Middlebrook Equestrian
An Expandable Equestrian Training Facility for Lease next to Columbia County Horse Country
Long-Term Stewardship & Equine Commitment
Middlebrook Equestrian is privately owned and stewarded by the Zweig family, whose involvement in the horse industry on this property spans nearly 70 years, This stewardship reflects a long-term commitment to land use and horse operations rather than short-term or speculative ownership.
Dr. Harry M. Zweig began serving the local community as a veterinarian in the 1930’s and breeding Standardbred races horses on this property in the 1960’s. He was instrumental in the creation of the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund and the first state-bred horse racing program, the New York Sire Stakes. The initiative’s incredible success, a result of its innovative revenue-sharing model, led many other states, countries and breeds to borrow elements of the program to develop their own horse breeding initiatives.
Dr. Zweig’s contributions and the family’s commitment to equine health and sustainability is reflected in the nationally recognized Harry M. Zweig Memorial Fund for Equine Research at the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, supporting veterinary science and horse welfare.
Brian Zweig has served on the committee managing the fund since 2007. That same long-term perspective guides the management and commitment of Middlebrook Equestrian.
Zweig Fund equine research grants have included: investigation into causes and possible cures for equine respiratory conditions and disease, colic in foals, embryonic stem cell and regenerative tissue studies, and mapping the horse genome. The Fund ensures a healthy and positive future for New York State’s horse breeding industry.
For trainers evaluating relocation, this family commitment provides confidence the property is managed with continuity, seriousness, and respect for the realities of full-time horse programs.
Security of Historic Property
Middlebrook Equestrian sits on the historic Henry Tunis Smith Farm, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The historic farmhouse was built in 1789, and the land traces back to the original Van Rensselaer leasehold known as Rensselaerswyck that later became part of Columbia and Rensselaer County farm country.
The property has remained in continuous agricultural use for generations. Horses have been kept here for decades, and the land has never been subdivided or converted to residential development.
That continuity matters: it means the property is managed as working farmland first, not as a real estate project. The Zweig family has established a trust to sustain the vitality of the historic property with its mission to:
conserve the agricultural status of the farm, including equine-related activities,
respect the designation of the house and the farm as a Historical Site, and
maintain family ownership of the historic property.
Historic status provides clarity and continuity on future use. It provides security to pursue responsible improvements or the development of equine facilities needed to support a professional training operation.