Mission Statement
Our mission here at Brentwood Stables is to help riders of any age and ability clarify and successfully meet their personal goals. Whether one is looking for an introduction to English riding, advancement in themselves and/or their horses, or the thrill of competition, we have the resources to help. With an open mind, we welcome our clients’ input and are always willing to find an individual plan that works for you. We want all who ride and board here, especially the horses, to feel at home. Our goal is to be professional, approachable and a facilitator for all those who seek an equine partnership.
Facility
Nestled among the hills and trees of Angelica, Brentwood boasts riding in scenic surroundings. The facilities offer:
- well-lit 80 x 200ft indoor arena
- heated viewing lounge with finished bathroom, including washer & dryer
- 150 x 300ft outdoor arena
- dressage field
- cross country schooling field (as well as stadium jumping equipment)
- seasonal trails
- 2 horse barns
- 3 group turnout fields (as well as individual turn-out options)
- boarder tack room
- pictures of facilities
Horses
Brentwood is home to an ever–changing array of horses, ranging from beginner lesson horses to green youngsters offering a challenge to advanced students. Boarder horses can also be found in the barns, as well as horses for sale.
History
Brentwood Stables: A Tradition in Allegany County
Prior to the end of World War II, Brentwood Stables operated as a YMCA camp. After the War, a man from New York City, named Don Morris, bought the property with the intent of running a camp with water activities as the main focus. Encouraged to get horses, Don did so, running Brentwood as a residential camp until his death in 1988.
In 1980, Alfred University contracted with Brentwood to offer riding as a physical education activity. Don hired Becky Backer in 1981 as director of Equestrian Activities at the Camp and as an instructor for the Alfred courses. Over the next few years, the University increased their program, adding a minor and an intercollegiate equestrian team.
In 1990, Becky and her husband Dick bought the Stables, continuing to run the Alfred program until Dick’s death in 2004. During their time, they expanded the equestrian activities to include a summer day camp, horse shows, clinics, and a lesson and working student program. Past students have gone on to work at facilities including the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center as well as for trainers such as Phillip Dutton and Bruce Davidson.
Brentwood Stables and its wide array of equine services is now under the management of Dick and Becky’s son, Joe, who became a partner in 2006. Joe has students competing in a range of horse shows, including hunters, jumpers, western pleasure and games, dressage, and more. Brentwood’s focus, however, is on Three Phase Eventing, also known as the horse triathalon. Lessons, Boarding, Training and more can also be found here.
Instructors and Staff
Joe Backer:Owner, Head Trainer, and Head Instructor. Joe has been in charge of Brentwood Stables since 2007, and has worked and given lessons here since 2004. As a kid, Joe started riding horses under his mother Becky’s instruction. At the age of sixteen, Joe became a working student for Bruce Davidson (national champion, world champion, and Olympic gold medalist). In his two competitive seasons at Chesterland Farms, Joe broke and trained over a dozen two and three year olds, took daily lessons with Bruce, and learned horsemanship skills that included basic vet care, facility maintenance, feeding and general care of the horse, etc. In his first year, Joe rode his horse Packet’s Landing, and in the second his horse Another Saint. Both were prior race horses, retrained by Joe himself. With these horses, Joe competed about three weekends each month at the Preliminary and Intermediate levels of eventing, showing in areas spanning from Florida to Vermont. From his work with Bruce Davidson, Joe moved on to work with Denny Emerson at Tamarack Hill Farm in Vermont. This was where Joe began to train with Saint for the Young Riders, taking weekly lessons with Young Rider Coach Charlie Plum. In 1998 Joe and Saint took the Silver Medal in both the North American Young Rider Championships CCI** as well as the Junior Olympic CCI**. After his own competitive success, Joe began teaching students at various stables in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, such as The Willows, the Boston Equestrian Center, and Hillside Equestrian. Extremely knowledgable, passionate, and committed to his students, Joe will take riders as far as they are willing to go.
Becky Backer: Owner and Instructor (by request and appointment only). Becky is a graduate of Burton Hall Riding Academy, where she obtained British Horse Society’s AI instructor’s certificate (the highest level available for instruction/training). Becky was the director of Brentwood’s equestrian activities since 1981, and has owned the stables since 1990.
Mae Pennisi: Barn Manager/Secretary
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