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Since 1843, the Prix de Diane has taken place on the beautiful racing ground of Chantilly, at about 40 km North of Paris. It was built on his own estate by the Duc d'Aumale several years earlier and is located between the forest, the "Grand Stables" - grand because in the 18th century, the Prince de Condé, the owner of the place, believed he would be reincarnated as a horse, therefore he built stables up to his standard - and the palace of the Princes de Condé.
Every second Sunday of June since 1983, Hermes, a luxury leather and fashion manufacturer has sponsored the meeting with a view to celebrating elegance and the equestrian traditions of a country each year different. For this occasion, the ladies wear the most original, if not the most extravagant hats.
This year, Poland was invited and the guest of honor was Mrs Kwasniewska.
Mrs Karolina Wajda imagined an equestrian scenography reproducing several scenes from the painter Juliusz Kossak and wedding processions from the Krakow region.
A typical Polish village (according to the French standards), was built on the lawn facing the grand stand. There, you could have lunch in a Krakovian restaurant or choose to picnic in style with fine china , crystal glasses and champagne, entertained by the music of Chopin and the Warsaw Wind Orchestra.
Mrs Wajda had all the scenes introduced by four amazons each time in different habits. They led the Jewish and Krakovian weddings dressed in the traditional outfit; then, looking more pugnacious, they preceded the charge of the Hussards which thrilled the audience who just discovered them and their history. It was really impressive.
Yet, there was no time to rest or stroll in the village since the scenes alternated with the races - and they don't last long! The poor amazons had very little time to change costumes for next came the hunting party with the hounds and the hawk.
We could also admire the cute little hucul horses ridden by very young children coming straight from their native village.
Eventually, Jola Lipka, the dynamic president of our association had the honor to lead the parade of the three-year-old fillies that were to race the Prix de Diane Hermes.in front of an audience of about 2000 Hermes' guests and more or less 30 000 aficionados of the races. This race is all the more popular as the prize for the winner is 500 000 euro!
As for me, since I live in France, it was impossible to rehearse with the other riders so Mrs Wajda asked me to give a dressage presentation. As I already had a costume made after a painting from Kossak, I chose to ride on the Polonaise in A dür from Chopin.
It was an unforgettable day and the audience was enthusiastic. They admired the beauty and diversity of the different scenes that definitely made them understand better the Polish culture and equestrian tradition. We have been told by the French organizers - and being used to attending the Prix de Diabe Hermes every year, I fully agree - that it was one of the best shows ever. I think Mrs Wajda has done a fantastic job and we must all thoroughly thank her for having highlighted the elegance of side saddle riding as well as the revival it seems to be having lately, what with this winter's exhibition in Warsaw and the pas-de-deux that Jola Lipka was invited to display at the World Junior Championships in May in Zakrzow.
And where else could the elegance of the amazon have shown better than at the Prix de Diane Hermes for which Hermes"s motto is 'Let elegance reign!'.
text: Marie-Catherine Marusarz
photo: Andrzej Klimczuk
polska wersja
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