Horseback Riding
Enjoy the beauty of New York City's parks on the back of a horse.
Bronx
Pelham Bay Park
Horseback riding enthusiasts can visit the Pelham Bit Stables, where horses are available for rent. The Bridle path in Pelham Bay Park provides beautiful vistas of marshland and woods.
To Reserve a Horse: Visit the Pelham Bit Stables/Bronx Equestrian Center (9 Shore Road, Pelham Bay Park). Trail rides are $30/person for a one-hour trail ride, $60/person for a two-hour trail ride. Pony rides are $5 for three rides for the same child. English and Western riding lessons are available by appointment for riders ages six to adult. Lessons prices are $40 for a 30-minute private lesson, $65 for a one-hour private lesson. Discount books are available; ten half-hour lessons cost $350, and ten one-hour lessons cost $600, paid in advance.
Call the stables at (718) 885-0551 for more information.
Van Cortlandt Park
Riverdale Equestrian Centre (Broadway and West 254th Street, Riverdale), founded in 1994, is located just 15 minutes away from Midtown Manhattan by car. It is also easily accessible by public transportation.
It's My Park segment about Van Cortlandt Park Stables.
The Facility: Situated on 21 acres, the centre has 4 outdoor riding rings, an Olympic-sized indoor arena, and easy access to the miles of trails in Van Cortlandt Park.
Hours of Operation: Saturday & Sunday - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday - 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
To Reserve a Horse: Call (718) 548-4848 for further details. Lessons are offered year-round to riders of all ages and levels of ability. Other programs include therapeutic riding for the disabled, afterschool riding groups, and a summer day camp.
Brooklyn
Prospect Park
Prospect Park's 3.5 mile-long bridle path winds through scenic woodlands, meadows, and a ravine. It begins at the Park Circle entrance (the intersection of Coney Island Avenue, Parkside Avenue, and Prospect Park Southwest) and continues along the Lake to the Long Meadow and the Midwood.
To Reserve a Horse: Horses are available for rental from Kensington Stables (51 Caton Place at East 8th) daily from 10:00 a.m. to sunset. Rentals are $30 per hour (children must be 11 or older to ride). Group lessons are $40 per hour; semiprivate lessons are $45 per hour. Private lessons are $30 per half hour or $50 per hour. Call ahead to the stables at (718) 972-4588 for reservations.
For More Information: visit the Prospect Park horseback riding page.
Manhattan
Central Park
Trail rides start at the North Meadow Recreation Center and go along the bridle path.
To Reserve a Horse: Call the Riverdale Equestrian Centre at (718) 548-4848. Trail rides are $100/person per hour. Pony rides are also available by appointment. Riverdale Equestrian Centre is glad to work with riders of all levels - call for more information. Riding will continue through Thanksgiving, and start up again in the spring.
For more information: visit the Riverdale Equestrian Centre in Van Cortlandt Park or call the stables at (718) 548-4848 for more information.
Queens
Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated Forest Park
Bridle Path - December 5, 2002
Forest Park
Forest Park's four-mile equestrian path meanders through 165 acres of oak forest. Recently renovated, the path offers a quiet refuge.
To Reserve a Horse: Horses can be rented from the following stables, located outside the park in Forest Hills, Queens:
- Forest Equine Center: (718) 263-3500
- D&D Stables: (718) 263-3500
Staten Island
Staten Island offers a wide variety of riding terrain in New York City, from beaches to parks and city streets to wooded trails.
To Ride: Visit the Seguine Equestrian Center at 440 Seguine Avenue, Staten Island. The center offers private and group lessons to riders of all levels, boarding, a summer camp for children ages 5-16, and information about trail riding in Staten Island. Call (718) 317-1121 for more information.
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