By Judy Lehrer Jacobs / Friends of the Blue Hills
When Diana McNamara moved to the Boston area she thought she would have to bury her childhood passion for horses. As practical newlyweds, she and her husband bought a house in Dedham for the easy commute. On Diana’s daily drive to her job as a graphic designer she saw much more than the suburban sprawl that she expected. Acres of forest, fields and horses surprised and enticed her. One day on a whim, she pulled up randomly at one of the stables.
Ever since the day when she found herself at Hillside Stable in Milton, she has been riding the Blue Hills trails at least several times a week. Diana confesses, she never dreamed there could be “so much public land for horseback riding so close to Boston.” The “extensive trail networks” that she explores all year long “just don’t exist anymore. It’s pretty rare.” While she quickly tires of the monotony of riding around a ring, on the Blue Hills trails, “you can ride for hours and hours and never get bored” of seeing the views, forest and its wildlife that change with the weather and seasons.”
Diana values the changing colors of the trees and her encounters with salamanders and hawks, but she also finds reward in the people. “I meet such nice people on the trails. So many children love to come up and pet my horse. I try to encourage them to seek out riding opportunities because it’s such a fun past time.”
For Diana, the Blue Hills trails lead to glimpses of wildlife, views of Boston and opportunities to meet all of us! If you want to try getting on the saddle yourself, check out one of the many stables around the Reservation. For example, Canton Equestrian (cantonequestrian.com) offers lessons for beginning riders as well as experienced equestrians. Still other stables like Harmony Hill Farm in Randolph (adamsharmonyhillfarm.com) offers opportunities for trail rides in the Blue Hills.
Whether you’re interested in a one-time day trip with your family or a year-round activity, the stables in and around the Blue Hills are worth exploring!
You can learn more about the Friends of the Bue Hills on their web site.