Closing Bell: Kensington in Danger of Destabilization?
The owner of Kensington Stables is saying proposed Health Dept. rules might force him to close up shop, according to the Daily News: “A Brooklyn stable owner is neighing that proposed city Health Department changes requiring five-week vacations for horses, bigger stalls and a sprinkler system in barns would saddle him with a financial disaster….
The owner of Kensington Stables is saying proposed Health Dept. rules might force him to close up shop, according to the Daily News: “A Brooklyn stable owner is neighing that proposed city Health Department changes requiring five-week vacations for horses, bigger stalls and a sprinkler system in barns would saddle him with a financial disaster. ‘I want to keep horseback riding affordable for Brooklyn families, but I don’t see how I can do that,’ said Kensington Stables owner Walker Blankinship. ‘What am I supposed to do – become a ritzy, snobby barn that charges $100?'” The Health Dept. says the news regs have yet to be finalized and that some version of them is going to be proposed at the next Board of Health meeting.
Stable Owner Bucking Expensive Proposed Changes [NYDN]
Photo by Mongibeddu.
Great story, NOP.
Brownstoner:
When I was youngster in Crown Heights during the 1950s and 1960s, my father would take my little brother and me riding in the park, renting horses from this stable, I’m quite sure.
Although he was small, slim and a “bohemian” (a “hipster” back in the day) Dad learned to ride and hunt at the family’s place during his own boyhood and was anxious to impart the “manly” arts to his Brooklyn sons.
Looking at him, one would never guess he knew what to do with a horse. Once, some teenagers through rocks at my brother and me as we rode beside him. Dad spun his horse around and chased them up a pedestrian path, cornering them and rearing his horse above their heads. They froze in terror and begged for mercy.
“How d’you like that?” he growled, then cantered off, calmy retaking the reins of our horses and finishing the afternoon.
As a man did in those days, he never spoke about the incident to us. Nor did he mention it to our mother when we got home. (Which meant we weren’t to speak about it, either.)
But John Wayne had nothing on him, as far as we were concerned.
Nostalgic on Park Avenue
With all due respect to the stable, that is a pretty nasty place. My kids would hate to see the $3 pony rides go though
Another good thing killed by the stifling NYC bureaucracy!
why isn’t that horse wearing a diaper?
a potential business opportunity may be emerging here: Horse vacation resorts! Complete with all-you-can-eat hay buffet, and shoe shops galore. 5 weeks to kill? Dont be saddled with boredom. Join us for a romp in the hay.
Please note in photo the horse manure being dumped into the storm drain.
Mr. Blankinship should be careful how much attention he draws to himself and the stable. There are more than one city agency that could walk into that place and shut it down.
What a dump.
I don’t get 5 weeks anymore, either benson.
“Go to the HOTD and see how benson is being a horse’s ass.”
Hey, for 5 weeks vacation, I’ll take the job!