The New York herald., 1922-10-22
PARK Birdie PATHS
AGAIN THRONGED
Autumn Riding Season Opens
as Sharp Weather Brings
Equestrians Back to City.

Central Park bride paths are fast
taking on the appearance of autumn,
the sharp weather last week having
brought troops of equestrians back to
the city from mountain and seashorc
resorts. Hundreds of men, women and
children were out yesterday for brisk
ride. and with fair weather. to-day the
picturesque. winding roads reserved for
horses are likely to be thronged as
they have not been since spring. Dur
land S Riding Academy and the Riding
Club which are the headquarters of the
equestrians, are rapidly filling UP with
the returning horses and their riders
after the longest summer outing old
timers can recall Soon there will be
close to. 1000 saddle horses in these two
centers. while smaller stables through
out the city will house hundreds more.
Durland's alone has accommodations for
6l2 horses. and every stall. including
eighty loose boxes for equine aristo-
Gratis. was filled during the winter sea-
son last year.
Unusual preparations have been made
at Durland's for the season of 1928,
At cost of many thousands of dollars
William Durland has redecorated the big
building from turret to foundation
stone.'' The great riding ring 100-feet
wide and extending clear through the
block from Sixty-sixth to Sixty-seventh
street is resplendent in delicate hues 5f
eggshell white and pea green. and at
night is lighted up as perhaps no other
public arena In the city is lighted by
twelve new electric bulbs. each Of ! 900
candle power. reinforced by hundreds of
smaller lamps. To resurface the riding
ring 135 tons of tanbark were brought
In from Newark and the stable afsles
throughout the building were carpeted
with rubber mating to make them
noiseless and sanitary. In the care and
cleanliness of all quarters for horses
and riders few hotels rival this st
Regis of the saddle horse as the lars-
est Of riding schools is often called.
Five riding clubs and two indoor polo
organizations will have their head
quarters at Durland's this season.
These are the New York Riding Club.
of which l.. M. Boomer.is president, the
Metropolitan Riding Association. of
which Samuel G. Allen is president.
The Early Risers' Riding Club. with
August V. Lambert as executive head,
The Fulton Riding Club and the Hudson
Riding Club. -Four of these CLUBS nave
their own exclusive quarters, win
reading rooms, dressing rooms and baths
present some 240 business and proles-
sional men of New York.
For the accommodation of the public
AIR. Durland keeps 145 school horses and
employs fifteen riding masters. wniie
nearly 200 employees. including clericai
force. grooms and stable hep are re-
ouired to keep the worlds largest riding
school IN operation during the season.
To feed the horses at Durland's last
year 65. 600 bushels of oats were re-
cuired. together with S57 tons Q,
ray. 407 tons of straw ana 90
tons OF bran This amount sto ap-
rroximately 500. 600 feeds for one horse.
One of the departments of the great
establishment is blacksmith shop IN
which from four to six expert turner's
are kept busy shoeing the horses IN the
building. Another is the saddlery snoP'
and show room where saddles, prldies
and riding equipment are puiit 10
measure for the show horses and otner
fine horses that go out from Duriaho
to win blue ribbons at the horse SHOWS.
The proprietor and active mahaseI oi
this twentieth century hotei lor soises'
confesses to sixty-five years OF age,
yet he saws he has no desire TO shirt
;.s burdens to younger shoulders.
eft &c NV pleasure as well as my pusi-
ress " he said yesterday. y have seer
{. sro,y from a small beginning, thirty
s;ve vears ago. and | want to remain III
,ta saddle. SO to speak, as long as
i've There is new enjoyment every aag
T., r,setinc nv friends who ride ana IN
hea rinr them say they enjoy and appre-
ciate the comforts we try TO give eneni,
shall never retire while health ano
strength remain"