Concrete 'n Steel...

Jill was desperate to see the sky and some grass, nevermind desperate for horse time.



Jill read the ad for the ONE stable in all of Manhattan, CLAREMONT Riding Academy at 175 West 89th St, just across Central Park.

"Its not an impossible resolution if you join the right gym. Ride, or learn how... You and your children can discover the unique experience of riding on the bridle baths of skyscraper-rimmed Central Park. Group and Private instruction is available 7 days a week at all skill levels."

The receptionist said she could tell on the phone that Jill was a more advanced rider than any of their teachers but Jill made the appt for $65 half hour private anyway.

The so-called private lesson took place in a tiny arena (the lowest floor of the 3 story barn), around a huge support pole and WHILE another group lesson was going on. What a mess!

Jill thought next time, since money was apparently no object, she should try booking an equine for commercial use at $250 hr as if he was to appear in a tv or photo shoot instead. Otherwise she could not tolerate the minimum number of lessons required to rent a horse to take out to the park...

Chiraz was the name of the fancy dressage horse Jill rode in Manhattan. After finding the ONE stable in the entire area.  She would always remember him, since he starred in Carmen, and in War and Peace, at the Met. Imagine!

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That tiny room they considered an arena was also the first time she volunteered with a therapuetic riding association. She spoke afterwards of hurting a rider - Lisa's feelings as a sidewalker when she instructed  "look up" instead of "lift your chin." She hadn't realized it, at first, until she realized the rider was coming out of her sulk by being fixated on how Jill had also said the horse looked like he was in a good mood that day...

l a n g u a g e eh? Lisa was a blind rider.

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"As a sidewalker, in THAT town, my knack was to GET the horse to move on, so that 35 medical professionals and 10 volunteers didn't have to stand around watching a horse refuse to walk, because there were too many officials and volunteers and not enough horsemen!"

* 

She's done the volunteering to work off a lesson.  In the very, very small arena, while another lesson was going on as well.  Two teachers teaching at the same time in a space not big enough for even one class, in Jill's opinion.  She talked to her horse friends in Canada about it afterwards:

"My fundamental problem with them was the backwards way they were too much about creating an overcontrolled bubble environment where nothing dramatic ever happened instead of working to develop talented riders and horsepersons who can deal with horses in the real world, because they know how to position themselves correctly and they know how to communicate effectively with the beast etc."

Jill also ranted how she found it "stoopid that the novice rider, who has less control, is the one expected to keep out of the way of the more advanced rider. Why not offer BEGINNERS right of way???"  

She would never forget when she was trying to pass all these rookie riders who were careening right into me and she finally formally asked the instructor what the passing protocol was she said "at your level of riding, you can pass any where you want."  But Jill was not honoured, just frustrated.

Thank goodness she didn't stay there long, and was soon able to cover ground on horseback as she felt she was meant to do...