NEW YORK (PIX11) -- You could say New York is the education capital of the world. There are so many opportunities to be taught lessons from academics to the arts to culinary knowledge.
But in the middle of this concrete oasis, there's also an opportunity for equestrian training in which the horses are considered the teachers. It's considered the miracle of Randalls Island.
The miracle hidden across from the buildings of Manhattan on a patch of land that was once a garbage dump is a field of learning. On a track, a student on a horse is guided by an instructor, "All the way around, now to your right."
Unknown to many New Yorkers is the New York Riding Academy, which has nestled itself on Randalls Island for the past 42 years. It's an equestrian center that has given thousands of city kids opportunities they would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.
After retiring as an educator, 93-year-old Dr. George Blair and his wife used their own funds to create the only riding academy of its kind in the city. He maintains, "What they're learning from the horses is how to communicate nonverbally effectively and how to control themselves, so the horse is their teacher as well."
On this day, PIX11 News visited, and Dr. Blair was working with students from Vanguard High School in Manhattan. Volunteers were teaching the kids the riding basics, how to groom a horse, and the correct placement of saddle and bridle. What they learn here is quite different from what they learn in the classroom. According to Dr. Blair, "They act very differently than then act in school because in the socialized process the other students help to effect their behavior, here the horses help to effect their behavior. Look how they're absorbing it. Look how they're focused on it."
Leilany Cruz, 16, had never been on a horse before. "When I first saw the horse, I was scared. He was so big when I stood next to him. Then I really went for it. It was a good experience," she said. She explained further, "You gotta be in control, you gotta be dominant because if not, the horse won't understand."
Dr. Blair says that through their interaction with the horses, the kids are learning important life lessons---respect, dedication, and collaboration. "This program is all about community and working with others," he explained, adding, "You can never do one thing by yourself. You always have to rely on someone and work as a team to get the job done." He went on, "My classic example is Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. They learned how to dance together. If you're riding a horse, you have to be Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. You have to work together."
Sorayah Smith,18, was an intern at the Riding Academy. Her experience there helped her get into Cornell University, where she's now a sophomore. "I learned a lot in this program, not only taking care of horses but a sense of responsibility," she said. "Just coming here was very therapeutic."
At the end of the day's session, Dr. Blair tells the kids, "You guys did great today." He received a crescendo of applause.
While Geoge Blair uses horses to help teach inner-city kids important life lessons, his students have been able to teach him some things about life from their perspective. His goal now is to have one of his students compete in the equestrian competition at the Olympics and come home with a gold medal.
Website for more information about the NYC Riding Academy go here.
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