KDHamptons Party Diary: Photos From Stony Hill Stables Annual Dressage Benefit
Stony Hill Stables, owned and operated by the Hotchkiss family for more than five decades, hosted their Annual Benefit for the Stony Hill Stables Foundation on Saturday, June 21st with the express purpose of promoting excellence in equine sports through riding education and competitive opportunities for children and young adults in the East End.
Set on the pastoral grounds of Stony Hill Stables, located in Amagansett on bucolic Town Lane. Guests enjoyed a special Dressage Exhibition with narration, an exciting Pony Drill Team Presentation performed by the impressive young riders of Stony Hill Stables, and a rousing Dressage Pas de Deux finale performed by Grand Prix riders.
Stony Hill Stables is the only stable in Long Island to offer this unique scholarship program. Launched in the summer of 2012, the success of the Stony Hill Stables Foundation is evident by mounting ribbons. Gifted scholarship recipients have already earned ribbons in very prestigious horse shows, including the Sagaponack Horse Show, The Hampton Classic and the famed Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), held annually in Wellington, FL.
Adding to the excitement of the evening, Stony Hill Stables formally introduced their new trio of talented trainers: Ashley Lynott, (Director of the Camp), Katherine Byrd (Dressage Trainer) and Courtney Miller (Head Hunter/Jumper Trainer). Accomplished, competent and compassionate, this winning team of talented trainers are sure to inspire young Stony Hill Stables equestrians.
Haley and Jason Binn
The inspiration for the Stony Hill Stables Foundation came from Wick Hotchkiss, second-generation owner of Stony Hill Stables and United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Gold medalist. “As both an active member in the equestrian world and local Amagansett resident, it has been my life-long dream to make the equestrian experience more accessible in our community. The Stony Hill Stables Foundation was created to give back to our community by providing equestrian programs which will facilitate the growth of the sport on the East End” says Hotchkiss.
The foundation’s goal is to create essential opportunities for children and adults to connect with the community, grow physically and emotionally, while benefiting from a life enhancing experience. Scholarship applications for the 2014 season are currently being accepted. Local residents of Montauk, Amagansett, East Hampton, Sag Harbor, Southampton and West Hampton are encouraged to apply. For more information about Stony Hill Stables and the Stony Hill Stables Foundation, please visit the website or call: 631.267.3203. Scholarship applications are available at www.stonyhillstables.com
“Having access to horses and ponies is something everyone could benefit from, especially as a child. Stony Hill Stables Foundation seeks to touch more lives through providing access to their loving community of riders, trainers, ponies and horses that will hopefully someday make dreams come true.” – Christy Burns