Northfield Farm ~ A Rising Star in Equestrian Facilities
~ CH Staff
Northfield Farm, located on 152 blissful acres in Otego, NY, is a rising star in the equestrian world. The facilities boast not just two stellar arenas, but also a host of fun events for riders of all levels. From their highly-regarded therapeutic riding program, Athelas, to clinics, dressage schooling shows throughout the summer months and new this year, as a host site for the 2026 inspection tour by the folks from the prestigious Dutch Warmblood registry, the KWPN, plus groomed sensory riding trails and lush pastures, Northfield Farm has it all.
Equestrian riders of all abilities, and those seeking to get started or back to riding horses or simply being around them as a volunteer on the therapeutic program, enjoy the amiable atmosphere that family run Northfield Farm has provided over the past few decades under the leadership of Anneliese Gilchrest.
Everyone is welcome and horses of all breeds enjoy the relaxed environment and professional care that the team there provides.
Catskill Horse Editor Nikki Alvin-Smith, chatted with Anneliese and one of her instructors Jocelyn Marsh to get an update on what is going on at Northfield, and to share some news and views, plans for future development of the farm programs.
Nikki: It’s a pleasure to see you again and to learn so much has been going forward at Northfield Farm. Could you share with us a few highlights? I see a beautiful outdoor arena is one of the new arrivals and that you have some new trainers/instructors too? How many acres is the farm and what size are the indoor/outdoor and stalls etc.
Anneliese: Hi Nikki, It’s great to see you too! Yes it's been a busy few years here at Northfield with lots of changes. We put in our 220x85 foot outdoor last year and are loving it. It has a mason sand and fiber mix footing that is really working out well for our multipurpose facility.
Our indoor is 137x70 and has the same footing.
We have 152 acers. Most of our stalls are 12x12 but we have 2 foaling stalls and several smaller 10x12 stalls.
We currently have 4 trainers here. I teach our more advanced riders and Jocelyn Marsh and Cassie Howe teach some of our newer riders. Linda Fisher also teaches some of our riders in our therapeutic riding program.
Nikki: Can you tell our readers a bit about your boarding and training services? What types of board do you offer? Do you have groomed trails available? Is there are barter board program at all?
Anneliese: Sure. We offer full and pasture board for many different breed types. We feed blue seal and Kalmbach feeds. We have a heated viewing room and bathroom and indoor wash stall with hot/cold water. I don't typically barter for board but boarders are my absolute favorite people to hire!
Nikki: I know you have a busy lesson program. How many lesson horses do you have available and what disciplines do you cover?
Anneliese: Yes we do! We have 7 lesson horses here and some of our boarders generously allow us to use their horses in our lesson program. I love how our boarders share their horses and give back others who may not be able to have their own horses right now. We offer mostly dressage but do some jumping and beginner western lessons as well.
Nikki: Do you have any college or other groups you coach? What is your availability to work with local schools or colleges?
Anneliese: Currently the Hartwick College Equestrian club is riding out of our barn. Jocelyn, Cassie and I are all coaching. At this point we are pretty maxed out with college programs.
Nikki: Aside from the regular daily lessons and training, can you tell us a bit about your horse sales? I saw that you are hosting a KWPN NA site inspection for their breeding/registration program. Can you fill us in about that? Do folks need to register in advance? Is there stabling available etc.? Are the public invited to attend?
Anneliese: Yes we are hosting an inspection this year and are super excited about it. advanced registration is required with KWPN NA as well as with us. You can reach out to KWPN for registration information if you happen to have a KWPN and would like to get it inspected or reevaluated. Yes the public is welcome to attend. It’s a great opportunity for local horse people to learn about evaluating young horses and picking out conformation faults or strengths. There is limited stabling, first come first serve.
Nikki: Do you currently have any horses for sale? Either on the ground or in utero sales?
Anneliese: At this time we have one mare due this spring and it’s already spoken for. But we have some plans in the works for next year and are always happy to sell in utero.
Nikki: What made you choose Dutch warmbloods to focus your horse breeding program?
Anneliese: There are so many KWPNs at the top of the dressage and jumping world right now there is no denying their abilities. As you know many of the European lines are mixed with multiple warmblood breeds so there are options. However we like dealing with the KWPN registry and I really like how they offer their keurings. There is a predicate system that allows you distinguish between the qualities of the mares you are breeding. It’s so helpful to look back in a pedigree and know that certain mare was of the standard you want based on their predicate. The KWPN also support smaller breeders and offer incentives at breed shows.
Nikki: Can you tell us a bit about your dressage schooling show program this year? And how long have you been running that?
Anneliese: We started our Summer of Dressage Schooling Show Series last year and had so much fun with it we are doing it again this year. We are offering 3 shows this summer with your typical dressage classes but have also added some Prix Caprilli classes and halter classes as well as a lead line grooms class just for fun.
Nikki: What judges are expected to be in the box for these shows?
Anneliese: Barbara Lindburg, Regina Cristo and Allison King are all L with distinction judges and will be judging this year.
Nikki: As a trainer and barn owner I’m sure you are very busy. How do you manage to juggle all that work with your own riding education?
Anneliese: It is difficult to find the time. I try to take clinics myself and love to work with other trainers as often as I can. I am currently starting a 4-year-old fresh off the track gelding that I hope to do some showing with this year.
Nikki: Your farm has always been highly regarded as a friendly venue with good horse care and a great sense of camaraderie. Is there anyone you would like to give a shout out to for their contribution in making it this way?
Anneliese: Thank-you. We love our team here at Northfield. I have the absolute best boarders who support each other and myself and that makes all the difference. Our other trainers are also amazing and so good at sharing their love of horses and making young and older but new to riding students feel welcome in this sport. I think that is really important. We always focus on being a team. Everyone matters here.
Nikki: Aside from Northfield Farm and all that its ownership and management entails, I know you are a busy Mom. Are any of your children involved in the horse side or farm side - I believe your eldest son had started up a landscape business?
Anneliese: My oldest daughter Amaya, rides and competes here at Northfield on one of our homebred mares. She received some lovely scores last year at training level and we are looking forward to seeing what this year brings. Yes my oldest son has started a landscape business and I'm hoping he still has time to keep up with the landscape at the farm. He is such a hard worker and I know his clients will be very satisfied. Feel free to reach out if you need some lawn maintenance.
Nikki: I would be remiss to not ask about the wonderful program you run, Athelas Therapeutic. Any upcoming events or news you’d like to share on that program? How many folks attend? How often are the lessons? And who is now involved on the Board and managing the program? I believe you have some highly qualified folks on hand?
Anneliese: Athelas Therapeutic Riding is going strong. We have a waiting list for riders every year as we can only accommodate so many riders. We offer lessons 5 days a week and are typically booked solid during the summer months. We have a fantastic Board of Directors with many highly qualified people and they do a really great job keeping our program running like a well-oiled machine. We have several fund raisers coming up that are a blast to attend.
Our first one is July 18th, 2026, we have a barn dance and BBQ. It’s always great time and the barbeque is AMAZING. We have line dancing calling and are planning some live music. We would love to have everyone come out and support our program. Athelas is a 501(c)3 and all profits from this event support our special needs riders directly. We are also always looking for volunteers to help during our lessons if anyone is interested. It’s incredible how many times people have started volunteering saying they were doing it to give back only to find out the benefits they receive themselves while serving others far outweighs the giving.
Nikki: Could you share with other barn owners any challenges you have faced as a barn owner in the past several years? How do you see the horse industry shaping up? Any advice for others in how to keep things on track?
Anneliese: I think the equine world is changing for sure. There are not as many kids in the sport coming up the ranks. Boarding/ lesson barns are closing; as are college teams. I think we need to find ways to keep kids interested in horses and find ways to make horses available to them. This is something my staff and I talk about often and one of the reasons we started our show series here on the farm, to make more opportunities available to people who may not have their own horses.
Nikki: What is the best method/contact info for folks to reach you to find out more about your programs?
reach out through our website Northfieldfarmllc.com or find us on Facebook. I don't typically have service to answer my phone in the barn but try to answer online inquires as soon as I can.
Northfield Farm has several instructors on staff, and each brings their own special style of training to the team. Jocelyn Marsh is not just an instructor at the facility but has also teamed up with Anneliese to build up the horse breeding program.
Jocelyn chatted with Nikki about her work at Northfield Farm. She has known Anneliese for a long time but only began riding with her in 2021, after her longtime barn closed. She had ridden there since age 8, so starting at a new barn was a big leap for Jocelyn.
Nikki: Can you share a bit about your background with horses and how you became an equestrienne? Are horses your full-time job? What else keeps you busy? Who have you previously ridden/trained with etc.
Jocelyn: I started riding at the age of 8 and was hooked immediately. I have always loved horses and from riding lessons to staying after my lessons to help with feeding, to working at the barn on Saturdays and all summer long growing up, horses have always just been a part of me. I grew up riding Morgan horses with Jackie Ross in Laurens, NY and she is who not only taught me to ride, but introduced me to dressage on her wonderful Morgan, Taproot Flag Ship. Flag Ship and Jackie gave me years and years of wonderful ridding and show experience. He and I showed through second level together and it was the most formative experience of my riding career. Jackie’s barn was a second home to me. Horses are not my full-time job but I would love the breeding program to grow into that.
Nikki: I know you are much involved with Northfield’s KWPN breeding program? Can you tell us more about that? What is your foundation mare base? Any progeny on the ground yet? What is ‘in utero’ and expected for 2026?
Jocelyn: Anneliese and I started this adventure together in 2023 with the purchase of a wonderful Danish Warmblood mare, Paparazzi (Don Romantic x Loran).Then in 2024 we got Feikje Balia P., a KWPN mare by Contango and out of a Flemmingh mare. We have 2 foals on the ground so far, a filly in 2024 (Monterey x Paparazzi) and a colt in 2025 (Gaudi x Feikje Balia P.). We are expecting a foal out of Feikje Balia P. by the young stallion Gorgeous Latino (Glock’s Toto Jr x Rubiquil) in June. Very excited to see this cross!
{Note from Editor: at time of publication Feikje Balia P. had given birth to a beautiful filly. No photos were available at time of publication.}
Nikki: Have you much experience in the horse breeding arena? What is your mission breeding wise? Preferred types? Lines?
Jocelyn: The farm I grew up riding and working at bred Morgan horses and stood several stallions, so that was my first exposure to the breeding aspect of horses. And I was always so interested in it. I loved helping out with the foals and everything that went into it. Our mission is really to breed horses that we would want to ride. Really rideable, really trainable. Great personalities but also athletic and with the potential to take their riders as far as they want to go. Both of the mares we have had have substantial bone and size, are athletic and refined, but equally as importantly, have wonderful personalities, are so easy to work with and be around.
Nikki: Are you and Northfield expecting to increase your broodmare band? Are you currently in the market to buy stock? Would you be interested in leasing as well as buying mares?
Jocelyn: We are looking to expand as we think about the future! Hoping to add several more mares in the next few years. Would be happy to lease or buy. We are in this for the big picture - the long-term goal of breeding horses that are great partners for anyone. Sound and sane and talented. So as we find mares that fit our mission, we are for sure going to expand.
Nikki: Can you tell us a bit about your own ongoing education as a rider? Who do you train with? And who will be training up the young horses you are co-producing at Northfield Farm?
Jocelyn: So I have gotten back into riding in the last 5 years with Anneliese. I took some time off having kids, and so the last 5 years I have really dived back in. I have loved learning from her schoolmaster, a really spectacular Oldenburg gelding named Mozambique, as well as a variety of young horses etc. I’ve had the opportunity to ride in several clinics here at Northfield.
Nikki: What are your personal riding goals? Do you compete? And I understand you are also involved with the Athelas Therapeutic Riding Program. Can you share what your day to day looks like at the farm? Your greatest challenge? Your greatest pleasure?
Jocelyn: My goal is to begin competing again next year, with my bronze medal being the big goal for the next few years.
I’m the President of the Board of Directors for Athelas Therapeutic Riding. I assist with several therapeutic riding lessons per week. This is a wonderful program that makes such a difference for our riders. This is just one way that I feel I can give back in the equestrian world and it’s such an important program.
Balancing all these things is probably the biggest challenge - I want to really grow the breeding program, really invest in my own riding goals, really spend time with the therapeutic program and my own lesson students. Finding the balance is a big challenge.
My greatest joys in all this are seeing my students grow and flourish in their riding. Developing new skills, connect with their horses in new ways. And seeing our own foals on the ground. Watching them grow and change, handling them and working with them. Watching my kids enjoy the foals as well. Such great moments.
