News from the Southlands, December 2020

Executive Director’s Note

What a year this has been! We cannot thank our community enough for the support through this crazy year. As many of you may have seen, we have launched a year end fundraiser. This money will be used for COVID related expenses, such as cleaning supplies, PPE and extra staff expenses while we weather this pandemic. We certainly appreciate your support as we head deeper into winter and more unknowns. As always, any little bit will help and all contributions are appreciated more than you could imagine, THANK YOU!

We welcome back Madeline Berg, whom many of you knew as Buddy and Josie’s mom. Maddy has just finished her undergraduate degree at SUNY New Paltz! She has been helping out with: horse care, lesson assistance, and exercising horses, most afternoons and weekends.

Nicole Wiley, who grew up here, has a full time job in Connecticut working through the Naugatuck School system. Nicole has been around helping, riding, lessoning and will be offering horse clipping and braiding for anyone who needs it! Both Maddy and Nicole were indispensable when our staff was quarantined for COVID exposure.

Thanks to our unbelievably generous volunteers, TSF survived a two-week shutdown, in which most of our core staff was quarantined. It was honestly humbling to have so many people drop what they were doing and step up to assist with all the jobs necessary to keep the farm running smoothly, efficiently and safely for our horses and people.

Nancy Strohsahl was the intrepid leader for all the volunteer efforts. Maddy and Nicole and some relief stall cleaners that Michele Edel found, were integral in keeping things moving. Board members and clients really stepped in to do every job that needed to be done from grooming, to stalls, to night check. I cannot express my thanks to all of them enough!

Around the Barn

Lancaster is the latest leggy, bay addition to our super crew of Southlands school horses. Standing at 16.3 hands, this handsome 15 year old hails to us from his former career as a 1.30 show jumper. We’ve been delighted to discover that Lancaster not only fills a spot in our upper level school horse string, but with his kind, patient nature he’s stepped in at times for some adult advanced beginners, too. He’s a pleasure to deal with in the barn, tacking up, turning out, or just taking a stroll down the South Barn road. We’re very pleased to have him as part of the team at TSF!

Butterscotch, or “Scottie” as he’s known around the barn, is a whopping 17.3 hand Warmblood gelding, who’s currently here as a lease for Philip Steinkraus. As gentle as he is giant, Scottie has the kindest eye and the very best disposition. His quiet way of going has provided Philip with some challenges as he’s had to adjust to a ride that needs more fire in his engine. With Jonathan’s expert eye on the ground, they are working hard to form a team over the winter months with the plan of competing in 2021.

Fantastique, or “Fred” as he’s known around the barn, is another lease mount for Philip Steinkraus. Fred is the kind of horse that if he were a guy everyone would want to hang out with him and chat over a few beers! He’s a very experienced show jumper, who really knows his craft and performs it extremely well with no fuss, or drama. Philip and Fred competed this last summer at HITS and had great fun and success. It’s been fun for our younger, or less experienced riders to catch part of Philip and Fred having a lesson over an impressively sized course of jumps.

From The Board

The Southlands Board thanks all of our wonderful supporters throughout this difficult year. Earlier this year, our annual gala went virtual and we celebrated with an outdoor and online tribute on the 106th anniversary of Ms. Dows birthday and toasted her legacy here at Southlands. Our 2020 honorees were Volunteer of the Year: Nancy Strohsahl; Youth Horserider of the Year: Mia Derman: Partner of the Year: Samaritan Daytop; and Horse of the Year: Hero. Congratulations to all and thank you to our many sponsors, donors, volunteers and online auction winners. (Auction winners please pick up your winning items!)

We have much more to look out for in the new year including the re-release of our wonderful Gala video and more fun online auctions. Have a wonderful holiday season and we will see you in 2021!

Fun Facts

An easement with Scenic Hudson was created in 1985 to conserve the land for future generations

Southlands was founded as a not-for-profit in 1987 as part of Deborah Dows' mission to preserve the School of Horsemanship for the community.

Guess who is the oldest Southlands horse/pony at Southlands? Find out in next month’s newletter!

Special Thank You

If you spend any time around the barn you will notice there is very little in the way of storage areas. Therefore they become catchalls for everything! Two brave volunteers spent weeks sorting out multiple areas of the farm. Caro Marr and Lys Kursh, with some input and assistance from staff, cleaned and reorganized the Pump House, the little loft above the main barn and the Little Kids Tack Room!

These areas had been gathering stuff for years! The throwing out, reorganizing, cleaning and neatening up is jaw dropping. The spaces are once again useful and safe. This huge job is almost complete, there is just some fresh painting to be finished in the Little Kids Tack Room. They truly did an amazing job, and we cannot thank Lys and Caro enough for their time and skills!