Frank B. Rice, professional horseman and polo player, died May 26 of pancreatic cancer. He was 79.

Descending from seven generations of horsemen in Ireland, Mr. Rice took the natural step into the horse world and continued that trend in New York. He and his sister Mary owned and operated the boarding and training facility Rice Farms in Woodbury, N.Y., until retirement in 1987. Mr. Rice was also a past chairman and board member of the Long Island chapter of the Professional Horsemen’s Association of America.

Showing hunters and jumpers throughout the tri-state area and Canada, Mr. Rice was the first recipient of the Martini and Rossi Horseman of the Year award in 1959, awarded by the American Horse Shows Association. He was also the first winner of the Blitz Trophy at the Piping Rock Horse Show (N.Y.). He earned the trophy while riding High Tide, a 19-year-old horse owned by Milton Potter. Mr. Rice also competed at the National Horse Show (N.Y.), where he won the open jumping division with Mount Merrion.

Mr. Rice was extremely active in the sport of polo as well, with a three-goal rating outdoors and a four-goal rating indoors. Mr. Rice is survived by his wife of 42 years, Lynn Wanamaker Rice; his children Frank Rice and Amy Curley; sisters Mary O’Rourke, Kathleen Whaley and Nancy Ryan; and one granddaughter.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Polo Training Foundation Memorial Fund, 70 Clinton St., Tully, NY 13159.