LIfESTYLE
danshamptons.com
June 14, 2013 Page 87
Stony Hill Stables, Training Local Riders located in Amagansett. Attendees will enjoy a special Dressage Exhibition, performed by Grand Prix dressage riders, as well as an exciting Pony Drill Team Presentation, performed by the talented young riders of Stony Hill Stables.
By TAMARA MATThEWS-STEphENSON
ast year I visited Stony Hill Stables with my teenage daughter, who is an avid equestrian and photographer, in order to write about their newly launched foundation offering scholarships to local riders. As we walked the bucolic property and took photographs of the horses and riders, the farm was busy preparing for their first event celebrating this exciting new program. As a horseshow mom for over 13 years, it warms my heart to see a barn in the community making such a concerted effort to support the sport and local equestrians. Saturday, June 29 marks the second annual Benefit Cocktail Party at Stony Hill Stables on Town Lane in Amagansett. Owned by the Hotchkiss family for over five decades, this summer will bring the second season for the Stony Hill Stables Foundation program, which offers equine sports through riding education and competitive opportunities for children and young adults throughout the East End community. This is currently the only program of this kind at a horse stable in Long Island. After the Foundation launched last year, recipients trained then competed in a variety of shows, winning ribbons at many events including the local Sagaponack Horse Show, The Hampton Classic and last winter’s circuit at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. Wick Hotchkiss is the second-generation owner at Stony Hill Stables, and this program has fulfilled a life-long dream she has had to offer scholarships of this nature to local residents, making equestrian training and the sport more available to local riders. She is a world-class equestrian herself and has won USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in Dressage competitions. Dressage is often referred to as “Horse Ballet” and the practice allows the horse to perform movements in sequences that are judged at both national and international competitions, such as the Olympics. The foundation’s goal is to create opportunities for both adults and children to connect with the community, grow physically and emotionally, while benefiting from a life-enhancing experience with these majestic animals. Many local residents potentially benefit from this program, where riding, training and competing on horses has become an important part of the Hamptons lifestyle. A quick drive around any back road in the East End may see hard-working equestrians training in rings throughout the seasons. With this program the dream is made possible to make riding more available, and at the same time it will hopefully encourage other equestrian facilities in the area to adopt similar scholarships so the Long Island region can produce talented, young riders to complete nationally. Scholarship applications for the upcoming season are currently being accepted and will be awarded in the many training levels, including beginner from ages five and up, young riders horse camp ages six and up, short stirrup camp ages six and up, adult hunter ages 10 and up, and dressage training ages 10 and up. Local residents from Montauk, Amagansett, East Hampton, Sag Harbor, Southampton and West Hampton are encouraged to apply. Scholarship applications are available at stonyhillstables.com. The celebration, which will help continue support for the foundation, will be held Saturday, June 29 from 6–8 pm on the grounds of Stony Hill Stables,
Courtesy Stony Hill Stables
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The beautiful Stony hill Stables
Tickets for the Benefit are priced at $125 for a single ticket, $200 for a couple. Tickets can be purchased in advance on-line. Contributions are gratefully welcome: Stony Hill Stables Foundation, P.O. Box 283, Amagansett, NY 11930 or stonyhillstables.com. For more information about Stony Hill Stables and the Stony Hill Stables Foundation, please visit the website or call: 631-267-3203.
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