The same weekend the Olympics were opening in Paris, Millbrook, NY was holding a world class sporting event of its own. The annual Millbrook Horse Trials is an equestrian triathlon. Over four days, horses and riders compete in three phases: dressage, cross country, and stadium jumping.
Besides viewing and chatting at ringside seats in tents surrounding the event, spectators shop in a tent featuring local and specialty vendors, sample dishes at the food truck fair, lead children through the petting zoo. A Sip and Shop event featured a conversation between Event Sponsor Barbara Tober and Sex and the City creator Candace Bushnell about the value and importance of horsemanship for women — confidence, authority, self-assurance.
The vendor tent held goodies galore.Jeffrey Aborn — Out East Eyewear booth.Courtney Moss — Glamourpuss booth.Kristan Cicero and Sophia Garceau.Suzy Abuza — Indo-Chic booth.Andrea Walton won a Lime Rock driving lesson contributed by Porsche.Barbara Tober, Caroline Merison, Andrea Walton, Aileen Meehan, Melanie Rivas, Michael Demilt, and Candace Bushnell.L. to r.: Claire Bailey and Aileen Meehan; Edwina Hunt.Alexis Viragh, Camellia Ford, Candace Bushnell, Pamela Taylor Yates, and Karen Klopp.Pamela Taylor Yates and John Klopp.Peggy Kauffman and Candace Bushnell.L. to r.: Kristen Segin, Troy Schumacher, and Cara Lonergan; Marina Mannara and Carole Postal.L. to r.: Halina Duda; Candace Bushnell, Ariel Grald, and Piper Broderick Smith.Tricia Coleman — Fleurissant Newport booth.L. to r.: Emily Grosserhode; Sharon King Hoge.L. to r.: Lisa Brown; Taylor Pyne and Stephen Masri.Greg Grimes.L. to r.: Tammy Geiger, Vicki Salnikoff, and Lisa Brown; Victoria Goodwin and Georgina Whitford.L. to r.: Fiona Eltz and Joanna Johnston; Glynis Carpenter, Lizzie Gill, and John Carpenter.Kristan Cicero, Caroline Merison, Sophia Garceau — Vanner House booth.
A dinner in Candace’s honor was later hosted by Barbara at her picturesque Yellowframe Farm. Guests enjoyed salmon and chicken dishes prepared by celebrity chef Brandon Chrostowski, who spent an early part of his career with the Tobers and later founded and now runs the Cleveland EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute which trains and is staffed largely by former prison inmates.
Guest of honor Candace Bushnell, host Barbara Tober, and Cathy Rasenberger.Jonathan Marder and Joanna Johnston.Eames Yates and Barbara Tober.The table setting at Yellowframe Farm.Pamela Taylor Yates, Dimitri Sevastopoulo, Candace Bushnell, Barbara Tober, Jonathan Marder, Cathy Rasenberger, and Sharon Hoge.Barbara Tober and Chef Brandon Chrostowski.
Spectators viewed the events from fanciful tents and on Sunday guests watched the stadium jumping seated at luncheon tables elaborately decorated with equestrian and floral accents. Among the guests were former governor Eliot Spitzer, A Million Little Pieces author James Frey, and aerial artist Philippe Petit, who on August 7 and 8th will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his walk between the towers of the World Trade Center.
After the three sessions of trials, it was Meghan O’Donoghue and her Thoroughbred gelding Palm Crescent who won first place — taking home the “gold” after a very sporting weekend.
Viewers watch from tented tables.Sponsor Host Barbara Tober wore a frock printed with horses.Candace Bushnell, Michele Gerber Klein, Violet, Jonathan Marder, and Barbara Tober,Nancy Hathaway and Morgan Roswell.Bessie Park, Hobson Brown, and Lisa Brown.L. to r.: Diana King and Maribeth Moore; Jonathan Marder and Jack Vivinetto.Candace Bushnell with trio of Nuns.Sophia Garceau.L. to r.: Tricia Coleman and Caelan Nesbitt; Georgina Whitford and Alexis Viragh.L. to r.: Jacqueline Thorne and Jodi Dady; Eliot Spitzer and Roxana Girand.Marcia Kulak and Sara Kozumplik.Barbara Tober, Morgan Roswell, and Jodi Dady.Jodi Dady and Charlie Teal.L. to r.: Robbianne Mackin, Jodi Dady, and Jodie Fink; CeCe Cord and Charles Holmes.Dale Weston-Kurten, Ann Wilkinson, Penelope Hall, Marie-Laure Collins, and Candy Anderson.David Thieringer and Helen Cook.Everett Cook and Molly Hurley.Judith Friedlaender, Philippe Petit, Michael Bassett, Darren Henault, Barbara Tober, Nancy Ocello, Katharine Eltz, and Joanna Johnston.Gregg Grimes, Jonathan Marder, James Frey, and Fiona Eltz.Gretchen Hunt, Linda Pinto, Booli Selmayr, Otis, Charlotte Harris, Anita Jesup, Betsy Zander, and Nina Selmayr.Philippe Petit, Barbara Tober, and Darren Henault.Booli Selmayr, Gretchen Hunt, Anita Zander, and Linda Pinto.Pepper Bushnell, Gregg Grimes, and Jonathan Marder.Katharine Eltz, James Frey, and Fiona Eltz.
