In the Dutchess County Spotlight
"Fitch's Moment"
By: Maggie Behringer. Passport Spring 2009
03/20/2009
In the middle of winter, Fitch's Corner Farm in Millbrook, N.Y., is a stretch of rolling, snow-blanketed hillsides. Two red barns house a handful of horses that eagerly prick their ears at the sound of ice crunching under approaching footsteps.
Come April, hints of spring and warmer weather will be sprouting up and the planning will have begun. By July, owners Fernanda Kellogg and Kirk Henckels will be fully prepared for the 80 to 100 volunteers and 250 participants from South Carolina to Canada who will descend on the farm for 16th Annual Fitch's Corner Horse Trials.
"We are known as a destination event," said Ms. Kellogg, who is president of the Tiffany & Co. Foundation. She joined Tiffany in 1984 as director of retail marketing and was promoted to vice president two years later. Since 2007, she was devoted her attention to the foundation, which supports the arts and the environment.
When her daughter wanted a summer project, one of the current event organizers, Eric Hill, suggested a horse trials.
"I knew it was going to be a big undertaking," Ms. Kellogg recalled with a laugh.
What began as a summer activity has grown into a full-scale weekend event with a ball, a luncheon, a market featuring more than 40 vendors and a vintage car parade-in addition to the horse show-using every inch of the 140-acre property for the 175 stalls needed, 18 tents and parking.
At one point, the two owners bought more land to alleviate crowding. For the first two years, the horse trials were unofficial. Now, the competition operates under the governance of the United States Eventing Association, with Novice, Training, Preliminary, CIC and Master's divisions.
"I draw the line at the Ferris wheel," Mr. Henckels joked, only half in jest, judging by the event's nature for flair.
The Fitch's Corner Horse Trials is a three-day event revolving around a triathlon for the riders and horses. Each participant competes in the three different categories-dressage to test the horse's discipline, a one-and-a-quarter mile cross country jumping course to measure its courage, and stadium jumping to evaluate the level of skill and ability. A rider's final score combines the three individual results. While the show's competitive events commence in the morning, the rest of each day hardly lacks excitement.
Demonstrations of medieval jousting, complete with costumes and lances, delight audiences on Saturday, and on Sunday the horses share the spotlight with vintage cars, which go on exhibit and then parade in the stadium.
The market, meanwhile, is offered on both Saturday and Sunday. With everything from clothing to jewelry, art, tack and home accessories, it offers a horse lover's dream spread. Ms. Kellogg and organizers try to bring in vendors from outside the area, providing those who attend with the opportunity to buy from businesses new to them or others that they may have only encountered online. The 2007 roster included Bit of Britain, Smathers and Branson, Adel's Equestrian Gifts, silversmith Robert Buter, the Madder Hatters and Georgetown Stable Outfitters.
"There are some people who come to shop, shop, shop," said Ms. Kellogg.
Saturday night at Fitch's Corner bucks protocol a bit. Proper etiquette calls for a ritzy wine and cheese affair for the competitors, but the longstanding tradition, almost reaching legend status, at the Millbrook farm is a Blue Jean Ball with an informal dinner, a concert and, of course, dancing.
"Fernanda's a rather inveterate entertainer," Mr. Henckels said of his wife.
The treasured Sunday event remains the Spectator Luncheon, which features a celebrity chef and precedes the awards ceremony. Cruz Goler from New York's Lupa Osteria Romana and Bill Telepan from Telepan have both designed menus. Local restaurants like The Farmer's Wife prepare the food on site. Though not required, the invitations encourage ladies to show off their summer hats, and come midday on Sunday the green fields are dotted with glimpses of pinks, oranges, lavenders, yellows, powder blues and white constructions.
The luncheon also acts as a fund-raiser exclusively for the Millbrook Fire Department Rescue Squad. Over the last 14 years of the horse trials, Fitch's Corner has donated more than $175,000 to the volunteer organization, including $37,000 last year.
"Without them, we couldn't do what we do here," Mr. Henckels said, referring to more than the squad's help during the weekend but also to its continued work throughout the year. "This is our way as equestrians to give back to them."
Planning for the July weekend begins in December. Organizers meet once a month until June when they meet every other week. While Ms. Kellogg and Mr. Henckels are instrumental in the process, they were eager to share credit with their team, which includes Eric Hill, Diana King, Lida Tat, Sunny Cross, Kevin Smith, farm manager Nick Meyers and a loyal sponsor, Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate.
When Fitch's Corner is not preoccupied with the summer trials, the farm resembles more of a quiet country estate.
"Horses are core to my being," said Ms. Kellogg.
Raised in Westchester County, N.Y., she attended Bennett College in Millbrook and became attached to the area. During her riding career, she won Madison Square Garden's National Horse Show for Hunters and Jumpers. She still competes and enjoys the local fox hunting, which is where she met Mr. Henckels.
Originally from Fort Worth, Tex., he was a state champion. After working in banking, Mr. Henckels is now the Executive Vice President and Director of Stribling Private Brokerage for the Manhattan real estate firm Stribling and Associates.
For more information on the Fitch's Corner Horse Trials, visit www.fitchscorner.com
©Passport 2009 , www.passport-mag.com
