The time when New York City was nothing but horses diligently pulling coaches, milk wagons, carts, and even the first taxi cabs is long gone, but city horsemanship is far from dead. While horseback riding is not necessarily the first activity that comes to mind when you are planning a trip to New York City, there are certainly places for equestrian enthusiasts to visit, explore and enjoy.
Every city borough maintains stables and bridle paths. Out-of-town visitors are often surprised to see horseback riders in Central Park. Horses, however, have been riding through the Park since it opened. Horseback riding is permitted year-round during regular park hours. It is possible to ride whenever the Park is open and as long as you remain on the bridle paths. The recently rebuilt Central Park bridle path is more than six miles long and goes around the Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis as well as the North Meadow. There are three loops, each one to two miles long. The Bronx Riverdale Equestrian Centre is now offering riding tours of Central Park as well as in the Bronx.
If your passion for horses coincides with your love of nature, you can also visit Forest Park in Queens (E train to Forest Hills stop) for its four-mile equestrian path, which weaves through 538 acres of the magnificent oak forest. Recently renovated as part of a $1.7 million capital project, Forest Park is one of the great Queens destinations to visit for its beautiful scenery alone, but equestrian activities certainly add to the charm. The bridle path offers a quiet refuge as riders meander through lush green vegetation, up and down the hills. The path was opened to horse lovers in December 2002 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony as a gorgeous grey horse pulled a surrey through blankets of sparkling snow. The park commissioners enjoyed the ride while waving their cowboy hats and cheering to the crowd. New York had just been hit with its first winter storm of the season, but horse enthusiasts and residents of Queens made it through the fresh snow to show their support for the project.
If you are up for a leisurely, picturesque ride in the oak forest, you can rent a horse from Forest Equine Center or D&D Stables, located outside the park in Forest Hills, Queens. If you are interested in perfecting the craft, visit Lynne's Riding School, located nearby the park, which offers lessons for riders of all levels. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, they will make sure you are well balanced in the saddle. You will learn how to hold your body in a strong position to establish comfort and union with your mount. Instructions begin in the indoor ring focusing on technique until the rider learns to gain control of the horse. The school rents out ponies as well.
Alternatively, you can visit Brooklyn Kensington Stables, located near the southwest corner of Prospect Park, which has had earned the reputation of New York City's friendliest, most accessible, and most affordable riding stable from the New York locals. The original barn of what later would become Kensington Stables was built in 1930 as the last extension of the riding academy on Ocean Parkway. A part of it was torn down to make the foot bridge over Ocean Parkway. Kensington Stables is the only remaining stable on Prospect Park. Kensington Stables leads trail rides in Prospect Park for all rider levels, and riders can choose either English or Western style, while, depending on experience, the rides may include walking and trotting. Guides provide a bit of history with the ride, pointing out some of the significant features of the historic park. The stable offers a complete range of equestrian activities and services, including lessons, guided trail rides, and pony rides. Advanced reservations are advised.
More horseback riding spots can be found in the Bronx in Pelham (Pelham Bit Stables) where the Pelham Bay Park trail provides beautiful vistas of marshland and woods, or Riverdale Equestrian Center in Van Cortlandt Park, which offers four-hour outdoor riding rings, an Olympic-sized indoor arena, and easy access to the miles of trails in Van Cortlandt Park.
Horseback Riding Resources
- For Horseback riding and/or lessons in Manhattan:
- Riverdale Equestrian Centre (see Bronx info below)
- To Reserve a horse in Forest Hills Park, Queens:
- Forest Equine Center: 718-263-3500
- D&D Stables: 718-263-3500
- For riding lessons in Forest Hills Park, Queens:
- Lynne's Riding School
- Location: 88-03 70th Rd. Forest Hills, NY
- Phone: 718-261-7679
- Website: www.lynnesridingschoolnyc.com
- For Horseback riding and/or lessons in the Bronx:
- Pelham Bit Stables/Bronx Equestrian Center:
- Location: 9 Shore Road, Bronx, NY
- Phone: 718-885-0552 www.bronxequestriancenter.com
- Riverdale Equestrian Center:
- Location: Van Cortlandt Park, West 254th Street & Broadway Riverdale, NY
- Phone: 718-548-4848
- For Horseback riding and/or lessons in Brooklyn:
- Location: 51 Caton Place, Brooklyn, NY
- Phone: 718-972-4588
- Website: www.kensingtonstables.com
