Festivities begin when Ringmaster, Alan Keeley, “sounds the call”. Alan Keeley is ringmaster at many horse shows, including the Hampton Classic. Meet him and hear about the history of the coach guard.

Festivities and Demonstrations all day in the 81st Street Driveway

Thumbelina

• See Thumbelina - the World’s Smallest Horse!

  In 2006, Guinness World Records certified Thumbelina as the world’s smallest living horse. At 17½ inches tall, she is the smallest horse on record.





Walter Varcoe

• Farrier at work:

  Walter Varcoe will be shoeing NYC Parks Enforcement Patrol horses and explaining why proper foot-care is essential to a horse’s health. Touch a real horse skeleton and learn horse anatomy.





Liz Austin and Olivier, winners of the 2006-07 USEF/Collecting Gaits National Dressage Championship Brentina Cup.

Photo: Susan J. Stickle

• Equus and the Equestrian Sport Foundation - Grooming & Braiding: (EESF)

  Members of the Equus Equestrian Sport Foundation will be demonstrating horse grooming and braiding for dressage. Visit their booth for storytelling and equestrian “dress-up.”





Vintage Equine Ambulance

• ASPCA Vintage Equine Ambulance

  The ASPCA was started to care for NYC’s working horses. See a reproduction of the first ambulance designed for horses and learn about the history of horses in the City.





State-of-the-art Equine Ambulance

• HEART (Humane Equine Aid & Rapid Transport) State-of-the-Art Equine Ambulance:

  HEART provides state-of-the-art emergency transportation services for injured or ill horses. Meet their staff and go inside one of their ambulances for horses.





PEP Mounted Units

• Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) Mounted Units

  Volunteer riders go through extensive training to be part of the Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP). The unit’s presence helps ensure the park’s safety. Meet some of the riders and their horses.

For further information, call the Museum’s Department of Education at 212-769-5315 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays.

*Weather permitting - If the event is canceled due to rain, Thumbelina will be on view in the first floor, Linder Theater from noon - 4:00 p.m.

The Horse is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage; Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau-Ottawa; The Field Museum, Chicago; and San Diego Natural History Museum.

The Horse at the American Museum of Natural History is made possible, in part, by the Eileen P. Bernard Exhibition Fund.

Additional support has been provided by an anonymous donor and The Horse Opening Day Celebration is supported, in part, by Jacqueline Fowler.