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What to do

Imagine riding a horse through a corridor of towering reeds, past splashes of blossoms glowing purple and orange. A beach lies beyond, unpopulated save for a legion of fiddler crabs skittering sideways.

It sounds like a scene from a travel magazine, but this beach and this horse are well within reach. In the southeast corner of Brooklyn, the Jamaica Bay Riding Academy is home to about 70 horses on 450 acres and is open every day for 50-minute guided rides through the Gateway National Recreation Area.

Rides, which cost $65 per person in cash or $75 by card, are first come first served and accommodate two to six riders. When you arrive, you’ll be asked to give your name and skill level, sign a waiver and pick out a helmet for your ride. Other equipment you should don: long pants and closed-toed shoes (required), and sunscreen and bug spray (highly recommended).