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.
At first glance, the riders in the performance show Cavalia don’t appear to have much in common with their counterparts in the show ring or out on the cross-country course. Colorful costumes, fancy trick riding and elaborate sets have more in common with the circus than horse showing.
Dashdorji, also known as Dasher, was born in the Mongolian countryside and grew up with animals as a part of his life. At a young age he started down the path as an artist, and he eventually received attention and training in his native country.
After Dasher moved to the United States, a chance meeting enabled him to forge a connection to The Beresford Gallery while he had a job cleaning stalls at a Maryland farm.
Artist Pat Turcotte, Lakewood, N.Y., specializes in equestrian illustration and portraiture, most specifically eventing. She also enjoys child portraiture and works primarily in watercolor, although she does accept commissions in oil.
This week’s cover, Highland Hogan And Becky Holder, shows the pair enjoying a quiet moment during a horse inspection.
Toni P. Haigh, a third generation Californian, was raised on a ranch, working cattle, showing, breeding and training horses as well as teaching riding and art. She follows in the footsteps of her family, going back to Daniel Haigh, master of the Old Surrey Hunt in England from 1820 to 1836.
Her grandfather came from England in 1890 to settle in Simi Valley, Calif., and was from a family of noted horsemen, including his brother, Alfred Grenfell Haigh (1870-1963), one of the premier equine and sporting artists of his time.
Adolph Mogavero, a respected horseman, official and member of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, died Aug. 25 in Sarasota, Fla. He was 89.
Mr. Mogavero was born just outside of Boston, Mass. He lived down the road from a horse farm and would regularly stop on the way home, sit on the fence and watch the riders. When he was 9 years old, the trainer asked him if he would like to begin riding, an offer he promptly accepted.
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