I wrote awhile back about pitching City Scoops and now the fruits of my labor are online for all to see. Check out my article (and photo) here.

As a bit of peek into editing, below is my original intro. Besides taking out my first two sentences (which I was quite proud of) City Scoops pretty much just moved things around. Hurray for maintaing the integrity of my work!

Horses are a lot like most of the other fauna regularly seen in New York City. They’re typically found near parks and are a common enough sight that no self-respecting New Yorker whips out a Blackberry to take a photo. Beyond the police patrols and the tourist bating buggies that have become associated with horses in New York, a rich history of riding thrives today. At least a half-dozen stables in the city rent horses for scenic trails rides, beach rides, lessons or even parties.

While the unaccustomed runner in Central Park might jaw drop at the sight of a horse and rider out for a stroll, horses have always been part of the cultural scene in New York. Almost 200,000 horses lived in Manhattan at the turn of the century and were used to pull newly-invented streetcars when New Yorkers complained about engine noise.

Interestingly, New York laws still allow for horses to share roadways with cars as long as they don’t block traffic or go on highways. Technically, you could commute to work by horse if, of course, you had somewhere to leave your steed during your workday.

This commute would have been feasible before the 2007 closing of Claremont Stables, the oldest continuously-operated stables in the country that was located in the Upper Westside. The closing of the stables upset many hardcore riders, who bemoaned the loss of a historic institution and structural proof of New York’s humbler beginnings. Even with this setback, plenty of options still remain for the determined or even recreational rider.

The following list is only a sampling of stables that are easily accessible from Manhattan; There are many more to be found in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island. Every stable contacted offered lessons as well as trail rides, and all have both English and Western riding available.

Hi Larry,
Madonna’s recent injury inspired me to look into horseback riding options in the city. There are actually quite a few of choices and I think a story breaking down the different places and stables to go would be a very timely summer piece. Also, I want to write about acai bowls, a Brazilian dish that are ubiquitous in California but are only now starting to show up in South American restaurants in the city. Here is a stub about it to give you an idea of the dish. It is also a very summery fare and would be relevant for a June issue. In terms of my writing experience, some of my published writing samples can be found here. I am also a working photographer and if there are any photos needed for stories, I would be more than willing to work on something like that as well. Let me know if you have any questions.

Short, sweet, succinct, and a Madonna mention. All necessary ingredients for a successful pitch, right? Yes, actually, apparently it is. Larry wrote back immediately. asking for a writing resume. Writing resume? Yeh, sure. I’ll get right on that. Consulting a fellow journalist and google, I string together a list in a general resume format of places I’ve written (this blog included) and send it on.
Not getting a response as quickly as the last and certain it’s due to my weak references, I despaired and followed up, baring my soul.

Larry,
I realize my writing resume is a bit on the slim side but I would like to campaign for the chance to write these articles. I have been working as a photographer but started my journalism career as a writer and am still very much capable of crafting fine pieces. If you are still unsure, I would be more than willing to send my pieces at an earlier deadline or any other safeguard you would need to abate any misgivings.

Sincerely,
Jackie Snow

That was five days ago, a lifetime in the publishing world. Today, however, I get a response saying he has accepted my horseback riding pitch! Hurray! This just reaffirms my belief in following up relentlessly and using interesting ideas to get you in the door. And, of course, name dropping Madonna.