Nathalie Pollard competing Intermediate level in July of 2012 on Driving Ambition at Chattahoochee Hills in Georgia.
to not have to be there all the time. We have great day-to- day operators that do a better job than I would anyway. If someone manages an area well, I try to check in once a week but otherwise stay out of their way! If five or six people are doing a good job, it’s better than me trying to do it all. There are still plenty of times I feel like I’m falling short on all fronts—it’s hard to make sure everyone gets what they need. I’m not perfect—I’m a work in progress like everybody else!” “I really focus well on a project for a couple years,” he
reason not to do it. We probably average a ring a month. It’s a nice little business and a good thing for our clients. I think they appreciate a good deal and they are happy with what they get. My dad enjoys it too, so it’s beneficial for everyone.” As for working directly with horses, they operate Pollard
Eventing as well as Chatsworth Stud, with both businesses focused on the breeding, development and training of international sport horses. While Nathalie spends most of her time at home with the kids, she competed again at preliminary level shortly after Axel’s birth and usually finds time to ride one horse a day. She’s hoping to get back to competing at the upper levels in the spring. While she attends board meetings and tries to stay on
top of what is going on in their business ventures, Nathalie is not involved in the day to day running of the businesses. “I’m fairly swamped with the babies, getting Phinn to school until lunchtime, then we stay busy in the afternoons doing arts and crafts or going swimming or whatever; then I have to cook dinner and bathe them and get them all to bed.” While she enjoys motherhood, Nathalie is looking forward
to spending more time in the saddle again. “Next year the twins will start preschool, which will free up some time—I’d like to get back to riding two or three a day at least,” she says. “I’ve got to set a goal so I get motivated to do something! If it looks like Michael has enough horses maybe I’ll take Hanni back, but I want him to have a good group of horses first.” When asked how he manages juggling multiple businesses and the horses, Michael says, “Sometimes it works better than others, but you can do amazing things if you have the right people around. We’ve tried hard to surround ourselves with good people and reward them well so they want to stay. Katie Thornton, our barn manager, is just awesome—I can’t be as hands-on as I want to be because I can only commit four to five hours a day to riding. She networks well with the vet and farrier and makes sure everything we can do gets done.” He is quick to add, “Without Nathalie none of it would be
possible. She organizes everything that I do and also makes sure the kids are beautifully raised. It all starts with our partnership.” As for the business side of things, he says, “I always have a fantastic partner or business manager, which allows me
Victorious, Michael and Hanni at the Pan Am Games. Warmbloods Today 21
continues. “I like to get things started then find someone more meticulous than I am to keep things running well. It’s actually more fun and rewarding for me to get things started and then watch them run it better than I would. I’m fortunate to be involved in all that I do—Nathalie and Carl and my own family have given me a lot of opportunities. Not everything is going to work, but it’s not a disaster if things don’t work perfectly. That sort of freedom and the ability to try new things makes you want to try harder.” In every endeavor, be it horses, business or family, the
Pollards seem to give it their all. Even following the trailer accident they were able to overcome an impossibly tragic situation and turn it into an opportunity for research and improved travel safety for horses. As they develop a new string of horses worthy of international competition, this power couple of eventing will be one to watch.
Hats: Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography
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