name of Lendon Gray's farm?

[Fiat Lux]

Can anyone tell me the name of Lendon Gray's farm in Bedford, NY? I've searched but can't find a name.
Thanks!

[Touchstone Farm,Ky]

Gleneden Dressage at Sunnyfield farm. Beautiful place!

[Carol Ames]

Didn't Sunnyfield used to be a hunter/jumper barn? I seem to remember stopping in there to look at a pony :winkgrin:in the seventies.

[Janet]

Didn't Sunnyfield used to be a hunter/jumper barn? I seem to remember stopping in there to look at a pony :winkgrin:in the seventies.
By the mid-late seventies (after Mrs McIntosh died) it became a hunter jumper barn. But before that, it was dresasge, eventers, and jumpers.

It was built by Mrs. McIntosh, an A&P heiress, and the mother of Karen McIntosh (later Karen MxIntosh Collins) who rode on the US dressage team at the Rome or Tokyo Olympics. One of Mrs. McIntosh's grandsons posts here. They grew hydroponic oats to feed the horses.

It was where the USET trained before they built Gladstone. In the 50s, it is where Richared Watjen taught classical dressage, not only to the dressage riders, but also to the jumpers (e.g., Bill Steinkraus) and eventers (e.g., Mike Page).

It was one of the first places in the US to have and breed Lippizaners, and they were active in breeding QH and QH x TB (before the establishment of the "Appendix" registry) for the FEI sports. They also ran their own Pony Club branch, which was later absorbed into the Goldens Bridge Hounds PC.

Even after the USET moved to NJ, it continued to teach classical dressage. Werner Platzer (originally from the SRS IIRC) taught at the Pony Club as well as at Sunnyfield, and taught me the foundations of dressage. A single "Yavol" from him was worth any number of blue ribbons. "Zoul" Zavulovitch (sp?) was another classical dressage instructor there in the 60s.

They had at least one jumper that competed at the Garden

After Gillian and I shared a leased pony for a year, both my first horse (Golden Rocket) and Gillian's first horse (Meadow Lark) were school horse from Sunnyfield. Rocket had some of his initial training by Mike Page, and the other team members who were "in residence" when he was young. I have a post somewhere on the (extremely unconventional) purchase process-
http://chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?p=1289801

After Mrs McIntosh died in the early 70s, there was some fear it would be developed, but instead it turned into a hunter/jumper barn. I lost touch, and do not know the progression from h/j back to dressage.

[Horsepower]

Here's a website that explains the history of the farm. Apparently, it just escaped the housing developers by lots of luck.

http://www.bedfordweb.net/brla/brla503.htm

[jillsen]

This is my first post to this forum and I am happy to have found it.

I learned to ride at Sunnyfield Farm in Bedford, NY, now Lenden Grey's place. I was totally horse crazy and my parents had no idea where that came from, as there were no horse people in my family. I started taking lessons as young as possible, this was in the early- to mid-60's. After a few years, they offered me membership in their own Pony Club, which was not at that time affiliated with USPC, although I believe it had been earlier. It was a wonderful thing for a kid like me, without a horse of my own. I did chores there for a year, whenever I was not in school, before getting assigned to a non-school horse to ride in P.C., 6 days a week! It was a wonderful experience that lasted a few years. The place went into a decline and I believe closed down for awhile in the early '70's.

I read in Janet's post about Meadow Lark - I remember her! I never rode her, but I do remember her. I remember Werner Platzer. He always had a smile and a friendly word. I also remember Alex Zovoulivich (sp). He did not want us kids to call him "Zoul," but we did anyway. I remember also Karen McIntosh. She was older than I was, but she was there. Also Marilyn...whose name escapes me right now. George Tosic (sp), a German man, was also one of our instructors.

Later on, I rode at Salem View Farm, and Karen McIntosh was there at that time.

I often wonder if I will ever have any contact with any of the kids who rode at Sunnyfield with me, in the late 1960's.

Glad to be here!
Jillsen

[blackhorse6]

Ok may be very wrong here but didn't the farm recently become HW Dressage?

[whicker]

Come join us!

I am really enjoying your memories. Please tell us more. When you talk about the experience and the riders and teachers, it is like a stone thrown in a pond. The ripples of influence reach out to the rest of us and tie into our experiences. You were so fortunate to learn from these teachers.

I was learning to ride from reading a book, School for Young Riders, while sitting on my connemarra pony. I didn't know that there was this kind of riding until the 70's when a former us penetathlon team rider, Col.Wilson, took me under his wing. I assumed that the Spanish Riding School was a ballet dream and I had no chance to learn to do it.

I rode with Don Sachey for many years, so I am further down the ripples, in the Le Goff era.

[Lendon Gray]

Fun to hear about the Sunnyfield Farm of yore. Interesting side note, Karen McIntosh Collins was my riding instructor my senior year at the private school I went to in MA (where I lived in Maine the high schools had no college prep courses). Her husband apparently had been a groom and MOM wasn't pleased when they married. Anyway, they disappeared one night in November (they took all their things with them) and I ended up being the instructor the rest of the year. If you're ever bored google Mrs. McIntosh -- a fascinating lady.

After 45 years of being part (mostly person in charge) of large boarding training facilities, in 4 days 1 1/2 hours I will be free of that. Heather Ward (HW Dressage) is taking over Sunnyfield. I will continue to teach there -- things will change very little. But it takes the responsibility off of my shoulders and also frees me up to do a few more clinics, committee work, etc. Might even take a vacation -- I've had three since my career started -- two when I won roundtrip tickets to Europe in two horse shows.

If you are ever in the area you should visit this beautiful old farm.

[Mike Matson]

I've had the privilege to do two of my "Ride to Music" clinics at the farm. It is really nice as are the people there. And of course I paid a visit to Lendon's office just to gawk at all the historical photos and memorabilia. However, I knew better than to sit in Lendon's instructor chair in the arena. :)

[Janet]

This is my first post to this forum and I am happy to have found it.

I learned to ride at Sunnyfield Farm in Bedford, NY, ....

I read in Janet's post about Meadow Lark - I remember her! I never rode her, but I do remember her.

I often wonder if I will ever have any contact with any of the kids who rode at Sunnyfield with me, in the late 1960's.

Glad to be here!
Jillsen
Meadow had an effective buck when she chose to use it, and she was a prime contributor to the "I fell off" fund (25 cents IIRC).

Other horses I remember were Red Pepper and Black Pepper.

Other riders I remember are the Goldfinger twins (Nancy and Carol), Janis Kuehn, Betsy something.

[Janet]

Her husband apparently had been a groom and MOM wasn't pleased when they married.
THAT is an understatement.

[Carol Ames]

when I was living and working in Greenwich I used to drive over in he evenings to watch lessons taught by a Medal/Maclay finalist/ winner(?) I wish I had known about the dressage training going on there ; I have fond memories of the Pepperidge farm wagon coming by:yes:;) and giving us all loaves of bread!:yes:

[jillsen]

I rode both Black Pepper and Red Pepper! Black Pepper only a few times, but Red Pepper was my pony club horse for about a year.

I remember Nancy and Carol Goldfinger and Janis Kuehn. Betsy...not ringing a bell. Buffy Hartman was there, too. She and I were the last two in Sunnyfield's pony club.

Meadow had an effective buck when she chose to use it, and she was a prime contributor to the "I fell off" fund (25 cents IIRC).

Other horses I remember were Red Pepper and Black Pepper.

Other riders I remember are the Goldfinger twins (Nancy and Carol), Janis Kuehn, Betsy something.

[jillsen]

Come join us!

Thank you for the warm welcome! I love these old memories myself...

Let's see. I remember Mrs. Josephine McIntosh. She lived way up on the hill above Sunnyfield and she would drive down from time to time, and it was expected that all us pony club kids would be extremely polite and respectful of her. She was revered and feared. I never knew her in any other capacity than that.

The facility was beautiful!!! Still is. I took my daughter there a few years back when we visited the area. We live in western Colorado where most people ride Western and rodeo is king. We have a very small U.S. Pony Club chapter here, though...

I remember when it was really hot, we would go on trail rides, just at the walk, and there were so many beautiful trails with soft footing. There were also lots of dirt roads in the area we would ride on. Sunnyfield also had lots of fields to ride in, many of which had cross country jumps in the fencelines connecting them.

Other horses I remember are: Itch (real name Flying Saucer), Nordlandia, Patricia, Kingswood (nicknamed Woo), Tenacious Mike, of course Red Pepper and Black Pepper, already mentioned. High Hopes (Wally). School horses were Sprite, Misty, Pale Moon, Baby, Mambo, Bokar.

I learned to jump on Kingswood. They said he was a thoroughbred. He was 14.2, though, a pony. Anyway, he had a temperatment that suggested some thoroughbred. He would run at the jumps, and I remember George Tosic saying, "don't let him running!" As if I could stop him.


[QUOTE=whicker;4124227]Come join us!

I am really enjoying your memories. Please tell us more. When you talk about the experience and the riders and teachers, it is like a stone thrown in a pond. The ripples of influence reach out to the rest of us and tie into our experiences. You were so fortunate to learn from these teachers.

I was learning to ride from reading a book, School for Young Riders, while sitting on my connemarra pony. I didn't know that there was this kind of riding until the 70's when a former us penetathlon team rider, Col.Wilson, took me under his wing. I assumed that the Spanish Riding School was a ballet dream and I had no chance to learn to do it.

I rode with Don Sachey for many years, so I am further down the ripples, in the Le Goff era.

[jillsen]

Hi, Lendon,

Godo for you for getting some more free time. I was hoping to go East this summer and Sunnyfield is definitely on my agenda! But that trip may be postponed till next year.

If you are looking for a good vaction place, you might want to consider Colorado! Where I live, it never gets too hot, and no humidity! There is a guest house at our equine facility you could stay at.

Good luck to you!
Jill Steele, D.C.,
Many Mountains Pony Club
Gunnison, CO

Fun to hear about the Sunnyfield Farm of yore. Interesting side note, Karen McIntosh Collins was my riding instructor my senior year at the private school I went to in MA (where I lived in Maine the high schools had no college prep courses). Her husband apparently had been a groom and MOM wasn't pleased when they married. Anyway, they disappeared one night in November (they took all their things with them) and I ended up being the instructor the rest of the year. If you're ever bored google Mrs. McIntosh -- a fascinating lady.

After 45 years of being part (mostly person in charge) of large boarding training facilities, in 4 days 1 1/2 hours I will be free of that. Heather Ward (HW Dressage) is taking over Sunnyfield. I will continue to teach there -- things will change very little. But it takes the responsibility off of my shoulders and also frees me up to do a few more clinics, committee work, etc. Might even take a vacation -- I've had three since my career started -- two when I won roundtrip tickets to Europe in two horse shows.

If you are ever in the area you should visit this beautiful old farm.

[Janet]

I rode both Black Pepper and Red Pepper! Black Pepper only a few times, but Red Pepper was my pony club horse for about a year.

I remember Nancy and Carol Goldfinger and Janis Kuehn. Betsy...not ringing a bell. Buffy Hartman was there, too. She and I were the last two in Sunnyfield's pony club.
Maybe I am misremembering and it was Buffy, not Betsy. Long time ago.

I just found Carol Goldfinger's email, and I need to drop her an email.

[BAC]

I rode with Don Sachey for many years, so I am further down the ripples, in the Le Goff era.

Whicker, I know Don well, when did you ride with him? I grew up riding at his mother's riding school and just saw him a couple of weeks ago, he does about three clinics a year on LI and always stays at my home when he's here.

I am really enjoying everyone's stories about Sunnyfield. As a horse crazy young girl in the 1960s I remember reading a horse-related article in American Girl magazine and my only memory is that it was photographed at Sunnyfield Farm, Bedford, NY. The pictures looked as though they were horse heaven and far beyond anything I had ever seen in real life. Imagine my surprise when 20 years later I am working for a family who moved to Bedford. On my first visit there we drive by a beautiful farm with a Sunnyfield Farm sign hanging outside, I couldn't believe it. Unfortunately I have still never had the opportunity to visit but I'm happy to hear that it still contains horses and not a housing development.

[jillsen]

Janet, If you do email Carol Goldfinger, tell her Jill Carlsen says hello. We'll see if she remembers me. I think I was a bit closer to Nancy....

I also remember Nina Cipolla, she had her pony named Heaven Sent. One of the few in the pony club at Sunnyfield Farm to have her own horse. We had everything supplied: each horse there had its own tack, there were grooming implements, tack cleaning supplies, blankets and sheets and coolers for the horses. All we supplied was our own personal gear. Imagine my shock when, after a 30-year hiatus, I got back into "the horse thing" and had to acquire so much stuff!

Janet, did you ride in Sunnyfield's pony club? Why don't I remember you?

Jill

[Nancy_P]

Well, I'm so glad I found this site and all of you. I rode at Sunnyfield during the early 60's until just about the time Karen and Dave left. I can't remember the times. Jillsen, boy you have a good memory about the instructors and all that were there. I was Nancy Pollock then, and rode mostly Rocket in the Pony Club and horse shows. He was great. I also rode Yellow Jacket. Horses yes, you are good, Red & Black Pepper, Meadlowlark, and Nina. I was working at Green Chimney School for a time teaching in the afternoons and at night when I found out that her husband was working there. We talked and Nina came in to say hi. She started working there also, she may still be there. I moved from NY in 1988 down to Sarasota, Fl, mainly was sick of the weather and now live in Paradise, I think. Anyway, if anyone has any contact with Darryl Smiley, Dee Burns was working up at Salem View Farms when I went up to work there with Karen and Dave back in about 1968. I've lost contact with all since moving. And yes, I rode with Nancy and Carol Goldfinger. Say hi to them for me Janet if you talk to them. I'd luv to stay in touch.

[carolprudm]

After 45 years of being part (mostly person in charge) of large boarding training facilities, in 4 days 1 1/2 hours I will be free of that. Heather Ward (HW Dressage) is taking over Sunnyfield. I will continue to teach there -- things will change very little. But it takes the responsibility off of my shoulders and also frees me up to do a few more clinics, committee work, etc. Might even take a vacation -- I've had three since my career started -- two when I won roundtrip tickets to Europe in two horse shows.



WOW, have a WONDERFUL time and be sure to visit the Richmond VA area.

PS, we still haven't paved our dirt road but I did replace the Trooper. Next time you need a ride my truck will be CLEAN! Yes, i'm still embarassed about that