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Gardnertown Farm has been owned and operated by the Dencker family since 1979. We have a fun and family-friendly atmosphere at the barn. We have been hosting USEF shows for close to thirty years as well as clinics, polo games, IEA shows and local chapter finals. Whether you are looking to learn to ride or play polo, board your horse, join IEA or USPA, show locally or travel to competitions across the northeast, we have what you are looking for!
Owner
Bill Dencker
a native of Huntington Station,NY has owned and operated Gardnertown Farm since 1979. He is a graduate of Bowling Green State University, where he played Division I Lacrosse. After graduation, Bill was the operator of Bear Mountain Inn in Harriman NY. In 1979, Bill bought Gardnertown Farm with no prior horse experience having no intention of keeping the property as a horse farm, until circumstances changed and he self taught himself the horse business. In 1991 Bill was approached about Arena Polo and created the indoor polo club Gardnertown Polo which is the oldest running Arena Polo club in the Northeast. Bill along with the students created Vassar Polo team from 2001 to 2012 which competed in the USPA Intercollegiate program. Bill along with Dan Scott (former student) have been coaching USPA interscholastic middle school and high school teams (Boys and Girls) since 2009 with the Boys qualifying for the national finals in 2017.
Tricia Dencker
a native of Newburgh, starting working at Gardnertown Farm in 1990 after meeting Bill. She is a graduate of Syracuse University and has a teaching degree from SUNY New Paltz. Bill and Tricia were married in 1993 and have 4 children who all participate in the family business. Tricia does the behind the scenes work of the business as well as runs the horse shows.Our Trainers
Robert Cotter
bio coming soon!
Bill Barr
is a graduate of Fordham University, he has had a lifelong involvement with horses; having competed and coached IHSA teams. As a rider he rode to an IHSA national championship and competed for the Cacchione Cup. He was Assistant Director of Riding at Pace University and the University of Findlay. As an IHSA coach he trained one of his riders capture a Cacchione Cup win.
Mr. Barr brings expertise from several years of training in Europe. While there he qualified and was Chef D’equipe for the Greek National Team at the Junior European Championship. He trained the winner of a Gold Medal at the Balkan Games as well as the Panhellenic Championships.
From 1995 to 1997, Mr. Barr oversaw the building of Winley Farm in Millbrook, NY, an extraordinary 175- acre equestrian facility, and trained over 50 horses there.
Mr. Barr qualified more than 10 riders for the USEF and ASPCA Maclay Championships. As well as qualified horses for the most prestigious shows in the United States including: Devon, Harrisburg, Washington, the National Horse Show and USEF Pony Finals.
Most notably, he trained Amsterdam in the Regular Conformation Hunter and James Bond in the Regular Working Hunter.
He produced Quidam M to the Grand Prix Level with the help of riders Peter Leone (Olympic Silver Medalist) and Geoffrey Welles.
Anne Krusinsky rode Leon 94, for Mr. Barr, to many top placings in the High Preliminary and Puissance classes in Syracuse.
Mr. Barr has a passion for ponies and has imported and trained quite a few including Pocket Rocket, Snapdragon, Colbeach Sonata and Savanar.
Since the early 2000’s he has trained many juniors and amateurs competing successfully in all three rings.
Jodie Giallela Levy
bio coming soon!
