Equestrian Quarterly, Vol 4. Issue 3

EQ

E Q U E S T R I A N Q U A R T E R LY

EQ

E Q U E S TR I A N THE PREMIER MAGAZINE

FALL 2015

$6.95 | $7.95 CAN

OF COUNTRY LIFE

Q U A R T E R L Y THE FOX HUNT DIARIES

FA L L 2 0 1 5

DISPLAY UNTIL DEC. 14, 2015

2015 GOLD LIST: THE BEST OF EQUESTRIAN LIFE

P L US : T R AVEL | FOOD | PEOPLE | STY LE | FAS H I O N | DE C O R | A RTS

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EQ I N S I D E

Features FAL L | 2015 ISS U E

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T H E F OX H U N T D I A R I E S Jane and Michael Stern tell the crazy story of a one-of-a-kind marriage, divorce, aspiration, and Anglophilia.

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A HUNT PRIMER The sport of fox hunting is a rich tapestry of different traditions and histories that revolve around a passion for the country and for horses.

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THE HOUNDS OF KESWICK EQ visits one of America’s oldest and most famous hunts in Charlottesville, Virginia, for an introduction to the elegant sport of fox hunting.

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T H E E Q U E S T R I A N WO R K S O F Y U FA N The sculptures of Yu Fan represent the highest level of contemporary Chinese art and often take equestrian forms.

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E Q ’ S S E C O N D A N N UA L GOLD LIST See what readers chose as their favorites in a wide range of categories surrounding the equestrian lifestyle, from boots and shows to travel and trucks.

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COCO CHANEL : INSPIRED

BY H O R S E S Chanel’s iconic styles have remained the pinnacle of fashion over the decades. Still, few are aware of the strong influence her love of equestrian style had on her work.

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DESIGNERS OF TIMELESS FA S H I O N Three distinctive women from different continents share their individual approaches to classic design.

76 A C OW B OY AT H E A R T With roots in the landscaping business, Todd Sternfeld has taken a concrete approach to fencing.

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Tony Gammell, Keswick Hunt Club huntsman, considers the American foxhounds perfectly suited for Virginia hunt country.

9 - 0 -2 -1-W H OA !

A 50-acre polo farm in Beverly Hills, Casa Lago is both a breathtaking property and a comfortable home to a horse-loving family.

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P H OTO G R A P H I N G T H E HORSES OF ICELAND Icelandic photographer Gigja Einarsdattir is captivated by the mystique and beauty of her country’s horses and shares her passion with an artist’s eye.

PRESENTS

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EQ I N S I D E

Departments FAL L | 2015 ISS U E

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DÉCOR Covering your walls with timeless patterns or equestrian motifs can add visual impact and create a distinctive look.

8 E D I TO R ’ S N OT E

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FAVO R I T E S This year, the Equus Film Festival will gallop down New York City’s streets, screening over 100 films.

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FA S H I O N A new collection of boots from Ariat International is scheduled to arrive in stores this fall, combining a rich history of boot-making with authentic European country style.

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PEOPLE Designer Janie Shrader Ober creates equestrianinspired pillows utilizing repurposed materials and her favorite combination of leather and metal.

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DÉCOR As the weather turns cooler, look to add warmth and a splash of style to your bedroom or sofa with a chic collection of pillows and throws.

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SCIENCE

PEOPLE

Melissa Lu, executive editor of EQ’s partner magazine, Horsemanship Life, offers insight into China’s growing equestrian world and works to connect equestrians across the globe.

Interacting with horses can elevate the spirits and brighten the minds of Alzheimer’s patients, according to a recent study from Ohio State University.

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FAVO R I T E S A love of horses often develops early. Cultivate passion in your kids or revisit your childhood with this list of EQ editors’ favorite horse books for kids.

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DINING Dawn Harris Brown, author of Stable to Table, shares tales of her crash-course in fox hunting and culinary triumphs in Ireland.

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T R AV E L Montpelier, the historic home of James and Dolley Madison, is a trove of information on presidential history as well as a mainstay of Virginia hunt country.

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RESOURCES (Look for

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G I V I N G B AC K ON THE COVER Illustrator Pieter Van Eenoge captures the essence of fox hunting by aptly depicting the exhilaration of hounds, horses, and riders in hot pursuit.

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The founder of Roma Boots, who received a pair of boots as a child that he desperately needed, pays it forward through his socially conscious company by donating boots to children in need.

to find the products and services in this issue.)

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BARN DOG Lainie Wimberly, a top hunter trainer, tells EQ about her beloved Jack Russell, Mighty, whose sock toy is a mascot of the show circuit.

Welcome EQ F R O M T H E E D I T O R

I

will admit to some trepidations when we began planning our fox-hunting feature. My mind swirled with the vivid hunt-scene images often found adorning the walls of prestigious clubs and stately homes. The subjects—typically hounds, horses, riders, and a scarlet-clad huntsman—are always in mad pursuit of the elusive fox. Being somewhat irrational when it comes to championing the well-being of animals, I found myself with an ethical conundrum.

However, time spent with the Keswick Hunt Club (KHC) in Charlottesville, Virginia, worked wonders to ease my concerns (page 44).

I gained an appreciation for a centuries-old sport steeped in traditions and rituals. Prior to my visit, I hadn’t thought about the strong sense of community that develops among fox hunters or the shared commitment to land preservation that is essential to the sport’s survival. The fact that fox hunting is a family affair with members’ ages ranging from 6 to 80 also came as a surprise.

In jest, a KHC member commented that some people might take up fox hunting because “they fancy the clothes.” The Keswick folks may fancy the clothes (Who wouldn’t want to don a ratcatcher, frock, or a hunt coat by the legendary English tailor, Mr. Pink?), but they are also avid enthusiasts who are loyal to the traditions and etiquette of the sport.

Clothes do not a fox hunter make, nor a cowboy or flamenco dancer for that matter.

Read the amusing “Fox Hunt Diaries” by Jane and Michael Stern for a colorful narrative about one’s alter persona and the hit-or-miss transformative powers of attire (page 40).

AL SO INSIDE

We showcase fashion from different eras and perspectives in this issue. Unknown to many, Coco Chanel (page 64) developed a great passion for horses and riding that led to the sleek silhouettes and iconic patterns in her collections. In addition, three contemporary

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designers present new fall looks appropriate for the show ring, bustling city streets, and anywhere in between.

EQ’s Second Annual Gold List results are in! Our readers nominated and voted for their favorite aspects of equestrian life. While you may not consistently agree with the results, you’ll definitely have fun reading what your peers deemed their favorites. We are already accepting nominations for the third annual gold list. To nominate your favorites visit: equestrianquarterly.com/16nominate Finally, we are thrilled to introduce you to Melissa Lu, the executive editor of our partner magazine, Horsemanship Life. She is opening the world to China’s exploding participation in equestrian sport and committed to connecting equestrians around the globe.

WHAT ’ S A H EA D

We’ll take you inside the high-speed world of horse racing, introduce unique snowy-holiday destinations, and in the spirit of the holidays, feature luxurious gift ideas bound to satisfy anyone’s fancy.

MAY WE ASK YOU A FAVOR? The people who make EQ possible—our advertisers—are always asking us who our readers are: they want to ensure that EQ reaches people interested in their ads. Please help us tell them more about you. We absolutely promise that your answers will be strictly confidential and anonymous. We understand that personal questions can be annoying, but we guarantee the answers will be used only to create demographic averages for advertisers.

Please visit: equestrianquarterly.com/15survey Thank you!

We greatly appreciate your help.

EQ D É C O R

Wallpaper is on a Roll Timeless patterns and EQUESTRIAN MOTIFS add visual impact and a distinctive look to any home.

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1. Fox & Hen by Barneby Gates.Two sworn enemies in one quirky print. Color : brick $117 per 10m roll.

2. Fil d’Argent by Hermès. Interlaced rings are inspired by metalwork used for horse’s harnesses.

H214001M. $280 per 10m roll.

3. Equestrian by Kreme Wallpaper. Color : chocolate, slate, and ochre combination. $195 per 16 ft. roll.

4. Quartz by Hermès. A graphic and contemporary design featuring the metallic and faceted H. H214027M. $295 per 10m roll.

5. Romany Damask by Zoffany. In the Italian/ Venetian style pattern dating back to the late 1700s.

Motifs of sunflowers surrounded by scrolling leaves.

Color : blue clay. Price upon request.

6. Finish by Hermès. An exhuberant horse race sketched from life. H214019M. $345 per roll.

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PAGE 97

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EQ F A L L 2 0 1 5

EQUESTRIAN

®

Q U A R T E R L Y

VOLUME 4 NUMBER 3 EDITOR AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR Stephanie B. Peters DEPUTY EDITOR Jill B. Novotny PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR George Kamper EDITORS AT LARGE Georgina Bloomberg and Ann Leary DESIGN MANAGER Mar y A. Stroup SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER Carly Neilson EDITORIAL MANAGER Rose DeNeve ASSISTANT EDITOR Abigail Googel EQ SPECIAL EVENTS Jennifer Pearman Lammer CONTRIBUTORS Dawn Harris Brown, Melissa Lu, LA Pomeroy, Renee Spurge, Ali Sirota, Jane and Michael Stern INTERN Victoria Wang PUBLISHER C . W. Medinger CONSULTANT George Fuller PRINT John Spittle, Lane Press TECHNOLOGY Matt Tarsi NEWSSTAND DISTRIBUTION Richard Trummer, Cur tis Circulation Co. GLOBAL PARTNER PUBLICATIONS: EQUISTYLE, Germany; HORSEMANSHIP, China ADVERTISING SALES NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Debb Pyle, 434-806-6685, pyle@equestrianquar terly.com EAST-COAST SALES DIRECTORS Lynn Lehmkuhl, 917-370-5787, lehmkuhl@equestrianquar terly.com Jane Newman, 212-920-0145, newman@equestrianquar terly.com NATIONAL EQUINE, Rodney Brooks, 510-695-5254, brooks@equestrianquar terly.com NATIONAL REAL ESTATE, Christian Palmer, 612-618-8216, palmer@equestrianquar terly.com SPECIAL, Dick Holcomb, 770-740-7120, dickholc@bellsouth.net EQ ADVISORY BOARD Bob Cacchione, Founder IHSA Carol Cohen, Wellington, Fla. Deborah Deutsch, Polo, Beverly Hills, Calif.

Melissa Ganzi, Polo, Wellington, Fla. Peter Leone, Lionshare Farm, Greenwich, Conn.

Colleen and Tim McQuay, Reining, Tioga, Texas Mindy Peters, Arabians, Los Alamos, Calif.

Chris Pratt, Hunter Jumper West, Los Angeles, Calif.

Renee Spurge, LA Saddler y, Los Angeles, Calif.

Chester Weber, Combined Driving, Ocala, Fla. EQUESTRIAN QUARTERLY is published four times yearly and is distributed at selected equestrian locations, newsstands, and available for home deliver y for $18.95/$33.50 Canada.

Subscribe at equestrianquar terly.com/subscribe or EQ, Box One, Brownsville, VT 05037.

To purchase past issues or for a list of newsstands offering EQ, visit www.equestrianquar terly.com/where-to-buy Subscription management and address changes: www.equestrianquar terly.com/manage-subscription Editorial inquiries and letters to the editor : info @ equestrianquar terly.com © 2015. All rights reser ved, Wynnwood Media, LLC .

No por tion may be reproduced in print or online without written permission. ® Equestrian Quar terly and EQ are registered trademarks of Wynnwood Media.

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EQ was chosen OVERALL BEST EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE in its inaugural year by American Horse Publications.

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EQ P E O P L E

A Window to China Since 2014, EQ has partnered with Horsemanship Life magazine to take our readers inside CHINA’S BURGEONING EQUESTRIAN WORLD and share an art and culture that we might not otherwise see.

By MELISSA LU, executive editor of China’s Horsemanship Life magazine and founder of ELLA, an equestrian-lifestyle boutique in China and California.

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California native, I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area.

Back then, Silicon Valley wasn’t as known as it is today; it was a much quieter community. The amazing weather, the convenience of taking family trips to Yosemite, or going to the snow in Tahoe or of course to the beach—it made for a great childhood place to grow up.

I had visited China previously for travel but was brought there professionally because I had been working for a consulting company, and one of my posts was to China. My mother, an interior designer, established a thriving part of her practice in Beijing in the early ‘90s, and my post to the capital was great timing to be able to spend time with her. The infrastructure then was very different from what exists today.

I saw that to be successful, you needed to overcome a gamut of adversities. Her challenges motivated me to want to help her and eventually led me to work in her firm and move to China.

It’s always fun to travel in almost any country of the world, but working and establishing a business is something of an adventure. I have to say I’ve learned more about myself by coming out of my comfort zone, by being exposed to situations I would never have experienced if I had stayed in the U.S. I continue to love working in China as well as owning a horse there too, which has given me insight into the behind-the-scenes world from an owner perspective.

With a written history dating back over 3,000 years to the Shang dynasty, China’s bond with the horse is ageless. In Chinese zodiac mythology, the horse carries the seventh position as one of the 12 symbolic animals represented. It is a noble beast with charismatic features and beauty. Even in modern times

many couples will plan to have a child born in the year of the horse because it is one of the zodiac animals with fortuitous characteristics.

Modern equestrian sports are becoming more and more popular in mainland China— Western barrel racing, reining, show jumping, dressage, eventing, and polo, for example. In the last five years the popularity of show jumping especially has seen tremendous growth.

The result of the attention can be measured by the frequency of events, scale of competition, growing numbers of both amateur and professional riders, and international participation from higher levels in the sport.

Since modern equestrian sports and their infrastructure are relatively young in China compared to Western culture, it is often depicted as a sport reserved for the wealthy and an activity with an alluring lifestyle. It is no wonder sponsorship of equestrian activities by luxury brands has increased rapidly. This sponsorship of higher-quality competitions has propelled interest into the mainstream, not Continued on page 16

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EQ P E O P L E

2014 Longines Beijing Masters at the famous Olympic Bird’s Nest stadium.

MELISSA LU

Continued from page 14. only with the increasing number of top shows, but also with the broadening of coverage from the media.

As these sports continue to evolve, they will no longer be reserved for only the affluent.

This increased visibility and participation is bringing rising interest of amateur riders and a burgeoning group of mainstream spectators.

Of course, one must keep in mind Westernstyle equestrian sports coming to China is almost like importing a whole new culture.

One can emulate, but we all know culture takes time to appreciate, learn, and experience. This can still be seen by the limitations in skill, knowledge, and know-how from a Western standards view—all growing pains of the development of equestrian sports.

At the same time, horse culture in China goes back 30 centuries, and for some, the spirit of horses flows through their veins. This is evidenced by other skills, different from those in the West, that include the knowledge and techniques of acupuncture and healing practices. We can only eagerly await new advances and innovations that will be unique from China. It may be in the realm of horse care or nutrition. After all, it was the Chinese who invented the stirrup.

MANY CHINESE show-jumping enthusiasts will tell you they are big fans of some top

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talents from America, such as Beezie Madden or George Morris. Laura Kraut rode in the Beijing Bird’s Nest Masters in 2013, winning the Longines Grand Prix. On the whole it seems not that Chinese equestrians are uninterested or uninvolved in the U.S. horse-show scene, but that there is less access to American competitions. There are fewer media opportunities available, whether it be TV, news coverage, or internet sites. Many online videos, such as those on YouTube are restricted in China, and the limited access naturally limits information exchange and exposure. America offers a wealth of everything equestrian.

IT IS DISAPPOINTING there is not more

access, which is why Horsemanship Life magazine shares a diverse range of content from around the world, including America.

Horsemanship was first published by the China Railway Publishing House in 2006, just at the early beginnings of the equestrian-sports scene, by Li Yanyang, the chief editor. The magazine grew from one issue a year to a quarterly publication, and now it is a bi-monthly distributed throughout China and Asia.

I FOUNDED ELLA in 2006. ELLA is an acronym for Equestrian Lifestyle Luxury Art and began as an idea to bring people together to share the passion of equestrian sports in China.

We bring some of the world’s finest equestrian brands to market in China and through fashion

and style build excitement for both the sport and the lifestyle.

All products are rigorously screened so that they meet requirements of design and quality and are internationally recognized in the industry. This philosophy ensures that Chinese customers not only have the latest and greatest when collections are launched worldwide but also have access to the same products and highest standards top professionals depend on.

ELLA’s Palo Alto, California, boutique continues the values it was founded on by showcasing amazing products from around the equestrian world. Since a majority of the brands presented in ELLA’s collection currently come from Europe, the intent is to share trends and products that may not yet be wellknown but have high appeal abroad. Though the American market has a unique equestrian world of its own, the aim is to act as both bridge and filter from a global view.

I THINK there is incredible potential in the partnership between EQ and Horsemanship Life magazines. Having the right partner network is key. We will keep finding new ways to work together and share interesting equestrian content between our respective cultures. Since the Chinese market is developing so rapidly, sometimes the problem is being flooded with too many golden opportunities. Just like finding the right partner, we can find the right opportunities to work together.

SPORT COUTURE

FALL/WINTER 2015 COLLECTION MADE FOR THE WAY YOU MOVE

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EQ D É C O R

Find Your Softer Side Get cozy this winter and wrap yourself in SUMPTUOUS SOFTNESS.

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1. Like a romantic night in front of the fireplace, the Carina throw brings optimum comfor t on chilly evenings. Made from the highest-quality cashmere, this double-backed design features fringes on the edges and a stitched Frette logo. 51" x 72". $795.

2. The Tangerine Lattice Tape pillow by Lacefield features a woven linen background with taupe and orange striped tape that creates a geometric pattern for a visual pop. This decidedly chic throw pillow is made in the United States and filled with 95% feather and 5% cotton/rayon blend. 22" x 22". $195.

3. The Denver Cashmere Throw by Rani Arabella is the ultimate in coziness and luxury. The hand-finished cashmere throw in chocolate, taupe, and burnt suede is a distinctive and inviting item that you will look forward to curling up with. 70" x 51". $1,790.

4. The intricate design of the Sabira Kannur Paisley wool throw by Horchow (shown with Sage Beaded Pillow and turquoise Knotty Collection Damask Pillow) makes a gorgeous accent piece while also offering warmth and comfort while relaxing on the Continued on page 20 couch. 50" x 70". $315.

Š2015 Discovery Communications

Portrait by Sharon Lynn Campbell

EQ D É C O R

Continued from page 18

Find Your Softer Side

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1. Rani Arabella’s cashmere Black Horse Pillow is a must-have for horselovers. The silhouettes in white, gray, and black are subtle yet lively, and idyllic for any decor, from relaxed to chic.

24" x 24". $450.

2. The Scouter Pillow by Coral & Tusk is charming and whimsical, invoking feelings of childhood adventures. Made of 100% linen and filled with 90% small feather, 10% down inser t. 16" x 16". $98.

3. Frette’s fine cashmere Carina throw is soft and warm as a horse’s muzzle. It is available in many colors, including caramel, brown, and gray. 51" x 72". $795.

4. The design of the 4 Checks pillow

by Rani Arabella’s is understated and warm. Shown in taupe and brown, and available in gray and beige, it is made in Italy from 70% cashmere, 30% wool blend. 24" x 24". $450.

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5. Coral & Tusk’s Berber Embroidered Natural Twill pillow was inspired by the textiles, garments, and aesthetic of the Berber people. The ornate embroidery of geometric patterns and sophisticated palette is set on a natural linen fabric. 20" x 20". $164.

6. The Stirrup Pillow by Shrader Leather is made from repurposed leather accents and an iron stirrup. The pillow case is made from a repurposed brown wool cooler and cream-colored leather center panel. 15" x 15". Price available upon request.

7. Shrader Leather’s Bit Pillow is perfect for a living room or stable office. The iconic bit, seen in countless fashion and décor designs, is used here in actuality.

The stainless bit is set on a quilted cream fabric and secured by stirrip leathers.

15" x 15". Price available upon request.

PAGE 97

EQ F A V O R I T E S

FILM FESTIVAL

Continued from page 22.

the triumphant survival of the Arabian horse in Poland, and 2014 Best Short Documentary, Tarpan: Repainting an Ancient Picture. This year’s festival will screen Talking to the Air: The Horses of the Last Forbidden Kingdom, which looks at the horses of Nepal.

Launched as the first organization of its kind in the world dedicated to the preservation of endangered rare equines around the world, the Horsefly Films Rare Equine Trust is an effort to create a cinematic library that documents fragile bloodlines before they disappear forever. Talking to the Air had its world premier at the beginning of the year at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival and in the U.S. at the Silver Springs International Film Festival in Ocala, Florida, in association with the Equus Film Festival.

To bring the story back, the women traveled to a remote part of the Himalayas and the kingdom of Mustang, where Tibetan Buddhists have survived with these horses as central to their culture and spiritual lives. The film includes rare archival footage of the Dalai Lama escaping on horseback to India, features the royal family of Mustang, and introduces us to daring horsemen who fight to prevail as their culture vanishes before their eyes.

T RU E A P PA L O OSA

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.K. producer and director Conor Woodman’s top-seller on the iTunes documentary chart, True Appaloosa, starring Scott Engstrom and Munarbek Kuldanbaev, is an adventure story set in the wilds of Central Asia. Engstrom, a California horse breeder, has long believed that the true source of the North American Appaloosa was

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should be an example to us all. And don’t forget, she was 69 years old when she did it. Ultimately, the goal is to show the audience that none of us are ever too old to expose ourselves to new experiences, and that the things we are most passionate about are the things that ultimately keep us young and interesting.”

Wild Horse, Wild Ride. Photo by Alex Dawson

Asia, not Spain, as history books purport. One night while watching TV, she saw a horse marked like an Appaloosa in Kyrgyzstan and convinced the show’s producer to return to that country to collect its DNA and prove that Asia was the true source of the breed. But in Kyrgyzstan, they found Soviet occupation had all but destroyed the indigenous horses and their only option was a trek into a valley, long considered inaccessible, in search of fewer than 100 spotted horses remaining in an elusive herd.

“The film,” Woodman says, “really started years earlier when I made a TV show, Around the World in 80 Trades, where I traded things around the world, like coffee, chili sauce, surfboards, and then, horses in Kyrgyzstan. Out of the blue, I got an email from Scott, who told me I’d made a massive mistake. One of the horses that I’d sold to a Kyrgyz farmer for $600 looked exactly like one of hers, and apparently there aren’t many ‘true’ Appaloosa. My first thought was, ‘What’s an Appaloosa?’ History books deny that there can be any connection between Asian horses and the Appaloosa of North America, but I realized that, if what Scott was saying was right, then the books might be wrong. And that’s a really big story.

“The film has changed my life,” she continues. “Scott is a massive inspiration. Her drive and unbridled courage in making this journey

P

WIL D HO RS E, W I L D RI DE

raised by The Hollywood Reporter as “a crowd-pleaser with a big heart” and by Variety as “an engrossing study in the communication possible...between man and beast,” this Western documentary goes inside the 100-day journey known as the Extreme Mustang Makeover, intimately following participants in 2009 from their first, uneasy meeting with their horses through the competition and their adoptions at auction.

Making their directorial debut, Alex Dawson and Greg Cricus introduce us to Charles, a Navajo grandfather seeking to reclaim his youth; George, a grizzled and stubborn cowboy; and Wylene, whose blond looks are matched by nerves of steel. They meet in Fort Worth, Texas, to compete against one another and offer the horses up for adoption at auction, where trainers, if they wish to keep their horses, must bid against the public. The film traverses America from New Hampshire to the Navajo Nation, to cowboy country, on a journey harrowing, humorous, heartwarming, and heartbreaking, as wild spirits—horse and human—take the ride of their lives.

www.equusfilmfestival.net Enter to win tickets, compliments of EQ, at equestrianquarterly.com/film-festival

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EQ F A V O R I T E S

FILM FESTIVAL

Continued from page 22.

the triumphant survival of the Arabian horse in Poland, and 2014 Best Short Documentary, Tarpan: Repainting an Ancient Picture. This year’s festival will screen Talking to the Air: The Horses of the Last Forbidden Kingdom, which looks at the horses of Nepal.

Launched as the first organization of its kind in the world dedicated to the preservation of endangered rare equines around the world, the Horsefly Films Rare Equine Trust is an effort to create a cinematic library that documents fragile bloodlines before they disappear forever. Talking to the Air had its world premier at the beginning of the year at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival and in the U.S. at the Silver Springs International Film Festival in Ocala, Florida, in association with the Equus Film Festival.

To bring the story back, the women traveled to a remote part of the Himalayas and the kingdom of Mustang, where Tibetan Buddhists have survived with these horses as central to their culture and spiritual lives. The film includes rare archival footage of the Dalai Lama escaping on horseback to India, features the royal family of Mustang, and introduces us to daring horsemen who fight to prevail as their culture vanishes before their eyes.

T RU E A P PA L O OSA

U

.K. producer and director Conor Woodman’s top-seller on the iTunes documentary chart, True Appaloosa, starring Scott Engstrom and Munarbek Kuldanbaev, is an adventure story set in the wilds of Central Asia. Engstrom, a California horse breeder, has long believed that the true source of the North American Appaloosa was

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should be an example to us all. And don’t forget, she was 69 years old when she did it. Ultimately, the goal is to show the audience that none of us are ever too old to expose ourselves to new experiences, and that the things we are most passionate about are the things that ultimately keep us young and interesting.”

Wild Horse, Wild Ride. Photo by Alex Dawson

Asia, not Spain, as history books purport. One night while watching TV, she saw a horse marked like an Appaloosa in Kyrgyzstan and convinced the show’s producer to return to that country to collect its DNA and prove that Asia was the true source of the breed. But in Kyrgyzstan, they found Soviet occupation had all but destroyed the indigenous horses and their only option was a trek into a valley, long considered inaccessible, in search of fewer than 100 spotted horses remaining in an elusive herd.

“The film,” Woodman says, “really started years earlier when I made a TV show, Around the World in 80 Trades, where I traded things around the world, like coffee, chili sauce, surfboards, and then, horses in Kyrgyzstan. Out of the blue, I got an email from Scott, who told me I’d made a massive mistake. One of the horses that I’d sold to a Kyrgyz farmer for $600 looked exactly like one of hers, and apparently there aren’t many ‘true’ Appaloosa. My first thought was, ‘What’s an Appaloosa?’ History books deny that there can be any connection between Asian horses and the Appaloosa of North America, but I realized that, if what Scott was saying was right, then the books might be wrong. And that’s a really big story.

“The film has changed my life,” she continues. “Scott is a massive inspiration. Her drive and unbridled courage in making this journey

P

WIL D HO RS E, W I L D RI DE

raised by The Hollywood Reporter as “a crowd-pleaser with a big heart” and by Variety as “an engrossing study in the communication possible...between man and beast,” this Western documentary goes inside the 100-day journey known as the Extreme Mustang Makeover, intimately following participants in 2009 from their first, uneasy meeting with their horses through the competition and their adoptions at auction.

Making their directorial debut, Alex Dawson and Greg Cricus introduce us to Charles, a Navajo grandfather seeking to reclaim his youth; George, a grizzled and stubborn cowboy; and Wylene, whose blond looks are matched by nerves of steel. They meet in Fort Worth, Texas, to compete against one another and offer the horses up for adoption at auction, where trainers, if they wish to keep their horses, must bid against the public. The film traverses America from New Hampshire to the Navajo Nation, to cowboy country, on a journey harrowing, humorous, heartwarming, and heartbreaking, as wild spirits—horse and human—take the ride of their lives.

www.equusfilmfestival.net Enter to win tickets, compliments of EQ, at equestrianquarterly.com/film-festival

SOPHISTICATION AND SERENITY AT SOPRIS MOUNTAIN RANCH 1710 Sopris Mountain Ranch Road, Basalt, Colorado | $8,875,000

A magnificent mountain estate incorporating 7,200 sq. ft. of luxury amenities in a design that emphasizes the rustic sophistication of a gentleman’s ranch, and a gracious flow to accommodate gatherings for family and friends. Grand south facing decks with access from all areas on the main level. Gorgeous private master suite, open and airy kitchen, wine room, all bedrooms en suite, casual family room, and a great room with two fireplaces. 2,700 sq. ft. four stall barn with a second level hay loft. Unstoppable peak views. Sopris Mountain Ranch is comprised of 2,000 acres and surrounded by Colorado National Forest and Public Lands. Owners enjoy miles of private trails, four bedroom guest house, equestrian facilities, competition size polo field, hiking, and cross county skiing.

Truly, a one of a kind property. Located in Basalt and just minutes from Aspen.

MLS# 138644 www.soprismountainranchbasalt.com

COLDWELL BANKER MASON MORSE

Patty Brendlinger

970.704.3222 direct | 970.379.5484 cell pbrendlinger@masonmorse.com

Find more at www.masonmorse.com | 970.963.3300 | Carbondale, Colorado ©2015 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. A Realogy Company. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is Independently Owned and Operated. Coldwell Banker®, the Coldwell Banker Logo, Coldwell Banker Previews International®, the Previews International Logo, and “Dedicated to Luxury Real EstateSM” are registered and unregistered service marks to Coldwell Banker LLC.

EQ F A S H I O N

English Country Kicks

T

Ariat International’s NEW BOOT COLLECTION is inspired by authentic European country living.

here’s a smart new boot in town guaranteed to garner nods of approval on the streets of New York or amid the English Countryside.

Ariat International has launched a new, allweather English Country collection scheduled to arrive in stores this fall. The country-chic boots showcase the flawless merging of Ariat’s equestrian tradition with its rich boot-making history.

“The Ariat Country collection is born from our equestrian heritage both here and in Europe,” says Liz Bradley, vice president of global marketing at Ariat International.

“We’ve had a strong presence in England for over 20 years, and we understand true country living.”

The stylish and extremely practical line combines the best of European equestrian fashion with exceptional performance, particularly in wet and muddy conditions. Overall, it is the equestrian-country styling, premium waterproofing, and slip-resistant traction that render this collection of boots idyllic for outdoor living in inclement weather.

“Ariat has a long legacy of making authentic equestrian boots for the European market,” says Holly Andrews-Kramer, director of global

English footwear for Ariat International. The collection includes three new women’s styles featuring Ariat’s newest technology.

Ariat Country includes the Braemar GTX, a beautiful, tall boot with a top-line elastic gusset and drawstring toggle for calf adjustability; the Bryn GTX, a stylish, mid-height waterproof boot, ideal for moderate temperatures; and the Berwick GTX, a tall boot with Thinsulate insulation, a full-length back zip, and front-lace system for easy wear in cold climates.

PAGE 97

The model is wearing the Braemar GTX.

BEAUTY MEETS STRENGTH SUPERIOR CONCRETE FENCES

Beauty is a powerful statement. With Superior Rail™ fences, you can protect your property with the elegance of natural-looking wood that’s constructed of durable, reinforced precast concrete. Your Superior Rail™ fence will stand the test of time without losing its original beauty.

The Beauty of Wood, The Strength of Concrete.

Visit Elegant.ConcreteFence.com or call 817-277-9255.

EQ P E O P L E

Pillow Talk Designer JANIE SHRADER OBER has a thing for leather and metal.

BY STEPHANIE PETERS

M

erging the tactile qualities of leather and metal with an assortment of fabrics has always appealed to designer Janie Shrader.

“It is the combination that I love and have always been drawn to the most,” she said.

Scanning her collection of original hand-sewn pillows—some ornamented with braided leather and others with weathered-spur accents—offers visual evidence of her claim.

Janie is married to Tim Ober, one of the equine industry’s most renowned veterinarians specializing in lameness. His practice is based in Gordonsville, Virginia; however, as the U.S. Equestrian Team vet, he travels extensively to major competitions with the show-jumping team. Janie manages the rehabilitation side of the business with a skillful team of people who, in a calm and relaxing manner, carry out the necessary steps to encourage a horse’s full recovery.

Janie is also the owner and principle designer of Shrader Leather, also based in Gordonsville. She is a charismatic, energetic woman who exudes a sense of outer calm and inner wisdom, and can discuss exciting advances in equine-therapeutic laser treatments as fluently as she can describe the art of making intricate leather tassels that add finishing touches to her in-demand pillows.

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Above: Janie Shrader talks about her inspiration. Below: A collection of Shrader Leather pillows.

Her spacious studio is situated a few steps beyond the cluster of barns on the couple’s property. The interior is an organized shrine to discarded leather and distressed horse tack—once functional but now await reimagining as home décor accents. Also nearby are belts, buckles, bits, and weathered reins, along with remnants of wool coolers, kid’s garters, brow bands, and spurs. It is a cornucopia of creative inspiration, and the only thing required is Janie’s creative ability to transform these orphaned treasures into desirable objects.

“My sewing machine was the big leap,” said Janie. “I used to paint, I was a graphic designer, and I designed museum exhibits. I knew I had this love of leather and metal, and I thought, why not learn how to do that. So I traveled to Oregon and took a leather-making class. I loved it so much I went back for another class. It was awesome!”

Janie tries to spend a lot of her time in the studio. “It’s perfect,” she said. “I can open up the doors and see who’s in the paddocks or in the ring, and of course the dogs love to come and hang out.”

“My business has been a long time in the making. It’s PAGE 97 nice to see it come to full fruition,” she smiled.

NEWPORT COUNTY, RHODE ISLAND

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Model Open Daily 9am-5pm Call 401 293-5025 or visit TheNewportBeachClub.com A VENTURE BETWEEN O’NEILL PROPERTIES GROUP

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EQ S C I E N C E

Lifting Minds and Spirits The BENEFITS OF HORSES for Alzheimer’s patients.

30 | EQ U E S T R I A N Q UA RT E RLY | FAL L | 2015

they smiled, laughed, and talked to the horses. Even those who normally acted withdrawn became fully engaged in the experience.

There was a clear improvement in dementia-related behavior among the clients who visited the farm.

To track behavior, the researchers used a scoring system called the Modified Nursing Home Behavior Problem Scale, in which staff at the center rated the frequency of the participants’ fidgeting, resisting care, becoming upset, or losing their temper on days they either went to the farm or stayed at the center.

On a scale of zero to four—zero meaning the client never engaged in the problem behavior and four meaning that they always engaged in it—scores for the participants who went to the farm were on average one point lower than the scores for their peers who stayed at the center.

An unexpected benefit also emerged from the study: the therapy boosted physical activity. Each of the clients had some kind of physical limitation, but engagement with the animals inspired each of them to push the boundaries of their abilities. lients who never wanted to leave their wheelchair asked for help in standing up; others who rarely walked stood up and moved unassisted. The clients grew increasingly physically active with each subsequent visit to the farm.

Family members also reported that their loved one remained engaged with the experience even after returning home. One commented to researchers that her mother “would never remember what she did at the center during the day, but she always remembered what she did at the farm.”

JOHNNY RUN CIMA FOR OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

A

small pilot study conducted at Ohio State University, in cooperation with an equine therapy center and an adult daycare facility, found that short sessions in which people with Alzheimer’s disease groomed, fed, and walked horses resulted in an elevated mood and better responses to their care and other therapies.

Equine therapy is already being used in other cases, including for teens and children with emotional problems and developmental disorders. Now it might also become a widely accepted treatment for adults with dementia.

Holly Dabelko-Shoeny, an associate professor of social work at Ohio State, feels that equine therapy could supplement other forms of animal therapy, such as working with dogs or cats.

“We wanted to test whether people with dementia could have positive interactions with horses, and we found that they absolutely can,” explained Dabelko-Schoeny. “The experience immediately lifted their mood, and we saw a connection to fewer incidents of negative behavior.”

Alzheimer’s patients are often susceptible to a variety of emotional problems, including depression, social isolation, and increased aggression. While researchers search for cures and preventions, therapies have increasingly focused on easing the difficult emotional situations that arise for patients and their families.

“Our focus is on now. What can we do to make them feel better and enjoy themselves right now? Even if they don’t remember it later, how can we help in this moment?” she said.

At the participating adult daycare center in Columbus, a National Church Residences center for senior health, patients have a schedule

filled with crafts, exercise, and other activities aimed at improving their mental function.

Sixteen of the center’s residents volunteered to participate in the study. Half the participants remained at the center, while the other half made weekly visits to the nearby Field of Dreams Equine Education Center in Blacklick, Ohio. There, under the supervision of National Church Residences caretakers and faculty and students from the College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Social Work at Ohio State, the participants were asked to bathe, feed, groom, and walk horses. Four horses from the Field of Dreams therapeutic program were chosen to participate, based on their gentle dispositions.

The researchers saw obvious signs that the clients enjoyed their time on the farm:

C

Download the Layar app, and scan with your phone.

WI N N I NG doesn’t happen by

A C C I D E N T.

A rub. It’s all that separates a flawless round from “better luck next time.” But you’re not depending on luck.

You’re depending on countless hours in and out of the saddle. And you didn’t come here for just a ribbon.

You came for the championship ribbon. So ask yourself, does your horse have the stomach to win?

Time for a gut check. TheStomachToWin.com

When administered for 8 or 28 days, just one dose a day of ULCERGARD is proven to effectively prevent performance-robbing equine stomach ulcers in horses exposed to stressful conditions. ®ULCERGARD is a registered trademark of Merial. ©2014 Merial, Inc., Duluth, GA. All rights reserved.

EQUIUGD1425-D (08/14)

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: ULCERGARD can be used in horses that weigh at least 600 pounds. Safety in pregnant mares has not been determined.

EQ G I V I N G B A C K

Roma Boots For every pair of Roma Boots sold, A NEW PAIR IS DONATED to a child in need.

R

oma Boots emerged from a single pair of handed-down rain boots given to a 6-year-old boy in communist Romania. The boots changed his life.

That young boy, who lived in a small, poor village, was Samuel Bistrian. He grew up to become the founder of Roma Boots, one of the leading socially conscious brands in the world.

Sam migrated to the U.S. with his family when he was 8 years old. After completing college, he took a retail position with Neiman Marcus.

While working there he met the founder of Toms Shoes, Blake Mycoskie, who inspired him to start Roma Boots.

Blake is the person behind the “one-for-one” concept, a business model that helps someone in need for every product purchased.

Based on the model of one-for-one companies, Roma donates a pair of fashionable and functional rain boots filled with educational supplies to a child living in poverty for every pair of boots sold. Roma also donates 10 percent of the boot sales proceeds towards the Roma for All Foundation.

“An estimated 125 million children are living on the streets around the world,” explained Bistrian. “Most don’t have footwear. But even if they do, they lack footwear that protects them from disease. The majority of these children

32 | E Q U E S T R I A N Q UA RT E RLY | FAL L | 2015

Top: Samuel Bistrian with young recipients of Roma Boots. Above left: Samuel Bistrian.

Above right: Sadie Robertson wearing her signature Live Original Roma Boots.

can’t read or write. Most of the developed world is either unaware or has not been presented with an avenue to help them.”

Bistrian wanted to find the most effective and practical way to help these children break free from poverty, so he pondered ways to combine his love of fashion and philanthropy.

Roma Boots provides a way for consumers to get involved through essential aid and educational assistance.

“The more boots sold, the more children are given the chance to break out of their cycle of poverty and succeed in life,” said Bistrian.

Roma has contributed thousands of boots in 25 countries across 4 continents, and joined the ranks of other brands promoting social awareness, including Toms, Warby Parker, Krochet Kids, and others. All Roma Boots are made of natural rubber in a fair-trade factory.

Bistrian has seen a huge awakening in the world for conscious consumerism over the last decade, with expanded growth in socially conscious brands in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

Roma’s organic, grass roots approach has reached and inspired a number of celebrities who have shown support of Bistrian’s efforts. Actor and philanthropist Sadie Robertson is currently collaborating with Roma Boots on the design of PAGE 97 her Live Original collection of rain boots.

EQ F A V O R I T E S

Bedtime Stories EQ editors choose their FAVORITE BOOKS for young horse lovers.

BY JILL NOVOTNY

THE HORSE & PONY E N C Y C L O P E DIA

NONI THE PON Y

by Alison Lester

MIST Y OF CHINCOT EAGU E

B L ACK BEAU T Y

by Anna Sewell

by Marguerite Henry

by Sandy Ransford This comprehensive volume is a perfect gift for a child who dreams of having a horse of their own. Full of photography and information on every subject from breeds, natural habitats, gaits, and guides—from mounting to cantering for novice riders.

TH E G I RL W H O L OVED W I L D H O RS ES

by Paul Goble Noni is a friendly, funny, frisky pony, who is best friends with a dog named Dave and a cat named Coco. Bright illustrations and cheerful rhymes make this a delightful picture book that will engage readers of all ages.

34 | E Q U E S T R I A N Q UA RT E RLY | FAL L | 2015

Marguerite Henry is a beloved children’s author of many classic horse stories; Misty of Chincoteague is her most well-known.

Published in 1947, the story follows two youngsters hoping to buy and tame a pair of wild ponies from the Chesapeake islands. The cherished story captures the yearning of a child for a pony, as well as the untamed beauty of a herd of wild horses.

This textured narrative chronicles the life of a horse, born into an initially pleasant life, who encounters hardships and mistreatment before finally reuniting with his friends. Throughout the story, Black Beauty experiences the best and worst of life and of human interactions, offering young readers insight into the experiences of others and encouragement toward developing empathy.

This Caldecott awardwinner sits on the shelves of many equestrians of all ages, because it encapsulates the spirit of the horse and the human instincts that draw people to them.

A young Native American girl cares for the tribe’s horses before eventually finding freedom by living among them in the wild.

The gorgeously stylized illustrations tell the moving story with only simple text.

EQ F A V O R I T E S

F R I T Z A N D T HE B E AU T I F U L HORSES

A LEG AT EAC H CORNER

T HE BL ACK STAL L ION

by Norman Thelwell

by Walter Farley

Since their debut over 60 years ago, Thelwell’s cartoons and drawings have delighted millions of people all over the world. His portrayals of sporting pursuits, human beings at play, the life of the British countryside, and, of course, ponies, are the products of a unique comic genius.

First published in 1941, Farley’s best-selling novel for young readers is a triumphant tale of a boy and a wild horse. From their first meeting on an ill-fated ship to their adventures on a desert island and their eventual rescue, this venerated story will hold the attention of readers young and old.

T HE R ED PON Y

by John Steinbeck

RO S I E’ S MAG I C H O RS E

by Russell Hoban

by Jan Brett This familiar tale of an excluded underdogturned-hero is simple yet engaging. But it is Brett’s spectacular illustrations that make this book special. Fritz may not be beautiful, but he rescues the town’s children, when the beautiful horses would not. This story, like all of Brett’s books, teaches a lesson and demonstrates the joy animals can bring to a child’s life.

The first three chapters of this literary classic were published in a magazine, after which the episodic novel was re-published in 1937. The stories revolve around a young boy on his father’s ranch in California, where he learns about horses, life, death, and adulthood.

Though the themes can be difficult, it has become a classic for teenage readers.

A young girl dreams of riding a horse on a treasure hunt to solve her family’s financial problems. Their wildly imaginitive adventure, through cities, mountains, and jungles is hopeful, chaotic, and even mournful. Quentin Blake’s expressive ink drawings illustrate Rosie’s fanciful visions as well as her famPAGE 97 ily’s reality.

FA LL | 2 0 1 5 | EQ U ES TRIA N Q UA RTERLY | 35

EQ D I N I N G

Edibles and Escapades author of STABLE TO TABLE, shares tales of her crash-course in fox hunting and culinary triumphs in Ireland.

RENEE LENKIN

W

hile pursuing my career in interior design in New Orleans, a client from New York City asked if I would do some consulting work on a cottage she was renovating in Ireland.

The cottage was located in Galway, a charming harbor city on Ireland’s west coast.

She asked if I fox hunted, as she was a member of the Galway Blazers (a local hunt club). “Oh yes, I replied, I love to hunt!” I realized as I sat on the plane reading a how-to book on fox hunting that this might be a baptism by fire.

The fundamentals of the book urged new fox hunters to introduce themselves to the masters, stay in the back, keep quiet, don’t pass the field master, don’t get in the way of the staff or crowd the hounds, and always thank the master and say good night—even if it’s 10 in the morning. I’ve got it!

On my first day out, we had fast-and-fabulous runs covering miles and jumped at least 100 walls. The fox-hunting bug had bitten me. A year later we rode through the banksand-ditches countryside with the Limerick’s and Scarteen Black and Tan’s hunt clubs.

Visitors who weren’t familiar with the ditches were instructed to drop the reins and let the seasoned hunt horses do their job. We were humbly informed by hunt members that our horses knew more than we did.

For six seasons I hunted with the Exmoor Foxhounds with huntsman captain Ronnie Wallace in the southwest part of England, dividing the week with the Quantocks Stag

KIPPURE CONNEMARA PONIES

DAWN HARRIS BROWN,

Hounds on the moors. The hunts through the breathtaking English landscape of moorlands, woodlands, and valley farms often felt like galloping through a postcard.

One hunt in particular left a lasting image.

Hunters came to the meet out on Exmoor. The fog was too dense to cast the hounds, so we waited for it to lift. All you could hear were dogs barking from a distant farmhouse in the valley below and our hunt horses making impatient snorts in the mist. Suddenly the fog lifted, much like a curtain on a stage, to reveal hillsides dotted with mounted hunters. It was breathtaking. The hounds were cast and the hunt began.

I

enjoyed hunting the Irish draughts and Irish halfbreds so much that a friend and fellow fox hunter, Melissa Mysing, and I went into partnership to start a breeding program of Irish draughts and Irish sport horses. We bought a wellbred, pure Irish draught stallion named Dandelion Diamond Rebel (Conor) and crossed him with Thoroughbred broodmares.

His foals were spectacular. Conor is now standing at stud and being fox hunted by his owner, master Skip Crawford, at the Potomac Hunt.

His photo, as well as the spring lamb recipe (see page 38 for this and other recipes), can be found in the Irish chapter of the Stable to Table cookbook.

Fox hunting became my passion and food my art form. I now fox hunt in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, as well as rabbit and coyote hunt my 12 lurchers (crossbred sight hounds) on foot every morning at home.

Continued on page 38

Top: Connemara Ponies. Center: Master of the Potomac Hunt, Skip Crawford, on Conor.

Bottom: Melissa Mysing riding Conor with the Midland Foxhounds in Georgia.

36 | E Q U E S T R I A N Q UA RT E RLY | FAL L | 2015

The 132nd

O  - N , 

.NHS. • F P • K   A F

EQ D I N I N G Continued from page 36

Edibles and Escapades

ST R AW B ERRY SO U P 2 cups sugar 4 cups water 6 pint-boxes strawberries, sliced juice of 3 limes 3 to 5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar high-quality vanilla ice cream

H AY ROA S T E D SPRING LAMB

MINT PESTO SAU CE

4 handfuls fresh alfalfa, soaked in water stems of fresh herbs 1 boneless leg of lamb, wrapped Kosher salt 1 head of garlic 2 cups water 1 pound whole new or fingerling potatoes

1 cup fresh mint leaves ¼ cup walnut oil ¼ cup walnuts, finely ground 1 clove garlic

38 | E Q U E S T R I A N Q UA RT E RLY | FAL L | 2015

Combine all ingredients in food processor and refrigerate until needed.

Dawn Harris Brown was born into a ranching family in Texas. Her first culinary influences were barbeque and Mexican food. After majoring in art at the University of Madrid, she spent another 3 ½ years in southern Spain. Food became her art form. She attended cooking schools in France, England, Morocco, the United States, Canada, Southeast Asia, and Australia. She has written two books, Stable to Table and Parties & Ponies Children’s Menu Cookbook.

IRISH COFFEE 1 cup hot coffee 1½ ounces Irish whiskey 3 teaspoons sugar whipped cream chocolate-covered coffee beans

Combine first three ingredients in a mug of choice. Top with whipped cream and chocolatecovered coffee beans.

Stable to Table A menu cookbook with recipes from around the equestrian world.

DAWN HARRIS BROWN

The aroma of spring lamb roasted on a bed of fresh cut hay and herbs will have your taste buds hopping all over your tongue. This method of roasting has been done for 1,000 years, lending the smells of spring to the roasted meat, while retaining the juices.

1. Place a roasting rack in a roasting pan. Make a nest of rinsed alfalfa and fresh herbs (rosemary, mint, thyme, oregano, and/or parsley) on the roasting rack. Season and pierce the lamb with garlic. Place on top of nest and cover with more wet hay. Pour two cups of water under the rack.

Cover all with aluminum foil. Roast at 350°F for 1 hour and 50 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, toss the potatoes with three tablespoons of olive oil and roast in a 400°F oven for 30 minutes until tender.

3. Remove lamb from roaster (and hay) and cover with foil to rest for 20 minutes. Serve with roasted potatoes and mint pesto sauce.

Boil sugar and water together until dissolved.

Leave to cool. Process syrup, strawberries, and lime juice in a blender. Strain it through a sieve. Add balsamic vinegar to taste; keep cold. Serve with baby basil leaves and a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. Adding a thin wedge of chocolate brownie dusted with powdered sugar makes a beautiful combination.

By Dawn Harris Brown with Rachel Chotin Lincoln

PAGE 97

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The Fox Hunt Diaries

BY MICHAEL AND JANE STERN ILLUSTRATIONS BY PIETER VAN EENOGE

40 | E Q U E S T R I A N Q UA RT E RLY | FAL L | 2015

JAN E AN D MIC HAEL S T ER N T EL L T HE C R AZ Y STO RY OF A O N E-O F-A-K IN D MAR R IAG E, D IVO R C E, ASPIR AT IO N , AN D AN G L O PHIL IA.

W

e were married for so long that we became janeandmichaelstern, a couple joined at the hip, a couple who finished each other’s sentences, a couple who never had children because we wanted nothing to interfere with our writing and traveling together. As the authors of the Roadfood guides, we quite literally spent much of our working time only as far apart as the armrest of a car.

Then it ended. Sort of. We divorced six years ago, and it was as amicable as this sort of thing can be, which is to say, not really.

It was not a mutual decision to split, and the lopsidedness was hard to surmount. We are on our best behavior around each other, and we have figured out how not to drag “what was” into “what is.” At least we try not to. The funny thing is that we still travel and write together, having recently finished our 44th book. The double byline continues to flourish. Like parents who break up, we love what we have created together and continue to nurture it.

One would think that divorce and, in Michael’s case, remarriage would mean the end of being surprised by a former spouse’s behavior.

For example, one (Jane) would think that one’s ex (Michael) would not decide to become a fox hunter at the age of 65. That’s fox hunting as in “tallyho,” galloping over hill and dale, following the huntsman in his scarlet jacket and a pack of yodeling hounds.

If either of us was to become a fox hunter, it should have been Jane. Jane was named after Jane Eyre. Jane’s mother was an avid Anglophile. As a baby, she was wheeled around

Manhattan’s Central Park in an English pram with monogrammed blankets.

In the fourth grade at P.S. 6, Jane convinced her mother that she needed a full riding habit, and she got one. She walked Madison Avenue daily wearing a velvet helmet, string gloves and billowing jodhpurs, carrying a child-size whip. There was not a horse in sight, but that did not bother her at all. She was perfecting the art of virtual riding.

Michael grew up in Winnetka, Illinois.

His parents were not Anglophiles. They ran the town camera shop and played bridge and joined the relatives every Sunday for a breakfast of bagels and lox. Michael managed to get through childhood without once wearing breeches. He spent his formative years dreaming of one day playing Major League baseball and perfecting his ability to power-shift an accelerating car.

Maybe one of the things we liked about each other was that we were so different and yet we felt like ideal accomplices. We both appreciated strange people and strange things.

In 1968, when tattoos were still the province of drunken sailors and badasses, we found a

biker garage in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where an amateur skin artist gave us matching scorpion tattoos. We lived like hippies in a commune of sorts in the woods of Connecticut, but Michael became a handgun enthusiast, making his own ammo and sporting a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum with an ivory scorpion embedded in the grip. Jane had her own tangents. She took up bagpipes, signed up for boxing lessons, won a topless contest, and dyed her hair orange.

We both read Low Rider magazine, collected prison art and, under pseudonyms, joined the Transvestite Club of Connecticut.

In our middle years, Michael gave up booze and became a devoted member of AA. Jane took flamenco lessons, stomping around our suburban community in a long, ruffled skirt and shawl. She became an EMT, riding the town ambulance and coming home with stories of blood and gore. Michael’s AA sponsees would call all night long with their own visceral emergencies.

Although EMT, flamenco and Scottish music all require very specific outfits, the most startling vestments event in our post-marriage relationship happened just a couple of years ago when Michael announced he had become a member of Fairfield County Hounds, one of the few remaining live fox hunts in the Northeast, and the oldest in Connecticut. He sent Jane a picture of himself wearing tall Spanish-cut boots, moleskin breeches, a melton-cloth jacket and stock tie, and a velvet hunt cap. Mounted on a stately horse named Phillip, he looked utterly happy and at home among a field of scarlet-coated masters, whippers-in and club members that included his new wife, Linda, herself a polished equestrienne.

It was less the new wife and more the outfit that sent Jane into a fit of jealousy. Michael, who never thought twice about what to wear, was now living Jane’s (and Jane’s mother’s) Anglophilic dream. Jane stewed in a puddle of green-eyed rage, with images of hunt-flare buckskin breeches and Dinwiddie pigskin gloves dancing in her head.

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To Jane, the clothing protocol of the hunt is byzantine in the best possible way. For informal hunts, there is “rat catcher” attire, which, while allegedly casual, is every bit as ritualized as the outfit for formal hunt days. One wears three-button coats that are tweed or dark wool, tailored and vented. Leather and string gloves are de rigueur; sandwich case and flask are optional. For Fairfield County Hounds’ formal hunts, which take place on Saturdays from October through Christmas, black jackets are required for all riders except for gentlemen deemed to have earned their colors. Their service to the club entitles them to wear the classic scarlet coat with brass buttons monogrammed FCH. Ladies who earn colors do not wear scarlet but do have a special gold-piped blue collar on their coat, which bears black buttons with FCH in white letters. A few ladies do become masters, which gives them the right to wear scarlet and, along with gentlemen masters, to tell other members of the hunt field where to ride, which fences to jump, and generally how to behave. In the field, the only person who tells the masters what to do is the huntsman, who wears a scarlet coat with five buttons (as opposed to the masters’ four and other riders’ three). While it used to be customary for ladies and gentlemen to hunt in top hats or derbies, today’s hunters wear helmets. Some hunts even permit the use of airbag crash vests.

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ou might think Jane would have started fox hunting, too, perhaps with another club. But that was not an option. You see, we already had been through a horsey phase together, and it made us realize just how incompatible we were. While writing a book called Way Out West in the early 1990s, we fell in love with anything and everything to do with the culture of the cowboy, from trick roping to sagebrush poetry. We acquired a pair of Appaloosa horses, which we stabled at one of the few Western-oriented barns in Connecticut.

The barn was a pretty rough outfit run by an ex-rodeo rider, a place where Johnny Walker and Jack Daniel’s were constant companions.

We wore leather chaps and Stetson hats and were the only people at the barn who did not keep a wad of Copenhagen tobacco in our cheeks.

The incompatible part was the riding.

Michael rode fast and wild, sometimes without

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a bit and bridle, sailing down hills and across streams, in icy blizzards and in the dog days of summer. Jane, on the other hand, had the finest tack in the barn, her saddle boasting finely carved leather and silver conchos, her boots custom-made by the Michelangelo of cowboy bootmakers in southern Arizona. Her horse was gorgeous, and all was well. Except Jane was terrified of riding. She preferred to stand in the barn aisle for hours grooming her horse’s tail and dreaming of a new cowboy belt buckle or fringed gauntlet gloves. If her horse broke into a gait faster than a trot, she would scream and clutch the saddle horn for dear life. For Jane, it was always too hot or too cold to ride. The awful truth was that janeandmichaelstern hated riding together.

Making the issue of fox hunting even more troublesome is Michael’s tendency to fall off his horse, to land nose-first on a rock, to scrape his cornea on a branch across the trail, and to injure himself in ways he couldn’t even imagine in his Western-riding days. On the hunts, Michael rides “first flight,” which calls for galloping at breakneck speed through woods and across fields, leaping over rail fences and hay bales, following hounds close enough to be surrounded by their music (what the pack’s baying is called), to smell them and sometimes even smell the musky fox scent they are tracking. Being part of a herd of athletic horses doing what they love to do (run and jump like crazy), in cahoots with a pack of hounds doing what they love to do (hunt), following a fox doing what it does best (outfox its pursuers) is exhilaration that has turned Michael into an adrenaline junkie.

For Jane, such activity is a date with death or dismemberment. She is particularly perturbed that, unlike during the 38 years of

our marriage, she is not around to supervise Michael’s riding—to make sure he has his cell phone (hunt etiquette proscribes them), wears goggles, carries ID so his body can be identified. It is no longer Jane’s wifely right to worry. Sharing a byline does not give nagging privileges.

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e are both animal lovers, and when Michael first told Jane about his newfound passion for hunting, her reaction was, “how could you?” Her concern was mollified when he told her that it has been years since Fairfield County Hounds actually killed anything, that when a fox “goes to ground” (hides in a hole or tree hollow), the chase is over. The hounds are called off and the fox escapes to be chased another day. Still, she remains skeptical about Michael’s assertion that the fox actually enjoys being foxy and making a fool out of the hounds and humans trying to catch it.

Michael’s frequent visits to northwestern Virginia and Aiken, South Carolina (both horsey hunt country) are something we don’t talk much about. On a recent Roadfood trip we both made through Virginia, Michael (who once abhorred shopping) stopped at every tack shop and outfitter along the way. People there knew him and knew his fellow club members.

Jane happily assumed the role of his personal shopper, consulting with him on the quality of field and dress boots. She had spent so long with fashionless Michael, the guy who did not mind wearing a T-shirt stained with our parrot’s mess, that she had to remind herself that the new Michael, with his tack and his tweeds and his hunt-field etiquette, is not hers to share.

But in silence, she prays he stays on board when P. 97 Phillip sails over that next stone wall.

About the authors Since coining the term Roadfood and pointing the way to America’s best eats, Jane and Michael Stern have co-authored more than forty books, including the guidebook Roadfood, the cookbooks Square Meals, Chili Nation, Real American Food, and American Gourmet. The Sterns, who received the James Beard Perrier-Jouet Award for lifetime achievement have won multiple James Beard awards for their restaurant reviews in Gourmet magazine. They are weekly guests on Public Radio’s award-winning “The Splendid Table.” Michael Stern writes the “Fare and Flask” column for Covertside magazine and serves on the board of directors of Fairfield County Hounds. Visit Roadfood.com.

H I S TO RY

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ounted fox hunting has existed in America since Colonial days. Hounds of various types were brought from Europe by the early English settlers. By 1900, the American foxhound was the product of breeding their American descendants with hounds that continued to be imported, especially from England, Ireland, and France.

The earliest record of the importation of hounds to this country is 1650, when Robert Brooke arrived in Maryland with

The Myopia Hunt of Massachusetts.

his family, his 28 servants, and his hounds. By the early 1700s, mounted fox hunting was spreading rapidly across the colonies.

On one occasion while ongress was in session, hounds ran near the capital. Congressmen ran outside to watch and some jumped on their horses and joined the chase.

Over the years, North American fox hunting has evolved its own distinct flavor, one that is W H E R E TO H U NT The popularity of fox hunting continues to grow. There are now 156 organized clubs in North America and Canada, some of which are listed here. A full list is available at mfha.org/docs/huntbystate.pdf Alabama Hard Away Whitworth Hounds hardawaywhitworth.com Mooreland Hunt moorelandhunt.org Arizona Grand Canyon Hounds grandcanyonhounds.org California Los Altos Hounds losaltoshounds.org Santa Ynez Valley Hounds syvhounds.com Tejon Hounds tejonhounds.com Colorado Arapahoe Hunt arapahoehunt.com Bijou Spring Hunt bijouspringshunt.com Connecticut Fairfield County Hounds fairfieldcountyhounds.com Florida Misty Morning Hounds mistymorninghounds.com Palm Beach Hounds pbhounds.com Georgia Bear Creek Hounds bearcreekhounds.org

A Hunt Primer Source: The Masters of Foxhounds Association and Foundation. mfha.org

the exception. Fox populations in hunt country are exceptionally healthy.

SEASONS AND AT T IRE

Vernon Studer of Vermont’s Nor th Country Hounds.

noticeably different from Britian’s.

Most obvious is that in North America the emphasis is on the chase rather than the kill. A successful hunt ends when the fox enters a hole in the ground, called an earth. Once there, hounds are rewarded with praise from their huntsman. The fox escapes to be chased another day.

When hounds do not account for a fox by chasing him to an earth, the vast majority of times hounds lose the scent of the fox, and that ends the hunt. On many hunts, the scent isn’t sufficient for hounds to run at all. But even slow days are fun—riding in the beautiful countryside with friends and hounds. That is not to say that foxhounds in America do not sometimes kill, but it is always Belle Meade Hunt bellemeadehounds.com Midland Fox Hounds midlandfoxhounds.com Illinois Fox River Valley Hunt ch-frvh.com Mill Creek Hunt millcreekhunt.org Wayne-DuPage Hunt waynedupagehunt.com Indiana Traders Point Hunt traderspointhunt.com Bijou Spring Hunt bijouspringshunt.com Headwaters Hounds headwatershounds.com Iowa Moingona Hunt themoingonahunt.org North Hills Hunt northhillshunt.com Kansas Mission Valley Hunt Club missionvalleyhunt.com Kentucky Iroquois Hunt iroquoishunt.com Long Run Hounds longrunhounds.org Woodford Hounds thewoodfordhounds.org Maryland Elkridge-Harford Hunt ehhounds.com Goshen Hounds goshenhounds.com Green Spring Valley Hounds gsvhounds.com Marlborough Hunt marlboroughhuntclub.com Potomac Hunt potomachunt.com Massachusetts Myopia Hunt myopiahunt.org Norfolk Hunt norfolkhunt.com Old North Bridge Hounds oldnorthbridgehounds.org

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very hunt has two seasons: cub hunting when young hounds are introduced into the pack, and the formal season.

Informal attire: The cubbing season or autumn hunting allows for less formal attire called “ratcatcher,” which normally refers to a dark sport coat or hacking jacket plus a shirt and tie or turtleneck shirt. In warmer climates coats are not required.

Cub hunting season is when horses and hounds are conditioned and trained. Also, the foxes learn to evade hounds. They become conditioned and smarter by being chased for longer periods of time as the season progresses.

Formal attire: Black leather boots, breeches, heavy or light hunting coat, a shirt with a tie or stock tie, and a protective hat are called for. When the formal season opens, the staff wears its livery, often red coats, white breeches, Michigan Battle Creek Hunt battlecreekhunt.com Waterloo Hunt waterloohunt.com Minnesota Long Lake Hounds longlakehounds.com Mississippi Chula Homa Hunt chulahomahunt.com Missouri Bridlespur Hunt bridlespur.com Nevada Red Rock Hounds redrockhounds.com New Hampshire Wentworth Hunt Club wentworthhunt.org New Jersey Essex Fox Hounds essexfoxhounds.org Monmouth County Hunt mchconservancy.org Spring Valley Hounds springvalleyhounds.com New Mexico Caza Ladron cazaladron.ning.com Juan Tomas Hounds juantomashounds.com New York Genesee Valley Hunt geneseevalleyhunt.org Golden’s Bridge Hounds goldensbridgehounds.org Millbrook Hunt themillbrookhunt.com Old Chatham Hunt oldchathamhuntclub.com North Carolina Green Creek Hounds greencreekhounds.com Tryon Hounds tryonhounds.com

and black boots with tan-leather tops.

Members who follow as the field wear black coats, buff breeches, and black boots. Most hunts allow their gentlemen members to wear red coats. Lady masters and members of the staff also often wear red coats. Some members add to the elegance by wearing cutaway coats (red for

California’s Santa Ynez Valley Hounds ride through vineyards and lavender fields.

men, black for ladies) with a top hat.

Hunting gear, which has changed little since fox hunting began, is based on practicality. The heavy boots and breeches protect riders from branches and brambles. The heavy melton coats are nearly waterproof. The stock tie, fastened with a plain gold safety pin, can serve as a bandage for man, hound, or horse in case of injury.

Ohio Chagrin Valley Hunt cvhuntclub.com Oklahoma Harvard Fox Hounds harvardfoxhounds.com Pennsylvania Radnor Hunt radnorhunt.org South Carolina Camden Hunt camdenhunt.com Lowcountry Hunt thelowcountryhunt.com Whiskey Road Foxhounds whiskeyroadfoxhounds.com Tennessee Hillsboro Hounds hillsborohounds.com Tennessee Valley Hunt tvhfox.com Texas Cloudline Hounds cloudline.info Hickory Creek Hunt hickorycreekhunt.com Independence Foxhounds independencefoxhounds.org Longacre Hunt longacrehunt.com Vermont Green Mountain Hounds greenmountainhounds.com North Country Hounds northcountryhounds.com Virginia Blue Ridge Hunt blueridgehunt.org Loudoun Fairfax Hunt loudounfairfaxhunt.com Middleburg Hunt middleburghunt.com Rappahannock Hunt rappahannockhunt.com Keswick Hunt keswickhuntclub.com Washington Woodbrook Hunt woodbrookhuntclub.com

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Tony Gammell, Keswick Hunt Club Huntsman, walks the hounds across the road at Keswick Hall and Golf Club.

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The Hounds of Keswick

W E L EAR N T HAT FOX HU N T IN G IS N OT AB O U T K IL L IN G FOX ES AN D THAT HUNT S MEN AC T UAL LY D O S HO U T “ TAL LYH O.”

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hen EQ planned a feature on the elegant, traditional—and perhaps misunderstood—sport of fox hunting, we were invited to visit one of America’s most famous hunts, at Charlottesville, Virginia’s Keswick Hunt Club (KHC).

Founded in 1896, it is one of the oldest hunts in Virginia. Fox hunting has been a part of Keswick culture since 1742 when Dr. Thomas Walker imported a pack of English foxhounds. By the late 1800s, there were several private hound packs in the area, and founding the hunt club brought some order to the local hunting scene.

Two things we learned immediately. The hunt is not about killing foxes. And it’s not about high society. Today the club has about 300 members, and 50 to 60 generally ride on each hunt between September and March. It also hosts a nationally attended A-rated horse show and is involved with numerous charitable events, local county fairs, steeplechase races, farm tours, and the well-known annual formal hunt ball.

Along with the proud involvement of landowners, land is the most valuable asset for a fox hunt. Fortunately, Keswick is rich in both. The hounds hunt in Madison, Louisa, Orange, and Albemarle counties, over rolling hills, woodlands, and farms in the foothills of the Blue Ridge. Jumps are coops, telephone poles, natural log panels, and fence rails.

Sally Lamb, owner of Oakland Heights farm and long-time member of KHC said, “The

landowners are key. A lot of people moving here come because they fox hunt, so they are interested in preserving the open land.”

T HE HO U NDS

Hounds are counted in pairs and referred to as couples. The hunt club kennels are home to approximately 35 couples (70 individuals) of American foxhounds.

Tony Gammell, KHC’s huntsman since 2000, worked with hounds while he was still in school in Limerick, Ireland, and then worked in hunts in England and Scotland.

He has been in the U.S. for 15 years. “I began as a huntsman in Pennsylvania. Then I visited Virginia and I knew this was it. It was the terrain. And down here there is more of a community,” he said.

There are no American foxhounds in Great Britain. However, Tony has become an extremely enthusiastic advocate for the American foxhound breed because of its superior nose, cry, and suitability to this country and climate.

He explained, “The American foxhound is a rather scarce breed. They are bred to hunt here. They can handle the local range

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Above: Tony Gammell has been KHC’s huntsman since 2000. Left: A new litter of American foxhounds. Opposite: The KHC clubhouse is rustic and filled with tradition. Nancy Wiley, Master of the Keswick Hounds, presents the club banner.

of temperatures far better than the hounds from England, who can’t handle the change in climate.”

“Personally, I think the American hounds are far more intelligent than the English hounds,” he chuckled, “and their voices are far deeper than English hounds. Here they need good booming voices with a far better cry, because in this countryside you often can’t see them. They’re out of view in the woods and hillsides, so you need to be able to hear them from a long way off.”

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ancy Wiley, third generation master of the Keswick Hounds said, “They (the American foxhounds) are more independent than English and cross-bred hounds. They work things out for themselves, and Tony encourages them to do this. They are perfect for the country we hunt.

“Tony has his unique way with the hounds, and other huntsmen have hounds specific to their territories. Our hounds do well in this terrain. Some hunts may be a little less athletic and require different hounds,” Nancy added.

Sally explained, “The theory of fox hunting is getting the pack to hunt the scent of a fox that might be a mile ahead. This is fine in FA LL | 2 0 1 5 | EQ U ES TRIA N Q UA RTERLY | 47

theory. But there might be two foxes, so how do you keep the hounds together? How do you keep them from chasing a deer or coyote instead? Some days a fox’s scents is different from on others. Tony may say ‘Tallyho’ (meaning a fox has been spotted), and the hounds look up as if to say ‘are you sure about this?’

Humidity and temperature are factors. We just don’t understand the impact of a fox’s scent.”

KHC tries for three or four litters a year and only breeds to the fifth generation. Sally noted, “We can go back in the breeding of American foxhounds as far as George Washington’s hounds. You are choosing the best of the best hunting dogs for many generations.”

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ccording to Tony, “The puppies begin training at 6 months, when we start legging up horses and hounds. We walk and then bike with the hounds in the summer. Then they start hunting in August when they are about 14 to 15 months old. We wait, because they are more mentally sound then.”

T H E F OX E S

Perhaps as well cared for as the hounds are the foxes. Sally explained, “We don’t ever want our foxes killed; we want to chase them! We work closely with the landowners to preserve the foxes’ natural habitat, and we do our best to help protect them from predators. During cubbing, we are essentially training the fox cubs how to get away from the hounds.”

THE HORSES

A good hunt horse is special as well. As a breeder Sally said, “I can find you 10 good show horses for every one good hunt horse.

These horses need to be strong, have stamina, be forgiving, and enjoy hunting.

“I find three-quarter Thoroughbreds to be best,” she adds. “Warmbloods may be popular

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in many disciplines now, but a hunt runs two to three hours, and that’s too much to ask of a Warmblood.”

T HE COMMU NIT Y

Hunting at Keswick is a family affair. Both Nancy’s and Tony’s sons began hunting with Keswick at 3 years old. Barclay Rives, Keswick’s whipper-in, noted author, and historian said, “You get people here that are 80, and some that are 6. You have people new to the sport and families that have done it for generations. It really is a strong community that forms. Plus hunting is a huge economic force in the community.”

Tony added, “After a hunt you can ask 50 riders what they liked about it and you’ll get 50 different answers.” Barclay chuckled, “Some people hunt because they fancy themselves in the clothes.”

Below: The luxury resor t Keswick Hall and Golf Club is directly across from the KHC. Tony Gammell often walks the hounds around the links. Resor t guests need only pat one of these pups on the head to be surrounded by a posse of them, who patiently await their turn.

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1. Sally Lamb, owner of Oakland Heights Farm and longtime member of KHC. 2.

Nancy Wiley, third generation master of the Keswick Hounds. 3. Noted author, and historian, Barclay Rives, is Keswick’s whipper-in. 4.Nancy Nagro with her hunt horse. 5-7. KHC members, Janet and Sumtner Pendergrast at their home.

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EQ T R A V E L

Montpelier THE HO ME O F JAMES AN D D O L L EY MAD IS O N .

COURTESY MONTPELIER , A NATIONAL TRUST HOSTORIC SITE

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COURTESY MONTPELIER C. W. MEDINGER

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ontpelier was once the home of James Madison, Thomas Jefferson’s secretary of state and a two-term president of the United States, and his wife, Dolley. Today, the sprawling Virginia estate offers visitors 2,650 acres of rolling hills, spacious horse pastures, and spectacular views of the Blue Ridge mountains.

William duPont Sr. bought Montpelier in January 1901. The duPont family owned the property until the death of his daughter, Marion duPont Scott in 1983, at which point Montpelier was donated to The National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Marion brought horses and the hunt to Montpelier. “Soon after we came to Montpelier, we were clamoring to have ponies,” Marion

DUPONT FAMILY SCRAPBOOK.

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1. A $25-million restoration in 2008 removed most of Montpelier’s duPont renovations and returned the home to its 1820 appearance. 2. The hounds before a hunt. 3. Assistant curator Grant Quer termous, standing next to a por trait of Marion duPont. 4. The Red Room is a restored ar t-deco room from the Marion duPont Scott era.

recalled later. “Father was for it. Mother was a little fussy, talking about how impractical it was—bowed legs and everything. Finally, we got the ponies.” They led to a lifelong interest in riding, showing, racing, and breeding horses.

In 1915 Marion raised eyebrows as the first woman to win a Madison Square Garden show competition while riding astride, rather than sidesaddle. “I didn’t think it would cause so much commotion,” she later reflected. “I’m not so sure it created as much comment as some people now say it did.”

In 1934 Marion and her brother William founded the Montpelier Hunt Steeplechase Races, held annually each November. The jumps are natural hedges.

Montpelier is open to visitors except P. 97 Mondays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Hunt Speak Courtesty Keswick Hunt Club.

ALL ON

CUB

HIL L TOPPER S

All hounds in, present, and accounted for.

A young fox.

Those who follow the hounds on horseback or vehicle at a distance behind the regular field without jumping.

CUBBING AWAY

A fox has “gone away” when he has left the covert (cover). Hounds are “away” when they have left covert on the line of a fox.

BABBLE

To give tongue on scent other than fox, on no scent at all, or on a scent too faint to follow.

Early hunting before the formal season to benefit the young hounds and cubs.

DOUBLE

To blow a series of short sharp notes, or “double the horn.”

Signifies a fox is afoot.

Informal hunt attire.

Signaled by a vertically raised forearm; requires that you stop quickly where you are and quietly stand still. Riders should raise their own arm while stopping to alert riders behind them of the sudden stop.

DRAG/ DR AG HU N T HU N T SMAN

A fee paid by nonmembers for a day of hunting.

DRAW

L IN E

To search for a fox in the covert.

The trail of the fox.

CASTING

EARTH

L IT T ER

Instructing hounds to spread out in search of the fox.

A place where a fox goes to ground for protection, but usually a place where foxes live regularly—a den.

Young born of the same mother at the same time. In fox hunting it applies to whelps (puppies) or fox cubs.

A fox’s tail is always called a brush.

A staff member who trains the hounds, hunts the hounds, and controls them in the field.

CAPPING FEE

CHECK

An interruption of the run caused by hounds losing the line temporarily.

COLORS

1. Colors that distinguish the uniform of the hunt.

2. To be awarded colors is to be given the right, or honor, to wear a hunt club’s individual colors.

COOP

A wooden plank jump shaped like a triangle from the side, often built into a fenceline to allow the hunt to cross fenced pastures at a slightly lower height.

FIELD

The group riding to the hounds, excluding the master and staff.

MAR K

A hound “marks” when he indicates that a fox has gone to ground.

He stops at the earth, tries to dig his way in, and barks in a way different from its hunting voice.

“To go to ground” is to take shelter in a hole.

A warning cry given to correct the hounds.

RU N

Action after hounds find the line of a fox. This usually implies a gallop for the field.

SC ENT

The smell of the fox and the physical and chemical phenomena by which the smell gets from the fox’s footprints to the hounds nose.

Scent can be good or bad, meaning easy or difficult to follow.

It depends in general on the weather—dry, hot weather leaving less scent.

The joint masters, huntsmen, and whippers-in.

TA L LY H O

The master of the fox hunt (MFH). The person in command of the hunt in the field and the kennels.

Yelled by the staff member who views the fox. Can also be given by a member of the field if no staff views. Members of the field should be very careful to only tally-ho when they are certain they are viewing the hunted fox that the staff hasn’t seen.

MEET

TH RU STER

1. The assembling of the hunt.

2. The actual place where the hunters meet.

A member of the field who rides too close to the staff or hounds.

MAST ER GROUND

RATE

STA F F

FEATHER

A hound “feathers” when he indicates, by actions rather than voice, that he is on a line or near it.

RATC ATC H ER

HOL D HARD

1. Scent left by a fox.

2. A fox hunt in which hounds trace a man or an artificially laid scent line.

B RU S H

2. The location to which a whipper-in is sent to watch for a fox who might leave the covert.

HARK

1. “Please be quite and listen.”

2. Hounds rushing to a hound that has opened, or found a line.

C OV E RT

HEAD

(pronounced cover) A patch of woods or brush.

To head a fox is to cause it to turn from its planned direction of travel; every effort is made not to do this.

W H I P P ER- I N POINT

1. The straight-line distance made good in a run.

A staff member who assists the huntsmen in the control of the hounds.

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YU FAN THE HORSE WHISPERER

Cour tesy of Horsemanship Life magazine, China.

Yu Fan is one of the best and brightest sculptors to emerge in China since the 1960s. He has the innate ability to translate image into form and to use his art to depict myster y while captivating a modern spirit.

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Parceled Horse No. 1

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White Horse and Sailor No. 3.

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u Fan was born in Qingdao in the Shandong Province of China in 1966. He graduated from the department of sculpture of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 1992 and is currently a professor and deputy director of their sculpture department. His pieces represent the highest level of contemporary Chinese art. They are as alive as the historic Chinese sculptures of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, yet they are as solemn and mysterious as some religious sculptures.

There is a special bond between Yu Fan and horses. He began his creative work when he was a teenager, and horses continue to be the theme of several of his newer masterpieces. He reflects, “Both my son and I were born in the year of the horse, and the horse is an everlasting theme for me.”

Yu Fan’s early horse sculptures are literal interpretations of horses. Later in his career he added various human characteristics to his works, making the horse sculptures more vivid.

His works in the past two years exhibit more major changes. The new work connects his horse-themed pieces with abstract and mysterious religions. For this change, Yu Fan explained, “I am influenced by the Italian sculptor Marini. At the beginning of my career, I liked the appearance of horses. Later, I became interested in exploring the similarity between humans and horses. Now, I like the conformation of horses, which can be simplified to a four-legged bench.”

Yu Fan has created more than 10 horsethemed pieces since his first masterpiece, Genghis Khan on a Horse. When talking about the future, he does not have a set plan. “I am waiting for more inspiring horses to come to me, instead of me looking for them,” he smiled.

Ce Feng No. 1

E

arlier this year, readers were invited to nominate their favorites in various equestrian-centric categories. Asking readers for nominations ensures that less-known local favorites are included. From these nominees, we created a ballot for final voting.

THE 2015

EQ GOLD LIST

The votes have been tabu­lated, and we are pleased to present the second annual EQ Gold List. Some of the winners are the expected, and others are surprising. Whether you agree or disagree with the winning selections, we’re sure you’ll find the results interesting.

The nominations for the 2016 Gold List are now open. We invite you to nominate your favorites and let us know of any new categories you’d like us to include.

Visit: equestrianquarterly.com/16nominate FAV O R I T E C E L E B R I T Y E Q U E S T R I A N

EQ READERS SELECT THE BEST OF EQUESTRIAN LIFE.

KEVIN COSTNER 16% EQ readers always love our visits with celebrities, whether it’s a personal peek at a beloved star’s ranch or farm or finding out that a favorite actor has an unexpected love of riding. This year, voters chose KEVIN COSTNER as their favorite “horsey” celebrity. He and his wife Christine Baumgarten purchased a 10-acre ranch overlooking the sea in Santa Barbara, California, where Costner has been said to ride tractors and horses all day. We will try for an EQ visit! *T I E

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JESSICA SPRINGSTEEN 14% GEORGINA BLOOMBERG 11%* GLENN CLOSE 11%* Second place went to JESSICA SPRINGSTEEN, daughter of music legend, Bruce Springsteen. The past years have proven she has star power of her own, as she rises through the show circuit.

FAV O R I T E E Q U E S T R I A N S T Y L E RALPH LAUREN, a designer who has long mastered the art of seamlessly integrating equestrian style, motif, and equine-inspired embellishments into everyday street wear, has once again earned high praises from EQ readers. His evocative equestrian style encompasses the rich flavors and textures of rustic, western ranches, stately English manors, and exhilarating hunts with riders decked out in requisite tall boots and tweeds. The foundation of Ralph Lauren’s style is steeped in classic lines with modern twists, appealing to a wide range of enthusiasts.

Fashion-savvy Taylor Swift recently looked jaunty in Ralph Lauren jodhpurs. As street wear, they offered an effortless, modern form and looked as appropriate in town as they would at the barn. Whether it is a soothing palette of a cashmere sweater or the tactile pleasure of a brushed suede jacket, Ralph Lauren is always on trend without being trendy.

RALPH LAUREN HERMÈS

33%

27%

BARBOUR 25% ANIMO 8%

F A V O R I T E L E AT H E R G O O D S Expert craftsmanship, superior leathers, and a rich equestrian heritage dating back to 1880 are all incorporated into every HERMÈS leather product (left). Classic and durable with incomparable, timeless style, an Hermès bag— whether the renowned Birkin or a new edition reflecting the house’s equestrian tradition—assumes a prominent place among the finest handcrafted leather goods in the world.

OUGHTON LIMITED (right), another EQ readers favorite, epitomizes the best of chic country living. The line of bags, belts, and leather accessories are inspired by a life lived with horses and an aesthetic of timelessness over trend.

HERMÈS 5 5 % O U G H TO N 2 2 % RALPH LAUREN 11% S A D D L E R S U N I O N ( I TA LY ) 6 %

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FAV O R I T E H OT E L S ANITA RITENOUR/FLICKR

VEL TRA ITES R O V FA

THE 2015

EQ GOLD LIST

I N N AT S P A N I S H B AY, P E B B L E B E A C H , CALIFORNIA

Nestled among majestic Monterey pines, fronted by the world-famous Scottish-style golf course, and located on some of the most breathtaking coastline in the world, EQ readers 2015 favorite hotel is THE INN AT SPANISH BAY in Pebble Beach, California. Another readers favorite, set among the rugged Irish landscape on a scenic 450acre estate, BALLYNAHINCH CASTLE dates to 1756 and overlooks a salmon fishery on the Owenmore River. Favorite activities include exploring the islands, hiking, fishing, shooting, and, of course, riding the Connemara ponies or Irish Draft horses.

25%

B A L LY N A H I N C H C A S T L E H O T E L , CONNEMARA, IRELAND 14% DORCHESTER, LONDON 12%

F AV O R I T E R E S TA U R A N T S EQ READERS SELECT THE BEST OF EQUESTRIAN LIFE.

B R OT H E R S AT T H E R E D B A R N , S A N TA The Nichols brothers, Matt and Jeff, opened BROTHERS RESTAURANT AT THE RED BARN in 2013 in Santa Ynez,, California. Of course, being in the Central Coast wine country, the brothers specialize in local wines. Matt has curated a list of nearly 80 varieties—nearly all from Santa Barbara County—along with a selection of Champagne. He is also developing a comprehensive library of local wines that he has secured from a handful of local winemakers and friends for the Red Barn cellar.

I N T E R N AT I O N A L A I R L I N E

Y N E Z , C A L I F.

26%

D U D L E Y ’ S , L E X I N G T O N , K Y.

19%

S K U N K H O L L O W, H A R T L A N D , V T. 1 2 % B AC K S T R E E T S , W E L L I N G TO N , F L A . 8 %

DOMESTIC AIRLINE

V I R G I N AT L A N T I C 3 6 % E M I R AT E S

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22%

SOUTHWEST 27%

LUFTHANSA 21%

VIRGIN AMERICA 25%

SINGAPORE 11%

JETBLUE 11%

FAV O R I T E S H O W S A N D V E N U E S DRESSAGE For a second year, DRESSAGE AT DEVON is EQ readers favorite dressage event. It draws horses from around the globe to Pennsylvania each September for one of the highest-rated international dressage competitions and most complete breed shows outside Europe. With shops, cafes, and a variety of events, it’s a favorite show of competitors and visitors alike.

D R E S S A G E AT D E V O N

32%

D E L M A R , C A L I F. 2 6 % U . S . D R E S S A G E F I N A L S , K Y. 1 6 % W E L L I N G TO N G L O B A L , F L A . 1 3 %

EVENTING

R O L E X T H R E E - D AY, K Y.

75%

G A L W AY D O W N S , C A L I F . 1 3 % W E L L I N G TO N , F L A . 7 %

GEORGE KAMPER

B R O M O N T, Q U E B E C 4 %

Another repeat winner, and by a huge margin, is THE ROLEX THREE-DAY EVENT held at the Kentucky Horse Park. It is the only four-star, three-day event in the Americas. The competition level is equal to the Olympics, and only the upper echelon of competitors are to be found at this prestigious show. Each year, crowds flood the park to see riders take on the incredible course.

HUNTER/JUMPER 24%*

W E F, W E L L I N G TO N , F L A . 2 4 % * S P R U C E M E A D O W S , A L B E R TA 1 0 % A M E R I C A N G O L D C U P, N . Y. 8 % D E V O N , PA . 7 %

* TI E

Interestingly, this year’s two winners are, in many ways, opposites. The MENLO CHARITY HORSE SHOW is small, traditional, cozy, and on the West Coast.

It suppor ts the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. On the East Coast, Wellington, Florida’s WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL boasts a 500-acre, 12-week international extravaganza with over $8 million in prizes.

THE BOOK LLC

M E N L O, AT H E R TO N , C A L I F.

REINING

KENTUCKY REINING CUP 24% N AT I O N A L R E I N I N G B R E E D E R S CLASSIC, TX. 21% C AC T U S C L A S S I C , A R I Z . 1 0 %

Held in conjunction with the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the KENTUCKY REINING CUP is the crown jewel of the annual FEI reining schedule. The $120,000 competition offers the world’s most elite reining athletes and the industry’s best reining horses an opportunity to shine before large, educated crowds of reining fans as well as an international audience.

POLO

I N T E R N AT I O N A L P O L O C L U B , PA L M B E A C H , F L A . 3 0 % S A N TA B A R B A R A , C A L I F. 2 4 % B R I D G E H A M P T O N , N . Y. 1 2 % N E W P O R T, R . I . 8 % ALEX PACHECO

Palm Beach is a mecca for polo lovers and an area that draws players and enthusiasts from around the world. Winning as EQ readers favorite venue for a second year, the INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB PALM BEACH includes10-goal players and beloved locals in front of crowds of chic fans who enjoy the Florida sunshine and champagne while divot-stamping.

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T H E B E S T P L AC E S TO L I V E W I T H H O R S E S B E S T Y E A R - RO U N D

THE 2015

EQ GOLD LIST

BEST FOR SUMMERS

S A N TA Y N E Z , C A L I F. 2 6 %

W O O D S T O C K , V T. 2 4 %

L E X I N G T O N , K Y. 1 1 % *

L E X I N G T O N , K Y. 1 1 %

M I D D L E B U R G , VA . 1 1 % *

N O R T H S A L E M , N . Y. 9 %

W E L L I N G TO N , F L A . 5 %

T R YO N , N . C . 5 %

EQ READERS SELECT THE BEST OF

Flag is Up Farms, viewed from Pat and Monty Roberts’ living room.

Santa Ynez lavender field.

The SANTA YNEZ VALLEY is located in Santa Barbara County, California, and has about 20,000 residents living in several small villages, each with unique personalities. Solvang is a town that seems to have been lifted directly from Denmark; Los Olivos reminds one of the French countryside; and Santa Ynez has a cowboy vibe. Prominent in the area are over 70 Central Coast wineries and tasting rooms, a huge equine industry with 52 different breeds of horses, and tourism, which has increased greatly after the 2004 film Sideways was shot in the valley. *T I E

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ANITA RITENOUR/FLICKR

EQUESTRIAN LIFE.

Bridlewood Vineyard, Santa Ynez Residents work to keep the horse atmosphere alive.

It is home to Monty Roberts’ Flag Is Up Farms, River Edge Farm, and the nationally known Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center. The climate is perfect for both people and horses, with good weather year-round, which is one reason Santa Ynez is undoubtedly the top horse location in California, if not America.

Rounding out the list as best place to spend the summer is WOODSTOCK, Vermont, and the winter choice is WELLINGTON, Florida.

FA R M V E H I C L E S

AN BEA S TR AF BOI R WINTERS W E L L I N G TO N , F L A . 2 3 % S A N TA Y N E Z , C A L I F . 2 0 % S C OT T S DA L E , A R I Z . 1 1 % AIKEN, S.C. 8%

TRUCKS

TRAILERS

FORD 42%

4 - S TA R 3 5 %

CHEVY 29%

ELITE 28%

DODGE RAM 14%*

K I N G S TO N 1 6 %

GMC 14%*

PEGASUS 14%

Since 1984, 4-STAR has been a leader in manufacturing technologically advanced, custom-built gooseneck and bumper-pull horse trailers. 4-Star believes that every person is different, every load of stock is different, and therefore every trailer should be different.

For the second year, EQ readers preferred FORD trucks. Whether it’s the weight-saving aluminum F-150 or the Super Duty Turbo Diesel that delivers 860 lb.-ft. of torque and 440 horsepower, Ford has a truck to meet your farm’s towing and hauling needs. *T I E

ANIMAL RESCUES

Wellington, Florida DOGS

HORSES

DANNY & RON RESCUE 49%

CANTER 31%

L I T T L E P I N K S H E LT E R 2 4 %

M A K E R ’ S M A R K S E C R E TA R I AT

ASPCA 15%

CENTER 21%

BIG FLUFFY RESCUE 3%

D AY ’ S E N D 9 %

SE E PAGE 97 F O R I N F O R M AT I O N O N T HE SE R E SCU E S

Woodstock, Vermont

Second year Gold-List winner, DANNY AND RON’S RESCUE is famous among equestrians (and readers of EQ Barn Dogs) for its great work placing dogs of all breeds in homes around the country. Many famous equestrians find their dogs through the organization, which holds several charity events throughout the year.

The all-volunteer CANTER USA works with racing trainers/owners to market horses they want to retire, or Canter may rehab, retrain, and re-home the horse themselves. They post photos/video of the horses on the Canter website, and interested buyers contact the owner/trainer directly to buy the horse.

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FA S H I O N F O R C O M P E T I T I O N

THE 2015

EQ GOLD LIST

The iconic English breeches of TAILORED SPORTSMAN epitomize the classic equestrian style. Last year’s winner as well, the timeless quality of their fashion draws riders to Tailored Sportsman. Many EQ readers see it as the only choice when selecting some of the staples required for entering the show ring. Tailored Sportsman show shirts and other apparel incorporate a variety of new technologies and materials to keep riders comfortable while achieving the clean, well-turned-out look of a seasoned professional. Closely following are two other favorites of well-dressed equestrians, ARIAT and PIKEUR.

Pikeur

TA I L O R E D S P O R T S M A N 2 6 %

EQ READERS SELECT

A R I AT 2 4 % *

THE BEST OF

PIKEUR 24%*

EQUESTRIAN LIFE.

NOEL ASMAR 11% *T I E

Ariat

Tailored Sportsman

AA R LALB IBAONO T S T VOGEL

LUCCHESE

36%

DER DAU 20%

A R I AT 2 9 %

A R I AT 1 8 %

TO N Y L A M A 1 6 %

TUCCI/DEHNER 9%*

JUSTIN 13%

New York-based VOGEL CUSTOM BOOTS is a family company in its fourth generation of boot making. The repeat winner crafts a range of tall boots for all types of riding and different levels of formality.

Another repeat winner, LUCCHESE not only makes high-quality and beautifully detailed western boots, but they have, in a way, become an important part of American culture.

*T I E

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21%

W E S T E R N B O OT S

F A V O R I T E TA C K S H O P S

FAV O R I T E S A D D L E

CWD/DEVOUCOUX 23%*

CHARLES OWEN 29%

B E VA L S 2 2 %

HERMÈS 1 5 %

G PA 2 3 %

HADFIELDS 9%

BUTET 13%

SAMSHIELD 15%

STRAFFORD SADDLERY 8%

ALBION 6%

A N TA R E S 1 0 %

DOVER SADDLERY

36%

FAV O R I T E H E L M E T

It may not surprise many equestrians to learn that the majority of voters once again found DOVER SADDLERY to be their favorite tack shop, in large part due to the shop’s vast inventory of nearly every equestrian product imaginable. Dover not only sells a wide range of equestrian products of all types but also works closely with top riders to develop unique products for their own Dover brand. Because of their many retail shops and popular website, Dover has become a tool for virtually every equestrian.

This year’s voting for favorite saddle resulted in a tie between DEVOUCOUX and CWD (photo), two French brands that create high-quality saddles for many of today’s top riders. Both companies embrace innovation, constantly pushing saddlery technology forward.

Devoucoux’s D3D saddles are made with 3D scanners and the latest modeling software. CWD’s 2G saddle technology strives to improve the connection between horse and rider. Last year, readers were asked for their “dream saddle “and EQ readers chose H E R M È S .

Helmets are an important piece of equipment that could potentially save one’s life. The options of brands and styles have turned a once utilitarian choice into a purchase based on comfort and fashion. Our readers favored CHARLES OWEN helmets—hand-crafted in Wrexham, Great Britain, for over a century—with designs that are increasingly flattering and comfortable and materials that resist scuffs and dents while keeping riders safer than ever.

*T I E

FF II EE LL D D BB O OO OTT SS

PA D D O C K B O OT S

WEETT-W WEEAT ATH HEERR BBO OO OTT W

VOGEL 32%

A R I AT 6 2 %

DUB ARRY 32%

A R I AT 2 3 %

TUCCI 10%

HUNTER WELLIES 27%

DER DAU 9%

VOGEL 9%

L.L.BEAN 20%

TREDSTEP 8%

DUB ARRY 7%

DUBLIN 12%

VOGEL returns for another appearance on EQ’s Gold List with its field boots, which are of the same quality as their dress boots.

They are designed to conform to the foot and leg. The ribbed sole is unique and ensures that the foot remains securely in the stirrup iron.

Winning this category for a second year by a large margin, ARIAT makes boots that are stylish and comfortable. Ariat says that they build their boots for the sport, with the goal that their product “supports the highest level of perfomance possible.”

When the weather is bad, nothing improves your outlook better than a boot that protects you from the elements. Founded in the 1930s, second-time winner DUBARRY boots are famously built to withstand Ireland’s most extreme weather.

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COCO CHANEL I NSPI RE D B Y HOR SE S

COURTESY OF EQUISTYLE MAGAZINE, GERMANY

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T

here is no personality in the world of fashion surrounded by a greater aura of fascination, admiration, and awe than Coco Chanel. Giorgio Armani once called her the most elegant woman ever to live, but she was far more than just elegant. Her vision and courage revolutionized fashion and offered women, who at the time were particularly repressed socially, a new, fashionable self-confidence.

During her lifetime Gabrielle Chasnel was known as Coco Chanel. A pioneer of functional yet timeless women’s fashion, the French designer was like no other, instructing the direction of fashion during her lifetime and beyond. She dismissed the classic corset and in the 1920s invented the famous “little black dress,” which has endured as a mainstay of women's fashion. She shortened skirts to a scandalous length—just below the knee—and created airy pants that were accompanied by loose tops and short haircuts.

Her perfume Chanel No. 5 was also revolutionary. Today, more than 75 years after its appearance, it is still the best-selling fragrance in the world. We also owe the birth of fashion jewelry to Mademoiselle Chanel. She asserted her brand as a powerful force in the German women’s liberation movement, which strengthened the brand and enriched her legacy.

Recently, much attention has been given to the early years and inspiration of Coco Chanel through countless biographies, documentaries, and feature films dealing with the various influences on the unmistakable Chanel style.

Often, the service uniforms of World War II are identified as inspirations, but other aspects are sometimes overlooked, including one that is arguably the most important: equestrian style. The look that has accompanied horseback riding has influenced style and fashion through the ages. These timeless styles were 66 | EQ U E S T R I A N Q UA RT E RLY | FAL L | 2015

undoubtedly one of the greatest influences on Chanel’s iconic designs.

Like many successful women, Coco Chanel didn’t discover her passion for horses and riding until adulthood. Etienne Balsan, a horse breeder and polo player, introduced Coco to riding. For her trips to the stable, Chanel designed her own outfits and made use of many elements of men's clothing. One of these elements, driven by her desire to ride a horse comfortably, became a milestone in the history of women’s fashion: pants.

Although she came late to the world of horses, Chanel developed a great passion for equine sports, especially racing. Riding revealed to her that elegant clothing could also be comfortable and functional. The diamondshaped patterned jackets worn by grooms inspired the fashion designer to develop the

distinctive quilted pattern of the House of Chanel, which lends itself to many of their creations, from the famous 2.55 bag to the Chanel tweed jacket. The idea for her signature style came to Chanel after a visit to Le Cadre Noir: black, classical elegance inspired by the silhouettes of the horsemen at the famous French riding school.

While most people know little about the influence of riding on Chanel's ideas and creations, those within the House of Chanel are well aware. In 2013 the label launched a campaign for the Boy Bag, shot in Fontaine-Chaalis at the Ferme de la Chapelle and featuring a beautiful white horse with a flowing mane alongside model Alice Dellal sporting the latest classic bag. “The inspiration for the campaign is Chanel in her early years when she was living with Etienne Balsan who was breeding FA LL | 2 0 1 5 | EQ U ES TRIA N Q UA RTERLY | 67

horses. It was all about horses and riding, and she became a very good horsewoman,” explained designer Karl Lagerfeld.

Since the pioneering vision of Coco Chanel, the brand has grown into an empire with an annual turnover of more than $6 billion. But Coco Chanel’s legacy lives on not only in the dizzying sales figures. Today’s modern women owe much to Chanel for freedom of fashion, confidence, and comfort, as well as the sophisticated styles that have become the foundation of fashion.

CHANEL T HEN AN D N OW About 10 years after Coco Chanel’s death, the

baton was passed to German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, who is widely credited with the brand’s international success. In the 1980s, he helped modernize the slightly shopworn brand with somewhat unconventional interpretations of the Coco Chanel heritage, which successfully restored it to its former glory.

While Lagerfeld rehabilitated the brand’s reputation by modernizing it, he let the spirit of Chanel continue to live in his collections.

The Autumn/Winter 2015/16 collection is a tribute to Coco Chanel and her unmistakable style. The French Collection, quite deliberately very French in look, has reinterpreted Coco Chanel’s style icons. The collection includes the unmistakable Chanel quilting, simple tweed, and the little black dress. It is a truly successful fusion of tradition and modern.

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3

Designers of Timeless Fashion Three DISTINCTIVE WOMEN share their individual approaches to classic design.

BY RENEE SPURGE | LA SADDLERY From London to Los Angeles and as far south as Colombia, when it comes to style today’s equestrian woman is confident in her choices, attentive to her details, and always comfortably well dressed at the barn, at home, and on the go. Despite the cultural and social differences of life on three continents, the three designers presented here share a common vision: that the clothing we wear is an integral part of our lifestyle. Each designer has a fresh take on a classic look, and each tells the story of a poised and modern woman living life to its fullest while always looking effortlessly chic. The key elements of their individual aesthetics include premium-quality fabrics, impeccable tailoring, and feminine yet functional cuts.

K AT H E R I N E HOOKER

The woman who wears a Katherine Hooker jacket is a discerning woman who appreciates natural beauty, elegant tailoring, quality fabrics, and attention to design detail over brand names. Her confident and easy sense of style makes a day in the city as relaxed as an afternoon in the country. She knows how to look polished without looking too proper, and she conveys an effortless, head-to-toe individual style.

Hooker’s designs are known for their understated refinement and razor-sharp cuts. Her jackets are cut high under the arms to achieve a long, lean silhouette, and selecting the highestquality fabrics from the U.K. and Italy are key.

In summer, the finest raw silks, silk satins, and lightweight cottons are used to create her pieces, while in winter, British Isles wools and cashmeres feature alongside Hooker’s trademark tweed—the love of which has driven her to travel the globe in search of the very best for her tailored looks as well as her more structurally interesting designs.

1

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It is no wonder that Vogue magazine ranked Katherine’s timelessly chic hacking jacket a “No. 1 national treasure,” and that some of the best-dressed women in the world, including Kate Middleton and Taylor Swift, adore her tailored jackets. It is these qualities of Katherine Hooker’s customizable and ready-to-wear collections that make her clothing so appealing to equestrians and horse enthusiasts everywhere.

For Katherine, the love of horses and everything equestrian began at a young age. Her time growing up in Africa, as well as her daily orchard rides on her favorite dappled grey pony, Craig, have caused Katherine’s design aesthetic to be rooted in the natural beauty of the countryside. While her roots may have sprouted in the country, her signature style blossomed amid the vibrant streets of London, where she has built and manufactured her brand from the beginning.

Katherine is no stranger to working the horse-show circuit. Since 2005 she has fielded pop-up boutiques at nearly every horse show in the U.K. These shows are a bustling marketplace for every kind of vendor imaginable—her

neighbors might be selling designer scarves or ferrets. She literally began as a one-woman show, hauling her collection in a van and agonizing over every detail to ensure that each setup was a memorable shopping experience for her customers.

Katherine Hooker’s 2015 fall/winter collection recently popped up at one of the East Coast’s most prestigious horse events of the year, Pennsylvania’s Devon Horse Show and Country Fair. The riders and spectators who visited from all over the U.S. welcomed her classically tailored pieces. Katherine explains that her design aesthetic is a natural fit for such an esteemed horse show. While you won’t find a hunt coat or riding breech in her collection anytime soon, she believes that people who are involved in the equestrian world—regardless if they are in the saddle or watching from the stands—will be satisfied with what her unique collection has to offer.

The collection is available online, in the London shop, and at various pop-up events and trunk shows in New York and throughout the United States.

The Cass Jacket includes a classic shape with a tab detail on the collar, elbow patches, and a ticket pocket.

The Hendre Jacket features a slightly longer style that is fitted at the waist and flares towards the hips. Details include reversible cuff bands and a small, waist-belt at the back.

The double-breasted Milan Coat features a generous collar, an easy, three-quarter length, back button-vent detailing, and an adjustable belt that adds an interesting yet functional twist.

The Patmos Jacket is a fitted, comfortable jacket with a flattering longer length. An upright collar and prominent button detailing on the cuffs add polish.

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The Modern Show Coat in black.

Paired with hidden full-seat Classic Breech in gold.

CARISA RENE | JJ ET MOI Women know the importance of buying that dress, the dress that will turn heads.

Several years ago, and eight dresses later, I stumbled across the perfect slinky-lace dress in Nightcap Clothing, a bohochic shop in Venice, California. Little did I know that the designer, Carisa Rene, was not only an avid equestrian but also happened to be one of my LA Saddlery customers. We became instant friends and shared advocates for true equestrian fashion. After years of begging her to design an equestrian collection, I am thrilled to introduce the exclusive sneak peek at JJ et Moi. – R. Spurge

2

How would you describe your design aesthetic, and how did you incorporate that into your equestrian line?

My design aesthetic is based on classic silhouettes with a modern twist. For my equestrian line, I was inspired to recreate a 1970s equestrian-jumper coat from my mom’s closet. I took design elements from this, added my own trim details, and changed the fit. I was inspired to design a classic but timeless jumper coat that would stand out from everything else. I'm a rider and I know the importance of being comfortable, so I sought out specialty luxury knits from Japan that have a lot of give but still keep their shape and elevated aesthetic.

How should someone feel when wearing your equestrian clothes?

Riders should feel confident and comfortable.

The name of my equestrian line comes from my first show horse, JJ and Me. He was an offthe-track horse that my grandfather purchased for $1,000. With the help of my trainers, JJ became a winner in the hunter and equitation show rings. His show name was Just my Luck, and my hope is that riders wearing JJ et Moi will have a bit of his spirit of good luck on their side, as I did whenever I rode him.

Which key design elements do you consider essential to your new line?

On my show coat I consider the shoulder patch—a little motorcycle jacket detail— a signature element. This gives the coat such an interesting contrast and dimension that I plan to expand it in my collections. My colors are classy but also have a 1970s appeal. I am very into rusts, gold, and brown at the moment, especially in tall boots. I specifically chose my palette for this collection because I felt there 72 | E Q U E S T R I A N Q UA RT E RLY | FAL L | 2015

was a lack of riding-apparel choices to pair with these colors. I worked very hard on my riding pant to get the perfect hidden, full-seat breech.

The full-seat breech, although functional is not always flattering, and that is what I wanted to change. I am using top-of-the-line Shoeller fabrics for my breeches and plan to expand into other luxury Italian fabrics specific to sport and equestrian apparel.

What equestrian brands have you worn in the past and how, if at all, did they inspire your equestrian line?

I have worn Tailored Sportsman breeches over the years, which I find to be a classic riding pant. I love Animo for their grip-system breech and also have items from Pikeur that I love to ride in for everyday. There are elements to all of these lines that I like, but I am also a fan of a classic Ralph Lauren look. I definitely do not like rhinestones and glitz. So my equestrian line is a new take on my point of view, combining my love for both fashion and riding.

When I’m not designing fashion, I am...

Playing with my two kids, riding of course, or traveling.

I feel most relaxed when I’m wearing...

Riding clothes.

The Cap-sleeve Show Shirt in crisp white.

The Modern Show Coat shown in merlot.

Paired with hidden full-seat Classic Breech in gold.

C A R I N RO N NER | RONNER A creator of equestrian lifestyle fashion at its best, South American designer Carin Ronner opens up about the inspiration and design choices for their exciting new Carmen Collection. – R. Spurge

3

How would you describe the Ronner woman?

Our designs always focus on being classic and timeless. The Ronner woman is comfortable yet stylish and, of course, effortless in her grace.

We want women to feel feminine and unique, regardless if they are at the farm picking vegetables for dinner or riding their horse in the dressage arena. They are polished, sophisticated, and always distinguished.

What can we expect from the Carmen Collection?

In this collection, we focused on vibrant equestrian prints and incorporated little reminders of the love for equestrian style, such as the bamboo-bit detail on the Penelope jacket.

What other brands inspire you?

I am definitely into lifestyle brands like Joules, Carolina Herrera, and Hunter wellies. All these brands allude to a certain lifestyle, whether it is the English countryside or a very glamorous polo match. They don’t just sell clothing, they sell a specific idea, a certain way of life.

Our inspiration is exactly that: a certain way of living, where it's effortless and active but still sophisticated, unique, and classy.

When I’m not designing fashion, I am…

Like a sponge. I look for inspiration everywhere I go. It can be a conversation, a piece of art, a special dish, recipe, or concert. I enjoy reading about history, study piano, and, of course, I love to ride. I try to go twice a week. I travel as much as I can and I am definitely a foodie!

I feel most relaxed when I’m wearing…

Dresses. I think dresses are the most flattering and comfortable pieces. Unfortunately, Bogota is too cold for lovely summer dresses, so I opt for jeans, Ronner boots, and one of our Elena shirts. I always feel well dressed but versatile and ready to accomplish all my activities during the day, whether it is a lunch meeting or a stroll PAGE 97 in the paddock with my horse.

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Lorenza Blazer in grey wool with burgundy suede patches. Shown with Lucia Blouse in neutral horse harvest.

Elena Shirt in blue and burgundy horse porcelain. Mini-horse print on inner cuffs. All cotton.

Eulalia Cardigan in baby alpaca. Shown with Soraya suedeleather skirt in camel.

Margarita Blouse in cotton stretch with embroidered bit on shirtfront. Blue and white bit print on inner cuffs.

Virginia Blouse in printed rayon in gray horse-harvest print.

Shown with alpaca Pati Scarf in mini-bit print.

TODD STERNFELD A COWBOY WHO HAS A WAY WITH HORSES AND CONCRETE.

T

he love for horses started early for Todd Sternfeld, owner and CEO of Superior Concrete Products. A cowboy at heart, Sternfeld spent his childhood watching vintage TV classics such as The Lone Ranger, The Roy Rogers Show, and Bonanza. To mimic his early heroes, Todd began riding horses at a young age, and when he started his own business, it wasn’t surprising that he moved to the state where the West begins—Texas.

With roots in the landscaping business, Sternfeld ventured into an area of construction that those early cowboys and ranchers didn’t take kindly to—fencing. But sentiments have changed since wars were fought over fencing the plains, and fences have since evolved from old-fashioned wood, metal, and masonry.

Today, Sternfeld believes good fences make good neighbors, and anyone in the farm, equestrian, or ranching business agrees. A sturdy fence is essential for anyone that owns acreage, especially if they raise horses and livestock.

In fact, the best, most sturdy, attractive, and long-lasting fence is made of a surprising and time-tested material—concrete. Where wood, masonry, galvanized wire, iron or vinyl rots, rusts, or breaks down over time, concrete endures anything that the elements, man, or beast can dish out.

B OT H S T RO NG AND BEAUTIFUL

“All of Superior Concrete’s products are as strong as they are beautiful, regardless of whether they are solid panel fences that look like cedar board-on-board, brick, stone, or the rail fence that is popular with ranchers,” said Sternfeld. “Horse and ranch owners envy our rail fences because with concrete, the look and feel of wooden rails and posts can be duplicated while eliminating all of the maintenance

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Todd Sternfeld and his concrete fence product that will last a lifetime.

“MOST PEOPLE DON’T BELIEVE IT IS CONCRETE UNTIL THEY REACH OUT AND TOUCH THE FENCE.”

problems associated with timber or other traditional fence products. In fact, most people don’t believe it is concrete until they reach out and touch the fence.”

CONCRETE WAYS OF GIVING BACK

I

M O R E T H A N FENCING

P

recast concrete can be used for more than fencing. Its energy-efficient characteristics make it a natural insulator, which is an ideal building product for homes, stables, barns, and other structures. It can be designed in an endless array of sizes, shapes, and finishes to meet the needs of home, residential developers, businesses, and ranch owners.

Customization is key—concrete buildings can be luxurious or rugged, depending on the preferences of the owner.

There are worries about termites, rot, rust, fire, or other problems associated with conventional building materials. A concrete structure is unbeatable for strength and durability— whether it be a fence or house, it is designed to last a lifetime or longer.

To showcase the versatility of his products, Sternfeld is putting the finishing touches on a rustic ranch house in Texas. At just over 600 square-feet, the concrete ranch house has all of the design features of a larger home or cabin.

Below: The ranch house Sternfeld created on his proper ty in Cleburne, Texas, using concrete products.

n the 30 years since moving to Texas, Sternfeld’s successful business enables him to help others. With a soft spot for those with special needs, Todd is chairman of the Victory Therapy Center, a Texas-based nonprofit that provides equine therapy for children and adults with health and emotional challenges. He is also putting the final touches on an animal shelter for Diamond Ranch Academy in honor of his daughter, Sydney.

Sydney’s Shelter—a large concrete building—will protect those pets from the heat and cold of the southern Utah desert while giving students with special needs the opportunity to learn empathy skills by working with animals in the therapy program.

Much like John Wayne in True Grit and the other heroes of those classic TV westerns, Sternfeld is one cowboy that wears a white hat when using his talent for building fences and other structures to help others, and make the world a better place. Today, his mission is to travel the world to prove that precast concrete is the superior building product for homes, businesses, farms and ranches.

Visit: www.concretefence.com

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9-0-2-1-WHOA C A SA LAGO, A 50-ACRE P OLO FARM—HOME TO 2 0 HORSES , 2 DOG S , A GOAT, A L AMB , 6 0 CHICKENS , AND EV EN A F EW TURKEYS —IS IN AN UN LIK ELY L OC ATION: BE VE RLY HILLS .

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W

hen EQ was preparing the article “Polo in America,” we met Deborah and Larry Deutsch and their four children, who make up their own Casa Lago polo team. The team began in 2009 when the children were young—Jacob was 14, Estée 13, Xander 12, and Jonah 10.

It was an activity that bonded them as a family and taught the chilContinued on page 84 dren sportsmanship, leadership, and patience.

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Deborah, top left, integrated the Casa Lago logo into the home’s design in numerous subtle ways, such as carved doors, window mullions, (right) and balcony railings (following page).

THE CASA LAGO POLO TEAM Below, center: The team photographed in 2013 by George Kamper at the Empire Polo Club, (bottom right, from left) Jonah, Jacob, parents Deborah and Larry, Estée, and Xander. Jacob, 20, played intercollegiate polo for Colorado State University and works in television production in Los Angeles. He trains young polo players at Casa Lago and is also the proprietor of Uncle Jake’s Petting Zoo, which brings animals to children’s parties.

Estée, 19, rides on the equestrian team at American University. Xander, 18, is starting freshman year and playing intercollegiate polo at the University of Kentucky this fall. He captained the Eldorado Polo interscholastic team during high school to the national championships both years. Jonah, 16, is entering junior year of high school, plans to play interscholastic polo, and continues to succeed at the national level in judo and SAMBO.

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The inviting, airy living room is a rich blend of furnishings, artwork, awards, and family photographs. Clusters of orchids ornament rooms throughout the house.

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Continued from page 79

“They have to share responsibilities and rely on each other in polo. It has really built a beautiful closeness among the four of them,” Deborah told EQ at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in 2013.

Larry, a real estate developer in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, started riding at 16 when his family bought a cattle ranch in the central coast region of California. He was the only one in his family to ride horses and began lessons in dressage and three-day eventing. After he bought a horse who had an aptitude for jumping, Larry moved swiftly into the showjumping world, where he would stay for many years. eborah started riding in Connecticut as a young girl and showed hunter/ jumpers. After moving to Los Angeles, she bought a western Quarter Horse and competed in team penning at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. When Larry and Deborah met, she recalls, “We both had horses and were both competing in our own disciplines.

We went riding together on our second date.

D

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(Above) The children’s treehouse, complete with a working bath.

(Opposite) On the hill overlooking the house is an arena and barns, complete with horses, chickens, sheep, and a goat.

day, the children are spread out all over, but they maintain the sibling closeness they’ve had since they were young. They travel frequently to be together and call each other for every little thing.”

CASA LAGO

When we had the children, we put them on the horses before they could walk! The children took riding lessons and were jumping small jumps from a young age. They were already fairly skilled riders when we discovered polo as a wonderful family-oriented sport.”

“Polo is really all about the families,” says Deborah. “In polo, everyone knows and supports each other’s kids, down to the little kids in the peewee polo classes, where the parents lead the children’s ponies around after a giant ball,” she says. “Even some of the 10-goal pros are out there with the kids.

“Because they were a team, they did everything together. No matter how busy we were we always made it a point to sit down for both breakfast and dinner together as a family. To-

When EQ learned that the Deutsch family lived on a 50-acre polo farm—actually in Beverly Hills—we needed to visit. Casa Lago is the largest developed property within the city limits, and a real farm it is. It’s home to 20 horses, 2 dogs, a goat, a lamb, 60 chickens, and even a few turkeys.

Larry and Deborah worked very closely with the architect, Robert Newlon, when creating the 30,000-square-foot home. The interiors and amazing woodwork were created

by Deborah together with her friend and designer, Doris Palmer. They have incorporated Casa Lago’s team logo throughout, from the window mullions to the woodwork to the garden designs.

One thing is certain: it is unexpected that such a vast estate—­in Beverly Hills, no less—is an extraordinarily warm and cozy family home.

AN ARTIST WITH A PASSION: THE HORSES OF ICELAND Cour tesy of Horsemanship Life magazine, China.

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G

IGJA EINARSDOTTIR

is not just an equine photographer by profession. Her life is intimately associated with horses, and photographing them is her passion.

Growing up on a farm in Iceland, Gigja learned to ride at a young age and found herself captivated by the mystique and beauty of horses, so much so that she would secretly take her father’s camera and photograph them

along the beach. “I would finish the entire roll of film,” she says, “and when he developed the pictures, he gave me this curious look.”

From then on, Gigja sought to capture horses with her camera whenever she could, on long walks or in nearby pastures where she began experimenting with the artistic side of photography.

She became increasingly aware of their behavior as individuals and their interaction in herds. As a photographer, Gigja says it’s

extremely important to be sensitive to their personalities, “Horses are very instinctive,” she says, “but also curious”.

Understanding their temperament as well as idiosyncrasies allows Gigja to capture them at their most expressive during a photo shoot. Gigja says that not every shoot is perfect; sometimes she is lucky and sometimes not. “But great light, a good eye, and a creative mind work well together,” she says.

www.gigjaeinars.com www.facebook.com/gigjaeinars

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PHOTO: ALDEN CORRIGAN PHOTO: MCCOOL PHOTOGRAPHY

SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW CSI-W3* | September 22-27 | Sacramento, CA

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IT’S COMING.

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EQ B A R N D O G S

Mighty With his sock monkey nearby, LAINIE WIMBERLY’S Jack Russell is a horse-show icon.

I

wasn’t looking for a puppy after 20 years with my first dog, but one day, showing at Old Salem Farm, I couldn’t resist peeking at a Jack Russell litter.

Every puppy came forward to greet me, except for one who stayed in the back, observing.

It’s been 14 years since I brought that puppy home and named him Mighty. When he was young, I would tuck him into my jacket and zipper him in. He was constantly close to my heart and never alone, so now he is usually trotting behind my paddock boots everywhere.

He’s my constant companion, traveling with me to horse shows, the shooting range, or flyfishing. He even waits outside the door when I’m in the bathroom.

Mighty is with me so often that some restaurant owners even know him and allow him to dine with me. He loves to jump right up on the seat and share my meal, though he can be a bit picky with human food. For instance, he will eat bacon only if it’s extra crispy, and he prefers French bread to the Italian kind. I think he’s quite selective with his choices.

Through the years we’ve had lots of fun and learned some tricks. When he was a puppy, I used to bring him up on a horse with me. I’d hold him in one arm and the reins in the other as we went around the ring. I’ve also taught him to ride on his own; he stands on the saddle

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and I lead the horse around. He loves to be my duet partner, howling out a tune in response to my sing-song “good morning.”

Mighty has also become famous around the horse shows for his sock monkey toy, which he carries around with him all the time. It was a childhood toy of mine growing up. When Mighty met Sock Monkey at my mom’s house, they became steadfast friends. The toy has been part of the Wimberly family for several generations. Now, the pair are known to show up around horse shows throughout the season and in various odd places.

Mighty still has the laid back attitude from when I first met him. He’s a very loyal dog and very trusting of me. He is completely comfortable when I bathe him in the kitchen sink or trim his nails rather than taking him to the groomer. It’s such a wonderful feeling to experience this kind of love and trust.

Mighty is more than just my dog. He’s my fishing buddy, my duet partner, my dining companion, and my best friend.

Top: Lainie and Mighty Above: Mighty with his famous sock monkey.

Lainie Wimberly is owner and head trainer at Brigadoon Show Stables in North Salem, New York.

She began riding at age 9 and at 11 was the youngest rider at the time to qualify for the Maclay Finals at the National Horse Show. After many years as a renowned junior rider, she opened Brigadoon in 1987.

Almost 30 years later, Wimberly is one of the premier hunter trainers in the country, earning her reputation for developing young horses into champions.

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