Showjumping competition returns to Amenia for third year

AMENIA — The Discovery Land Company Masters returned to Keane Stud for the third year, drawing top horses and riders from all over the world.

Located at the top of Depot Hill Road is Keane Stud — an equestrian facility on which the Discovery Land Company Masters was held over the course of five days. Riders competed in showjumping classes ranging from 1 to 1.5 meters.

The biggest of the weekend — the 1.5 meter Discovery Land Company Grand Prix — is rated at a 3-star difficulty level by the Federation Equestre Internationale, the governing body of equestrian sports. Competitions of this level draw equestrians and their horses from all over the world, and the Masters is no different, with riders from Panama, Egypt, Israel, and more.

Horses are flown in and stable on site, with a number of them opting to stay the week in between the Masters and the Highlands Cup — also hosted by DLC at Keane Stud on the following weekend, Oct. 7 to Oct. 11.

The show also boasts riders from across the country, many making the trek from equine hub Wellington, Florida, including Kent Farrington. Farrington took home the $116,500.00 pot after winning the Discovery Land Co. Grand Prix jump off, with a blazing time of 34.23 seconds, on his horse Rexton. Second and third places were claimed by the U.S.’s Sloane Coles and Jaqueline Ruyle.

Alongside the competition, the Masters boasts an array of shops, art, and places to sit and enjoy the show. The shopping section is arranged alongside the back end of the arena, complete with a concession tent and a picnic area, where guests can pay $50 to enjoy the competition ringside, and a free kids area with a bounce house, face painting and pumpkin painting.

The shops are wide ranging in wares — boutique clothing and accessories, home goods, tack and equestrian essentials. One vendor, Natasha Tarasov, has had a pop up of her tack shop The Horse Connection in attendance at every Masters since the first in 2024.

Based in Bedford, New York, Natasha has been running the shop for 30 years. “This year has been a great experience” Tarasov said. “they’ve really blown it out of the park.”

She echoed a number of other shop owners in their praise of the Masters, especially Millbrook’s own Jessie Smith, coordinator of the event and owner of local pop up The Fizzy Filly. Tarasov voiced her thankfulness to the event for bringing in local tack vendors in an era where small tack shops are rapidly disappearing.

“I’ve been super lucky,” Tarasov said. “I have a great customer base, and I’m not going anywhere.”

There was also an installation of art within an enclosed gallery, at the event for its second year, curated by Brendan Murphy and advised by upstate New York-based Aphra Williams.

“I am blown away by the organization,” Williams said. “Everyone has been so lovely, and it’s been a lucrative weekend.”

Silo Ridge’s charity, the Silo Ridge Community Foundation, will receive portions of the proceeds from the artwork and auctioning of a 15-foot-tall bear sculpture resting atop the hill between the barn and the arena.

Meandering through the shops and grounds, two people stood out more than anyone else. The Hudson Valley’s own Pierre the Mime and Meatball the clown brought a comedic air to the event.

A Sunday exclusive, the pair played pranks on unsuspecting attendees, with Pierre tickling the unaware with a feather, and Meatball donning a loud Scottish Brogue.

“It’s my first time at a horse show, it’s been a lot of fun,” Meatball, who has been clowning since 2011, said. “Good kids and a quiet mime”.

Pierre proved difficult to interview solo, but a representative on site translated for the mime. The representative said Pierre had also never been to a horse show, but was delighted by how playful everyone was. A mime about town, Pierre has worked with the Ringling Bros., John Oliver, and the Kardashians, and has spent decades with the Big Apple Circus in the Clown Care Program. Before the Grand Prix class at the end of the day, Pierre could be seen entertaining riders during the course walk, popping between fences and galloping around like he was meant to be jumping the fences himself.

Photo by Kirsten Edlund-Tunkel