A horse brought me to Riverdale

Point of View

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Your recent article about trekking through Van Cortlandt Park brought back memories of my own wanderings into this geographic marvel in our own back yard. 

In 1969, I boarded a horse, an Appaloosa, in Van Cortlandt Stable.  I was living on Pelham Parkway and teaching in the south Bronx.  In 1970, I moved to Mosholu Avenue to be near the stable. 

I then traded this horse for a lovely ex-racehorse mare. I moved her to a Westchester stable for a few years. However, the commute from my school in the south Bronx to Westchester and back to Riverdale became a burden. I was also working a few nights a week in the school’s evening school to support this pricy riding habit.

I returned to Van Cortlandt Stable.  After the mare passed away, I got another ex-racehorse, a scrappy gelding with 68 starts in his career.

We went all over the park and beyond- — to the end of the No. 4 subway by Woodlawn or to the 233 St. exit of the Deegan. We took the Aqueduct trail north through Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers. There was even a “horse crossing” sign on McLean Ave. 

We went under the Major Deegan Expressway near the Yonkers border to visit the water tunnel project, the Parks Department horticultural center, and the Indian Memorial.

My favorite route was the old Putnam Railroad line, which runs through the park to Westchester. Trains ended in the 1950’s.  I loved going into the vaulted Mosholu Parkway underpass where golfers can cross from holes 11 to 12 and then heading north, keeping to the sides of the tracks.  It was quiet and almost primeval in spots.

After 20 years, I gave up horse ownership and donated the horse to an upstate riding program. 

Today, I am pleased that the stable is still viable with new management committed to making it accessible to all, including the handicapped. 

I’m also glad the park and golf course, the oldest public course in the U.S., have kept a large swath of greenery from being developed in our community. Perhaps our air quality benefits from this.

 Most of all, I’m happy that a horse brought me here. I intend to stay a while.

Barbara Curran is a Riverdale resident. Point of view is a column open to all.

Barbara Curran

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