New-York tribune., 1901-03-03
A NEW RIDING ACADEMY.
COMFORTS FOR HORSES AND MEN
IN DURI.AND'S BUILDING, IN
XTY-SIXTH-ST.


Despite the popularity of the bicycle and the
predictions that the machine would take the
place of the saddle horse there is boom in
horseback riding. The accommodations for
equestrians who prefer riding ring to the Park
and the avenues have long been inadequate.
The riding rings in some of the large private
stables which had seen little service are being
used and the crowds at the riding schools
growing daily Among private rings that OF
Louis Stern, in his handsome stable, in Eighty
fourth-st.. is perhaps the most noteworthy 1T
is large and lofty with a gallery for spectators
and all accommodations for riders. Like all
the other private riding establishments. this II
now in daily But places of that kind are
few. and the general public must depend upon
the riding schools
AT Durland's the crush has been SO great
lately that enlarged quarters were necessary.
| and a riding academy has been built, which
will be opened in few days. The building In in
Sixty-sixth-st.. one hundred feet west of Central
Park West. and near the new Park entrance.
1t occupies 200 feet the street front and loo
feet on the south side of Sixty-seventh-st. The
building is 200 feet deep the central point,
which is occupied by the riding ring and fills
twelve city building lots The riding ring, 200
feet deep and 100 feet wide. is the largest in
the country. A gallery. with a seating capacity
/ lOf SlA hundred persons, OVerlOOkS tne arena
which is lighted by a skylight by day and groups
| of incandescent lamps at night. The west wing
of the building is 30 by 90 feet in size. The
| basement is divided into stalls. and the main
floor is the carriage room. The second. third
and fourth floors are also arranged for the
commodation of horses The animals may reach
their stalls either by runways or elevators.
| The arrangements for the comfort and pro-
! lection of the animals We're made after much
careful study. and Mr., Durland says that III. F.
kilburn. the architect of the building. has made
this part of the establishment perfect horse
| hotel The east wing is the size as the
wing the west end but arranged differently.
The basement contains bathrooms. lockers.
closets and shower baths; the first floor has the
general Offices and the mounting block, and the
other floors given up to clubs. The Metro
pOitan Riding Association has the clubrOOms
the second floor and the New-YOrk Riding Club
occupies the rooms above. Over these the
! rooms of the First Brigade staff, and those of
the York Riding Club. The top floor clubrooms
will be occupied by the Riding and Driving AS
sociation- Besides these cubrOoms. which will
be fitted UP in handsome style with assembly.
billiard. dining and smoking rooms. there is
and a number of small rooms which may be
rented by patrons of the establishment.
/ The exterior of the building is of Roman brick,
with brownstone trimmings and a brownstcne
portco There is no effort at ornamen tatfon in
the architecture of the building. 1. is severely
plain. but admirably arranged and its great
ring. as we'll as its eIubrooms. Will undoubtedly
be we'll patronized