As 2025 comes to a close, our GMHA community wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to Kathy McHugh. Kathy has been the GMHA Board President since 2022 and has led GMHA through major initiatives, including the Centennial Campaign, the land acquisition project, and other major fundraising campaigns. She has also played a key role in strengthening the Board’s governance, creating a strong support system for the GMHA staff. Her involvement reflects a deep commitment to preserving GMHA’s legacy and ensuring its future for generations of equestrians.

Kathy has been a driving force behind our fundraising campaigns, ensuring GMHA will have the resources to maintain its reputation as one of New England’s premier equestrian competition facilities. By rallying support from donors and equestrians, she has strengthened GMHA’s ties to the broader horse community, reinforcing its role as a hub for events, clinics, and horsemanship education. Her vision emphasizes sustainability, growth, and inclusivity, making GMHA not only a competition venue but also a community cornerstone.

Through her leadership, Kathy McHugh has positioned GMHA to expand its facilities, strengthen its financial foundation, and preserve its historic mission. Her work exemplifies the dedication required to sustain equestrian traditions while adapting to modern challenges. GMHA’s ongoing success is a testament to her commitment and vision.



Kathy values all of the work provided by show organizers, volunteers, and members. She has always wanted to improve the working conditions for everyone who works out of the GMHA office. In honor of her dedication to GMHA and her donation to the Centennial Campaign, new windows will be installed in the office. This has been a much-needed improvement, and thanks to Kathy’s generosity, this will be done! Kathy will be honored with a plaque, thanking her for her donation and the many years she served on the GMHA Board. 

A lifelong equestrian raised in Oklahoma, Kathy found herself on the East Coast when she attended Smith College. She went on to become an attorney and practiced law for 15 years before transitioning to philanthropic advising for two private family foundations. During and after, she has served on several nonprofit boards, including Northeastern University, early education, and K-12 groups.

Although she hung up her irons while in college, she found herself back at the barn years later when her daughter began riding lessons. Kathy returned to riding, learning to jump after a childhood focused on saddle seat and western equitation. She soon transitioned to eventing and then dressage, after her event horse had to retire from jumping. Having reached the dressage potential with her event horse, she began searching for a proper dressage horse.

While working in philanthropy, she went to a conference in Vermont where she met Con Hogan, Ruth Poulsen’s father, who put them in touch. Ruth sold Kathy her first dressage horse and later became a wonderful friend as they served together on the GMHA Board. Soon thereafter, Kathy and her husband bought a farm in the Woodstock area, and she began competing at GMHA. “When I rode with a trainer in central Massachusetts, the whole barn came to compete. They all stayed at our house. It was great fun! That’s when I started to spend time regularly at GMHA.”

Kathy was the president of the New England Dressage Association [NEDA] for 6 years. According to Kathy, “Ruth Sudduth got in touch with me during that time and asked me to consider nomination to join the GMHA board. I told her I couldn’t manage it while on the NEDA board. Two years later, in 2017, she called and asked me again, and I said yes.” Kathy continued, “When I first started on the Board, I didn’t have the history with GMHA that many others did, and I needed to get to know the legions of wonderful people whose love of GMHA has sustained it across generations. They welcomed me warmly and really included me in the GMHA family.”

“When COVID hit in 2020, GMHA was on life support. Seventy-five percent of GMHA’s revenue came from event activities, and they were all cancelled. A Foundation from New York [Manton] called us and asked if we needed help. We requested a grant for $125K, and they offered us a challenge grant of $250K if we could raise $250K. At that time, I was the Vice President, and I took on the task of raising the challenge funds that were part of the challenge grant we received.” As a consequence, GMHA not only survived the COVID shutdown but came through it stronger than before.

Subsequently, Kathy became the GMHA Board President. The amazing Manton Foundation again partnered with GMHA to help purchase 35 additional acres of land that will protect GMHA from most future flood events. Their leadership activated the GMHA family far and wide to complete the project. Kathy said, “We are so thankful for the Manton Foundation's support. It was such a great group to work with. People really have had to come to GMHA’s rescue more than they should have been asked. Because they love it. It’s such a treasure. It’s not that common.”

Kathy is passing the reins to the newly elected Board President, Sarah Carlan. “I think Sarah is going to do a great job,” she said. “I regret that we didn’t get everything done on my watch. The fundraising for the Centennial was challenging. There is more money to raise, and I know Sarah can do it. She’s smart and very strategic, which is going to be very important for GMHA at this point. I think we need to determine what is next for GMHA and figure out how we can thrive for the next 50 years. I’m really looking forward to her leadership.”

What’s next for Kathy? “I’ve never had the time to volunteer at GMHA shows, but I hope to volunteer over the summer and serve on a committee, if they want me to. I’m happy to remain involved.”

Sarah has been deeply involved with GMHA for many years. Twenty years ago, her horses started competing at GMHA. According to Sarah, “My friend, Sammy, grew up going to GMHA and had worked at JHC during college, and she is the one who introduced me to GMHA. My kids were young, so she was competing my horse Oscar at that time, and I came to support her and groom. Then once my kids were old enough, I started competing there, probably in 2008.”

Sarah’s horse, Oscar, competed at the Novice 3-day event with two of her friends over the course of two years. Then, Sarah competed up through Novice with him and through 1st Level Dressage with her horse, Freddie. She’s done the trails with Cal, Freddie, and Oscar. “I’ve always loved the trail rides, and the Memorial Day and Fall Foliage are my two favorites! You have this unique chance to see a hidden side of Vermont that is not available from the roads. It is quite a privilege.” [pictured: Sarah and Cal (chestnut horse) and Marianne Reardon (gray horse)].

“Even before my son started to ride, he would come with me and ride his mountain bike around the grounds while I competed. He loved it there even before he was a competitor. Both my parents love coming to GMHA as well. My dad has been hauling water buckets for 20 years, and they have their favorite spot to watch the cross country.”

Sarah’s son started competing at GMHA and going to JHC in 2017. “I did a ton of volunteering at GMHA when he was riding through 2022. And in 2021, Bruce asked me to be on the Board. I was so grateful to have a chance to give back to a place that had given my family so much. I became the Secretary, and in 2023, Kathy asked me to serve as Vice Chair of the Board.”

Sarah and her husband bought a second home in South Woodstock in 2019 because she wanted to be closer to GMHA. “GMHA has a pull like no other place. I just had to be closer.” 

According to Sarah, GMHA feels like it is the most special place where she can be with her horses with no interruption. “It’s just you and your horse in a beautiful place with your friends, and that’s just magical.”

“It is a huge honor and responsibility to take on the role of Board President. I am filling huge shoes, but I have been blessed with the most competent and committed Board a President could wish for. My job will simply be to keep everyone rowing in the same direction. My goals for GMHA are to help this organization find sustainability and realize its unique place in the New England horse community. I think GMHA is one of a kind, and we’re incredibly fortunate. As other venues begin to close, we have the chance to become a central hub for equestrian events in New England, a place that can support and strengthen the shared goals of the equestrian community.”

“I want to give gratitude to Kathy for helping me see what this Board could be. She transformed how we operate and really positioned the Board well to be a support to the GMHA staff and leadership, which will help us build resilience and find sustainability.”

Founded in 1926, the Green Mountain Horse Association (GMHA) is one of the nation’s oldest continuously operating horse organizations. For one hundred years, GMHA’s magic has enriched the lives of thousands of horse lovers. As GMHA prepares to enter its second century, we turn our focus to sustainability and resilience, and to deepening our commitment to GMHA’s core missions of youth education, land protection, and promoting good horsemanship. 

GMHA hosts competitive, educational, and recreational equestrian events in five disciplines at our 100-acre facility in South Woodstock. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, GMHA is dedicated to holding equestrian events, educating equestrians of all ages, and preserving trails and open space. With over 800 members and thousands of competitors, GMHA is a vital community of equestrian enthusiasts.

To advance our mission, GMHA actively supports local land conservation, as well as the development and maintenance of trail networks. GMHA embraces its role in the larger community; providing a welcoming venue suited to diverse program needs, hosting equestrian activities, competitions, and educational opportunities in multiple disciplines for all ages and abilities; and emphasizing overall youth development in the cultivation of the next generation of equestrians.

Donate today and help ensure the magic for future generations.

For more information, please contact Bruce Perry, Sarah Carlan, the GMHA Board President, or call 802.457.1509.