February-March 2023

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Section One Thomas Hitchcock on Morning Mist in the Hitchcock Woods, 1928. Thomas and Louise Hitchcock were the guiding spirits of the Aiken Horse Show first held in 1916. The Aiken Horse Show is on March 31-April 2. Read more on page 10. Photography by Freudy.

Section Two Kylie Cahoon on Drumcave Frank competing in Training Level at Stable View Season Opener, January. Photography by Gary Knoll.

Section Three

Boyd Martin aboard Luke 140 competing in Second Level Test 2 at Dressage in the Park in January. Bruce’s Field. Photography by Gary Knoll.

February in Aiken is always an exciting time. First there is the weather. The daffodils are already blooming, the trees downtown have budded out, and on a sunny day, it feels like spring. But we still could have a cold snap and there is always the chance of ice and even snow – though we have not had that in years. February weather keeps us guessing, and it keeps our horses on their toes, too. One day they’re hunkered down in their blankets, and the next they’re out playing in full-on spring fever mode, bucking, rearing . . . and, of course, shedding. But even on a wet, gloomy day, there is a certain electricity in the air: It’s light until 6 o’clock and spring is definitely on the way.

February and March are the most active times of the year in the Aiken horse world, and that means it’s our busiest time too. We are looking forward to all the winter/spring marquee events: Grand Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field, harness racing at McGhees mile and the three weekends of the Aiken Triple Crown (The Aiken Trials at the Aiken Training Track, the Aiken Steeplechase at its new facility, and Pacers and Polo on Powderhouse Field.) The Aiken Triple Crown brings us to the end of March when we mark the unofficial beginning of spring with the Aiken Horse Show in the Woods, an annual tradition since 1916. In addition to all of these spectatorfriendly events, there are also horse trials, horse shows, clinics, foxhunts and more. This is the time of year when there is a horse event almost every day of the week.

Our February issue is generally the largest of the year, and this one is no exception. In our first section you will find a stories about famous Aiken horses, such as Adam Snow’s Hale Bopp, a polo pony that is being inducted into the Polo Museum and Hall of Fame this February. We also visit with Shamwari, a former world class event horse now in retirement in Aiken – he is the subject of our regular Secret Lives of Horses column which features horses over the age of 20. We also have more information about the Aiken Horse Show in the Woods – it’s a great place to visit, and actually riding in the show seems like a good “bucket list” goal.

In Section Two, you can read about Joannah Glass, a talented lifelong horsewoman who is responsible for bringing the very first horse trials to Aiken. Joannah, who owns Sporting Days Farm, was recently honored at Stable View, where a new arena was dedicated to her this January. You will also meet Kylie Cahoon, a young eventing professional recently returned from Ireland, and find a brief overview of the spring eventing season in Aiken and beyond. Finally, we have our Breeders’ Showcase, with information about stallions at stud as well as local producers of young horses.

Our third section has a number of interesting articles: about the restoration of the historic Whitney barns; about the professional horseman Richard Lamb; and Ask the Judge with Amy McElroy, a piece that answers a reader’s question about changes in the new Training and First Level dressage tests. And of course, we have pictures of places we have been this winter, our equestrian calendar and much more.

We hope you enjoy this issue. As ever, if you know something we should know, drop us an email. We want to be your horse newspaper.

Pam Gleason Editor & Publisher

Welcome to the Woods Celebrate Spring at the Aiken Horse Show

By Pam Gleason

The Aiken Horse Show in the Woods is one of Aiken’s longest running equestrian institutions. It was started by members of the Aiken Winter Colony in 1916 as a grand finale to the Aiken winter season and instantly became a revered tradition. Today, the Aiken Horse Show is an eagerly anticipated annual event, both for those who compete and for spectators, who enjoy lunching in the Hitchcock Tent ringside while watching their friends. The show is also the most important benefit of the year for the Hitchcock Woods Foundation which owns and manages the forest. This year’s show will be from Friday, March 31 though Sunday, April 2.

on to explain that, with the war, Europe was “cut off” and that “The inevitable result” was that “Aiken, along with other Southern resorts will be the Mecca of tourists seeking warm climate.”

The first Aiken Horse Show was created both to give members of the Winter Colony the opportunity to show off their horses, and as a fundraiser for the Aiken Hospital, which was finally constructed in 1917. The first show was a triumph, with a large attendance, according to the Journal and Constitution. “By the success of Saturday’s show it is practically assured that this will become an annual institution.”

The Aiken Horse Show is unique for its classes and for its setting. It is an old-fashioned show that takes place about a mile into the Hitchcock Woods in a clearing that has been seeded with rye grass that is already emerald green. The fences are natural and decorated with flowers. Classes are tailored to working foxhunters, to children and to families. The show is part equestrian event and part social gathering. It is the one time during the year when cars are allowed into the woods, and people drive in by the hundreds to watch the show, bid on items in the silent auction, or have a gourmet lunch.

Exhibitors, however, can’t trailer in – there is not enough room among the pines for all the trailers. Instead, they have to park outside and ride to the showgrounds. Most use the lot adjacent to The Stable on the Woods on Dibble Road, making for a fairly long hack down Cathedral Aisle, so that by the time they arrive at the ring they have had plenty of time to appreciate the unique beauty of the forest.

Horse Show History

It was the spring of 1916, and the world was in turmoil. Although the U.S. was still neutral, World War I had been consuming Europe for over a year. Woodrow Wilson was President and women did not yet have the right to vote. The Anti-Saloon League was campaigning for Prohibition, and if you wanted to get an urgent message to a friend, you paid to send a telegram. In so many ways, it was a different universe.

Aiken, meanwhile, was having its “best season yet” according to an article in the Journal and Constitution, which was Aiken’s newspaper of record. “The hotels here have this winter had almost crowded conditions so great has been the tourist influx,” said the article, going

And so it did, over the years growing from a one-day event with 17 classes to a multi-day affair, with the final class taking place at dusk or even after. There were competitions for hunters, speed rounds against the clock, classes for children and divisions for polo ponies. In fact, there were so many polo ponies that they had to be moved to their own dedicated polo pony show in 1931. The early days of the Aiken Horse Show were dominated by the Hitchcock family, who owned the woods where it took place. Louise Hitchcock, a main founder of the Aiken Winter Colony, often took the top prize on one of her trademark chestnut Thoroughbreds, such as Morning Mist, Ketoh, or Outsider. When she was not riding, she was often there to give out awards, especially to the children. She attended every year as an exhibitor or as an official until 1934. Just three months before the show that year, she had been gravely injured in a fall while taking out the children’s drag hunt. She died a few days after the show’s conclusion.

Throughout the 1930s and into the 1940s, the horse show was a major event on Aiken’s calendar. “Critics say that there were more beautiful horses exhibited than at any show in the South,” read an article in the Journal and Review on March 28, 1928. “A tourist stated that it was as good, if not better than the horse show held at Madison Square Garden in New York. The attendance is estimated at about 2,000 . . . It is estimated that there were about 800 horses shown in various classes during the two days.”

The show was a social event as much as a sporting one and was notable for the “picnics” laid out on long wooden tables around the ring. Traditionally, members of the Winter Colony would by space at a table and then their servants would come down to serve them elaborate meals. As Harry Worcester Smith wrote in his book Life and Sport in Aiken:“It was an interesting sight to see the butlers from their mansions and cottages motor down with their luncheons and oversee their men lay the tables. By 12 o’clock, all were ‘set fair’ with decorations of flowers, silver and glass.”

Then, in 1942, just after the U.S. entered World War II, the show went back to being one-day event, with 16 classes, mostly for women and children. As the war progressed, it dwindled even further. But the show went on, providing a sporting opportunity for those of Aiken’s horsemen who were not consumed by the war effort, while raising money for the Louise Eustis Hitchcock Memorial Clinic, which provided free care to indigent tuberculosis sufferers.

Over the next decades, the show had its ups and downs and was even threatened with extinction during the 1980s because of flooding in the ring and a lack of participation. It got back on solid ground in the 1990s when it became a fundraiser for the Hitchcock Woods Foundation, expanding to two days again in 1999, and then to three days in 2001. Today, the Aiken Horse Show in the Woods is going strong. Spread over three days, it includes classes for hunters, qualified foxhunters and junior riders. The traditional children’s and family classes, held on Saturday, are always a highlight of the show. It would be a mistake to miss the costume class: where else will you see a pony wearing an airplane costume or dressed up like a bee? Other unique divisions include sidesaddle and gentlemen’s and ladies hack divisions for those who want to show, but are not interested in jumping. There is a pairs class, a hunt team class and a class for students in therapeutic riding programs.

The show always takes great pride in the quality of its officials. This year the judge is Ms. Susan Horn, a USEF “R” hunter and equitation judge from Bluffton, S.C.

Important Details

The 107th annual Aiken Horse Show in the Woods runs from March 31-April 2, 2023. The competition starts with the $750 Aiken Hounds Welcome Stakes at 8:30 am Friday morning. There are eight classes on Friday’s schedule, including the adult amateur and open hunter divisions, as well as the $1,000 Aiken Horse Show Open Hunter Stakes. The day concludes with the Aiken Saddlery Grand Championship presentation.

Saturday offers children’s and junior divisions, along with the pleasure, future hunter and foxhunter hilltopper divisions. This day also includes

the Under Saddle Challenge, the family class, and such crowd-pleasing events as the costume class and leadline classes. Once again, showing starts at 8:30. The leadline, family and costume classes begin at noon, making for ideal viewing during lunch. With 25 classes on the schedule, this is likely to be a fairly long day.

Sunday is foxhunter day, devoted to horse and rider combinations that have hunted together regularly during the past season. The foxhunter championship is probably the most hotly contested of the show since the winner has the honor of appearing on the cover of the next year’s annual souvenir program. The most prestigious class of the day is the $1,500 Security Federal Bank Foxhunter Stakes on Sunday afternoon. There are also undersaddle classes and the $250 Silver Fox Challenge for mature riders – this has a special award for “best vintage attire.” Another highlight on Sunday is the sidesaddle division, complete with an under saddle, hack and jumping class.

You may enter the show online using horseshowsonline.com. The official class list will be distributed in February.

If you would like to come to watch the Aiken Horse Show, general admission is free for walk-ins, and this year there will be additional bleacher seating around the ring. If you want to drive into the woods and park nearby, there is a parking charge collected at the gate. If you would like to support the show in a bigger way, you can reserve railside parking (this is quite limited), or buy any number of different sponsorship packages that will get you admission to the ringside tent, lunch each day, and admission to the sponsors cocktail party that takes place on Thursday night.

For more information, to reserve lunch, become a sponsor, or donate to the silent auction, visit the website www.aikenhorseshow.org, or call 803-642-0528.

Mrs. Hitchcock on her champion hunter Morning Mist

News & Notes

By Pam Gleason

Aiken Training Track

There have been some changes this winter at the Aiken Training Track in the historic horse district. Not only are there several new trainers stabled there, but the track is also making accommodations for steeplechase horses. According to Bill Gutfarb who is the Aiken Training Track president, a steeplechase training course is being constructed in the infield of the regular track that will eventually incorporate four training fences.

If you build it, they will come. Actually, they might come before you build it: one of the new trainers at the track this winter is Neil Morris, a steeplechase and flat trainer who brought his 28 charges down from Middleburg, Virginia to take advantage of the mild Aiken weather. Morris, who was born and raised in England, is a multi-graded stakes winning trainer. He is also a former eventing rider who once worked for the Olympic gold medalist Torrance Watkins. (Watkins, incidentally, also used to spend her winters in Aiken.)

Bill Gutfarb said that all of the stalls at the track are full, with many new trainers and stables arriving this winter. The track is also making additional efforts to familiarize the public with the training center and to ensure that the equestrian community recognizes and appreciates the track’s history and its continuing importance to Aiken’s horse world. These efforts have included four “Breeze Days,” in which the public is invited to come out in the morning to watch the horses train. The events start at 7:30 am and include free coffee – the first Breeze Day in January attracted a crowd of about 150 spectators. (If you would like to see what it is all about, there is one Breeze Day left on February 22.) The track will also once again host Breakfast at the Gallops, a more formal

introduction to morning works, on March 17. This year the invited speaker at the event is Acacia Courtney. Courtney is an analyst and reporter for the New York Racing Association and the host of the television show America’s Day at the Races as well as a paddock reporter for Saratoga Live, both on FOX Sports.

Another special event is the very popular “Ride the Rail” on February 25. Between noon and 3 p.m. Aiken’s horsemen are invited to bring their own horses to the track, to walk, trot, canter or gallop over the surface. Ride the Rail is a fundraiser for the Aiken Training Track and costs $50 per trip. It’s an amazing opportunity to try out the surface, which is soft and springy and makes horses feel young and spry – though if you are riding a former racehorse, best be prepared for some equine flashbacks!

(Contact attridetherail@gmail.com )

All of this leads up to the most important public day at the track: the Aiken Trials, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. The Aiken Trials, held on March 18, is the city’s day of racing for the young horses that have trained at the track over the winter months. It can be viewed as a sort of graduation for them as they make their unofficial racing debuts in front of an appreciative crowd. The majority will leave the track shortly after the Trials, shipping out to racetracks up and down the East Coast to make their first recorded starts.

Horses that trained at the Aiken Training Track have gone on to win some of the top races in the country, including all three Triple Crown races, Breeder’s Cup races and more. In recent years, entries have been down, although the day’s events have been supplemented by a full card of pony races featuring child jockeys. There have also been special races, such as a foxhunter race, a polo pony race, and, last year, a sidesaddle race.

Although it is too early to predict what might happen at this year’s Trials, organizers are hoping for a full card. With so many horses in training, this is definitely a good possibility. Another reason to hope for many entrants is that the Elloree Training Center in Orangeburg County S.C., which normally holds its own spring trials, will not have any racing this year. The Elloree Trials, first held in 1962, is a highly popular event for trainers and for spectators and it is possible that horses that might have raced in Elloree will come to Aiken instead. In any case, the pony races are definitely coming back.

For more information, visit aikentrainingtrack.com

Equine Series at Aiken Senior Life

Back in April 2020, Aiken Senior Life Services purchased the building on Pine Log Road that once housed the Boots, Bridles and Britches tack store. Aiken Senior Life Services is a 501c3 charitable institution that was established in 1971 to “provide essential services for Aiken County seniors, allowing them to gracefully age in place.” ASLS, which renovated the former tack store and moved into it last year, fulfills a variety of functions. It has free or lowcost transportation for seniors 60+ (or anyone with a disability) both inside and outside the City of Aiken. It operates meal delivery and group dining services in Aiken, North Augusta, Gloverville, Jackson and Wagener. In the fall of 2022, it launched its new enrichment program. This includes exercise classes, health and well-being talks, workshops, entertainment and Monday night bingo games.

As part of this enrichment program, ASLS is kicking off a new series of equinerelated talks this February with the goal of providing information on Aiken’s equestrian activities, from the Aiken Triple Crown to the Aiken Horse Show in the Woods, Grand Continued on page 26

Photography by Gary Knoll

Secret Lives Of Horses Shamwari’s Next Chapter

By Nancy Johnson

At 21, Shamwari 4 has the appearance of a much younger horse. Even with as much dirt as he can possibly cake onto his face, the dark brown gelding projects a certain air as he observes us approaching his private paddock. Then he comes up with an overstep that would make any Grand Prix dressage horse jealous.

Known to his friends as “Shammy” the horse’s full name is from the African Shona language, a word which translates into English as “my friend.” Shammy is an imported German Sport Horse who was started by the legendary German eventer Peter Thomsen. Another elite eventing rider, Ludwig Svennerstal, then purchased him and the pair went on to represent Sweden at numerous FEI events, including the 2012 London Olympics, at which the Swedish team finished fourth. To American eventing enthusiasts, however, Shamwari is best known for his performances under the American Olympian (and Aiken winter resident) Boyd Martin.

Boyd Martin explains how the stars lined up for Shammy to come into his life.

“After the London Olympics I was kind of short of an experienced, really competitive horse for the upcoming World Championships,” he says. Through some connections he heard that Shamwari was for sale. “Ludwig had ridden him at the Olympics, and it was obvious that he was a top-quality horse, but I was a bit nervous because in London he had a bit of an injury to his right front leg.”

Boyd and his veterinarian flew to Sweden to examine the horse. “We about went over him from head to toe with a magnifying glass before making the final decision to buy him,” Boyd says with a laugh. “Ironically, through the remainder of his career, the only leg that we never had any trouble with was his right front leg!”

Fourteen owners banded together, forming the Shamwari Syndicate to purchase the horse with the goal of Boyd representing the United States with him at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France in 2014. In January of that year, Shammy arrived just in time for Boyd’s winter retreat to Aiken and the pair got used to one another at the Advanced level at events such as Pine Top in Thomson, Georgia and the Carolina International at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, North Carolina. “All was going great until I snapped my leg in half in March,” Boyd recalls with a grimace, remembering his accident. Boyd’s friend and mentor, Phillip Dutton, then stepped in to continue Shammy’s training, competing him successfully a few times while Boyd was recovering.

Boyd was back in the saddle in time to compete in the very challenging Luhmühlen CCI4* in Germany a few months later. “He was absolutely fantastic!” Boyd remembers. They finished third with many of the syndicate members cheering them on. Their performance in Luhmühlen sealed Boyd and Shammy’s selection to the U.S. team for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in the fall of 2014.

“He was brilliant at the WEG. It was the hardest course I’ve ever seen, plus it was an absolute monsoon – it rained for about a week prior,” Boyd says. As the last horse to go cross country for the U.S. team, Shammy went clear. But the brutal conditions at WEG took their toll, leaving Shammy with a slight injury.

After some time recovering, Boyd and Shammy competed successfully in the United States. In 2016, the pair contested Rolex, ending up twelfth due to some costly rails in stadium.

Shammy and Boyd headed back to tackle the Luhmühlen CCI4* in 2018. After dressage and cross country, they were in the lead and a huge win was within reach. Although he had gone clear on cross country, Shammy suffered a hock tendon injury on course. “We decided to withdraw him before stadium. It was just heartbreaking for me as well as all his owners.”

They returned home to Windurra, the farm in Cochranville, Pennsylvania owned by Boyd and his wife Silva Martin. Then there was a retirement party for Shamwari. “We set up a round pen so he could be right by the house, and everyone could have a beer with Shammy,” Boyd says. “He was always a lovely horse to be around, very laid back. Just a real professional horse. And he always had a look about him; he would strut around and pause for people to admire him.

“The syndicate members were all in agreement that Shammy should retire. They had had a wonderful ride with him on the journey and knew it was time for him to call it quits. We all liked the horse so much and he tried so hard for us; it was just the correct thing to do,” he says.

As members of the Shamwari Syndicate, George and Gretchen Wintersteen were always huge fans of Shammy’s and attended almost all of his competitions. When Boyd mentioned that he was looking for a place for Shammy to live out his retirement, they quickly offered to take him.

“I couldn’t want anything better for him than to live the life of luxury with Gretchen and George. They were very gracious to offer him a home at their beautiful farm in Aiken – it’s an absolute palace and he will live like a king for the rest of his life.”

“We love having him here. Shammy is just the most polite horse,” Gretchen says. “A lot of really great horses are quirky, but not him. He stands in the crossties, is easy to clip, and just has perfect manners.” He prefers to be turned out alone and loves just hanging out in the paddock. But Gretchen smiles as she notes that he hates to get wet and pouts if made to come out of his shed when it is raining.

Gretchen started riding Shammy a couple of years ago when it seemed his hock injury would not be an issue for light work. “It looks quite gnarly, but it doesn’t seem to bother him,” she explains. “I consider him retired, but Shammy still likes to have a little something to do.”

Last winter Shammy even made his hunting debut with Aiken Hounds. “We hunted in the back the first time out of caution as I was pretty sure he had never seen hounds,” Gretchen says laughing. “But he was perfect, and I look forward to taking him out again.” Gretchen occasionally takes Shammy for hacks around the horse district, too. “He especially loves hacking in Hitchcock Woods,” she notes.

Gretchen is even toying with the idea of doing some dressage with Shammy in the future – throughout his career he always scored very well in dressage. She remembers watching his test at Great Meadow (Virginia). “I wish I had a video of him – it was like he didn’t touch the ground!”

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Hale Bopp

Adam Snow’s Lightning in a Bottle

By Sarah Eakin

Finding “lightning in a bottle” is a racehorse breeder’s dream, but, rather than as a racehorse, Hale Bopp, a diminutive black Thoroughbred mare, blazed her trail across the polo field. Her achievements over an 11-year career with the former 10-goal player Adam Snow distinguished her from her peers, and this winter she will be honored at the 2023 induction dinner at the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in Wellington, Florida.

Under her racing name, Dances With Flames, Hale Bopp went to the track just once, as a 2-year-old at the Detroit Race Track, where she finished fifth in a maiden claimer, taking home her career earnings of $36. Then Roger Redman bought her as a polo prospect. He trained her using cattle penning as part of her introduction to the sport. When she was ready to move on, Redman, who was based in Sarasota in the winters, was told that Adam Snow would be a player worth approaching.

“I got a phone call from Roger Redman,” Adam recalled. “He said he was driving over from Sarasota with a trailer load of six horses to show. Someone had given him my name as a good person to contact and he said, would you like to see my horses? Of course I said yes.”

At first sight, Snow, was concerned that the 15-hand mare was too small. The 26-goal was about to start in Wellington. Snow had been playing for Steve Van Andel’s Orchard Hill and Redman brought his horses to the practice field at the team base. Snow played and rode the other horses before Redman mentioned the little black mare saying “I think she’s too small for you.”

But Snow rode her and loved the way she felt under him – she was broad and rode much bigger than first impressions suggested. He asked if he could play her the next day in a 26-goal practice at the Coca Cola team’s base, Everglades.

Once on the field, any second thoughts he might have had were quickly dispelled when his Coca Cola 26-goal teammate, Roberto Gonzalez, gave his endorsement. “He said: ‘If you don’t buy that mare, I will,” Snow said. “She felt that good, too! But it’s always nice to hear some outside confirmation.”

The purchase was secured over lunch that day, and having passed the vet, Be Bopp – the name Redman had given her – became Hale Bopp, named for the comet called Hale-Bopp that was visible in the night sky throughout 1997. Mike Morton, a player from Wyoming who often found horses for Snow, visited Snow’s barn the next day. “He said: ‘I hate to be the one to tell you this, but this mare’s too small for you,’” Adam said. “I love to tell that story back to Mike now.”

Hale Bopp made rapid progress that winter.

“I took her to my next game – our first game in the U.S. Open – versus Outback,” Snow said. “The idea was to warm up on her and maybe I’d get on her for a minute in the first half. So I warm up on her, play her for 45 seconds in the second or third chukker, and I scored two goals on her. We’re playing against Adolfo [Cambiaso] and we were beating them pretty well, until Adolfo gets mad, takes over the game and it’s tied in the sixth chukker half way through. So I get back on her and end up playing her for the whole second half of the sixth, and we win the game by two.

“I’ve never had a mare that I had brought that quickly into tournament polo and been so successful.” It was 1998, and the horse had never played higher than 8-goal polo before joining Adam’s string. “Within a week she was looking like a champion in 26-goal polo,” said Snow. “And she was just 6 years old.”

When Snow learned that Hale Bopp was being recognized by the Polo Hall of Fame this year as a “Horse to Remember, post-Hartman Award Era,” he looked for and found the tape of that first 26-goal game.

“I didn’t teach her anything,” he said after watching it. “She had it from the moment I bought her from Roger. Maybe Roger taught her this stuff . . . She was quicker to turn than any other horse and quicker to slow down from speed.”

Hale Bopp played in Snow’s string for 11 years and has a long list of Best Playing Pony accolades to her name. “This was a horse so good, she probably single-handedly changed my career,” said Snow, adding that she never felt small to him because her body was wide and her personality was large. “She had an attitude. She would pin her ears. She was bossy and very confident and she didn’t care what size the other horse was. You were on this little fireball that if you think something, you’re doing it.”

Hale Bopp became a well-known presence on the field where she was given the sobriquet ‘La Negra.’ Snow said he asked his groom to not warm her up, so that the other team would not know she was about to come on the field. The umpires, too, initially blew the whistle on her until they learned her capability. “You’re quicker than everybody else,” Snow said. “You can come into any line at any angle, but she was doing it safely without crossing that line. The umpires realized it: that’s that mare – she can make the play.”

Hale Bopp lived on in retirement for 11 years at Snow’s New Haven Farm in Aiken, and passed away at the age of 29. She is buried on the farm, the spot commemorated by the planting of a tree. She bore four foals, the youngest of which, Lolly Bopp, is part of Snow’s string today. Her legend continues.

Prix Eventing, polo and more. The talks will take place at 2 and 4 p.m. on the Monday or Tuesday before the event being highlighted. The talks will be illustrated with pictures and video and followed by a question-and-answer session.

The series begins with a talk by Billy Benton on February 13 entitled “Why is Aiken an Equestrian Mecca?” This will be followed by a talk about foxhunting given by Julia Weir Lula (February 21), and one about Grand Prix Eventing by Kate Boggan from the Aiken Horse Park (February 27.) March will feature harness racing, the history of the Aiken Triple Crown, the Aiken Trials, the Aiken Steeplechase, polo, and the Aiken Horse Show in the Woods. All of these talks will be held in the former Boots, Bridles and Britches building. Tickets and transportation to some of Aiken’s premier equine events will also be available through Aiken Senior Life Services.

Individual talks cost $7.50 apiece, and you can buy a ticket to the entire series for $30. Although the series is designed for mature adults, it is open to anyone in the community: You don’t have to be a “certain age” to join in.

To register, find out more information, or stay updated, visit ASLS on Facebook (@ aikenseniorlife) or aikenseniorlife.org.

Great Oak Brunch, April 16

Great Oak Equine Assisted Programs will host its second annual brunch on April 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This is being called “A Toast to Great Oak” and will celebrate the growth of the program while supporting its future success.

According to a press release from the organization, “We will be serving a sumptuous brunch with performances by students of the Great Oak program. A fun live auction will offer up the opportunity to bid on an array of exciting lots that will be offered for purchase as donations to support the Great Oak programs, students, and

horses.

“For the past five years Great Oak has provided equine-assisted activities that promote the physical, emotional, and psychological health of individuals with disabilities. Our programs change lives and foster unbridled personal growth, independence, and confidence for our students. We share our knowledge to empower those with disabilities through learning, knowledge, and engagement for lifelong impact.”

Further details about table sponsorship and individual ticket information will be posted on the website shortly. For more information please contact: info@greatoakeap.org or visit www.greatoakeap.org

New Extension Agent

After several years without an Aiken County extension agent for livestock and forages, the Clemson extension service welcomed Sallie Thompson to the job this year. Sallie Thompson is a recent graduate of Clemson University where she studied agribusiness and she is originally from Hendersonville, North Carolina. “I love spending time with my friends and family, my dog Mac and riding my rope horse Blondie,” she wrote on her bio page. “While at Clemson I was fortunate enough to have student employee positions at their beef farm and horse farm . . . . I am extremely excited to start my new career here!”

Anyone who has a horse farm should take advantage of services provided by the local extension office. Extension agents can give advice on pasture management, weed and pest control and help diagnose problems with plants or soil conditions. The Clemson Extension office also offers online and inperson courses and lectures to bring horse owners up to date on the latest in agricultural science. Have you expanded your farm to include chickens, goats, sheep or cows? You can learn more about them, too.

Check out Clemson Extension Livestock

and Forages on Facebook to register for informational events and to get on the mailing list for horse owners. The Aiken County extension office is located at 1555 Richland Avenue East (drive around the back of the building and access the office from the parking lot.) It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To contact Sallie, call 803-508-7737 or email sallie2@ clemson.edu.

Bradford Pear Bounty

Do you have Bradford pear trees on your property? Those are among the earliest flowering trees in Aiken County, breaking out in snowy white flowers as early as February. If you don’t know much about them, they may seem pretty. But they are actually a destructive invasive species imported into this country in 1909. They were originally sterile, but in the 2000s began to cross pollinate with other species of pear tree and now bear fruit and spread prodigiously. They crowd out native plants and create “food deserts” for native insects that are not adapted to eat them. This in turn leaves less for the birds to eat and feed their nestlings, and the effects reverberate on up the food chain.

Bradford pear trees have been outlawed in South Carolina and will no longer be sold in nurseries as of 2024. There is also an annual Bradford Pear bounty program, in which home owners are encouraged to chop down their Bradford Pears and exchange them, free of charge, for a beneficial native tree.

The Bradford Pear bounty program is coming to Aiken for the first time this year. The event will take place on February 25 at Cold Creek Nursery (398 Hitchcock Pkwy, Aiken, SC, 29801.) Landowners may exchange up to five Bradford Pears and must register for the event in advance – you don’t have to bring in the tree itself: a picture of it will suffice. For more information, see Bradford Pear Bounty Aiken on Facebook.

Never Forgotten

The equestrian world lost two prominent and highly regarded horsewomen this January, Jean Derrick and Sue Sisco. Their loss leaves an immense void in our community. And yet, since each was a generous mentor, teacher and friend, they left behind an indelible legacy that can never be forgotten.

Jean Perrin Derrick, 70

Jean Perrin Derrick was the epitome of a Southern foxhunting lady. Born in Texas, she learned to ride as a child and became a devotee of foxhunting early on. She graduated from Furman University in Greenville, S.C. and then attended law school at USC in Columbia. She had her own law practice in Lexington, S.C. for over 35 years, where she was known for her intelligence, quick wit and dedication to her clients. She died on January 11 as the result of an accident on the hunt field. Jean was a familiar figure in Aiken, hunting with several local hunts. She was past master of Whiskey Road Foxhounds and Edisto Hounds and at the time of her death she was the first flight field master at Belle Meade in Thomson, Georgia. In addition to foxhunting in Aiken, she also regularly attended the Aiken Horse Show in the Woods, where her horse Dixie was named the judge’s choice best foxhunter in 2010.

Susan Elizabeth Sisco, 63

Sue Sisco was the ultimate professional horsewoman. Growing up in New Jersey, she first rode when she was 5 years old, and knew from that time forward that horses would be her life. She had a long career in the hunter ring, competing successfully at Devon and the National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden, among other places. Her mentors included Patty Heuckeroth and the Olympian Anne Kursinski.

Sue had her own business, Sunfield, which she founded at her home in Pennsylvania and then relocated to Aiken when she moved here with her husband, Andy Miller, in 2013. Sue trained horses, taught lessons and continued to ride, show and learn her entire life. In addition to being a USEF R judge in hunters, equitation and hunter breeding, she also took up foxhunting, riding with the Aiken Hounds. She is particularly well known for her skill and elegance as a sidesaddle rider, organizing clinics for the sidesaddle club Aiken Ladies Aside, and participating in whatever sidesaddle classes might be available at local shows. She also competed successfully in the sidesaddle division at Devon, where observers remarked that she made jumping courses aside appear effortless and graceful. In 2022, she was named one of the Legends of Devon.

Jean was a true foxhunting icon and her passion and enthusiasm for the sport knew no bounds. She was a fast and fearless rider, a lover of horses and of hounds and a generous free spirit, always eager to share her knowledge and experience. Impeccably turned out and always well mounted, she was a larger-than-life figure. When asked what attracted her to hunting, this is what she had to say:

“I love foxhunting because you’ve been out in the woods . . .the hounds start to speak, you’re sitting on this gorgeous creature – usually a mare. You can feel with your right calf that the horse’s heart starts to beat when she hears the voices of the hounds . . . The animals are in sync, and you’re in sync with the animals. And you take off and you chase and you run through God’s gorgeous creation, the outdoors. Beautiful. You’re at one with the animals . . . It’s so perfect. The horse’s legs are like extensions of your feet. . . . It’s just gorgeous to be at one with the world.”

Jean leaves her son Trent, daughter-in-law Hannah and was looking forward to the birth of her first grandchild. There will be a memorial service and a scattering of ashes at Belle Meade Hunt on Friday, February 17.

Sue was known for her love of Thoroughbreds. Having first competed on an OTTB (an off-the-track Thoroughbred) when she was a teenager, she believed in the versatility of the breed, and even won the sidesaddle class at the National Horse Show aboard a retired racehorse. In 2011, she was a co-founder of the Fair Hill Thoroughbred Show, an annual event that provides competition opportunities for OTTBs and helps support OTTB aftercare. “As a teenager OTTBs were all that we rode,” she wrote. “Over the years we have had great success with OTTBs in the showring and even with the popularity of warmbloods as sport horses today, I still believe that a good Thoroughbred is a treasure.”

Sue’s friends knew her as a consummate horseman of the old school, devoted to doing right by the horse, passionate about sharing her knowledge with others, and committed to giving back to the horse world. Over the last few years, she battled ovarian cancer, but never let this stop her from riding, showing and even continuing to take lessons: this was her commitment to horses, to horsemanship, and to excellence.

Sue was predeceased by her husband Andy Miller. She leaves her mother Virginia Sisco, three sisters, two nieces, two grandnieces and a grandnephew. A celebration of life is planned for the spring.

Not our first rodeo.

BRIDLE CREEK

EQUESTRIAN COMMUNITY

From the developer of Three Runs Plantation comes another wonderful equestrian neighborhood in Aiken, South Carolina. Bridle Creek meanders across 1,000 wooded acres, featuring ve-acre lots and larger. Amenities include a dressage arena, jump arena, X-Country Schooling area and an activity center with meeting, social and tness space. All this plus miles of scenic trails. Now selling in Phase Three. Inquire today by calling 1-888-297-8881 or email info@bridlecreekaiken.com

Acres

Miles of groomed and marked trails

Jump arena

Dressage arena with mirrors

A Life with Horses Joannah Glass of Sporting Days Farm

By Pam Gleason

Joannah Hall Glass first became involved with eventing in the early 1960s when the discipline was just beginning to gain a foothold in the pantheon of American horse sports. A champion hunter rider, dedicated foxhunter, B Pony Clubber and all-around athlete, she took to eventing with enthusiasm. She competed herself, and created and ran horse trials at her farm in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. She was an original founder of the competition that would become the Radnor International Three Day Event in Pennsylvania, and contributed her time, energy and expertise to numerous equestrian activities in the MidAtlantic, including the Devon Horse Show where she was a board member, director and co-chair of the trophy committee. She created and ran the first horse trials in Aiken in 1988, and has put on events here ever since, providing quality competition at her Sporting Days Farm, and leading the way to make Aiken an international eventing destination. In 2018, she was recognized by the United States Eventing Association as the event organizer of the year. This January, she was honored at Stable View, where a new arena was named for her.

Joannah was born and raised in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, which is hunt country on the Philadelphia Main Line west of Devon. Her parents, William and Annah Hall, were elite figure skaters who won the Junior National Pairs Championship and were runners up for the Senior National Championship in the late 1930s. They would have skated in the 1940 Olympics, scheduled to take place in February of that year in Germany, but the games were canceled in

presented to the family as the ideal mount for a small child. This was not entirely true, since poor Chocky was badly foundered and lame when he arrived in the Hall household. But he provided Joannah with her first lessons in horsemanship. The local blacksmith fitted the pony with rocker shoes to relieve pressure on his hooves, and then Joannah was instructed to take him down to stand in the river.

“I took him down there every day and stood him in the water,” she remembered. “I would bring my books to read, because I was there a long time standing on the bank.”

The hydrotherapy and rocker shoes must have worked, because Chocolate became sound again, and then Joannah did everything with him. She went out on the hunt (sometimes bareback); she drove him, and she took him to shows, most notably to Devon, where she and her mother also volunteered.

By the time she was 12, Joannah had reached her mature height of 5’5” and outgrown Chocolate Drop. She started riding her mother’s next hunt horse, a Thoroughbred called Mini Mae, taking her to all the shows in the area. Joannah says she had some lessons with a local horseman, but that most of her knowledge came from her mother, who, not a highly accomplished rider herself, read everything she could about horses and imparted her knowledge to her daughter. The most influential books in the library were those written by Vladimir Littauer, a Russian émigré who became America’s foremost advocate of the forward seat.

the fall of 1939 after Hitler invaded Poland to start World War II. Joannah grew up participating in numerous sports, including figure skating but the most important activity was always was riding, which she enjoyed along with her mother. One of her earliest memories is sitting bareback on her mother’s foxhunter Beauregard. This was a horse that loved hunting so much, if her mother did not take him, he would jump out of his paddock and follow the hunt on his own.

When Joannah was 6, she got her first pony, Chocolate Drop,

This education must have worked, because Joannah became a highly decorated young rider, distinguishing herself especially in the equitation ring. She qualified for and showed in the Maclay Finals at the National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden every year from 12 to 17, winning classes against as many as 60 other young riders. She never won the finals, although she had hoped to in her last competition before she aged out. That year, Mary Mairs from California edged her for the top prize after what appeared to be a long and heated discussion between the two judges.

The mother daughter class at Devon, Chocolate Drop and Mini Mae

Ms. Mairs would later marry the Olympic rider Frank Chapot and go on the represent the United States on the showjumping team, as the first woman to achieve this honor. Despite never winning the finals, Joannah is listed as one of the Maclay “Equitation Greats” for having finished in the top three 5 consecutive times.

For secondary school, Joannah went to Stoneleigh (now StoneleighBurnham) in western Massachusetts, where she and a friend brought their horses. They shared a cow barn with the teenaged Denny Emerson, who would later become an international gold medal eventing rider – Denny’s parents were headmasters at the school. After Stoneleigh, Joannah went on to Bennett College in Millbrook, New York, choosing the school specifically because of the riding coach, Jim Fallon, and the fact that it had its own indoor ring. At Bennett, she was exposed to hunter trials for the first time, and rode and competed cross country on catch rides arranged by her coach. At the time, the United States Combined Training Association (later to become the United States Eventing Association) was in its infancy, and there were very few true horse trials in the country.

After graduation, she returned to the MidAtlantic, where she was in the company of many legendary horses and horsemen. She had the chance to ride Billy Haggard’s Bold Minstrel, the only horse ever to compete in the Olympics in two different sports, showjumping and eventing. She competed with and against Lana DuPont, the first

At some point, she and her mother were invited to a wedding in Camden, South Carolina. A friend, who was a racehorse trainer, said to her “If you are going to be in Camden, then you must come to Aiken and have lunch at the Green Boundary.” Joannah was nothing if not game, and after the wedding she made the trip.

“I took one look at Aiken and I said, this is for me. And my trainer friend said, well why don’t you bring one of your horses down? And so I did – Over the next years, I came down for one week, then two, then a month . . . I camped in every one of those houses downtown, kept my horses in all the old stables.”

Eventually, she bought a house downtown and started bringing students for the winter. Then, in 1981, she approached Tom Biddle, who was running Aiken Polo Club, and asked if she could use the end of Powderhouse Field to put on a combined test – dressage and

On

woman ever to ride on an Olympic eventing team in 1964. Until that time, there were official barriers against women participating in the sport: it was considered too rough and difficult for them. But the walls were tumbling down.

Around this time, Joannah was married to Marshall Glass, whose family was involved in foxhunting and were leading breeders of Thoroughbred racehorses. Joannah and Marshall lived on a farm in Warwick, Maryland, and after Lana DuPont’s acceptance in the sport, Joannah was determined to start her own horse trials and to compete. So she had courses constructed and organized an event on the farm in Warwick.

“The very first rider on course fell off,” Joannah recounted, “And Marshall said, that does it, no more events!” This may have been true for Marshall, but it was not for Joannah. In fact, it was not long before she moved back to Pennsylvania with her horses. There she started her own teaching, training and boarding business at her Bryn Lea Farm in Malvern.

She soon created the annual Bryn Lea Horse trials, became a founding member of the Delaware Valley Combined Training Association, and, in 1972, worked with members of the Radnor Hunt Pony Club to host its first horse trials. Held every year since, this event eventually became the Radnor International Horse Trials, one of the most prestigious eventing competitions in the country, which recently celebrated its 50th birthday.

Gathering Storm at Madison Square Garden, 1962

Above: Radnor 1977 aboard Demitasse. Below, Sidesaddle on Mara Maid at Devon, 1991

showjumping. He agreed, and it was a success. In the following years, she started helping out with dressage shows that were held at Ramblewood Farm off Citadel road in Aiken (This is now a housing development.) In 1987, she had another combined test, this time at Ramblewood, which she called Sporting Days in Aiken.

Afterward, Marshall Lamb, whose Outaways Farm was adjacent to the showgrounds, suggested she build a cross country course on his land and have a full three day event. It was a good plan, and in 1988, Aiken had its very first official horse trial. It was called Sporting Days in Aiken and it was recognized by the American Horse Shows Association and the USCTA. It brought in 200 competitors, some from “as far away as Colorado and Pennsylvania,” according to an article in the Aiken Standard. “It was wonderful,” said Joannah. “The whole town came out and helped.”

During this time, she bought a farm outside of town, and within a few years started holding the Sporting Days Horse trials there. As Aiken’s eventing community grew, so too did her event, reaching a crescendo in 2007 when it attracted 401 entrants. Today, Sporting Days holds four recognized events per year, as well as a number of unrecognized

competitions and schooling opportunities. One distinguishing factor about these events is that they are usually set up as benefits for various causes: the Red Cross, the local fire department, the pony club.

Sporting Days is resolutely civic minded.

Throughout all of these years, Joannah was continuing to breed, train and show, producing exceptional hunters, many of them Thoroughbreds off the track. She competed, and won, at prestigious competitions up and down the East Coast: Devon, the Washington International, the Toronto Winter Fair, the National Horse Show. Her horse Closing the Ring (“Molly”) an Irish Draft/Thoroughbred cross, was legendary, winning the hunter championship at Devon all the way into her mid20s. Another horse, Master of Ceremony, went from winning on the steeplechase track to winning at Madison Square Garden. On a whim, Joannah had started to ride and show sidesaddle, and had such a knack for it, she was the sidesaddle champion at the National Horse Show three times. In all, she has eight championship medals from her many years at that show.

Today she keeps five horses at Sporting Days, but admits she only rides when the weather is mild. “At my age, I don’t need to be riding when it’s cold out,” she said, laughing.

Despite her enduring success with horses, Joannah remains modest about her abilities, denying any special knack for getting the best out of them.

“With horses, I have simply been spoiled,” she said. “When I rode Mini Mae, she bailed me out when I made mistakes: she was as honest as the day is long. With Master of Ceremony, I was always praising him when he was doing well, and he was so proud. Molly especially was demonstrative of how pleased she was when she did well, and she would always put in a good trip if I could stay out of her way.

“I have had so many horses of a lifetime,” she continued. “If you treat horses right they can all be wonderful. I don’t believe there is a bad horse out there: there are horses that maybe had bad experiences before they came to you. I cannot stop saying, when you are riding, find the center, get your weight in your heels, stay out of the horse’s way, because if the horse can have pleasure when you ride, then we all can have pleasure. I can’t sit on a horse without being happy. Even if it’s not going well. Riding horses is like being a surfer, always looking for the perfect wave. Do I love horses? Am I passionate? I think so.”

Above: the dedication of the Joannah Glass arena at Stableview with Barry Olliff and Boyd Martin, 2023. Below: New Vocations Thoroughbred show at Highfields, 2021

Looking forward to seeing this year’s competitors and volunteers!

Tues. Jan 17 2023 CT, Dressage, Jumper

Sat. & Sun. Feb 4-5 2023 SDF USEA USEF Horse Trials

Mon. Feb 6, 2023 XC Schooling

Fri. Feb 9-10, 2023 Apple Days Three Phase

Tues. Feb 14, 2023 CT, Dressage, Jumper

Sun. Mar 5, 2023 USEA/ USEF Horse Trials

Mon. Mar 6, 2023 XC Schooling

Fri. Mar 9-10, 2023 Apple Days Three Phase

Fri. Mar 23-24 2023 Apple Days Three Phase

Sat. April 22, 2023 USEF/USEA Horse Trials

Sun. April 23, 2023 XC Schooling

Sat. May 27, 2023 CT, Dressage, Jumper, $100 XC Derby

Sat. June 10, 2023 CT, Dressage, Jumper, $100 XC Derby

Sat. July 29, 2023 CT, Dressage, Jumper, $100 XC Derby

Sat. Sep 2, 2023 CT, Dressage, Jumper, $100 XC Derby

Sat. Oct 28, 2023 CT, Dressage, Jumper, $100 XC Derby

Sat. Nov 11, 2023 CT, Dressage, Jumper, $100 XC Derby

Sat. Nov 11, 2023 Sporting Days Farm Awards Banquet

Eventing Season 2023 Aiken’s Action

By Pam Gleason

The high season of eventing is upon us, and Aiken is hopping with activity. We have schooling and recognized horse trials, dressage shows, clinics and more. In addition to the organized events on our calendar, there is a plethora of casual schooling opportunities available to event riders. Between February and March, you can put as many competition miles on a horse as one might expect to get in a year somewhere else. No wonder so many elite riders come here with their green horses.

Once again, we have pulled the eventing dates from our calendar to make an easy guide for eventing enthusiasts. Find more relevant competitions in our full calendar in Section 3, including dedicated dressage shows, show jumping opportunities and hunter paces. Our calendar also includes some marquee events for upper level riders that are great for spectators. This includes the wildly popular Grand Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field in the Aiken Horse Park, March 3-4. Buy your tickets now! (aikenhorsepark.org)

We also have two events with a CCI four-star division, which were selected by the United States Equestrian Federation Strategic Review Task Force to better prepare our upper-level riders for international competition. These are the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International CCI and HT, which is celebrating its 10th year at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, N.C. (March 16-19). It’s a bit of a drive, but is sure to attract top talent. For those who want to stay closer to home, Stable View is also on the strategic calendar with its $60,000 FEI CCI-S 2/3/4* and USEF/USEA Horse Trials from April 7-9. Many competitors from these events will be moving on to America’s premier 5-star, the Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event, April 27-30 at the

Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. There, America’s top horses and riders will compete against an international contingent of superstars: a kind of mini-Olympics. They call it the “best weekend all year” for a reason. (Tickets are on sale now at kentuckythreedayevent.com)

Those looking to school their horses cross country should know that most of the eventing venues in Aiken also have schooling opportunities when there is not a show on the grounds. Some of these are structured, such as the schooling days of Stable View’s regular Eventing Academy series, which take place during the two days before the competition. Others allow you to ride on your own schedule.

This winter, two popular schooling facilities in Aiken have had some updates. Over at The Vista Schooling Center, which is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., there are new cross country jumps, revamped courses and new permanent bathrooms (goodbye Porta Potties – schoolthevista.com). Dara Knot (formerly Paradise Farm) is currently open for schooling as well, and has some new features, including a one-meter training gallop to put extra fitness on a horse. Call or text to schedule your ride – an online sign-up is still in development. (Babette Lenna: 207-837-0842). Those who are riding at Training through 4-star level are able to use the Boyd Martin ETB schooling field at Stable View.

For practicing the dressage and showjumping phases, you can’t do better than Tuesdays in the Park at Bruce’s Field. Every Tuesday you can sign up to run through your dressage test in the arena or do a stadium round on a professionally designed course over the best footing. It’s just like a show but no one is judging you.

If a horse needs a little extra TLC after all this training and competing, Engineered Equine Performance, conveniently located in the middle of the action in the 302 corridor east of town, offers a cold salt water treadmill, combi-floor and other advanced therapeutic modalities to improve fitness and overcome minor strains and pains. (engineeredequineperformance.com) Have a good ride!

DATES

February 2023

2 Apple Tree Farm South, Schooling CT/Dressage.

4-5 USE A/USEF Horse Trials, Sporting Days Farm

7 Dressage T-o-C. Full Gallop Farm

8 Recognized Horse Trial. Full Gallop Farm

9-10

22

March 2023

1

VENUES

Aiken Horse Park (Bruce’s Field)

931 Powderhouse Road.

Aiken, SC 29801

803-226-0121

kate@aikenhorsepark.org, www.aikenhorsepark.org

Apple Tree Farm South

1530 Oak Ridge Rd. Windsor, SC 29856

Alison Eastman-Lawler, 603-345-0382

apltrefarm@aol.com, www.appletreefarm.com

Carolina Horse Park

2814 Montrose Rd.

Raeford, NC 28376

910-875-2074

secretary@carolinahorsepark.com, carolinahorsepark.com

Dancing Horses Equestrian

149 Moseley Road

Williston, SC

207-210-7900

dancinghorses@rocketmail.com; dancinghorsesaiken.com

Dara Knot

4069 Wagener Rd.

Aiken, SC, 29805

Babette Lenna: 207-837-0842

hello@babetteeventing.com, www.babetteeventing.com/daraknot

11-12 Southern Pines Horse Trials. Carolina Horse Park

12 Recognized Horse Trials. Full Gallop Farm

12 Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials. Stable View

15

16

Center

30 Apple Tree Farm South, Schooling CT/Dressage

April 2023

1-2 USEA/USEF BN-P Horse Trials, Jumping Branch Farm

5 Young Horse. Full Gallop Farm

7-8 Southern Pines CDE & CT. Carolina Horse Park

7-9 Spring $60,000 FEI CCI-S 2/3/4* and USEF/USEA Horse Trials. Stable View

15 Combined Test and Jumping Show. The Vista

15-16 Longleaf Pine Horse Trials. Carolina Horse Park

22 USE A/USEF Horse Trials. Sporting Days Farm

23 XC Schooling Day. Sporting Days Farm

28 Dressage, CT, & HT Dancing Horses Equestrian Center

Full Gallop Farm

3828 Wagener Rd. Aiken, SC 29805

Lara Anderson, 803-215-6590 fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com, www.fullgallopfarm.com

Jumping Branch Farm

179 Fox Pond Rd. Aiken, SC 29801 Tim Shaw: 240-460-1094  timshaw628@gmail.com, www.jbfarm.com

Pine Top Farm

1432 Augusta Hwy. Thomson, GA 30824 706-449-2029

pinetopeventing@gmail.com; www.pinetopfarm.com.

Sporting Days Farm

3549 E. Charleston Hwy. Aiken, SC, 29801 803-226-2024

sdaiken@aol.com, www.sportingdaysfarm.com

Stable View

117 Stable Dr. Aiken, SC, 29801 484-356-3173

info@stableview.com, www.stableviewfarm.com

The Vista

859 Old Tory Trail, Aiken, SC 803-262-5263

vistaschooling@gmail.com, www.schoolthevista.com

BRAND NEW 6 STALL BARN WITH WASH RACK AND 3BED/2BATH AVAILABLE FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS.

XC SCHOOLING DAY PASSES AND ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE!

STABLE VIEW 2023 CALENDAR

JANUARY 4 || Schooling Jumpers 11 || Schooling Dressage

14 || Winter Combined Test 21 & 22 || USEF/USEA "Aiken Opener" Horse Trials

FEBRUARY 1 || Schooling Jumpers

11 & 12 || USEF/USDF "I LOVE Dressage"

17-19 || Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials

20 || Celebration Series Hunter Pace

MARCH

4 & 5 || USEF/USDF "Southern Comfort" Dressage

10-12 || Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials

17-19 || USEF/USHJA B-Rated H/J Challenge Series, Winter Classic 24 & 25 || Southern Belle Classic Auction

APRIL

7-9 || Spring FEI CCI-S 2/3/4* & USEF/USEA Horse Trials

14-16 || USEF/USHJA B-Rated H/J Challenge Series, Spring Classic

15 || Celebration Series Spring Hunter Pace 22 & 23 || USEF/USDF "Spring Fever" Dressage

MAY

3 || Schooling Jumpers

6–7 || USEF/USEA "Stable View Local Charities" Horse Trails 10 || Schooling Dressage

JUNE

|| USEF/USHJA A-Rated H/J Challenge Series, Summer Classic

|| USEF/USHJA A-Rated H/J Summer Classic I

|| USEF/USDF "Summer Solstice" Dressage

|| USEF/USEA Summer Horse Trials

2 || USEF/USHJA A-Rated H/J Challenge Series, Summer Classic II

Academy Schooling Horse Trials

"Winter Wonderland" Dressage

*Pending USEF approval.

A Passion for Eventing

Kylie Cahoon Returns to Aiken

By Allison Dunne

Kylie Cahoon, now 29, wanted to get serious about eventing, but working as a nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic made that difficult. She had taken on a night shift to accommodate riding during the day, but it just wasn’t working out. Not only was she trying to balance two careers, but she was riding at the Advanced level, having tackled her first Advanced event on her warmblood Poseidon (aka Beaux) in 2018 at the Rocking Horse Trials in Florida.

“I just wanted to be able to go and do the horses full time,” said Kylie, a Georgia native who had been based in Aiken since 2012. “I was working night shifts, and working 12 hours. I’d sleep for a couple hours, try and go ride, go back to work, and it was just . . . it’s horrible. And you just feel like you can’t do any of it very well.”

She decided it was time to make a change.

“One thing that’s super prevalent in nursing is empathy fatigue. I could feel myself getting less and less empathetic. And I’d always wanted to do the riding,” Kylie said.

Kylie had been thinking about pursuing opportunities in the horse world abroad and decided to make the leap in 2020. “I just googled Irish event riders and Joseph Murphy came up near the top of the list. I researched him a little bit, and heard reviews about his clinics and his teaching and all of that, and I was like, oh that sounds cool,” she said. Joseph Murphy, located in Northern Ireland, is an Olympic veteran and one of that country’s leading eventing riders with a reputation for professionalism coupled with a relaxed and easy-going attitude.

But the COVID-19 pandemic and associated travel restrictions put a halt to any overseas plans. One year later, however, with pandemic era rules loosening, Joseph Murphy Eventing put out a call for a working student. Kylie saw this on an Instagram post, applied, and she was offered the position. So she sold the horse she had been competing for an owner, gave two weeks’ notice at her nursing job, and showed up at Joseph Murphy Eventing in Killyleagh in April 2021.

Kylie didn’t get much time with the five-star eventer at first. He was away quite a bit at international events during the early part of her stay, which Kylie says was nice in some ways because she could get lots of practice riding many different horses. Yet there were times when she thought, “Oh my god, what have I done?”

Joseph gave Kylie lessons whenever he was home, and Kylie went to several events with him, including the Houghton International Horse Trials in Norfolk, UK, and the Punchestown Horse Trials near Dublin. As Kylie posted on social media from Ireland, the first six months taught her the importance of consistency, mental fortitude, one’s team, and that there are no magic answers in riding. She said she was supposed to stay for six months, but she was having so much fun and learning so much that she signed on for another six months.

For the second part of her stay, Joseph was around most of the time. In addition to riding some seasoned competitors, Kylie had the opportunity to take over a string of young horses. She now had the benefit of Joseph’s eyes consistently on the ground, along with those of the head groom, who was the four-star eventer Ryan Hopper. “So you have people on the ground, all the time, saying ‘shorten your reins, Kylie look up, the horse needs to bend more,’” said Kylie.

One of the most exciting times was helping at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2022, where Joseph finished ninth aboard Calmaro. Then Kylie tacked on another six months to her trip, bringing her stay to one and a half years. Back in the UK, Kylie competed Flirtation, a 5-year-old mare, at the Balmoral Show in May, and evented her in July. Kylie understood and fell in love with the spooky mare, and wanted so much to bring her back to the United States, but finances stood in the way.

Kylie returned to Aiken in late October 2022, with a newfound confidence, a greatly expanded skill set, and a fresh logo for her business, Kylie Cahoon Eventing (KCE). “For the first time, I feel like I can bring in horses and people and train them, whereas I never felt quite ready before,” she said.

Today, Kylie Cahoon Eventing is based at Rising Moon Stables in Aiken, where she leases a four-stall barn from Merance Adams, who is the owner of Adams Horse and Pet Supply. There are four paddocks with run-in sheds, and Kylie has the use of a sand ring and grass jumping field. Jumping Branch Farm is down the road, providing one of Aiken’s many cross-country schooling options.

Kylie intends to incorporate the same level of consistency and discipline in her program as she experienced in Ireland. She also plans to emulate Murphy’s program by providing the highest standard of care and training, and said that impeccable horse care and farm maintenance have had a positive influence on her riding.

Kylie currently has six horses in for training, including Drumcrave Frank (“Piper”), a gray Connemara gelding owned by Sherry Higham, whom Kylie piloted to a third-place finish in the Training Horse division at the Stable View Aiken Opener Horse Trials in January. In addition, she has her own mare, Thistle B It, a green 7-year-old off-thetrack-Thoroughbred that she purchased just a day after returning to the U.S. She hopes to acquire another young horse in the future and slowly build her own string of competition mounts. She says she is grateful to everyone who has helped her, especially to Merance Adams who provided a place to live and train, to her longtime coach Simon Eades, and to her parents who support her eventing dreams in many ways.

You can reach Kylie at 912-398-8133 to inquire about lessons and training. Follow Kylie Cahoon Eventing on Facebook and Instagram.

On Drumcave Frank

Photography by Gary Knoll

Horse Breeders’ Showcase

Aiken is increasingly a place to breed and produce young horses, with a growing number of breeding farms for horses of various disciplines. Look here to find your next prospect, or a match for your best mare.

Cielito

Standing at stud: Cielito. Argentine/Thoroughbred polo stallion producing foals for all levels of polo. By Texas Sam, a grandson of Seattle Slew and out of a Pucara high goal mare. Pucara is an important foundation sire for the Argentine high goal. Cielito has fabulous movement and naturally handy and easy to handle offspring. Live cover only. Wagener, SC. 803-295-8687.

SSF Loki

Silver Stone Farms. Exceptional polo breeding and training operation. Young horses for sale; six stallions at stud, including SSF Loki. Producing natural, balanced, sound horses that excel in high goal polo. Live cover and shipped semen available. 803-275-7285.

Benestar Ranch

Producing Fabulous Friesian and Friesian sporthorses with a focus on the baroque Friesian. Proudly standing high quality stallions, horses for sale, riding lessons and training.  The Benestar Ranch. 806-673-1208. Clover S.C. Thebenestarranch@gmail.com; www. Thebenestarranch.net

Otto P. Sport AA

Otto P. Sport AA. 2012 KFPS 16.2hh Ster Friesian stallion (Doaitsen 420 x Teade 392)

Standing at Stone Mountain Creek Farm in Traphill, NC. Fully approved breeding stallion with FSA. Otto P. is competing in 4th Level dressage; schooling PSG. He is competing successfully at a National level with all breeds; multiple national championships in dressage, driving and in hand. Otto passes his his wonderful temperament on to his offspring, as well as his head, neck/ shoulder, topline and athleticism. Breeding Fee: $1000 fresh cooled (LFG) $500/dose frozen. www.stonemountaincreekfarm. com; stonemountaincreekfarm@gmail.com

Canela, Cielito filly

Zar Menorqui

Zar Menorqui. 17.1h - 2009 Pura Raza Menorquina (PRMe) Standing in Aiken and available for breeding for the first time in America. Stunning stallion ridden by an amateur. Recent judge’s comments on gait: phenomenal quality with natural engagement and elasticity. Contact us today to discuss pricing and how your mare would cross with this exceptional stallion. Menorcanstallionsusa.com.

Owner/Breeder: Melissa Phillips

Patriot Farm

Patriot Farm is a premium Holsteiner breeding farm located in Windsor, SC. Our goal is to produce elite showjumper and eventer prospects. We do this by breeding our premium Holsteiner brood mares to the best Holsteiner Verband stallions available. Our 2023 foal crop includes foals by Conway II, Uriko and Casquino. Please contact us at 805-423-1361 for more information or to arrange a visit.

Get Smart

Windy Isles Get Smart:  2011 14.1h Registered Connemara (Wildwych Eclipse x *Fairyhill Queen by *Fairyhill Hawk) Palomino stallion. Currently eventing through Preliminary and competing Third Level dressage; has done 1.10 meter jumpers. An all around horse, Smartie stamps his offspring with his intelligence and jumping ability, 85% producer of buckskins and palominos. Proven cross for thoroughbreds and warmbloods and fantastic choice for purebred Connemara mares. Standing in Aiken! $800 breeding fee; $350 collection/shipping fee. Tonya & Andy Amato: 613-849-2327 or 803-686-1000. Jump4joytonya@gmail.com. Follow him on Facebook: Get Smart Connemara Stallion.

BLACK WATCH STABLES

Black Watch Stables, LLC. Fine Warmblood Sport Horses. Family-run farm backed by three generations of horse experience, breeding and raising sport horse prospects. Stallions at stud; young horses for sale. FEI dressage and jumping prospects. Danielsville, GA. Visit our website to see our horses. Follow us in Facebook: blackwatchstables.com; info@ blackwatchstables.com. 203-376-8419.

Breeding the Best to the Best

At Silver Stone Farms

By Pam Gleason

Deb Walsh-Thayer and her husband Tom Thayer started their polo breeding operation at Silver Stone Farms in 2006, shortly after they bought their property outside of Ridge Spring, South Carolina, about 20 miles north of Aiken. Although they have a small, private, family-owned business, they have been quietly developing a widespread reputation for producing balanced, natural, world class polo ponies with the ability to play at any level. Horses produced in their program have played in some of the most prestigious tournaments anywhere – in Wellington, Florida, in England, in the Argentine Open. They have 21 exceptional broodmares, almost a dozen recipient mares for embryo transfer, and four stallions of their own.

“Our goal is to put the best quality athletes on the ground that we can,” said Deb. “We want a sound, sane, athletic horse with a big heart that can play high goal polo for years.”

To achieve this goal, they have carefully assembled their broodmares from high-goal playing stock, paying particular attention to conformation, temperament and bloodlines. “Our mares played all over the world,” Deb said. “They’ve played in the U.S. Open and the Argentine Open under top players and they’re very well-decorated. They’re like Olympic athletes. We try to match them with a stallion that will add something to what is already perfect. In the ideal world, the stallion lets the quality of the mare come through in the foal; he just tweaks it. So our goal is to produce a foal that is even better than the mare.”

Silver Stone’s stallions carry bloodlines that run through Aiken. First there is ZipZip, a Thoroughbred stallion that Deb and Tom bought as a weanling from Karen Reese to start their breeding program. ZipZip’s dam was a mare named Rita that was owned and played by the former 10-goaler and Aiken resident Adam Snow. His sire was Toga, who was the main stallion at Karen’s Hilltop Farm, also in Aiken, where he produced many exceptional foals.

Next comes Muffin Man, bred by Julian Daniels, out of one of Adam Snow’s legendary playing mares, Muffin, who went on to play many years under Julian. Muffin Man is by River, one of the foundation sires at Owen Rinehart’s Isinya. Owen, another former 10-goaler based in Aiken, has operated one of the most highly respected polo breeding farms in the country for years. Then there is SSF Loki (Devil Child X SSF ZipZip) who carries on the original bloodlines from Karen Reese’s breeding for another generation. Loki’s dam, Devil Child, is a high goal mare who came from Beth Skolnik. The mare’s two other foals are also high goal stars, slated to play in the U.S. Open this year. Finally, there is Don Ercole Violin (D. Vuida Negra X Machitos Chelo) an Argentine stallion from one of the major polo estancias in that country. Additionally, Silver Stone has two stallions (Poliya Galapagos and Alcahuete) that will come to stand at stud after their owners have finished playing

them in the high goal season in Florida this spring.

Being bred for polo makes a big difference when it is time to bring a young horse into the game. It’s not just that their conformation predisposes them to be able to run, stop and turn, although this is part of it. A horse from established polo bloodlines seems to come imbued with a sense and a heart for the game.

“The difference between training one of our homebreds and a Thoroughbred off the racetrack is night and day,” said Deb. “Our horses are just so natural – everything is easy. They are very short coupled, very quick and balanced with a good brain. They are really competitive – I love when they first start playing polo and they are so proud of themselves. They look at you, like they are saying ‘did you see what I just did?’ A lot of training them is just being their pilot and staying out of their way. You have to let them learn to make good decisions. They’re natural athletes.”

Deb said that she and Tom had not initially planned to focus so much on breeding, but they fell into it pretty quickly. Deb is originally from New York and Tom is from Colorado. They met while both were playing polo in Sarasota, Florida. When they decided to buy a farm and start their own polo training and sales business, they wanted to relocate. There were three areas that they considered: Lexington, Kentucky; Houston, Texas; and Aiken.

“We came to Aiken and we never went to any of the other places,” said Deb. “We stayed at The Willcox and we had brought the dog with us. They put the dog in the chair, and it was all over. We had found our place, and here we are.”

It was the end of 2005 and the height of an Aiken real estate boom, so it took a while to find a suitable farm that was not already under contract before they could consider it. The place they finally bought was a former plantation with 125 flat acres, farm buildings and a 19th century house. “It was pouring ran when we looked at it, and it had been vacant for about ten years. Our realtor asked us if we really wanted to be so far from town – 30 minutes from polo. But for us it was perfect. It’s our little slice of heaven.”

Today Silver Stone Farms has two barns and a nursery for the foals,

Muffin Man, a proven sire of exceptional polo ponies.

multiple paddocks and pastures and two practice polo fields. There are mares and foals, and young horses in training, from weanlings on up to 6- and 7-year olds: about 80 horses in all. Last year, 25 foals were born on the property, starting in March and ending in mid-December. The breeding and foaling season here is year round, but this is just the start of the job: before they are ready to be sold, the young horses need all the traditional training to be riding horses and then they need to be brought carefully into the game.

“The reason we can do this and the reason we can be successful is that we have a really good team,” said Deb. The home team consists of Deb, Deb’s son Kegan Walsh, and Tom. While Deb is more focused on the breeding and on running the business, Tom and Kegan do the riding and training. When it comes time for the horses to play, they organize private practices, inviting players that they know will help give their young horses good first experiences on the field. When the horses are ready for a bigger challenge, they might go to Florida to play under a high goaler. Santiago Torres (6 goals) has been an important part of their training program.

Other vital members of the team include the veterinarians at Ridge Haven Equine, which is just six minutes away and specializes in performance horses and reproduction. “Having them so close and

having them on speed dial is incredible, and it’s so important especially since we are so far out in the country. They’re here for us 24 hours a day, and having that is priceless,” said Deb.

Although occasionally Silver Stone horses might be sold as weanlings in an exceptional situation, the majority go out on their own when they are in the 5-7-year-old range and are ready to enter the high goal. Deb and Tom are very particular about who they show their horses to, and want to ensure that they are making a good match between horse and player. They always offer the player who once owned the young horse’s dam the first right of refusal.

Deb admits that it is hard to sell the horses that they have spent so much time and energy breeding and training, but there are rewards that make up for it.

“We are proud to see the horses go and play the best polo they can. It makes us happy to have people call and be super excited about a horse that we bred. That is the ultimate reward. We have multiple horses playing in the Open this year, and that’s good to see. We try to keep up with them when we can – we go down to Florida to watch them play, and we do love them and care about where they go. Look at my phone: I have thousands of pictures of our horses. But you won’t find any of me and my husband. They are our life.”

SSF Red Hot Filly Pepper under Santi Torres in Florida. David Lominska photo

Historic

Whitney Barns An Aiken Treasure

By Nancy Johnson

Four barns built by William C. Whitney in 1901 are tucked into the historic horse district in downtown Aiken between Whitney Polo Field and the Aiken Training Track. In 2015, all four structures were in disrepair and threatened with demolition, and if not for the action of a few local horsemen, this iconic piece of Aiken history would have been lost forever. Jack Wetzel and Cary Frommer led a small group in acquiring a 75-year lease on the property from its owner, the Whitney Trust. They formed a 501c3 non-profit organization, the Whitney Barns Group (WBG), to oversee the restoration and preservation of the historic property.

Heather Steinbeck, who is the secretary of the organization, explains, “Whitney Barns Group has three of the four barns; the fourth is leased by the racehorse trainer Glenn Thompson.” She

“They did everything when they were here,” Heather says, “They hacked in the Hitchcock Woods, hunted with two hunts, and just rode around the historic horse district.” Several groups of women have become regulars at the WBG. “They come a few times a year for just a couple of days at a time. They tell me they love to stable here because we are so close to the Woods.”

February Hunt Week activities in Aiken bring quite a few horses to stay at the Whitney Barns Group and Heather reports that some people showing at Bruce’s Field like to stay there so that the horses can enjoy a short, quiet hack to the showgrounds nearby.

Not counting the stalls used by racehorse trainers, there are a total of 18 stalls available for rent year-round in one of the long shed row barns. There are also a limited number of paddocks, and trailer parking is available for guests. Daily rates are for dry stalls, but Heather says that WBG offers stall stripping service for a small additional fee. Visitors can make arrangements for feed, bedding, and hay deliveries. Heather says, “I give everyone a list of the local feed and tack shops as well as information about other things to do in Aiken.”

Heather, who has been secretary of the WBG for over three years, handles all the reservations and billing. She is onsite in the office weekdays from 9 a.m. through noon. “I love old barns, so this is right up my alley,” she says with a smile.

“The shed row barns were state-of-the-art when they were built,” she says. The stalls are large and they open front and back, with high ceilings and great airflow. An overhang goes around the entire perimeter of the barn, creating a usable riding area

notes that with a goal of restoring all three of the barns, but with limited funding, WBG had to proceed cautiously and slowly.

“First, they worked on the shed row barn in the best condition,” Heather begins. The plan was to rent stalls, of which there are 28 in that barn, to racetrack trainers. “It works great because we rent them as dry stalls by the day. A trainer only pays for the actual number of horses he has in the stalls each day, giving them a lot of flexibility.” The income from renting stalls, combined with donations, is then put into further restoration work. Work on the second shed row started soon afterwards, adding to the number of stalls available.

Heather says the plan of renting out stalls, not just for racehorses, but also on a short-term basis to visitors coming to Aiken with their horses has been successful. “Most of our guests come for a weekend or as long as a week or two,” she says. “It is geared to outof-town visitors so they can come and enjoy all the horse-related opportunities in Aiken.”

The WBG has not advertised their short-term stall rentals except through their Facebook page, and Heather says most of their business has come through word-of-mouth. “We have a lot of return people. A year ago, a gentleman from the Chicago area had come and stayed with us for a week.” This year he came back with his son and four other people, bringing six horses which they kept stabled with the WBG from before Christmas to New Year’s Day.

Racing on the Whitney Track before the construction of the Training Track

during inclement weather. “On rainy days the trainers put it to very good use, plus, it’s perfect for starting babies,” Heather says.

The Whitney Barns sit on the edge of Whitney Polo Field, which is surrounded by the Whitney Track. This track is part of the Aiken Training Track, which takes care of all the maintenance. Aiken Polo Club is in charge of Whitney Field. “It’s so unique in that we are three separate organizations, all on the same property. But the nice thing is we all work together. We’re so lucky to be in the horse district,” Heather emphasizes.

Now that the two shed row barns are renovated and generating income, the WBG is eager to focus on the one remaining barn in its lease: the Cow Barn. This barn, which sits next to the Track Kitchen on Mead Avenue, was originally built for Whitney’s livestock, but was later converted into a stable for horses.

Heather explains that the roofs on the barn were deteriorated to the point where the rest of the structure was in jeopardy. Replacing the roof was the first order of business and this phase of the restoration began in April 2022. Heather’s before and after photos of the project are fascinating. “It was just a mess,” she says. “When they pulled off the old roof, it turned out there were many layers of roofing. The top layer was a corrugated plastic material, then asphalt shingles, and two layers of cedar shake shingles underneath that!”

Since its founding, the Whitney Barns Group has spent nearly a million dollars on renovations. “We want to get started on the next phase of the Cow Barn restoration, but it all depends on funds,” Heather says, adding, “I think some of the exterior can be kept, but the interior will need considerable work.” Rather unusual in its “U” shape, the barn currently has 16 stalls. However, Heather notes that the stalls are rather small, and she expects that they will enlarge them and probably wind up with 12 when the renovations are complete.

“A lot of people in Aiken don’t know about us and what we are doing,” Heather continues. “We want to spread the word about how we are restoring these historic barns and offering visitors an opportunity to stable their horses in Aiken’s amazing horse district.” She adds, “We are in the early stages of planning a big fundraiser, so keep an eye on our Facebook Page.”

Tax-deductible donations can be made to the Whitney Barns Group by check or credit card through PayPal. See the website, whitneybarnsgroup.org or Facebook to donate.

For information on stall rental or other questions, call 803-262-5511

“The goal is to make the Cow Barn a destination barn for visitors; kind of give them their own accommodations and keep the shed rows for the racehorses.”

Communication is Key Richard Lamb’s Equestrian Mission

By Jen Roytz

Have you ever stopped to consider what lasting impact you want to have on the world around you? Is there an intrinsic goal, mantra or theme that permeates every aspect of your life and relates to nearly everything you do?

For Richard Lamb, the answer is easy: it is simplifying communication between horses and their riders.

Based in Aiken, South Carolina for the past 16 years, Lamb is a trainer, coach, clinician and course designer whose client base and experience spans a wide spectrum. While his resume includes coaching at the Olympic level and holding top training positions with the United States Pony Club, he is also lauded by adult amateurs and budding equestrians for his ability to break down complex equestrian concepts into simple exercises.

“My job, whether as a trainer, rider or instructor, is to help people develop a better relationship with their animals,” said Lamb. “I try to make the rider’s job and the horse’s job less complicated by helping them communicate more clearly with one another.”

An Idyllic Upbringing

Born in Wyoming and raised in Woodstock, Vermont, Lamb was one of six children in an equestrian family. Growing up on his family’s dairy farm-turned-horse-farm and riding camp, he not only learned to ride at an early age, but he taught his peers to ride as well.

“We had up to 80 horses and put on summer riding camps for about 60 children a season, so I learned from an early age that I enjoy teaching others how to ride and care for horses,” said Lamb. “We would show and participate in Pony Club in the warmer months, then would ski all winter. It was a pretty idyllic childhood.”

After studying English and American Literature at St. Lawrence University, Lamb moved to Ireland with his father to help manage a farm and riding center, where he rode everything from steeplechasers and racehorses to show jumpers and fox hunters.

“We had people come for paid hunting holidays and stay in the farm’s guest house, and I galloped racehorses. I even rode in a few bumper races, which are 2-mile flat races, to get the steeplechase horses fit,” said Lamb. “I also worked for Eric Horgan, an Olympian who competed on the Irish Three-Day Eventing Team, for two years, helping to produce his showjumpers and sport horses. I had a lot of different experiences and they definitely served me well.”

Returning to the States, and His Roots

When Lamb returned to the United States, he set out to begin his professional teaching and training career. Thanks to his experiences overseas, combined with his kind demeanor and easy communication style, Lamb quickly developed a clientele, coaching and competing horses at all levels of eventing, show jumping and dressage.

While overseas as a young adult, Lamb got re-engaged with the Pony Club via its Irish counterpart, and when he returned to the U.S. he was based in Westchester, Pennsylvania, which at the time served as the base of operations for the United States Pony Club.

“Their offices were in my backyard, so to speak, so I looked for ways to become more involved, such as becoming a national examiner and serving on several regional and national committees,” said Lamb. “Having been a national examiner for more than 30 years, I’ve had the opportunity to help set some of the policies and national standards they use today. I believe in education, whether it’s for the horse or for the rider. The Pony Club has always been on the side of the horse through education of its riders, and that’s something that’s very meaningful to me.”

Over the years Lamb has been deeply involved with the USPC, serving as the show jumping course designer for their national championships for more than 20 years, being a clinician for USPC

locally and nationally, serving as chef d’equipe and/or coach for the USPC team at the USEF National Pony Jumper Championships since 2002, and helping to win several team and individual gold medals along the way.

While the USPC has been a passion project for Lamb for decades, his career accomplishments extend far beyond the organization. He has been the course designer for such prestigious events as The Foxhall Cup CCI***, the Jackson Hole Horse Trials and the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium. He also helped to develop the Georgia International Horse Park and organize the equestrian competitions for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, where he was the technical coordinator for show jumping.

Over the years he has coached numerous riders for the jumper, equitation and hunter divisions at USEF horse shows throughout the U. S., and in 2012 he was the equestrian coach for the U. S. Olympic Modern Pentathlon Team in London.

His commitment to furthering both his education and that of his students has endured as well. Lamb passed the Level IV assessment for the United States Eventing Association eventing coaches program in 2008 and also holds the young event horse trainers’ certificate.

While Lamb still travels throughout the year for coaching and course designing responsibilities, he appreciates having a core client base in Aiken, which includes riders of various levels and specialties.

“I’ve been fortunate to be involved with equestrian sports in so many different ways, but my true passion is teaching, whether it is the horse or the rider,” said Lamb. “I try to approach teaching students and training horses with a beginner’s mind. What are they feeling and perceiving and how can I best communicate what I am asking of them?”

Taking the Reins of the Retired Racehorse Project

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) is yet another organization that has benefited from Lamb’s passion for education. While Lamb has been involved with the RRP for nearly 10 years as a course designer, clinician, judge and board member, this January he stepped into the role of board president for the organization.

“I am delighted and honored to be elected to serve as chair of the board of directors for the RRP, and I am pleased that Jodie VellaGregory from 1/ST Racing and Stronach Group was elected and will be bringing a very extensive background in the racing industry as vice chair,” said Lamb in a statement. “I look forward to working with not only the RRP board, but the organization’s excellent staff, headed by executive director Kirsten Green as we continue to execute the RRP’s current programs and develop several new ones, all aimed at supporting Thoroughbreds as they transition to their careers after racing.”

With a mission centered around increasing the demand and value of Thoroughbreds after racing, the RRP is a nonprofit organization best known for putting on their flagship event, the Thoroughbred Makeover. The competition, which is open to Thoroughbred ex-racehorses in their first year of retraining after racing, offers 10 disciplines in which horses can compete. In addition, the event has clinics, seminars, a robust vendor village and more. This year, the competition will launch a pilot program allowing former Thoroughbred broodmares to compete in a separate division.

“We are particularly excited about the opportunity for broodmares to take part in the makeover in 2023,” said Lamb. “The makeover, and really the RRP as a whole, is a market-driven initiative aimed at educating and providing resources to equestrians that take on the challenge of training a racehorse into a sport horse. The competition is a tremendous showcase of the transformation a Thoroughbred can undertake as it transitions from racing, and we look forward to shining a spotlight on how versatile broodmares can be in that way as well.”

Ask the Judge Questions about Dressage

With Amy McElroy

Dear Amy

I am planning to compete my horse at Training Level Test Three and First Level Test One this season. I noticed that there have been some changes in the new 2023 versions of these tests and I am hoping you can answer some questions about them.

First, I am curious why the trot serpentine in Training Level Test Three was replaced with a “loop”? I am also wondering what is the correct way to ride this movement? Another question: how you know which posting diagonal to be on? Can you be penalized, or get an error, if you are not on the correct one? What about when you are trotting across the diagonal? Are there any other changes for these two tests that I should know about? I would appreciate your guidance.

Ready for 2023

Dear Ready,

You have some very good questions and I would be happy to share information about these tests.

First, let’s look at the new patterns in the 2023 Training Level Test Three. Test Three has many changes and improvements, and it is clearer than the 2019 version that it replaces. It is also a shorter test: Although the recommended ride time is the same 5 minutes, 30 seconds, it has two fewer scoring boxes, 13 as opposed to 15.

Let’s begin with the purpose of the test. You can find this stated on the top left-hand corner of your test sheet and it is always important to keep in mind. The purpose of the 2023 test is “To confirm that the horse demonstrates correct basics, by showing suppleness both laterally and longitudinally, moving freely forward in a clear rhythm with a steady tempo, and readily accepting contact with the bit. Correct geometry and lines of travel should be shown.”

This test introduces two new movements: a shallow trot loop and a canter-to-trot transition on the diagonal. There are new directives for the free walk, which now includes the word “overtrack.” In other words, your horse’s hind hooves should clearly be stepping over the print made by his front hooves. This is true for any test where the free walk is asked for, but this is a clearer description than we have had.

To answer your question regarding replacing the trot serpentine with the trot shallow loop, I understand this was done for several reasons. Prior to the 2019 test, Training Three also required a trot shallow loop. It was replaced in 2019 by the three-loop serpentine in an attempt to help riders because there was often confusion over the correct geometry for the shallow loop, as well as how to execute a correct bend throughout the pattern. Unfortunately, riders were still having difficulties with the bend and geometry in the three-loop serpentine. I also understand that it was too tricky to fit in all three loops when the test was ridden in the small arena (20 meters by 40 meters) as opposed to the full-sized arena (20 meters by 60 meters.) So here we are back to the shallow loop, redesigned to be clearer and simpler to ride correctly. This movement directs you to leave the track slightly after the first long

Amy McElroy is an FEI competitor, and a USEF S judge. She is qualified to officiate at any USEF recognized national show at all dressage levels. She rides, trains and teaches at Fair Lane Farm in Aiken and judges between 15 and 20 dressage and eventing shows each year. In her popular Ask the Judge column, she answers readers’ questions about dressage.

Do you have a question for Amy? Send her an email at McElroyDRM@aol.com, or visit her website: www.amymcelroy.com.

side letter, trot to X, then return to the track slightly before the last letter on the long side. It is performed in both directions and has a coefficient of two, meaning that the score is counted twice each time.

What is important in the shallow loop is to show clear changes of bend on a curved line. For example, if tracking left, slightly after H, you begin a single loop through X, developing your horse’s bend to the right as you leave the track. Maintain the right bend until you return to the track slightly before K, at which point you change your bend back to the left. At Training Level you may do the trot work either rising or sitting.

If you choose to post, what diagonal is required? You might be surprised to learn that there is not a required posting diagonal for judging purposes. Your judge will not be focusing on this aspect of your ride, and there would not be any deduction and for sure not an error if you were not on a specific diagonal. In fact, the posting diagonal would never warrant an error: The only time you could receive an error for your rising trot is if the test clearly requires you to be sitting and you are not. What is most important is for your horse to stay in balance. Many riders choose to change their diagonal with the changes of bend as you technically will be changing direction through the loop.

When it comes to changing the rein across the diagonal in the rising the trot, your main concern should not be which diagonal you’re on, or when or where you change it. This is totally optional: Change at the start of the line, at X, or at the end of the line. This movement is not part of the current Training Three test but it is asked for in both directions in First Level Test One in conjunction with a trot lengthening. Reminder: you are on the correct diagonal when you rise and fall with your horse’s outside front leg.

The current First Level Test One is similar to the 2019 test. In the past this test introduced 10-meter half circles in the trot and 15-meter circles in the canter, as well as trot and canter lengthenings. In the new test, the canter lengthening has been removed, giving the canter tour more ease and allowing the horse to develop more strength and balance before lengthenings are introduced at this gait. This test still has an average ride time of 5 minutes and 30 seconds, but there are only 15 scoring boxes compared to the 17 boxes in the past.

First Level Test One also has some changes in the verbiage of the purpose. It now states the horse should be on the bit, whereas before it stated that the horse was to maintain “a more consistent contact with the bit.”

I hope this has given you more insight into these two tests, including how to ride the loop and what to do about posting diagonals. As you prepare for your first show in 2023, remember to read the purpose of your test and make sure you can achieve it: this will be the expectation of your judge.

Happy riding and showing.

World

Class Grooming With Emma Ford

By Amber Heintzberger

Growing up in England in a family of foxhunters, Emma Ford was caring for horses from an early age. Little did she know that one day she would become one of the foremost experts on grooming horses, a published author of several books on grooming and horse care, and a leader in the eventing grooming community.

Emma came up the levels of Pony Club, learning all of the related horse management skills and gaining experience in dressage, show jumping and eventing. Her career as an eventing groom started when she worked for the upper level rider Adrienne Iorio in Massachusetts in 1998. She had planned to stay for just a year to work and ride, but the United States would become her long-term home. In 2005 she began working at the job for which she is best known: grooming for the Olympic eventing rider Phillip Dutton. She worked at Dutton’s True Prospect Farm in Unionville, PA until after the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, when she retired from professional grooming.

These days, at age 46, Emma, who lives in Pennsylvania, is the author of several books, written along with another respected eventing groom, Cat Hill: World Class Grooming for Horses: The English Rider’s Complete Guide to Daily Care; World Class Braiding: Manes & Tails; and The Kid’s Guide to Horsemanship and Grooming: Everything You Need to Know to Care for Horses While Staying Safe and Having Fun. Emma’s grooming skills are featured in Phillip Dutton’s book, Modern Eventing. She also works full time for Dr. Ashley Taylor, a veterinarian who has a sports medicine practice in Chester County: Emma manages Dr. Taylor’s rehabilitation and lay up barn.

In addition to working at the rehab facility Emma runs a business called World Class Grooming along with her coauthor Cat Hill. Emma and Cat teach a couple of World Class Grooming clinics each month. “The clinic schedule varies but I try to keep it to about two a month. I’m happy with that; I don’t want to overextend myself.”

Emma said that initially she and Cat were hoping to teach working students for professional riders, but as it’s turned out, the clinics tend to attract more amateur riders and Pony Clubs.

“It’s great to feed knowledge to the young and I hope my passion comes across in my teaching,” she said. “At the end of the day we’re lucky to work in an industry with so many people who are interested in learning about horse care.”

Reflecting on her career and being surrounded by the best in the business for so many years, she said, “Basically, one area of grooming is that you have this village and you are always, always learning. You can guarantee at Phillip’s it is not the same every day, it’s such a big operation. Kevin [Keane, a veterinarian] was there a lot, so literally every day I was asking him 20 questions! It’s the same with the farrier: You’re always expanding your knowledge. There’s nobody in this world who knows everything about horses; there’s always someone you can learn from, and whether that resonates with your own sensibilities, it’s up to you to incorporate what you learn into the way you do things.”

Emma traveled the world with Dutton, and while it’s hard to pick one favorite highlight from her professional grooming career, she said that as a native Briton, going to her first Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials ranks pretty high on the list. She also said that the Pan-Am Games in Toronto and Rio, where Dutton medaled were exciting, not to mention the World Championships. “The icing on the cake was the individual [bronze] medal in Rio, especially because Mighty Nice [Happy] was Bruce Duchossois’s horse and we had lost Bruce. It was also a cross country course that Happy absolutely devoured. For me, any time I’m at the big championships, especially with horses that I’ve seen make their eventing debuts, it’s very emotional.”

For Emma, grooming is most of all about dedication to and compassion for the horses. “It is about love of the horses,” she said. “At the end of the day at the high levels, it is all about the horses and being open-minded and learning what you can from each person and each individual horse.”

Emma loves to give back to the sport, share her knowledge and help others in the grooming profession. As a member of the organizing committee of the U.S. Eventing Association (USEA) Groom’s Association, she is organizing a series of educational clinics at Bruce’s Field in Aiken beginning in February.

“Ultimately this is a new project, but we’re looking to help improve the lives of grooms,” Emma said. “Our big goal would be to become an institution where people can get health insurance or legal services or whatever they might need. Hopefully as we get more recognized and do more demos and clinics we can start on that journey.”

In the immediate future, the inaugural USEA Groom’s Association Aiken Educational Sessions will take place every Tuesday from February 7th until March 14th from 6:30-80 p.m. at Bruce’s Field.

“They did a series in Ocala last year, and this year even though I’m not living in Aiken I agreed to put it all together,” she explained. “Bruce’s Field has been awesome and are giving the facility for free. They have the same goal as us: to educate people across the disciplines. The big difference between Aiken and Ocala is in Aiken we have a more diverse set of horse people that includes eventers, dressage, polo, foxhunters, so I want it to appeal to a very wide audience.”

For more information contact Emma at emmaford395@gmail.com

Dressage in the Park and Equus Events at Bruce’s Field

Photography by Gary Knoll

Aiken Area Calendar of Events

February 2023

1 Schooling Jumpers. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

1 Tryon Indoor Schooling Day. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com

2 Apple Tree Farm South, Schooling CT/Dressage, 1530 Oak Ridge Club Rd Windsor, SC Allison apltrefarm@aol.com (603)345-0382 appletreefarm.org

2-5 Winter Encore. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. kate@aikenhorsepark.org, aikenhorsepark.org 803.830.7077

3-5 Working Equitation Clinic. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com

4 Highfields Just for Fun Show. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

4-5 USE A/USEF Horse Trials, Sporting Days Farm, 3549 Charleston Hwy. Aiken, SC Cindy Wood (410) 726 8926 cindy@firefoxfarm.com SportingDaysFarm.com

5 Radway Eventing Pony Club Show. 4627 Whiskey Road, Aiken. radwayeventing.com

5 Pinehurst Schooling Series. Pinehurst Harness Track. Pinehurst, NC. Carolinadressage.com

6 XC Schooling Day, Sporting Days Farm, 3549 Charleston Hwy. Aiken, SC Cindy Wood (410) 726 8926 cindy@firefoxfarm. com SportingDaysFarm.com

7 Dressage T-o-C. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com, fullgallopfarm.com

7 Tuesdays at the Park. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. kate@aikenhorsepark. org, aikenhorsepark.org

7 All Things Veterinary with Dr. Ashley Taylor. Bruce’s Field, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. Emma Ford, US Eventing Grooms Association, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

8 Recognized Horse Trial. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo. com, fullgallopfarm.com

8 Cones Bonanza - Windsor Trace CDE. Aiken Driving Club. 1060 Curb Chain lane, Windsor. Peggy Dils, 803295-6785 dilsaiken@gmail.com aikendrivingclub.com americandrivingsociety.org.

8 Breeze Days with Coffee. Aiken Training Track. 724 Two Notch Rd SE, Aiken. 803.648.4631, aikentt@bellsouth.net, aikentrainingtrack.com

9-10 Apple Days Three Phase. Sporting Days Farm, 3549 Charleston Hwy. Aiken, SC Cindy Wood (410) 726 8926 cindy@ firefoxfarm.com SportingDaysFarm.com

9-12 South Carolina Quarter Horse Association. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com

9-12 Tryon Valentine I. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com

10-12 Pine Top Intermediate Horse Trials 1432 Augusta Hwy, Thomson, GA 30824 pinetopeventing@gmail.com

10-12 Cupid Classic. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

11 Children’s Drag at Stable on the Woods. Aiken Hounds. Aiken. 803.643.3724, lchickey@gmail.com, theaikenhounds.com

11 IEA Z one 4 Regional 3 Finals. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com

11-12 USEF/USDF I Love Dressage. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

12 Reg ional 11 IEA Finals. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com

12-18 Hunt Week: Gone Away with the Wind. Belle Meade Hunt. 4018 Writsboro rd, Thomson, GA. ke4nnr@classicsouth.net, bellemeadehunt.org

13 Driving Derby. Aiken Driving Club. Highfields Farm, 118 Gaston St, NEl, Aiken. Peggy Dils, 803-295-6785 dilsaiken@ gmail.com aikendrivingclub.com americandrivingsociety.org

14 CT, Dres. & Show Jumping. Sporting Days Farm, 3549 Charleston Hwy. Aiken, SC Cindy Wood (410) 726 8926 cindy@firefoxfarm.com SportingDaysFarm.com

14 How Well Do You Know Your Horse? With Emma Ford. Bruce’s Field, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. Emma Ford, US Eventing Grooms Association, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

14 Tuesdays at the Park. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. kate@aikenhorsepark. org, aikenhorsepark.org

15 Schooling Horse Trial. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo. com, fullgallopfarm.com

16 Young Event Horse Qualifier. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

16-19 Tryon Valentine II. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com

17 Eventing Academy XC Day. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

17-19 Carolina Classic. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

18 Eventing Academy Schooling Day. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

18 Schooling Show. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, poplarplacefarm.com

18 Aiken Hounds Hunt Ball. Aiken Hounds. Aiken. 803.643.3724, lchickey@gmail.com, theaikenhounds.com

18 Pipe Opener II CT. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@carolinahorsepark.com, carolinahorsepark.com

18 Golden Driving CTS. Aiken Driving Club. Aiken. Peggy Dils, 803-295-6785 dilsaiken@gmail.com aikendrivingclub.com americandrivingsociety.org

18 Hunt Ball. Camden Hunt. Camden. therealcamdenhunt@ gmail.com, camdenhunt.com

18-19 Dressage at Bruce’s Field. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. kate@aikenhorsepark. org, aikenhorsepark.org

18-19

USEF/USEA Horse Trials. Jumping Branch Farm. 179 Fox Pond Road, Aiken. jbfarm.com 240-460-1094

18-19 Working Equitation Clinic. Karmic Run, 2220 Peters Way, Aiken. Meghan Truppner, 443.838.6448, karmicrun@gmail. com, karmicrun.com

18-20 Extreme Trail Course Clinic. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com

19 Marathon Driving Clinics with Taylor Bradish. Aiken Driving Club. Aiken. Peggy Dils, 803-295-6785 dilsaiken@gmail.com aikendrivingclub.com americandrivingsociety.org

19 Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm. com, stableviewfarm.com

20 Celebration Series Hunter Pace. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com 484.356.3173,

21 Tuesdays at the Park. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. kate@aikenhorsepark. org, aikenhorsepark.org

21 Leg Care 101 with Stephanie Simpson. Bruce’s Field, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. Emma Ford, US Eventing Grooms Association, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

21 Dressage T-o-C. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com,

21 Celebration Series Hunter Pace. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

22 Recognized Horse Trials. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo. com, fullgallopfarm.com

22 Breeze Days with Coffee. Aiken Training Track. 724 Two Notch Rd SE, Aiken. 803.648.4631, aikentt@bellsouth.net, aikentrainingtrack.com

22 Indoor Schooling Day. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com

25 Ride the Rail. Aiken Training Track. 724 Two Notch Rd SE, Aiken. 803.648.4631, aikentt@bellsouth.net, aikentrainingtrack.com

24-26 Pine Top Advanced Horse Trials 1432 Augusta Hwy, Thomson, GA 30824 pinetopeventing@gmail.com

24-26 PSJ February. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

25-26 Working Equitation Clinic with Alberto Conde. Spiegel Farms, 996 E Frontage Rd, Campobello, SC. Jennifer Roth, 831.601.8191, jrdressage@gmail.com

25 Junior Hunt. Camden Hunt. Camden. therealcamdenhunt@ gmail.com, camdenhunt.com

26 Pinehurst Schooling Series. Pinehurst Harness Track. Pinehurst, NC. Carolinadressage.com

28 Dressage T-o-C. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com, fullgallopfarm.com

28 Let’s Not Forget About the Rider, with Emily Hamel. Bruce’s Field, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. Emma Ford, US Eventing Grooms Association, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

28 Tuesdays at the Park. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. kate@aikenhorsepark. org, aikenhorsepark.org

March 2023

1 Recognized Horse Trials. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com, fullgallopfarm.com; 803. 215.6590,

2-5 South Carolina Quarter Horse Association. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com

3-4 Grand Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. kate@aikenhorsepark.org, aikenhorsepark.org

3-5 March Madness.Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

4 Closing Meet at Macburn. Wateree Hounds. Camden. 803.669.1590. watereehounds@gmail.com. watereehounds. com

4-5 Working Equitation Clinic. Karmic Run, 2220 Peters Way, Aiken. Meghan Truppner, 443.838.6448, karmicrun@gmail. com, karmicrun.com

4-5 Sedgefield at the Park Early Spring H/J. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@ carolinahorsepark.com, carolinahorsepark.com

4-5 USE A/USEF Horse Trials. Sporting Days Farm, 3549 Charleston Hwy. Aiken, SC Cindy Wood (410) 726 8926 cindy@firefoxfarm.com SportingDaysFarm.com

4-5 USEF/USDF Southern Comfort Dressage. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm. com, stableviewfarm.com

5 Pinehurst Schooling Series. Pinehurst Harness Track. Pinehurst, NC. Carolinadressage.com

7 Tuesdays at the Park. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. kate@aikenhorsepark. org, aikenhorsepark.org

7 The Importance of a Good Rehabilitation Plan with Maxine Emerich-Jaquish. Bruce’s Field, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. Emma Ford, US Eventing Grooms Association, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

9-10 Apple Days Three Phase. Sporting Days Farm, 3549 Charleston Hwy. Aiken, SC Cindy Wood (410) 726 8926 cindy@ firefoxfarm.com SportingDaysFarm.com

10 Eventing Academy XC Schooling Day. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

10-12 March Madness. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

11 Closing Meet. Camden Hunt. Camden. therealcamdenhunt@ gmail.com, camdenhunt.com

11 Eventing Academy Schooling Day. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

11 Golden Driving CTS. Aiken Driving Club. Aiken. Peggy Dils, 803-295-6785 dilsaiken@gmail.com aikendrivingclub.com americandrivingsociety.org

11 Schooling Show. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, poplarplacefarm.com

11-12 Recognized Horse Trials at Chatt Hills. 9445 Browns Lake Rd, Fairburn, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, chatthillseventing.com

11-12 Working Equitation Clinic/Schooling Show. Karmic Run, 2220 Peters Way, Aiken. Meghan Truppner, 443.838.6448, karmicrun@gmail.com, karmicrun.com

11-12 Southern Pines Horse Trials. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@ carolinahorsepark.com, carolinahorsepark.com

11-12 USEF/USDF GHF/Massey Ferguson Dressage Show. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com

11-12 Palmetto Paint Horse Club. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938,scequinepark. com

12 Recognized Horse Trials. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo. com, fullgallopfarm.com

12 Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm. com, stableviewfarm.com

12 Marathon Driving Clinics with Taylor Bradish. Aiken Driving Club. Aiken. Peggy Dils, 803-295-6785 dilsaiken@gmail.com aikendrivingclub.com americandrivingsociety.org

14 St. Patrick’s Day Hunt and Closing Meet. Aiken Hounds. Aiken. 803.643.3724, lchickey@gmail.com, theaikenhounds. com

14

Tuesdays at the Park. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. kate@aikenhorsepark. org, aikenhorsepark.org

14 No Foot No Horse with Dan Martzall. Bruce’s Field, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. Emma Ford, US Eventing Grooms Association, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

15 Schooling Horse Trials. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo. com, fullgallopfarm.com

16 Apple Tree Farm South, Schooling CT/Dressage, 1530 Oak Ridge Club Rd Windsor, SC Allison apltrefarm@aol.com (603)345-0382 appletreefarm.org

16-19 USEF/USHJA $50,000 National “A” Rated Hunters & Level 4 Rated Jumpers Winter Classic. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable

Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

16-19 Carolina International CCI & HT. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@ carolinahorsepark.com, carolinahorsepark.com

18 Aiken Trials. Aiken Training Track. 538 Two Notch Rd SE, Aiken. 803.648.4631, aikentt@bellsouth.net, aikentrainingtrack.com

17-19 Pine Top Horse Trials 1432 Augusta Hwy, Thomson, GA 30824 pinetopeventing@gmail.com

17-19 Ashley Hall PSJ C-Series. Mullet Hall, John’s Island, SC. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

17-19 Four Beats for Pleasure. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark. com

19 113th Annual Camden Hunt Horse Show. The Dale Thiel Show Ring, Camden. therealcamdenhunt@gmail.com, camdenhunt.com

19 IEA Z one 4 Finals. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com

23-24 Apple Days Three Phase. Sporting Days Farm, 3549 Charleston Hwy. Aiken, SC Cindy Wood (410) 726 8926 cindy@ firefoxfarm.com SportingDaysFarm.com

24-25 Southern Belle Classic Auction. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

24-26 Sedgefield at the Park H/J Show. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@ carolinahorsepark.com, carolinahorsepark.com

23-26 Tryon Welcome 1. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com

25 Dressage T-o-C. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com, fullgallopfarm.com

25 Spring Steeplechase. Steeplechase Racecourse, 2020 Richland Ave East, Aiken. Jessical Miller: 803.648.9641. info@ aikensteeplechase.com, aikensteeplechase.com

25 Dressage, CT, & HTS @ Dancing Horses Equestrian Center. 149 Moseley rd, Williston. Jocelyn Thomas, 207.210.7900, dancinghorses@rocketmail.com

25 Dressage & CT at FENCE. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center. 3381 Hunting Country Rd, Tryon. 828.859.9021. frcshows@gmail.com, fence.org

26 Recognized Horse Trials. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo. com, fullgallopfarm.com

26 XC Schooling at FENCE. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center. 3381 Hunting Country Rd, Tryon. 828.859.9021. frcshows@ gmail.com, fence.org

26-27 Harmon Classics Hunter Jumper Show. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com

27 Fifth Annual Detroit Horse Power Hunter Pace at Fox Nation. Two separate routes. For more information and to register visit detroithorsepower.org\events or email nancymarks233@gmail. com with questions.

27 Driving Derby. Aiken Driving Club. The Vista, 859 Old Tory Trail, Aiken. Peggy Dils, 803-295-6785 dilsaiken@gmail.com aikendrivingclub.com americandrivingsociety.org

30 Apple Tree Farm South, Schooling CT/Dressage, 1530 Oak Ridge Club Rd Windsor, SC Allison apltrefarm@aol.com (603)345-0382 appletreefarm.org

30-2 Tryon Welcome 2. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com

31-2 Recognized Horse Trials at Chatt Hills. 9445 Browns Lake Rd, Fairburn, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, chatthillseventing.com

April 2023

1-2 USEF/USEA Horse Trials. Jumping Branch Farm. 179 Fox Pond Road, Aiken. jbfarm.com 240-460-1094

1 Golden Driving CTS. Aiken Driving Club. Aiken. Peggy Dils, 803-295-6785 dilsaiken@gmail.com aikendrivingclub.com americandrivingsociety.org

1 Highfields Just for Fun Show. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

1-2 USEF/USDF March Magic Dressage. Sporting Services. Carolina Horse Park, Raeford. Carolinadressage.com

1-3 108th Annual Horse Show in the Woods. 2200 Dibble Rd, Aiken. Dana Massey: 803.599.0400. aikenhorseshow.org

2 Marathon Driving Clinics with Taylor Bradish. Aiken Driving Club. Aiken. Peggy Dils, 803-295-6785 dilsaiken@gmail.com aikendrivingclub.com americandrivingsociety.org

2-3 South Carolina Dressage and Combined Training. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com

5 Young Horse. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com, fullgallopfarm.com

5-8 Tryon Welcome 3. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com

6 Winter Wednesdays. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark. com

7-8 Southern Pines CDE & CT. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@ carolinahorsepark.com, carolinahorsepark.com

7-9 Spring $60,000 FEI CCI-S 2/3/4* and USEF/USEA Horse Trials. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

7-9 Progressive Show Jumping. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark. com

8 Spring Hunter Pace at Stable on the Woods. Aiken Hounds. 803.643.3724, lchickey@gmail.com, theaikenhounds.com

13-16 USEF/USHJA $50,000 National A Rated Jumper Spring Classic. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

13-16 Tryon Welcome 4. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com

14-15 Conyers Pro Rodeo. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com

14-29 Aiken Saddlery 6 Goal. Wagener Polo Club. 5720 Wagener Rd, Wagener. 803.566.8610, bkrpolo@aol.com, wagenerpolo.com

15 Combined Test and Jumping Show. The Vista. 859 Old Tory Trail, Aiken. 803.262.5263 vistaschooling@gmail.com, schoolthevista.com

15 Schooling Show D & CT at Chatt Hills. 9445 Browns Lake Rd, Fairburn, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, chatthillseventing.com

15 Celebration Series Spring Hunter Pace. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

15-16 Palmetto Paint Horse Club. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark. com

15-16 Longleaf Pine Horse Trials. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@ carolinahorsepark.com, carolinahorsepark.com

16 “A Toast to Great Oak” brunch. Great Oak Equine Assisted Program. 1123 Edgefield Hwy, Aiken. 803.226.0056, info@ greatoakeap.org, greatoakeap.org

16-30 Jake Kneece Memorial 4 Goal. Aiken Polo Club, Whitney Field, 420 Mead Ave, Aiken. 803.643.3611. aikenpoloclub@ gmail.com, aikenpolo.org

19-23 Aiken Spring Classic. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

20-23 South Carolina Quarter Horse Association. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com

21-23 Tryon Spring Dressage USEF/USDF. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com

21-7 Tommy Hitchcock Memorial 4-8 Goal. New Bridge Polo Club. 862 New Bridge Rd, Aiken. 803.644.7706, hbryan2485@aol. com, newbridgepolo.com

22 USE A/USEF Horse Trials. Sporting Days Farm, 3549 Charleston Hwy. Aiken, SC Cindy Wood (410) 726 8926 cindy@firefoxfarm.com SportingDaysFarm.com

22 Working Equitation Clinic with Pat Melton. Union County Saddle Club. 3230-D Presson rd, Monroe, NC. 704.507.3754, ucsc.nc@gmail.com

22-23 USEF/USDF Prime Time Dressage. Sporting Services. Carolina Horse Park, Raeford, NC. Carolinadressage.com

22-23 USEF/USDF Spring Fever Dressage. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

23 XC Schooling Day. Sporting Days Farm, 3549 Charleston Hwy. Aiken, SC Cindy Wood (410) 726 8926 cindy@firefoxfarm. com SportingDaysFarm.com

24-25 USEF/USDF Dressage at the Park. Carolina Horse Park. Raeford NC. Carolinadressage.com

26-30 Aiken Spring Classic. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

27-29 Highfields Sport Horse Sale. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

28 Dressage, CT, & HTS @ Dancing Horses Equestrian Center. 149 Moseley rd, Williston. Jocelyn Thomas, 207.210.7900, dancinghorses@rocketmail.com

28-30 South Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com

28-30 Sedgefield at the Park H/J. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. info@carolinahorsepark.com, carolinahorsepark.com 910.875.2075,

28-13 Wag ener 4 Goal. Wagener Polo Club. 5720 Wagener Rd, Wagener. 803.566.8610, bkrpolo@aol.com, wagenerpolo.com

29 Aiken Saddlery 6 Goal Final. Wagener Polo Club. 5720 Wagener Rd, Wagener. 803.566.8610, bkrpolo@aol.com, wagenerpolo.com

29-30 USEF/USDF GHF/Massey Ferguson Dressage at the Park. Show. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com

29-30 National Youth Tournament Series. Aiken Polo Club, Whitney Field, 420 Mead Ave, Aiken. 803.643.3611. aikenpoloclub@ gmail.com, aikenpolo.org

29-14 USPA Sportsmanship Cup 6 Goal. Aiken Polo Club, Whitney Field, 420 Mead Ave, Aiken. 803.643.3611. aikenpoloclub@ gmail.com, aikenpolo.org

30 Schooling Horse Trial. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com, fullgallopfarm.com; 803. 215.6590,

30 Jake Kneece Memorial Final. Aiken Polo Club, Whitney Field, 420 Mead Ave, Aiken. 803.643.3611. aikenpoloclub@gmail. com, aikenpolo.org

Classifieds

Classifieds

4-Year-Old KWPN

Top quality 4-year-old registered KWPN (Fabregas x Metall x Equador) ready for the young horse class. Incredible gaits and temperament. Located in Statesville NC. Text or call: 607-743-1309

Video at www.lanecovedressage.com

BOARDING/TURNOUT/ TRAINING

BOARDING/TURNOUT/ TRAINING

Dry stalls and full care available at Sporting Days Farm 150 acres with practice areas. Great for green horses. 803-226-2024 text preferred.

Dry stalls and full care available at Sporting Days Farm 150 acres with practice areas. Great for green horses. 803-226-2024 text preferred.

Extra large stalls available with daily turnout. Convenient south side location. Chime Ridge Stables 803508-3760

Extra large stalls available with daily turnout. Convenient south side location. Chime Ridge Stables 803508-3760

Stalls and paddocks available for winter rental. Four stalls, two paddocks on horse farm in 302 area available for winter rental. Call or text 803-295-8687.

Stalls and paddocks available for winter rental. Four stalls, two paddocks on horse farm in 302 area available for winter rental. Call or text 803-295-8687.

FARM SERVICES

FARM SERVICES

Southern Ridge Excavation. Drainage, grading, small clearing, pad prep, utility ditching, pond mowing. Third generation family operated; Licensed & insured. Call Alex Koegel. 803-522-5752. southernridgex@ gmail.com.

Southern Ridge Excavation. Drainage, grading, small clearing, pad prep, utility ditching, pond mowing. Third generation family operated; Licensed & insured. Call Alex Koegel. 803-522-5752. southernridgex@ gmail.com.

February-March 2023

February-March 2023

Fox Services. Land Maintenance: Mulching, Grading, Excavation Bush hogging, Clearing, Driveway repair, Erosion control, Gravel placement, Storm cleanup. 706.990.0231

Fox Services. Land Maintenance: Mulching, Grading, Excavation Bush hogging, Clearing, Driveway repair, Erosion control, Gravel placement, Storm cleanup. 706.990.0231

G. L. Williams & Daughter. Serving the CSRA for over 54 years. Specializing in hauling, grading, clearing, property maintenance, and excavation.We provide everything from several types of fill dirt, top soil, compost, mortar sands, crushed asphalt/concrete, to screenings and a variety of rocks. Roll-off containers and manure removal available. (803) 663-3715. Certified DBE. WOSB. www.glwdtrucking.com

G. L. Williams & Daughter. Serving the CSRA for over 54 years. Specializing in hauling, grading, clearing, property maintenance, and excavation.We provide everything from several types of fill dirt, top soil, compost, mortar sands, crushed asphalt/concrete, to screenings and a variety of rocks. Roll-off containers and manure removal available. (803) 663-3715. Certified DBE. WOSB. www.glwdtrucking.com

BM Maintenance and More LLC. Allow us to do that honey do list. BBB accredited. Free estimates within Aiken County. (864) 2757180 billymathis@billymathismaintenance.com or bmmaint21@ gmail.com; 17166 Atomic Rd, Aiken SC 29803(803) 257-1202

BM Maintenance and More LLC. Allow us to do that honey do list. BBB accredited. Free estimates within Aiken County. (864) 2757180 billymathis@billymathismaintenance.com or bmmaint21@ gmail.com; 17166 Atomic Rd, Aiken SC 29803(803) 257-1202

HAY

HAY

Hoss Luva Hay. Exceptional quality local Coastal Bermuda Hay, Alfalfa mix and Canadian Timothy. Competitively priced. Will deliver state-wide. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Jim McClain: 803.247.4803

Hoss Luva Hay. Exceptional quality local Coastal Bermuda Hay, Alfalfa mix and Canadian Timothy. Competitively priced. Will deliver state-wide. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Jim McClain: 803.247.4803

LB Performance Hay. From Farm to Stable. Local and imported hay; large or small quantities. Hay delivery and unloading. Lou Berizzi: 803-6405484.

LB Performance Hay. From Farm to Stable. Local and imported hay; large or small quantities. Hay delivery and unloading. Lou Berizzi: 803-6405484.

Round and Square Bales. Oakwood Farms: 3593 Silver Bluff Road, Aiken SC 29803. $60 per bale round hay bales. $70 per bale round bales kept inside. Square bales at $7.00 per bale. Will deliver for a small fee. Please call 803-645-8960.

Round and Square Bales. Oakwood Farms: 3593 Silver Bluff Road, Aiken SC 29803. $60 per bale round hay bales. $70 per bale round bales kept inside. Square bales at $7.00 per bale. Will deliver for a small fee. Please call 803-645-8960.

PETS

PETS

Trinity Farms Terriers: Irish Russell Terriers. Old World, Healthy 100 year old. Bloodlines w/ proven calmer dispositions. Health & Dispositions

Trinity Farms Terriers: Irish Russell Terriers. Old World, Healthy 100 year old. Bloodlines w/ proven calmer dispositions. Health & Dispositions

Corgi Puppies

Corgi Puppies

Aiken breeder has 7 beautiful, Pembroke Welsh Corgis for sale. Both parents are on the farm with awesome temperaments, both are DM clear. UPTD on shots and wormings. Call or email mmdickhart@hotmail.com 803-640-0398

Aiken breeder has 7 beautiful, Pembroke Welsh Corgis for sale. Both parents are on the farm with awesome temperaments, both are DM clear. UPTD on shots and wormings. Call or email mmdickhart@hotmail.com

803-640-0398

guaranteed. Preservation breeders for 48 years. Donna Fitzpatrick 803-648-3137. easyjacks.com, trinityfarmskennel.com

guaranteed. Preservation breeders for 48 years. Donna Fitzpatrick 803-648-3137. easyjacks.com, trinityfarmskennel.com

RENTALS/HOME SHARES

RENTALS/HOME SHARES

Aiken Luxury Rentals. Fully furnished cottages; walk to downtown. Perfect for temporary assignments, or housing while you build. Work-from-home ready; high speed internet. Antique finishes & modern convenience. info@aikenluxuryrentals.com. aikenluxuryrentals.com. 803-6482804.

Aiken Luxury Rentals. Fully furnished cottages; walk to downtown. Perfect for temporary assignments, or housing while you build. Work-from-home ready; high speed internet. Antique finishes & modern convenience. info@aikenluxuryrentals.com. aikenluxuryrentals.com. 803-6482804.

Office Space To Rent. High Speed Fiber WiFi. 5 min walk to downtown. 2-3 offices available with shared meeting room and coffee station. All inclusive $500-600/m for individual offices or rent entire space. Gary707-975-9761. UrbanandRuralRoost. com

Office Space To Rent. High Speed Fiber WiFi. 5 min walk to downtown. 2-3 offices available with shared meeting room and coffee station. All inclusive $500-600/m for individual offices or rent entire space. Gary707-975-9761. UrbanandRuralRoost. com

Directory of Services

BOARDING/TURNOUT/TRAINING/SALES

Chime Ridge Stables. Stalls available. 803-508-3760

Sporting Days Farm. 3549 Charleston Hwy, Aiken, SC 29801. 5.5 miles from Aiken byoass. Offers year round, seasonal or short term board as well as dry stalls. 150 acres with trails and practice areas. USEF/USEA Horse Trials in the winter, schooling shows. Visit our website to see all we offer in 2023. www.sportingdaysfarm.com

The Stable On The Woods: Elite boarding & training facility and home to trainers Darrell and Melissa Vaughn. With access to Hitchcock Woods, our barn sits on 70 acres and boasts a full size dressage arena with mirrors, show jumping arena and highquality grass pastures making this the ideal place for you and your horse. Training program to meet your needs, whether your discipline is Dressage, Eventing, Hunters, Jumpers or Foxhunting. thestableonthewoods.com 603.785.0435

Vaughn Equestrian: offering training, sales, and boarding. Professionalism is the guiding principle of owners Darrell and Melissa Vaughn in shaping every component of Vaughn Equestrian. Dressage, Jumpers, Eventing & Young Horses. training and sales. vaughnequestrian.com (603) 785-0435

COMPANION ANIMALS

Trinity Farms Terriers: Irish Russell Terriers. Old World, Healthy 100 year old Bloodlines with proven calmer dispositions. Health & Dispositions guaranteed. Preservation breeders for 48 years. Donna Fitzpatrick 803-648-3137 easyjacks.com, trinityfarmskennel.com

CONSTRUCTION & GRADING & FARM SERVICES

BM Maintenance and More LLC. Allow us to do that honey do list. BBB accredited. Free estimates within Aiken County. (864) 2757180 billymathis@billymathis-maintenance.com or bmmaint21@ gmail.com; 17166 Atomic Rd, Aiken SC 29803(803) 257-1202

G. L. Williams & Daughter. Serving the CSRA for over 54 years. Specializing in hauling, grading, clearing, property maintenance, and excavation. We provide everything from several types of fill dirt, top soil, compost, mortar sands, crushed asphalt/concrete, to screenings and a variety of rocks. Roll-off containers and manure removal available. (803) 663-3715. Certified DBE. WOSB. www. glwdtrucking.com

Southern Ridge Excavation. Drainage, grading, small clearing, pad prep, utility ditching, pond mowing. Third generation family operated; Licensed & insured. Call Alex Koegel. 803-522-5752. southernridgex@gmail.com.

FINANCE/MORTGAGE

Tessa Thompson: Loan officer for New American Funding, local to the CSRA. I am licensed in GA, FL, SC, TN, and AL. I love to help others achieve homeownership and I answer any questions throughout the process. My direct number is 678.665.7916 and my email is Tessa.thompson@nafinc.com. Call me today to get preapproved!

GROOMING & PERSONAL PRODUCTS

All natural goats milk soaps, lotions, hair bars, and candles, as well as horse whitening shampoo, spot remover, saddle bar and more!Find us on Etsy and Facebook!

HAY

Round and Square Bales. Oakwood Farms: 3593 Silver Bluff Road, Aiken SC 29803. $60 per bale round hay bales. $70 per bale round bales kept inside. Square bales at $7.00 per bale. Will deliver for a small fee. Please call 803-645-8960

LB Performance Hay. From Farm to Stable. Local and imported hay; large or small quantities. Hay delivery and unloading. Lou Berizzi: 803-640-5484.

INSURANCE

Betsy Minton, Sterling Thompson Equine, 803-617-8353. Now writing homeowners insurance for private residences. No horses required but certainly welcomed. Access to top-notch underwriters offering customized, affordable coverage. Still delivering excellent competitive insurance options for your horses and farms. betsyminton@sterlingthompson.com. Sterling Thompson Equine: 800 942 4258

INSTRUCTION/LESSONS

Amy McElroy. USDF Gold Medalist and USEF S judge. Instruction and training at all levels. Visit amymcelroy.com or call 803.640-4207. Aiken Horsemanship Academy. Your naturally inspired adult learning resource! Offering Clinics, Courses, Starting young horses, Evaluations, and Lessons. JulieRobins.com 803-220-1768.

Jodi Hemry Eventing. Three-Star Eventer offering professional training, sales, boarding, instruction, horse shows, located in the heart of Aiken. 803-640-6691 JodiHemryEventing@gmail.com JodiHemryEventing.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Allison Wilkins Photography, 843-327-7667, allisonwilkins.photo@ gmail.com. Specializes in Event Photography. Equine Events, Branding, and More. Package pricing tailored to meet your specific needs!

REAL ESTATE/ RENTALS

Aiken Fine Homes and Land. Specializing in selling or renting homes, farms, land & barns for short or long term leases. 29 years experience in helping people find the property of their dreams, even if it takes building it! Call Barbara Lawrence, 803-439-0778 for honest & realistic answers to your real estate questions.

Carolina Real Estate Company. Fine homes, estates and horse properties in Aiken, South Carolina. Let us welcome you home to AIKEN, Home of Horses, History & Hospitality! carolinahorseproperties.com. (803) 648-8660

Sharer Dale, Keller Williams Realty Aiken Partners. “Where town meets country.” sharerdale@gmail.com. 803.522.3648

Suzy Haslup, Meybohm. “Your Aiken Horse Real Estate Specialist.” Buying or selling in the most celebrated equine community in the South. ww.aikenhorserealty.com; 803-215-0153

Tracey Kenworthy Turner, Meybohm. Specializing in marketing & selling Aiken’s horse country properties. southernhorsefarms.com. 803-215-4734.

TACK & TACK CLEANING/REPAIR

The Saddle Doctor. Saddlery and harness repair. 544 Two Notch Rd. HollyMacSpencer@aol.com. 803.642.5166.

Advertising in The Aiken Horse

CLASSIFIED ADS are $25 for the first 30 words & 40 cents for every word thereafter. Add $5 for blind classified.

PHOTO CLASSIFIEDS for horses: $35; Limit 30 words & one picture

PHOTO CLASSIFIEDS for real estate, etc. $45; Limit 60 words & one picture.

BOXED CLASSIFIEDS: add $5 to your total

DIRECTORY LISTING ADS: $25 per issue or $90 for the year (6 issues.)

BUSINESS CARDS: $70 per issue or $290 for the year (6 issues.)

DISPLAY ADS are available in a range of sizes. For a detailed rate sheet and publication schedule, visit our website: TheAikenHorse.com

MAILING ADDRESS: The Aiken Horse, P.O. Box 332, Montmorenci, SC 29839

EMAIL: theAikenHorse@gmail.com

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. Pay for classifieds and business cards online: TheAikenHorse.com Pay a Bill or call us: 803.643.9960

Advertise in the April-May issue! Deadline March 24, 2023

Subscribe: $36 per year. Check out on our website or send your check to Subscriptions, 705 Flowing Well Road. Wagener, SC 29164

Winter

Estate “Live Oak”

years old and gives the house its name. The final addition to the estate was the current 2-car garage and apartment. The main house features 4 large bedrooms with sitting rooms, baths and closets. Custom kitchen with laundry room and pantry flow into a breakfast room. Large dining room opens to expansive living room with intricate mill work. There are 2 sitting rooms off the main living room, a game room, office, wet bar and half bath. There are extensive decks and patios throughout the property overlooking the gardens. The estate includes magnificent gardens, 2-car garage with gardener's bath & apartment, grand pool house, 9 stall barn with 3 paddocks and room for apartment above. Adjacent to the barn is a 3 car garage with a 2 bedroom apartment above. This property is truly a one of a kind and is just steps from Hitchcock Woods.

Burkwood Place

MIKE HOSANG | 803.270.6358 | $999,000

Classic elegance in a location that rarely becomes available, this traditional home was built upon the original site of the Mead Estate, formerly known as ''The Pillars.'' Its proximity to historic Aiken's Winter Colony estates and Horse District, the Hitchcock Woods, the Willcox and downtown dining & shopping makes this home's location very desirable. Spacious rooms, beautiful outdoor spaces and exquisite mature landscaping are some of the wonderful aspects of this property, which is just shy of an acre off Coker Springs Road. There are 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths — choose your primary suite on either the main floor or upstairs! With a former 2-stall barn and space for paddocks, Burkwood Place has horse property potential just steps from the Hitchcock Woods.

Bridle Creek Hunt Box

JACK ROTH 803.341.8787 | $899,000

Historic Horse District

COURTNEY CONGER 803.645.3308 | $1,425,000

Buckland Barn, an historic training facility in Aiken’s downtown Horse District, has spacious 2,787 square foot main residence, combining 2 original cottages with central great room. Cottage is delightfully renovated with wood floors, granite counter tops and all appliances. Two converted race barns have 15 expanded stalls, board fenced paddocks, loft apartment, dressage arena with mirror. Easy access on sandy clay roads to downtown dining and shopping, equestrian venues and Hitchcock Woods.

Equestrian Corridor

MIKE HOSANG 803 270 6358 | $616,220

A rare opportunity in the heart of Aiken’s east side equestrian corridor offering approximately 29 acres of fully established lush pasture, plus over 3 wooded acres for a wonderful home and barn site with a breathtaking lake view. NEW gated entrance from Wagener Road.

East Side Horse Country

MIKE HOSANG 803.270.6358 | $900,000

Conveniently located in the heart of the eastside equestrian corridor, this multi-use 80+ acre parcel offers an opportunity to create a lifestyle of your dreams!

Johnson Lake Estates

Binnicker Farm

TOM MURRAY 626.644.3008 | $599,000

Turn-key cattle farm that includes cattle, calves and all the equipment. Beautiful rolling pastures with coastal Bermuda grass hayfields. The trees provide shade for the animals and each field has a water source. There is a large 50 x 75 foot barn with three separate bays and 2 additional outbuildings. There is an ideal space for a mobile or modular home with water and a septic system already installed. Located in historic Cope, SC. (Adjacent home not included)

Country Ranch

RANDY WOLCOTT 803.507.1142 | $485,000

Ready for horses, dogs, goats, or cattle, or roadside store. Brick home on 11 acres has 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, large family room with covered deck and screened porch, kitchen with breakfast room, and quiet living room with wood stove insert in the masonry fireplace. Separate building could be a wonderful shop, garage or retail space along Columbia Hwy. Additional out buildings include a garden shed and a 3-bay tractor shed with 2 stalls.

COURTNEY CONGER 803.645.3308 $524,000

Great opportunity to own over 40 wooded acres located off Storm Branch Road, convenient to Aiken and Augusta. This property is close into town but has wonderful privacy, with horse farms and waterfront residential properties nearby.

Fox Hollow on the Lake

MIKE HOSANG 803.270.6358 | $111,070

Gated equestrian community with walking/riding trails, jumping and dressage arenas, cross country course. Lot 59 has 7.66 acres offered at $14,500 per acre.

Established Pasture

RANDY WOLCOTT 803.507.1142 | $222,000

Lovely 12 acre parcel on Moore Road in east side horse country! Cleared parcel with established grass waiting for your improvements.

The Paddocks MIKE HOSANG 803.270.6358

Build your horse property in a desirable equestrian development with convenient south side location. Owners enjoy community riding trails and training arena.

Lot 9A has 12.58 acres $245,000 | Lot 12A has 11.1 acres $194,250

Bridle Creek

JACK ROTH 803.341.8787

Equestrian homesites available in desirable development. Community amenities include dressage arena with mirrors, miles of trails, clubhouse/fitness center.

Lot 21 has 6.29 acres $199,000 | Lot 50 has 5.55 acres $175,000

LIKE NEW Hunt Box on 5.4 acres with 1,932

heated/cooled square feet. Main home has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths with 1 bedroom/1 bath apartment. Features include 2 on-demand water heaters, high ceilings, screened porch, marble counter tops in kitchen and all baths, gas logs in fireplace, custom kitchen with gas stove and all LG appliances. Horse amenities include 3 stalls (12x12 size), automatic fly spray system, heated/cooled tack room, separate hay shed, private riding ring with silica footing, 2 run-in sheds, all 5.4 acres completely fenced. Amenities include miles of trails, dressage ring with mirrors, jumping ring, cross country course, club house/fitness center and picturesque surroundings.

Shadow Lane Farm

BARB GOULD USKUP 803.295.3199 | $500,500

Ideally located in 302 Horse Country surrounded by beautiful horse farms, these 91 acres provide the opportunity to create your private paradise. Fertile soil, with 30 cleared acres and the remainder wooded, could be a horse farm, a hunting preserve, an agricultural farm, or just a private retreat. OFFERED at $5,500 per acre

Twin Oaks Farm

BARB GOULD USKUP 803.295.3199 | $275,000

Stunning sweeping vistas on fully perimeter fenced 11 + acre Farmette close to Aiken and surrounding horse country. Darling cabin style cottage remodeled in 2018 features an open floor plan with LVP and tile flooring, well-designed kitchen with quartz counters and stainless appliances, sitting area, full bath with custom tile shower, laundry, and spacious bedroom loft all cleverly designed to be highly functional and beautiful as well. Additional structure currently used as office with large porch provides additional space. Equestrian amenities include a thoughtfully designed center aisle run-in shed with 2 stalls, easily converted to a barn or expansion as desired, a large pasture (5.5 acres), and large storage/shop with a tack room.