Horseback Riding, Central Park
Experience Central Park's scenic trails on horseback.
2026 Update: After nearly two decades, horseback riding is officially returning! Miller’s Horse Company, in collaboration with Manhattan Saddlery, will begin offering guided horseback rides along the Bridle Path starting in March 2026. Stay tuned for more info!
Horseback riding in Central Park is permitted year-round during regular park hours. With over six miles of scenic trails, including the famous Bridle Path that circles the Reservoir and the North Meadow, the park offers an unforgettable experience for riders of all levels.
Central Park was actually designed to be seen from horseback, and many of its paths—like the Bridle Path, which is made of hand-packed dirt—remain just as ideal for riding today as they were when the park first opened in 1858.
Whether you’re an experienced rider or a beginner, the park's tranquil, tree-lined paths provide the perfect setting for a ride. And if you have the opportunity to go horseback riding in Central Park, it is best to travel with an experienced guide.
A History of Tradition in Central Park
For more than a century, horseback riding has been an integral part of the park’s history. The Claremont Riding Academy, which opened in 1892, was a landmark in the city’s equestrian culture. From 1927 to 2007, the academy provided affordable horseback riding experiences, welcoming riders of all backgrounds. In 2007, after the academy closed, Central Park lost its only vendor offering horseback riding within the park.
Following the closure of Claremont, Riverdale Equestrian Center offered limited horseback riding services in the park for a few years. However, in 2014, after a change in ownership, Riverdale Stables began offering riding lessons and equestrian programs and stopped providing rides along the Bridle Path. Some smaller companies hosted rides since then, but for the most part horses largely vanished from Central Park except for carriages.
In 2026, Miller’s Horse Company will be providing the first opportunity for horseback riding in the park in nearly two decades. Their guided rides will offer visitors a chance to enjoy the beauty of the park in a way that hasn’t been available in years.