by Thaddeus Flint
And they’re off! The riding has begun at Stephentown’s newest business, Cinch ‘em Up Stables, which opened Saturday, June 1.
It was only April 15 that co-owners Cassidy Chamberlain and Kyle Gardner started work on the stables, paddocks and the arena that sits on a piece of the Gardner family farm, just across a field of grazing Herefords from the Gardner family’s ice cream stand. Kyle Gardner himself was out in the forest this spring cutting the trees for what would become the building that now houses thirteen horses, two ponies and the small shop.
The opening started off with trail riding. The location is perfect for it. The Gardners have 430 acres sitting behind Routes 22 and 43, and there are trails galore to take a peaceful horse ride along the Kinderhook Creek and up into the mountain.
Gardner said he spent a lot of time trying to find the right horses for the job. As not everyone is an expert horse rider, it was important that they were calm and easy to ride. In the end Gardner said they found some good ones out in Iowa and Kansas. “The pickings are better there,” he said.
But trail riding is only half the business. Both Chamberlain and Gardner are champion ropers, and they are hoping to use their experience, and now their stables, to bring other ropers to Stephentown. Every night but Fridays, Cinch’em Up has an arena event scheduled. There is team roping, breakaway calf roping, sorting practice and barrel racing. As admission is free, it might be a nice way to spend a warm summer’s night outside. Those who decide that the rodeo life might be for them can take lessons and learn roping, barrel racing and sorting for themselves. “You can’t beat the energy of it,” said Gardner.
And it’s that energy that Chamberlain and Gardner are also trying to bring back to Stephentown. “There used to be a lot happening here,” said Gardner. “It’s good for the Town.”
