De Koonings’ Animals
In the Summer of 1998, I was working at a fundraiser doing pony rides. I had been asked to donate pony rides because I had a pony ride business, but all of my pony ride ponies were working in Watermill at the Green Thumb. I showed up with my Clydesdale Bubba and my driving pony Charleston Chew.
Bubba was there as a companion for Charleston, just to keep him calm. Everyone was content to ride the pony and then it was Isabelle's turn. Lisa de Kooning stood there with her hands on Isabelle's shoulders and said “My daughter would like to ride the Clydesdale.“ I said no, and then looked at Isabelle with her big blue eyes (she was about seven at the time) and her little freckles and blonde hair and caved. “Ok, she can, let’s get her up there,” I said. There was no saddle on him; I rode him there bareback and led the pony as my horse trailer was in Watermill.
When the ride was over, everyone wanted to ride Bubba. I said “ok let's make one line for Charleston and another for Bubba;” the whole line moved over. Several Clydesdale rides later the woman who we were raising money for appeared and wanted a ride so I climbed aboard Bubba and had her husband put her on the back. We rode around to all her guests’ tables and spoke to people. We rode up behind the band and back down the knoll, having a grand old time.
Years later when Lisa would host the party for the residents of the Watermill Center she would ride Bubba from table to table with Robert Wilson sitting behind her, and I would spend the night giving the residents rides on Bubba. This became the tradition.
Getting back to 98, I walked into the Golden Pear one morning and Lisa was sitting there. I still had no idea who she was, I am oblivious like that. She asked me how I was doing and I decided to tell her. I was stressed because I had rescued two Clydesdales. Soon the frost would kill the pasture grass and feed bills would get heftier. Lisa asked what it would cost to feed a Clyde for six months and sponsored one for the Winter. In appreciation, I offered to train her miniature horse to drive. That turned into my caring for her exotics, from Parrots to Pigs. I trained both Miniature horses and drove each 3x a week. I was responsible for all aspects of their care. Lisa encouraged me to take the horses to parades and bought a truck and trailer. One developed a genetic eye disease and had to be taken to a specialist regularly so that justified the horse trailer. I would bring the horses and rabbits to the schools, and in Winter when there was snow everywhere else we would run on the beach.13 years of bliss, she is sorely missed.
