New York Riding Academy

City-Kid Review:

Already trotting.
You’re Bijou, he’s Bugsy, she’s Lady, he’s Erin and he’s Dublin. 

As City Kid’s passion for horses continues to grow at a troubling rate, we are continually amazed at the opportunities available to learn to ride, within New York City.

We stumbled upon the NY Riding Academy while Spring Mulberrying on Randall’s Island. On this calm and peaceful island – you can read more about that, here – it was perfectly incongruous to suddenly see horses grazing in open paddocks, within feet of a fire station practice area and a rest stop for garbage trucks – all tastefully by high bushes, of course.

Just a few minutes walk across the Ward Island Bridge, and it feels as if you are a upstate somewhere.

Here sits the New York Riding Academy, with their 30-year history of Randall’s Island riding.  Dr. & Mrs Blair volunteer their time to introduce and nurture equestrian skills to children. They are dedicated to the horses and to the children, alike. They truly get to know the individual personalities of both. They love what they do and that love is infectious.

Dr Blair worked in education all his life and they are both passionate about education and kids. They even keep a freezer full of treats as ‘rewards’  – for grown ups and children, alike.

It has been tremendously rewarding to watch City Kid go from walking with a lead line to hopping onto a horse and trotting alone.

It is all voluntary and truly a labor of love. All of the stable hands and teachers are excellent.

Highly recommend.

Need to Knows:

Location: Randall’s Island.
In the lower part of  the island. Walk across Ward’s Island Bridge, turn left and it is just on your right.
The M35 bus runs there from Lexington and 125th street. Once you alight, use the pedestrian bridge as a marker to get you to the stables.

Cost: Packages available: One class=$70; 5-Class Package =$65 per class; 10-class package =$60 per class. Summer camps cost $600 per week. All funds go to feeding and looking after the horses.

Food: There is a food stand past the bridge and parking lot, towards the southern end of the island. It is part of the -very clean -bathroom building.

All information correct at time of writing.

Top-Tip

Arrange to spend time. Bring a bike or scooter. Luxuriate. It’s so peacefully pleasant.

Go to the urban farm. Bring a picnic. Walk to the waters edge but not too close as there is no fence and you’ll end up in the water. We don’t want that!

What is your favorite New York island?  Share the love below.

Why not take a photo and post in the CityKidAdventures online community? Would love to see them!

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