The monster-sized garbage truck was headed straight for the horse I was riding down busy Columbus Avenue, at the height of evening rush hour on New York City’s Upper West Side. Gears grinding loudly, the vehicle kept chugging toward us as I maneuvered my horse as close as possible to the parked cars along the curb in an attempt to avoid a truck-horse-human collision.
The perpetually rearing wooden horse still stares out the enormous picture window oblivious to the constant bustle of New York City, just as he’s done since 1912. All around him, the world has changed. The once plentiful shops offering equestrian accouterments to clients with names like Rockefeller and Kennedy have disappeared, leaving Manhattan Saddlery as the sole surviving tack shop in the borough.
It was 8:45 p.m. on a Thursday evening. It was dark, wet and cold outside. I had 24 hours until the chili cook-off fundraiser I’d been planning for the Area II Young Riders, and the anxiety was setting in, as it always does before any function I plan.
I was doing my best to balance my time between my full-time job at Sinead Halpin Eventing, my part-time job at Prestige Saddles, my commitment to Young Riders, my part-time job teaching at River Edge Farm, and my personal commitment to fitness.
Lester T. “Rad” Hundt Jr., a lifelong horseman, died of cardiac failure on May 27. He was 79.
Born in Newport, R.I., Mr. Hundt began his equestrian career at a young age when he won the leadline class at the 1933 Devon Horse Show (Pa.). He later became an avid follower of the Radnor Hunt (Pa.), from which he earned his nickname.
Eloise “Judy” Molter Lawrence Groves, an accomplished horsewoman from Berwyn, Pa., died on May 31. She was 88.
Mrs. Groves was born in New Orleans, La. She graduated from the Garrison Forest School (Md.) where she began her equestrian career. An avid foxhunter, she hunted with the Radnor (Pa.), Cheshire (Pa.) and Warrenton (Va.) hunt clubs and traveled to Ireland as well.
The Smiths Winning The Family Class At Upperville by Jan Lukens
Artist Jan Lukens captured the Smith family in action during the 2008 Upperville Colt & Horse Show (Va.) when they won the family class.
The 30"x 40" oil on canvas shows (from left) son Mitchell on Pony Talk, mother Debbie on After Dark, father Michael on Paris North and daughter Tori on Placido.
Howard Arthur “Hound Dog” Brown, an avid foxhunter and foxhound breeder, died on April 22 at Chestertown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Chestertown, Md. He was 96.
Mr. Brown was born in Baltimore and was raised in the Maryland towns of Reisterstown and Westminster. He attended Carroll County Public Schools until dropping out in the eighth grade. He began working with horses and wanted to be a veterinarian, but he didn’t have the money to go to school. However, he had a striking ability to diagnose what was wrong with a horse and became a farrier.
L. Clay Camp, a highly regarded Thoroughbred race horse breeder and horseman, died on May 4 at his home in Charlottesville, Va. He was 78.
Mr. Camp was a lifelong horseman who was born in Marion, S.C. He attended Woodberry Forest School (Va.), Hampden-Sydney College (Va.) and the University of Virginia.
Mr. Camp learned the trade like many now prominent Virginia-horsemen by working with draft horses and show hunters. He spent most of his life as a leading consigner of Thoroughbreds.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
