As an advisory group considers the future for the Somerset County Park Commission’s Lord Stirling Stable, which stopped offering riding lessons when the pandemic began, a survey was sent out to aid in developing a strategic plan for reopening the facility in Basking Ridge.
The mailing list included those who have utilized Somerset County park services, so feedback is coming not only from Somerset County residents, but also from those outside the area. The general public also had a chance to participate..
The Park Commission is interested in increasing activities at the park on the edge of the Great Swamp, where the stable is set on 450 acres that includes 14 miles of trails. Among a variety of questions, the survey asked what type of activities respondents participated in at Lord Stirling, from riding lessons, hunter paces and trail rides to dog walks, pony rides and special community events.
It also sought answers to what non-equestrian activities interest respondents, including snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, nature walks and bird watching. It solicited suggestions for other activities, as well asking respondents to rate what Lord Stirling previously offered, in terms of quality of riding instruction and choice of horses, as well as the park’s atmosphere. The committee also wanted to know what the primary reason for coming to Lord Stirling in the future would be for potential visitors, including horse activities, non-riding activities or new services.
“Lord Stirling Stable has been a crown jewel of the Somerset County Park Commission for more than 50 years, and we are committed to maximizing its benefits to our visitors while protecting its environmental sensitivity and diversity,” said Somerset County Park Commission President Mark Caliguire. “This survey and the input from the public will help us determine how to improve our current programs and expand permissible uses of the property for the residents of Somerset County and their guests.”
Although there was discussion at one time of reopening the stable to the public for lessons this year, there are only limited activities during 2021, including boarding more than two dozen private horses and organized dog walks.
Geoff Soriano, the commission’s executive director, noted the road to reopening involves a lengthy process. The advisory committee meets every two weeks, while its sub-groups get together more frequently to explore different aspects of the panel’s mission in depth. Research includes visit to other county stables around the state.
Once a business plan is developed and reviewed by the park commission, it goes to the county commissioners for approval. Additional funding may be needed to buy horses (the lesson horses were sold last year), and a stable manager will have to be hired. The process, Geoff advised, “could take some time.”
He noted, “The goal has been to get the stable back up into a programmatic mode by January 2022. What is the right time to really launch this new and exciting stable, this re-do? Should it be in the doldrums of winter or should we wait until in the spring? This is not something anybody has decided, yet it’s an idea that’s out there. Within those parameters, that’s kind of the goal.”
