Discover the best in equine boarding, training and sales and participate in a long tradition of equestrianism in Dutchess County. Barns cater to a wide range of skill levels and disciplines, ensuring that every unique rider has a place to fit their needs. Dutchess County is also host to a number of qualified equine therapists.
Mashomack Polo Club
Briarcliff Lane, Pine Plains, NY
Located on a historic 19th-century dairy farm in Pine Plains, the Mashomack Polo Club is an idyllic place for polo players of all levels to gather, learn and compete. The club offers professional lessons and clinics for polo players and a Saturday coaching league where players of all levels come together to play in matches “designed to help you learn the rules and hone your game,” according to Mashomack’s website. More information on lessons and boarding is available on their website, www.mashomackpoloclub.com, or by contacting Polo Manager Juan Olivera at (561) 601-9316.
Southern Dutchess Equestrian Center
187 Robinson Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY
Southern Dutchess Equestrian Center offers a range of boarding services and lessons for riders of all skill levels. The 20 stall shed row barn boasts a heated tack room and refrigerator. Southern Dutchess aims to create a fun and relaxed atmosphere for riders, with a focus on keeping things “fun and rewarding for both rider and steed.” The barn also offers summer camps for children and serves as a venue for birthday parties.
Netherwood Acres
883 Netherwood Rd, Hyde Park, NY
This full service barn features a full cross-country course, indoor and outdoor rings and a close relationship with the Millbrook Hunt Club. Riders interested in show jumping, dressage, cross country and fox hunting can enjoy the barn’s facilities and join fox hunting meets at their leisure. Netherwood also offers sale services and lessons for riders of all levels.
Casper, Monty and Ollie enjoying grass and hay in one of the paddocks at Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue in Dover. Lucky Orphans takes abused, neglected or abandoned horses and other farm animals and provides them with care and a home until their final days.Provided
Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue
2699 Route 22, Dover Plains, NY
Unlike the rest of the facilities on this list, Lucky Orphans doesn’t lease out space to boarders. Rather, this barn is a nonprofit rescue for injured, abused and neglected animals to come and live out the rest of their days in stress-free bliss. Lucky Orphans hosts local children and school groups for educational events and runs an equine therapy program. The farm hosts regular line dancing nights in it’s converted indoor ring and on Oct. 25 will be hosting a Halloween party complete with a haunted hay ride through the woods.
Runnin Broke Ranch
123 Nottingham Road, Clinton Corners, NY
For those in need of western style equestrian training, Runnin Broke Ranch offers lessons and clinics in barrel racing and western disciplines. One hour private or group lessons are available for riders of all levels, even if they’ve never sat on a horse before. Runnin Broke also offers full and turnout board with discounts for multiple horses.
Mountain View Ranch
341 Maloney Road, Wappingers Falls, NY
This picturesque facility in Wappingers Falls features a 1/2 mile race track in addition to its indoor and outdoor rings. The 120 acre property is surrounded on all sides by farmland criss-crossed with trails. Mountain View Ranch offers full training board for its clients with access to all facilities and trails with breathtaking views of the Hudson Valley.
Uphill Dressage Center
45 Ice Pond Lane, Salt Point, NY
Uphill Dressage Center is dedicated to helping its clients become the best dressage riders they can be. The regulation size indoor arena is heated and features mirrors lining the walls so riders can watch and analyze their riding from every angle. The facility also has access to miles of trails for when riders want to get out of the ring.
Calypso Farm
25 Seelbach Lane, Staatsburg, NY
Calypso offers full service board and training to its clients and access to facilities including a large riding field, cross country course and 40 acres of trails. Lesson horses are available for riders that don’t have their own, or riders can bring their horse in for lessons.
Netherwood Acres in Hyde Park has a long relationship with the Millbrook Hunt Club. Kristen smith, the owner and head trainer, has sale horses, leased horses, and owners hunting three days a week. They have an expansive cross country field, outdoor show jumping arena, dressage arena, a large indoor arena, and trails available to ride over.Provided
Karina Powers teaches traditional dances from Mexico in Millbrook.
Powers received a master’s degree in Mexican folklore dance from Escuela de la Danza in Baja California, Mexico. Since moving to the United States, she has built a career in performance and teaching. She has not only served as a dance director and performed as a professional vernacular music singer in California, but she has also worked towards her Doctorate, which she will receive in October.
As the founder of her company, Powers works tirelessly to make sure her dancers have everything they need, including costumes, proper flooring, music and a space to practice. Her husband built wooden panels, called tarimas, for students to dance on with their folklórico shoes. Millbrook Mayor Peter F. Doro allows Powers and her group to practice in Millbrook Hall, where she brings the tarimas to every practice along with costumes and proper footwear.
Powers dreams of owning her own studio where she can practice with her group, offer more classes, store costumes and create a space for her dancers to do their hair and makeup before performances. She said she hopes people learn about her classes so her company can grow and she can teach dances from a wider range of Mexican states while having greater access to traditional dress.
As a single mother and professor, Powers’ mother, Carmen Méndez, put her children in dance classes and signed them up for track and field, always keeping them goal- and career-oriented. She helped Powers with her company by creating all of the costumes her dancers wear in their performances. After her mother’s death in 2021, Powers said she has dedicated herself to carrying forward the passion, work ethic and love of dance her mother instilled in her.
“I miss her terribly, and I’m here because of her,” Powers said. “That’s why I want to do this, because of her. She gave me a lot, with the costumes, with her support. I do it for my mom.”
Karina Powers and her students practice in Millbrook Hall.Lucia Iandolo
Dancers in Powers’ group are dedicated to learning the art of dance from different states in Mexico on Tuesday and Friday nights at Millbrook Hall. They travel from many different places in New York to participate, with some dancers traveling more than an hour to make it to rehearsal each week.
“It’s a lot of work, but they learn it. I believe they love it, and it’s a way to come together, to do something good, to do something healthy, and to have people around you who appreciate this kind of art,“ Powers said.
Powers has studied with professor Eloy Jiménez Figueroa since childhood and said his mentorship inspired her to become the teacher she is today. She added that while she may not be the best teacher, she learned from the best.
While living in California, Powers taught elementary, high school and college students, as well as adults. She was recruited to teach traditional Mexican folkloric dance because of the region’s large Mexican community. Today, she encourages people of all backgrounds to explore the rich traditions of Mexican dance.
“This type of dance is not only for people from Mexico,” Powers said. “This is an art and the arts unite nations.”
Powers hopes to continue sharing that art in Millbrook and one day teach in the Millbrook Central School District. Powers and her group will perform at the Millbrook Library on Nov. 21, presenting traditional Mexican dances and inviting audience members to participate.
As a professor, dancer and singer, Powers stays grounded by believing in something greater than herself. She says that praying and putting herself in the hands of God has helped anchor her. She hopes to teach and dance for as long as her body allows.
“My mom, for me, is an angel. I put myself in her hands, and I have faith,” Powers said. “I have faith that God, or something good, is going to be there for the group and for myself.”
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