Every few years those-in-the-know declare equestrian is “in” and (at least for the next 15 minutes) the fashion mags fill with emaciated gals sitting/hanging/leaning on obviously sedated horses whose lead shanks and reins meander into unseen hands out of the frame.

Well, it must be that time again because the New York Times tells me Gucci and Herms are jumping into the world of show jumping sponsorship.

For a giggle, read the description of the recent Gucci Masters competition from FashionWireDaily.com. It’s not our usual sort of competition coverage, I assure you. Excerpt: “Also competing were Rodrigo Pessoa, the dashing Brazilian rider, whom, when his horse knocked off a bar on the penultimate fence, caused several women in the tony audience to shriek in dismay, and Kevin Staut, the pin-up boy of French show jumping who walked the course in a snazzy green Gucci leather bomber jacket