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Partly Cloudy Happy trails
Herald intern takes a trail ride through Hempstead Lake State Park
On a beautiful sunny day, after the heat wave finally broke, I enjoyed a wonderful trail ride in Hempstead Lake State Park, courtesy of the New York Equestrian Center (NYEC). An activity that is sure to break up those invariable beach trips, my experience was nothing but pleasant.
Although I had ridden before, I was able to literally “get back in the saddle” for an hour-long trip through the park with the accompaniment of a trained guide for an afternoon of sightseeing and amusement.
The NYEC, which is located on Eagle Avenue in West Hempstead and just off the Southern State Parkway, offers trail rides every day and every season in the expansive 775 acres of Hempstead Lake State Park along nine miles of trails.
“The weekends are the busiest,” said Alina Semenova, a rider and trail guide with NYEC. “We usually do about seven trail rides a day.”
The facility, which was renovated in 2012, now includes a climate-controlled indoor training track, an observation mezzanine, heated wash stalls, and a tack shop, where riders can purchase supplies to maintain their horse. The renovations allow NYEC to board horses, train riders, and provide after-school programs and host birthday parties in addition to trail rides.
Despite having lived in Rockville Centre for 17 years, I had no idea how expansive Hempstead Lake State Park actually was. After I was saddled up on Layla, an Appaloosa pony with a chestnut coat and charming little white spots, Semenova took myself and Herald photographer Susan Grieco out on the trails.
Like Semenova, all of the trail guides are professionals set to match the rider’s skill level. The NYEC also makes sure that all of the horses used for the trails match the riders’ skills, making them feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible.
On the first part of our ride, we traveled down a small portion of the trails before happening upon an outdoor ring, spread with butterfly plants, that all of the horses were pleased to stop in. After letting them graze for a few minutes we continued on our way. Because the park is so large, we were able to pass the Hempstead Country Club golf course as well as Hempstead High School and several lakes before making our way back towards the stables.
