SPOTLIGHT: COLLOREDO-MANSFELDS

It Runs in the Family

Franz, Anne, Seppi, Johann, Simon and Annie Colloredo-Mansfeld have all become an integral part of polo, the hunt and life at Myopia.

As far back as he can remember, Franz Colloredo-Mansfeld has known Myopia. His is a connection to the sport, the land and the spirit of the Club that goes back generations.

Growing up in a Hamilton home where parents and greatgrandparents were club members, Colloredo-Mansfeld began hunting with Myopia at 7 years old. After a life of riding through the fields, hills and countryside of South Hamilton and beyond, he served as captain of polo for 10 years, stepping back after the 2020 season. And while the program thrived during those years, he’s quick to praise others when examining his time leading Myopia Polo.

“I was co-captain for the 2011 season with my friend Albert Ellis, and then captain for the next nine seasons,” he says. “I had the good fortune to work with some terrific managers — notably Cissie Snow, Nick Snow and Kim Maguire. These managers taught me much, and contributed enormously to the success and growth of the program.”

He cites the history and traditions that continue to thrive at Myopia, including hunting, golf, tennis and polo. But the foundation has always been about family.

“Another special aspect of Myopia Polo is that we have, since the very beginning — so well over 130 years — had families participating in the sport,” he says. “Families working together to care for their horses and play the sport together.”

Among those families — his own. In addition to Franz and Anne Colloredo-Mansfeld, four of their children have honed their polo skills on Gibney Field. Seppi, 30, played and was captain of the polo team at Yale; Johann, 27, also played in college and competitively all over the world; Simon, 25, played on some terrific teams with young American professional players like Will Tankard, Nick Snow, Felipe Viana and C.B. Scherer during his high school and college years.

“We have all had the privilege and enjoyment of playing with these outstanding players, but Simon perhaps more than any of us, given his passion for the sport and commitment to the horse care, has probably had the most opportunities,” Colloredo- Mansfeld says.

As the Colloredo-Mansfeld sons’ schooling and careers necessitated time away from Gibney Field — and it seemed that there would be fewer family members playing polo at Myopia in the summer — Annie, now 21, took up the reins.

“She became passionate about the sport as she was finishing high school,” Colloredo-Mansfeld says. “She is a great athlete, a wonderful rider and had patiently groomed for her brothers at Myopia tournaments over many, many seasons, so seeing her competing on her own in the tournaments has been fun for Anne and me.”

Though he hunted, evented and rode for almost all of his life, he came to polo through his children.

“I saw how much fun they were having, so I figured I better get with the program,” he says.

He describes the first few years as “rocky,” but credits the patient mentoring of Crocker and Cissie Snow and Lyle and Jon Graham — and wonderful, experienced grooms Karen Davies and Jose Franco — with helping him along and getting him hooked.

As always, it was a family affair.

“The kids have become very good players, competing at Myopia, in college and in Europe,” Colloredo-Mansfeld says. “They have all surpassed me in their skills and knowledge of the sport, but happily we can all still play together. That’s what I have enjoyed most over the past decade. It’s been a wonderful shared passion and experience not only playing with the kids, but being involved in this incredible activity with the kids, Anne and my mother.”

When the polo season ends, the leaves begin to turn and the North Shore air has a chill in it, preparations for an annual tradition begin. With plans to spend as much as four hours in the saddle on a late November morning — jumping and riding through rough terrain — it’s a custom the family looks forward to each year.

“One of my favorite traditions — and a perfect day if the weather cooperates — is hunting on Thanksgiving,” Colloredo-Mansfeld says. “I did this with my own parents in the ‘70s, and now 50 years later I get to do this with my kids. During the fall I work with our wonderful trainer and barn manager, Samatha Stevens, to keep the horses sound and fit through the three-month hunting season so that we can mount all five of us on Thanksgiving morning. The best part of Thanksgiving for me is enjoying our amazing countryside and this ancient tradition with my family. That’s a great day!”

An annual family tradition — Franz, Annie, Johann and Simon (photo by Seppi) Colloredo-Mansfeld spend Thanksgiving morning hunting.

The Colloredo- Mansfeld connection to the polo field has been an important one for Myopia.

In the summer of 2019, Franz, pictured with his wife, Anne, was awarded the Harriman Cup by Yale and UVA — an honor recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to polo and other equestrian sports.