The Town of Millbrook

The Millbrook Hunt, which for 90 years has been a fixture in this Duchess County village, is much more than a celebration of the traditional English sport of fox hunting, it is inextricably woven into the very backbone of the community itself. The Millbrook Hunt Club has permission to cross more than 50,000 acres of private and beautifully managed land. One local anecdote explains that in Millbrook, NY, neighbors don’t ask to borrow a cup of sugar, but rather they ask to use an acre or two during The Hunt season.

Millbrook is synonymous with horses and hounds. The long established tradition of men and women in jodhpurs topped by red or black riding jackets and mounted on some of the most beautiful horses in the country is hard and fast. The Millbrook Hunt is part of the genetic make-up of this quiet Hudson Valley town and it is unlikely to change.

The Millbrook Horse Trials, an equestrian event that brings riders and spectators from far and wide, has been scheduled to run in early August this year. This stunningly athletic and beautiful event benefits the Duchess County Land Conservancy. Preservation of open space has community wide support. To view the full scope of the Millbrook Horse Trials please visit their website at www.millbrookhorsetrials.com.

Fitch's Corner, located in the center of the Millbrook Hunt Country, is a sweeping countryside farm that operates as a private horse boarding facility.The farm has made a tradition of welcoming the community to enjoy the annual Fitch's Corner Horse Trials and Weekend, this year in mid July.

The Millbrook Farmers' Market offers a wide selection of locally-grown, fresh produce (including organic produce), plants, prepared foods, farm products, and other hand-made goods in an open-air setting. Set aside a Saturday morning to gather with friends and neighbors or to simply enjoy the social atmosphere of an outdoor market. Afterwards, stroll along Franklin Ave and visit the many antique and gift shops in the Village of Millbrook.

Merritt Books definitely deserves your attention. Merritt has remained an independent bookstore for over 25 years. The elegant books devoted to the homes, horses and hounds of Millbrook are deftly matched by the expanding variety of children’s books and toys. Bestsellers and cookbooks, by authors who call Millbrook home, blanket the shelves.

The Millbrook Library serves as a vital community information center as well as an intellectual and cultural resource. Rich with local history and home to a lively art gallery, it frequently sponsors area writers and artists in provocative talks and exhibits. millbrooklibrary.org

Called "the Hudson Valley's flagship winery" by The New York Times, and "a great place to visit" by The Wall Street Journal, The Millbrook Vineyards and Winery delights visitors with its sweeping views, and rewards them with a distinctive and carefully expanding inventory of wine. www.millbrookwine.com

Finally, to know what matters in Millbrook, buy a copy of The Millbrook Independent. This print and online weekly tastefully chronicles the up-to-date news and events most treasured by the Millbrook community. themillbrookindependent.com

Visit our Millbrook page at berkshirestyle.com/towns/millbrook.