Fred Voelckerling was a German painter, draftsman and sculptor. He began to draw horses and soldiers when only 4-years-old. First, he joined the Saxon army for a few years. From 1892-94 he studied at the School of Applied Arts in Dresden, and from 1895-96 at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. Voelckerling travelled to Paris for further studies in 1899. In both cities he also worked in studios, and he toured the UK and the USA on horseback. Back in Dresden he produced several equestrian statues, and also created animal statues (mostly horses and equestrians) in bronze, and some portrait works. After 1930, his artistic activities ended after his studio was plundered by the Nazis. Many of his bronzes were melted down and plaster models destroyed. Voelckerling designed different versions of polo players. According to Sport in Beeld, in Amsterdam the bronze figure of a polo player was submitted, which reappears as part of a 34 cm high bronze group created in 1927-28.
Germany