The History and Vision of Our Club

By Murdock,
The Man With No First Name

For more than 40 years, I had always wished there could be a horseback riding stable and horseback riding again in the city parks, as it was years ago when I was a kid.

In 1967, after returning home from the Vietnam War, the Midway riding stable located at 61st and Evans on the southside of Chicago no longer existed.

I'd missed seeing horses cantering beautifully through Washington and Jackson Parks. I never found out the reasons for the stables closing.

I wondered what could be done to have horses in the city again. I found myself having to travel to the suburbs, places like Palos Hills and Tinley Park, just to go horseback riding.

Nonetheless, 14 years later, I purchased my first horse--a golden Palomino who I named Famous--and the rest was history. I just believed with all my heart that something could be done to have a stable in the city again.

That's when I decided to come up with the idea of having a trail ride through the city parks called the "Highnoon Ride and Picnic." This way, we could showcase these magnificent horses to the public with hope that someone someday with the finances would see the horses and would want to open a riding stable.

People mostly thought my vision meant that, simply, one could bring a horse to the city as long as there was a bridle path that they could go riding. But technically this was not true. A city ordinance would stop them from being able to do so, unless they fell under certain specific guidelines.

I began to realize that just maybe, once people started seeing the horses every year, that somebody would eventually see that there must be a "market" for horseback riding in the city.

Within a short time, the Highnoon Ride and Picnic began to draw 200 horses annually and it continues to grow. People have come from as far away as Las Vegas, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Canada to ride in the annual event.

Here is our long-term vision:

• Areas to establish and develop on large horse barn for stabling 100 privately owned and rental horses
• Indoor and outdoor arena
• Teaching facility for beginners and intermediate riders
• Horse training
• Demonstrations and exhibitions
• Seminars by professional horse trainers to illustrate the art of horsemanship
• Horse riding lessons (Western, English, Dressage, and Pleasure riding)
• Scout groups participating for earning badges
• Programs for under-privileged children
• Private birthday and pony parties for city children
• Trail rides
• Space set aside to sell basic horse supplies and equipment
• Veterinary and horse fairer services
  

To people from all walks of life who hear/see this video, 
we would love it if you could stand by
Broken Arrow Horseback Riding club.