Claremont Stables in New York City is closing after over 100 years.
I won a 2nd place ribbon in my first horse show ever at Claremont on a Quarter Horse named Monterrey.
I took longe lessons in Central Park from Claremont instructor Chris Smith, who moved back to Texas the following year.For two years I carried my saddle from my Elizabeth St. apartment to the subway at 5:30 AM, so I could get to Claremont for a ride at daybreak.
Claremont joins The Bottom Line, CBGB’s, Grand Street Dairy, Mario’s Pizza, possibly the Liz Christy Garden and countless other beloved places that made New York feel like home to me when I lived there.
I love horses and despite the fact that I grew up on a farm, I didn’t actually get a horse or riding lessons until I lived on my own.
I was living and working in New York City by the time I could afford lessons and a regular relationship with a horse. Learning to ride in the city included riding in the streets from the barn to Central Park. That included traveling the right way on one-way streets, stopping for traffic lights and staying off the sidewalk.
The bridal path was our designated place to ride, and even back then it was filled with adventure. There was the time my horse got the bit in his teeth and took off with me hanging on for dear life. Of course when my horse took off, so did the horse and rider who were with me. We got control without injuring ourselves or anyone else, but the horses taught me a lesson that day.
The only time I ever wished I had an assault weapon was the time a woman let her untrained dog loose on the bridal path. A bad situation got worse when the woman started shrieking for her unresponsive dog to come to her. People on the bridal path are one of the reasons why Claremont is closing, according to the news reports. I think people blocking the bridal path should be charged with trespassing. I’m willing to bet that in reality, Claremont’s owner is making a huge profit by selling the stable.
Of course, I never returned to ride at Claremont after I met and fell in love with a Morgan named Henry in South Carolina. I discovered the joys of riding bareback in the woods - something I would never have been able to do in any city.
As a freelancer, I cannot afford to support a horse these days. I’m also not as limber as I used to be. I will always have the New York riding stories. If I ever do find another horse to love, I’ll be riding bareback in the woods.