This year, Stony Hill Stables in Amagansett is celebrating 60 years in business, most of them under the ownership of the Hotchkiss family.
Wick Hotchkiss, the second-generation owner and a United States Dressage Federation gold medalist, said the Stony Hill story began down the road. By 1966, according to an article in The East Hampton Star, her father, Larry Hotchkiss, had taken over management of the stables and her mother, Elizabeth, was teaching riding.
“When I was probably 5, I’m guessing, we added to the property,” said Hotchkiss, who took over ownership of the stables when she was 26. The business grew as horses became more popular. In 1976 a camp was added, according to Amanda Rodriguez, Stony Hill’s facilities manager. The farm now occupies 10 acres off Town Lane, has become a United States Hunter Jumper Association-recognized riding academy, and in 2012 started the separate nonprofit Stony Hill Stables Foundation.
“Especially in the Hamptons, riding has become a sport for the wealthy,” Hotchkiss said. “It’s very expensive out here. With the land prices the way they are, I guess it’s understandable that to run a business, you have to have a certain income. Our idea was to make it accessible with the scholarships.”
To bring riding within reach of more young people, students can work in exchange for their lessons. Plus, Hotchkiss said, there are discounted rates for local riders. But, the Stony Hill Stables Foundation is special in that it goes above and beyond simple acts of giving back.
“The scholarship promotes horsemanship, which is a bit of a lost art,” she said.
“It’s fulfilling to watch people learn and have that connection with the horse,” Rodriguez said. “They don’t need to win a blue ribbon; they just need to spend time with the horse.”
“To watch the kids grow as riders is just great,” Hotchkiss said. “We have a lot of kids, and we also have adults.” Some of the riders are the grandchildren of people that her mother taught. “That’s pretty amazing to see.”
Hotchkiss began riding as a jumper when she was young, but slowly switched to dressage, which the Federation Equestre Internationale defines as “the highest expression of horse training” and elegance that prizes the intense connection between horse and rider.
“In dressage, what is special is to feel the horse’s response to the smallest of aids,” Hotchkiss said. “The horses change the way they move with training. You watch, and they can become very lofty in their way of moving. I think it’s very beautiful.”
Being warm and welcoming to riders at all levels is at the core of Stony Hill’s philosophy. “You can always knock on our door,” Hotchkiss said. “We will help you in person, via email, or on the phone. I like to think that Stony Hill is a little different. We are all really close, and so many of us have been here for many years. We have created a tight-knit family. I like to think we treat our clientele the same way.”
Rodriguez said such a large business endeavor is not an easy one to maintain, and when animals and people are the foundation of your business, it takes a lot of care and management. “It takes a special human to manage it, and Wick has done an incredible job.”
“This is why people need to come here,” Rodriguez concluded. “We are going to invite the community to see what we do on a regular basis because everyone should have access to horses. There are so many things that happen on the property daily. We not only have the foundation. We have so many things here we want to share with the community.”
Stony Hill Stables and the Stony Hill Stables Foundation will host an open house at 268 Town Lane in Amagansett on Aug. 21 from 3 to 6 p.m. It will include pony rides, barn tours, a jump-off featuring some of Stony Hill’s best show riders, a dressage presentation, and a social hour with snacks and a chance to chat with trainers and other staff members.
