Second careers for horses, and a way into riding for Brooklynites of every background and ability.
Prospect Park Stable founded
Stable restored & renamed
Bridle path through Prospect Park
Helping Hoof, Inc. nonprofit
Helping Hooves is a community program for horses and people. It is carried out by Helping Hoof, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, alongside Be•Brooklyn Equine at Prospect Park Stable.
The mission has four parts:
Giving horses whose first careers didn't work out a new start in "healthy, nurturing, loving environments."
Promoting equine-assisted therapy and assisted learning.
Making riding accessible to people "with physical, emotional, social, or economic challenges."
Promoting public infrastructure that lets urban horses live and thrive, safely for horses and people alike.
Mission as published by Helping Hoof (6sqft, 2023).
From the riding ring to Red Hook's community gardens, the work reaches well beyond the barn.
Many of the stable's horses didn't work out in their first jobs and were resold or rehomed before arriving in Brooklyn. With retraining, focused healthcare and plenty of time with other horses and the people who care for them, each one finds a role that suits its mind and body.
Some become loyal student horses, some trusty trail horses, and most enjoy both jobs. Program Director, Be•Brooklyn Equine
Therapeutic Riding
In 2019, Prospect Park Stable began providing horses to GallopNYC, the New York therapeutic riding nonprofit, for sessions on Prospect Park's Bowling Green. The horses had a month of specialized training to prepare for the program, which serves children and adults with disabilities, including autism.
Youth Programs
In the summer immersion program, riders ages 6 to 15 spend the whole day at the stable. They get their horse ready, ride in the park, and then learn a different part of horse history, behavior and healthcare each week.
After-school and weekend programs teach both riding and complete horse care, from grooming to groundwork.
The stable's manure is composted in Red Hook, under the mentorship of the nonprofit Red Hook Farms, and given to Red Hook community gardens. Bedding comes from wood shavings donated by local Brooklyn woodworkers.
The Prospect Park Equine Rally rode from the Horse Tamers statues along the Bridle Path to the riding circle known as "the Q." It was Brooklyn's first equestrian parade since the 1930s, with free pony rides for kids.
During the pandemic, stable horses pulled carts delivering food and supplies in Red Hook, with stops at Red Hook Farm, Red Hook Houses and the Joseph Miccio Community Center.
Prospect Park was designed with a bridle path, and Brooklyn once held horse parades hundreds strong. Helping Hooves carries that tradition forward.
Prospect Park Stable is founded. It's the name the stable would get back a century later.
A parade sponsored by the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and the ASPCA draws 252 horses, some 500 dogs, and a goat pulling a cart.
The former Kensington Stables changes hands and gets back its 1917 name, Prospect Park Stable.
The Equine Rally revives Brooklyn's horse parade, compost from the stable reaches Red Hook's gardens, and the GallopNYC therapeutic riding partnership begins.
Horse-drawn deliveries reach Red Hook neighbors during the pandemic, and young riders fill the summer immersion program.
Helping Hoof, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, carries the mission forward alongside Be•Brooklyn Equine.
Every contribution of time, funds or partnership helps horses and riders across Brooklyn.
Lend a hand at the stable or at community events. Tell us a little about yourself.
Volunteer →Support second-career horses and access to riding for people facing challenges.
Donate →Schools, therapy programs and community gardens: let's work together.
Partner →Lessons, trail rides and youth programs with Be•Brooklyn Equine.
Brooklyn Equine ↗Volunteer, donate, partner, or enroll a rider. Tell us how you'd like to help and we'll be in touch.
Helping Hoof, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 88-3328025), 691 Columbia Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.