BY SOFIA MONTAGNA
Have you ever wondered what it takes to run a horseback riding center right here in Queens? Lynne’s Riding Center brought this dream to life by creating a space where riders feel supported and seen, having a variety of programs to include riders of all ages, and marketing the center across multiple platforms.
Lynne’s Riding Center is a horseback riding school and training center located at 88-03 70th Rd, Forest Hills, NY. Established in 1960, the riding center was originally founded by Stanley Holzhauser, Lynne Holzhauser’s father. Lynne Holzhauser started running the business in 1982 and renamed it to “Lynne’s Riding Center.”
Lynne’s Riding Center offers beginner to advanced riding lessons for both children and adults. Their programs even include a “tiny tots” program, in which children ages 4-6 get the chance to work with an instructor to learn beginner phrases while on horseback and get a hands-on grooming experience with miniature horses.
Located in the heart of Forest Hills in Queens, Lynne’s Riding Center also has access to the trails in Forest Park. All together, there are five miles of riding area in the park, including two formal trails that riders can enjoy.
Lynne’s Riding Center is currently the only surviving riding center in Queens.
Cowboy Eddie and Amber have been essential to the riding center’s success.
If you ever wanted to know how to turn a passion for horses into a viable business, Lynne Holzhauser, the co-owner and operator of the equestrian center, explains, “Right now, the key to our success is Cowboy Eddie’s work at marketing and getting out there and letting people know we’re here. Nobody knew we were here. Now we’re getting school groups in, Girl Scouts, etc.” Cowboy Eddie, the co-owner and president of the riding center, explained that the riding center’s main marketing tools are Facebook, Instagram, and the equestrian center’s website.
Lynne also emphasized the importance of having different types of horses for different riders. For example, the riding center uses very quiet, gentle horses for beginner riders. Lynne explains, “As the riders get better, we might bring them up to another horse.” If a rider is advanced enough, the equestrian center might use one of its retired thoroughbreds for their lessons.
The riding center’s 16 horses (i.e., two ponies) come from all over: some horses come from the horse sale, some are donated, etc. According to Lynne, the center pays anywhere from $2,000-$6,000 per horse. She explained that how much they pay per horse is dictated by need: if they have a specific type of horse that they need and they find that horse, they’ll pay closer to $5K or $6K.
Ace of Spades, one of the horses at Lynne’s Riding Center, poses for the camera.
“The way we turn people into returning riders is by the way we make them feel. It’s about the level of care,” Office Manager and Riding Instructor Ambrosia (Amber) Vick said. “We make them feel welcome, like family. When they walk through the door, we make them feel like they’re in a whole other world.”
The riding center has also become a meaningful resource for children with autism, as the kids are calmer after their riding lessons. Lynne explained, “The parents find that it’s a different child when they go home.”
When asked about her riding lessons with kids with autism, Amber emphasized that each child is unique, so she does something different with each of them. Cowboy Eddie commented, “Amber is an expert on going to their level of understanding and lifting them up from there. We have children who speak to us that don’t speak to their parents. She knows how to make them come out of their comfort zone.”
The riding center has also become a meaningful resource for children with autism.
