horses

British Polo Players to Take Breathalyzer Tests - Prince Harry, This Means You

Champagne is the perfect accompaniment to the aristocratic sport of polo, but if you're playing rather than merely watching it at Britain's most prestigious fields you'll have to do your quaffing after the match. The game's regulatory body in the UK, the Hurlingham Polo Association, is introducing random alcohol testing for players in a bid to promote professionalism. Yes, that includes polo and party-loving royal Prince Harry (above). The limit will be set at half the amount considered unsafe for driving a car. Failing a breathalyzer test will not get a player banned for the season, the Guardian notes, but they will be prevented in playing in the day's match.

Many polo pros have welcomed the move, pointing out that a "good lunch", i.e. one accompanied by plenty of bubbly, never improves performance or safety. "It's always been in our regulations that alcohol and drugs aren't acceptable," notes HPA's chief executive David Woodd, "but now we have the machines which we didn't have before and a doctor or official on hand to use them....At the country club I wouldn't argue that there are players who will have a decent lunch and play afterward. But at the top end of the sport, most of them won't even eat, never mind drink, before they play."

Tags: alcohol, Champagne, country club, drinking, equestrian, horses, polo, Prince Harry, royalty, spirits, sporting, sports, UK

Hermes Debuts High-Tech Talaris Saddle

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

Famed French luxury goods house Hermès may be best known for pricey fashion accessories these days, but the business began as a purveyor of equestrian items to the nobility back in 1837. The company has gone back to its roots while embracing modern technology with its latest offering, the Talaris saddle. Hermès unveiled the luxe item in conjunction with the Saut Hermès international show-jumping event it recently held at the Grand Palais in Paris. The $9,000 high-tech modular saddle features a tree made of carbon fiber and injected thermoplastic in place of the usual wood and steel, covered in the finest saddle leather. Master saddler Laurent Goblet came up with the design, aimed at taking the strain off the horse and the rider's backs. "This is at the heart of the essence of Hermès, which is about marrying tradition and innovation," the house's artistic director Pierre-Alexis Dumas told WWD.

Gallery: Hermes Talaris Saddle

Tags: carbon fiber, equestrian, Hermès, Hermes, horses, leather, luxury goods, Paris, saddle, sports

Playing Polo On Top of the World in Himalayan India

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Events, Sports

Polo isn't just for the cushy confines of Palm Beach and the Hamptons. In far-northern India they've been playing a more rough-and-tumble version of the sport, called "the ancestors' game", for hundreds of years. In September the annual Ladakh Festival Polo Cup will take place in the mountainous town of Leh, 11,500 feet above sea level. Against the majestic backdrop of the Himalayas, local civilian and Army teams "battle it out in a haphazard, no-rules display of sportsmanship," the Christian Science Monitor notes. Grueling games last for an hour, with one 10-minute break at halftime, and the condition of the players' horses often determines the outcome. The championship is sponsored by the State Tourism Office of the Indian government, and hundreds of villagers, city dwellers, and foreign tourists turn out to watch "at their own risk".

Tags: Asia, equestrian, Himalayas, horses, India, Polo, sports

Chicago Beach Polo Kicks Off in September

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Sports

Back in May we reported that the organizers of the annual Miami Beach Polo World Cup were planning to bring the sandy sport to Chicago for the first time ever. Now it's becoming a reality, with the first Chicago Beach Polo World Cup set to take place Sept. 10 – 12th at North Ave. Beach in a new custom-built outdoor arena. Given the time of year it may not be bikini weather so don't look for the Chicago version to pack Miami's sex appeal, but there are still plenty of opportunities for conspicuous consumption and ostentatious fun. Polo itself is not new to Chicago; the first Chicago Polo Club was formed in 1895, though interest had waned in recent decades. "When speaking with friends and fellow players, I knew Chicago was going to be a great place to bring polo," the event's co-founder Marcos Lopez says. "It's really been here for a while, just hibernating. The City of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs used to have a lot of competitive players, games, and fans. We just want to bring that back."

Tags: beach, beach polo, Chicago, Chicago Beach Polo, equestrian, horses, illinois, Miami Beach, Midwest, polo

Pinctada Resort Launches Australian Beach Polo Cup

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Events, Sports

You've read about polo played in the snow and on elephants; why not on the beach as well? The 5-star Pinctada Cable Beach resort is helping to launch Australia's first beach polo competition, Paspaley Beach Polo 2010. Taking place at the beautiful Cable Beach in Broome on May 23, the inaugural tournament will feature top professional polo players competing for the Paspaley Cup against the scenic backdrop of Australia's Kimberley coast. "Paspaley Beach Polo has attracted interest from around the world and we've designed the Pinctada Polo Experience for guests who want to immerse themselves in the excitement and glamour of this unique sporting event," Pinctada Hotels & Resorts founder Marilynne Paspaley tells Luxury Insider. "Pinctada Cable Beach will be hosting Australia's leading polo players during the tournament as well as a number of polo related events including the 'after party.' We are looking forward to also hosting our guests at these activities as part of the Pinctada polo experience." Pinctada Cable Beach has announced a special Pinctada Polo Experience packages for the event.

Tags: Australia, beach, beach polo, equestrian, horses, Pinctada Cable Beach, polo

Polo in the Park Returns to London's Hurlingham Club

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Sports

On June 4–6 Polo in the Park, a three day celebration of international polo, will return to the grounds of London's famed Hurlingham Club. Last Year, the inaugural Polo in the Park played host to 25,000 spectators as polo returned for the first time in 70 years to its historic home at Hurlingham. Model and polo player Jodie Kidd (above) helped found the event, which also includes lavish entertainments such as a Veuve Clicquot Champagne Garden. This year teams from New York, Moscow, Barbados, Geneva, Milan, Durban and Sydney will compete against each other according to new rules adapted especially for the event. The new format of "high-octane polo" aims to "introduce the adrenaline fueled sport of polo to a new city audience, but also of making the sport faster and more exciting for TV and event spectators."

Tags: equestrian, horses, Hurlingham Club, Jodie Kidd, London, polo, UK, Veuve Clicquot

The Classicist: America's Finest Equestrian Architecture

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Estates, Sports, The Classicist, Wealth

Kathryn Masson, author of the book on Hunt Country Style which we wrote about back in 2008, has returned with another brilliant exposition on equestrian style for our enjoyment. Stables: Beautiful Paddocks, Horse Barns, and Tack Rooms takes us on an alluring journey through America's horse country. Collaborating once again with Hunt Country photographer Paul Rocheleau, Masson visits some of the most notable stables and equestrian centers from coast to coast. Ranging from private to historic to state-of-the-art, from homes for retired racehorses to lodgings for polo ponies, thoroughbreds and world champions, 25 distinctive examples of equestrian architecture and interiors are profiled, showcasing their design, construction, and landscaping.

Each of the featured buildings evokes its distinctive regional heritage, from an enormous 1830s English-style barn near the Saratoga Springs Racetrack, to the Mediterranean aesthetic of one of the world's leading Arabian breeding farms, Om El Arab International in California's Santa Ynez Valley. Also highlighted are the world-famous racing stable Newstead Farm in Upperville, Virginia, home of Kentucky Derby winner Genuine Risk, and the quintessential Western working ranch Centennial Ranch in Ridgeway, Colorado. Three historic Vanderbilt family stables are featured: The Breakers in Newport, Sandy Point Stables in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and the newly restored project of Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank, Sagamore Farm in Glyndon, Maryland.

Avid equestrienne and professor Dr. Perky Beisel explores the history of the American stable and the long tradition of horsemanship in this United States in an informative preface. "For some Americans, horse ownership and participation in horse sports became a lifestyle and, for others, a way to join the upper class," She notes. "Families who reaped the benefits of 19th-century expansion in industries such as railroads and manufacturing had seemingly unlimited wealth with which to satisfy their desires. While some became notable art collectors, yachtsmen, or horticulturalists, others became active participants in horse sports. In so doing, not only did they create a new upper class, but they also transformed the physical landscape of equestrian recreation and leisure."

Gallery: Great American Stables

U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Center, Gladstone, NJ

Tags: architecture, book, California, coffee table book, coffee table books, Colorado, equestrian, foxhunting, horseracing, horses, hunt country, Kathryn Masson, Kentucky Derby, luxury book, Maryland, polo, Rhode Island, Saratoga Springs, stables, The Breakers, upper class, Vanderbilt, Virginia

Continue reading “The Classicist: America's Finest Equestrian Architecture”

A Complete Guide to the World of Horse Racing

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports, Books

As the buildup to the Kentucky Derby gains momentum, there's a beautiful new book by one of the world's bestselling equestrian authors to help get you in the right spirit. Racehorse: The Complete Guide to the World of Horse Racing (AA Publishing) by Elwyn Hartley Edwards opens with a foreword by renowned jockey Richard Dunwoody. Featuring four full-color, fold-out photographic spreads in addition to hundreds of arresting images, the oversized tome documents all aspects of the multibillion-dollar horse racing world, of which the Derby is just one facet. Royal Ascot, he English Derby at Epsom, the Dubai World Cup and the racecourse at Saratoga, New York are featured along with sections on flat racing, harness racing and steeple-chasing, the triumphs of great jockeys, and the lineage and records of the world's fastest horses.

Tags: Dubai, equestrian, horse racing, horses, Kentucky Derby, racehorse book, Royal Ascot, Saratoga

Hermès Haute Bijouterie Jewelry Collection

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Hermès has launched an exquisite 14 piece jewelry collection designed by Pierre Hardy called Haute Bijouterie. Inspired by the brand's equestrian roots, all the pieces in the collection are inspired by horses -- namely the hoof and the whip. In explaining how the collection came about Hardy told WWD that he looked to Hermès' history and started by "taking the roughest, strongest, almost radical element and giving it the most feminine, the most modern interpretation."

The collection features rose gold, white gold, black jade, diamonds, aventurine and pink opal, and seeks to blur the lines between femininity and masculinity. Prices start at $23,675 for a pair of rose gold clip-on earrings and top out at $880,000 for the diamond necklace.

Gallery: Hermes Haute Bijouterie

Source

Tags: equestrian, haute bijouterie, hermes, horses, jewelry

The Classicist: Learning the Art of Polo at Estancia Vik

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Sports, The Classicist

In our column on photographer Aline Coquelle's brilliant book about the wide world of polo, we discussed some of the exotic locations where the sport of kings is played far from the the hermetic hemisphere of the Hamptons and Palm Beach. At Estancia Vik, a recently opened, ultra-luxurious private retreat in Jose Ignacio, Uruguay, you can now learn the ancient and noble game while enjoying all the amenities one would expect from a world class resort. A stylish haven of art, nature and design, the Estancia is situated on 4,000 acres taking full advantage of the pristine beaches, spectacular rolling landscape and relaxed, bohemian setting the area is famous for. Designed to be a coveted destination for the curious and design-forward international traveler, it's a sprawling Spanish colonial structure featuring white adobe walls and a red tin roof, designed by Uruguayan architect Marcelo Daglio with some dramatic avant-garde design flourishes.

The 50,000-sq.-ft. Estancia boasts 12 spacious suites each designed by a different Uruguayan contemporary artist, wine cellar, gym, spa, game room, a traditional Uruguayan barbeque pit, polo field, stables, several outdoor patios and gardens, rivers, lakes and a 65-ft. Absolute Nero stone swimming pool overlooking the lush countryside and the ocean in the distance (the beach is a mere five miles away). The property has partnered with with Haras Godiva Polo Management to provide a number of polo packages for all skill levels. Beginners and first-time riders may elect to try an introductory course, while a family who plays can have a group session and intensive, one-on-ones can be arranged as well. Ponies and all equipment except for riding boots are provided. They are currently offering a polo package including two nights at the Estancia and three polo lessons, will also be available from March through October for $1,750.

Gallery: Polo at Estancia Vik

The Estancia also hosts major polo events on occasion, for those who prefer the role of spectator. On Jan. 4th the La Dolfina team, consisting of Adolfo Cambiaso, Jr., Ernesto Gutierrez, Juan de Dios Cincunegui and Federico Heinemann, played the Fiat Linea team of Andres Cassarino, Fernando Pigni, Cristiano Rattazzi and Bartolome Castagnola, with the highly exciting match ultimately ending in a draw. Following the event which was attended by a the chic sporting set the players' helmets were auctioned to benefit local school, each having been painted by some of the South American artists whose work is represented at Estancia Vik.

Tags: equestrian, Estancia Vik, EstanciaVik, horses, hotel, polo, resort, South America, SouthAmerica, Uruguay

Conan O'Brien Didn't Buy Mine That Bird, The Real January Thoroughbred Sales Results

by Deb West (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Celebrity Shopping

For those of you who thought the sale of Mine That Bird to Conan O'Brien was the big news in thoroughbred racing, it was just a skit. The "real" Mine That Bird, winner of last year's Kentucky Derby and pictured above, has been on vacation in New Mexico since the Breeder's Cup Classic. In fact his trainer Chip Woolley reports that he does not intend to return the winning horse to racing until later in the season and possibly only running four races in preparation for the Breeder's Cup Classic to be held a Churchill Downs. Just as a note, there is discussion that no one would pay $4.8 million for him as he is gelding and can not be used for breeding which compromises his value compared to other Derby winners.

There were however the first legitimate thoroughbred sales of 2010 taking place recently at Keeneland in Kentucky. The January Horses of All Ages Sale was held at the facility from January 11-15th. For those who have never seen a thoroughbred auction in progress, below there is a short video clip to give you a feel of how it all works at Keeneland.

Like all luxury markets horse sales have been adversely effected by the economy and those in the thoroughbred sales business have been concerned about how their business will change. The sale took in $23,895,100 in five days which is down over 27% from last year's six day sale. There were fewer horses sold and in general everybody noticed the market's effect of the sales. That being said, there were some bright spots, most notably Bon Jovi Girl a multiple stakes winner went for $950,000. The highest price paid for a yearling was brought in by Medaglia d'Oro a colt going for $280,000.

Tags: auction, conan obrien, ConanObrien, horse sales, horseracing, horses, HorseSales, Keeneland, thoroughbreds

The Classicist: The Very Best of Polo

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Sports, Men's Style, The Classicist

Continuing our sporadic series looking back at highlights from the first year of The Classicist, the weekly column devoted to timeless style, enduring elegance, and true, built-to-last luxury as opposed to mere extravagance, we present the pick of the crop devoted to polo, the sport of kings. Polo is "the original 'extreme sport," as Polistas founder Johnny Lynn told us, and has been played for centuries in a wide range of locales from Mongolia to Persia and India, as we learned from photographer Aline Coquelle's gigantic and brilliant book Polo: The Nomadic Tribe. And though it's undeniably an aristocratic pursuit, more people are getting into the game; some even play it on elephants and snow.

Gallery: The Best of Polo

Snow polo was first introduced in 1985 in Switzerland's swank St. Moritz, and caught on immediately among the bon ton. It's no surprise that swells in equally upscale Aspen, CO decided to stage their own snow polo tournament nine years ago, the World Snow Polo Championships, the only one of its kind in the United States. The tournament recently got some unwanted press when it was discovered that White House party crashers Michaele and Tareq Salahi had scammed the organizers of last year's event. Of course some changes to the game are required for playing on snow. For one thing, the polo ponies are shod with special cleated shoes to provide better traction in the snow, and the ball is larger, lighter, and painted bright red to accommodate winter conditions.

Gallery: Snow Polo

Tags: Aspen, equestrian, horses, Johnny Lynn, JohnnyLynn, Nacho Figueras, NachoFigueras, Polistas, polo, Ralph Lauren, RalphLauren, snow polo, SnowPolo, The Classicist, TheClassicist

Continue reading “The Classicist: The Very Best of Polo”

EXCLUSIVE: Polo Star Nacho Figueras' Ten Essential Luxuries

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Celebrity Shopping, Sports, Men's Style, 10 Luxuries

Click above to see Nacho Figueras' 10 Luxuries

Welcome to the second installment of our new feature, "10 Luxuries", wherein a notable figure in the world of luxury, tastemaker or stylish personality tells about the 10 necessary luxuries they simply cannot do without. Related quotes and images of each item can be found in the gallery.

World-class professional polo champion Ignacio "Nacho" Figueras is the face of The World of Polo. Already the face of Polo Black, Nacho was recently chosen to represent all of Ralph Lauren's Polo fragrances, including Polo Modern Reserve and Polo Blue, in print and advertising campaigns because he embodies the many facets of today's modern Polo man. Born in Argentina in 1977, Nacho developed a love for horses and the game of polo by the age of nine. By the time he was 17, Figueras began his professional polo career. Nacho's name has become so synonymous with the sport of polo that the American Museum of Natural History looked to Figueras to donate his polo equipment to their 2008-2009 exhibit, "The Horse", and he has been matched against England's Prince William and Prince Harry in the UK's Sandhurst Tournament.

Figueras, who divides his time between the United States and Argentina, is currently playing for Neil Hirsch's Black Watch Polo team in Bridgehampton, New York in the summer and in Palm Beach, Florida during the winter season. He returns to his ranch in Argentina for the spring and fall. Off the field, Nacho's natural charisma made him the face of Ralph Lauren Black Label clothing and the Polo Black fragrance in 2005. In 2007, Polo Ralph Lauren began sponsoring his Black Watch team and debuted a line of Black Watch clothing. "Nacho personifies The World of Polo by living the lifestyle represented by each of the fragrances," says Guillaume de Lesquen, President, Worldwide, Ralph Lauren Fragrances. "When he isn't playing polo in the world's most prestigious tournaments and promoting its heritage as an ambassador, he is sailing with his young family off the coast of Punta del Este, Uruguay and breeding horses on his ranch outside of Buenos Aires."

Previously: Vertu President Perry Oosting's Ten Essential Luxuries
Related: The Classicist: Exploring the Wide World of Polo

Gallery: Polo Star Nacho Figueras' 10 Luxuries

Art Collection, featuring works by Steven Klein (pictured)

Tags: ad campaign, AdCampaign, Argentina, equestrian, fragrance, Hamptons, horses, model, Nacho Figueras, NachoFigueras, polo, Prince William, PrinceWilliam, Ralph Lauren, RalphLauren, sporting, UK

The Classicist: Exploring the Wide World of Polo

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports, Books, The Classicist

Contrary to popular belief in certain quarters, polo is not just a rich people's pastime confined to the Hamptons and Palm Beach; nor is it merely an extremely lucrative clothing empire founded by Ralph Lauren. In fact, it's an ancient and noble game, as well as the world's oldest team sport, that has evolved into an entire way of life. In her upcoming book Polo: The Nomadic Tribe (available for pre-order on Amazon), photographer Aline Coquelle chronicles all aspects of the ultimate equestrian pursuit, tracing polo from its nomadic origins to the incomparably chic lifestyle it encompasses today. Coquelle, who studied art and anthropology, traveled around the world for five years photographing and writing about each significant place along the route of polo's evolution, capturing all its courage, strength, speed, style, beauty, elegance and allure.

Polo was first played in Persia well before the 1st century AD. Warlike tribesmen played it with as many as 100 to a side in what was essentially a miniature battle. Later on it was passed from Persia to other parts of Asia including the Indian subcontinent and China, where it was very popular during the Tang Dynasty. The name polo is said to have been derived from the Tibetan word "pulu", meaning ball. The first polo club was established in the town of Silchar in Assam, India, in 1834. The British, who are seen as the main proponents of the sport today, picked it up in India and the classic style of the colonial era with its overtones of aristocrats and army officers gives polo much of its current cachet, cleverly marketed by the aforementioned Mr. Lauren and others.

Divided into geographic sections, Coquelle's book presents the sport on a global scale. At locations around the world, "the vibrant green carpeted fields, the carefully ornamented players, the brilliant sheen of their horses, and the deep brown leather of their saddles" provides an aesthetic link between polo's devotees - the "nomadic tribe" of the title. She reveals the essence of what has historically been called the "Sport of Kings" and the passion of its players from across the globe. Designed to be "the ultimate book on the sport of polo," Coquelle offers "an homage to beauty in pursuit of a modern perspective" while maintaining the spirit and sophistication of this centuries-old game. See the gallery for a preview of some stunning images from this incredible book.

Gallery: Polo: The Nomadic Tribe

Tags: Aline Coquelle, AlineCoquelle, Assouline, equestrian, horses, India, Persia, photography, polo, Ralph Lauren, RalphLauren, sporting

$15 Million Membership at World's Most Expensive Club

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth

A Hong Kong-based company is offering memberships in what is billed as the world's most expensive private club for $15.2 million apiece. Only 100 Charter Corporate Platinum Memberships in the Richman's IMC (International Millionaire's Club) will be available worldwide, good for 30 years. The whopping fee is justified by its being an an "all-access, first-class VIP pass" to megayachts, yacht clubs, jockey clubs, country clubs, golf courses, ski resorts, gentlemans clubs, supper clubs, luxury hotels and restaurants around the globe, eliminating the need for multiple memberships.

You also get the right to own and race horses at China's Royal Nanjing Jockey Club, where prizes run to the millions; confidential concierge and problem resolution services including 24-hour international emergency medical assistance; global executive travel assistance; personal bodyguards, travel guides and elite escorts worldwide; and the ability to charge expenses to an exclusive global biometrics-protected club card with a $1 million credit line. It all sounds incredibly ambitious considering there's an international recession on.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: China, club, Hong Kong, HongKong, horseracing, horses, worlds most expensive, WorldsMostExpensive

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