Horse-riding NYC Style.

City-Kid Review:

I rode backwards! I TROTTED! Can we go back?

When City Kid suddenly (but probably gradually) announced her desire to ride horses, I almost panicked.
New York is a great city, for sure, and….we do not own a car. Where on earth would we create that opportunity?

I was forgetting…The whole world is here in New York, including stables with real, live horses.
Accessible by subway.
Yep.
NYC, take a bow

To the south of Prospect Park is a rough and ready stables, full of gorgeous horses of all size from the cutest pint-sized pony to the largest cart horse.

Once off the subway, you walk through, what I would call suburban, New York even though, yes, I know, this really isn’t the ‘burbs’ by American standards. By suburbs, I mean, many, many domiciles and not that much trade. Row after row of terraced houses intermingled with apartment buildings, line the gorgeous park. You cross the highway on the utilitarian green bridge, and the first thing that hits you is the smell.

Now, my mother says the smell of horse manure makes you younger. If so, I decreased in age by a decade this week.

You turn the corner, step across a wide entryway, and the city goes away. Under foot is deeply layered straw, intermingled with…I didn’t ask. Ahead are stable after stable containing the most beautiful horses.

Now, just like walking into an unfamiliar bar, all the eyes which could, turned to look and check me out. Horse’s eyes, that is.
And unlike a typical bar situation, in this case, it made my heart sing.

I can tell you my story of a cart horse and a tractor in the UK, some other time – it’s not pretty. However, it is hard not to be in awe of the magnificence of horses. They are truly beautiful.

Need to Knows:

The stables offer regular lessons as well as their camps.

Location:  51 Caton Place, Brooklyn NY 11218

Nearest subway: F line, Fort Hamilton Parkway or B line, Church Ave.

Cost: Varies according to the type of class and age of student. You can read about it, here.

Food places are limited. There is great cafe called Boston Commune at the corner of Prospect Ave & Greenwood Ave. Although, the owner was in there talking about a complete refurbishment, so I don’t know how it will be in the near future.

Information correct at time of writing. 

Top-Tip

Spend time in Prospect Park afterwards. It’s gorgeous!

Do you have a New York City riding experience you would like to share? Please tell us about it in the comments section.

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