Hats & Horses prepares its landing in Barcelona. For one day, the facilities of the Real Club de Polo will be filled with glamour in a recreational-sporting event in the purest Ascot style, one of England's tourist icons. Cocktail dresses, hats, daring headpieces and fascinators will parade through the Polo on Saturday, June 19, coinciding with the celebration of the CSI 2* international show jumping competition.
Currently, health regulations and restrictions imposed to face the coronavirus prevent the celebration of this type of event, but the organizers of Hats & Horses trust that by June the measures will have relaxed and a certain normality can be recovered, also driven by the progress of population vaccination. While waiting for a change in the legal framework, Hats & Horses is already working to have everything ready so that Barcelona can enjoy this unique event, which combines hats and horses in the purest British style. 100% of the day will take place outdoors and the stipulated capacity measures will be adopted, as well as other safety requirements, such as mandatory use of masks, hydroalcoholic gel, temperature control and even tests if recommended.
The first edition of Hats & Horses was held in Menorca in 2018 with the aim of bringing together, in a relaxed and festive gathering, equestrian enthusiasts, both residents of the island ---where there is a deeply rooted culture linked to horses--- and tourists. That first edition of Hats & Horses, held in Mahón, gathered about a thousand people, which encouraged the entrepreneur leading the event to hold other editions in Ciutadella and also in Palma de Mallorca.
For the weekend of May 28 and 29, a new Hats & Horses is planned at the Ciutadella racetrack and, less than a month later, the event wants to settle in the Catalan capital, adapting it to all the prevention measures required by the health authorities.
"Barcelona needs an event like Hats & Horses; we want to help the city with an event that in the future wants to consolidate itself as a spring tourist attraction and that combines the world of equestrianism and sport with gastronomy and local commerce," explains Ariadna Vilalta, founder and alma mater of Hats & Horses. The Catalan entrepreneur, dedicated to the world of communication, currently lives between Menorca and London and is excited to convince Barcelonians to dress up for a day in their best attire and fill the Polo with all kinds of hats and fascinators. "I believe there is a desire, a desire to recover enthusiasm and to give international visibility to Barcelona with elegance and good taste," she affirms.
To celebrate the first edition of Hats & Horses Barcelona, Vilalta has partnered with the Real Club de Polo ---which has 10,000 members--- and Elite Excellence Spain, that is, with the Spanish Luxury Federation, which brings together more than 100 high-end brands and luxury companies from the cosmetic sector as well as fashion, tourism or decoration. To publicize the event, this time access will be free, although to enter the venue priority will be given to people who comply with the dress code. To publicize the initiative, the organizers also want to involve establishments on Passeig de Gràcia and the various Elite Excellence brands present in the city.
Likewise, at dusk, coinciding with the last competition of the day, Elite Excellence will organize a charity dinner whose proceeds will be entirely donated to Cabalgando la vida, a solidarity project of the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona Foundation. This is a clinical trial endorsed by the Spanish Association Against Cancer in collaboration with Vall d'Hebron Hospital, which studies the benefits of horse-assisted therapy in children who must undergo oncological treatment as a result of a type of cancer that affects the central nervous system. To attend the charity dinner, between 120 and 150 euros must be paid.
According to Hats & Horses, this event also aims to be a tool to support local commerce, as it is an excuse to buy dresses and shoes, to do one's hair and makeup, and "to attend a day of fun where daily worries disappear." Throughout the day, on Saturday, June 19, attendees will be able to enjoy a village with shops, gastronomic proposals, live music, a children's area, and a hair and makeup area offering makeovers. If regulations allow, it will also be possible to attend as a spectator at the Olympic track where the show jumping competition is held. Around 300 pairs (rider or amazon and their horse or mare) are expected to participate in the CSI 2*.
During the outdoor charity dinner, which could be attended by about 250 people, awards will be presented to the best-dressed woman, the best-dressed man, and the most glamorous couple of the day. "It will be a relaxed day, full of joy, music, equestrian exhibitions, show jumping competitions, food, and lots and lots of fun," concludes the organizer, hopeful that the event can be held and contribute to the recovery of social activity in Barcelona.