The Equestrian Lifestyle: Nacho Figueras and a Life Lived with Horses

By Lindsay Brock For many, the equestrian lifestyle is a nomadic one where it’s difficult to set roots. One where “home” is a fleeting concept. For Ignacio “Nacho” Figueras, however, horses are home. They have brought him love, passion, success, and more. View the new issue. Growing up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Figueras first grasped a polo mallet at eight years old and was quickly swept away by the cultural appreciation for polo. “The sport of kings” became Figueras’ profession when he was 17. Since that unknowingly fateful moment at eight years old, Figueras has traveled the world, become the face of global powerhouse brands, including Ralph Lauren Black Label, and made a name for himself as a polo superstar. Polo was also the matchmaker that led Figueras to meet his partner of 25 years; model, photographer, and fellow rider Delfina Blaquier. They met at a polo match in 1997 and now have four children together. When asked about the influence horses have had on his life and work, Figueras responded with the adage, “the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.” Figueras’ appreciation for the animals that give their all to sport has inspired him to share the beautiful relationship between man and horse with the masses. He champions a horse’s ability to heal humans through his support of the organization Work to Ride, a prevention program that gives under-resourced Philadelphia youth a unique opportunity to interact with horses and participate in equestrian sports. “The power of horses and polo is a beautiful thing,” Figueras said of the program. “That program is a dear part of my life.” Nacho Figueras at Fasano Las Piedras, Uruguay, the site of his architectural design project, The Polo House. (Photography by Ori Harpaz) The Polo House by Nacho Figueras. (Photography by Ori Harpaz) The Polo House by Nacho Figueras. (Photography by Ori Harpaz) This past spring, Figueras once again dedicated both his passion and mallet to the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, which returned to Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ. After a four-year hiatus, the event was back in a city Figueras admits he loves. “I think there’s no better backdrop for a polo field in the world than this one,” he said. Polo brings Figueras to Wellington, FL during the winter months where he and his family have cemented their place in the abundant equestrian scene. Figueras’ oldest son Hilario plays polo professionally alongside his father, while his younger son Artemio has followed suit at 13 years old. Blaquier and Figueras’ youngest daughter Alba can be spotted in the pony hunter rings at Wellington International, while their oldest daughter, Aurora, studies industrial design in Buenos Aires. In the last year, Figueras purchased and meticulously redesigned a Wellington home. The space has become a retreat that was the missing piece to his family’s time spent in Florida. Featured earlier this year in Architectural Digest , the home blends inspiration from family, travel and—of course—horses. Figueras’ resurrection of the Florida home was not his first toe dip in the pond of architectural design. He founded Figueras Design Group (FDG) in 2013, a development company formed with the Buenos Aires–based architecture firm Estudio Ramos, that focuses on equestrian communities in Argentina and beyond. One such project, The Polo House by Nacho Figueras , is located at Fasano Las Piedras which sits within a nature preserve in the La Barra region of Punta del Este, Uruguay. The Erin Boisson Aries Team at Douglas Elliman is handling sales of the residences which overlook a polo field designed by Figueras himself, as well as an 18-hole Arnold Palmer golf course. Signature floor-to-ceiling glass allows for expansive views from each space, and a step outside offers access to private beaches, gardens, swimming pools, and tennis courts. Figueras admits that if he didn’t sit atop the back of horses for a living, architectural design is likely where his professional efforts would be focused today. A stroll through any of his properties feels more like the tour of an art gallery or architectural museum than a residence, but as soon as Figueras’ family steps foot inside it’s clear that these places are home.