The lead article in this weeks weekend Wall Street Journal’s OFF DUTY section, was about booking a vacation to a working cattle ranch, and what it entails. Basically, hard work, from dawn to dusk. The rewards are, learning, and experiencing something new.
In 1991, Columbia Pictures released, an American Western Comedy entitled, “City Slickers.” It starred, Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, and Bruno Kirby. It co-starred Jack Palance, as “Curly,” the tough, but eccentric trail boss. The part, revived Jack’s film career, when he won the “Oscar,” for “Best Supporting Actor.” It was about three friends, who book a vacation on a working cattle ranch. Although, it was a comedy, we all know there are always serious issues involved.
All this, reminded me of the horse-back riding period in my life. Now that I think about it, my life has been made up of different periods. Usually, careers, cultural interests, and activities. I was about thirty, when I started to ride. I was living in the borough of Staten Island, in the original settlement, “Richmond Town.” It was also the first time I experienced living in a house. There was a park near-by that had a stable. I had been riding before, on a stock seat, that’s a western saddle. Here, the seat was, hunter, that’s what everyone refers to as English. I started taking lessons, and riding as much as possible. I was getting good, and I started to show. My instructor said, if I wanted to become better, that a I needed to train at a show stable. She suggested, Cedar Lodge Farms, located in Connecticut.
I knew, I would never become excellent, simply because I was too old already. One of the most fundamental requirements, was the ability to drop your heels, when they were in the stirrups. Youngsters, when they start to ride, have the ability to stretch their developing feet, to do just that. I used to stand on the edge of my bath-tub, every day, for a half-hour, trying to train my heels to drop-down, without any success.
But I still started training, at Cedar Lodge farms. It was managed by, Victor Hugo-Vidal, a legend in the equestrian community. I was assigned one of his instructors, and I spent one hour a week training, plus riding at my local stable. He would watch me, and then confer, with my instructor, his thoughts about my training. It was a remarkable experience. My equation vastly improved, that’s how you hold yourself, when riding. Since I was riding hunt-seat, that involved jumping fences. I progressed to doing, triples.
My first trip abroad was to England in 1968. I was going to spend a week in London, and then travel by train to several cities. I knew I wanted to find the opportunity to ride there, so I took my full riding habit. As soon as I arrived in London, I found a riding stable located on a side street, just off Hyde Park. There I was, ready for my first ride, all decked out. Boots, breeches, jacket, crop, spurs, and helmet. After my first ride in the park, they saw that I was a good rider. So, they offered to let me ride a horse that they were boarding for an individual, who need his daily workout.
I remember two rides through the park. On the first ride, our path traveled close to the roadway. We passed a tour bus, and saw the tourists looking out of the window, and taking pictures of me. I guess they thought, I was a British gentleman, taking his ride through the park. Of course, I waved back, shouting, I’m from New York City. Naturally they couldn’t hear me, but I thought it was a nice gesture on my part.
On the second ride, we met a sergeant in the Queen’s Household Cavalry. They are stabled nearby at Hyde Park Barracks in Knightsbridge, and used the park to exercise their horses. My guide knew the sergeant, so we all rode together through the park. Then we came to “Rotten Row,” which was a popular meeting place for upper-class Londoners in the 18th century. We all cantered down the row. That was a great day of riding.
I hailed a cab, for the trip back to my hotel. I love London taxi cabs. They’re roomy, have two jump seats, and plenty of room to stretch out. They reminded me of the New York City Checkered cabs. So, I put my boots up on the folded jump seats, and relaxed. Of course, the cabbie knew I was a Yank. We chatted a bit, and he said, he saw this “Toff” getting into his cab after his morning ride. Luckily, I knew what it meant.
