By Alejandra Ocampo

 “This was my first time at La Rural, I always watch it online but it was amazing to see it in person. I was very impressed not only with the quantity of horses but also the quality”.

From successful polo player to even more successful polo horses breeder; that’s what’s Charlie Hanbury’s about. His Lovelocks breeding has been growing and improving a great deal every year, to the extent that, today, Lovelocks is among one of the better horsebreedings within the polo community; actually, there are Lovelocks horses playing all in major tournaments all over the world, and winning rugs, having reached the peak last year, as Chalie points, “unbelievable, we won 7 rugs and had 5, nominations including the BPP in Hurlingham and Palermo. We were the breed with the most rugs in the Triple Crown, an achievement I was incredibly proud of, as we are only a small breed competing against the biggest breeders in the world. Lovelocks Drogba became the third horse in history to win the BPP in all three Triple Crown tournaments. Honestly it was a life time goal for me so to have actually achieved it is mind blowing, let alone to do it with the same mare”

Recently, Charlie Hanbury came to Argentina, to attend the prestigious La Rural exhibition, for the first time ever, a spot where most of the best polo players present their breedings. As he stated before, he was very impressed. “Lovelocks brought one, Lovelocks Frank (Open El Padrino x Fina Chelsea) We now co-own him with La Dolfina. He’s a very exciting prospect as a stallion and also a polo pony. He will cover his first mares this season”, explains Charlie.

What were your feelings about watching by yourself the Lovelocks horses on the track of the prestigious La Rural?

Lovelocks have presented many horses over the years and it’s always nice to see them there. I feel that is a great part of the polo calendar and it seems to get bigger and the level of horses better every year.  I am very lucky to have an incredible team that work so hard from the minute each foal is born to make sure it has the ability to reach its full potential. Their hard work has made my dream come true, I’m incredibly thankful.

Moreover, and after experiencing La Rural for the first time, Charlie Hanbury was able to see first hand the job made by the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Association, a remarkable job, indeed, to spread the polo horses and the Raza Polo Argentino around the world. On the subject, Charlie had nothing else but high praise: “Honestly I think the Association is doing an incredible job. Santiago (NR: Santiago Ballester, President of the Association) and his team are raising the bar each year. They have set a model that the rest of the world need to follow. Lovelocks are huge supporters and have been registering our horses since we started”. And adds, enthusiastically: “Their new app has revolutionised polo breeding and now everyone is able to see all the information and make decisions for themselves from which stallions to use to which crosses have the highest success rates, even my children have the app and study the bloodlines!”

While at La Rural, Charlie was presented with an special award by the Association, the Premio a la Trayectoria, for his contribution to polo horse breeding, an award that makes him very proud indeed. “I feel incredibly honoured to have been given this award”, says a happy Charlie, who also emphasizes the work of the team of people who are commited to contribute to the growth and improvement of the Lovelocks breeding; “It is not only a recognition for me personally, but for everyone at Lovelocks that works so hard to achieve results on a daily basis”

What are Lovelocks plans for the near future, especially for the upcoming Triple Crown?

I have invested in some mares with new bloodlines and also bought a couple of stallions that I hope will help strengthen the breed, we have some very exciting foals due this year which I can not wait to see.

Lovelocks will have a number of horses playing in the Triple Crown, I am particularly excited about Lovelocks Hazard that Barto plays, she is the full sister to Drogba but is only 8 years old, she has a huge future ahead of her. Hopefully we can see her winning some more prizes like her sister.

Cover photo courtesy Charlie Hanbury.