Clip Clop
New York City used to be a horse town.
People used to ride down Broadway. Buses used to be pulled by draft horses. Rather than streets full of yellow taxis there were streets full of neighing, pooping, kicking horses.
I wish I had seen those days.
The only remnant of the golden days of equine New York is the NYPD Mounted Unit. When I hear the clipclop of a police horse, my heart skips a beat and I get a little giddy. I turn into a 6 year old, I want to pet the horse!
Recently I was bumming around Tribeca when a very familiar smell hit my nose. Manure. Then I looked around and noticed all the trailers, and then I saw a mounted policeman. I asked if there was a stable around and he gestured down the street. Right there, opening up onto Washington Street, was a barn.
I could hear small rustlings, low whinnies, and see an occasional tail flick, but these are working animals and kept at a safe distance from over-enthusiastic ex-equestriennes like myself.
Not ready to join the NYPD? Then why not think about joining the New York Parks Enforcement Auxiliary Mounted Unit? You can patrol some of the city’s most beautiful parks and help lost kids find their parents and do a good thing for your city!
Chicago was a horse town too, as were all cities back in the day. As much as people complain about auto exhaust and pollution, I don’t think most people give much thought to, um, horse exhaust. We have a number of horsedrawn carriages that work the tourist trade around Michigan Avenue here. There are certain corners where they park and wait for customers in the evening. Even during the day, when the horses and carriages aren’t present, those corners smell of horse pee. Big time. Now imagine hundreds or thousands of horses downtown every day. Wow.
By the way, I just found your photo site. I will be back. I need great New York fixes like this on an almost daily basis.
Two years ago I had the pleasure of going to NYC on a bus trip to Radio City Music Hall. Before and after the Christmas Show we wandered the streets of NYC. It was 2 days after Thanksgiving and the streets were packed with people. Yet the wonderful NYC Mounted Police were nice enough to stop and let everyone take pic-tures of them. I have a really great photo! I am currently in the process of turning that photo into a painting. I am a self-taught Artist from central Pa. and can’t wait to finally get a chance to start this painting. I plan on giving a print of it to them when it’s finished. Thanks for sharing, I will let you know when the painting is finished.