Life After I/I: Alumni

Chloe Carabasi

Hayley Heatley Bray - Southern Methodist University ‘14

Smart, stunning and strong, Chloe Carabasi has created a name for herself in Hollywood as an incredibly skilled equestrian and actor. Flip on your television and watch for Lancôme’s newest fragrance ad featuring superstar Zendaya. Yes, if you were wondering, the talented Carabasi is the stunt double. Faced with the concrete stairs of City Hall in Los Angeles and the hustle and bustle of downtown, she expertly mounted up on the Andalusian stallions used for the shoot, maneuvering them through a liberty rear and a gallop through the streets – all bareback and in a dress! Carabasi has leveraged her skill as a rider to secure unique jobs in a crowded acting market. Carabasi’s childhood love of horses has flourished over her life. Beginning with hunters in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Carabasi was soon introduced to the sport of polo at Valley Forge Military Academy. At 12 years old, she joined her first interscholastic team coached by Ted Torrey. During high school, Brandywine Polo Academy was her polo home where she learned from Scott and Martha Brown. The Georgian building of Southern Methodist University caught her attention as she was considering options for college. Carabasi was eager to begin a new adventure, “I was impressed by the high level of academic and loved the idea of going to college in an entirely new city and state.” Just one year before, Pamela Flanagan chartered the SMU Women’s Polo Team, coached by the well-known Tom Goodspeed. “My time at SMU, and specifically with my incredible polo teammates, are some of my most cherished memories of my entire life thus far. I learned so much under the amazing coaching of Mr. Goodspeed,” reflected Carabasi. She was awarded several I/I All-Stars throughout her time in the USPA Intercollegiate/Interscholastic program.

Chloe was the stunt double for Zendaya in Lancôme’s recent fragrance TV commercial.

After an I/I Nationals appearance and graduation, Carabasi moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue her dream to work as an actor. She had previously met Hannah Taylor (HYT Polo) and Felice Densa (Will Rogers) during an internship in Los Angeles. Finding comfort amongst polo friends and horses in her new city, they quickly became her polo family in California. Carabasi used the skills she learned throughout her life to work part-time grooming, working sets and teaching beginner lessons to fill in the gaps between acting jobs. “Aside from being an income source to help with rent and bills, it also was therapy for me to be around horses,” said Carabasi. After many years of hard work and unwavering faith, she has created what she describes as an “eclectic career” that she is very proud of. Carabasi works as a brand ambassador for Hawaii Polo Life and Stick & Ball Co., two polo-inspired fashion brands. She has also been

ABOVE: One of the skills Chloe has learned to add to her resume is mounted archery. Here she is with her polo pony Stryker. BELOW: Chloe still finds time to play and competes in tournaments all across the country.

featured as a model for the U.S. Polo Assn. clothing company. A few of Carabasi’s notable film credits include a western film called “The Awful Kind,” the lead character in a trailer for the video game Apex Legends and a Netflix movie “Secrets in the Air.” “My dream is to play characters like Wonder Woman or Xena Warrior Princess, so that I can use my equestrian skills and acting skills together to make my performance that much more authentic. Being a polo player and an equestrian has been vital in my career, as it is such a unique skill that sets me apart from the masses and gives me the warrior essence that I need to take on these actionoriented roles.”

CHUKKER BREAK I’ll Make the Popcorn - Kareem Rosser Stunt Doubles

In the summer of 2019, Kareem Rosser (Work to Ride/ Colorado State) received a call to participate in the film “Concrete Cowboy” as a stunt double for Idris Elba. The film is about a 15-year-old boy from Detroit who is sent to live with his estranged father in Philadelphia and learns about the local urban cowboys. Rosser writes, “it was an incredible experience doubling for Idris Elba and working closely with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Namely, Caleb McLaughlin, Byron Bowers and Method Man. My role as Idris’ double was to recreate the riding scenes. Specifically, any scene that required the horse to go beyond a canter. I learned that filming is a tedious process, and the days on set are long. At the same time, I have no interest in becoming a full-time actor or stunt double. I enjoyed watching the actor’s transition into their character. Particularly, Idris’ ability to switch from his English accent to sounding like a Philadelphian. It was an honor to represent the local cowboys of Philadelphia.” Netflix recently acquired the film and will make it available in the spring of 2021.

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Collegiate Brand Ambassadors

USPA Global Licensing continues to support the collegiate programs through their Global Brand Ambassador Program. For the 2020-2021 I/I season, all participating teams were supplied with U.S. Polo Assn. branded hats and face masks for the teams in addition to receiving a cash grant.