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Friday, March 23 2012 / Published in Weekly Feature

Julio Gracida: Living His Legacy

The name “Gracida” is a revered and notable distinction within the sport of polo, with a long and illustrious history of international competitors and horsemen that have founded, invented and re-invented the game of polo since a 1946 US Open victory that remains the only recorded win by four brothers in the history of the sport.  The four Mexico City born Gracidas left an indelible mark and one which would continue to grow with multiple international tournament wins, 10 goal handicaps and a boastful resume of history making records that remain standing, even today.  While Guillermo “Memo” Gracida, Jr. may stand as the most famous in this family legacy, boasting 21 consecutive years at a 10 goal rating and a 1997 induction into the Polo Hall of Fame, in 2012 it is Memo’s son, Julio, who is capturing notable victories and adding further testament to the family dynasty as a continual force in the sport of polo.

“I want to keep getting better every year,” Julio says. “I want a chance to always compete for the U.S. Open title and I want a chance to add my own records to history” Photos courtesy of Gillian Johnston

It’s a Family Tradition

Intensely aware of expectation and performance, Julio says, “the legacy made my career choice easy.  Really, it was the easiest decision I’ve ever made [to become a professional polo player].  Polo is a unique sport because not just for us, but for a lot of people, it is family oriented.  It’s the only sport where I can play with my dad, uncle and cousins, all at the same time.  That, for me, is the best.”  At 25 years old, Julio already has a resume to be proud of, with notable wins alongside family ties, including the 2002 22-goal Iglehart Cup and the 2005 US Open.  The Iglehart Cup was won alongside his father and his US Open victory in 2005 added the third consecutive Gracida victory in the tournament, with Uncle Carlos winning in 2003 and father Memo winning in 2004.  “I don’t think I can ‘live up’ to our family legacy.  It’s impossible to try and replicate the accomplishments of my dad and uncle.  But what I want is just to make a name for myself and have my own legacy when it’s all done.”

A Star In His Own Right

2011 granted an opportunity for Julio to shine as a professional in his own right, playing alongside Adolfo Cambiaso and Jeff Blake on John Muse’s Lucchese team during Santa Barbara’s high goal summer season. Playing alongside arguably the world’s best, Julio and teammates took home the Pacific Coast Open trophy and secured the Gracida name on yet another major U.S. polo trophy.  That victory is counted among the favorites in Julio’s career, as he recalls, “it was the last tournament I had to win to have won all the major tournaments in the US.  It’s an amazing feeling to know that I’ve been lucky enough to play with some incredible people and win every major tournament in the United States.”  Indeed, his list of mentors and teammates looks more like a “who’s who” roster of polo superstars, including not only his Hall of Fame father and uncle, but also Adolfo Cambiaso, Mariano Aguirre, Pablo McDonough, Lucas Criado, Gonzalito Pieres and American polo icon, Mike Azzaro, along with polo patron George Rawlings, who gave Julio his first chance at playing professionally.  “I want to keep getting better every year,” Julio says.  “I want a chance to always compete for the U.S. Open title and I want a chance to add my own records to history.”

Working Toward the Future

Returning to his hometown of Wellington, Florida for the winter, Julio started off 2012 with an impressive showing in the 20 goal series at the International Polo Club Palm Beach with the Valiente/Tonkawa team. With a record-breaking 17 teams entered in the series this year, the level of polo and horses has each professional striving to “step-up” their game and has pushed Julio to work diligently alongside professionals Nacho Novillo-Astrada (9 goals) and Toto Collardin (7 goals).  Crediting success to encompass the equine athletes beneath him, Julio says, “I have to say, my little grey Pimpinella has helped me from the very beginning of my polo career.  She was my favorite for a lot of reasons:  she was the first I bought on my own; but she also helped me get from 0 goals to a 5 goal rating.”  Grounded in an ancestry of horsemanship, he says that the horses are never far from his mind and an invaluable part of every game he plays.  Although he will not get a chance this year to compete for the coveted U.S. Open title, Julio will finish the winter season in Florida before heading to Houston, Texas for the spring and then California again in the summer.  “If you listen to some people,” he says with a grin, “the world is going to end in 2012.  So I guess I’m just looking to see how many wins I can add to my record until then.”

 -By Danika Rice

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Hot horseman takeover day 5️⃣!!! 🔥Jet Rusi Hot horseman takeover day 5️⃣!!!

🔥Jet Rusidovski🔥
It wasn’t horses that took Jet Rusidovski from his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to where he lives now in Austin, Texas, in 2008. It was the weather. “I came down to visit family down here and it was negative 30 degrees in Wisconsin and it was 60 degrees here, and that was the end of it,” Jet said.

He grew up braving the cold on horseback in Wisconsin, riding and showing hunter-
jumpers from the time he was 4 all through his Junior career. “When adult life started, I had to juggle adult life and horses, and then it became my profession,” he said. Jet now works for Kelly Lorek at Southern Way Farm, training both horses and clients and traveling to shows all over the country. “Our program has been growing by leaps and bounds in the last year, and that says we’re doing something right!”

Jet hopes his experience as part of a successful program will help instill in others that everyone deserves a chance. “There were definitely times in my career I was not given a chance, and Kelly is the one who really gave me that chance,” Jet shared. “She didn’t judge me for mistakes I made in the past, she didn’t hold anything against me—she saw that I had the potential and she gave me the chance to actually show it. She gave the right coaching and the right guidance to get me where I am today, and I feel I’m in a really great place with unlimited opportunities at this point in my career.” When not traveling to shows, Jet travels to Wisconsin to visit family (weather permitting, of course) and would love to revisit childhood vacation spots in Greece and Europe, or check out the weather in Hawaii. He also prioritizes catching up with friends outside of the horse world. “If people see me around at a horse show, don’t be afraid to say hi!” he said. 
“Sometimes I’m so concentrated it looks like I want nothing to do with anyone; I’m actually just deep in thought or something. But I love to say hi to everybody.”
📸Photo by Kristie Scholten
Day 4️⃣ of our hot horseman takeover! 🔥Jo Day 4️⃣ of our hot horseman takeover! 
🔥Jonathan Cohen🔥
Most riders aren’t born into professional equestrian families; some lucky ones, like Jonathan Cohen, end up spending so much time at the barn they are practically adopted into them. 
Jonathan fell in love with horses at a friend’s birthday party while he was growing up in downtown Chicago, Illinois. At 16, he began riding with Alex Jayne—and now works for Alex’s Our Day Farm. “I’m sandwiched right between his three children in terms of age, so apart from missing their earliest years, we’ve basically grown up together,” Jonathan said. “I’m incredibly fortunate to work for a family that treats me like family.”
Jonathan’s title is barn manager. “But the job description is very loose—that’s what keeps it interesting,” he said. After he gets done riding in the morning, he starts on whatever needs to be done around the farm—which perfectly suits his love of “projects.” Outside of work and horses, Jonathan puts that passion for building into home renovation; when he’s completely renovated one home, he sells it and moves on to the next. “I love building stuff, especially when it’s something that meets a very specific need and can’t just be bought,” he said. “I’ll see things I can make better, I start working on the idea in my head, and more often than not I end up building it.”

Our Day Farm splits its time between Elgin, Illinois, and Wellington, Florida. When in Illinois, Jonathan spends much of his time building jumps. “I like to replicate some of the more interesting things we see over the course of the season, as well as anything our horses might need to practice,” he said. Clearly, Jonathan loves what he does. “I’m super lucky that when I wake up every day, I don’t have to go to work. I just go to the barn. It’s my job, and it’s definitely a lot of work most days, but really I’m just going to the barn like any other day.”
📸Photo by Melissa Fuller
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Day 3️⃣ of our Hot Horseman takeover! 🔥Ch Day 3️⃣ of our Hot Horseman takeover! 

🔥Chava Cortez🔥
When Chava Cortez first came to the U.S. on vacation from his home country of Mexico, he didn’t anticipate he’d not only move here but also pick up a career he had never even considered. “I decided to come to New York on vacation, and then I decided to stay and try out a job as a groom,” he said. “I never thought of doing this! But I fell in love with horses.”

Now, Chava lives on Long Island and grooms for Kristina Muse’s Beach Acre Farm in Sagaponack, New York, where he also gets to ride on occasion just for fun. “Chava is the best!” Kristina said. “He’s been a part of Beach Acre for about eight years now and we consider him like family. He takes the utmost care of our horses, and always keeps the entire barn running smoothly!”

Outside of work and horses, Chava is passionate about fashion and soccer, and enjoys socializing with friends and traveling. Key to Chava’s success is that he makes a point of approaching everything he does with 100% commitment. “I’ve been doing this for almost 10 years and I’ve been fortunate to have been able to work with some great people in the industry,” he said. “My career is busy; this industry is always on the move. But I love horses, the travel, and meeting other people in the industry.”
📸Photo by Melissa Fuller
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