Board of Directors

President

Jacob grew up at Southlands, having taken his first ride here at age 4. He has been a part of the Southlands family for over a quarter century.  As a child, he rode in pony camps, graduated to be one of the counselors and he competed in many horse shows across the region including many years at the Dutchess County Fair. Today, one can often find him riding his mare Salem around the farm. He continues to volunteer in many ways, assisting our barn staff with maintaining our grounds, managing our herd and offering his technological services & expertise to the office staff. His support of the Southlands school of horsemanship, deep connection to our history and his work with our buildings & grounds reflects his deep dedication to Southlands. Most notably, he created the Nicole Marie Wiley Scholarship Fund to honor his late wife who he met at Southlands and served as our Barn Manager. This fund supports working students in their horsemanship education at Southlands and their ability to participate in shows and clinics in the local community. His involvement through the years is testament of his love for Southlands.

Treasurer

Suzanne Battenfeld has a decades long career at IBM as a marketing executive as well as her own entrepreneurial endeavors within her family’s farm, Battenfeld’s Flower & Christmas Tree Farm (one of the region’s oldest & most beloved businesses).   Suzanne grew up riding at Southlands, where her family rode as young children as well. Today, she continues to ride and enjoy her horse Witano and has been a dedicated supporter of The Southlands Foundation and its mission.

Non-Executive Director

Liz Golden Hilton is a long-time supporter of The Southlands Foundation. As young girl, Liz rode with Deborah Dows (then known as Mrs. Thomas) as her instructor. Her first lesson was in 1966. Ms. Golden Hilton credits her experiences under Deborah as having instilled a strong compassion for animals and stewardship of our natural landscape. Liz is also a Southlands volunteer and works with our longtime neighbors & partner 501c3, Samaritan Daytop Village Rehabilitation Center in a weekly equine-assisted program. Liz has extensive not-for- profit experience and currently serves on the boards of St. Francis Hospital (which helped form what is now Mid-Hudson Regional) and the Hyde Park Visual Environment Committee, focusing its efforts on beautifying the Historic Town of Hyde Park. She also serves as a volunteer for these two organizations. Additionally, Ms. Golden Hilton expresses her love & appreciation for all animals with over two decades as a volunteer at the Dutchess County SPCA .

Michael started riding at Southlands in the early 70s.  Growing up in Southlands Pony Club was very formative for his horse journey that would include rallies, eventing, showing and fox hunting.  He stopped riding when his horse shoeing business and family became his central focus. After retiring from being a professional farrier for 46 years he has gone back to riding in Susie’s group. He hopes to continue being an active member of the Southlands Foundation community and helping to keep the legacy that Mrs. Dows started thriving for generations to come.

Secretary

Cathleen Tobin grew up riding at Southlands in the 1980’s as it transitioned from Southlands Farm to The Southlands Foundation. What began as weekly lessons in elementary school evolved to active participation in Pony Club and Summer Program (now Pony Camp), and relationships with multiple lease horses. Cathleen is grateful for how Deb Dows and the broader Southlands family instilled a sense of resilience and shaped her appreciation for nature, the land and the creatures it supports.

Cathleen is the founder of Moonbridge Financial Design, LLC, an independent financial planning firm in Rhinebeck that serves women who take the lead on financial decision making in their households. She became a financial planner after fifteen years in global financial inclusion, as a strategy consultant helping financial institutions better reach and serve women clients. Previously, she held marketing and brand management roles at Johnson &Johnson, Revlon and Unilever, both in the US and abroad. Cathleen has an MBA from Cornell University. She is a member of the Rhinebeck Rotary Finance Committee, and serves on the board of the Sisters of Charity Housing Development Corporation, which maintains a network of affordable housing units in New York City, Rockland, and Ulster Counties.

Kathy Zitz grew up in Rhinebeck and has owned a local business with her husband Jim since 1989 (Warren Cutlery), where she manages the finances. A longtime horse owner, Kathy took her first riding lessons at The Southlands Foundation with the venerable John Craven. She currently owns and manages her two horses at her home in Rhinebeck, and is intimately familiar with the daily care and health concerns of equines. She rides regularly and enjoys honing her skills in dressage with her Warmblood gelding. As a local resident for six decades, she is well-versed in local community needs and history. Kathy is a strong advocate for environmentally responsible land use and education about the wonders of nature that surround us in the incredible landscape of Southlands.

Ben Galison moved to the Rhinebeck area in 2025 with his wife, Sabrina Hollander, and their son, Emmett, who has been riding for nearly a decade and immediately found a home at Southlands. Ben previously volunteered in Northern Virginia as a wildlife transporter and at a horse rescue facility and has over 10 years of nonprofit board experience, including several years as treasurer. He maintains an active interest in conservation, animal welfare, and community service. Professionally, Ben has long worked in the tech industry, in sales, consulting, and operations management. He currently leads revenue operations for a NYC-based software and AI company and previously held roles at venture- and private equity-backed companies as well as at Salesforce. Ben looks forward to being more actively involved with Southlands and helping advance its mission. 

Gabrielle has been a student at the Southlands Foundation since 2010. As a girl, she fell deeply in love with the land, horses, and education Southlands offers. Her deepest connection to Southlands is the pony she learned to ride on, Forever Blue, also known as Rosie. Gabrielle first came to Southlands to ride Rosie and eventually Rosie became her very own pony. Forever Blue is living out her very well-deserved retirement at Gabrielle’s parents farm, after teaching many Southlands students.

Gabrielle now works at the New York Racing Association as the Racing Relations Associate; blending the education she received at Southlands with her love for thoroughbreds and horse racing. She is a member of the Equine Advisory Committee at the Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, assisting in advising THS on equine care matters, and integrating new horses into their current population of therapy horses. Gabrielle is excited to support the continued growth of the Southlands Foundation while helping preserve the values that have long defined its community.

Frank Watkins is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from VCU and a BA in English from Hampden-Sydney College. He has experience in multiple residential and medical facilities treating addiction and mental health disorders. He has experience with a non-profit , managing a peer recovery support center under a federal grant from SAMHSA. He also served on The Alumni Board of The Collegiate School. A transplant from Virginia, Frank and his wife Emily enjoy exploring The Hudson Valleys’ art, history, and natural beauty.