wagmag May 2011

may 2011

Mane

the

event

Chazz Palminteri opens up Hermès Par excellence

Exquisite accoutrements

Lady G

... as in Godiva

Stable economy

From boarding to blacksmithing

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White South Sea cultured pearl necklace in 18k gold.

Celebrating 25 Years

May 2011

HORSE PLAY 12 THE LADY VANQUISHES 14 FATAL BEAUTY 16 MAN O’ WAR 22 THE AESTHETIC HORSEMAN 24 saddled in HISTORY 30 building character the pony club way 31 manes and tales 40 all in the birdstone family 42 an eternal horsewoman 43 TODAY’S VILLAGE SMITHY 44 BEYOND THE BACKCOUNTRY 47 A BEDFORD TALE 56 A STABLE ENVIRONMENT 60 RIDING TO OLYMPIC GOLD 62 this doc makes barn calls 64 BREEZY RIDERS 65 TRAINING TO RIDE 66 NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS 68 saddle up in style Gianna Palminteri with Baylee, also pictured on the cover, at Birdstone Farm in Cross River.

time Aid for Africa

The Elisa Lanera Foundation will host its second annual Day of Golf and Dinner Banquet at the Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Course in the Bronx Thursday, May 19, at noon. The Westchester-based foundation was founded by Jaymie Lanera in honor of her mother Elisa Lanera, who was killed by a drunk driver, to help raise awareness and funds for safe surgical and health care procedures in African countries. Tickets are $153. For information, visit elfhelpsafrica.org.

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Books and Cooks

The Greenburgh Public Library Foundation will hold one gastronomical gathering complete with literary tour and local author meet-and-greet Monday, May 23, from 6 to 9 p.m., at the Greenburgh Public Library. The “Books & Cooks” fundraiser will feature culinary contributions from vendors ranging from X2O Xaviars on the Hudson to The Great American BBQ Co., and 42 Restaurant. Tickets are $125. For information, call (914) 747-0519.

Centennial Celebration

Join the New Rochelle Humane Society Thursday, June 9, for a 100th anniversary celebration at Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Special guests include Brandon Hannan from “The Sopranos,” Prince Lorenzo Borghese, cosmetics entrepreneur and animal advocate, and Maria Milito, radio personality to Q104.3 FM. Tickets are $100. For information, call (914) 6322925.

2379 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield 203.374-6157

May 2011

18 wear

Features

Hermès’ equestrian chic.

20 wear

Time and time again.

26 wares

They really do shoot horses.

51 way

Our “Home of the Month” in Somers evokes several bygone eras.

69 way’s hot blocks

Crossing Greenwich Avenue.

74 wheels

Miller Motorcars in Greenwich.

76 week

Unforgettable rides – for the body and soul.

80 wine & dine

Wines for entertaining in horse country.

82 well

Common sense in health care.

84 well

In health care, think before you leap.

86 time

Upcoming events.

89 worthy

Stables, boarding, training and shopping.

91 wise

No such thing as a sure bet.

92 watch

We’re out and about.

95 wit

We wonder: What’s your idea of horsing around?

96 class & sass

With Martha Handler and Jennifer Pappas.

waggers

8 Meet the visitors 10 Editor’s letter

WAGvertisers a-dress the Issue - 71 a-dresstheissue.com Advanced Dentistry of Westchester P.L.L.C. Inside back cover adofw.com The Best Little Hair Salon In Rye - 93 thebestlittlehairsaloninrye.com Caffé Azzuri - 91 caffeazzurri.com Cappy’s Travel - 77 travel-by-net.com Cherylyn Salon North - 25 cherylynsalon.com Clotilde The Dress Shop - 65 kristinclotilde.com Cohens Fashion Optical - 73 cohensfashionoptical.com The Courtyard Farm - 63 David Bravo Photographs - 82 davidbravo.com The Designer Showhouse of Westchester - 81 cpwestchester.org Desires by Mikolay - 11 desiresbymikolay.com Doherty & Deleo Dev., L.L.C. - 65 Eye Designs - 93 eyedesignswestchester.com eyedesignsarmonk.com Fairfield Equine - 58 fairfieldequine.com Farriers Fix Hoof Oil - 86 farriersfix.com Fox Ridge Farm - 38 foxridgefarmct.com Grand Prix Equine - 62 grandprixequine.com Green With Envy - 19 Greenwich Hospital Inside front cover greenwichhospital.org The Greenwich Medical Skincare & Laser Spa - 71, 84 greenwichmedicalspa.com Greenwich Polo Club - 33 greenwichpoloclub.com Gregory Shagian & Son, Inc. - 89 gsawning.com

Holistic Med Spa & Laser - 79 holisticmedicalspa.com Hudson Valley Surgical Group, L.L.P. - 85 hudsonvalleysurgeons.com IAAM Medical wellness Center - 60 iaamed.com Jaafar Tazi - 72 jaafartazi.com Kaplow Insurance Agency - 60 kaplowinsurance.com King Barns - 57 kingbarns.com L3 Couture - 78 l3couture.com LA Boxing - 69 laboxing.com/mamaroneck Lenox Jewelers - 3 LifeWorx - 88 lifeworx.com Lux Bond & Green - 72, 73 lbgreen.com Lv2bfit & Susan Blake - 83 Miller & Associates - 46 miller-dvm.com Moderne Barn - 21 modernebarn.com Neil S. Berman Inc. - 22 neilsberman.com New Country Audi - 71, 75 newcountryaudi.com New England Equine Practice - 42 neequine.com The New York Pops - 9 newyorkpops.org Northern Westchester Hospital Back Cover nwhsurgicalweightloss.org Old Salem Farm - 55 oldsalemfarm.net ONS - Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery Specialists P.C. - 61, 72 onsmd.com On Stage @ The Paramount - 15 paramountcenter.org Pastiche - 70 Paulo’s Atelier Hair Salon - 6 paulosatelier.com Penny Pincher - 76 pennypincherconsignment.com

Our Lady Godiva, Anne-Marie Nordgren Stewart, is a real Renaissance woman. A lifelong equestrian, she grew up riding in New Canaan and has enjoyed the country life in northern Westchester, with her chickens, dogs and cats as well, for 25 years. A former writer/editor and Wall Streeter, Anne-Marie has been a Realtor for Coldwell Banker in Katonah for the past 10 years. When not riding, you’ll find her warbling as lead singer for the country-rock band Barnstorm! (barnstormband.com).

Wig courtesy of Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford.

Susan Barbash, Marcia Pflug and Jed Wilson

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Petersen Fine Arts - 28 petersenfinearts.com R&M Woodrow Jewelers - 1 woodrowjewelers.com Ridgefield Equestrian Center - 44 ridgefieldequestriancenter.com The Royal Closet - 26 royalcloset.com Saadia Sullivan Design - 16 saadiasullivan.com Saw Mill Club - 87 sawmillclub.com Shope Reno Wharton - 36 shoperenowharton.com Soleil Toile - 73 soleiltoile.com Stony Creek Farm - 34 Stony Meadows - 40 stonymeadowsct.com Summit Farm - 32 summitfarmny.com Tahiti Street - 71 tahitistreet.com Terri Optics - 25 terrioptics.com Transform - 5 gotransform.com Tru Grace - 29 Vein Clinics of America - 72, 82 veinclinics.com Vincent & Whittemore Real Estate - 59 vinwhit.com Warren-Tricomi - 70 warrentricomi.com Westchester Broadway Theatre - 10 broadwaytheatre.com Westchester Care At Home - 86 westchestercareathome.org White Cloud Charter L.L.C. - 7 whitecloudcharter.com WJBarry Horse Transportation Inc. - 50 White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival - 16 whiteplainsoutdoorartsfestival.com Wright Brothers Builders, Inc. - 39 wrightbuild.com

Our WAG-savvy sales directors will assist you in optimizing your message to captivate and capture your audience.

Contact them at (914) 358-0746.

速

curly

cute.

PUBLISHER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR Dee DelBello FOUNDING PUBLISHER Mary Ann Liebert EDITOR IN CHIEF Georgette Gouveia

)

)

EDITOR Bob Rozycki

,

,

) )

,, , , , , ,, , ,, ,

ART DIRECTOR Caitlin Nurge DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY David Bravo SENIOR STAFF EDITOR Kelly Liyakasa CLASS & SASS COLUMNISTS Martha Handler • Jennifer Pappas STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Ryan Doran • Bill Fallon • Bob Rozycki MEDICAL SPECIALISTS Dr. Michael Rosenberg • Dr. Erika Schwartz

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FINANCIAL SPECIALIST Scott Weinfeld FEATURES ADVISER David Hochberg STYLIST Patricia Espinosa CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Nancy Boyer • Jane K. Dove • Bill Fallon • Andi Gray • Geoff Kalish, MD Emily Liebert • Jené Luciani • Barbara Nachman • Mary Shustack • Bobbe Stultz PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Alison Kouzmanoff RESEARCH DIRECTOR Alissa Frey CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Sylvia Sikoutris DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING Susan Barbash DIRECTOR OF SALES CONNECTICUT Marcia Pflug

You want to look amazing.

We want to make that happen.

Taking advantage of every tool in the business. It’s just what an artist does.

And what you should expect from us. All the time.

725 Bedford Road Bedford Hills, NY 10507 914.666.2800 www.paulosatelier.com 6

SALES REPRESENTATIVE Jed Wilson WAG A division of Westfair Communications Inc. 3 Gannett Drive, White Plains, NY 10604 Telephone: (914) 358-0746 Facsimile: (914) 694-3699 Website: (under reconstruction) Email: ggouveia@westfairinc.com All news, comments, opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations in WAG are those of the authors and do not constitute opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations of the publication, its publisher and its editorial staff. No portion of WAG may be reproduced without permission.WAG is distributed at select locations, mailed directly and is available at $12 a year for home or office delivery. To subscribe, call (914) 694-3600, ext. 3020. All advertising inquiries should be directed to Susan Barbash at (914) 358-0746 or email sbarbash@ westfairinc.com. Advertisements are subject to review by the publisher and acceptance for WAG does not constitute an endorsement of the product or service. WAG (Issn: 1931-6364) is published monthly and is owned and published by Westfair Communications Inc. Dee DelBello, CEO, dd@thewagonline.com Marie Orser, Chief Financial Officer Barbara Hanlon, Associate Publisher Anne Jordan, Sales Manager Caryn McBride, Executive Editor Bob Rozycki, Editor

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visiting waggers waggers

DAVID BRAVO

RYAN DORAN

Nancy Boyer

has been a professional horsewoman in Bedford since 1984. Recently, her focus is long-distance trail riding. She received a doctorate in educational psychology from the CUNY Graduate Center in 2010. In her free time, she enjoys training her two Rottweilers in American Kennel Club tracking and obedience.

emily liebert,

former WAG editor-in-chief, is an award-winning, internationally published writer and the author of “Facebook Fairytales.” She edited Kerry Kennedy’s New York Times best-seller “Being Catholic Now” and was honored at Literary Feast 2010 among today’s most distinguished authors. Liebert appears regularly on national television, including “The Today Show” and “Rachael Ray,” when she’s not chasing after her 19-month-old and 9-month-old sons.

Andi gray says: “Horsemanship was a gift given to me by my

mother, and I have watched my daughter grow into a talented horsewoman. I have learned life lessons from horses about consistency, love and patience.” She applies these lessons to her everyday life as president and founder of Strategy Leaders Inc., a business consulting firm in Chappaqua.

Mary shustack,

a lifelong journalist, spent most of her career writing features for The Journal News before joining Westfair Communications this spring. She loves writing about the people and places of this region, where she’s always lived. And no matter how busy the days are, she always makes time to check out a funky boutique or antiques shop.

PATRICIA ESPINOSA

in Katonah for seven years and vice regional supervisor of the United States Pony Club’s Metropolitan Region for four years. She began riding at the age of 6 and still rides today. She lives in Katonah with her husband.

8

scott weinfeld,

an attorney turned financial adviser, is a group director and vice president of investments with Signature Securities Group, located in Westchester County. But he’s also known for his quick wit, ability to provide comic relief and mastery of useless trivia. Scott lives in Goldens Bridge with wife, Ilene, and sons Danny and Jack. You can often find him on the Lewisboro baseball fields, pitching batting practice, coaching and cheering for their teams.

Bill fallon

Alissa frey

martha handler

GEOFF KALISH

KELLY LIYAKASA

JENÉ LUCIANI

BARBARA NACHMAN

Jennifer pappas

MICHAEL ROSENBERG

ERIKA SCHWARTZ

Bobbe Stultz was the director of the Honey Hollow Pony Club

JANE K. DOVE

Joe Marcus

Luke Redmond

oNliNe AUCTioN Over Forty Prizes including

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9

“

SINGIN ’… IS A RAVE .

entertaining, lavish, technically brilliant” – John F Bailey, White Plains CitizeNetReporter

NOW ON STAGE STARRING

JEREMY BENTON as Don Lockwood (42nd Street, White Christmas, Mame, Anything Goes) SHANNON M. O’BRYAN as Kathy Seldon (42nd Street, White Christmas, Gypsy, Grease) CODY WILLIAMS as Cosmo Brown (Oklahoma, Hairspray, Yank)

America’s Favorite Song & Dance Musical!

The delightful romantic comedy based on the classic MGM film. A light and breezy story with a great sense of humor and unforgettable songs, including the dance spectacular, “Singin’ In The Rain” – performed on our stage IN THE RAIN!

WBT LOW TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A COMPLETE MEAL & SHOW

Your delicious served lunch or dinner will feature rolls, salad, your choice from a variety of entrees, dessert, and fresh ground coffee or tea.

THE FANTASTICAL MAGICAL MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA

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FIRE AND ICE – JUNE 6 AND 7

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STEVE LIPPIA – SAT., JUNE 18

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FRANKIE VALLI TRIBUTE – SAT., JUNE 25

GODFATHERS OF COMEDY ADULT COMEDY – SAT., JULY 2

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A

From the editor Georgette Gouveia

horse is a horse, of course, of course.

Except, of course, when it’s more than a horse, as you’ll discover in the pages of WAG this month.

Here you’ll encounter the stables, farms, trails, saddle shops and especially the people that make WAG country horse country.

That’s no small thing. Judging from the quantity and quality of premiere events and championship breeders, trainers and riders we met along the bridle path, this is a big business that enriches the coffers of Westchester and Fairfield counties in ways we couldn’t have imagined before we plunged into our research.

We must admit here that some of us were skeptical when our fearless leader – publisher and creative director Dee DelBello – proposed an issue on horses. (Perhaps that’s because many of us didn’t know a paddock from a pasture.) Take Dana Ramos. In the stirring reporter’s notebook that accompanies her roundup of horse farms, she readily acknowledges that she balked at the assignment. But trouper that she is, she saddled up – so to speak – and discovered a world of enchantment that she recalls to life in her prose.

Dana isn’t the only one. Professional rider and guest contributor Nancy Boyer makes you feel as if you’re out on one of Bedford’s bucolic trails with her. Mary Shustack – another new contributor and editor of our sister publication Generations – takes us along on a shopping jaunt up and down Greenwich Avenue. You can almost taste the fennel-crusted sea scallops at The Ginger Man. And speaking of taste, regular Jené Luciani gives us more than one as she shares vino and conversation with the dynamic actor Chazz Palminteri and his beautiful wife, Gianna, at their gracious Bedford home. (My favorite Chazz performance – the customs agent in “The Usual Suspects.”)

There’s a tremendous sense of place in

these stories. And of flow. Kelly Liyakasa, who reports on stately Sleepy Hollow Stables at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club, speaks of “synergy.” Her story complements Dana’s. Another of Dana’s pieces, on farrier (blacksmith) Paul Heller, echoes Mary’s story on saddle shops. Mary’s article on timepieces in turn picks up on Barbara Nachman’s saucy take on Hermès, Polo Ralph Lauren and equestrian chic.

The idea of things being all of a piece in this edition stems in part from a team that brought its A game to a daunting challenge. But there is also no good writing without a great subject. The horse – whose modern group originated on this continent 12 million years ago – is one of the best. While the dog may be more immediately accessible, no animal has done more for man than the horse.

Or offered such a complex portrait. The horse is at once steady and skittish, disciplined and wild, powerful and fragile. It is, in other words, us. Maybe that’s why Natasha Tarasov of The Horse Connection, a Bedford shop, says “That relationship between a person and a horse — that’s why we all do this.”

Not everyone is enamored of the horse.

Leave it to Martha and Jen, our Sass and Class duo, to turn a comically jaundiced eye on the proceedings. The pair is down with mint juleps, picture hats and other accoutrements of the racing season. But horses? Not so much.

Although they do like a good riding crop.

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WAG THANKS horsewomen Andi Gray and Bobbe Stultz for their help in compiling the resources necessary to put this edition together.

And SPECIAL THANKS to Lee Manning-Vogelstein, owner of Birdstone Farm in Cross River, and its manager, Kristin Currid, for their extraordinary hospitality and patience in dealing with the photo shoots there.

We’d also like to thank the horses –Baylee, Tallulah, LadyHawke, Remy and Alex. They, too, exhibited great patience and grace.

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Vanquishes the lady

Godiva’s horseback ride still inspires

By Georgette Gouveia Photograph by David Bravo

W

hat if the members of Congress were to take their cue from Lady

Godiva?

The tax code would probably still be a mess, but oh, it would be so much more entertaining.

Legend has it that burdensome taxes led Lady Godiva, an 11th-century Anglo-Saxon noblewoman, to doff her duds and ride through the streets of Coventry clad only in her cascading tresses.

It seems that the lady’s hubby, 12

Leofric – Earl of Mercia but not of mercy – had imposed heavy taxes on his people, which his wife attempted to repeal in vain. Finally, Leofric said he would cede to her entreaties if she would ride naked through the city.

Commanding the people to stay indoors – and away from the windows – Godiva took up the challenge. She was spied by only one person, the man who gave his name to the phrase “Peeping Tom.” While the lady herself was real enough, historians doubt that

Coventry was city enough in those days to support much in the way of taxation, fair or otherwise. (Interestingly, the only recorded tolls were on horses.)

Still, that hasn’t stopped art – recognizing a potent combo of sex symbols – from rushing in where history fears to tread. Lady Godiva has inspired paintings, sculptures, posters, poems, novels, movies, episodic TV, songs, lyrics and certainly plenty of photographs, like our evocative shot of Anne-Marie Nordgren

Stewart, perhaps contemplating the most mythic ride this side of Paul Revere.

Who could forget that line from the theme song of the groundbreaking ’70s series “Maude”? “Lady Godiva was a freedom rider. She didn’t care if the whole world looked.” (Actually, she did.) OK, so it lacks the burnished fin de siècle beauty of John Collier’s circa 1897 painting, in which a demure Godiva reluctantly – and thus all the more heroically – takes up

her undraped quest. Still, that “Maude” lyric is pretty good.

Not as good as John Thomas’ sculpture of Lady Godiva, with all that rippling drapery and hair – human and equine.

Often overlooked when discussing Godiva hommages is Godiva Chocolatier. Each year the company produces a limited edition tin and mug celebrating its equestrian namesake. The 2011 variation features a decidedly modern Godiva swathed in golden locks and arabesques.

The company’s swirling gold embossed logo on its signature gold boxes delicately recreates the Godiva myth while hinting at other sensuous pleasures, such as that recent addition, Red Velvet truffles.

Come to think of it, Congress should issue chocolates and images of Lady Godiva (and might we add, a Lord Godivo) when levying taxes. That would go a long way to taking the sting out of taxation – with or without representation.

13

Bronze figure, Han Dynasty, © American Museum of Natural History/D. Finnin.

Terra-cotta Horse, southern India, ©American Museum of Natural History/D. Finnin.

Fatal beauty The horse reflects humanity’s power and fragility

O

ne of the few legends from the life of Alexander the Great that historians believe to be true concerns an incident that took place when he was 13 years old.

A horse trader named Philonicus offered Alexander’s father, King Philip II of Macedon, a magnificent black stallion for 13 talents. But because the horse wouldn’t let anyone near him, Philip decided to pass on the deal. That’s when Alexander stepped in, offering not only to tame the steed, but to pay the regal cost should he fail to do so.

Alexander approached the horse carefully, speaking softly to him and turning his face toward the sun. The horse – whom Alexander would name Bucephalus or Oxhead, for the white marking on his forehead – allowed the prince to mount him. Together they would sweep across the Persian Empire until Bucephalus died around the age of 30 in modern-day Pakistan, where Alexander founded the city of Bucephala in his honor.

The story – which was the inspiration for the novel and film “The Black Stallion” – is meant to illustrate Alexander’s powers of observation: What he alone realized was that the horse was afraid of his shadow. Turning him to the sun eliminated the shadow of fear. We, however, are fascinated by something else, which has become a classic in art and history – the love affair between man and horse.

14

By Georgette Gouveia “The relationship that humans have with horses is very profound,” said Tom Skwerski, project manager for exhibitions at The Field Museum in Chicago, where “The Horse” is on view through Aug. 14. “We all love our dogs. We all love our cats. But the effect on agriculture, transportation, work and war that the horse has had makes the relationship special.”

Ross D.E. MacPhee, co-curator (with Sandra Olsen) of “The Horse,” agreed: “It’s only the horse that has it all – the power, the speed, the inherent domestic ability.”

Indeed, added MacPhee, curator of vertebrate zoology at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, where the exhibit originated, “(The horse’s) most distinctive adaptation is that it’s the only large mammal capable of locomotion and domestication.”

The latter took awhile. Though the modern horse, which hails from North America, has been around for two million years, man did not begin to domesticate it – for milk and meat – until some 6,000 years ago. By then, the dog had been man’s best friend for 9,000 years. For millennia, MacPhee said, the horse was something to be hunted, as evinced by the delicate cave paintings (circa 15,000-10,000 B.C.) in what is now France that depict horses with arrows pointing toward them.

Sometime between 4000 and 1500 B.C., man began to harness the horse, although probably to ride from a chariot or wagon, as in a Metropolitan Museum of Art

limestone relief dating from the reign of the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten (circa 1353-1336 B.C.) Mounted warriors didn’t make their appearance until around 900 B.C., with the Scythians, Asian nomads, among the first archers and fighters on horseback.

The result of the horse’s complete domestication – for agriculture, trade and communications – would be nothing short of revolutionary.

“The horse is such an important aspect of transportation and war,” said Donald LaRocca, curator of the Department of Arms and Armor at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan.

So much so that from the Middle Ages through the 16th century, some were clad in steel armor, just like the knights who rode them.

“They were highly prized and highly regarded,” LaRocca said.

Skwerski, quoting the Spanish knight Gutierre Diaz de Games, said, “A brave man mounted on a good horse may do more in an hour of fighting than 10 or maybe 100 could’ve done afoot.”

In our own time and place, the horse remains an object of admiration, though less for its role in warfare or even farming than for the satisfaction it offers in leisure pursuits and sports such as horse racing and polo, which began thousands of years ago on the plains of Central Asia.

“Owning horses is a mark of wealth and status,”

Horse Armor, 16th-century Germany, ©American Museum of Natural History/D. Finnin.

“It’s only the horse that has it all – the power, the speed, the inherent domestic ability.”

— Ross D.E. MacPhee

“That last video still brings tears to my eyes,” MacPhee said. “Horses for humans are such magnetic animals.”

The attraction is partly aesthetic, even erotic. Artists from Leonardo to Remington have immortalized the animal’s voluptuous might. But artists and writers as well have also located the brutality that goes hand in hand with that grace, mostly in the form of man’s inhumanity to horse.

Both Anna Sewell’s novel “Black Beauty” and the new Lincoln Center production of “War Horse” (see related story) describe the cruelty of man from the horse’s perspective.

That savagery is bound with our own fear – of failure, of pain, of our loss of control. In Peter Shaffer’s play “Equus,” the disturbed Alan – obsessed with God, sex and horses and confusing all three – blinds the horses in his care, because he feels he has let them down. In the film “The Horse Whisperer,” the maimed Grace cannot bear to ride her horse Pilgrim, who is traumatized in the accident that took her leg.

In the exhibit “The Horse,” Samuel Chubb’s early 1900s display “Horse and Man” offers viewers the skeleton of a man trying to contain the skeleton of a rearing horse. The fight for supremacy continues – even beyond the grave.

But what love affair doesn’t have its dark night of the soul? In the film “The Misfits,” Clark Gable’s Gay Langland struggles to bring a group of mustangs to the dog-food market only to set them free and in so doing, rediscovers his humanity.

And that is the crux of our relationship with the horse. We revel in the underdog – should that be underhorse? – accomplishments of a Seabiscuit. We immortalize a Secretariat, a Seattle Slew, an Affirmed, the last horse to win the Triple Crown. We weep when a Barbaro – who might’ve joined those immortals – is put down. Because, in a way, they are us.

In celebrating and mourning the fragile power of the horse, we celebrate and mourn ourselves. n

On Stage

@

The Paramount

Tickets: 1-877-840-0457 or www.paramountcenter.org Call 1-914-739-2333 for information.

1008 Brown Street, Peekskill, NY

Paramount Center for theArts

MacPhee said.

The connection to horses, however, remains humbler, deeper, truer.

“The Horse” exhibit contains three horse tales – one of a Wyoming girl, whose horse is her sisterly confidant; one of a New York City mounted policeman, who develops a unique relationship with his partner; and one of an autistic child and a girl with a muscular-skeletal disease, who participate in hippotherapy and are transformed on riding day.

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15

Man o’ war

A scene from the National Theatre of Great Britain’s “War Horse” at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater through June 26.

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By Georgette Gouveia

t is a work that has been playing to sold-out houses since it opened at the National Theatre of Great Britain in November 2007. Now “War Horse” has charged into Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater, where it is moving audiences to tears, stunned silence and, in some cases, outrage.

Why do theater-goers find “War Horse” so affecting? (One cool customer even vomited outside the theater after seeing the production.) Perhaps because it mines that classic vein of pathos, the story of a boy and his horse.

The horse, in this case, is Joey, and on the eve of World War I, he’s sold to the British cavalry and shipped off to the Western front in France, where it is anything but all quiet. Based on the novel by teacher and children’s book author Michael Morpurgo, “War Horse” is told from the viewpoint of Joey, who soon experiences the war in all its savagery. But he is not alone. His young master, Albert, hasn’t forgotten him. And though underage, he heads off to the front, determined to bring Joey home.

“I am a product of all that I have met,” Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote in his poem “Ulysses,” and so it is with Morpurgo, who drew on his own lineage for “War Horse.” His grandfather, Emil Cammaerts, a poet and Belgian patriot, named Morpurgo’s mother “Kippe,” after the battle and town where the Belgians scored a key victory in World War I. Morpurgo also listened in British pubs to the stories of old men, their eyes brimming as they recalled horses being snared in battlefield barbed wire and sold for meat when their service was done.

But “War Horse” doesn’t aim to move just with words. Besides Morpurgo’s story, adapted by Nick Stafford, there are the Handspring Puppet Company’s horses, designed to capture the species in all its beauty and vulnerability. Why Julie Taymor-esque puppets? Because in the words of Adrian Kohler, co-founder with Basil Jones of the South African-based company, “Babies can’t act.”

Neither can horses. Using horse puppets, the creators said, has given them greater expressive leeway in bringing to life this horse’s tale.

“War Horse,” which features an American cast, is at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater through June 26. It contains graphic images of brutality and animal cruelty. Evening performances are 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 8 p.m.

Wednesdays through Saturdays, with matinees at 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets range from $75 to $125 and are available at the box office (150 W. 65 St., Manhattan), at telecharge.com or at WarHorseonBroadway.com. n

Why do theater-goers find “War Horse” so affecting? Perhaps because it mines that classic vein of pathos, the story of a boy and his horse.

17

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HermÈs’ Equestrian chic

By Barbara Nachman

Jean Paul Gaultier was horsing around this spring. Quite literally.

In Paris, he trotted out eight equine entertainers to amuse the guests at his ready-to-wear show for Hermès.

Under a dozen glittering “Phantom of the Opera” chandeliers, they executed dressage maneuvers behind a paddock at the head of the runway.

Two-legged fillies also took to the catwalk, decked out in cream-colored jodhpurs, brilliant white blouses, Zorro-style capes and wide-legged trousers. Riding boots, gloves and hats accessorized their turnouts. Harness-style belts wrapped around their bodies, bondage style, and black whips twirled saucily.

It was his last show for the venerable French fashion house, and Gaultier rode off in his inimitable style — turning equestrian chic into equestrian cheek. What else would we expect from fashion’s enfant terrible?

But something else was at play on that runway, said Andrew Mitchell-Namdar, vice president of marketing and creative services for The Mitchell Family of Stores, which includes Richards in Greenwich and Mitchells in Westport. After seven years, “it’s only fitting that he would pay tribute to Hermès by conceiving the most elaborate, over-the-top runway show that played up the brand’s deep equestrian roots,” Mitchell added.

Yes, it was back to the company’s beginnings — albeit 18

with that Gaultier gumption. Oh, those whips!

Hermès’ equestrian roots stretch back nearly 200 years to the establishment of a Paris harness shop catering to the nobility. In 1880, Thierry Hermès passed the reins to his son. Charles-Émile added saddles to the mix and moved the business to posh Faubourg Saint-Honoré, where the headquarters remain to this day.

It’s said that coronations were put on hold until Hermès carriage fittings were delivered. (Such waiting games continue today as Carrie Bradshaw acolytes add their name to trailing Birkin bag lists.) Hermès supplied the nobility and aristocracy of Europe, Asia and the Americas with their riding gear, but that was just the beginning. From harnesses to saddles to scarves to handbags to fragrances to couture, the company’s expansion pranced on. The iconic orange horse-and-carriage logo rode into stores more than 60 years ago.

In his final show, Gaultier referenced this rich horsey heritage in clever ways. And he’s not the only designer checking the rearview mirror.

Ralph Lauren’s spring show, “Home on the Range,” also harkened back to the designer’s beginnings. In 1967, Lauren chose the Polo pony as his logo, naming his company for the “game of kings.” Colin McDowell, author of “Ralph Lauren: The Man, the Vision, the Style” (Rizzoli), said the designer was searching for a sport-related theme

when the polo pony popped into his head.

(Had he recently visited the Blind Brook Polo Club in Purchase, which occupied the property that’s now PepsiCo headquarters?)

The English aristocracy and their riding and hunting pastimes were early inspirations for the American designer. Western wear followed, as did Hollywood glamour.

But Lauren never forgot those to the manor born. For spring, he paraded white leather fringed pants, whipstitched suits, all that is de rigueur for riding the range or the moor. Style.com proclaimed the show a “smooth gallop from start to finish.”

“It is not a constant race for what is next,” Lauren wrote on a website featuring his Stirrup Watch Collection, “but rather an appreciation of that which has come before.”

In Milan, Gucci designer Frida Giannini has expressed a similar mindset. The company’s modest leather goods business, which dates from the 15th century, according to “The Fairchild Dictionary of Fashion,” entered the luxury market in the early 20th century when Guccio Gucci began creating luggage. But it was the horse that landed this company on best-dressed lists in the late ’60s. That’s when the coveted loafer with the metal harness-bit ornament captured the fancy of the newly minted jet set. Over the years, Gucci has shrunk and expanded the snaffle-bit motif, painted it onto silk, embossed it on leather and

Horses Not Required Many equestrian styles are now classics. These days, even those who’ve never saddled up are trotting around in riding boots and modified jodhpurs. Here are some styles for spring.

Hermès scarves at Richards in Greenwich.

scattered tack room hardware — never tacky — on handbags, luggage and accessories, elevating the double G logo to an international status symbol.

For spring, Gucci paraded leather riding jackets and suede jodhpurs intermingled with beaded fashions that combine Berber and Aztec influences.

Fashion historian Patricia Mears said heritage lines, created when designers plumb their archives for ideas and inspiration, are popular in unsettling economic times. Still, the success of these collections rests with the customer. No problem here.

The enduring allure of equestrian chic is undeniable.

“It’s at once edgy, sexy and classy,” explained Mears, who is deputy director of

The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.

And it’s aspirational, too.

Who doesn’t want to look like Jackie Kennedy on her steed Sardar, or Nicole Kidman in jodhpurs in Vanity Fair’s recent Hollywood issue? Or even television’s Kim and Kourtney Kardashian in their Santa Barbara episode?

“Women have always had this love affair with horses,” Mears said.

And Americans always fall in love with women who ride them. More than six decades ago, a violet-eyed beauty traded jeans for jodhpurs and rode into our hearts. The year was 1944. The movie was “National Velvet.” And the star — Elizabeth Taylor. n

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• All Saints’ harness-wrapped Malu dress.

• Marc Jacobs’ quilted saddle bag.

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By Mary Shustack

F

ine men’s timepieces and the equestrian set have a long, shared history.

Just ask watch expert Michael Manjos of Betteridge Jewelers in Greenwich.

He points to the perfect example, the Jaeger-LeCoultre 1931 Reverso, such an icon in the watch world that it’s being recreated this year to mark its 80th anniversary.

“It was made for a polo team who wanted the watch for when they played,” Manjos says.

This groundbreaking model put an end to a nagging problem — to play without a treasured possession or to play with the threat of damage.

Instead, Manjos shares, this model was created with a face that would “flip over” to protect its dial during play.

Its creation was based in the practical, but its legacy has become one of fine craftsmanship and elegance. This year’s limitededition commemorative model again has a clear connection to the horse set. It will feature straps made by Eduardo Fagliano of Argentina, considered the top leather manufacturer in the polo world today.

Officially, Manjos is the CFO of Betteridge, a company with history dating from 1897 and housed in an historic townhouse on Greenwich Avenue.

And horse-riding, luxury watchwearing gentlemen have long been among the firm’s clientele.

The impact and status of the Jaeger-LeCoultre watch, Manjos says, sums up the feeling

20

Burberry

many men have for their fine timepieces.

“It’s one of the few things you wear every day,” he says. “It becomes part of who you are.”

These days, there is no shortage of fine timepieces on offer, from Cartier to Buccellati, Baume & Mercier to Rolex, Breitling to Hermès, to name just a few luxe manufacturers.

And don’t forget Ralph Lauren, whose image is also closely linked to the equestrian set.

His watches are not only featured at Betteridge, but Lauren himself, Manjos says, is a noted watch collector and local resident known to stop in to check out the selection.

Unlike some designers who might simply slap their name on a mass-market product, Lauren, Manjos says, gave great attention to detail and quality when he launched his timepiece line, typified by the Stirrup Collection.

“He didn’t make a watch that’s an inex-

Patek-Philippe

pensive watch,” Manjos says.

And that extra attention is what buyers at this level seek.

Manjos also singles out the PatekPhilippe chronograph, which features a stopwatch but is still a very elegant model.

Most watches of this kind are fashioned out of gold, steel or sometimes platinum.

They have cutting-edge technology incorporated into a timeless look.

A purchase, Manjos says, is not an impulse.

“It’s something you’re not going to buy for a season,” he says. “It’s long term.”

Manjos adds that often these watches are viewed as investments, as they traditionally hold their value.

“The high-end watch tends to do very well,” he says. Often, he adds, they become heirlooms, as well.

“It’s a generational thing. You’re buying this for the next generation.”

Manjos says most customers come in with an idea of what they want, having done research in advance.

“Usually they’re either looking for something that’s sporty or dressy. They have a particular look in mind.”

Many shoppers even go beyond that, Manjos adds.

“You’ll have a lot of people who are very brand-specific.”

Robert Woodrow of the family-owned R&M Woodrow Jewelers in Rye agrees that shoppers often know exactly what they want.

“Water resistance is something people like, so they can leave them on,” Woodrow says. Shock resistance, he adds, is another sought-after feature, especially when the watch might be worn when riding a horse or for timing an event.

But overall, there is one thing that’s most important, Woodrow notes.

“What people are looking for — and the main issue with watches is — something they can wear comfortably.”

He points to a number of models on hand in his Purchase Street store that are well-suited for the polo match, or a postmatch celebration.

“The Buccellati is really a luxury formal watch, whereas the Breitling is a true sportsman’s watch,” Woodrow says.

No matter which watch is chosen, Woodrow says fine men’s timepieces indeed share a common bond.

“There’s a lot of romance to these particular watches.” n

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The aesthetic horseman

By Georgette Gouveia

It is one of the seminal ironies of American culture that our idea of the West has been shaped in large part by the East. Few crystallized that irony better than Frederic Remington, who created many of his drawings, illustrations, paintings and sculptures at his home in New Rochelle and later briefly in Ridgefield.

“Remington was often speaking to an Eastern audience who, like him, was in love with the concept of the Wild West,” said Laura A. Foster, curator of the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg, N.Y., where Remington spent much of his youth and which remained a touchstone throughout his life. “Many of these denizens (of the Wild West) were soldiers he had personal relationships with. … His love of the notion of these people gives his work energy. … He was devoted to getting the anatomy (of his figures) right and the accoutrements. But nothing was more important to him than the energy.”

Remington’s passion for dynamism infused his portraits of horse and rider, among the more than 3,000 works he created.

In his 1902 sculpture “Coming Through the Rye” – one of 23 Remingtons at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan – the horses seem to gallop right toward the viewer as their riders whoop it up, pistols raised high. This group study has the fluidity and majesty of Europe’s equestrian monuments.

But Remington can also move the viewer with stillness. His 1903 bronze, “The Mountain Man,” depicts a French-Canadian trapper ever so carefully guiding his horse down a steep incline. The work captures the wear and tear of the enterprise in the curve of the man’s and the horse’s necks. Even so, they are united in the endeavor. In the plumb line that runs from the trapper’s right shoulder to the horse’s front legs, man and horse are one.

“Remington was never afraid to show horses as they should be for wherever, whenever, whatever they were doing,” Foster said.

Yet the artist was not merely interested in portraying horses at war, work and play. Rather, in his skilled hands, the horse becomes a metaphor for a spirited people and individual character and emotion.

“The horse leaping or descending a slope is symbolic of the energy of these rough and tough (Westerners),” Foster said. “He took pains to show the horse’s demeanor and attitude. Often the (rider) was wooden, while the horse is snorting or lifting its tail.”

Sometimes the horse is all. Here is Foster on Remington’s 1904 painting “The Last March”: “The rider has been lost and the horse (surrounded by wolves) is about to be. Remington uses the horse as the central figure figuratively and literally to play out what’s happened before and what’s going to happen after.”

Horses, she said, were an integral part of Remington’s upbringing having been “born in 1861 in very rural (Canton) N.Y.” But they were also key to the years (1890-1908) he lived in New Rochelle, a haven for artists and writers who could conveniently create at home and commute to their publishers in Manhattan.

“He had a great love for horses and other animals,” said Barbara Davis, the city of New Rochelle’s historian. “There are so many pictures of him on a horse.”

An early riser, Remington would work in the wood-frame

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Gothic Revival house he shared with wife Eva at 301 Webster Ave. until about 3 p.m. Then, Davis said, he had to be out of doors, riding one of his several horses, including Big and Beauty. Perhaps horse and rider were accompanied at times by the family dog Toto, also called Snip.

From the house’s vantage on the promontory “Lather’s Hill,” Remington would range across a landscape that swept south to the Long Island Sound.

He and his wife reveled in their home, with its ivycovered front porch, gingerbread details and two large fireplaces. The house – which Remington named “Endion,” Algonquin for “the place where I live” – had been designed by Alexander Jackson Davis, a leading architect of the day who also left his mark on Westchester County with Lyndhurst in Tarrytown and the Rye Golf Club.

Amid drawings, photographs, antlers, blankets and other artifacts Remington collected on his frontier forays, the couple rubbed elbows with playwright and neighbor Augustus Thomas; Edward Kemble, the first illustrator of Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn;” and fellow illustrator Rufus Zogbaum.

Davis thinks Endion also gave Remington the space in which he could wander the landscape of the mind.

“Maybe he needed the safety and comfort of New Rochelle to do his work and also get a good night’s sleep.”

When the noisy, sooty New York, Westchester & Boston Railway came calling, Remington skedaddled to Ridgefield, which he learned about from his former Art Students League teacher, the American Impressionist painter J. Alden Weir. The locale may have changed, but not Remington’s love of horses. In Ridgefield, he had a studio that could open up to accommodate his equestrian models.

Sadly, Remington lived there only six months, succumbing to complications from an appendectomy in 1909. He was 48.

His legacy of thundering steeds, bucking broncos and weary but faithful work horses still roams the West of the imagination. n

Left page, Frederic Remington’s “The Mountain Man,” a 1903 work cast in bronze by March 1907. Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Top, Frederic Remington’s “On the Southern Plains,” a 1907 oil painting. Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bottom: The studio in Frederic Remington’s Ridgefield home, which accommodated his model horses. Courtesy of the Ridgefield Historical Society.

23

From left, Ashley Woodhouse, Wendy Subotich and Megan Mulrooney, trainers.

saddled in history Sleepy Hollow Country Club’s stables link its past and future

A

mong the objets d’art you’ll find at tony Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough is a mural by Richard Newton Jr. depicting a hunting party that hung in the indoor riding ring for much of the club’s 100-year history.

It’s a symbol of the club’s equine past. And its future: Sleepy Hollow is engaged in a $2 million-plus renovation of its stables and its equestrian programs, which are run by a Grand Prix stable staff.

“In a world that’s shiny – to find something with this character and background is a unique scenario,” says Geoffrey Case, head trainer and equestrian manager of the Sleepy Hollow Stables at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, who is fresh from the Florida show circuit. “We want to preserve the old feel of it, but where we can, upgrade it to the most modern we can get.”

From a construction standpoint, General Manager William Nitschke says, “We’ve just come off replacing the roofs, repointing the buildings and adding paddock facilities…. We’ve added an Olympic-sized Grand Prix riding ring and we are restoring the original ring, having put in a new staircase in the indoor riding arena. Now there’s new footing in there that’s state of the art and dust free.”

Sleepy Hollow has a two-story, 45-stall stable with a lower level that Nitschke calls “the Waldorf for horses.”

That means climate control with air conditioning and no scent of the stables’ four-legged inhabitants.

“One member is renting all of the (downstairs) stalls.

They have their own staff, and they take their horses, around 24

By Kelly Liyakasa Photographs by Bob Rozycki 12 or 13, to Palm Beach in the winter and come back in the summer,” Nitschke says. “These are past the show stage for them… these animals are a part of the family.”

Upstairs, stable hands tend to the 16 horses boarded there on the particular spring day I stop in.

In the capital budget are planned improvements for the lunging arena directly adjacent to the barn, which acts as an exercise area for the horses during inclement weather.

The attic there has enough storage space for an 18-wheeler’s worth of hay.

The stable’s entryway serves as a riders’ lounge, complete with wood-burning fireplace and miscellaneous antiques.

Nitschke tells me the very stable we’re standing in was constructed as a carriage house in 1893 to complement the main clubhouse. They were both designed by McKim, Mead and White, the turn-of-the-20th century architectural firm that was responsible for much of New York’s Beaux Arts look. (McKim, Mead and White designed Grand Central Terminal.)

“This (stable) was, once upon a time, actually converted for chauffeurs’ quarters and cars for the members,” Nitschke says. “When riding came back as just a pure sport here, stalls were put back.”

In 1929, a $300,000 donation made by member Mrs. Thomas Logan gave birth to The Logan Riding Ring, the country’s largest indoor riding ring at the time.

“To be able to teach year-round is just critical,” Nitschke says. “Especially during the Depression years, it would have been a bit presumptuous to expect all of the users to have gone to Florida during the winter. To

be able to have the facility right here and a bonafide yearround program was the vision, and we’re grateful.”

The 338-acre site’s close proximity to New York City and the Scarborough train station also distinguishes it from its northern Westchester County counterparts.

Ridership has been strong with the introduction of the Grand Prix staff, including Kentucky-native Case and a concerted effort to increase the equestrian programs.

“We offer a pony camp and horsemanship program so the club members that have children can come and get introduced to the sport,” says Wendy Subotich, a trainer at the Sleepy Hollow Stables. “Our goal is to make this a strong, safe place for learning true horsemanship and strong basics.”

Luckily, riders get to do so in one storybook setting, where they can take to the trails of Rockwood Hall, just 50 feet from the Sleepy Hollow facility.

What’s also unique about the property is its seamless blend of the country club and equestrian lifestyles.

“You could play golf and never know the stables are here,” Case says. “We’re bringing club members down to this part of the campus and it’s really fostering a sense of pride.”

The 570-member families of the invitation-only country club savor the sense of culture and the salute to Americana that the equine life adds.

“It’s part of the history of the club. It’s who we are,” Nitschke says. “Many of the families of the original founding board remain members and we think that speaks volumes for the club.”

Visit Sleepy Hollow Stables at Sleepy Hollow Country Club online at sleepyhollowcc.org. n

Did You Know?

• Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt Shepard and husband Elliot Shepard commissioned McKim, Mead and White to build the Woodlea mansion, now the property’s main clubhouse.

It still features a Tiffany window and much of the home’s original design.

• John Jacob Astor and George W. Perkins were among the many notables who comprised the original board of directors of the country club.

• Sleepy Hollow Country Club was incorporated May 16, 1911.

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They really do shoot horses

S

By Patricia Espinosa

helli Breidenbach’s collection of horse photographs is a celebration of beauty that reflects her passion for horses and riding.

Though athletic growing up, Breidenbach did not take up Englishstyle riding until adulthood. So her art is not that of a childhood reimagined but the ardor discovered while on vacation 10 years ago in South Africa where she photographed animals.

Galvanized by the trip, she decided to leave behind a successful career on Wall Street to develop her craft. All that devotion has paid off in her decidedly modern take on horses, resulting in her signature style. When asked about her artistic influences, she said, “Across the board, all of my work is inspired by the feminine, sensual and abstract aesthetic of artist Georgia O’Keeffe.”

The interplay of light and dark are on display as her subjects are photographed against a backdrop of white, black and platinum and jolts of red, blue, yellow or orange. The collection mixes full-body shots with close-ups, focusing on a specific body part such as the neck or legs. One doesn’t always immediately know what one is looking at. Like a Rorschach test, it takes a moment for the eye to focus and orient itself.

Breidenbach’s life-size portraits are printed on canvas and stretched over wooden frames or on fine art paper, giving it the look and feel of an oil painting.

These sensual photographs are an inspired juxtaposition of vulnerability and muscularity. Not surprisingly, she quickly gained the attention of Kelly Klein, who asked

her to collaborate on her book “Horse” (Rizzoli). Breidenbach’s images can also be found gracing the walls of the Ralph Lauren decorator and designer show houses in New York City and Boston. Indeed, Lauren was so taken with her work that last year his Greenwich Avenue store played host to a show featuring her collection.

One of her images was also selected by Rolex for the World Equestrian Games, never before held in the United States.

Most recently, one of her photos was used in the ad campaign for Caen Normandy Jumping International and the Caen International Show Jumping Festival. Her photographs are also for sale at Margaret Wilson Interiors in Bedford.

In addition to her thriving business, she devotes her time to helping charities through her art. She’s involved with the Panther Ridge Sanctuary in Wellington, Fla., where her photographs of wild cats are sold, with all proceeds going to helping those animals. Additionally, her portraits of horses from Gulfstream Park and Calder Race Course are sold to benefit Florida’s TRAC (Thoroughbred Retirement Adoptive Center).

One need not be a horse enthusiast to collect Breidenbach’s equine-themed art.

Because of the abstract nature and unique compositions of her subjects, many of her images appeal to a broader audience.

In fact, her photographs hang comfortably alongside other non-horsey art in the home of many of her clients.

So, whether you love horses or simply appreciate her sensual sensibility, Breidenbach’s horse photographs make a worthy addition to any collection.

Anyone can buy beautiful paintings,

but what is it that makes a collection great?

In a superior collection every piece belongs: Nothing is arbitrary. Experts suggest you take the randomness out of buying art. Look at what traits your individual pieces have in common and build your collection from there. Start to zero in on additional pieces that share those same traits. The collection should be organized.

Like any good story, your collection should have a beginning, middle and end.

While it’s important to stay true to one’s taste, one must not only buy art one likes but do it in a controlled, purposeful way. The goal is to relate each purchase to the next. And don’t be afraid to experiment. A good collection should always be evolving and never static.

Don’t limit yourself to the same galleries. See what else is out there. Comparison shopping and knowing the marketplace can help prevent you from over-paying.

It’s also important to document your art, writing down any important details pertaining to it. If it’s a significant enough work, the dealer will provide you with a provenance, charting the previous ownership. Be sure to keep any gallery brochures, exhibit catalogs, books and

reviews. If you have the luxury of meeting the artist, have him or her sign the brochure or catalog. The provenance of a piece – and adding to it – help make the art more interesting and ultimately, more valuable.

Part of developing into a good collector is educating yourself about the type of art that interests you. Visiting museums is a great way to begin. What better way to learn than seeing how exhibit curators present a collection? Reading books is another great source of information. And finally, talk to as many experts as you can about the art that you’re interested in. Knowledge is power!

Whether you’re buying art or selling it, for many people it makes sense to hire an art consultant to help navigate the process.

Petersen Fine Arts L.L.C. in Old Greenwich is an art advisory business founded in 1994, by Barbara Petersen Parker that specializes in modern and contemporary art.

Parker’s career has spanned more than 30 years in the New York City art world where she has bought and sold art to major collectors, museums, and corporations.

Her services also include appraisals, art historical and provenance research, full art market overview and investment analysis, conservation, framing and overall art collection management.

“Ultimately, life is about passion. That’s what sustains us, and I’ve had the good fortune of finding it early in life,” she said.

When Petersen Parker meets with a new client she first

takes an inventory of his or her art. She never discourages clients from keeping art with sentimental value.

“It’s important to honor family pieces and cherish your children’s art work.”

But what she does do is advise clients on how to build their collection from what they have.

“First, start with the walls you have. You should know the dimensions of your space and never display your art in direct light.”

One client Peterson Parker is working with is focusing his attention on art from the 1980s. In this case, she advises her client to purchase such artists as Ross Bleckner, David Salle, Julian Schanbel, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Phillip Taaffe and Eric Fischl. Not only does she suggest which artist to buy, she concentrates on their most important pieces and determines what her client should pay for it based on a market analysis. It’s her job to make sure that the art not only holds its value but increases over time.

She has three rules that she insists her clients adhere to: 1) You must always see art in person before buying it.

2) When selling art, always get paid before releasing the work.

Petersen Parker shared a sad story about a dear friend who was swindled when he sold a Warhol by releasing the painting before he got paid.

3) Make sure to get a letter of authenticity when buying so-called famous art. n Photographs by Shelli Breidenbach

Resources Shelli Breidenbach Photography shellibreidenbach.com (212) 807-6962

(203) 629-0811 (914) 337-7100

A.I. Friedman aifriedman.com Petersen Fine Arts L.L.C. (914) 937-7351 Barbara Petersen Parker petersenfinearts.com Art Installers (203) 637-0272 ILevel Art Placement & Installation Framing ilevel.biz J. Pocker & Sons Inc. (212) 477-4319 jpocker.com

Truckers/Movers and Storage Morgan Manhattan (203) 869-8700 Galleries Mary Boone Gallery maryboonegallery.com (212)752-2929 Gagosian Gallery gagosian.com (212) 744-2313

Pace Gallery thepacegallery.com (212) 421-3292 Stux Gallery stuxgallery.com (212) 352-1600 Nonprofit Galleries and Museums Neuberger Museum of Art Purchase College

Auction Houses Christies christies.com Katonah Museum of Art The Bendheim Gallery @ (212) 636-2000 katonahmuseum.org The Greenwich Arts (914) 232-9555 Council Phillips De Pury greenwicharts.org phillipsdepury.com Silvermine Guild Art Center (203)862-6750 (212) 940-1200 silvermineart.org (203) 966-5617 Bruce Museum Sotheby’s brucemuseum.org sothebys.com The Flinn Gallery, (203) 869-0376 (212) 606-7000 Greenwich Library neuberger.org (914) 251-6100

flinngallery.com (203) 622-7947

Charities Florida TRAC (Thoroughbred Retirement Adoptive Center) fltrac.org Panther Ridge Sanctuary pantherridgesanctuary.org

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Petersen Fine Arts, LLC

Photograph by Shelli Breidenbach

Serving Fairfield, Westchester, New York City

Art advisory and appraisal services for Modern and Contemporary art.

www.PetersenFineArts.com barbara@petersenfinearts.com 203-637-0272-office 203-550-5352-cell 28

The art of the resale

T

he best ways to sell art that has been previously owned is by consigning it or selling it online. If the art you’re selling is more collectable, consigning it is your best bet, because you are likely to make more money than selling it outright. You can either choose to consign it with a gallery or with an auction house.

A gallery sale offers discretion and for those who would prefer to sell their art privately, this is an appealing option. However, the downside is that it can take the gallery up to six months to a year to sell your art, which means you don’t get paid right away.

You do run the risk of the art not selling after a year, so be reasonably sure that there is a strong demand for your artist.

If you decide to go this route, keep in mind a few tips: • Work with a gallery that carries art similar to yours.

• Make sure your piece is offered at a reasonable price.

• Make a consignment agreement for six months to a year, not longer.

If your artwork is from an established artist and you decide to consign it to a major auction house, the auction house will estimate its value and then set a starting bid based on the low side of the estimate value. You and the auction house will also determine the confidential reserve, the lowest price for which the work would be sold. Typically, both the auction house and galleries charge a commission in the 10 percent range for the “hammer price.”

Also watch out for taxes on your sale.

Online auctions are another great option when trying to sell your art, particularly for

less valuable art. The single most important thing you should do is know the value of what you’re selling before you sell it. Do the research yourself or hire an appraiser.

Next, you should have a good title line in your online auction listing. Those few keywords will be what attract potential bidders to your art. Every single word in the title line should give specific information about your art. Words like “beautiful,” “rare,” or “famous” are considered space-wasters. Also avoid words like “the,” and “and.” Don’t worry about your grammar. But spelling correctly is critical. Also, don’t abbreviate important keywords because most buyers don’t abbreviate when they’re searching.

You must set a minimum opening bid and a reserve. Start with a lower opening bid than your competition to give the impression that your art is a bargain and therefore more attractive.

It’s best to time the end of your auction when more people are home such as in the evening and Sunday, Monday or Tuesday.

Use the longest time option to end the bidding. The more time you give people an opportunity to see and bid on your art, the more bidders, and ultimately, the more money you’ll make on the item.

Show clear images of your art with details like close-ups of signatures. But keep size under 100K to speed downloads for potential bidders.

Describe your art and include background information.

Encourage bidders to ask you questions and be sure to answer their questions thoroughly and quickly. If the art is big, make sure to research the cost to pack and ship. n

Should have bought it when you saw it.

TruGrace FA S H I O N L O U N G E 419 MAIN STREET • ARMONK, NY 10504 914.273.9600

Alex Felsenstein, the author’s daughter.

building character the Pony Club way

By Bobbe Stultz

My daughter once wrote an article titled “Everything I Ever Needed to Know, I Learned in Pony Club.” She joined “Pony Club” as a horse-crazy 7-year-old when we learned there was a local chapter in Katonah, worked her way up through the levels, and “graduated” at age 21. It was a wonderful experience — for her and for our family.

The United States Pony Club is based on the British model, founded in the 1920s when hunt masters all over the British Isles realized that they needed a way to train young people how to behave and ride in the hunt field. They based this training on the three phases required in the cavalry, which later became the Olympic sport of three-day eventing — dressage, in which the horse and rider must demonstrate perfect communication and manners on the flat; cross-country, which tests the endurance and bravery of the horse over immovable fences in the open; and show jumping, which demands accuracy and obedience over fences in a show ring. The United States Pony Club was founded in 1954. One of the first clubs was in Wilton. The national organization now has more than 10,000 members, with 28 countries participating worldwide. More than 50 percent of Olympic riders have their roots in Pony Club.

Youngsters in Pony Club start out at the D1 level and 30

progress at their own speed through seven more levels, the highest of which is the A rating. Each level requires extensive testing in both riding and horse management and veterinary knowledge. That is where Pony Club differs from all other riding programs: It places as much emphasis on good horse management as it does on good riding skills. There is an old story, perhaps actually true, that attests to this, involving a New York City subway strike during National Horse Show Week at Madison Square Garden. The grooms, who were staying in the Bronx, could not get to the Garden, and the riders were left on their own to care for their horses. When the majority of the riders admitted that they didn’t know what to do, what to feed the horses or how to apply a poultice or boots, the Pony Clubbers among them came forward, took over and saved the day until the grooms could get there.

Pony Club requires very extensive involvement, not just from its members, but from their families as well. The parent volunteers run the local chapters and pitch in to find qualified and knowledgeable instructors, safe mounts, good trailers and barns and sources for fundraising. They also offer competitions and ratings at all levels.

So what my daughter meant when she wrote, “Everything I ever needed to know, I learned in Pony Club,” she was talking about not just her ability to ride, but her

confidence in taking care of horses as well; her maturity in talking to adults and making wise decisions about almost anything; her ability to be a good team member

The United States Pony Club was founded in 1954. One of the first clubs was in Wilton.

and to know the value of hard work and dedication to something. She’s now in her mid-20s and has been out of Pony Club for some time. But she still goes back and does preps with the kids for their summer rallies. And she still keeps in touch with a least a dozen or more of her Pony Club contemporaries. They get together once a year to touch base.

A more interesting and productive group of young women you have never met!

For more on the United States Pony Club, visit ponyclub.org. n

Eric Hasbrouk, co-owner of The Pavillion Farm.

manes and Tales A roundup of some of the finest horse farms

E

ven those of us who aren’t immersed in riding and horse culture recognize that we owe a debt of gratitude to those who have created, and continue to maintain, the gorgeous lands and horse farms that bestow an incomparable share of character on Westchester and Fairfield counties.

After the Civil War, cavalry officers were given large tracts of land in Westchester.

Ulysses S. Grant Jr. established his family’s residence, Merryweather Farm, in North Salem, where he stabled his Arabian horses. The rich soil, open lands, lakes and ponds of these areas were ideal for raising horses and for other leisure activities sought by turn-of-the-century moneyed families — golfing, swimming, fishing, gardening and farming, all on estates modeled on the lifestyles of the English gentry. A few of the formal fox hunts still exist, too — complete with traditional red and black coats, hounds, horns and live foxes — like those staged by the long-

By Dana Ramos Photographs by Ryan Doran standing nonprofit organization, Goldens Bridge Hounds.

According to Eric Hasbrouck of The Pavillion in North Salem, nearly 80 percent of the top riders in the country are within 150 miles of New York City, which puts Fairfield and Westchester squarely in the heart of the important horse community.

Here is a look at a few of the finest horse properties and farms in the two counties, each with a unique history and character:

The Pavillion Farm

571 Grant Road (Route 121), North Salem ThePavillionFarm.com (914) 485-1225 As you drive along picturesque Route 121 through Cross River and into North Salem, you’ll pass several expansive fields and sprawling farms bordered by split-rail wood fences and thigh-high stone masonry walls. Welcome to the world of The Pavillion, a hunter/jumper facility.

All the buildings at The Pavillion are

Denise Hasbrouk, co-owner of The Pavillion Farm.

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a personal view

By Dana Ramos

When I was given the task of researching and visiting eight unique horse properties in Westchester and Fairfield counties, I balked.

“But I don’t know a thing about horses,” I admitted.

My own experience — and very little at that — was with Westernstyle riding in California. And you can’t compare that “grab the reins, give a kick and off you go,” method to the art and craft of English riding here on the East Coast.

I also didn’t hang with the subculture known as “the horsey set” — healthy and handsome men and women who possess wardrobes that include jodhpurs and breeches, riding boots and black velvet helmets.

But that is precisely why I was asked to write this piece — because most of us aren’t part of that world.

I could experience it all as fresh and new, with no agenda.

And what a glorious “job” this was! I was utterly charmed by the people I met, astounded by the places I saw, enchanted with the things I learned. I gained insight into the value and importance of the horse-riding and farm industries, and I feel honored even to attempt description of such incomparable beauty and elegance and explain why we are all so fortunate that this world coexists with all the other cultures that make Westchester and Fairfield unlike anyplace else on the planet.

practically new, completed just three years ago by majority-owner Diana Walters, a blond, blue-eyed business executive, and co-owned by head trainers Denise and Eric Hasbrouck.

“There was nothing here when I bought it in an estate sale,” Walters says. “The old cattle pavilion had burnt down. Some of the rubble was over 100 years old. Pretty much a wasteland.”

Walters hired equestrian facilities experts King Construction of Lancaster, Pa., which brought its “modern Amish” work ethic and superior craftsmanship.

“They certainly weren’t drinking Coors,” she says, explaining how the men also lived on the property during the week and worked from sunup to sundown, erecting a new barn with wall-to-wall, high-quality, low-sap yellow pine and 22-foot ceilings. The pine gleams with a coat of polyurethane in the viewing room where we sit and talk. From here, we can comfortably watch riders in the indoor and outdoor rings, which feature a special no-dust mixture of sand, fiber and bakedwax finish that feels like walking on a firm sponge.

“The horses love it,” Eric Hasbrouck explains. “It’s considered state-of-the-art surfacing and good for them. They can

do more jumping with less injuries.”

The facility is also equipped with modern fire-detection systems that meet and exceed state standards.

Hasbrouck has won almost every major Grand Prix in America, competed successfully in Europe and Canada for 25 years and has served on the Olympic Selection Committee for the United States Show Jumping Team. With Denise, he heads a team of dedicated trainers that works with a wide spectrum of riders, taking beginners as well as experts, preparing them to go as far as they want as amateurs or professionals on the show circuit.

“Horse people are inherently competitive, and we focus on giving highly individual instruction with our fine selection of horses,” Denise Hasbrouck says.

“We offer everything from instruction and show prep, to horse sales, leasing and boarding.”

After our chat, Eric Hasbrouck mounts Meautry, a top international horse that came to The Pavillion via the Rothschild stud farm in France, Haras de Meautry.

Quite a handsome pair they make, horse and rider, easily enjoying each other on a cool spring morning, reminding us why this traditional sport remains an elegant and essential ingredient of this corner of the county.

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Courtyard Farm

111 Bedford Center Road, Bedford Hills CourtyardFarm.tripod.com (914) 244-4488 Close enough to be seen from Interstate 684, but quietly cocooned in the countryside, Courtyard Farm is a jewel set on 31 rolling acres — a world unto itself. It was built in 1904 as the horse estate of Seth Lowe, a former mayor of New York City.

In 1970, nearly everything was destroyed by fire, and the stone barns were left as condemned ruins until a beautiful young widow with two babies, Kristen Carollo, bought the land in 2001 and began what would become a $2.5-million renovation.

That was for the initial work. Major upgrades and features are added every year.

“My husband, Jerry Carollo, was a professional rider and trainer and we had planned to do this project together,” Carollo explains. “His sudden death from a heart condition sent me into shock and I abandoned the idea. After a year or so, kind of as a way to honor him and heal and move forward, I decided to do it.”

Carollo, who has a background in interior design, researched the town records and photos of the original buildings so she could properly plan new construction.

“I wanted everything to look the same

Courtyard Farm in Bedford Hills.

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A young rider at Courtyard Farm.

aesthetically, yet have all the modern touches and installations.”

She cleared the rubble and restored the stone barns that envelope the courtyard like welcoming arms. One of the structures is a residence where she lives with her two nowteenaged boys.

1/2 page Plaid Adwere Nov. 1 11/5/10 “Then, in Horse 2004, we hit'10_Layout by lighting and a large part of the barn burned and I had to do it all over again.

But insurance covered the costs that time.” All the structures are now outfitted with lightning rods.

Two dogs, wet from a pond escapade, bound around happily, while a horse pokes its head through his stall to take a look and a staff member carrying a baby appears in a doorway. Another, quite pregnant, walks past. Fertile 1:54indeed.

PM Page 1 land “There are eight dogs that live here and some that come

Kristen Carollo, owner of Courtyard Farms.

and go with workers, several ponies, staff who reside on the property with their kids. This place sometimes feels like a kindergarten,” Carollo says, laughing. “The miniature mule over there: See her trying to nudge her way into that shed? That’s Chiquita. She provides a lot of comic relief.”

Warm, inviting, youthful and bustling: But Courtyard Farms is also a serious business with top-notch fa-

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cilities, including a 52-box stall stable, an 80-by-180-foot indoor riding area, with an attached viewing lounge featuring computer hookup, TV and cozy couches.

Because a large part of the business involves award-winning ponies, it naturally attracts young riders, and the farm offers about 40 weekly private and group lessons and a summer riding program. There is also a strong core of dedicated adult and show riders taught by highly regarded trainers, who keep a closely guarded list of bold-face name clients, one or two prominent enough that they arrive with PSD — personal security detail.

Carollo has generously protected most of the acreage with a conservation easement through the Westchester Land Trust, and has trails on the property that are part of the 100-mile Bedford Riding Lanes Association network, for which she is a board member.

Sunnyfield Farm

787 Bedford Road, Bedford (914) 234-9619 This property is such a vast landmark, it doesn’t need an address. Just drive from Interstate 684 along Route 172 and you can’t miss it — 230 acres of wavy pastures dotted with sunny yellow stables. It was once a dairy farm and then the estate of an heir to the A&P fortune, who kept horses on the land. The Sunnyfield name came from an A&P store brand.

Joanne Nielson and her late husband, Jerry Nielson, bought the spread in the mid-1970s with other interested couples, essentially rescuing it from developers who wished to build countless houses. The Nielsons eventually became the sole owners and set about returning Sunnyfield to horse glory days, now bestknown for two distinct businesses. One is training in the art of dressage, which is often described as “horse ballet,” with the rider putting the horse through skilled movements and performances.

The Olympic champion Lendon Gray was the principal trainer for many years at Sunnyfield until she semi-retired last summer. Gray still instructs aspiring Olympians there, with the dressage center run by Heather Ward.

Nielson runs the other major business, which is raising Thoroughbred racehorses.

Although “thoroughbred” can be used to refer to any purebred horse, we are talking about the Thoroughbred breed, known for its agility, speed and spirit. Nielson makes all the decisions on which mares should be bred and spends much of her time at her farm in Florida, running the business, visiting shows and transporting horses. For breeding, the mares must travel to Kentucky.

Manager John Grau, who has been with Sunnyfield for six years, explains: “Thoroughbreds are bred ‘live cover,’ which means the real thing, no artificial insemi-

Sunnyfield Farm.

nation. Everything is highly documented, and lineage must be proved. Afterwards, the mares return to give birth here.”

Because New York state has a financial incentive in seeing the industry do well, it has strict laws and has actively promoted Thoroughbred breeding since the early 1970s.

Although this is a tough business, the times have been good for Sunnyfield.

“We’ve had so many top champions, we’ve been so blessed,” says Nielson, a member of the board of directors of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders. “And

I’m very enthusiastic about the future of the industry in New York. The outlook is very bright.”

Her home, a converted carriage house, sits on a high bluff on the property, overlooking Bedford Hills and activity on the farm, which keeps as many as 50 horses.

Sunnyfield is also known for extremely high-quality equine medical care. It refuses to euthanize older horses. Instead, seniors are given plenty of love and space to roam and live out their days.

“We go full-out for all our horses, firstclass to the max,” Grau says. “They live

wonderful long lives. Some places don’t want the expense of keeping old horses. But we keep them going. We lost a 40-year-old horse last year to natural causes.”

Sunnyfield maintains some Bedford Riding Lanes trails. As such an important part of Westchester’s history and horse culture, we hope this property will be preserved intact, in perpetuity.

“I have no plans to retire, as long as I am still standing,” Nielson says. Her children also want to keep Sunnyfield just as it is.

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Junior riders enjoying themselves at Starbuck Equestrian.

Photographs provided by Starbuck

Starbuck Equestrian

20 Mopus Bridge Road, Ridgefield StarbuckEquestrian.com (203) 438-7749 This beautifully maintained property sits unobtrusively in a pretty and quiet Ridgefield neighborhood, just off Route 116, near the border of North Salem. Managed by sisters Amanda and Juliana Starbuck — yes, that

36

cool name really is theirs — this operation is located on one of the oldest and most scenic country estates in Fairfield County. Originally a 60-acre cow and horse farm in the 1840s, the property was purchased by the Starbucks’ mother, in 1978. She still lives there and manages a dozen U.S. Equestrian Federation-rated horse shows under the name Stepping Stone, while her daughters handle the

business of boarding, breeding, training and show preparation for all levels of riders.

“This is where kids come when they’re just starting out or ready to get serious about showing and competing,” Juliana Starbuck says, stressing that they have fine adult instruction as well.

Both sisters have numerous national riding awards and

Peter Leone, owner of Lionshare Farm.

Juliana continues to be nationally ranked in the top 10, four-foot hunter division. Both are still very involved on the show team circuit, which includes the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida each year. They are very proud of their champion stallion, Rio Bronco, who is the Horse of the Year (USEF). Three of their finest mares are giving birth to Rio Bronco’s offspring this season, and they are excited about raising and training the foals.

Whole families have become involved in the “Starbuck lifestyle,” as Amanda describes it: “Because we are family owned and operated, we can extend this unique quality to our riding community. This becomes a home-awayfrom-home for our clients, you could say.”

For young riders, the Starbucks offer a summer camp that includes all aspects of riding and horse care and endof-day dips in the estate pool, Boy and Girl Scout badge programs and birthday parties.

The farm has four large green turnouts (where horses relax and graze), two outdoor riding rings and an Olympic Grand Prix ring. For winter, there are two Olympicsized heated indoor arenas with attached heated viewing rooms where family members can observe lessons.

Lionshare Farm

Marcella and Peter Leone 404 Taconic Road, Greenwich LionShareFarm.com (203) 869-4649 Riding doesn’t get any better than this. Having a ses-

sion with Peter Leone at Lionshare is like getting cello instruction from Yo-Yo Ma on the stage of Carnegie Hall.

He pays meticulous and methodical attention to every aspect of the horseman’s experience, from horse care, show-and-lesson planning to interior spaces and field maintenance.

Leone is used to hard work and has been a champion rider since childhood. As an adult, he has been competing on the Grand Prix circuit for more than 20 years, and his always-growing list of prizes fills a long page on the website.

Handsome and crisply dressed in work-day khakis, black sweater and walking shoes with thick rubber soles, Leone shares his love of the land as we tour in his Denali.

Who are the famous and professional that comprise the Lionshare clientele?

“It isn’t appropriate for me to say,” Leone says with an admonishing smile and shake of his head. “But I can tell you that we get top professional riders and amateurs from all over the world.”

In addition to championship hopefuls, there are many private clients who are at the beginning level. But there is no public riding school or rentals — all clients either own or lease their own horses.

“For the finest private riding and training or if they want to win at the top level, this is where they come,” Leone re-states confidently.

We exit the car to inspect the Grand Prix field.

“I designed everything from scratch, thinking as a

lifelong horse lover and leaving nothing to be desired,” Mr. Leone says as he points out water pools and hedge obstacles and explains how they are used in training. In addition to Leone, there are two other world-class trainers and at any given time, at least 45 horses in the stalls and a continually updated list of some offered for sale.

Lionshare Farm is part of 100 gorgeous acres of level open fields, graceful hills and wooded trails, and is also home to the Zoological Center for rare and endangered animals, a nonprofit founded by Leone’s wife, Marcella.

Once a parcel of land with a polo field owned by publisher and art collector Peter Brant (see the Greenwich Polo Club story), the property was acquired by the Leones in 1994. The offices and barn opened in 1997, with architecture designed to resemble a European courtyard. Richly appointed wood interiors include a viewing lounge named “the Trophy Room,” featuring an antique bar with brass foot rails that Mrs. Leone found in an old pub slated for destruction in Atlanta. One might mistake the building for a luxury residence, it is so nicely constructed inside and out. But the only homes on the acreage are inhabited by staff. The Leones’ family home is a few miles away.

The 100-by-240-foot indoor riding ring has four-story ceilings and there are two all-weather outdoor rings, plus the Grand Prix Field with encompassing views of the valley. Other property amenities include natural obstacles, trails, a cross-country field, manicured paddocks and numerous details from an exacting horseman’s dreams.

37

New Canaan Mounted Troop

Jenny Schwartz, board president of the New Canaan Mounted Troop.

FOX

RIDGE FARM

Boarding • Training • Lessons • Showing Pat Gregory 37 Aunt Park Lane, Newtown, CT 203-270-8329 www.foxridgefarmct.com

Helping young horses and young riders become the best that they can be.

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22 Carter Street, New Canaan NewCanaanMountedTroop.com (203) 966-0634 Generations of young riders have been through the New Canaan Mounted Troop (NCMT) training program, which began in 1939 and is still a valuable nonprofit as well as the last remaining unit of the Junior Cavalry of America. Children ages 7-18 enroll in an enriching 10-month program of equine care, hunt-seat riding and showmanship.

The property, on five acres with about 30 horses, has modest but impeccably-maintained facilities that were renovated two years ago and are kept virtually spotless by the kids themselves (morning manure removal is handled by hired staff ). The president of the board, Jenny Schwartz, a tall, leggy blonde who exudes passion and enthusiasm, explains, “We put the ‘fun’ in ‘fundamentals.’ My own daughters love the program and they learn everything from medical care to grooming, feeding, riding, barn maintenance — and that is just the horse part.”

The NCMT also instills leadership, responsibility and confidence with its ranking system as a child is promoted from inductee to cadet, then on to corporal, sergeant, lieutenant and captain.

Individual achievements are recognized at ceremonies and at on-site shows.

The Mounted Troop also has a show team, drill team, field trips and assistant teaching programs. All instruction is firmly rooted in classic English showmanship and horse riding.

There are as many as 120 kids in the program and a few private lessons. But the emphasis is on organized teamwork.

“When kids come here, they check their status and bank books and egos at the door. Everyone is on a level field,” Schwartz stresses. “They all naturally become friends with each other and the older kids assist the younger ones.

It’s a great bonding experience.”

The reasonably priced program also offers scholarships.

All the kids are encouraged to do inside and outside community volunteer work and the group is incredibly social, with many holiday parties, fundraisers and events dotting the calendar. A large upstairs learning center is lightfilled and cozy with a kitchenette and couches and functions as a social activity room as well as a formal classroom.

The NCMT motto is Giving Horses a Second Chance So Kids Can Have A First. They rely on donated — usually somewhat older — show horses.

“We are looking for those horses

A young New Canaan Mounted Trooper.

Photograph provided by NCMT

who don’t want to work the show circuit as hard anymore,” Schwartz says.

“We give them top medical care and they have great years here with kids who love and care for them dearly.”

Fairfield County Hunt Club

174 Long Lots Road, Westport HuntClubOnline.org (203) 227-8445 Founded in 1923, the Fairfield County Hunt Club (FCHC) is a prestigious country club that focuses on horses rather than golf. It has fine dining, a six-lane, 25-yard heated outdoor pool, eight Har-Tru tennis courts and a children’s summer camp. The interior of the main club building and dining room looks, feels and operates like most long-standing exclusive country clubs in Westchester and Fairfield. But instead of golf courses you will find indoor and outdoor riding rings and paddocks, a regulation polo field, 120 stalls in six barns and many state-of-the-art riding amenities set on 34 acres.

Although a private club, the FCHC does offer riding-only memberships for children and adult and maintains up to 15 quality ponies and horses for the lesson program and monthly rated shows. Members are from all over Fairfield County, and a few from New York, as the FCHC is one of only two riding-centered country clubs in the Westchester/Fairfield area. The other is Sleepy Hollow Country Club. (See related story).

Every June, the FCHC plays host to the A-rated June Benefit Horse Show (June 20 this year), which lasts a week and is the star event of the year. Nearly all riding members participate and all funds raised go to benefit the Equus Foundation, whose mission is to promote horse welfare, educate the public on the value of horses and award grants to horse charities that are involved with human therapeutic efforts (EquusFoundation.org).

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Indoor ring Lee Manning-Vogelstein, Birdstone Farm owner, with French donkey, Jacques.

Birdstone Farm

20 Boutonville Road, Cross River TillyADeersTale.com (914) 763-3184 Birdstone Farm is a private property with a top-of-the-line horse barn, indoor and outdoor rings and paddocks and beautifully landscaped grounds with specimen plantings and views — all within walking distance of the 4,500-acre Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. The owner, Lee ManningVogelstein, also owns the neighboring property, Honey Hollow, a handsome classic Colonial home with 44 spectacular acres.

Mindful that this is also an animal sanctuary and some are roaming, we drive slowly onto the property and are first greeted officiously by four friendly white ducks who then turn tail and lead us toward the barn. A Golden Retriever assumes the role of footman, and an aged Collie, named Laddie, takes over as butler. They escort us to the tack room, which is also an inviting viewing room and lounge with a full kitchen, overlooking a sensational indoor ring. Wide planks of maplesyrup colored pine line the walls and Laddie joins us — with several cats — on a soft, large sofa and stares patiently.

The animals are so confidently at home that we almost expect them to ask us 40

what we’d like in our coffee.

“Almost all our animals are rescued,” explains Kristin Currid, the certified wildlife rehabilitator who lives on the estate and is also the farm manager.

How many animals are there?

“Well, let’s see. In addition to the 12 riding horses, we currently have two deer foundlings, two French donkeys, one mini donkey and mini horse, nine cats, five parrots, four ducks, three rabbits, three cows, 11 egg-laying chickens and one rooster,” she recites. And a partridge in a pear tree (maybe).

Manning-Vogelstein co-wrote and published a beautifully illustrated book about their first rescue – “Tilly: A Deer’s Tale.”

“Rescuing sort of happened by accident and the story of Tilly is based on real events,” she says. “The experience of helping an injured fawn hooked all of us, and soon, more animals started arriving from a vet we knew or police who found a wounded animal.” Partial proceeds from the book are donated to animal rescue efforts. You can read the first chapter online at TillyADeersTale. com.

Birdstone does not have public horse riding, but welcomes visitors by hosting charity fundraisers and offering tours to school groups and other children’s organizations. n

Laddie, a rescued collie.

all in the birdstone family

Roberto Coronel, groomer, with Pecan Pie, a miniature horse.

Will Currid, 5, with Ziggy, a donkey.

Gorgeous, playful Remy.

Kristin Currid with Alley deer.

Buckshot perched on a Hermes saddle.

Eyore, a donkey, with his pal Pecan Pie.

Antonio Alvarado, groomer, with Pecan Pie.

Kristin with Alex showing off his tricks.

Otto goose making himself at home.

Brady Currid, 2, with Pecan Pie.

An eternal horsewoman

By Georgette Gouveia

Though born in New York City to parents who were not riders, Vivien Malloy says, “I think I was wired for horses.”

“If someone said ‘beautiful,’ in my mind I’d get this picture of a white horse galloping across a field.”

For some, the image might’ve remained a dream. Not Malloy: She has just been named Breeder of the Year by New York Thoroughbred Breeders for the second time – the first woman to attain the double honor. (She was the 2006 Breeder of the Year as well.)

Perhaps more important, insiders say, she has helped put New York horse country on the map, right next to the bluegrass of Kentucky.

Malloy has been breeding Thoroughbreds for speed and endurance for 30 years. (She has more than 40 horses at her 170-plus acre Edition Farm in Hyde Park.) But, she says, “what I’m very proud of is that when they’re finished racing, I find homes for them. If not, they retire to the paddock (at Malloy’s place) in Waccabuc. There’s much more than racing for Thoroughbreds.”

Vivien Malloy

And for Malloy, too, though horses and racing entered her life at an early age. As a child, she not only enjoyed riding but also developed a knack for picking the winners when she accompanied her grandfather to what is now Yonkers Raceway.

As a young wife and mother, “we

showed horses, hunted and Pony Clubbed with the children,” she remembers. “I’ve said it before: ‘I raised five children. I could definitely breed one horse.’”

For Malloy, horses are intimately tied to the land.

“A horse needs grazing , freedom for

its digestive system to work properly.”

The horse helps keep open space open.

Malloy, however, has also experienced the danger inherent in all aspects of the equestrian world, in the most tragic of ways. Daughter Debby, a rider in Germany who was known in the family as “the Riding Angel,” was out with her mare, Angelina, on Feb. 18 when she broke her neck and died. How it happened remains a mystery that encapsulates the larger mystery of death itself.

Adding irony to the loss: The panicstricken horse, in an apparent attempt to get back to her barn, also broke her neck and died.

Her daughter’s death came just four months after Malloy’s husband, Harry, succumbed to a long illness.

A gracious, poised woman who shows immediate empathy toward others, Malloy says she has found some solace in her horses and training “my doggies.”

Still, the loss of Debby has been a particularly cruel blow.

“We were more than mother and daughter. We had that bond with horses.”

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Paul Heller working on LadyHawke at Birdstone Farm in Cross River.

Today’s village smithy Paul Heller is part manicurist, part horse whisperer

P

aul Heller, a tall, pleasant and patient man, is a farrier.

In the olden days, that was nearly synonymous with the word “blacksmith,” (the word ferrier — iron man — was French for blacksmith). The difference is that today’s farriers not only make, adapt and adjust metal horse shoes, they also specialize in equine hoof care.

For the most part, this is routine work that involves hoof trimming and shoeing. But they also deal with some aspects of injured and diseased hooves.

“I grew up in Larchmont, loving horses and wanting to be around them and I began working in stables by the time I was 13,” Heller says.

His father and sisters also rode, and one sister, in Colorado, is on the Western riding show circuit. Another sister teaches therapeutic riding for special needs clients in Maryland. Heller now lives in Bedford with his two children and his wife, Katherine Burdsall, a well-known rider who won the 1987 FEI World Cup in Paris, the last American to accomplish that feat.

To become a farrier, Heller went to trade

By Dana Ramos Photographs by David Bravo

school and first became an apprentice to other farriers. Now certified by the American Farrier’s Association, he has been caring for horses since 1973 and travels all over the tristate area and to Florida with about 100 horses as regular clients. Along with him come special tools that look like garden shears and giant-sized nail files, packed in a custom-rigged vehicle made specifically for farriers. It resembles a mo-

bile catering truck, with a back and sides that prop up and shelter the equipment.

“I think there are only one or two companies that make these farrier truck bodies.”

It is, after all, a highly specialized business.

“I want people to know that it doesn’t hurt the horse to have shoes nailed on— that’s a common misconception,” Heller

explains. “The hoof is the fingernail of the horse, and it grows and needs to be filed and treated and protected. If not properly cared for, the horse could end up in a lot of pain from a hoof injury or disease.”

A lot of horses actually enjoy getting their manicures, which takes an hour or two and should be repeated every five or six weeks, on average.

If there is a difficult horse, it is also Heller’s job to be a “horse whisperer” and assure the animal that he is a friend, not foe. Only very rarely does a horse need medication because he’s too difficult to work on or needs to be calmed.

After so many years of treating horses, Heller felt there wasn’t a product that fully addressed some needs, so he developed a special hoof oil and now spends some of his time marketing it.

“It’s made from an old recipe that I tweaked. It’s all natural and has therapeutic value, draws out soreness, toughens the hoof, and has antifungal properties.”

Called Farriers’ Fix, you can read about it online and find it at horse and feed stores all over, like Beval Saddlery in North Salem and New Canaan. n 43

Beyond the backcountry The Greenwich Polo Club opens up the game of kings

By Georgette Gouveia

W

hen you think of polo, you think of princes and tycoons swinging their mallets as they thunder down the field toward the goal post, while well-heeled spectators sip Champagne beneath tented pavilions.

This season, however, the Greenwich Polo Club plans to expand beyond this archetypal image.

“We want to bring polo to people beyond backcountry Greenwich and expose them to the lifestyle,” said Amanda Erb, the club’s director of marketing.

This would include area families, for whom steep membership fees and sit-down lunches would preclude polo as a prime weekend activity. To draw them in and increase membership tenfold to 200, the club has trimmed fees for the season, which begins June 5, and retooled its dining options.

Individual membership is now $700 for the eightmatch season, as opposed to the $1,200 it was last year.

Membership for a family of four (including two children under age 12) is $2,800, down $500.

Rather than serve luncheon, waiters will be circulating among members with trays of hors d’oeuvres.

“There is still going to be plenty of food,” Erb said.

“But some of it will be geared toward kids and it’s possible we might add a salad bar.”

Members of the public, who are invited to the Sunday matches, can bring picnic baskets or avail themselves of

44

the concession stand.

What won’t change is the club’s reputation as a premier venue for high-scoring, high-quality matches. Among the teams that will be in action this season is the White Birch Polo Team, one of the most successful high-goal polo teams in history. When White Birch captured its

for cavalry. Scores of fierce tribesmen would participate.

Now the Greenwich Polo Club wants to share that intensity with a broader audience. If the club has its way, the game of kings will become one in which a wide variety of local spectators will feel like royalty.

If the club has its way, the game of kings will become one in which a wide variety of local spectators will feel like royalty.

The Greenwich Polo Club season runs June 5 through Sept. 18, with matches scheduled for June 5, 12, 19 and 26, July 10 and Sept. 4, 11 and 18. (The action shifts to Bridgehampton out on Long Island for the month of August.)

The gates open at 1 p.m., with the matches at 3 p.m.

Admission is $40 per car. For those who don’t wish to picnic, there is a concession stand.

Membership is $700 (individual), $1,400 (couple) $2,800 (a family of four, including two children under age 12) and $6,000 (season table, includes up to eight guests).

Lessons are also available.

Besides polo, the club plays host to fundraisers for The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp on June 5 and New York state Sen. Greg Ball on July 10 as well as The Rolls Royce Club on June 12.

The club is at 80 Field Point Road. For more information, contact Amanda Erb at (203) 561-5821, amanda.greenwichpoloclub@gmail.com.

If you go

first U.S. Polo Championship in 2005, it was actually the 31st title for the team at the 26-goal level or higher. Call it the New York Yankees of high-goal polo.

The team is named for the area farm belonging to club and team member Peter Brant, the publisher and art collector, whose son, Christopher M. Brant, is the club’s manager.

Polo’s tony reputation has a lot to do with its history: It was a favorite of Persian (later Iranian) kings and queens, with royal tournaments being recounted by the poet Ferdowsi in his sensual 9th-century epic “Shahnameh” (“The Book of Kings”). But when polo first emerged in the Persian empire some 2,500 years ago, it was a training exercise

Peter Brant in action for the White Birch Polo Team against Tupungato at the Greenwich Polo Club last year. Photograph by Dan Burns

45

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A Bedford Tale Forget the typecasting, Chazz Palminteri is all heart

By JenĂŠ Luciani Photographs by David Bravo

47

H

The Palminteris with Baylee at Birdstone Farm in Cross River.

48

e has navigated the mean streets of New York, both off screen and on, perhaps never more searingly than in the bittersweet show and movie “A Bronx Tale,” in which his life dovetailed poignantly with his art.

These days, however, actor-writer Chazz Palminteri is more likely to be found tooling around the long and winding roads that thread northern Westchester’s horse country, where he makes his home with wife, Gianna, and their two children, with regular visits from in-laws Rose and Jerry Ranaudo.

From a Bronx tale, Chazz has moved on to a Bedford one, though he retains the love of food, faith, family – and of course, the New York Yankees – that define the old neighborhood.

Still, it’s a long way from the old neighborhood. The sprawling six-acre property, enveloped by a horse trail. The gated entrance. The matching pair of King Shepherd dogs that bound out to greet visitors.

“Bedford is about horses and dogs, after all,” Gianna says as she leads me through the family’s home, whose traditional décor is tastefully punctuated by flashes of leopard print.

It’s more like a scene out of “The Horse Whisperer” than “A Bronx Tale,” which depicts Chazz’s youth in the Belmont section of that borough at a moment when he was faced with the choice between his father’s strict code of behavior or a life in organized crime.

“I saw a man get shot right in front of me,” the actor says. “That started the whole journey between the Mafia and my father, with me in the middle.”

He’s quick to point out that the violence he witnessed as a kid can be attributed more to geography than his heritage. Though his looks – tall, dark and imposing, with piercing eyes – have tended to typecast him, Chazz works within the classic tradition of Bogart, Cagney and Robinson, who moved fluidly among the hero, villain and antihero archetypes in their films. Yes, he’s played gangsters, perhaps most humorously in “Analyze This.” But he’s also been the knowing district attorney caught up in a kinky sex case (“Jade”) and the hardboiled customs agent as hoodwinked everyman in the haunting, Hitchcockian thriller “The Usual Suspects.”

They are parts that belie the Oscar nominee’s pussycat temperament and a spiritual nature that finds expression in his devotion to Roman Catholicism and its belief in making the most of God’s gifts – a motif in “A Bronx Tale.”

Like most fine actors, Chazz under-

Hair by Edie Hilton/Richard Scott Salon Makeup by Heather Adessa Photo shoot styled and produced by Jené Luciani Special thanks to The Elephant’s Trunk, Mount Kisco, Mikolay Jewelers, Chappaqua

stands that playing a role is vastly different from living it.

“I’m most famous for my roles as mobsters, and I don’t mind that. But I don’t like when people take that from the screen and transfer it to real life. All ItalianAmericans aren’t gangsters. They are the bus drivers, the bakers, the working man, like my father was.”

As in most Italian-American households, the crux of the action happens in the kitchen, and this day is no different. We stand around a center island, sharing a bottle of Chardonnay that Chazz – whose given name is Calogero – had graciously brought up from the couple’s wine cellar. The conversation touches on everything from his work with the Italian-American Civil Rights League to the correct way to make Sunday gravy (translation, sauce, and the secret is in the way you add each of the ingredients).

These days, the couple has a lot on their plates. Each has a production company – his, Neighborhood Films and hers, MGRP Productions. But they also work together on a number of projects, including the upcoming movie “Safe,” about a group of safecrackers.

They’ve also just opened their first restaurant, Chazz: A Bronx Original, a nod to his old neighborhood’s eats, but far from the Hudson at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

“I do all this traveling around the country and could never find good pizza,” Chazz says. “So I decided I was just going to make it myself.”

He and Gianna have been married nearly 20 years – an accomplishment in a world in which half the marriages end in divorce, let alone in show business.

What’s the secret to their success?

“We live a quiet life,” Chazz says. “We don’t have pressures. When you have three kids, and you’ve lost your job, and your wife has a terminal illness, and you wonder how you’re going to make ends meet, that’s pressure. My life? I have no pressure.”

Rewind two decades and head west to L.A., where

the two aspiring actors first encountered each other.

You could say their meeting was one of divine intervention.

“I saw her coming out of church, and our eyes met and there was this spark,” he says of the beautiful blonde. “I kicked myself for not going up to her.

But just a few days later, I attended the opening of a friend’s club, and there she was.”

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, as the actor’s career was just taking off. After marrying in 1992 and relocating from Los Angeles to New Jersey, where Gianna is from, the two finally settled in the Bedford house they built in 1998.

Son Dante, 15, and daughter Gabriella Rose, 9, who attend separate schools in Bedford, are both performers in their own right. Gabriella recently starred in a local youth theater production of the play “Annie,” while Dante is set to embark on a tour with his rock band, Kaymus.

“Thank God they are both very talented,” Chazz jokes.

Gianna adds, “It’s a difficult life. I worry about them being prepared for it. But I feel they will be OK as long as I direct and support them into the areas they will thrive in.”

Dad will also be there, to convey the patience and persistence needed for that big break.

“I wrote the one-man show ‘A Bronx Tale’ and started performing it 20 years ago,” he recalls. “Everyone wanted to make the movie. But no one wanted me in it. They all wanted a star in the role.”

After turning down several offers, he says, “Robert De Niro came along, said, ‘I’ll direct it and co-star, you write it,’ and offered me the part of (mobster) Sonny.”

Teaming up with De Niro made Chazz a household name and led to a lifelong friendship. The actors’ families also spend a great amount of time together.

As for the one-man show? He’s performed it in more than 30 cities, including a highly acclaimed run on Broadway. Soon, he’ll be on the road again, promot-

ing his new film “Mighty Fine” and the children’s flick “The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure.”

With hectic schedules, it’s hard to imagine the Palminteris have any free time. But when they do, they like to spend it on the trails.

“If I had to pick one thing I like to do here in the country, it’s riding,” Gianna says. “I love riding in North Salem at C.B. Walker Stables, where my daughter is in the Pony Club.”

While Gianna and the kids are enjoying the county’s great outdoors, Chazz is usually obsessing over the score of the Yankee game. The actor often calls in to sports radio WFAN as “Chazz from Bedford.” Some of his fondest memories are sitting in the stadium’s nosebleed seats as a kid with his dad. Now he takes Dante right into the dugout, perhaps another sign of how far he’s come.

Gianna also devotes time to the website she founded, HollywoodMom.net, which she says is part information and part “bitch fest.” ““I found that my friends whose husbands are famous actors or Hollywood execs had the same problems as my friends here in Bedford at the Saw Mill Club or in the PTA,” she says. “So I developed this forum of cooking, talking, laughing and venting that all moms could relate to.

“I found that the power of our nation lies in the strengths of our mothers, and that’s why I wanted a place where we can empower each other and learn from each other.”

While Gianna is giving advice on the web, her husband enjoys giving motivational speeches at colleges and prisons. (Chazz’s charity, the Child Reach Foundation, raises money for children’s diseases and causes.)

Whatever he’s doing, the old neighborhood and its treats are never far from the actor’s heart.

“Stop by Mike’s Deli and Gino’s Pastry Shop for the best cannolis in the world,” he says, “and tell them Chazz sent you.” n 49

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Past

Out of the

Somers home evokes several bygone eras Presented by Houlihan Lawrence

A

onetime working farm and summer estate of a movie mogul, Olde Orchard Hill Farm sits serenely atop a crest in Somers that spies the Hudson Valley in the distance.

The complex of buildings on 38 acres offers visitors a modern country retreat only 50 miles from New York City, one that nonetheless evokes the spirit of a bygone era.

With its two-story, white-columned veranda and stately tree-lined entryway, the 14-room manor house conjures images of Tara and Twelve Oaks from “Gone With The Wind.” The house is believed to have inspired some of the film’s exterior shots, even though it dates from an earlier period, 1800.

Nevertheless, Olde Orchard has a real Hollywood pedigree. It was the summer escape of Jack Cohn, a founder of Columbia Pictures, who transformed the property at 50 Orchard Hill Road into an opulent estate in the 1920s, entertaining friends and associates from the film industry.

The property was later used by horse breeders and is owned today by Janet and John DeVito, who have opened it up to extended family and friends over the 52

By Jane K. Dove 14 years they have lived there, including Mr. DeVito’s mother, who lived in the guest house and his grandfather, who lived in the Manor House.

An open house

“We purchased the house after my father died quite suddenly,” DeVito said. “I am a commercial and residential contractor and was looking for a large piece of property where I could build a house big enough for Janet and I, our three children, my mother and my grandfather. I heard the then-64 acre property was available and was interested, because it was close to our hometown of Yorktown.”

DeVito decided to take the plunge on the 10,000-square-foot house and multiple outbuildings.

“I subdivided some building lots and built homes to defray renovation costs. Once I was done building, I put a restrictive covenant on the remaining 38 acres so that it will remain open space forever.”

DeVito said he has always had an interest in land preservation and is involved with the Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining and other environmental groups.

“In addition to the beauty of the home and property,

Janet and I were also attracted to the fact that we border the 650-acre Angle Fly Preserve, one of the largest parcels of preserved land in this area.”

Remaining in the area where he and his wife grew up as high school and then college sweethearts and maintaining close ties with friends and family have been among the most treasured aspects of the DeVitos’ life at Olde Orchard Hill Farm.

“This has been a warm and happy family home over the years we have lived here,” he said. “I built a brand new home for my mother as well as a home right next door for my brother and his family. As a result, my mother had six grandkids around her, three of ours and three of my brothers. It worked out very well.”

The DeVitos regularly open up their home to their friends, both old and new.

“They all come over here regularly to enjoy our place and we love having them. We also have lots of more formal functions, parties and fundraisers.”

DeVito is a dedicated lacrosse coach and allows teams to use his fields for practice.

“We have had as many as 200 kids here. I am happy we have the space to do it.”

Olde Orchard Hill Farm has also been home to two

weddings, one planned and the other a total surprise.

“We had our daughter’s wedding here and it went fine, except for the fact that it was a dreary and rainy day,” DeVito said. “But one of our neighbors wasn’t so lucky a bit later.

“His daughter’s wedding was held outside on his property on a day of heavy rain but with no tent. The skies literally opened up on the wedding party and guests and we told him to come and use our home for the ceremony, which he did. Fortunately, the reception had been planned for another location, indoors.”

All in all, the DeVitos said their home has been filled with love and laughter over the years.

“We have many big family gatherings, with the Thanksgiving through Christmas holidays the high point of the year,” Janet DeVito said. “We decorate extensively, have everyone by and just love it. Some of our friends call our home the DeVito Bed and Breakfast and we are pleased to open it up to everyone we care about.”

A special place

The historic charm and rural character of Olde Orchard Hill Farm have been lovingly and carefully preserved over the decades. Barns and significant outbuild-

ings have been added. The original home has grown in size, with its period architectural details maintained and enhanced.

The 38 acres are totally private, with towering mature trees, the titular old orchard and equestrian facilities, including four barns, one of which has been renovated for use as DeVito’s office.

Open fields with Hudson Valley views abound.

There is also plenty of room for the next owners to expand the stable area with an indoor and/or outdoor riding ring if they desire.

At the entrance to the property, stone pillars and 100-year-old trees, spaced at exact intervals along the drive, stand like sentinels.

Gardens abound. The grounds also contain a sparkling 62-foot pool and a 2,000-square-foot pool house with a great room, kitchen, massage room, showers, changing rooms, and full amenities well-suited to large-scale entertaining. A separate structure at poolside houses an array of cooking and grilling equipment.

A tennis court edged with tall hemlocks, a bocce court and a children’s train – complete with a ministation stop and railroad crossing – add to the many attractions of Olde Orchard Hill Farm.

The main residence, situated up from the road, is

defined by its two-story columned veranda. The core of the home dates from the turn of the 19th century, with all of the Federalist-period details preserved, including fine woodwork, handsome moldings, oak floors, several fireplaces and expansive formal rooms.

The entrance hall opens onto a 52-by-30-foot living room with two large fireplaces, and a 38-by-30foot dining room, with a coffered ceiling and two more fireplaces. A parlor with yet another fireplace and bar complete the striking first impression.

Other first-floor features include a solarium, a family

50 Orchard Hill Road At a Glance • Somers • Square footage: 10,000 • Acres: 38 • Rooms: 14 • Bedrooms: 5 • Bathrooms: 4 full; 2 half • Amenities: 3,700-square-foot guest house, pool and pool house, tennis court, barns • Price: $3.9 million 53

Janet and John DeVito

Living room

Master bedroom

Dining room

54

room with a fireplace and a comfortable study with full media cabinetry. The first-floor mahogany veranda offers more space for entertaining, and the large country kitchen – with a center island, breakfast room and butler’s pantry – presents opportunities for casual dining.

Upstairs, the home has five generous bedrooms, including a large master suite with access to the upper veranda. The master suite contains a luxurious white marble bathroom, with steam shower, Jacuzzi and ample closet and storage space. There’s an office with a fireplace to the rear of the master suite.

The separate guest house, perfect for friends or extended family, contains approximately 3,700 square feet of space, including a living/dining room, kitchen, butler’s pantry, family room with fireplace, main-level master suite and two additional bedrooms. It is fully handicapped accessible with a one-car garage.

A two-story vintage barn has been transformed into a modern work space with several offices, a conference room, full kitchen and powder room. The barn is attached to a commercial-size kitchen and a two-car garage with a loft, work area and half-bath. Parking garages for six more cars are on site.

An additional barn complex features well-maintained stables overlooking open meadows and the adjoining preserved land. The entire complex captures the feel of a rural enclave but is close to suburban shopping and transportation, including Metro-North Railroad.

The DeVitos have placed Olde Orchard Hill Farm on the market because the spread is much more than they need at this point in their lives.

“We have loved living here and sharing this beautiful place with friends and family,” Janet DeVito said. “We will treasure our memories but now must move on to something smaller, probably right in this same area of Westchester. We hope the new owners will love Olde Orchard Hill Farm and care for it the way we have.”

For more information, contact Linda Crispinelli or Carol Ciricco at (914) 2778040. n

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56

the house that had once been a stable in stamford.

A bedroom made out of a stable stall.

A stable environment

T

By Georgette Gouveia

alk about love at first sight: There Francine Gardner was 18 years ago — nine months pregnant and hunting in vain for a home in Greenwich when she came upon a house that had once been a stable in Stamford.

Gardner — owner of Interior Design Studio and Interieurs, a furniture show-

“I have to think about the deer, which I love. But boy are they tough. So everything they don’t eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, we planted.”

— Francine Gardner

room in Manhattan — didn’t even peep inside. She just knew.

Immediately, she got on the phone with hubby Luke, an attorney who was on business in Washington, D.C. “I said, ‘Come back. We’re buying a house.”

Further exploration might’ve induced a case of buyer’s remorse in less hardy souls.

“When we got inside, it was a nightmare. But it was fine. I always liked doing old houses.”

Besides, with its U-shape courtyard and use of stone, the five-acre site reminded her of the houses she knew as a child growing up in Gascony, France.

Three of those acres are a conservation easement with the Stamford Land Conservation Trust.

When it came to remodeling the 6,500-square-foot former stable and attached carriage house while preserving the integrity of the space, the charmingly Gallic Gardner looked for AngloAmerican inspiration.

She transformed the landscape, surrounded by 400 acres of conservation land, into the kind of English country garden she admires, complete with antique roses, wild grasses and boxwood.

“I have to think about the deer, which I love. But boy are they tough. So everything they don’t eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, we planted.”

Inside, “what I was looking for was an American version of a French country house — very simple, easy, open. If 57

things get damaged, it doesn’t matter.

I didn’t repoint the stone. That was on purpose.”

The décor palette is all natural, with red tile floors. The furniture is a mixed bag — pieces from the family’s former home, found objects and works from her showroom, which features furnishings she designs and makes.

Each bedroom is a former stall. And there is still hay in the ceiling. The stable house, which is all on one level, flows into the carriage house, where older son Alexander, 22, lives. Younger son Hadrian, 19, was named for the Roman emperor at the heart of Marguerite Yourcenar’s sensuous yet philosophical “Memoirs of Hadrian,” which Gardner was reading when she was pregnant with him.

Was she aware of naming her sons after world conquerors?

“It didn’t occur to me until Hadrian came to me and said, ‘My name is a tall order.’”

But while the names may be tough to live up to, Gardner didn’t want the house to be so.

“I do very grand houses,” she says of a business that takes her from northern Westchester to the Hamptons to Bermuda. “But our house is modest and we have been very happy there.” n

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59

Riding to Olympic gold

By Andi Gray with Robyn Goldenberg Photographs by Bob Rozycki

It’s called the “sport of kings,” and for good reason.

Competing at the highest levels in the horse world takes a king’s ransom; a prince’s discipline, courage and patience; the regal bearing of a queen; and the heart and poise of a princess.

The three equestrian disciplines at the Olympic level are dressage, show jumping and three-day eventing, with many of the events taking place in our own backyard. Westchester is home to Olympians, Olympic trainers and dreamers of gold.

Olympic equestrian sports — ­ the only ones in which men and women compete as equals, whether it be individually or on teams — are characterized by elegance, danger and camaraderie. What does it takes to pursue and win at the highest levels? According to Ron Postleb, trainer at Crown Dressage International in Brewster, “It takes time, money and the right horse and rider combination — a partnership.

Your trainer must have the connections to help you find the right horse and be able to make introductions to people who matter.”

“You’re going to need additional coaching from the best trainers in the world.

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Ron Postleb

In the classical dressage world, that would include Olympians like Klaus Balkenhol, trainer of the US Olympic team and Steffen Peters. The toughest competition in the dressage world is still in Europe — the Dutch, the Germans, some of the Spanish.

That’s the mecca. You have to be able to do well against those people if you expect to get onto the Olympic team here.”

To win gold you have to have gold. It costs between a half-million and $1 million or more to buy a horse that’s likely to be ready within a year. Don’t have that kind of money? There’s always the option of buying a young horse that has the ability to go all the way. This route takes time and patience: Plan on training your young horse for six to eight years before

you reach the Olympics.

Horses are the stars — athletes, yes, but more. When looking for a competition horse make sure you have someone you can trust advising you either way. Considerations include: Where is the horse from?

What’s the horse’s record? Does it have the conformation, temperament and winning attitude necessary to go all the way?

Why is it for sale? Most important, do this horse and this rider connect with each other?

Many of the trainers we talked to said that youth organizations like 4-H, Pony Club (PonyClub.org) and the USET Young Riders Programs (YoungRiders. org) represent the growth and development track for younger students. People coming through these programs tend to have a higher success rate continuing on to Olympic levels of competition, compared to students who work simply with individual trainers.

For the rest of us, who may dream of Olympic gold but lack the money, talent, drive or time and effort to get there, there’s just as much fun to be had riding to the level of our own competence. Pick a disci-

pline to learn more about and find a trainer with a record of safety and integrity.

If you’re interested in show jumping, you can find world-class competition at

It’s called the “sport of kings,” and for good reason.

Competing at the highest levels in the horse world takes a king’s ransom; a prince’s discipline, courage and patience; the regal bearing of a queen; and the heart and poise of a princess.

Old Salem Farm in North Salem (See related story in this issue, oldsalemfarm. net), as well as at HITS (Horse Shows in the Sun) in Saugerties, and The Hampton Classic on Long Island. For more information about show jumping events, visit

the United States Equestrian Team Foundation (uset.org).

For dressage — the competition demonstrating the elegant classical training of horse and rider — there are shows held most weekends in New York and Connecticut from May through August. If you head to the United States Dressage Federation website (usdf.org), you can find an omnibus with competition dates and locations for your area.

You’ll have to go further afield to find three-day eventing, the triathlon of the horse world, combining dressage, crosscountry and show jumping. The top U.Sbased international level event is Rolex Four Star Championship in Kentucky.

(RK3DE.org). You can find more local events by going to the United States Eventing Association website (useventing. com).

Robyn Goldenberg is marketing manager at Strategy Leaders Inc., a business consulting firm in Chappaqua. Growing up around horses, she says, has taught her the need for patience, love and seeing the positive in every situation. n

Andi Gray with Baloo.

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Paul Kuhn, practice manager

This doc makes barn calls

By Nancy Boyer Photographs by Bob Rozycki

I recently spoke with Dr. William Bradley the senior partner at New England Equine Practice (NEEP) in Pawling, who is among those practitioners changing the shape of veterinary medicine.

Over the past 35 years, Bradley, along with a number of talented veterinarians

and staffers, has taken NEEP from an ambulatory practice to a cutting-edge equine veterinary hospital. The 39,000-squarefoot, 33-acre facility provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art medical care to horses in Westchester County and the surrounding areas. The range of offerings includes

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internal and preventive medicine, lameness and pre-purchase exams, surgery, reproductive services, isolation ward and ambulatory services.

There have been tremendous advances in veterinary medicine over the last 35 years, and NEEP has worked hard to stay at the forefront of these changes.

According to Dr. B, as he is affectionately known: “Thirty years ago nobody ever expected a colic to survive and now they’re mad at you if they don’t.”

Veterinarians now have a greater ability to repair fractures due to the use of implants. There have been enormous improvements in the diagnostic imaging modalities available to veterinarians.

“The radiographs are night and day better then what we started out with,” said Dr. B, who received his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Colorado State University in 1972, and completed his surgical residency at Kansas State University in 1976. “Things like scintigraphy, MRI and CT scanning are now common place.”

These advances are reflected in the wide range of imaging technology available at NEEP, including digital radiography, nuclear scintigraphy, echocardiology, laparoscopy and MRI. The horse world is grounded in tradition, and change often comes slowly to the industry. This can be seen in the attitude local horsemen have sometimes demonstrated toward new medical technologies. In Dr. B’s experience, there is often a lag between the introduction of a new medical practice and its acceptance by the equine community.

When NEEP began offering ultrasound as a diagnostic tool for soft tissue injuries, there was a lack of understand-

ing regarding its usefulness and a corresponding reluctance to invest in the procedure. However, once horsemen discovered the diagnostic advantages of ultrasound, it became standard practice.

Dr. B joined the already established New England Equine Practice in 1976.

In 1978, the staff opened a small surgical facility consisting of a surgery room and one stall in Ridgefield. From there they moved to a larger hospital in North Salem. NEEP relocated to the current facility in 2007.

His goals for the future involve staying at the forefront of advances in veterinary medicine and keeping the hospital well-equipped.

“Equipment is always on the rise.

We are always buying new equipment.”

Several of his associates have begun to develop a more extensive broodmare practice that Dr. B would like to see continue to grow. In addition, he feels that it is important to keep the ambulatory side of the practice strong.

Dr. B is quick to express his fondness for his clients both human and equine.

“I like just about everybody I work for a lot. It’s almost like an extended family”.

Regarding the horses, he spoke about a mare and foal that were recently brought to the clinic for treatment.

“The mare came in with a cute little foal and was uncomfortable. We operated on her. The next morning she was hungry and the foal was nursing, and that is so rewarding.”

Of the staff at NEEP, Dr. B said: “I am as fortunate as anybody can be, because I am surrounded by a really good bunch of people. I am fortunate to associate with them, and you just can’t be luckier than that.” n

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Breezy riders Westchester’s trail system

as a beautiful way of life Nancy Boyer and Ed Parchment on the Bedford horse trail. Photograph by Bob Rozycki.

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By Nancy Boyer

ay “horses” and “Westchester” in the same sentence and people immediately think of the magnificent, high-end show barns that decorate the county. These large stables are a vital part of the local equestrian community. They employ wellknown trainers, who consistently produce talented horses and riders. However, it is important to remember that Westchester is also home to a group of avid horse people whose horses live in the smaller stables and backyard barns.

Many of these riders prefer to spend the majority of their saddle time on the area trails rather than in the show ring.

One of the major perks of keeping horses in the Bedford area is having access to what is arguably the most unique and beautiful trail system on the East Coast. The origins of the Bedford trail system date from the 1920s, when a group of local land owners created a trails through their private estates. The Private Lanes Association was formed so that participating landowners could stay off the public roads while riding cross-country. During the 1960s, the Private Lanes Association became the Bedford Riding Lanes Association (BRLA), a nonprofit organization consisting of approximately 400 dues-paying members. The BRLA is responsible for the maintenance and preservation of approximately 130 miles of contiguous trails, the majority of which run through private property.

There are approximately 220 landowners who allow the trail system onto their property.

Go for a ride on the Bedford trail system and you will experience this area of Westchester in a way few other people ever do. Riders on the trail system encounter an ever-changing landscape and gain a unique perspective on Westchester’s diverse natural beauty. There are miles of wooded trails crisscrossed with old stonewalls and the occasional decaying farm building. The woods are full of local wild life, such as white tail deer, coyote and red fox.

Birds are plentiful, with sightings of wild turkey, great blue herons and red tail hawks being common.

Wooded trails often open onto quiet country lanes or into large grassy fields. There are a number of carefully maintained dirt roads that riders can cross as they move between different sections of trail. Natural jumps for all experience levels are thoughtfully placed both in the woods and throughout the fields.

Water crossings are plentiful and several wooden bridges have been built to assist with difficult crossings. The trail system winds through the Beaver Dam Sanctuary and connects to trails in the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River. Sections of trail pass through parts of local historic sites, such as the John Jay Homestead and the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, both in Katonah.

Talking to people who ride the trails, you come to realize that the Bedford trail system holds a special place in the hearts of Bedford’s equestrian community. Some of the trails on the BRLA are almost 100 years old, and local families have ridden these trails for generations. Muffin Dowdle, a third-generation trail rider, grew up riding the same trails as her parents and grandparents. Her son is the fourth generation of the family to ride the Bedford trails. For Muffin and families like hers, the trail system represents a connection with their family history.

For other members, the trail system allows them to enjoy the quiet beauty of nature on horseback while only 40 minutes from Manhattan. A common sentiment among members is that the trail system substantially increases the quality of life in the area. Lester Cohen, who has ridden the trails since 1976, said, “Sometimes when I ride my horse into the river, I think this is the greatest place to live.” n

Training to ride

By Dana Ramos

Kristin Currid strengthens her Archilles tendons.

Doherty&Deleo Dev., LLC

It’s never as easy at it looks. Horseback riding takes tremendous skill and strength and is a really good workout. “Yeah, for the horse,” a nonriding friend scoffed.

Well, yes, but also for the equestrian.

“It’s a deceivingly aerobic sport,” says Kristin Currid, rider and farm manager at Birdstone Farm in Cross River. “I forget how much energy it takes until I dismount and take off my helmet. I’m breathing hard, my legs ache and my head is sweaty. But you don’t feel it when you’re caught up in the moment.”

The rider uses buttocks and thighs for posting (the up-and-down moves that keep a rider in line with the rhythm of the horse), inner thighs to grip the saddle and back and abdominal muscles for balance and posture. Currid also demonstrates how she has to push her feet down in the stirrups, which requires a degree of strength in the calves and limber Achilles tendons.

Andrew Guida, fitness director at the Saw Mill Club in Mount Kisco – an area smack in the middle of horse country – has a lot of clients who come to him for exercises to compliment and enhance their riding skills and to correct some muscular issues that sometimes develop.

“The hip flexors — those muscles at the top of the thigh that pull the knees upward — can get really tight when you ride because

of the position you have to maintain on the horse. Same with the inner thighs,” he says.

As a result, Guida shows his clients exercises to open up and stretch those muscles.

To strengthen the thighs, “lunges and squats are really good. We also have new Kinesis machines at the Saw Mill Club by TechnoGym that have a smooth system of grips and bands that addresses specific areas.”

Guida adds that it is important to do “core body work,” which focuses on the abdominals and back muscles, to stabilize the spine and give postural support. “Riders often have sudden stops and starts and their whole body moves with the horse. It’s really important to be fit and flexible to avoid injuries, and we use a multitude of target exercises to focus on each rider’s needs.”

Because the sport requires so much lower-body work, the arms tend to be neglected, so it is a good idea for a rider to add in some weight lifting or push-ups and other exercises to strengthen the upper body and maintain overall tone.

“And be sure to get in some cardio work for endurance,” Guida adds.

Though it may not be immediately apparent, taking a horse for a ride certainly isn’t as relaxing as taking a Toyota for a spin —which is probably why you don’t see too many fat cowboys and show winners. n

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No business like show business A visit to Old Salem Farm

By Jane K. Dove Photographs by Bob Rozycki

C

ome visit Old Salem Farm and enter another world, one devoted to horses and those who love them.

Located on 120 beautiful acres on June Road in the heart of North Salem’s “horse country,” Old Salem Farm is one of Westchester County’s leading equestrian facilities, with three indoor arenas and a Grand Prix field with outstanding footing for competing, rain or shine.

Besides an array of top-rated horse show competitions – the nationally important May circuit is now in full swing – Old Salem Farm also offers luxury boarding for 70 horses and expert training.

Satisfaction

“I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment with what we have done at the farm over the past years,” said Scott Hakim, who owns the facility with his family.

“I think we have finally arrived and have a very strong team in place. I anticipate even more success in the future.”

Hakim purchased Old Salem Farm 15 years ago, when it was called The Hill.

“It was owned by Paul and Joanne Newman for a while. But when I decided to buy it, after riding there for years, I had major upgrades and renovations in mind.

Trainers Frank Madden and Steven Weiss

66

“I worked with (designers and contractors) to (create) new barns and facilities.

We renovated everything on the site and added 20 paddocks, two new outdoor rings with state-of-the-art footing; renovated all of the existing stalls using a European design; added offices, a gym, locker room, lounge and a concession café.”

Hakim has plans to continuously upgrade the facility.

“I saw this as a great property with tremendous potential,” he said. “It’s been a lot of work. But I believe we are now at the pinnacle of equestrian facilities.”

Show time

He has also decided to use Old Salem Farm to give something back, creating a charitable foundation in 2010.

“We set this up to be able to contribute to horse-related charities as well as local nonprofit organizations,” he said. “We share our profits with a number of them, including Friends of Karen, Just World and the Starlight Foundation. We are really just getting started and plan to increase the number of organizations.”

Hakim, who owns a New York Citybased real estate and marketing company, said his approach to Old Salem Farm is “one day at a time.”

“You definitely do not have to own a horse to come and see us at Old Salem Farm.”

“We have come a very long way in the past 15 years,” he said. “The people that work here are the very best and I am proud to have them on our team.”

Vandy Lipman, a key member of Hakim’s team, is horse show coordinator at Old Salem Farm. She has been a leading force behind the increase in the number and prestige of the many A-rated shows held at the site, with assistance from her associate, Sarah Foster.

“We hold more than 25 top-rated shows a year at Old Salem Farm and are in the process of expanding and acquiring even more,” Lipman said.

“Some of these A-rated shows are at the highest level of competition in the United States, with both professional and amateur riders competing for prize money put up by our sponsors. They ride in hunter, jumper and equitation divisions and earn points toward year-end national finals in their respective divisions. It is very prestigious.”

Lipman said one of the big draws of Old Salem Farm is that it is local. “(Competitors) can bring their horses down in the morning or the night before and trailer them home after their events are over, while earning the points they need.”

The May horse shows are the high point of the Old Salem Farm show year.

“We have several Olympic riders that participate and

their mounts are of wonderful quality,” she said. “We offer several Grand Prix or show jumping, events, including the $25,000 New York Welcome Stake, held May 13th; the $40,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix on May 15th; the $25,000 North Salem Grand Prix on May 20; and the $75,000 Empire State Grand Prix on May 22.”

Some of the well-known riders competing in the May shows include Mclain Ward of Brewster, Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, N.Y. and Georgina Bloomberg, daughter of New York City’s Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

Year-round fun

Lipman said Old Salem Farm has also taken extra care to create a horse-show environment that is family friendly.

“We wanted to create some family activities like shopping in our different boutiques and offering vendors the opportunity to present their different wares and services.

We have everything from antiques to clothing to real estate to financial services vendors.”

Old Salem Farm has moved well beyond hot dogs and hamburgers, too.

“We now have a very nice selection of items, including gourmet sandwiches, salads and drinks,” she said. “But the basics are still there for the kids.”

Once the May show season is over, Old Salem Farm will offer a variety of additional shows through Novem-

ber, when the season moves indoors for winter until the end of January.

“Our premier September shows this year will have more jumpers,” Lipman said. “We are always looking to expand our classes as far as variety is concerned.”

But before Old Salem Farm closes out the busy month of May, Land Rover of Mount Kisco and Land Rover of Larchmont are sponsoring an off-road driving event May 22. A bit later, the Voss Foundation is mounting a photo exhibit with proceeds to support underdeveloped countries.

When asked why she has stayed in the horse-show business for so many years, Lipman said it is “a passion for the sport.”

“I just love it. I used to ride in competition and really enjoyed it. This is a continuation.

“I would like people to know it’s not just an activity for the elite. We are very proud of the farm and want as many people as possible to come out, see the shows and enjoy our facilities. We offer A VIP Patron Tent on Saturdays where you can be served a delicious lunch in between seeing the competition. Or you can have your own picnic. It’s a beautiful place that people of all ages can visit and enjoy. You definitely do not have to own a horse to come and see us at Old Salem Farm.” n 67

hot shops

Kathryn Lasky is the owner of Bit of Tack, a roadside shop in Newtown.

A vintage rocking horse adds a note of elegance to Beval Saddlery in New Canaan.

Beval Saddlery’s mix of the practical and the fanciful for horse riders and horse fans.

Saddle up in Style

Owner Natasha Tarasov and shop mascot, Jack, at The Horse Connection in Bedford Village.

By Mary Shustack

When the hunt is on for bits, bridles or breeches, the choices are plenty.

And the offerings reach far deeper than mere equipment, thanks to the region’s wealth of equestrian-themed shops.

A meandering tour crossing Westchester and Fairfield counties yielded not only the necessities — but also the unique.

Come and see what we found: Beval Saddlery Ltd. — Think an elegant department store devoted to allthings-equestrian and you’ll get a feeling of what Beval’s New Canaan shop is all about. A 19th-century wooden rocking horse in the window catches the eye, but the immense collection of saddles, sportswear, equipment and gifts in spacious surroundings makes this a destination for everyone from camp kids to world-class Grand Prix competitors. “That’s what we do on a daily basis,” says Shannon Shaffer, vice president and general manager. Saddles designed (and custom-fit) by owner Mark Walter are the specialty. The selection includes books and lamps, jewelry and furniture. And the sportswear, from Barbour jackets to Ralph Lauren tops to Ariat boots, attracts even nonriders. “It’s such a small, niche market,” says Shaffer.

“It’s not always easy to find things others don’t have. We spend a lot of time doing that.” The shop has mobile units, makes barn visits, has an on-site tailor and fitters, as well. 50 Pine St. (203) 966-7828, beval.

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com Also, 859 Peach Lake Road, North Salem. (914) 669-5900.

The Horse Connection — Open the door to a jangling bell and an Australian shepherd named Jack ambling up to say hello. You might even find owner Natasha Tarasov, hammer in hand, on the woodenplanked floors attaching a nameplate to a bridle. Casual is the feel at this 17-year-old shop smack in the midst of Bedford Village’s historic downtown. It’s not surprising, since Tarasov started her business nearly 20 years ago going “to all the barns.” Today, she heads up a three-story shop where free coffee’s on offer and horse gear fills every inch of the airy space. Tarasov prides herself on helping customers know “where they should spend their money.” That’s a boon for newcomers facing choices ranging from helmet to saddle to apparel (with sportswear filling the entire top floor). “It’s really overwhelming and we try to be a source for them and give them guidance,” she says.

Supplies are downstairs, where Tarasov says “the horse people hang.” Main floor holds items ranging from polo shirts to tote bags, books to bracelets. Throughout there’s a common thread, Tarasov concludes: “That relationship between a person and a horse — that’s why we all do this.” 38 Village Green, Bedford. (914) 234-2047.

Bit of Tack — Need to have your horse’s saddle pad embroidered? Kathryn Lasky’s Bit of Tack is the place to go.

Custom embroidery done right inside the front door is a specialty, as are unique gifts. The charming roadside shop — look for the yellow building with the horse flag outside — carries all the standard equipment, including plenty of boot and saddle choices. But it’s in the gifts where the individuality comes out. There are horsethemed bangles and pewter flatware.

China sets abound, along with frames, toys and more. And it’s all by design, says Lasky. “It’s hard to find ‘horsey’ gifts,” she says. Not anymore. 317 S. Main St. (Route 25), Newtown. (203) 270-TACK or bitoftackct.com.

Horseman’s Corner — It’s down to business at this full-service English tack shop, which grew out of its original home in the hardware shop across the street.

The cozy storefront space is filled with gear for all ages, from helmets to apparel.

And with more than 60 styles of tailored breeches in some 15 colors, fashionistas will delight in the beyond-the-basics selection. “There’s a lot of fashion to keep up with,” says owner Mary Beth Wellington, a rider and teacher herself. “When you’re schooling your horse during the week, you don’t want to wear the beige ones.”

Customers range from kids taking their first lessons to lifelong riders. Beyond the helmets, gloves and other basics, look for collectible Breyer horses, jewelry and gifts that even include a horse-themed shower

curtain. “It’s not just a store for riders,” Wellington says of the business that got its start back in 1983. 307 White Plains Road, Eastchester. (914) 961-0774 or horsecorner.com.

Also keep in mind

All the King’s Horses — Owner Dan Reilly has been at the helm for 37 years, offering a varied selection of English riding apparel and equipment for all ages, along with equestrian-themed gifts. 199 Ethan Allen Highway, Ridgefield. (203) 438-0110.

BB Abode — A carved wooden horse, an old saddle and horse-themed pewter frames and photographs are among the one-of-a-kind decorative items featured here. 2 Keeler Lane at Route 116, North Salem. (914) 485-1339 or bbabode.com.

Horsemall.com — Fans of the late Westport shop The Tack Room can still find the goods and services of Sue and Ron Friedson online, by appointment or at several area stables. Specializing in personal attention, fittings for boots, custom-made saddles and the new Pegasus George Morris helmets.

(203) 557-3285 or horsemall.com.

The Twisted Bit Saddlery Inc. — Specializing in English riding goods, this new entry (open since March) puts the focus on the basics such as helmets, boots and pants.

Look for lots of competition clothing for all ages. 333 Central Park Ave., Scarsdale.

(914) 437-7576 or thetwistedbit.com. n

hot blocks Crossing Greenwich Avenue

By Mary Shustack

T

here are a few words that come to mind when you think of Greenwich Avenue, but one stands out more than the others.

And that is “Cross!”

It’s heard on an every-few-minutes basis, as the town’s police officers stop the traffic and allow pedestrians to hustle from one side of this gently sloping main thoroughfare to the other.

This personal touch at the avenue’s main crossings simply reinforces the idea that Greenwich’s main drag still offers plenty of old-time charm — with a hearty helping of new.

It’s reflected in the variety of shops, from a jewelry store with roots back to the 1800s to a contemporary-art gallery to an Apple computer store.

Stately red tulips stand at attention beneath the memorial to the town’s war heroes, while daffodils dot a restaurant’s terrace. Even a psychic’s discreet sign is tucked into an elaborate stand filled with flowers.

A spring afternoon finds the long stretch filled with people, but that’s nothing new.

Selda Monpie, a 50-year resident, strolls along, her scarf tucked into a sharp blazer as she window-shops.

Marcia Berlic, a jewelry designer with Jewel Loft, is more purposeful, having popped over from Lewis Street for a few errands.

“I’m getting lunch and buying a gift for a friend,” she says, juggling her bags. “I love Greenwich Avenue. I like it much better than a mall. I love the fact we are outside, especially on a spring day.”

And hints of warmer days to come are found at every turn.

An artfully set spring table fills a window at Lynnens, while turquoise seahorses dot a beach cover-up in the window of Tahiti Street. Shoppers are searching for “transitional pieces,” say Donca Hackney, manager at Second Time Around, a designer consignment shop.

Throughout, there’s a sense of luxury. After all, this is where a local such as Ralph Lauren has been known to wander from his namesake store up the avenue to check out the watches at Betteridge Jewelers. And Stuart Weitzman, another area resident, recently opened a shop

Manager Barbara Chau shows off the house specialty, chocolate mousse cake, at St. Moritz Bakery.

69

filled with glittering heels, among other fine footwear and bags.

And when shopping whets the appetite, there are plenty of places to refuel.

Sweet-potato clam chowder, prosciutto on rosemary focaccia and fennel-crusted sea scallops tempt from a menu posted outside The Ginger Man, which bills itself as “Fairfield County’s coziest tavern.” Diners enjoy al fresco fare at Terra Ristorante Italiano, while others stop in for a lush scoop from Daniella’s Gelateria.

And at the St. Moritz Bakery, around since 1939, a steady flow of customers stocks up on favorites such as chocolatemousse cake, almond kringle and a macaroon-ganache gem called the Sarah Bernhardt (try one!).

Barbara Chau, the bakery manager, says the town’s look is by design.

“They don’t want it to look cityish,” she says. “They want to keep it looking like a nice small town.”

That’s why even the heavy hitters — from department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Richards to specialty shops such as Tiffany & Co. to Free People — are housed in charmingly scaled buildings that never overwhelm.

Savannah LaMotte, manager of clothing boutique 25 Park, says the town is gearing up for busy days.

“Once summer hits here, this town

Trevor Craigwell takes an afternoon break from Brooks Brothers.

Shoppers will find an always-fresh inventory at 25 Park, one of the avenue’s newest boutiques.

is completely different. You have a lot of people who come here for the summer.

The winter months, they’re in their other homes.”

No matter the season, Trevor Craigwell, on a break from Brooks Brothers, says Greenwich has an enduring feel.

“It’s unique in a way because it’s a very relaxed sort of atmosphere,” he says. “It’s kind of a family atmosphere. It’s like a

little village. I’m from Trinidad-Tobago and what Greenwich reminds me of is a little community. There is a church in the middle of everything. You see weddings.

You see funerals.”

On this day, though, you mostly see shoppers.

Her funky outfit completed by pinkrimmed sunglasses, Carolyn Isles makes her way down the avenue, a shopping bag

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from Lucky Brand Jeans over her arm.

She hadn’t planned to shop, but the Manhattanville College student, who lives in Greenwich, says she ended up with two tops.

“It turned out that way,” she said with a sheepish smile.

And that’s something that likely happens a lot along Greenwich Avenue — no matter where you cross. n

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Ultimate horsepower Miller Motorcars in Greenwich knows wheels

By Bill Fallon Photographs by David Bravo Every car at Miller Motorcars in Greenwich, whatever the brand, hails from the throaty intersection of Vroom and Va-va-va-Voom.

All the world’s Chevys, Toyotas and Chryslers feature horsepower to one degree or another. Miller horsepower possesses an extreme bias toward Secretariat. These sleek jaw-droppers could make a saint covet them. They could race the Devil and win.

Miller handles Ferrari, Bugatti, Aston Martin, Maserati, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Alfa Romeo and its latest lines, Fisker and McLaren. Miller is currently building a new showroom across the street from its headquarters to house McLaren cars, now featuring a carbon-composite shell built into the chassis of the MP4-12C “for impressive power-to-weight ratio” – “perfect,” according to McLaren, “for the road or the track.” With a McLaren, you could race another Miller offering, the 1,001-horsepower Bugatti Veyron 16.4: The 16 stands for the number of cylinders and 4 is the number of turbochargers. Or sit back easy in Fisker’s extendedrange, four-door gas-electric hybrid.

Miller also sells pre-owned cars, but don’t expect to kick the tires of a Pinto or a Vega. One pre-owned is an Alfa Romeo 8C Spider that was one of only 20 to arrive on American shores and that is today the only one remaining for sale.

Evan Cygler, Miller’s car-loving director of marketing — as a teen he co-founded Scarsdale’s ongoing classiccar themed Scarsdale Concours that takes over the village downtown every fall — said the cars’ attraction resides in “their speed, their design, their attention to perfection, their sex appeal and their comfort.”

They’re fun, too. “People come in all the time to buy a convertible, something fun for the warm weather.” He spoke on one of mid-April’s rare warm, sunny days and said, “This is peak time for our business.”

Among the cars’ attributes — “They are all works of art,” said Cygler and there’s no conceivable argument against this point.

The interiors feature leather best described as buttery.

Other cars may be sleek. These are sleeeeeeek. Other cars may be fast. These cars are blurs.

James Bond famously floored it in an Aston Martin, a brand Miller sells. Incognito the Aston Martin Rapide is not. Inexpensive, either.

Without divulging specifics, Cygler placed the Miller price arc up to $2 million.

Miller customers can afford it. One is a person who has achieved some success and is not shy about pulling up to the club in a blood-red Alpha Romeo. Another is a collector who typically has at least one anchor vehicle of some distinction and who augments his or her collection to taste. Cygler said Miller Motorcars sees both.

Even if the Miller stable is out of your price range, it still has the ability to inspire wonder akin to a Cape Canaveral space shot, with hardware and speed to match.

You can see it in the faces of people who are just passing by on West Putnam Avenue. They were not expecting to see a Maserati Quattroporte. Now they are rubbernecking to hold the view.

You can read their minds, whether they’re admiring a Bugatti Grand Sport or a Bentley Flying Spur: “That is some automobile.” n 74

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By Emily Liebert

E

questrian pursuits abound in our area, from Westchester County’s Rockefeller State Park Preserve to the Collis P. Huntington State Park in Fairfield County. If you’re a galloping guru, it hardly seems necessary to look beyond your own backyard. But it’s certainly tempting at these ultra-luxurious getaways. So pack your jodhpurs and saddle up. It’s time to relax, rejuvenate and ride.

Enchantment Resort Sedona, Arizona

Relax: Enchantment Resort is situated on 70 acres amid the imposing red rock walls of northern Arizona’s Boynton Canyon. With the rugged Southwest landscape as your backdrop, delight in the breathtaking scenery in the resort’s onestory adobe accommodations, with panoramic views of rock formations and pine forests. Sneak up to the rooftop deck at night for optimum stargazing.

Rejuvenate: Home to Mii amo, a 24,000-square-foot destination spa, Enchantment guests can select from a full menu of tantalizing treatments. From Reiki, cranial sacral and hydrotherapy baths to Watsu, facials and spiritual sessions, expertly trained therapists employ restorative therapies using traditional Native-American practices.

Ride: Enchantment’s concierge is on call to book horseback riding tours through its partner, M Diamond Ranch. The tour of the 100-year-old, family run cattle ranch is one of Sedona’s most popular outdoor activities. Opt for a one-hour trail ride or a full morning or evening experience, including a “cowboy cookout,” complete with activities and entertainment for the whole family.

For more information, please visit enchantmentresort.com.

The Equinox Manchester Village, Vermont

Relax: One of the country’s most noteworthy destinations since 1769, The Equinox received a $20 million facelift in 2008. The iconic resort’s 195 renovated guest rooms feature custom-made beds and plush leather armchairs perfect for curling up by the fire. If activity is your preferred form of leisure, take part in The Equinox’s British School of Falconry and the Land Rover off-road driving experience, or shoot a round of golf on the 18hole championship-quality course.

Rejuvenate: Before dining at one of the property’s five restaurants, invigorate yourself at the 13,000-square-foot full-service spa, offering a wide a variety of treatments and featuring products indigenous to the

Enchantment Resort offers horseback tours of its 100-year-old, family-run cattle ranch just outside Sedona, Ariz.

Its Casitas boast breathtaking views of Red Rock Country.

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77

At Half Moon, you can skirt the beach on saddled horseback or ride bareback into the water.

Race in

Ali Ro

and check

Blank Denim

out ouR

Commando

fabulous

Free People

summeR

Hanky Panky iluck

waRdRobe must-haves!

Joie

surrounding Vermont region, including maple sugar, wildflowers and mineral clay.

Ride: Through its partner, Chipman Stables, The Equinox arranges private sessions ranging from pony rides for toddlers to one-, two- and three-hour trail rides, including family excursions with lunch at a rustic cabin set deep in the woods of the Green Mountains. During school vacations and summer months, riding camps are available for children age 6 and older for either the day or a full week. Customized riding programs are also offered both outdoors and at the recently completed indoor riding barn.

For more information, visit equinoxresort.com.

Half Moon Rose Hall, Jamaica

Relax: Positioned on an expansive white sand beach surrounded by the tropical lushness of Jamaica’s northern coast, this swanky 400-acre resort boasts 198 rooms, suites and cottages as well as 33 four-, five-, six- and seven-bedroom villas. Each of the villas has a private butler, cook and housekeeper, swimming pool and two golf carts. After sunbathing by the Caribbean Sea, check out the 20-acre nature reserve and vibrant herb, vegetable and fruit garden.

Rejuvenate: At the new award-winning Fern Tree Spa, guests can work with a Spa

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Half Moon is on 400 acres amid the lush tropical beauty of Jamaica’s northern coast.

Take a sunset dip in Paradisus Palma Real Resort’s awardwinning, 37,600-square-foot, beachfront free-form pool.

Elder, who serves as a guide by customizing unique therapeutic rituals and treatments to correspond with individual wellness goals. Chief Spa Elder Stella Gray has worked in the spa industry for 40 years, and her knowledge is rooted in “Jamaican Bush” holistic healing.

Ride: Picture yourself on a private twomile crescent-shaped bay, riding bareback along the white sand or taking a dip to cool off in the sparkling turquoise water.

At the Equestrian Center at Half Moon, this is an everyday experience. The Center, home to 28 horses, has two recently upgraded sand and grass arenas and can accommodate all levels of ability. For children under age 6, there are pony rides around the stable yard. For first- time riders, there’s a “Jungle Jaunt,” which includes a lesson in the arena and short trot around the property.

For more information, visit halfmoon. com.

Paradisus Palma Real Resort Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Relax: Located on the legendary Bávaro Beach, this 554-suite property is all-inclusive, providing guests with

the ultimate upscale experience without having to reach for their wallets.

Luxuriate by the 37,600-square-foot beachfront free-form swimming pool or take advantage of the full-service casino.

Book your stay in a Royal Service suite to receive a personal butler who attends to every need.

Rejuvenate: The two-story YHI spa and Health Club is divided into four unique atmospheres, derived from the four basic elements: Air – indoor treatments, including massages and facials; Fire – cardio, weight-training and dance classes; Water – thermal, blue cold and chromotherapy showers; and Earth – a Zen meditation garden and outdoor classes such as tai-chi and guided meditation.

Ride: Daily one- and two-hour excursions from The Pat Ranch, 15 minutes from the resort, depart in the afternoon and include mangrove/ garden treks as well as trails on the beach. For seasoned riders, jaunts into the water are encouraged. If you’re interested in a romantic rendezvous, the “under the moon” excursion for couples is a must.

For more information, visit paradisuspalmareal.com. n

25%

At Paradisus Palma Real Resort horseback rides are a mix of mangrove/garden and beach.

79

wine&dine

aprÉs riding

By Geoff Kalish, MD

W

hen referring to the aesthetics of a wine, the term “horsey” usually connotes a stinky, barnyard bouquet, strongly suggesting a flawed product. However, there are a number of pleasantly fragrant, high-quality reds, whites and sparklers with equine-related names or labels perfect for horse country entertaining. And, while many of us cannot afford to offer dinner guests unlimited Cheval Blanc Bordeaux ­— with bottles of even current vintages retailing at well over $500 each — there are a number of far less costly alternatives.

So, as a guide to consumers, briefly described below are some locally available, well-priced equine-related bottles, bound to please even the most critical equestrians.

WHITES

2008 Wild Horse Chardonnay ($16) Developed more than 25 years ago, the estate producing this elegant wine is named for the wild mustangs that once roamed the hills east of its Central California vineyards — located along the Pacific Palisades, about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Made from carefully selected, hand-harvested grapes, the wine has a deep golden hue, a bouquet of citrus, pears and oak and a fruity taste with a lingering lemony finish. Try it with grilled or baked chicken, pasta and mildly flavored cheeses.

Leaping Horse Chardonnay ($11) From the philanthropic Kautz Family of California’s Sierra Foothills, who also raise world champion Working Cow Horses, comes this well-priced, un-oaked, entry level Chardonnay.

It has a straw-yellow color, a bouquet of apples and pineapple, a taste of ripe tropical fruit with

hints of vanilla and a smooth finish. It marries well with a wide range of fare, from salads to Tex-Mex to simply grilled seafood. Serve it wellchilled.

2009 Man O’ War Sauvignon Blanc ($17) This pale yellow wine hails from New Zealand’s Marlborough area, renowned for superb Sauvignon Blancs. Grapes for this wine were grown on steep hillside vineyards in iron-rich volcanic soil and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. It shows an intense bouquet of ripe figs and melons, a taste of exotic fruit and a crisp, spicy finish. Mate it with chilled crustaceans like oysters, shrimp and mussels and with flavorful grilled fish, like salmon and arctic char.

REDS

2008 14 Hands Merlot ($11) Taking its name from the height of the horses that formerly ran wild on the land that now comprises this Columbia River Washington State winery, this easy drinking red has a beautiful label that depicts heads of free-roaming steeds. A blend of 82 percent Merlot, nine percent Cabernet Sauvignon, four percent Syrah and five percent other red varietals, it has a medium magenta color, a muted bouquet of berries and a soft taste of fruit and oak with a smooth finish. Enjoy it with pizza, hamburgers and pasta with red sauce.

2008 Tamber Bey “Deux Cheveaux Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon ($36) Named for two of the first Arabian stallions (Tamber and Bey) owned by winery proprietor Barry Waitte, this limited production (1,200 cases) Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon shows great elegance for a wine at its price. Blended with 10 percent Merlot and aged in French oak for 19 months, the wine has a fragrant bouquet of cassis and a complex, well-integrated taste of ripe blackberries and chocolate with a slightly tannic finish that’s mellowed by protein-containing fare. It marries harmoniously with barbecued ribs, grilled veal chops and rack of lamb.

2005 Chateau Chevalier Cabernet Sauvignon ($28) From Spring Mountain District Napa Valley vineyards founded in the late 19th century by Fortune Chevallier, this critically acclaimed bottle features a label depicting a riderless “weathervane” stallion — a good luck symbol of the Chevalier family. The wine has a deep purple color, a bouquet and taste of plums, chocolate and cassis that benefit from decanting or an hour or two of aeration. A perfect mate for steak and prime rib, this rich wine also enhances the flavors of duck and other game birds.

SPARKLING

2006 Iron Horse Classic Vintage Brut ($32) One of California’s best bubblies has a horse logo on the label that replicates an old weathervane found buried on the estate’s Russian River property when it was leveled to build the winery. Blended from 75 percent Pinot Noir and 25 percent Chardonnay, this wine has a pale gold color, a steady stream of pinpoint bubbles and a creamy, fruity bouquet and taste that matches fare ranging from sushi to lobster to deep-veined cheeses to fresh berries.

Stan the man

If watching celebrities swirl, sniff, taste and talk about wine turns you on, then tune into the new weekly public television series “Vine Talk.”

(Check for local listings on Thirteen/WNET and WLIW21.) Hosted by actor, writer, director, producer and lifelong foodie and wine enthusiast Stanley Tucci — who grew up in Katonah — the format of the show is a weekly changing panel, whose members sample a number of wines blindly and compare their choices with the selections of a studio audience. Celeb panelists include John Lithgow, Patricia Clarkson, Rosie Perez and Nathan Lane. With Ray Isles, wine columnist for Food &Wine, on hand to offer his expertise, the show is designed, Tucci says, to promote the concept that with a bit of advance planning, a diverse group of people can come together to “enjoy almost any type of wine, engage in compelling conversation and even learn something in the process.” n

Photograph by Shelli Breidenbach

80

well

common sense in health care

By Michael Rosenberg, MD

N

owhere is “horse sense” more important than in how we take care of ourselves.

Few of us would consider purchasing a car without a careful investigation of the performance of its type, model, history, features and all the other factors that convince us we have made a good choice. Yet all too often, in the area of our own personal health care, we suspend our disbelief and fail to do the basic research required to make a good choice. Plastic surgery is no exception, and this month I’d like to share a few basic principles that can help you in making informed, knowledgeable decisions.

Over the past few years, as more of our public policy debate has focused on controlling the costs of our health care both

nationally and locally, many of us have advocated moving from public or businesses funding of health care to personal responsibility through Health Savings Accounts. The underlying assumption is that if each of us was personally responsible for how our health care dollars were spent, we would investigate and perform the due diligence that would enable us to make the best, most cost-effective decisions for ourselves. The only way this approach can work is if the information necessary to make informed decisions is readily available and people are willing to take the time to do the research.

The first guide the informed consumer should use in choosing a plastic or cosmetic surgeon is board certification. While certification is not a guarantee of skill, compassion and empathy, it says something important about the certified physician and has significance in helping you choose

the right physician for your needs. Generally speaking, board certification signifies that the physician has completed a rigorous course of study, has agreed to conform to a set of moral and ethical principles in his or her specialty and has passed a difficult examination or series of exams. In my own case, in addition to completing a seven-year residency following medical school, I passed a written examination with an 18 percent fail rate, followed by an oral exam with a 21 percent fail rate. Most certifying boards also require maintenance of certification, and a version of this process is repeated every ten years in practice.

If board certification is a good starting point in making an informed decision when considering plastic surgery, what is the next recommended step? Do the research about the procedure, medication or test you are being advised to perform 1 history 4/28/11 2:53 orProject2:Layout take. At no time in has more

credible information been so readily available to more people than now. Use the Internet and don’t stop at one source, either. The American Medical Association, specialty boards and consumer sites can all help guide you to the information you need. It’s all out there: You just need to take the time to find it.

Third, don’t forget about old-fashioned references. Asking your family, friends and physicians for advice and suggestions is still one of the best means of obtaining reliable information. Current and previous patients who have experience with the doctor you’re considering or the procedure you’re thinking about can address some of the more personal questions you might have relating to your own individual situation.

Remember, in health care ­­— as in most decisions we face — common sense is often our best guide. If it seems too good to PM Page 2 be true, it probably is. n

They’d recite a history. From jumping rope to walking down the aisle. From pacing the baby’s room to climbing the corporate ladder. Wherever she’s gone in life her legs took her there. So she took care of them. Because they’ve got a lot more history to make.

Varicose veins are more than unsightly; they’re a progressive disease that only gets worse if left untreated.

Vein Clinics of America has specialized in the treatment of vein disease for 30 years. So call VCA today and do something nice for your legs.

Desiree A. Clarke, M.D. • Greenwich

Call 866-920-VEIN

Real Life Portraits

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If common sense — or as we call it in Bedford, horse sense — were to be the guiding principle of our health care system, we’d be much healthier, less fearful and save lots of money.

Let me explain. When I ran the Emergency Department at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, most patients fell into two categories — those with lifethreatening emergencies caused by car crashes, heart attacks, strokes and other horrors — and the “walking wounded.”

The former were in dire need of acute, life-saving, interventional medical care while the latter needed some help in the form of common sense.

For major trauma victims, teams of technicians, nurses and physicians swiftly gathered and employing every tool modern medicine had to offer, we saved lives.

We used a ton of medications, a multitude of testing and endless surgical procedures. No expense is spared when you are brought to a major trauma center.

Everything and everyone is focused on saving your life. Common sense is helpful but not the most important part of the equation. Training, focus and the most advanced medical technologies are what you really need.

The walking wounded are another story. They are people who are not dangerously ill. They come to the ER for a variety of reasons: They may not have a primary doctor, don’t want to wait at a doctor’s office or they don’t have the means. Or they may have done too much online research and are just panic-stricken.

More than 60 percent of patients who go to the ER shouldn’t be there. They just don’t need ER-level care. They’re the ones who would best benefit from a horse sense.

I know the Internet is a blessing, because it helps everyone get access to information only physicians and snake oil salespeople had before. But let’s get serious: Too much information is as bad as too little.

So before you decide to run to the ER with a headache you think could be an intracranial bleed or a stomachache you think may be a ruptured internal organ, use some horse sense and follow these

pieces of advice: 1. Shut off the computer.

2. Hydrate. Drink a gallon of Gatorade diluted with a gallon of water.

3. Stop eating unhealthy foods or drinking alcohol and coffee while you are feeling under the weather.

4. Have a bowl of chicken soup. It isn’t just an old wives’ tale. It has protein and immune boosters that will help you heal faster.

5. Get some rest. Get into bed and turn off the TV, the light and the noise.

6. Don’t take medication based on Internet recommendations.

7. Don’t listen to your friends and compare your symptoms to theirs.

8. Spend the next 24 hours taking care of yourself and watching what happens.

If you get worse, your fever gets higher, headache progresses and belly gets more tender, common sense dictates you seek medical advice.

Who you get the advice from will affect your outcome.

Not every doctor is right for you. What does work is a doctor who is patientcentric, one who works to serve you and focuses on making you better. It’s easy to identify the right doctor. It’s important your doctor is well-trained, but even more, he/she must listen and respect you and your opinion. (By the way, eye contact is key here.)

A good doctor is one who spends time getting to know you and your situation before ordering tests and prescribing medications. A really good doctor knows that less is most often more.

People look at doctors as the experts and no matter what we all say, patients believe the doctor knows everything specifically that’s best for them. That could not be further from the truth. No matter how well-trained and experienced your doctor, you are the only one who lives inside your body, not the doctor. To get good care, you and the doctor must work as a team.

Finally, doctors must be aware of their power and stop using fear and ego as a way to interact with the patient. Don’t give them your trust so freely. It’s your health after all. Let them prove themselves first.

That’s just plain horse sense, isn’t it? n

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• dr. Weitzen, the newest member of the practice, brings the latest in treatment gleaned from a recent laparoscopic fellowship and from his tenure as director of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Saint Barnabus Hospital.

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time WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 Armonk House Tour A guided tour of Armonk’s unique homes, beginning with a buffet breakfast and boutique shopping, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tour begins at Brynwood Golf & Country Club, 568 Bedford Road, Armonk. Tickets $45 before May 1, $50 after May 1. sharibud@yahoo.com.

‘Three Gets Furry’ A benefit for the SPCA of Westchester with a cocktail hour and raffle, 6 to 10 p.m., Prophecy, 15 S. Broadway, White Plains. $40. rsvp@3eventpr.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 13 AND SATURDAY, MAY 14 ‘La Promenade des Artistes’ The 11th annual self-guided walk through Larchmont Village with exhibitions of work by more than 30 artists, throughout private homes, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 13; 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. May 14, 33 Forest Park Ave, Larchmont. promenadedesartistes.org.

SATURDAY, MAY 14 Civil War Commemoration St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site benefit dinner, with historic music and a Civil War- era meal to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, 5 to 9 p.m., St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 S. Columbus Ave., Mount Vernon. $65.

(914) 667-4116.

‘Dancing with the Stars of Stamford’ Curtain Call’s annual dance competition fundraiser, 8:15 p.m., Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford. $125, $50, $25. curtaincallinc. com.

‘Fore Alcott’ Alcott School’s 42nd anniversary celebration with a miniature golf tournament and family day fundraiser, featuring a raffle, music and activities for children, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Alcott School, 27 Crane Road, Scarsdale. $25 per family. alcottschool.org.

Westchester Philharmonic concert Concert featuring Jaime Laredo, guest conductor, Orion Weiss, piano, 8 p.m. May 14; 3 p.m. May 15, The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase. $25 to $85. westchesterphil.org.

THURSDAY, MAY 19 ‘A National Salute to Women of Vision’ The Ms. Foundation for Women’s 23rd Annual Gloria Awards dinner with cocktails and a silent auction to honor philanthropists and activists for their leadership, 6:30 p.m., Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Time Warner Building, 80 Columbus Circle, New York City. $600.

(212) 709-4418.

SATURDAY, MAY 21 ‘Myths and Mediations’ The Hudson Chorale’s musical tribute to 20th

century composers, 8 p.m., Irvington High School, 40 N. Broadway, Irvington. $25; $10 for students. (914) 462-3212.

‘Pineapple Classic’ A Hawaiian-themed 5-k run with obstacles, and a post event-luau to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Greenwich Polo Club, 80 Field Point Road, Greenwich. $60 per person, $110 team of two, $200 team of four. (203) 665-1400.

‘The Sounds of Motown’ Friends of Karen benefit bash, with live music and VIP champagne reception with Kate Snow, 7 p.m., The Capitol Theatre, 149 Westchester Ave., Port Chester. $250. (914) 6174051.

Support the Troops The 4th annual Greenwich event for Wounded Warrior Project with a cocktail hour, dinner and auction, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., Belle Haven Club, Greenwich. $500. greenwichsupportsthetroops.org.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 ‘Healthy, Wealthy and Wise’ A health and wellness expo and cocktail party, hosted by the Greenwich Young Professionals Group, 5:30 to 9 p.m., Stamford Plaza Hotel, 2701 Summer St., Stamford. $20 before May 25, $25 May 25. (203) 531-3047.

SATURDAY, JUNE 4 Humanitarian Award Dinner The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester’s 17th annual award dinner with cocktail reception, live and silent auctions. Lexus of Mount Kisco, 275 Kisco Ave., Mount Kisco. $350. (914) 761-1111.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8 ‘Paris in June’ Annual fundraising gala with cocktails, dinner, live music, dancing, honorees and raffle, with a Paris theme throughout, 6 to 10 p.m., Coveleigh Club, 459 Stuyvesant Ave., Rye. $150. hdsw.org.

FRIDAY, JUNE 10(RAIN DATE JUNE 11) ‘In the Garden’ Outdoor cocktail party with farm-to-table food. Proceeds support gardens and grounds projects, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Sundial and Fountain Gardens at John Jay Homestead. Tickets start at $125 for members and $150 for nonmembers. (914) 232-8119.

MONDAY, JUNE 13 ‘Golf FORE Kids’ A golf outing with dinner and live auction to benefit the Andrus Children’s Center, Siwanoy Country Club, Pondfield Road, Bronxville. $650 individual golfer, $150 cocktail and dinner reception. kcook@jdam.org.

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worthyHORSE COUNTRY: Stables, boarding, training and shopping Arcadia Farm Inc. 1300 Baptist Church Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 (914) 455 2477 www.arcadiafarminc.com Astor Place Show Stables 11 Old Stagecoach Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877 (203) 431-2202 www.astorplacestables.com Beech Hill Farm Equestrian Center 20 Beech Hill Road, Pleasantville, NY 10570 (914) 769-9882 www.beechhillfarmeqctr.com Benchmark Farm Inc. 69 Stone Hill Road, Bedford NY 10506 (914) 234-2393 www.benchmarkfarm.net Boulder Brook Equestrian Center 291 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583 (914) 725-3912 www.boulderbrook.org Brigadoon Show Stables 15 Turkey Hill Road, North Salem, NY 10560 (914) 669-5882 www.brigadoonstables.com Echo Farm 91 Spring St., South Salem, NY 10590 (914) 763-5742 www.echofarm.biz

Eden Hill Farm L.L.C. 120 Eden Hill Road, Easton, CT 06612 (203) 984-1238 www.edenhillfarmllc.com

Lion Hill Farm 1020 Sport Hill Road, Easton, CT 06612 (203) 268-0089 www.lionhillfarm.com

Fairfield County Hunt Club 174 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880 (203) 227-8445 www.huntclubonline.org

Lionshare Farm 404 Taconic Road, Greenwich, CT 06831 (203) 869-4649 www.lionsharefarm.com

Fox Hill Farms 204 Old Sleepy Hollow Road, Pleasantville, NY 10570 (914) 769-9813 www.foxhillfarms.com

Narnia Farms 77 Elmwood Road, South Salem, NY 10590 (914) 533-5185 www.narniafarmsequine.com

Gray Friesian Farm 145 Eden Hill Road, Easton, CT 06612 (203)459-1962 www.grayfriesianfarm.com

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Heritage Farm 19 Lalli Drive, Katonah, NY 10536 (914) 232-2122 www.heritagefarm.com

Old Salem Farm 190 June Road, North Salem, NY 10560 (914) 669-5610 www.oldsalemfarm.net

Hidden Bridge Farm 29 Ramapoo Road, Ridgefield, Ct 06877 (203)438-3459 www.carolpoppclassicaldressage.com

The Pavillion 571 Grant Road, North Salem, NY 10560 (914) 485-1225 www.thepavillionfarm.com

Bedford Saddlery 56 Babbitt Road, Bedford Hills, NY 10507 (914) 666-7310

RiverHorse Farm 260 Hunt Lane, North Salem, NY 10560 (914) 406-0745 www.riverhorsefarm.com

Beval Saddlery 859 Peach Lake Road, North Salem, NY 10560 (914) 669-5900 50 Pine St., New Canaan, CT 06840 (203) 966-7828 www.beval.com

JT Farm 1125 Route 35, South Salem, NY 10590 (914) 763-3705 www.jtfarm.com Kate Levy L.L.C. 42 June Road, North Salem, NY 10560 (914) 485-1322 www.katelevyllc.com

Silvermine Farm L.L.C. 80 Comstock Hill Road, Norwalk, CT 06850 (203) 846–2098 www.silverminefarmllc.net

Sleepy Hollow Stables at Sleepy Hollow Country Club 777 Albany Post Road, Scarborough, NY 10510 (914) 941-8070 www.sleepyhollowcc.org South Horse Stables 120 Cottage Ave., Purchase, NY 10577 (914) 556-6226 www.southorsestables.com Starbuck Equestrian 20 Mopus Bridge Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877 (203) 438-7749 www.starbuckequestrian.com Sunset Hill Farm 160 Sunset Hill Road, Redding, CT 06896 (203) 938-8709 www.sunsethillfarmct.com

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Bit of Tack 317 S. Main St., Route 25, Newtown, CT 06470 (203) 270-8225 www.bitoftackct.com The Horse Connection in Bedford Village 38 Village Green, Bedford, NY 10506 (914) 234-2047 Horseman’s Corner 310 White Plains Road, Eastchester, NY 10709 (914) 961-2400 www.cornells.com HW Dressage L.L.C. Sunnyfield Farm 825 S. Bedford Road, Bedford, NY 10506 www.hwdressagellc.com The Tack Room 153 Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880 (203) 254-2228 Twisted Bit Saddlery Inc. 333 Central Park Ave., Scarsdale, NY 10583 (914) 437-7576 www.thetwistedbit.com White Eagle Saddle Pad Company 3 Lily Court, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 (914) 255-4926 www.weaglepads.com

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wise no such thing as a sure bet

By Scott Weinfeld

“Best Prix Fixe Dinner”

mistake, he let Felix’s passionate portrayal of early retirement overtake him. So he agreed to the final wager, provided Felix put aside some money for a rainy day. Felix relented and put aside $5 for socks.

I mention this classic episode not as a tale of insider trading but one of a more common nature facing all investors in today’s depressed interest-rate environment.

With prevailing rates at or near all-time lows and palatable levels of fixed income extremely scarce, investors are ever more tempted to ignore prudent investment judgment or horse sense, when assessing both the risk of a higher yielding alternative and managing their capital. Daily, I am engaged in conversation with clients, often the most savvy, mature investors, who will say, “Scott, while I don’t want to take chances with this money, I don’t want to that CD at 1PMpercent; hhrollover 3/21/11 9:07 Page and 1 So-

and-So at the club told me to buy suchand-such. It pays a nice dividend.”

Dividend-paying blue chip companies are great. But I prefer a stable full of dividend paying blue chippers via a good mutual fund or unit investment trust. These offer strength in numbers and diversification, which can reduce investment risk. Oscar and Felix were not wrong to “invest” money on Harry’s tip.

Their mistake was to ignore the rules of diversification and risk management by wagering all their money on a single horse.

Finding good income-producing “Thoroughbreds” for your portfolio can be frustrating but not impossible. In addition to quality dividend-paying equities, floating rate funds and trusts may also provide attractive current income with a reasonable measure of safety. With interest rates low and seemingly likely to rise over the next several years, floating rate securities are another fa-

vorite. There are also many good bets available in tax-free bonds, particularly here in New York. Both New York City and New York state offer securities with good tax-free income and a comfortable level of safety.

Keeping your fixed-income portfolio from coming up lame can be fairly simple.

Avoid putting blinders on and don’t ignore the obvious risk associated with any investment paying 12 percent at a time when riskfree yields are significantly lower. You invest in fixed-income for a reason. It’s meant to be the consistent, secure, cash-flow-providing portion of your portfolio necessary to get you to the finish line. Whether it’s an insider named Harry, a friend at your club or CNBC’s Jim Cramer telling you about their latest hot tip, make sure to leave yourself with more than $5 for socks!

Contact Scott at sweinfeld@signatureny.com n

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O

scar Madison – the sloppy half of Neil Simon’s “The Old Couple” and my favorite horse-racing enthusiast of the 1960s and ’70s – was constantly going broke trying to win fast money at the track. In one episode of TV’s “The Odd Couple,” Oscar followed the inside tips of his friend Harry Tallman, a would-be jockey, resulting in a small fortune.

Enticed by Oscar’s success, finicky roommate Felix nevertheless wanted in on the action.

“Who needs CDs, mutual funds and those robber barons,” the eager Felix exclaimed. “I’ve got… Harry.”

The world’s most famously mismatched roommates soon found themselves penniless. Harry gave them one last tip and the guys took it, hoping to win enough money on a long shot to retire. While Oscar, the gambler, knew 274164 that betting it allWestEss was a Caffe Azzurri 41411

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watch Paper Jam 3

The Neuberger Museum of Art in Purchase threw one sparkling soirÊe the evening of Saturday, April 2. More than 300 guests attended the event, which raised more than $200,000 to benefit the museum’s education and exhibition programs through live and silent auctions.

Photographs by Harrison Edwards Inc. (All photograph identifications are from left unless otherwise noted.)

Charles Cecil and Janis Cecil

Hugh and Marilyn Price

Jody Cooney and Edward Needle

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Babe Rizzuto and Helen Stambler Dee DelBello and Neuberger Joan Mooney

Jim Neuberger and Monica Segal

Diane Boyd and Julie Cromwell

Lauren Schlossberg

Missy Murray

Donald Cecil, Bill Mooney, Tony Maddalena and Jane Cecil

Helaine Posner, David Dorsky and Lea Emery

Leslie Cecil and Creighton Michael

Thomas Schwarz

Sandra Richards

Grandiose Gathering

The Allan Houston Legacy Foundation recently hosted a benefit at the Greenwich home of Tamara and Allan Houston, former NBA all-star and assistant general manager of the New York Knicks. The Foundation was founded in 2001, donating a substantial amount of money to families of the 9/11 tragedy.

From 2001 to 2006, the organization funded and executed a variety of programs independently and in conjunction with various partners. Preston Davitt of Rye served as chairwoman of the event this year.

Photographs by Elaine Ubina

Jenni and Jared Jeffries

Jonathan Trubull, Jodi Cafrity and Michael and Candice Babiarz

Eryn Seitz, Preston Davitt, Jane Moysak and Lisa Rapkin

Via and Ron Childs

Kim and Neil Augustine and Victor Miller

Allan and Tamara Houston Mary and Gary Dell’Abate

Alicia and Hunter Baldwin

ittle Hai L t r s e

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watch Parisian Nights

It was April in Paris as Saks Fifth Avenue in Greenwich hosted one glamorous event for Greenwich-based Stand for the Troops Foundation April 6. Live and silent auctions and complimentary makeovers accompanied a fashion show with French flair. Teens from local schools walked the runway, modeling the latest designer spring and summer fashions and accessories. Saks donated 10 percent of the evening’s sales to the foundation. C’est magnifique!

Peter, Annicka and Patty Ekvall

Geri Corrigan and Peter Brant II Darrah Gleason, Bill Ford and Kathalynn Davis

Sabrina Forsythe, Carolyn Crabtree and Lola Carson

Shelly Tretter Lynch and Cindy Rinfret

Berdie Brady and Astrid Blomgren

Foodie paradise

White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach

Rosa Boone-Morgan, executive director of WCHH, and County Executive Rob Astorino

Fight-hunger fundraiser

The Westchester Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless Inc. hosted 200 beautiful people at the Reckson Metro Center in downtown White Plains April 5 for its 12th annual Fight Hunger and Homelessness Fundraiser. Restaurateur Peter Kelly remarked that the issues at hand are not always “sexy,” but still so important. The coalition provides assistance to food pantries and supports grant programs, which saw a 30-percent increase in demand last year.

—Kelly Liyakasa

Tara Rosenblum and Angelique Chielli

Greenwich Hospital catered to a full house recently at its sold-out Great Chefs benefit at the Hyatt Regency Old Greenwich. More than 550 fabulous foodies sampled delish dishes, desserts and wine from 70 of the finest restaurants, catering companies and distributors in Fairfield and Westchester counties. Renowned chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud was the night’s honoree.

Kim Blank, Amanda Tapiero and Melissa Levien, Great Chefs organizing committee.

Spring has sprung

From left, UJA-Federation of New York Westchester Campaign Chairman Stu Seltzer, event Chairwoman Leslie Effron Levin, Paula Zahn and David Zaslav.

Photograph by Raul/Regency Studios.

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Emmy Award-winning Journalist Paula Zahn interviewed David Zaslav, president and CEO of Discovery Communications, at the UJA-Federation of New York’s Westchester Business and Professional Division’s 2011 Spring Breakfast in Scarsdale April 7.

Angelo and Denise Vivolo with Maura and Frank Corvino, president and CEO of Greenwich Hospital.

Chef Daniel Boulud and Kathy Carley-Spanier

Dean Stanton and Michele and Markus Draxler

wit wonders:What’s your idea of horsing around?

“The first catch of the spring! My mitt goes back to 1968 and I’ll never upgrade. Using an old horsehide baseball makes this count as horsing around.”

— Marty Appel Author, head of Marty Appel PR, former Yankees PR chief, Larchmont resident “Horsing around for me is cycling for a week with my lady friends in Southern California. Here, we were celebrating my 50th birthday. We could not have had a better time. It was so enjoyable, ‘hammering down the PCH,’ these ladies were beasts! I wasn’t sure when they started the trip that they wanted to cycle for a week up and down hills, mountains and valleys, but by the end of the week everyone had huge smiles on their faces. We just loved the whole experience. Life is grand.”

— Cindi Bigelow President, Bigelow Tea, Fairfield resident “My idea of horsing around is fishing, snowboarding, boating, sailing, riding motorcycles, playing tennis, bicycling, dancing and yoga.”

— David Cingari President and founder of David’s Catering in Stamford, Shippan resident “My idea of horsing around is playing whatever games my kids want to play…but I never seem to win.”

— Jim Connelly Senior vice president, consumer products, WWE, Rye resident “My idea of horsing around is playing kickball in the park with my husband.”

— Camilla Cook Artist consultant and independent curator, Norwalk resident “Spending time with coworkers, getting to know one another and sharing life stories that make us laugh....Laughter is highly encouraged! We have a ball, build relationships and trust, and succeed

together. Horseplay promotes friendship, growth and success. It is a lot of fun!”

— Maria Freburg Westchester County market manager, Webster Bank, Hopewell Junction resident “Relaxing and spending time creatively. One thing I love to do is to explore outof-the-way shops in search of humorous and unusual items. I love to set a gorgeous table with a sense of humor and explosion of color and texture – truly a feast for the eyes where the food is secondary! What could be more fun than a Mad Hatter party?”

— Deborah Haines Meeting consultant, DCD Associates, New Canaan resident “Horsing around? It used to involve a dropped top, loud music and high speed. But age and wisdom have resulted in my limiting these types of adventures to skiing wherever I find the softest snow and the most trees.”

— Jim Kirsch President and CEO, Abigail Kirsch Catering Relationships, Weston resident “The beauty about being a mom of two toddler boys is the spillover effect it has on my professional life.

This past winter, my sons AJ, age 3, and Thomas, age 2, spent a lot of time ‘horsing around’ with me at indoor play centers, bounce castles, ball pits, you name it. I admit, I had as much fun as they did, so I decided that Professional Women of Westchester needed some playtime, too!

This inspired me to host a unique “Browse & Buy Expo” at Ardsley’s LIFE The Place to Be. We believe that horsing around together as business networkers really helps to break the ice.”

— Jamie Imperati President, Professional Women of Westchester, Professional Women of Connecticut and Professional Women of Putnam, Mahopac resident.

“My idea of ‘horsing around’ is hitting one of Westchester’s quaint little towns or The Avenue in Greenwich and shopping up a storm! We are fortunate to live in an area where we don’t have to travel far to find unique little spots to pick up everything under the sun.”

— Jené Luciani Style correspondent and writer, White Plains resident

“Stepping up and enjoying the weather, getting outside and using that stone wall for step ups and the terrace for walking lunges! It’s the perfect excuse to keep me outdoors all day.”

— Lisa Lynn Fitness expert and specialist, and owner, LynFIT nutrition in Norwalk, Norwalk resident “Our idea of horseplay is rather ‘racy’… It’s a really good movie and a large bucket of popcorn.”

— Jack McGregor Serves as counsel to Cohen and Wolf, P.C. in Bridgeport and Mary-Jane Foster, vice president of university relations, University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport residents “Horsing around at my overnight camp: It’s Wacky Wednesday when campers spend the day wearing whatever crazy outfit they wish, or Backwards Day, when we start the day with dinner and end the day with breakfast and wear our clothing backward all day long....The staff loves it just as much as the campers.”

— Gordon Josey Owner and director, FashionCampNYC, New Rochelle resident “To me, ‘Horseplay’ is a Friday afternoon at the office after a long hard week, where everybody breaks loose and howls about the funny events that can occur at a staffing and recruiting firm. To us there is no better cure for stress than laughing at oneself or poking goodhumored fun at an admired colleague.”

— Leslie McIntyre-Tavella President and founder, The McIntyre Group, Norwalk resident “Depends on the season.

During winter I love a good night-time sledding.

We’ll have our friends over, a couple of glasses of wine and then head out on our sleds. It is super fun and reminds us of being kids again. For spring or summer, I love a good cartwheel on the beach! Both are great relievers of stress.”

— Tara Mikolay Owner, Desires by Mikolay in Chappaqua, Kent resident

“My idea of horsing around often actually involves horses! I always enjoy spending time with my students and other coaches during and after horse shows, recapping the day, and having a good laugh at ourselves when we think about all the ways our horses got the best of us that day and realizing they really outsmarted us.”

— Lori Ann Rakoczy Equestrian coach, Sarah Lawrence College, Stamford resident “My idea of horsing around would be tweeting from sea, going to Bloomingdale’s to try on beautiful dresses and posting to Facebook on a Saturday, and reading a spirituality book while updating your Facebook status while simultaneously checking your BBM for new messages.

Other horsing around could include taking your dog for a walk, getting dressed up to go to BLT on a Thursday night after a long work day or getting a mani-pedi with girlfriends. Basically, horseplay for me is anything that doesn’t involve work.

But I am a workaholic so finding time for horseplay is rare but invaluable.” ­­— Kris Ruby President and founder, Ruby Media,Waccabuc and Greenwich resident “…When I get gang-tackled by my six kids (and occasionally my 100-pound golden retriever) when I walk in the door after a long day of work.”

— Adam J. Stark President, Stark Office Suites, Pound Ridge resident “Everyday and everything is horsing around for me when you have 80-plus of them on the farm.”

— Scott Tarter Stable and general manager, Twin Lakes Farm, Bronxville resident

– Coordinated by Alissa Frey Contact her at afrey@westfairinc.com 95

class&sass M – Westchester is divided between horse people and nonhorse people. I’m decidedly of the latter variety. Call me odd, but I don’t cherish owning expensive pets that have a propensity to bite, throw, kick, slime and trample. At right are a few of the more salient points I recently came across in an article titled “Ten Ways to Get In Shape to Own a Horse” (on horsegroomingsupplies.com), which succinctly sums up my feelings about horse ownership.

Martha and Jennifer at Echo Farm in South Salem.

96

• Drop a heavy steel object on your foot. Don’t pick it up right away, but instead shout, “Get off, stupid! Get off!”

• Leap out of a moving vehicle and practice “Relaxing into the fall.” Roll lithely into a ball and then spring to your feet.

• Affix a pair of reins to a moving freight train and practice pulling it to a halt while simultaneously smiling as if you’re having fun.

• Lie face down in the mud in your most expensive riding clothes and repeat to yourself: “This is a learning experience, this is a learning experience.”

• Marry money.

But if you’re still not convinced, and you’re considering purchasing a horse then you’ll need to understand some horse terminology (also courtesy of horsegroomingsupplies.com).

• Needs experienced rider = Potentially lethal.

• Quiet = Lame in both front legs.

• Dead Quiet = Lame in all four legs.

• Good in Traffic = Lame all around, deaf and blind.

• Must Sell = Wife has left and taken the kids with her.

• All Offers Considered = I am in traction for six months.

J – I’m with you. If I’m going to spend hundreds of dollars on new shoes every month, they’re damn well going on my feet. Ditto for the mortgage-size payment required to board the beasts, not to mention pay for their chiropractors, acupuncturists, psychics and eventually for their retirement homes. But I bet I could find some interesting uses for one of those riding crops….

However, horses do make a fantastic party backdrop. The mint juleps at the Kentucky Derby are beyond compare (as are the vodka-infused watermelon and grapes that the college kids sneak into the cheap seats on the field). But you have to be careful when it comes to choosing your hat. Last year, I chose one (after an extensive search) that I thought was just perfect. Unfortunately, I hadn’t anticipated the crowds and I spent the day shimmying through the throng with my head cocked sideways while the dogwood branches that protruded around the front and off both sides nearly poked out the eyes of unsuspecting bystanders.

Thankfully, someone noticed my predicament and offered to shear off a few of my branches.

M – I’ve never been to the Derby.

But I appreciate your sage advice.

I do love a good rodeo. Aren’t cowboys any girl’s weakness?

And speaking of horses, a good friend once admitted that she “gets on to get off.” So they have that going for them.

J - Really? Well, that certainly would help explain why so many women are horse-obsessed. And

now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go buy me a horse and saddle up.

M – No need for a saddle; I’m told it works better if you ride bareback.

J – Sounds like more pain then pleasure. But it’s worth a try!

Q. What should I do if I suspect my husband is horsing around?

A. Begin by confirming your suspicions. One telltale sign is increasingly sneaky cell phone usage. Is he hiding it at night? Suddenly taking it into the bathroom with him? Does he hesitate when you ask to borrow his cell as if it were the Holy Grail? If the answer to any of these is “yes,” then “yes,” kick the horse’s _ss out! If you’re still unsure, call a discreet P.I. Q. I’m a horseback rider and require massages nearly every time I ride for my multitude of aching muscles. The problem is that many masseuses are “Chatty Cathys” and for me, this ruins the massage. I’m looking for total peace and quiet. But I hate to be rude.

A. Dealing with masseuses is a lot like dealing with husbands. They don’t always “get it.” You have to be blatantly direct if you want satisfaction. So next time, just start off the massage by explaining exactly what you want. You can say something like, “Just so we’re clear, I like firm pressure and absolute quiet. I hope you’re OK with that.”

Q. I’m planning on attending the next Kentucky Derby. Anything I should know?

A. Here are a few tips, courtesy of Amy Wilson, McClatchy Newspapers (newsday.com): • It will be much appreciated by the locals if you memorize the lyrics to “My Old Kentucky Home” before arriving.

• If stumped for conversation, compliment a woman on her hat (if she’s not wearing one, chances are she’s at the wrong event) and ask a man if he needs a drink (men at the Derby always need another drink).

• Under no circumstances should you speak ill of any horse while at the Downs.

Even notoriously slow ones command more respect than most people and certainly all politicians.

• Take aspirin.

Wherein we institute a new section of likes and dislikes: Tail up: • A long winter weekend getaway to The Setai in South Beach.

• Any treatment at the Oriental Foot Reflexology in Mount Kisco.

Tail down: • Saddle bags (attached to human thighs) • Stockings or tights whose design stops mid-thigh.

“You both are true masters

(Drs. Kenneth Magid and Sabrina Magid) when it comes to dental work.

My teeth are picture perfect! Not only is my smile truly amazing, but by widening my smile, you have completely transformed my face.”

—Melissa Marcogliese, WAG’s 2010 Makeover contest winner

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The WAG’s 2011 Makeover

Unretouched photos Photos by Jamie Kilgore

As part of the “Extreme Makeover” team as seen on ABC-TV Dr. Magid has created the beautiful smiles of TV and stage personalities and some of your Westchester neighbors. They just look so natural you can’t tell. As an Associate Professor of Esthetics he teaches dentists from around the world the techniques and artistry of cosmetic dentistry. Along with Dr. Sabrina Magid they offer the latest technology in dental care including the ability to see what you would look like with a cosmetic makeover with just a photo.

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