An end to 2025 at Southlands

For generations, The Southlands Foundation in Rhinebeck has been a rare space where people of all ages can experience the joy of nature, animals, and belonging, a place where horses, riders, and community come together to learn, grow, and thrive. We’re entering a season of renewal that reflects both our history and our hopes for the future. This past year has brought meaningful progress across our farm: new barn windows and stall doors now brighten our aisles, symbolizing a stronger, safer, and more welcoming Southlands. These improvements have been made possible through the generosity of community partners like the Frost Memorial Fund and the Thomas Thompson Trust, and we invite you to join them in supporting this vital place as it continues to serve generations to come.

Please join me in making a gift to Southlands this season. In addition to these vital facility improvements, we are expanding our educational and therapeutic programming for children and adolescents. These programs are already sparking confidence and joy, but they require trained staff, thoughtfully designed lesson spaces, and continued investment to grow.

Our founder Deborah Dows established Southlands so the Rhinebeck community and its visitors could experience open land, nature, and the profound connection that can come from being with horses. She believed that everyone, regardless of background or ability, should have access to this place. Today, we honor that vision by preserving more than 200 acres for the public, and by offering programs that enrich lives, build community, and care deeply for our herd.

Thank you again for your steadfast support of Southlands. It makes an extraordinary difference. Wishing you warmth, peace, and joy this holiday season. We hope you will join us for our Holiday Fair on December 13th!

Our year at a glance

Mission and Focus

The Southlands Foundation is, at its heart, a place where people and horses help one another grow. For more than seventy years, our fields, barns, and wooded trails have offered a sense of peace and belonging to all who come here. We care for this land so it can remain open, welcoming, and alive with possibility, a place where children discover confidence, where horses find gentle hands and kind voices, and where our community can simply breathe and be.

Community Impact

This year, we have seen again how meaningful it is to have a place like Southlands in our community. Children have read aloud to patient ponies who seem to understand every word. Families have gathered for moments of joy and quiet connection. Volunteers, neighbors, and teachers have walked through the barn aisle and said, “It just feels good here.” Southlands brings people together in a way that is grounding, healing, and deeply human, and we are grateful to share it.

Program Highlights

Our educational and therapeutic programs have continued to flourish, opening doors for young people to build trust, courage, and compassion. Whether it’s a young reader smiling proudly after reading to a pony for the first time, or a student who learns how to breathe deeply and find calm beside a gentle horse, we witness small transformations every day. These moments are tender, real, and lasting, and they remind us why this work matters.

The Path Forward

As we look ahead, we are filled with hope. We dream of expanded learning spaces, growing our herd with horses who are able to help teach, and welcoming even more children and families into our programs. We are committed to nurturing this place with care, so that future generations can experience the same sense of belonging and wonder that Southlands has offered for decades. With your support, we can continue this quiet, powerful work – together.

Programs like Reading with Ponies and Tiny Trotters brought children together to learn, laugh, and connect