News from the Southlands, September 2021
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTE
What a fun evening at The Sunset at Southlands 2021 Gala! We cannot thank all of our attendees, supporters, sponsors, donors, vendors, performers, riders and volunteers enough! We danced, we bid, we spent time together that we have not been able to do in a long time. AND we exceeded our fundraising goal by leaps and bounds. THANK YOU!
We will be highlighting the businesses and individuals that made this night special. They are our local heroes and we encourage you, when you can, to frequent these local shops and restaurants, as they truly support our Southlands and our broader community.
Southlands is now operating a new autumn schedule. The barn looks very different - lessons are now stacked most mornings and afterschool hours and weekends are booked solid with very few slots for those riders who are not regularly on the schedule. We are expecting 2 horses in mid-October and our stalls will be full for the winter. Please, if you foresee a possible schedule change, email the office at info@southlands.org with dates and options as soon as you can, so we can help you.
New Faces + TSF Job Opening
Sue Hoag has joined us in the office on a part time basis. She will be here Monday, Wednesday, Friday and some Sunday afternoons. She comes to Southlands after a 30-year career at the Culinary Institute working first in financial aid and then running the recreation center at the Institute. She brings a sunny personality, great organizational skills, and fresh new ideas.
Declan will be helping out in the barn after school Wednesdays, Fridays and all day Sundays. He is moving to Rhinebeck from the Germantown area and has a superb work ethic and is learning a lot every day.
We are still looking for someone to help out in the barn during the day: minimal stall clean-up, water, hay, turn out, turn in, some grooming and some regular farm chores. If you know of anyone, please have them contact Michele Edel or Allison.
FROM OUR TRAINERS
How is it the end of September already? Wow! The summer was such a whirlwind of fun and activity at Southlands that it shot by and here we are in the early stages of fall in the Hudson Valley. The weather has been nearly perfect for the last few weeks, creating excellent riding conditions and the lesson program is thriving. We’re so thankful to have such a great group of lesson horses/ponies to share with all of our clients.
A quick shout out to the riders who participated in the riding demonstration for our Gala, on Sept. 11th. THANK YOU!! Jonathan and I are so proud of all of you!! The Gala was a blast and such a wonderful way to show our love for TSF!
On September 26th, we hosted our final HVHJA show for the season. We had students showing from the Cross poles division to Open Hunters and Jumpers! It was a beautiful day and our TSF riders rose to the occasion to show off their hard work and dedication!
We’re looking forward to attending more local shows this coming fall/winter which may include outings to Crosswinds, Old Salem, Gardnertown and a hunter pace! Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming shows posted on our bulletin board directly outside of the office or on our website and social media. Remember to follow us at www.southlands.org, Facebook/Instagram @southlandsfoundation.
And lastly, we’re pleased to announce that Jax Powers is leasing, “August Rush” aka Melody for the next year. Melody is a beautiful Welsh/cross pony mare, with tons of mileage in the Large Pony division and she’s endeared herself to everyone in the barn. Jax is smitten with her new mount (rightly so!), and we love this new team!
FROM THE BOARD
The Southlands Foundation Annual Gala is our major fund-raising event and we are proud to announce we exceeded our 2021 gala fundraising goal by 35%!
Equally important is that we gathered together to celebrate our community, our amazing school horses, and this land, which Deborah Dows left for our inspiration and joy.
Eight horses and ponies were in the ring that evening with their young riders showing off the skills they have honed under the expert guidance of Michele and Jonathan Edel. We also remembered the lives and contributions of Nicole Wiley (rider, working student, and trainer at Southlands) and Rich Meislin (Volunteer of the Year). We celebrated our horses of the year Kyra and Billings. We gave thanks to the Frost Foundation for their generosity to the Rhinebeck community and to Southlands over the course of many years. We also recognized Sarah Regner, whose leadership, cheerful willingness to help, her kindness to everyone, and her ability to develop partnerships with the horses she rides established her place as the Southlands Young Rider of the Year.
What fun we had! Good conversations, meeting new people, dancing (lots of dancing!) and music by bandurists Zoya Shepko from Korinya Band and Maria Pleshkevich, and DJs Sheridan Grunn and Phil Oshinsky. The food catered by Lekker Catering was delicious and the weather, perfect. Beautiful gala photographs from the evening were taken by Mary Elliott-O’Haire. You can order your prints with this link: https://mohaire.smugmug.com/Southlands-Gala-2021/
We thank our all of our donors, sponsors and supporters from the bottom of our hearts!
Many thanks also to the 2021 Gala Committee: Allison King, Michele Tugade, Susie Williams, Tatiana Serafin, and Nicola Atherstone. Gala set up and take down would not have happened without the help of the following folks: Liz Quest, Liz Golden, Mel Dean, Eve D’Ambra, Lys Kursh, Leslie Daily, Ron Nelson, Judith Spellman, Lara Gillet, The Nieuwenhuizen family (Robert, Susan, Audrey), and Manuel Bautista. Jeffrey Cotter and his landscapers made the grounds look spectacular. And special thanks to the wonderful volunteers from Samaritan Daytop, who guided the parking with precision and helped set up the party, and strike the show the next day with very good cheer.
Save the Date! 2022 Sunset at Southlands will be Saturday, September 10. We look to seeing everyone there!
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY
We are excited to announce acclaimed New Yorker cartoonist and Southlands hero Liza Donnelly has made a special SIGNED print in honor of Southlands. She is selling them on her site with 50% of the proceeds to benefit Southlands. See link here.
The Nicole Marie Wiley Memorial Working Student Fund is continuing to accept donations in her honor. Nicole was a cherished member of TSF and we will remember her always. To donate: https://southlands.org/donate.
Read our August 2021 newsletter