StaffThe people at Kensington Stables are as friendly as the horses and ponies. Here's more info on some of the folks you'll meet around the stable. Walker took up riding in college to lend credence to his imaginary characters in the medieval role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons. He and his family acquired the stable in 1993 from the family that had owned it for the previous 100 years. His expertise extends to many areas of horsemanship and includes an in-depth knowledge of Prospect Park and the surrounding area. In addition to his responsibilities as stable owner and manager, he also provides instruction, leads guided rides through the park, and rides his horses in a wide variety of events throughout the Tri-state area. You can email Walker at bhorsetamer@aol.com.
Fran bought her first horse at the age of thirty-six. He was a very young, very green Mexican Mustang she named Benny. Fran brought Benny to Kensington and cross-trained him herself. He now performs equally well as a hunter, a western pleasure horse, and in gymkhana. Kensington Stables is associated with the Staten Island Horseman's Association 2, which hosts a spring and fall show season. Fran proved her training methods with both horse and students by winning year-end Grand and Reserve Championships in Hunter, English Pleasure, Advanced Western Performance, Open Gymkhana, Beginner Western Performance, Western Leadline, and Novice Gymkhana. All of this with Benny being ridden by herself and her students. Benny has won the high point Horse of the Year Award, the first (and so far only) horse at Kensington to do so. Fran bought her second horse, Zoral de Chavin (commonly known as Dave) in the spring of 2001. He is purebred Peruvian Paso, a five-gaited horse that is ridden a little like a reining horse and a little like a dressage horse. Fran is planning to bring to Kensington, in the spring of 2002 a second Peruvian, Cory, a son of a national Grand Champion. She is also planning to offer lessons on Peruvians in 2002. This would be available only to experienced riders who wish to learn the gaits of this unique breed. If you interested in this please let us know by E-mail or phone. Fran's lesson schedule at this time is quite booked, but call for possible availability or, as barn manager, she will match you with another fine Kensington instructor who will suit your interest and skills, from beginner through advanced. In addition to her duties as manager, trainer, and instructor, Fran also oversees the student volunteer program. This program is a way for students to help the stable and learn horsemanship and care. In addition to the learning experience extra riding hours are awarded. She plans special events such as free Friday night show practice, Barbecue rides, annual camping trips and fundraisers for the improvement of the barn, the bridle paths and schooling areas. Teenagers are the mainstays of Kensington Stables. Alina
is the perfect example of this. She joined the Kensington Stable
family as a volunteer about four years ago. Before that, she had
been riding for several years in Long Island and Pennsylvania. Today,
she teaches beginner and intermediate lesson level riding. And she
still gets her fair share of pony parties and trail rides. She continues
taking jumping and western lessons with Fran, in hopes of entering
the hunter classes next show season; and of course always riding
Benny. The horse on whom she won grand champion in western performance
and a
Ryka was a former hostler for the New York City Parks Department Mounted Division. She loves working with children and counts several disabled yougths among her students at the stable. She has over 30 riders taking lessons from her. (From the Northeast Equine Journal, vol. 9, no. 12)
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