An iconic image of Cornelia Guest by famed fashion photographer Bruce Weber.
Equestrian Philanthropist Cornelia Guest Comes Home To Wellington By Sue Weatley
Cornelia Guest practically grew up in Wellington. She stabled her horses in Jane Ebelhare’s show barn at Palm Beach Polo, showing in the winter circuit, watching her father, Winston Frederick Churchill Guest, throw out the ball for young polo players and trotting along Wellington’s roads. “I have a lot of great memories of Wellington. It was incredible,” said Guest, who is back in town to connect with horse friends and showcase her exclusive line of cruelty-free handbags and accessories. Guest, who rode and showed extensively, was in the saddle before she could walk. Her mother, American fashion icon C.Z. Guest, brought her to Wellington during the season. Smitten with horses, she dyed her ponies’ manes and tried to sneak them into the house to feed them carrots. She competed as a junior in the Florida circuit. World-class coach and rider Katie Monahan-Prudent served as her trainer and mentor. “Katie was so hard on me. I see her with her students today. It seems like she was much tougher on me. I think of her as a big sister,” said Guest, who remains close to Monahan-Prudent.
Guest took some time off from the horse world, but she missed the life. She resurfaced in training with British show jumper Tim Grubb, an Olympic silver medalist. Her all-time favorite horse is a big gray horse named Nicholas, who took her from adult jumpers to high amateurs. Her love of animals, her commitment to animal causes and her sense of style led her to design a line of accessories. The buttery soft, cruelty-free handbags and accessories were featured at a February trunk show at Hunt Ltd. in the International Club during the 2012 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Guest was on hand to catch up with her horse show friends. She created a splash, and the popular handbags nearly sold out. The handbags are so popular at Bloomingdale’s, they are temporarily sold out. The smart collection includes woven bags and wallets, as well as a clever iPad bag with an adjustable cross-body strap. There is good reason why Donna Karan named Guest one of the “Women Who Inspire.” She has created a vegan chocolate chip cookie to support her dedication to a healthy |wellington the magazine| April 2012
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