The Caumsett Foundation

Dedicated to the conservation of

Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve

 

By Walter D. Kolos


Considered to be one of the grandest homes in America, “Caumsett,” the former Marshall Field Estate, was said to have offered every sporting activity except golf. The two thousand acre property was also the perfect setting for equestrian activities. Seemingly endless meadows, meandering bridle paths and open woodlands were available to horseback riders of all levels of proficiency.

Marshall Field acquired the property on Lloyd’s Neck in 1921. In his quest to create an English style manor, he came upon a formidable landscape of derelict colonial era houses, untended farmlands and vast woodlands. Within the decade, the property would be transformed into one of the finest estate properties in the country. Although the place was designed for a variety of activities and pursuits, such as dairy farming and boating- equestrian activities were very high on the list of priorities during the planning process.

During tthis immense construction project, one of the first buildings to be erected was the polo stable. It was designed by JohnRussell Pope, who was the primary architect and architectural consultant of the estate. The polo stable, a magnificent sprawling Georgian edifice, was considered to be the finest building at Caumsett. George Gillies, head gardener at the estate, once described it as being one of the “most beautifully balanced” buildings that he had ever seen. Many of the guests who arrived at Caumsett for the first time mistook it for the main house.

The interior was grand, noted for its high vaulted ceilings and Italian brick floors. There were sixteen stalls of polished wood, highlighted by tall posts capped by brass orbs. There was even an observation balcony overlooking the whole interior. In the early 1980’s, the stable was used for the filming of the movie Arthur, starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minelli.

The landscape of Caumsett was conductive to equestrian activities, as the vast acreage formed by the glacial moraine was extremely varied in topography. Verdant uplands and lowlands provided a variety of challenges for the rider, not to mention a myriad of scenic vistas. In addition to the undulating roads and fields, the outer areas of the estate were crisscrossed with broad fire breaks which served as excellent bridle paths.

According to Matthew Bessell’s book Caumsett, Marshall Field played polo at the estate and elsewhere, until 1936 when he gave up the game and the estate’s string of polo ponies. Up until this time, James Claydon was the manager, and his title was that of “stud groom”. It was said of him that “what de didn’t  know about horses, wasn’t worth knowing.”

Bessell also writes that the work day at the polo stables began at six a.m., with the exercising of a string of six or eight ponies. At nine a.m., the ponies were groomed if not needed by the Fields. Apparently, one feature of the grooming at Caumsett was the requirement of the bobbed tails be cut straight across. After four p.m., the stalls were “mucked out,” and the animals fed. Saturdays were reserved for complete stable cleanings.

The Meadowbrook Club was the legendary center for polo on Lonf Island, and also for the riding of the hounds. Caumsett too was noted for fox hunting, because its primeval lands afforded the hunters a challenging and unobstructed foxhunt. Beagling and especially pheasant shooting were also important events- neither one, however required the services of horses!

Fox hunting was a sport of the wealthy, and on Long Island, the hunting grounds were provided by those who had large tracts of land. According to Bessell, the attire for these events was very English in style, high black boots, canary colored riding pants, a red coat and a black hunt cap or bowler. The hunt was conducted in a strictly defined way, with the “whipps” who controlled the foxhounds leading the dogs into the covers where the foxes found shelter. When the fox was flushed out of the woods, the often arduous chase ensued. Hunters, on horseback, tried to keep up pace with the running hounds. The hunt ended when the fox was either caught-or lost- by the hounds.

Many equestrian events were held at Caumsett, well after the polo years. Both Phyllis and Fiona Field were excellent equestrians, due not only in part to the superb facilities at Caumsett, but by the encouragement of their parents. All the Fields were known for their sportsmanship- and competitiveness.

In addition to professional horsemanship, which was one of the classic sports on the North Shore, Caumsett was always a place of recreational horseback riding. John Spencer Clark, the superintendent of the estate, was often seen surveying the “place” in horse back. A few old Lloyd Harbor residents remember seeing David Niven riding on the estate, as it was a recreational spot for both the Fields and their famous guests.

Caumsett was a huge and varied estate, a place of luxurious gardens, productive dairy farms, beaches and boats. It was a gem of the North Shore, the last gasp of the “gilded age.” It was a place for horses - polo, equestrian events, riding- and not just for “horsing around.”

 


  1. BulletHorsing Around at Caumsett

Fox hunting was a sport of the wealthy, and on Long Island, the hunting grounds were provided by those who had large tracts of land. According to Bessell, the attire for these events was very English in style, high black boots, canary colored riding pants, a red coat and a black hunt cap or bowler.

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