On a mild July morning, riders in immaculate breeches and jackets guide horses with braided manes across the grass between a warm-up ring and a show ring. Families sit in chairs facing the show ring, while a cluster of horses and riders wait at the entrance gate for the Open English Equitation class to begin.
Over a loudspeaker come the results of the previous class, Novice English Road Hack. Ribbons are handed out to the contestants in the arena before they file out. Western classes will be held in the afternoon, featuring horses in tooled-leather saddles, with riders in spangled or fringed shirts.
Unlike at higher-level shows such as the HITS jumping circuit arena in Saugerties, or even the local county fairs, the atmosphere here at the Woodstock Riding Club (WRC) is relaxed. “It’s a low-pressure show for starting out with a young horse or a beginning rider,” says Chrissy Rider of Olivebridge, leading a slender yearling filly, who’s hopping sideways at the end of the lead rope. “She’s a little overstimulated,” says her owner, wiggling the rope to get the little palomino’s attention.
Chrissy’s daughter, Jasmine, rides up on a handsome bay horse that accompanied her to college. Now at the end of her sophomore year, she is enjoying being back at the showgrounds just outside of Woodstock where she competed as a child.
“Do those bell boots work for you?” Linda Neu, the club secretary, asks Jasmine, pointing to the rubber rings encircling each of the bay’s feet. “Oh, yes, they keep him from throwing his shoes,” says Jasmine. Neu’s horse Splash lost a shoe recently, and Linda is happy to get information from other horse owners on how to keep the shoes on his feet.
Annie, the daughter of club president Ralph VanKleeck, ambles over on Dudley Do-Right, the chestnut gelding she’s had for 10 years. While Annie is now 23 and enjoys competing at other local shows, she loves returning to the WRC. “It’s the perfect family-friendly atmosphere,” she explains. “This is the place to come for a relaxing day where the goal is to have fun with horses. Dudley loves it here. It’s his second home.”
Like many club members, Annie, who lives in Shokan, has often trailered her horse to the property to ride him in the grassy arenas, ideal for horse owners whose land does not have large spaces for riding. The grass footing is preferred by many riders to the dirt and sand floors of most show rings. There’s even a riding trail laid out through the woods and an obstacle course, which is part of some of the show classes.
Scott Booth walks up to greet his good friend Dudley, leaning his forehead against the horse’s muzzle. Scott’s mother, Jane, is the club treasurer. For years Jane was Annie’s riding instructor at the Booth property in Shandaken. Her only current student, 10-year-old Alyssa Heick, will be riding this afternoon in the Western walk-trot classes.
Although he is no longer riding, Scott fondly recalls that in his younger years, “This was home base for me. It was nice to compete and do well. And if a horse acts up here, it’s not the end of the world. You can use it as a teachable moment.” For a horse living with just one or two other equines, the shows provide an education in adapting to more activity, while young riders get used to being around their peers. Scott remembers forming a bond with a boy at his level, with a friendly rivalry developing between the two of them.
The Woodstock Riding Club was formed in 1947, when a group of local horse owners gathered to share their love of horses. They began by scheduling square dances and a late spring trail ride. About 20 riders and horses braved mud and cold, followed by lunch at the Calico Ranch in Lake Hill.
By October 1947, the WRC was incorporated, with a membership of 83. They began to organize horse shows and joined the American Horse Shows Association. In 1949, the club was offered an option on the tract of land at the base of Ohayo Mountain. Members each pledged several hundred dollars to purchase the land, and they built the barns that are still on the grounds, so competitors could have the option of renting stalls during shows. When Native American activists were riding their horses across the continent in the early 2000s, they stabled their mounts at the WRC for a stopover of a few days.
Over the years, the WRC has hosted about four horse shows each season, as well as clinics and special events. Each October, a Fall Fun Festival includes the usual equitation classes as well as games such as an egg-and-spoon race and a toilet paper race, in which two horses move side by side, while their riders try not to break the strip of toilet paper held between them.
Riders of all ages are welcome to compete in the shows, which are judged by a professional judge. A full roster of 60 or so classes covers different levels of ability, as well as jumping and driving. Fitting and Showmanship classes take place with the handlers on the ground, leading the horses into the ring and lining them up before the judge, as Chrissy does at the July show with her yearling, competing against Alyssa and 10-year-old Rose Hoffstatter of Hurley. Alyssa and Rose go on to ride in several Western walk-trot classes, in which they take turns winning the blue first-place ribbons. “She loves it here,” says Rose’s mother, Jen. “She loves the competitiveness, and she loves doing things with her horse. It’s a safe and non-stressful event. It’s good place to learn.”
For more information on the Woodstock Riding Club, or to become a member, visit https://woodstockridingclub.com or call Ralph VanKleeck at (845) 464-4240 or Linda Neu at 845-750-0467.
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