It was in the small French city of Pau, in the French Pyrenees, that Belle Baruch became interested in equestrian competition.
She had ridden horses all her life, but when she met the trainer Paul Larregain in Pau, in 1927, she began to take show riding seriously.
With Larregain’s assistance, Belle bought the renowned Anglo-Arabian, Souriant III, pictured here. He was a chestnut stallion who would become her favorite mount.
Belle trained for months with Larregain, and by 1928 he felt she was ready compete, but there was an obstacle - riders had to be licensed by their respective national riding federations.
To Belle’s disappointment the American Embassy turned down her request. She was told that only the U.S. Cavalry teams could represent the country, and a woman rider was out of the question.
With Larregain’s assistance she obtained a French gentleman rider's license and was free to ride and compete against men. Though she resented the embassy's treatment, she always rode under the American flag.
Belle and Souriant III made an exceptional team.
In 1931 they placed first in the Paris Horse Show, held at the Grand Palais. Out of 119 riders, Belle was the only one with a perfect score.
The Paris edition of the New York Herald gave the following account:
The American girl’s brilliant ride was greeted by the most spontaneous outburst of this year’s show and as the award was being made the crowd swarmed into the ring to form a great circle about the winner, who sat top-hatted and smiling on her handsome mount.
The next year she won the Premio Primavera Florentine, setting a woman’s amateur high jump record. Belle Baruch and her magnificent Anglo-Arabian were the envy of Europe.
By 1935 Europe was becoming a dangerous place for a young woman with a Jewish last name, and Belle’s parents desperately wanted her to come home.
Despite her love of France, Belle was eager to own part of Hobcaw Barony, saying she “needed a little American soil to cling to.”
On Christmas of that year Bernard Baruch offered to sell Belle 5,000 acres, including Bellefield, and to turn over management of the entire property to her if she would come back to the States.
Although Belle didn’t return right away, she did begin building her house and stable, directing construction from abroad.
By 1937 the Bellefield house and stable were completed, and by 1938 Belle and her companion, Barbara Donohoe, were living there full-time.
