SUNY Orange 75th Anniversary Carriage Rides

MIDDLETOWN – Clip-clop, clip-clop. The rhythmic percussion of horse hooves is an unfamiliar sound on the SUNY Orange campus in 2024. However, it was quite ordinary to those present when the College opened its doors and held classes in 1950. To the delight of students, staff and the college community, the College dipped back into its history on Wednesday, Dec., 4 and provided free horse and carriage rides around the Alumni Green of its Middletown campus as part of a year-long celebration of its 75th anniversary.

Behind the scenes, a planning committee dedicated to celebrating the college anniversary, supported by the Board of Activities and enthusiastic employees, arranged the event with Alanna Bodman and Fran Levy of Celtic Valley Carriage and Farm. Groups of up to six people rode in the open wagon-style carriage as the horse, Duncan, seemed to trot with joy and pride.

Participants enjoyed hot chocolate and a festive holiday cookie bedazzled in colored sugar. While passengers departed and loaded into the carriage, Duncan (which Bodman explained means brown-haired warrior) would relish a gentle head scratch or crunch on a few snack carrots offered in the palms of adoring and attentive admirers.

Among the first riders was Professor of Education Elizabeth Tarvin, alongside her father, retired English Professor Jim Tarvin, who taught at SUNY Orange for 40 years.

“I was here working with some of the original faculty when I started in 1969,” Tarvin said. “The carriage ride today was very nice.”

His daughter, co-chair of the Anniversary Committee, added, “This was so fun! It was a great kick-off to the holiday season and a wonderful way to celebrate our anniversary.”

Everyone received a bookmark explaining that in the early 1900s, the Carriage House, now known as Horton Hall, was home to horses and buggies. When SUNY Orange started classes three quarters of a century ago, some horses remained in the Carriage House.
Monroe-Woodbury High School graduate Jordan Subocz is in his third semester and a Computer Science major exploring transfer options. He also enjoyed the experience. “This was enjoyable and unique. I like the close-knit feeling and more personal connections here at SUNY Orange, especially with an involved college president, Dr. Kristine Young-you can feel her presence.”

A group of Occupational Therapy Assistant students rode together with glowing smiles that seemed to fill their faces. Adriana Fabrizio, a Wappinger Falls grad experiencing her first semester at SUNY Orange, said, “That was awesome. I had never done that before,” of the ride before continuing, “It is so inclusive here, and everyone is so nice.”

Erin Miller of Warwick agreed, “I had a blast. We shared moments we were grateful for (during the ride), and that was cool.”

“Overall, SUNY Orange provides many valuable outside resources to students that we can enjoy in addition to those we see with the many clubs. I attended a large university before coming here and enjoy the smaller class sizes with better access to my professors,” said Pine Bush graduate Laura Kahle.

At the end of the event, under a cool gray sky, Duncan had logged around 12 miles before trotting off toward home with his head held high in the wind. The students appreciated the break from preparing for finals and the opportunity to share in another well-regarded activity at their community’s College, SUNY Orange.