When people think of Hermès today, they picture silk scarves, the Kelly bag, or a shopfront bathed in orange light. But the heart of Hermès has always been the horse.

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Founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermès as a harness workshop in Paris, the company was never about fashion - it was about craftsmanship for the horse. Thierry built finely crafted harnesses and bridles for Europe's carriage owners, and his work was so precise that Hermès won medals at prestigious events like the Universal Exhibition of 1867. Back then, success was measured not by brand recognition, but by the comfort and performance of the horse.

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Saddlery followed, with each saddle stitched entirely by hand using the now-iconic saddle stitch, a technique that ensured not only beauty, but also strength and longevity. For Hermès, the horse was not a marketing image; it was its first and most important client. As Chloé Nobécourt, Hermès' Director of the equestrian métier, puts it: "At Hermès, the horse is our first client."
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Even today, the spirit of those early years lives on in events like the Saut Hermès at the Grand Palais in Paris - a three-day showjumping spectacle where world-class riders compete beneath the grand glass dome, surrounded by the unmistakable elegance of the brand's heritage.

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As someone deeply involved in the equestrian world, I find Hermès' story inspiring. It is a reminder that even global icons can remain true to their origins, and that true luxury is born from function, skill, respect for the craft, and reverence for the animal.

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