Dutchess County Horse Source

10/17/2026

10/07/2026

NSBA is saddened to report the passing of founder and past president of NSBA, Leo Barbera. Learn more about Leo's legacy here:
https://brnw.ch/21x6dlX

10/03/2026

A raccoon that was brought to Rhinebeck Animal Hospital yesterday has tested positive for rabies. The individuals who transported the animal did not provide their contact information or details about where the animal was found. The Dutchess County Department of Health is asking the two individuals, or anyone who knows their identities, to please contact the Health Department as soon as possible regarding their potential rabies exposure.

If you or your pet had direct contact with a raccoon or other wildlife behaving unusually in the Rhinebeck area, call DCDOH immediately at (845) 486-3404 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or (845) 320-1656 on nights and weekends. Rabies is preventable if treated promptly after exposure. Please do not approach wildlife and report animals exhibiting unusual behavior.

To learn more visit: dutchessny.gov/rabies.

09/30/2026

Gata Rein Ranch is dedicated to the equine sport of reining. We raise, train, show and sell top quality prospects and show horses.

09/28/2026

We are deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Dr. Cierra Cadena, and would like to extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, colleagues and all who loved her.

While working in the veterinary field can be rewarding, it can also take an immense toll on one’s mental health. Long hours, emotionally taxing cases, and high-stress decisions frequently weigh heavily on the mental well-being of veterinarians, technicians, and support staff alike.

We would like to take this moment to remind our fellow veterinary professionals that it is okay to ask for help. Please know that you are not alone, and there are resources available to connect you to others who can help in even the darkest times.

We also ask that clients and the equine community as whole continuously offer their kindness, understanding, and patience to every member of their veterinary care team. A little gratitude can go an incredibly long way for those who need it most.

If you or someone you work with needs support, help is always within reach:
• Reach the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline anytime by calling or texting 988.
• Not One More Vet (nomv.org) is an organization that offers a variety of resources, outreach, and peer support for veterinary professionals who may be struggling.

Rest peacefully, Dr. Cadena. Thank you for your unwavering dedication and care. ❤️

09/28/2026

At 157 riders, the 2025 Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final had the smallest field in more than a decade and a noticeable drop from 231 entries just three years earlier. But according to judge Michael Tokaruk, the shrinking numbers at Harrisburg don’t signal a problem, but a transformation.

“The three-three medals are doing exactly what they were created to do,” Tokaruk explained. “They give a stepping stone to riders from the children’s and the Taylor Harris before they’re necessarily ready to do the demanding three-foot-six equitation.”

In other words, the new generation of equitation riders isn’t disappearing, but rather developing differently. The addition of national 3’3” finals like the Hamel Foundation NHS 3’3” Equitation Championship and US Equestrian’s Jumping Seat Medal Finals has given younger, greener, and less experienced riders their own pinnacle events.

Those classes help make the sport more accessible and create a progression. Riders now have the freedom to move up gradually, build confidence, and find horses appropriate to their skill level without jumping straight from local medals to Harrisburg.

“It’s the right progression,” Tokaruk said. “Not every horse or rider is ready for the kind of questions we ask at the 3’6” level. These 3’3” divisions let them gain experience in a national final environment before taking that step.”

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/09/25/the-rise-of-the-33-equitation-division-and-how-its-changing-finals/
📸 © The Plaid Horse

09/27/2026