THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 26, 1994 TAG: 9410250302
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KRYS STEFANSKY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
Once the smell of jet fuel passes, the odor from a more down-to-earth mode of transportation often fills the air around the eastern side of Oceana Naval Air Station.
Way below the swoops and thrusts of fighter planes, life goes on at a more leisurely trot inside the fences of the Oceana Stables. Located outside the base's main gate, the stable was founded in 1965 to board horses and offer trail rides and riding lessons to military personnel, dependents, retirees and their guests.
It is the largest military equestrian facility in the area and offers boarding and riding lessons at rates lower than at civilian stables.
Right now, the stable keeps about 130 horses, 45 of them military property, on 350 acres of pasture land beside the Navy base.
They do it on a tight budget.
``This is a nonappropriated fund activity and I get no government support. People think their tax dollars go to this activity, and that's not true. We raise our own money through our rentals, our lessons and our boarding,'' said Donna Pillow, stable manager. ``And sometimes I barely break even.''
It's not likely to get any easier.
The news earlier this month that Virginia Beach would not get a horse-racing track disappointed Pillow as well as many other owners and managers of privately held stables.
``If we had a race track, maybe people would bring in more horses. They tend to be expensive in this area. And ponies are worth their weight in gold.
``People have gone into the party pony business and they're very hard to find,'' Pillow said.
She would know. Shetland ponies are big business at Oceana, too. They rent for $2.50 for half-hour rides, making them an inexpensive treat popular with parents. Pony rides are also in demand at squadron and ship parties.
The stables offers guided trail rides; pasture, stall or full boarding for privately owned horses; and an open riding program for experienced adult riders.
``We have miles of riding trails, really nice rides that people seem to enjoy,'' Pillow said. ``Pleasure riding, trail riding has gotten very popular and there aren't many trails available in the area.''
Oceana also has an indoor riding ring.
The most popular service the stable provides is group English and western riding lessons. The stable doesn't offer private lessons.
``Our waiting list is 18 months long and we still have too many people who are interested and not enough horses or hours in the day to teach them,'' Pillow said. Lessons are held Monday through Friday evenings and on Saturday mornings.
The cost is $10 an hour, about half the rate at a civilian riding center.
This time of year, two Belgian draft horses weighing about a ton each - Pete and George - get a workout pulling wagons full of funseekers. The stable offers hayrides and, during Halloween season, has haunted hayrides at night.
Pillow also runs a retail store for tack. She carries no feed or saddles but has anything from shampoos to halters, bridles, saddle pads or blankets. Customers can order other items.
The Oceana stables is the only military facility in the area that offers riding trails and lessons to any military personnel, horse owners or not. Two other military installations have equestrian facilities, but they are not open to all military.
The Langley Saddle Club at Langley Air Force Base boards military members' horses on a 33-acre facility with one riding trail. Only members and associate members may take riding lessons. The Fort Eustis Riding Stables boards 32 horses privately owned by military personnel or retirees. The stable and riding trails can only be used by the stables' clients.
But even with a corner on the area's military market, 20 more stalls planned for 1995 and a waiting list 1 1/2 years long, Pillow frets over her account books.
``There aren't very many military stables anymore,'' she said. ``The pinch has hit. It's very hard to make a profit. Horses eat whether they're being used or not. It's hard to break even. It really is.'' MEMO: TO RIDE
Oceana: Military personnel, retirees and their civilian guests may
use the Oceana Stables. The facility is on Oceana Boulevard just outside
Oceana's main gate. Call 433-3266.
Langley: The Langley Saddle Club is at Langley Air Force Base in
Hampton. Call 766-9847.
Fort Eutsis: Fort Eustis Riding Stables in Newport News can be
reached at 878-2835.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by CHARLIE MEADS, Staff
A group at Ocean Stables heads out for a trail ride. The stable
keeps about 130 horses, 45 of them military property, on 350 acres
of pasture land beside Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach.
by CNB