VELA is a collaboration focused on refined, thoughtful, anatomically-informed tack for horses in sport.

We combine traditional bridlemaking techniques with an understanding of equine anatomy, movement and the practical demands placed on the horse. Each piece begins with the horse while also considering the needs of riders, grooms and trainers.

Our work is shaped through observation, prototyping and field testing. We look closely at how tack fits and functions, and where it can be made simpler, more comfortable and more purposeful.

Our Story

Sylvia came to learn from Rachael: bridlemaking, saddle fitting and the biomechanics that connect a horse’s movement to the equipment a horse wears and the rider he accommodates. She brought her curiosity, a background in design and a growing interest in how polo tack might evolve.

The questions raised at the workbench soon followed them onto the polo field. What does the sport ask of its horses? Where could fit be more considered? How might familiar equipment better support movement, communication and function? What began as teaching and learning grew into a shared exploration of craft and anatomy, and of how to better serve the polo pony.

The name VELA grew from that meeting. Vela is the constellation of the sails, once part of Argo Navis, the celestial ship of the Argonauts. For Sylvia, whose journey with horses has taken her across places, disciplines and cultures, navigation and wayfinding felt fitting. Rachael’s surname, Argo, made the connection almost too perfect: a sail finding its ship.

In Portuguese and Spanish, vela also means candle, a nod to another part of VELA’s beginnings: knowledge shared, curiosity encouraged and familiar things seen in a different light.

That exchange continues to shape how we work. Riders, grooms, trainers and equine professionals contribute their experience and observations as designs are tested and refined.

VELA is rooted in traditional craft but open to discovery. We value the knowledge that comes from riding, training and caring for horses, and the different perspectives each brings. Making is our work; learning remains part of the process.

Rachael Argo

Rachael has over 25 years of experience in the trade. She trained with SMS Master Saddler Andre Bubear and qualified as a Master Saddler and Saddle Fitter through the Society of Master Saddlers UK. She also runs The European Saddlery School in Portugal, and has been teaching saddle fitting, bridle fitting and bridlemaking at the North American Saddlery School for more than 15 years.

Her work has long been closely tied to equine welfare and biomechanics. She was head groom alongside veterinarians within the rehabilitation team at World Horse Welfare and has lectured on saddlefit and performance to international audiences.

Beyond the workbench, Rachael has bred and trained Spanish horses, taught riders and was a dedicated student of classical dressage under the tutelage of one of the first female riders from the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre. That depth of horsemanship continues to shape how she approaches bridlemaking and saddlery, anatomy and the horse in motion.

Sylvia Foures

Sylvia brings more than 15 years in design and branding to a longstanding connection to horses. Her experience across silversmithing, fashion, floristry and art has shaped an approach grounded in form, function and feel.

Her return to the saddle after rehabilitation from an injury led her to study equine sports massage and the horse-rider connection. Her equestrian education spans jumpers, classical dressage, ranch riding and polo, learning from horsemen across the US, Argentina and Europe. In New Jersey, she trains with Neal and Elisa Shapiro, whose mentorship helped shape her path toward working with horses and her love of polo eventually inspired the creation of VELA.

Sylvia works closely with Rachael in the workshop while managing the marketing and sales. She also spends time on the field with hands-on testing and feedback within the equestrian community.

Cearrag

Cearrag is the workshop’s resident Belgian Malinois and Head of Morale. She institutes a rigorous schedule of cuddle breaks, attention checks and the occasional firm reminder that she has not been loved upon recently enough.

When a design isn’t quite working, a piece of leather refuses to cooperate, or a stitch has gone sideways, Cearrag is often the prescribed remedy. Equal parts distraction and morale support, she has a well-timed habit of appearing when the workshop needs a reset. She plays an integral role in the development of our projects.

Rachael calls her the therapy Malinois. Cearrag regards this less as a joke and more as an official appointment.

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