Willow - Reader comments at The New York Sun

Submitted by Graham Wood, Jun 9, 2007 14:48

In 1973, at the age of 12, I rode Willow in a horse show taking home third place. While I grew older, traveled, went to college, etc., I had forgotten about this beautiful horse until years later I went back to the stables to find her there. Needless to say, it broke my heart to see that she was still living the life of a NYC horse. While a part of me is sad to this piece of NYC history vanish, I am glad that horses will no longer being living in this environment simply for the entertainment of people.

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.

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...	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.... [MORE]	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