History Timeline

Quaker Ridge Stable off of Riversville Road opened (subsequently becomes On the Go Farm, Soundview Stable, and Epona Stable); torn down in 2007

Bridge Street Stable built by John Wahl and his brother Frederick Wahl, father of Theodore “Teddy” Wahl

Greenwich Riding Association built stable at Field Club and hired Frederick Wahl to run small riding operation and the beginnings of a hunt group (which would later be organized into the Fairfield and Westchester Hounds); he is assisted by his 14 year old son Teddy Wahl

Raynal C. Bolling named first Master of Hunt

1st Greenwich Horse Show held at Nutdourne Farm, Port Chester, NY

Greenwich Riding Association formed by Karl Ely, James Perkins, Charles Lanier, Henry J. Fisher, Emerson Root Newell, Raynal Bolling and Roger S. Baldwin

National Steeplechase and Hunt Association recognized the Fairfield and Westchester Hounds

Greenwich Polo Club founded by Alvin Untermeyer

Samuel F. Bridge . . . employed continuously at a salary of $125 per month . . .includes the use of his Ford truck, and a horse when needed . . . bridle path gate designed and built which “may readily be opened from horseback”

Emerson Newell, Chairman, Rogers S. Baldwin, Henry J. Fisher, Edgar D. Pouch, J. Alden Twachtman were appointed to the Bridle Path Committee

Bridle Path Ride held 5 p.m. July 29 starting from Field Club Stables through William Rockefeller property, Meadow Lane, Wilson Meadows, Hemlock Gorge, Sterling and Close properties to Round Hill Church . . . after supper continue through the Moore, Redfield and Fisher properties back to the stables

Round Hill Stables built by Round Hill Club off of Pecksland Road, thanks to efforts of Emerson Newell, Karl Ely and others; members now able to ride and board horses; first enclosed ring in Greenwich (perhaps transformed from indoor tennis court)

Round Hill Country Club bridle path established

Map of bridle paths sent to each member

Teddy Wahl became riding master at the Round Hill Stables (remains there until his death in 1976, assisted over time by daughters Dorothy and Barbara Wahl); created the Professional Horseman Association

Fairfield and Westchester Hounds split into Goldens Bridge Hunt (Westchester country) and Fairfield Hunt (Greenwich country) became separate entity from Greenwich Riding Association

Henry J. Fisher, Chairman, Roger S. Baldwin and J. Alden Twachtman were appointed Bridle Path Committee

Greenwich Horse Show relocated to Yale Farms, Greenwich

Everett Ostrander hired to maintain trails; construction of 210 gates in three years (subsequent trail men: Bud Purdy, Todd Novotny, and Diego Orozco)

Newell Trail dedicated in memory of Emerson Newell; plaque installed on rock by Henry J. Fisher at hole #13 on Round Hill Golf Course

Newell Trail dedicated in memory of Emerson Newell; plaque installed on rock by Henry J. Fisher at hole #13 on Round Hill Golf Course

Richard “Robbie” Robinson becomes Master of the Fairfield Hunt

Mike Carroll relocated his stable from Townsend property (now Indian Knoll Road) to present location off of Riversville Road

Merritt Parkway constructed with three underpasses for the trails

Greenwich Polo Club disbanded; revived in 1983

Margarita “Migi” Noble Serrell serves as Joint Master with “Robbie” Robinson of the Fairfield Hunt

Suffolk Challenge Plate for Junior Hunt Team at Madison Square Garden won by Greenwich riders (Barbara Wahl, Kathlyn Jennings, Peggy Klipstein) representing Fairfield and Westchester Junior Drag Hunt

Suffolk Challenge Plate for Junior Hunt Team at Madison Square Garden won by Greenwich riders (Ethel Skakel, Zella Kunhardt and Barbara
Wahl) representing Fairfield County Junior Hunt Club

New England Pony Club established; “district commissioners” Elise “Sis” Kelsey and Ann “Dicky” Parrish (subsequently merged with Goldens Bridge Pony Club)

Suffolk Challenge Plate for Junior Hunt Team at Madison Square Garden retired by Greenwich riders (Frances Pryor, Imogene Bragg and Jory Butler) representing Fairfield County Junior Hunt Club

Fairfield Hunt became a drag hunt

Kelsey family purchased Stubis Farm property on Lake Avenue from Joseph and Helen Wilshire, included a small stable built in 1927

Kelsey Pony Day Camp begun

Fairfield Hunt cast hounds for the last time in Greenwich

Round Hill Stables separates from Round Hill Club

Greenwich Riding and Trails Association chartered as non-profit organization, reorganized by Thor Ramsing, Helen Castles, Mrs. James “Tinkle” Warfield, Frank R. “Bud” and Betty Parker, Fred Jeffrey

1st Day in the Country chaired by Tinkle Warfield and held at Moore Property on Mooreland Road; subsequently relocated to Alvin Untermeyer Property (also home of the United States Equestrian Team for a period of time) on Taconic Road, Heron Property on Lower Cross Road and currently at Milliken Property on Pierson Drive

Connic Stable opened on June Road in Stamford (subsequently becomes
The Paddock, Windswept Farm, and is currently Mead Farm)

Ernest Thompson Seton Reservation dedicated for benefit of Boy Scouts (land subsequently traded with Henry J. Fisher to create access road and 100’ buffer for riding trail)

Teddy Wahl purchased the Round Hill Stables property from the Round Hill Club, with support from Walter B. Devereux

Greenwich Horse Show relocated to Heron Property on Lower Cross Road

1st Hunt Ball held at Round Hill Club, chaired by Norma Bartol
Greenwich Pony Club established, district commissioners Ann Pierce and Lalande McCreery Keeshan

Hunt Ball held at Indian Harbor Yacht Club

Hunt Ball held at “Chieftains”, the Gimbel estate on King Street

1st Dogwood Ride held at Donna and Fred Nives’ property on Lake Avenue and chaired by Donna Nives (subsequently relocated to deKwiatkowski estate on Lower Cross Road and currently at Sabine Farm on Round Hill Road)

1st Hunter Pace originally held at Fred & Donna Nives’ property on Lake Ave north of the Parkway; subsequently relocated to Altschul Field off of Riverbank Road, Sabine Farm on Round Hill Road and chaired by Harry Keefe & Donna Nives. Currently located at Hughes-Wonham/ Finkelstein Field off of Carrington Drive and Howard Road),

Pegasus Greenwich Chapter started by Florence Asch and Peggy Klipstein
Larned, based at Donna and Fred Nives’ farm on Lake Avenue

Greenwich Horse Show relocated to Milliken Property on Lower Cross Road

Pegasus relocated to Round Hill Stables

Greenwich Polo Club, created by Peter Brant at Conyers Farm

Pony Club Benefit Barn Dance, Kelsey Farm on Lake Avenue

Annual Program established

Hunt Ball held at “Chieftains”, the Gimbel estate on King Street

Hunt Ball held at “Chieftains”, the Gimbel estate on King Street

Pegasus relocated to Kelsey Farm

Kentucky Derby Ball held at Conyers Farm

Old Mill Farm (Mayer property on Old Mill Road) purchased by Mel Gibson

Landowners Picnic at deKwiatkowski estate on Lower Cross Road

75th Anniversary of the Greenwich Horse Show

NETWORKER (newsletter), created and edited by Lucy Bernstein; 1999-2003, edited by Alice Fisher; 2004-present, edited by Anita Keefe

1st Annual Keefe Trail Ride and Picnic, hosted by Harry and Anita Keefe at their property on Aiken Road

Hunt Ball held at Claus property on Round Hill Road

Round Hill Stables torn down

Hunt Ball held at Whisper Ridge Farm on John Street

Diego Orozco hired as Trail Manager

The Thoroughbred Horse: Born to Run and Jump (Bruce Museum Exhibit), cocktail preview party with auction to benefit GRTA, chaired by Susan A. Weiss

Black and Tan Hunt Ball held at Treibeck estate on Burying Hill Road

50th Anniversary of the Day in the Country
1st Barn Tour, chaired by Lindsey Thune

Greenwich Riding and Trails Association acquired Nichols Preserve on West Lane from The Nature Conservancy (94 acres), chaired by Jennifer Freedman

Hunt Ball, celebrating Greenwich’s History and Preservation of Open Space, held at Bright Brook Farm on John Street

Mary Jane Wallace retired as secretary after 52 years

Trail Clean Up introduced by Anita Keefe
Hunt Ball held at Thomas Peterffy’s estate on Lower Cross Road

Hunt Ball held at Thomas Peterffy’s estate, in honor of Marie “Mamie” and Adalbert “Adie” von Gontard

First Gala, honoring Fred and Donna Nives, held at Indian Harbor Yacht Club

Hunt Ball held at Belle Haven Club, in honor of Elise “Sis” Kelsey, Norma Bartol, and Walter Stratton

Hunt Ball held at Greenwich Country Club, in honor of Greenwich Land Trust

Hunt Ball held at Thomas Peterffy’s estate in honor of 100 years of GRTA

Barn Tour, Dogwood Ride, June Show, Day in Country, Hunter Pace, Stetson’s & Stilettos continue our celebration of 100 years

95th Annual Greenwich Horse Show held at Milliken estate, Dogwood Ride at Sabine Farm, Day in Country at Milliken estate, Hunter Pace off of June Road and Stetson’s and Stilettos in Dollard indoor ring

96th Annual Greenwich Horse Show held at Milliken estate, Dogwood Ride at Sabine Farm canceled due to weather, Barn Tour, Day in the Country at Milliken estate, Hunter Pace off June Road and Silver Horse Ball at the Round Hill Club.