by Brad King

There is no reason to go any further than the Hollow Brook Riding Academy to feel like you are in the rugged freedom of the mighty west.

Nestled on 22 acres off Peekskill Hollow Road in Putnam Valley, the riding academy offers Western riding lessons, pony rides, horse training, trail rides all entwined with snippets of western history and philosophy provided by owners Eric and Lorraine Sundberg.

"My goal and my wifeís goal is to educate the public about horses and the west," Eric Sundberg said from the mount of his horse while giving lessons.

"I wanted a western atmosphere in Putnam. We are trying to teach the values of western riding and the culture," he added as students took stride on top of beautiful horses.

The Sundbergs opened their business six years ago and have approximately 200 students year round. Each year the business has grown, mostly by word-of-mouth.

Beginning last month, the Sundbergs started their annual summer camp program.

"This is better than kids sitting at home on-line, and better than kids going to the mall," Sundberg said.

However, this year they wanted to try something different and rented nine Black Angus cattle to enable students the opportunity to have hands on experience in wrangling and herding.

"We are just trying to do something different than kids riding around in circles," Sundberg explained.

"Horses are America. The west is America and that is what we are all about," he said. "We are getting the kids involved with horses and teaching them about horses, how they think and how to be safe. We are here for the kids."

Sundberg, originally from Yonkers, said he has more than 35 years experience with horses and said his love for the equines came from his father who was a native Texan.

The summer camp program, which runs until the end of August, is open to children five years old and up.

Last Wednesday, a handful of young girls, who were enthusiastically learning the ropes, bonding with horses and herding cattle, took a break to comment on the program.

"This is the only western cow farm in Putnam County and is the only place you can get real experience with cows and I love it," commented Franny Visintainer, 12, of Yorktown.

Fellow rider, Kate Grifo, 12, of Hastings-on-Hudson concurred.

"Itís really fun but you really have to click with the horse you are riding and sometimes it is hard," Grifo said of wrangling, adding she was happy to have herded two cattle on her second attempt.

Grifo explained her favorite horse to ride was a brown and white male named Sunny. The other girls nodded in agreement, one calling out, "Sunny is the best."

"I like Sunny because Sunny likes to bite their (cattle) butts and he gets them right out there for you," Grifo remarked with a laugh.

Mary Gansfuss, 10, of Cortlandt explained it was important to develop a relationship with a horse in order to effectively wrangle.

"The horses need to know you in order to trust you. You have to be comfortable around the horses in order for the horses to be comfortable around you because they know what you are thinking," Gansfuss said.

Gansfussís mother, Mary, gave an enthusiastic thumbs up to Sundberg while picking her daughter up and said, "This is the best place you can bring your kids, it truly is."

Sundberg added with a smile as the girls were leaving for the day, "The parents love what we are doing and they know it is safe and fun."

Out of the 200 yearly students, Sundberg said nearly 95 percent were girls.

"I am trying to get more boys riding but it really is a girl sport at this age," Sundberg said.

Most of the 18 horses on the ranch are approximately 10 years old and are known as quarter horses because that breed, that got its name from quarter-mile racing, is the best historically with children and beginners.

Horses have a life span of approximately 30 years and weigh roughly 1,000 pounds at maturity, Sundberg explained.

Safety is paramount at the academy and Sundberg said incidents, like the one involving the paralysis of Christopher Reeve, slowed horse riding and created fears in past years.

"That did kill the business for awhile but it is coming back and I am trying to do my part to keep it alive," Sundberg said of Reeveís unfortunate accident.

Sundberg said he personally rides every horse to determine how the horse will react to inexperienced riders and has sent certain horses back to pasture if they do not pass his test.

The academy is in the process of applying for a special permit to create a year-round indoor riding ring so students can continue with certain lessons despite inclement weather, Sundberg said, adding he hopes the permit is approved by this fall.

Hollow Brook Riding Academy is open seven days a week and Sundberg encourages those interested to visit the ranch and "Live that cowboy dream."

For further information, rates and scheduling, call 845-526-8357 or visit www.hollowbrookriding.com.