Central Park

The Daily Plant : Thursday, October 25, 2007

Giddy Up!

Photo by Malcolm Pinckney

HORSEBACK RIDING RETURNS TO CENTRAL PARK

On October 19, Parks & the Central Park Conservancy announced the return of horseback riding in Central Park. Under a new arrangement, Riverdale Equestrian Centre will offer horseback riding by appointment at the North Meadow Recreation Center at 96th Street.

The rate for a guided trail ride is $100/hour. Pony rides are also available by appointment. To ride in Central Park, contact Riverdale Equestrian Centre in Van Cortlandt Park at www.riverdaleriding.com or (718) 548-4848. Trail rides are by appointment only, but anyone can visit and pet the horses on the weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the North Meadow Recreation Center hitching post. Riding will continue through Thanksgiving, and start up again in the spring.

The tradition of recreational horseback riding in Central Park was threatened when the 115-year-old Claremont Riding Academy shut down earlier this year. But Parks worked to find an alternative and has brought horseback riding back for all ages.

“In keeping with its 150-year equestrian tradition, we are happy to bring horseback riding back to Central Park,” said Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “Just as the first visitors to Central Park did, you can now ride a horse along the 4 miles of bridle paths–one of the best ways to get out and enjoy the peace and serenity of the park.”

Central Park was originally designed with a bridle path for horseback riders. The three sections of the bridle path in Central Park–the Reservoir Loop (1.65 miles), the North Meadow Loop (1.1 miles), and the Southern Spur (1.5 miles)–keep the equestrian tradition alive.

Find more information about where to ride horses in parks around the City at www.nyc.gov/parks, including Pelham Bay and Van Cortlandt Parks in the Bronx, Prospect Park in Brooklyn, Forest Park in Queens and in locations around Staten Island.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

“The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact
with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire.”

Sharon Ralls Lemon
Editor, Horse Illustrated Magazine

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center