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.
Zen Horse Koi By Linda Luster
Linda Luster was a frequent contributor to the Chronicle in the early 1980s while living in North Carolina. After taking 16 years off from art to train dressage horses professionally in Maryland, Luster returned to her artwork full time. She works out of her studio on her farm in Rocky Ridge, Md., where she still keeps her hands in training a few horses.
Washington D. “Wash” Bishop, an international eventer and former U.S. Equestrian Federation team selector, died at his home in Middleburg, Va., on May 9. He was 53.
Mr. Bishop was born on Sept. 25, 1955, and grew up in Birmingham, Ala. In 1973, he moved to Virginia to ride and train event horses. At age 16, he was invited to train with the U.S. Equestrian Team eventing squad with legendary coach Jack LeGoff. Ultimately, this unique opportunity led to a spot on the 1980 Olympic team, the 1995 European Championship team, and the 1996 Olympic short list.
Hoof Prints And Footsteps by Julia Jordon
Artist Julia Jordon, a junior at Northwest High School in Greensboro, N.C., produced this mixed media painting titled Hoof Prints And Footsteps for an art class assignment. The 18" x 24" acrylic on canvas recently won first place in her school’s art show and art contest, and Jordon received the Underclass Award for her artistic talent.
Do Not Disturb By Jill Silver
Jill Silver became involved with foxhounds when she moved to Tryon, N.C. in the mid-1990s. “I came here on a mission—to live in a place I loved and be a professional artist,” she said.
When she first moved to Tryon, she met huntsman Chip Anderson, who gave her her first commission and also a part-time job as Tryon Hounds kennelman.
Henry Tompkins “Duffy” Rathbun, a passionate Thoroughbred race horse breeder and owner, died on March 19 from complications following a heart attack. He was 87.
Mr. Rathbun was born in Elmira, N.Y., and graduated from Amherst College (Mass.) in 1944 before serving on a U.S. Navy destroyer escort in World War II. He then attended law school at the University of Virginia but skipped his last classes to go to the races in Charles Town, W.Va., on a blind date, where he met his future wife, Sheilah. He graduated in 1948.
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