Dan's Papers - August 22, 2008 - Horsing Around On The North Fork

Hi-Yo, Southold! Well, almost. Our horses are not quite fiery and they travel a bit less than the speed of light. But there's usually a cloud of dust and one can imagine a hearty Hi-Yo, Silver. The North Fork's going equestrian.

Now my riding experiences are limited - to one horse named Molly and to a couple of youthful working-summers in the Adirondacks. But I read about horses. I guess my favorite horse book is Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand.

And I confess to an occasional day at Saratoga racetrack. I've a friend who lives in that town and if my visits are timed for August, who can blame me?

So why all this talk of horses? Because the 33rd Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show opens August 24 in Bridgehampton. I've never been to a horse show but I bet the Hampton Classic is pretty darned impressive. We have a horse show or two on the North Fork, though obviously with less history and scope. For now.

But let the South Fork know the North Fork's working at it, starting with our youngsters. We're grooming them good, on farms, in classes, in stables. No stalling around! Our young people are gonna ride and show with the best.

If it's proof you want, join me and we'll trot on over to Hidden Lake Farm Riding School on North Road in Southold. Huge tree branches bend low over the entrance, as if bowing in welcome. And there in the outdoor arena (there's an indoor arena, too) is Jackie Bittner, owner of Hidden Lake. Jackie's waving another welcome, so let's go talk with her.

When Jackie acquired the property in 1967, it was a 98-acre potato farm. She established the riding school and then, just a few years ago, Jackie turned over 50 of those beautiful acres, including the "hidden" lake, to Southold Town. A nature preserve is in the works - one with walking trails to Long Island Sound. A gift to you, to me.

The remaining acres are devoted to horses and those who love and/or ride them. There are about 25 horses on site and they come from all over. For example, there's Somerset from Vermont and Miss Covington from Georgia. The horse I watched for more than an hour on this summer day was a six-year-old beauty named October Morning.

Atop October Morning was 19-year old Morgan Manley. Morgan and her family have summered in Peconic for decades. Indeed, Morgan began riding lessons at Hidden Lake when she was just five years old. Morgan looked picture-perfect now as she and October Morning practiced jumping in the outdoor arena. Really, a picture it was. For a backdrop, woods rolling to water, an old barn on one side, a field of almost-ripe corn on the other.

Morgan's mom stood with me (we cheated a bit, leaning on a fence) and we talked some about Morgan. She just completed her freshman year at Brandeis University in Massachusetts. Yes, her grades were good and yes, she's on the school's equestrian team. Mom was proud, as she should be,and so was Jackie, who remembers teaching Morgan those many years ago.

In the arena instructing Morgan in multiple jumping was Cara Campbell of Orient. Cara's been teaching at Hidden Lake for several years and loves her job. She's happy seeing "the horses come along as well as the students." Something else pleases Cara, too. She keeps her own horse, Cody, at Hidden Lake and rides every chance she gets.

Lots of other stuff goes on at Hidden Lake. There's a Pony Club for hands-on experience in riding and grooming. And every April there are Hunter Trials. Affiliated with Smithtown Hunt, Jackie and Hidden Lake host the event. Jackie wants me to tell you it's a scenting hunt only - no animals are chased.

So, South Fork, we're pretty classic here on the North Fork. That's because we've got great horses and great people like Morgan, Cara and Jackie. As Cara says about Jackie, "She may stand just five feet, but she's eight feet tall in the saddle."