Life on the Farm: Hunting Highlights

The hunting season ended recently. I went out three times this year, which is once more than I did last year. The truth is that I am just barely good enough to keep up with the field. Having only regularly ridden horses as an adult, I really don't have the confidence to gallop full speed across 6 fields in one go, jump massive hedges and gates, and navigate my horse amongst the dozens of others surrounding me. Plus, I like to stay close to Christopher and Coco, but I also don't like to feel that I'm holding them back, as they prefer to jump everything and keep a faster pace. Despite the excitement I feel at the meet, two hours in I inevitably ask myself, "What the hell am I doing here?" If I am not worn out physically by then, I am usually exhausted mentally and emotionally. I often ask myself how the 70-year-olds easily carry on for hours after I have made the turn back for my horse box, and I think it comes down to adrenaline. Two hours of vein-pumping adrenaline is exhausting. I think the oldies have the experience to just let their horses take them along, not fighting to slow down or avoid jumps that look too big. Maybe when I reach that age, I will finally be able to just enjoy the ride.

But for now I just love going to the hunting meets on foot. People may have complicated feelings about the hunt and the people that enjoy it, but to me it represents a community-wide ritual with a history and authenticity that I have rarely seen in my life. I love the eccentric characters, the adorable and enthusiastic hounds, the beautifully groomed horses, the impeccable manners with which you are greeted, and of course, the clothes. The clothes are beyond chic. You rarely see anyone wearing anything new. Most of the boots, breeches, jackets, stock pins, and hunting caps are old and worn, likely passed down through generations, but still entirely elegant. The riders themselves also have stunning posture when sitting on a horse, looking far more glamourous than they do standing on the ground. Although it is my ambition to hunt more with each season, for now I am equally happy to be an observer capturing this incredible scene with my camera.

The huntsman greeting the field at the meet.

Sometimes a young hound gets distracted and subsequently separated from the pack. 

An early morning start during the cubbing season.

My favourite moment of the season. The beautiful girl in her bowler hat riding side saddle is too good to be true. (Photo by Christopher)

A fieldmaster coming through our farm late one day. When I am in my office writing I can often hear the hounds yelping in the distance. I first shut Ginger inside, even though it kills her to be excluded. She starts howling like a coyote at the sound of the pack approaching. Then I walk down to the fields, opening the gates to make it easier for field to pass through. Watching them all ride through our "backyard" is breathtaking.

Setting off from the meet.

Navigating the farm land.

These men have obviously spend some time on the ground on this particularly muddy day. (Photo by Christopher)

Christopher riding to a cubbing meet.

Me on Polo at my third and final meet of the season.

The morning light and the slower pace makes cubbing way more my speed.

You can always tell Matt by his top hat. He gets my vote for best dressed every time.

Taking a breather in the sun.

Christopher on his new horse Sylvie. Isn't she pretty?

Matt again. I love how his waistcoat peaks out from under his jacket. And he wears these fleece-y wool jersey breeches that are very chic. 

The hounds having a well-deserved rest at the end of the day.

I ♥ Your Country Style: Amanda Harlech

We've all seen and admired Amanda Harlech in her Chanel. As Karl Lagerfeld's muse, we see her at every Chanel event wearing the most enviable dress with her hair just messy enough to be cool but still look chic. For the most part, this is her Paris life where she spends her professional time. But what really intrigues me is her England life, her private world that she has graciously shared with us through Vogue, Vogue Living, etc over the years. Further research offered up a more candid side of Amanda's highly personal life and style. It's obvious that at her core, she is truly very English - loving horses and whippets and AGAs and blankets draped over a sofa. Her look is traditional with a slash of the bold and extreme. If only we all looked so good in plaid!

Life on the Farm: Miss Coco B in Teen Vogue

Coco is my twelve year old. It was always her dream to live on our farm in England - to spend her free time outside and be surrounded by horses. Fulfilling that dream in the last year and a half has arguably been the highlight of her life so far. The paternal side of Coco's family is known for their dedication to horses and Coco clearly inherited that gene. When she was just a year and a half old, we spent Christmas here in England and every morning she ran to the window pointing at the horses in the field and yelling "hotchy! hotchy!" (baby speak for horsey), not relenting until we took her outside to visit them. At age two, she started riding lessons and she has never since wavered in her love of sitting on a horse. She has taken endless lessons on difficult ponies inside dreary barns on Long Island, spent entire days riding around our farm exploring new trails on her own beloved pony Polo, and made damn sure she was here in England for a week of pony club camp in the middle of every summer. Not once has she said, "I don't feel like riding today". As a mom, it feels like such a gift to watch my child devote herself to something so completely, to witness dedicated passion from such a young girl. In the last few years, I have noticed an evolution in Coco's character when she is on a horse - she shows a sense of self-assurance and maturity, a quiet inner confidence that only reveals itself when she is riding. Sometimes it makes me teary to watch because I feel so proud of her.

A few months ago, my close friend Amy Astley, who is also the editor of Teen Vogue, called to ask if she could send a photographer to take a picture of Coco on the farm for their "Snapshot" page in the magazine. Amy had seen our treehouse on Instagram and she thought it would be the perfect backdrop for Coco's portrait. We agreed. But when Sean Thomas, the photographer, arrived on the day and started to ask Coco about herself, her passion for riding became obvious to him. After completing the shot in the treehouse, Sean asked if her could take one of Coco on her horse Polo. Coco was of course delighted to oblige. Predictably, I got an email from Amy days later saying that the picture of Coco on Polo far outshone the others. When I saw the photograph, I could see why. Sean had captured that thing about Coco that happens when she gets on a horse - that transformation from everyday twelve year old girl to empowered female heroine in control her massive beast. Never has she looked more beautiful.