Middleburg South

For hunt country residents, the winter equestrian season in Florida has come to a close

BY VICKY MOON

While film royalty were being honored at the Oscars in Hollywood, the horsey set in Wellington, Fla., got a peak at Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. She was in town for a weekend of events and naturally received a royal reception. Fergie's red mane was flowing as photographers snapped away.

As the winter social season concluded in nearby Palm Beach, there were still many members of the Middleburg colony spotted along the way. Real estate guru Phil Thomas and his wife Patti were in town as well as Rose Marie Bogley and Mimi and Billy Abel-Smith.

Sheila Johnson has opened Market Salamander Palm Beach, a 5,500-square-foot shop with custom tile, faux painting and rich millwork on North County Road. This is her second venture into the food business after launching Market Salamander in Middleburg. For the Florida shop, executive chef Kevin Duggan will prepare 90 items daily. Cooking classes will be broadcast on three oversize plasma screens.

Featured items at Market Salamander Palm Beach will have a dash of Florida blended with a hint of the Mediterranean: pistachiocrusted stuffed salmon with honey doublemustard drizzle or shrimp in garlic sauce with red pepper flakes. A perfect place to pick up dinner after riding horses or shopping all day.

Another must-shop spot in Palm Beach is Devonshire, the ever-elegant English garden emporium or its sister store Brighton Pavilion, both on Worth Avenue and co-owned by Nelson Hammell and Pete Hawkins. Garden devotee Tori Winkler Thomas, co-chairman of the board of trustees of the Winkler Family Trust, was spotted at Devonshire. (Some may remember when her colorful Millwood, Va., garden was featured in House and Garden magazine.)

The 65-year-old Mark Winkler Company sold its Washington real estate holdings a year ago for $2.3 billion when it was reported as one the area's largest sales on record. Word has it that Tori is perhaps departing Washington, D.C., and possibly searching for some accessories for a new home in Sun Valley.

STEPPING OUT
The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation takes in former racehorses at ten locations around the country. It offers horses for adoption by many prospective new owners. Jonathan Miller, who lives in Waterford, is president. According to the organization it's "very often the difference between life and death" for these animals.

International Polo Club to honor Michael Matz, a former Olympic show jumper and the trainer of the late Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres (seared sea scallops and skewers of baby mozzarella and cherry tomatoes) were followed by dinner and dancing. Sheila Motley, an equestrian who also works for The Event Company out of Charlottesville, orchestrated the event. Motley commutes weekly to show her horses in the hunter classes.

The talk of the silent auction tables were the latest in paddock boots from Manolo Blahnik. Patrick Doherty, a former producer at ABC News in New York, has introduced the new line. "It occurred to me while attending a horse show last year in Wellington that the equestrian crowd, comprised of some of the most tapped-in fashionistas, would welcome a new footwear option," he said. There are eight styles including an animal print and the over the top alligator boots ($5,500). (One woman couldn't decide and ordered all eight versions.)

BOOKED UP
The National Sporting Library hosted a cocktail reception at the Hallman Family's Merrylegs South; a horseshoe shaped Miznerstyle stable which doubles as a party pavilion in the courtyard. And once again, Sheila Motley stepped up to the plate as event planner ... coconut crusted chicken bites with curry and very clever Tequila-lime prawn shooters served in a salt rimmed shot glass.

The sun settled in the west over the Everglades as guests arrived for a few nibbles while the horses looked on and had extra carrots. Chairman of the Board Manuel Johnson and Mary Johnson came down from their winter home in Vero Beach. Library CEO and President Nancy Parsons along with art curator Betsy Manierre arrived on cue from the frozen tundra of Virginia.

Doug Barnes, owner of the polo academy Destination Polo in The Plains, was at the party with Samantha Hallman. Rob Banner, publisher of The Chronicle of the Horse came with Rachel Spencer.

Another gala weekend included the Polo Ball at the National Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame and a fast and furious game on Sunday. Jim Burton piloted a group down from Virginia for the weekend including Dick Riemenschneider, Andi Gilman, Bill Fannon and Kim Sourer. Susan Hensley, Peggy and Nick Arundel and Alyse and Joe Muldoon also participated.

HONEY DO
And finally ... the Middleburg post office is frequently a hub for information. As this writer has noted, folks of all walks of life stop in to retrieve everything from dividend checks to welfare checks. For the past eighteen years Norris Beavers has served as the affable and unflappable postmaster at 20118. On March 1, after 33 years with the postal services, he retired and was honored at a reception. "I'm not sure of my plans," said Beavers, who also owns a 35- acre farm where he raises cattle. "I do have a ‘Honey Do' list that is 33 years long."

Sarah, Duchess of York stopped by the horse show while in Wellington, Fla.	Event planner and equestrian Sheila Motley with Patrick Doherty and his new line of Manolo Blahnik riding boots at the International Polo Club

Manuel Johnson and Mary Johnson at the National Sporting Library reception at Merrylegs South	Racehorse trainer Michael Matz, who trained recently departed Kentucky Derby winner Barbar

The Hallman Family's courtyard stables, Merrylegs South	Samantha Hallman, Doug Barnes and Betsy Manierre at the National Sporting Library's reception

Norris Beavers, retiring after 18 years as Middleburg's postmaster