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A Lifetime Love of Horses

Anthony Ansari emigrated with his middle class family from Iran to the New York suburbs as a young boy with the American dream of a better life. He decided he wanted to be a doctor and attended Johns Hopkins University where he specialized in cardiac surgery.

During medical school, he met, fell in love with, and married Michelle, a fashion model from France. They both shared a deep love of horses, polo, family and the arts. After his schooling was completed, Dr. Ansari founded a successful plastic surgery practice. Now, almost 40 years later, the Ansaris have three adult children and are still active in various polo societies around the area and around the world. Their sprawling suburban home, which they refer to as “the farm”, was decorated by Michelle and has been featured in several design magazines throughout their 35 years of residence there. It sits on five acres as do their private stables which house their polo ponies and rehabilitating horses as well.

As the Ansari’s affluence grew, they worked hard to give back to the community. Dr. Ansari made yearly trips to place like Mongolia, Nigeria, and Peru with the organization Doctor’s Without Borders to offer his service to people who would have no access to them otherwise. Michelle is active in local charities supporting education, the arts, and her “pet” project, a service that rescues abandoned or abused horses and rehabilitates them. “I just can’t stand to see an animal abused” she says over and over, her personal mantra.

“My mom would come to school wearing jodhpurs...It was just what she wore all the time, like some moms might wear jeans or sweats.”

-Sophia Ansari

It is really this love of all things equestrian that defines the Ansaris. Their eldest son became a large animal vet after deciding at a very young age that he wanted to work with horses. Their middle daughter Sophia remembers, “My mom would come to school wearing jodhpurs to different events like concerts or teacher meetings. It was just what she wore all the time, like some moms might wear jeans or sweats.” Growing up, their children learned the basics of the game and their youngest, Anthony Jr., is now a ranked polo player. Even now, both in their late sixties, the Ansaris are active members of several polo societies and Dr. Ansari still regularly plays, captaining teams to victory in New York, California, Illinois and Virginia. As an affluent family, with wealth from Dr. Ansari’s successful medical practice, several medical patents, and wise, long-term investments, they can look forward to continuing their equestrian lifestyle for as long as they choose.Polo has evolved into the center of a very rich life for the Ansaris. It connects them to their children, to their oldest friends, and to the larger polo community of the world. In 1995, they were invited to participate in a polo event in Nepal where elephants were used instead of horses. Since polo originated in Dr. Ansari’s home country of Iran (Persia) in the 6th century B.C., perhaps this deep and abiding love is in the Ansari’s blood. Regardless, the Ansari’s have used their success and affluence to help those less fortunate and indulge a family passion, passing it down through the generations.

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