Whoa, Nellie! - Reader comments at The New York Sun

Reader comment on:
Claremont Riding Academy Closes Its Doors
in response to reader comment: Goodbye, Gillespie and Patches

Submitted by Cindy, May 8, 2007 00:50

Last August I took my teenage daughter to NYC. We are riders and she wanted to ride in Central Park. It seemed odd to me to do a country sport in Manhattan, but I relented. Now I'm so glad! We just got in on a great tradition.

The horse I was assigned was named Nellie. I could not believe her good will. She calmly went through the blocks to the park as garbage trucks, taxis and buses zoomed and whinned inches from us. Then once we got to the park, she was eager yet she listened and cooperated. I'm actually glad she'll have a more pastoral life (presumably!) though this is the passing of an era.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
I am shocked by this very sad news! The closing of Claremont stables is a very sobering reality for all of... [MORE]	Cookie Burke	May 7, 2008 21:44
My trips to New York always meant visits to Claremont. So many precious memories....the chubby cat glued to their wicker... [MORE]	lotz	Mar 16, 2008 14:51
I used to take the train from my high school to Claremont on Wednesday early evenings for my weekly jumping... [MORE]	Jo DeGiovanni	Feb 21, 2008 22:01
Claremont I will miss your riding experience foreever..I rode at your academy for over 20 years and still think of... [MORE]	Lynnette	Feb 7, 2008 00:32
Since I missed my chance to see the stables inside, does anyone have any photos of the inside of the... [MORE]	Margi Evans	Nov 4, 2007 19:33
I took weekly lessons for a couple of years growing up on Long Island. When I moved to the UWS... [MORE]	ileen	Oct 24, 2007 20:38
I have always dreamed that one day I would ride in Central Park. I grew up on a farm in... [MORE]	Maureen	Oct 6, 2007 00:18
Alice was the first instructor that I had who refreshened me on the basic's of horse back riding. She was... [MORE]	T'angelo Magee	Sep 19, 2007 10:29
Ralphy was an amazing horse that I first rode when I started my days as an equestrian in Claremont. He... [MORE]	T'angelo Magee	Sep 19, 2007 10:16
To help fill the void left by the closing of Claremont Riding Academy, River Ridge Equestrian Center offers guided trail... [MORE]	Anthony	Aug 12, 2007 15:06
Sturdy bay gelding, 12 years old, white stripe, 15.2 hh, about 1200 pounds, trailered to Claremont fall 2006. From there,... [MORE]	E. Clarke	Jul 7, 2007 00:58
I travelled to New York from my home in the Cayman Islands one Friday evening in November 2006 and rode... [MORE]	Sara Galletly	Jun 27, 2007 16:03
I lived in New York in the '80s and whenever I had some extra money, I took a ride in... [MORE]	Valerie Stanol	Jun 19, 2007 17:28
This is sooo sad to hear! I was just planning a short business trip to NY to include some time for... [MORE]	andrea	Jun 14, 2007 16:56
In 1973, at the age of 12, I rode Willow in a horse show taking home third place. While I... [MORE]	Graham Wood	Jun 9, 2007 14:48
Now I live in the country and I am again taking riding lessons and someday I hope to have a... [MORE]	Annie	Sep 9, 2007 14:01
This last Christmas I lived my lifelong dream of riding horseback in Central Park, on the feisty gelding Blanco, from... [MORE]	Elaine Nash	Jun 9, 2007 01:30
I envy Elaine's opportunity to ride at the Claremont Stables. I just, today, returned from a vacation in NYC. I... [MORE]	Margi Evans	Nov 4, 2007 19:21
I am so disappointed to see these news; you see, horseback riding in Central Park was one of the main... [MORE]	Dana	May 29, 2007 20:27
I wish I had a couple million dollars to keep stables open in Central Park ... even in Arizona we... [MORE]	kathryn	Jun 9, 2007 00:36
I was watching Regis and Kelly at the end of April 2007 (when Regis returned to TV after his heart... [MORE]	Ginny Long	Jun 10, 2007 02:41
I have only just found out, through an American friend that Clarmeont has closed am still in shock. I live... [MORE]	Jane Bailey	May 16, 2007 05:07
In a town filled with skyscrapers, natives and tourists rushing here and there, and the constant blasting of car horns,... [MORE]	Melissa	May 11, 2007 08:19
My dream of riding in Central Park will never happen now, I will take it off my "to do list".... [MORE]	marsha	May 8, 2007 07:55
I have been reading these articles with tears streaming down my face. I can't imagine the city without Claremont. I... [MORE]	Pat O'Connor	May 2, 2007 18:11
My daughter and I will miss the opportunity to take another Park ride on Patches and Gillespie. In the picture,... [MORE]	Patricia J Ingram	May 3, 2007 01:19
Last August I took my teenage daughter to NYC. We are riders and she wanted to ride in Central Park....	Cindy	May 8, 2007 00:50
I was so saddened to learn that Claremont Riding Academy is closing its doors. Claremont was the first barn that... [MORE]	Joan O'Brien	May 11, 2007 07:47
Will NYC have any personality left when the developers are through with hit? Yet another wonderful asset of the City,... [MORE]	Alice Alquist	May 1, 2007 18:40
It is really sad that this barn has to close down. There is fewer and fewer places lef to ride.... [MORE]	Anna	Apr 30, 2007 18:10