledgeable horse person I’ve ever met in my whole life,” said Jesse Coppola, Tony’s ex-wife, who says she considers him one of her closest friends. “He’s taught me everything I know about horses.”

With his firsthand knowledge of polo tack and equipment and understanding of what players need, Tony launched his iconic Wellington tack store, The Tackeria, out of the back of his car in 1975. He was inspired by the injury of a fellow player and employer to create a business to fall back on. Tony wanted to be sure he would have a source of income to ensure his livelihood if he were injured or couldn’t work in the sport for any reason. While he started small, selling just a few items like bits, he has shaped The Tackeria over the years into a Wellington landmark.

The Tackeria moved from a mobile trailer at the polo fields to a small store in the polo barns to various locations around Wellington before settling in its current, extremely popular location on the corner of Pierson Road and South Shore Boulevard. The new setting for the store is at the apex of the Wellington winter equestrian season at the intersection where the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and the Global Dressage Village meet, adjacent to many area polo fields.

This year, The Tackeria family celebrates its 40th anniversary. And it’s truly a family.

“My nephew Lou is the general manager, my ex-wife Jesse is in the business, and my son Matt is learning — so that’s real family,” Tony said. “We have employees that have been with us 20-plus years. We don’t have turnover in staff. People come and work and stay.”

In 2006, Tony was awarded the Polo Museum and Hall of Fame’s Philip Iglehart Award for Lifetime Contributions to the Sport of Polo for his contributions and for his support of area charitable organizations. In 2010, he was named Wellington Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year.

“He’s a kind man,” confided Jesse. “If anyone ever needed help, he’d be the first one to help them.”

Tony is very supportive of his son, Matt, who’s now playing professionally and represents the next generation of polo-playing Coppolas. Tony tries to be there for his games as much as possible. Between the store, announcing and polo matches, and trips to Argentina, it’s a wonder that he’s able to keep up the pace.

“Matt is starting to get involved in the business,” added Tony. “Now that he’s playing polo, he knows the new trends and what people are using, and we let him try a lot of new products. He spends his free time learning the business.”

“He sees the bigger picture,” said Lou Cuthbertson, Tony’s nephew.

Lou first worked for Tony at The Tackeria as a marketing student. Coppola needed a catalog, so Lou came down to Wellington from Boston on a college internship basis to accomplish that project. Lou returned to work for his uncle and stayed from 1988 through 1994, left for 10 years, then returned in 2004 and has stayed since then.

“Before the whole world went to stores that are open seven days a week, Tony felt that the barn store should be open on Sunday in case a horse had an injury,” Lou said. “Tony thought that, if a horse needed a jar of furacin, we should be here for them. It wasn’t about the money; it was about serving the clients.”

Over the years, the store expanded and now does a brisk business with hunter/jumper customers, which has actually exceeded the polo business. Currently the retailer is seeing an increase in dressage clients. As the business has grown, Tony says that the motivation of satisfying the needs of the customers is what makes him tick.

“I think what I’m most proud of is the fact that here we are going into our 40th year, and we’ve grown from very little to where we are now,” Tony said. “We have good relationships with our employees and the community. This is what keeps me going.”

 

Double D Trailers Info

Share this page:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Tagged under: Carrie Wirth, sidelines-magazine, tackeria, Tony Coppola, wellington

What you can read next

No such thing as an “easy” Grand Prix.
Happy Trails: Ravel’s New Career
Unbridled with Chester Weber

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Ceramic therapy from SmartPak 😍 “This stylis Ceramic therapy from SmartPak 😍

“This stylish diamond-quilted pad not only looks amazing, but has all the benefits of ceramic therapy that your horse will love. My horse felt great through his back while riding, even with the frigid winter temperatures. At such an affordable price point, this SmartTherapy saddle pad is too good to pass up!”

What product should we feature next? Tag your favorite brands in the comments! 💬

The all NEW Sidelines Selections pages are the perfect place to share your products- featured in the front of the magazine for premier viewing! 👀

Interested in advertising with us? Email advertising@sidelinesmagazine.com 📩
Don't miss this exclusive interview of world-class Don't miss this exclusive interview of world-class clinician, @annekursinski 🤩

Here is a sneak peak 👀

What are the three most important lessons you emphasize to your students?

"First of all, your position. If you can’t control your position, then have fun trying to control a horse. Your basic equitation. Why we do things. Especially when I’m teaching, to test everyone’s skills that way. So, position and awareness first. 

The other is to listen to the horse. It’s not a one-way conversation. So much about riding is about listening to the horse- and when you ask, and when you’re training, and when you’re wanting to get something done with them- make sure you listen. Are they really understanding it? Are your signals clear? Your aids and such? So that it’s not just a one-way conversation, it’s very important to listen to the horse. 

It’s hard work, but on the other hand, be open to learning. Be open and, as much as you can, enjoy the journey. Enjoy the work. Sometimes, I put people out of their comfort zone when I’m teaching- on purpose- to learn something new and try something different. Be open to that, and at the end of the day, to try and embrace that as well." - Anne Kursinski 

Read the rest at our link in bio ➡️ What's Happenin' blog!

@rutledgefarm #clinic #equestrianlife #hunterjumper #hunterseat #huntseatequitation #equitation #ridingtips #learntoride #ridinglessons #clinician #interview #horselovers #sidelinesmagazine
"If you want to get your foot in the door in the h "If you want to get your foot in the door in the higher level, go and be a working student somewhere and get a job riding. Find a situation where you think it will help you better develop your riding into what you want out of this sport, whether that’s being a show jumper, hunter rider or trainer. 

Don’t worry about how quickly it comes, just focus on working hard and trying to improve every day, and let the good things come to you. I think that some young riders expect too much too quickly. A lot of kids go to work for someone and they want to show right away and do this and that, but when I went to work with Missy Clark, I didn’t show for the whole first season that I was with her." - @darraghkenny 

Read about how the Irish show jumper got his career started in the United States and the risks he took to form his own @oaklandstables and @oaklandstables__west at the link in our bio!

@fouroakscreative #showjumping #equestrian #hunterjumper #hunterderby #grandprix #ireland #irish #equestrianlife #equestrianluxury #warmbloodsofinstagram #workingstudent #workingstudentlife #assistanttrainer #horsetraining #sidelinesmagazine
It’s been said if you need to get things done, t It’s been said if you need to get things done, then Sally Ike is the person to ask. Sally, who started working for the @usetfoundation in 1989, said her philosophy has always been, “If there’s a problem, let’s investigate and fix it if possible.” 

For her lifelong dedication to the equestrian sport, Sally was honored by @usequestrian with the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award. “To be honored by the Federation is huge! It speaks to the extraordinary opportunities I’ve had in so many, many areas of my life. I’ve been very, very lucky!”

Read more about Sally and her contributions to equestrian sports at the link in our bio!

@ushunterjumper @essexfoxhounds #horses #uset #equestrianteam #equestrianlife #unitedstates #teamusa #showjumping #grandprix #jumpers #dressage #hunterjumper #eventing #olympics #horselovers #sidelinesmagazine
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • Welsh Pony Stallion - Maranatha So Brilliant
    Maranatha So Brilliant (Telynau Bronze Statue x Telynau Dazzle) 2008 13.1 Sec B Welsh Chesnut w/ Flaxen Mane & Tail Brilliant like his father stamps his offspring w/ a Beautiful Head, Color & Chrome. Creating Very Brave & Intelligent Ponies w/ lovely Movement &

    [Read more]

  • PORTOFINO
    A Perfect Place to Live, Ride & Train Raleigh/Clayton NC 919-740-8009 www.portofinonc.com

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • Rutledge Farm Sessions: Anne Kursinski 2020
  • Register Today for the 2021 Pony Up! for Saddle Up! Campaign
  • Circadian Lighting Naturally Enhances A Horse’s Performance

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Nation’s Top IEA Youth Equestrians Head to Perry, GA for Hunt Seat National Finals
  • Muzzy Family/MZ Farms Establish $100,000 National Finals Travel Grant for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association
  • A Masterclass in Kentucky Three-Day Event History from Jane Atkinson

Category

Recent Posts

  • May 2021 – Table of Contents

    Subscribe for just $9.95 or Order Individual Is...
  • It’s Worth the Risk to Focus on Learning

    By Darragh Kenny Darragh Kenny began competing ...
  • Unbridled With Sally Ike

    By Jan Westmark  It’s been said if you need to ...
  • Siblings Keri & Kris Kampsen: High Goals and Overcoming Injury as a Close Family

    By Britney Grover Portraits by Melissa Fuller  ...
  • Tillie Jones: Cheering at College and Down Centerline

    By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller Tilli...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!