Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt, REALTOR®
803.640.4591
Aiken, South Carolina — Southern Charm and Equestrian Sport 215 GRace
MLS # 105455
• The Stables in Historic Horse Dist. • 3 acres, 9 stall barn, tack room • 2 wash stalls, 6 paddocks • Convert a part of The Stables to unique residence or build dream pied-a-terre in the park like setting • Two add’l parcels available • $1,200,000
322 Rushton Rd
MLS # 105176
• Updated turnkey horse farm • 11 acres • 3BR 3BA brick home, garage & in-ground pool • 4 stall barn, wash stall, feed & tack room
525 lauRens st
1063 colbeRt bRidGe
MLS # 97065
MLS # 102282
• 3 large grass paddocks w/ water & run-in sheds • Fenced grass riding arena • $599,950
534 maRion st se MLS # 102676
• 8.32 acres in the heart of Aiken’s Historic Horse Distr. • Restored 1BR 1BA residence • 11 stall barn w/ separate covered wash stall • 4 large, irrigated, cross-fenced grass paddocks • Multi function carriage bldg • $2,200,000
• 8.5 acre Hitchcock Stables • 8 large paddocks • Adjoins The Woods • 27 12x12 stall barn • Original family stable yard dating from 1882 • 2 carriage sheds, bunk house • $2,300,000
1218 stiefel Rd
904 wildwood Rd
MLS # 105212
• Agnus Forest Farm - 302 corridor • 2800 sq ft, gated, in-ground pool • 6 stall cent. aisle barn/half bath • 4 grass fields (new fencing 2017), 1 run in shed • 8 acres • $750,000
MLS # 103934
• El Cedro Azul Farm on 67 acres with exceptional training facility • 12 stall barn, 4 stall barn w/ apt • Sand exercise track
• 10 paddocks, fenced grass ring • Crepe Myrtle Cottage • Euro-walker, 3 storage buildings, 3 ponds • Executive home, large private lot in Kalmia Hills • 4BR 3BA residence, in-ground pool • Located near Downtown Aiken, USCA, Aiken • $1,800,000 Regional Hospital • 5BR 4BA, green house, maintained garden space w/irrigation & separate well • $250,000
1440 smith lawn dRive
MLS # 103247
• Welcome to Pleasant View Farm • Some of the most popular equestrian venues are nearby like the Highfields & Bruces Field • 2593 sq ft over a 9 stall center aisle barn
• Two separate well appointed residences conveniently located above the barn • HOA includes access to riding trials, gallop track, jump field and a stick and ball field
• 2 tack rooms, 7 large paddocks, equipment shed & hay storage • First Residence 3BR 2BA • Second Residence 2BR 1BA • HOA fee $1200 per year • $649,500
www.AikenSCProperties.com 2
The Aiken Horse
June-July 2019
FOX HALL
$2.19 MILLION
BRIDLEWOOD FARM $1.75 MILLION
FARMSTEAD
$899,000
UNDER CONTRACT Spectacular 6836 sq. ft. gated Horse District brick manor house renovated in 1999 with hardwood floors, commercial grade kitchen, fireplaces, 2 master suites, art studio, 4 stall brick barn, guesthouse & 5.43 acres of organically managed irrigated pasture & grounds. All board fenced with 3 run-in sheds. Easy access to Hitchcock Woods on the clay roads.
GRAY WOODS
$489,000
Two story, 4 bedroom/4.5 bath, 3576 sf brick home by Todd Gaul of Designer Builders. Beautiful hardwood floors, tranquil setting and minutes from the heart of Downtown Aiken. Twenty acres located in a premier equestrian corridor ready for selective clearing for a horse farm or may be subdivided by future buyers.
EDISTO LAKE
$259,000
Premier state of the art boarding/training facility with 28 stalls, 26 irrigated paddocks, 250 x 160 GGT footing ring, 2 BR/2 BA luxurious owners apartment, grooms quarters & camera monitoring system. Business opportunity with strong client base. Additional 37 +/- acres available for purchase with established trail system.
WOOD’S END WAY
$648,000
Ride into the Hitchcock Woods from your new construction light filled 3 BR/3.5 BA custom hardiplank home with 3 stall barn, wash stall, tack room, storage & fenced turnout on 3.51 A with the ability to purchase more land. Wood floors, high ceilings, gas fireplace & chef’s kitchen with granite counters. Must see!
HOPELAND FARM
$725,000
Larlee Construction 4 bedroom lake front home w/4.84 A in bucolic gated southside development. Reclaimed pine floors, cathedral & coffered 10’ ceilings, shiplap walls, fireplace w/pine built-ins, quartzite countertops, mahogany kitchen island, Viking appliances, 3 car garage w/workshop & pool overlooking 30 A lake.
RACELAND STABLE
$535,000
Aiken Horse District on the clay roads with access to the Aiken Training Track & a short hack to the polo fields & Hitchcock Woods. 20 stall barn w/tack room, feed room, office & barn apartment. Add’l. 1752 sq ft dormitory has 3 apartments. 6 stall Eurociser, paddocks, round pen and wash stall on almost an acre.
FOX HOLLOW LOTS
UNDER CONTRACT Enjoy lakefront living in Edisto Lake gated community with easy access to Aiken and Columbia. Spectacular sunsets, dock, and plenty of space for entertaining and outdoor activities. Beautiful views from light filled two bedroom two bath home with wood floors, wood stove and deck. Pontoon boat available with acceptable offer. $
107,400
10.74 ACRES
TWIN SILOS - LOT 2
Custom hardiplank open floor plan w/3 BR/3 BA on main level & large bonus. Hardwood floors, fireplace & all appliances included. Over 5 A for your horses, 5 run-in sheds, 2 stall barn w/tack & feed room & ample newly fenced paddocks. Screened porch leads to spacious entertaining decks w/stone fireplace, waterfall spa & saltwater infinity pool. Spectacular property w/ extensive trail system close to downtown.
WEXFORD MILL TRACT L
$89,900
12.41 A
Fox Hollow covers just under 800 acres including a trail over beautiful Johnson Lake, irrigated show rings, mirrored dressage ring, cross country course and fabulous trails. Choose from one of these available lots and build your dream farm. LOT 27 19.89A $200,000 LOT 1B 7.71A $77,100 LOT 46 8.9A $50,000
KALMIA HILLS 3 BR/2 BA
$169,000
Fabulous land & lots available: Twin Silos Farms, Wood’s End Way & Fox Hollow
803-215-0153 • www.AikenHorseRealty.com June-July 2019
The Aiken Horse
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Your HOME Team
your best friend in real-estate
finehomesofaiken.com
SHELBORNE FARM is a gracious 4 BR 4.5 BA custom residence on 50 acres with magnificent views. Interior features are 5 fireplaces, granite counter tops, 2nd floor observation deck, wood floors, stunning 2-story great room, and a framed-in apartment over the garage. Six-stall barn with wash rack & feed room, dressage ring, 150x300 huinter-jumper ring. Board-fenced pastures. Three-car garage. $950,000
THE BALCONY is the most prestigious equestrian estate in Aiken, a comfortable showplace in the heart of Aiken’s “Winter Colony.” Close to all equestrian venues, the 5.85-acre compound is a peaceful sanctuary within tall masonry walls. The elegant slate-roofed residence shows refined craftsmanship in every detail. Stately formal rooms. 6 ensuite bedrooms w/fireplaces. Kitchen, laundry, & utilities are all updated. Exquisite gardens & lawns. 20-stall stable, 3-BR cottage, swimming pool, large paddocks. $2,450,000
TREASURE FARM is a rare downtown gem, within
SNIPES POND is a 4028 sf renovated historic
CHADBOURN FARM offers an idyllic equestrian HIGH COTTON FARM This equestrian estate has a
sight of the Coker Spring entrance to Hitchcock Woods. Charming 3-BR cottage with 8-stall barn & 3 paddocks. Beautiful Master Suite. Large screened porch in the rear, plus two covered porches. Wood floors. Fireplaces in the Living & Dining Rooms. Magnificently renovated & beautifully maintained. Barn has 1/2 bath, prep room, sink, temperature-controlled secure tack room, & hayloft. Appliances, water heater, screen porch, & HVAC all within last 4 years. $800,000
UNDER CONTRACT
plantation home on 46 acres of beautiful rolling farm land. The top-quality renovation by skilled craftsmen from Reynolds Co. offers modern amenities such as a granite kitchen island, French country sink, walk-in closets, ceiling fans, & security system. multiple porches on both floors, and handsome wood floors. The 46.31 acres are ideal for farming, horses, other recreation or quiet enjoyment. Additional acreage available. $769,900
lifestyle. The 3000 sq.ft. 4 BR 3 BA residence was built in 2005 and extensively updated in 2017. Light-filled interior. Great Room with fireplace. Formal dining room. Wood floors, hickory cabinets, & granite counter tops. Spacious master suite. 12 acres includes a 6-stall centeraisle barn with wash rack and tack room. Large fenced pastures, dressage arena, and 6.5 cleared acres for any equestrian use. $735,000
SNIPES POND ROAD 16 wooded acres available
CASA LOUISA Charming Old Aiken cottage in fantastic 2/BR Horse District location at Hitchcock Woods. High ceilings, heart pine floors, updated kitchen with granite & stainless appliances. Many updated windows. Plus office/studio. Large pantry. Stack-up washer-dryer is a recent addition, as is the metal roof. Lovely library. Renovated bath, jetted tub. Kitchen’s French doors lead to great outdoor patio space. Beautiful front garden, fenced backyard, detached garage (440 sq.ft. per owner). Location!! Quiet equestrian street 5 blocks from The Willcox. $304,000
for use as a residence, farm, hunting land or whatever your heart desires. Short trip to I-20, about 12 minutes to downtown Aiken, and close to Aiken’s equestrian schooling and event facilities. Beautifully forested in pines and oaks, the land is level and easy to clear for pasture. Adjacent to marvelous horse farm. No mobile homes. Motivated seller is asking $88,000.
SOLD
4 BR/4 BA residence and 4 or 5 stall barn with charming apartment, all on 12.47 acres. Located close to town, the farm has 5 fenced grass paddocks and an electric gate entrance. The home has: new roof, numerous upgrades, tankless water heater, and new interior colors. Gas heat, thermal-pane windows. Extra-large master suite downstairs. $925,000
TOLT TRAIL Aiken horse farm in fine condition. Almost 20 acres. Adjacent to Performance Equine Vet. Center. Great floor plan. Oak & vinyl floors. Top-quality kitchen, bay-window breakfast room. Master suite with views & large walk-in closet; adjacent 4th bedroom is excellent office. Propane for gas logs & tankless water heater. The deck, HVAC and well pump were new in 2018. Whole house generator. Saltwater pool with Badu swimming current. 4-stall barn w/water & electricity, feed storage, & tack room w/shelving. 5 turn-outs with 3 run-in sheds. One paddock is ideal as dressage field. $539,000
The finest farms in Aiken, South Carolina. Call 803-640-0123 for estates, farms, homes & land.
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SECTION 8 10 18 20 25 26 Our cover features Gangster CHS and Kris Killam, winners of the Aiken Spring Classic Finale Grand Prix at Highfields Event Center this April. Gangster CHS is owned by Helene Jones. Photography by Pam Gleason.
Summer in Aiken News and Notes Grand Prix Jumping Weeds Ask the Judge Horse Book
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Caroline Wehle and Acorino compete in the Grand Prix. Spring Fever dressage show at Stable View. Photography by Pam Gleason
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Stay Cool Alison Head Secret Lives Dressage at Stable View Sharon Wilson Pan Am Prep The Hound Show
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Katrina Becker (1931-2019) with her four-in-hand on South Boundary, 2013. Photography by Gary Knoll
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Foals Classifieds Directory of Services Aiken Polo Calendar of Events Index of advertisers
June-July 2019
June-July 2019
Aiken
The
Horse
Aiken’s Horse Publication
P.O. Box 332 • Montmorenci, SC 29839-0332 • 803.643.9960 •
www.TheAikenHorse.com • Editor@TheAikenHorse.com
Time Dated Material • Periodicals • Volume 14 • Number 6
W
hen I first moved to Aiken 15 years ago, I thought I would be a snowbird. I imagined that I would stay here for the fall, winter and spring and then pack everything up and spend the summer in New England. There was not nearly as much activity here during the summer months as there is now, and I imagined that summer in the South would be so hot I wouldn’t be able to stand it. That first summer, I did go away for a significant period. But the next year I stayed. And I soon discovered that summer in Aiken is its most underappreciated season. It certainly can be hot and humid, but that is true in many equestrian summer destinations. Riding here on summer mornings can be very pleasant – for one thing, the biting insects in Aiken are easier to deal with than they are in many other parts of the country. And it is truly beautiful here. The pastures grow lush and thick and there are wildflowers blooming everywhere. The feeders are mobbed with hummingbirds, and every night the tree frogs give concerts in the woods. It is a quieter time of year downtown, and there are not as many competitive horse events, but summer in Aiken has its own special magic, and I am always a little sad in September on that first night when I need a sweatshirt.
June-July 2019
Whether you are in Aiken this summer or have migrated elsewhere, we hope that you enjoy this issue. We have pictures from polo at Aiken Polo Club, from the Grand Prix showjumping competitions at Highfields Event Center and Bruce’s Field, and from one of this spring’s recognized dressage shows at Stable View. In this section, we have a brief field guide to some of the more common weeds that might be growing in your pasture, an overview of the summer season, and we take a trip down memory lane with our writer Mary Jane Howell who remembers some of her favorite horse books from childhood. Our second section has profiles of Alison Head, a new face in Aiken’s dressage world, as well as Sharon Wilson, a former foxhunter and lifelong equestrian who now makes and sells horse-themed pottery from her local studio. We also introduce you to a pair of retired horses for our Secret Lives series. These two, Chalk and Ridley, are former school horses owned by Karen Jones of New Era Farm. At 38 and 40, they are the oldest horses we have profiled so far. Our third section features the third edition of our special foals feature, The Foals of 2019, and we are looking forward to introducing these babies and watching them grow up. There is always something so hopeful and exciting about foals As ever, we want to be your horse newspaper, so if you have an idea for an article, or you know something that you think we should know, send us an email and let us know. Wherever you are, have a wonderful summer.
The Aiken Horse EDITOR & PUBLISHER Pam Gleason
ART DIRECTOR Gary Knoll
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jean Berko Gleason
LAYOUT & DESIGN Gary Knoll
PHOTOGRAPHERS Pam Gleason Gary Knoll
ADVERTISING
803.643.9960 editor@theaikenhorse.com
Going Out Of Town? Don’t miss future issues of The Aiken Horse. We will send you a one year subscription (6 issues) for $24.00. Send check or CC # & your mailing address: P.O. Box 332, Montmorenci, SC 29839 Or sign up on the web at www.TheAikenHorse. com
Aiken
The
Horse
Aiken’s Horse Publication
Pam Gleason Editor & Publisher
All contents Copyright 2019 The Aiken Horse The Aiken Horse Policies: The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers, editors, or the policies of The Aiken Horse, LLC. The Aiken Horse is owned by The Aiken Horse, LLC.
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Summer in Aiken Vacation time By Pam Gleason
A
fter all the activity during the fall, winter and spring, Aiken’s horse scene slows down when summer comes around. The equestrian seasons here follow a predictable calendar, each attracting a different population of horse people. September through October there are polo players; November through March, foxhunters. The eventing crowd arrives after Christmas and is gone by the end of March. The hunter/ jumper crowd flocks to our spring shows from April through June. Driving enthusiasts are here in the fall and winter, as are dressage riders and anyone from a Northern clime who just wants to get out of the cold. Although the summer competition calendar is growing all the time, the warmer months here tend to be more about tending to your garden, both literally and figuratively. It is a quieter season: there seems to be a little more time in the days, not just because there is more daylight, but because there is less pressure to be out and about. There is no one discipline that dominates the summer months, but if there is one thing that does characterize them, it is that Aiken’s summer horsemen tend to concentrate more on training than on competition. There are shows, of course, but the majority of them are schooling opportunities that would be appropriate for the greenest horses and riders.
Summer in Paradise
Lellie Ward, who owns and runs Paradise Farm, one of Aiken’s original eventing facilities, says that she appreciates the summers in Aiken because they give her a chance to pay more attention to her farm, mowing, clearing and maintaining her rings, jumps and courses so that they are in pristine shape during Aiken’s busy months. She says that she is not bothered by the heat, and that she teaches and trains all summer long. “When we do have those times when it is too hot, I like that too,” she says. “It gives me a chance to spend the afternoon in the office, taking care of paperwork, and all the other things that you have to do to keep a farm like Paradise running smoothly.” This summer, Lellie says there will not be shows and events at the farm. Instead, she will be doing a lot of traveling, bringing her acclaimed “Ride Better” clinics to horsemen from Charleston to New England and beyond. She has developed a system of teaching and training that has helped many riders become safer and more secure in the saddle, and she is in growing demand as a trainer and a clinician. Meanwhile, Paradise Farm, which has been her labor of love for almost a quarter of a century, is for sale. It is a complete eventing facility with stadium and dressage rings, a full cross country course, stables and a house – a turnkey operation for someone who wants a professional setup. “I love the farm, and I hope that whoever buys it will continue on with what I started,” she says. “But it is time for me to make a change, to move on to the next phase of my life.”
It Never Stops at Stable View
One place where the action never slows down much is Stable View, which has become one of the most respected enterprises in the area. Stable View will hold monthly recognized dressage shows all summer long, as well as a recognized horse trials on June 22. There will also be “eventing academy” schooling days and horse trials in July and August. These are extraordinary schooling opportunities for green horses or riders, since they afford an opportunity to school over the cross country
June-July 2019
course, the stadium jumps and in the dressage arena on the first day, and then compete on the second day where you have just schooled the day before. You may also elect to ride on the schooling day or the competition day only. In addition, Stable View will continue to hold monthly schooling hunter and jumper shows all summer long. According to Amber Lee, who is the office manager at the facility, Stable View has some amenities that make competing there in the summer a little cooler than it might be somewhere else. For one thing, although the dressage and hunter rings are outside and exposed to the sun, the warm-up takes place in the oversized covered arena, where the temperature is always a little lower. They also offer a cooling station with a misting fan. Finally, during the summer months, action starts early in the morning. The hunter/jumper shows, for instance, which normally have their first classes at 10 a.m., commence at 8 a.m. in the summertime, and might be expected to be over by the early afternoon, depending in the number of exhibitors. Stable View is about more than just horses. The facility is also used for weddings, and of course summer is a popular time for that. There are also active nature programs, including a large number of monitored bluebird houses that have been helping to bolster the population of native songbirds in the area. Stable View has even had kestrels reproducing successfully in their nesting boxes this year. Finally, working with the biologist Mark Pavlovsky, they have installed nesting sites and provided habitat for the endangered red cockaded woodpecker. This May, they documented that at least a few birds have discovered the farm and moved in.
More Events and Activities
There are several other equestrian venues that will be holding shows and competitions over the summer months. These include Bruce’s Field downtown, which will be the site of the Aiken Summer Classic horse show, put on by the Classic Company during the middle of June. This is a new show for Aiken, which has seen its premier horse show calendar expand into the summer for the first time this year. After this recognized show, there will be several unrecognized and schooling shows at Highfields Event Center throughout the summer. These will keep Aiken’s horse show crowd sharp, though many of the area’s serious hunter/jumper riders will take advantage of recognized shows that are a few hours away. They may go to Charleston for the Charleston Summer Classic in July, or make the trip to the Tryon International Equestrian Center for weekly recognized shows there. Back in Aiken, more schooling opportunities for event riders can be found at The Vista, which is holding clinics and other outings, as well as at Full Gallop Farm, which has several schooling and recognized competitions, as well as a series of horse trials geared to young horses or those that are new to the sport. There will also be low key organized activities for horsemen in other disciplines, including hound walks in the Hitchcock Woods for foxhunters, and some easy polo practice for players who want to school green horses or keep their made horses fit. Aiken’s busy calendar from September through June coincides almost exactly with the school year, which makes those fast-paced months seem very similar to being back at school. This gives the Aiken summer a feeling that recalls the summers of childhood, when June, July and August meant one thing only: vacation.
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News and Notes By Pam Gleason
Seeing Double
Spectators at Aiken Polo Club matches were seeing double pretty frequently this spring. No, the club was not serving especially strong cocktails. The double vision was caused by two sets of identical twins that were both playing in tournaments at the same time. One pair of twins was the 15-year-old Leitner sisters, Robyn and Reagan. The other was the 19-year old Caldwell brothers, Harry and Charlie, both students at USC Aiken and members of the intercollegiate polo team there.
Both sets of twins have been playing in Aiken for a couple of years, but this was the first year that all four were frequently playing with and against one another. In one particularly striking match on April 21, the Leitner girls, playing for Midstate Roofing, met the Caldwell boys, playing for Atlanta Regional Polo Club, in the finals of the USPA Dogwood Cup. (Midstate Roofing, rounded out by the brother-andsister team Hope and Lucas Arellano emerged victorious over Atlanta’s two Caldwells, Michael Bradford and Jolie Liston.) When the National Youth Tournament Series came to town the following weekend, the twin thing was on display again, with both sets of local twins being joined by Brianna and Madison Jordan, a pair of polo playing twins from Maryland. Fortunately for spectators, Brianna and Madison are not identical. Some sets of identical twins choose to do different things so that they feel more like individuals, while others enjoy the twin bond so much they do everything together. Aiken’s polo playing twins are definitely in the latter category. The Leitner sisters are so alike they often finish one another’s sentences and sometimes even talk in unison, saying exactly the same thing at exactly the same time. Both young women are horse fanatics who competed in barrel racing before they switched over to polo. Now that they have, there is no going back. “When you find your passion, that is what you do,” they said.
New Chairman, President For Training Track
As of this April the Aiken Training Track has a new chairman and a new president. The Aiken Training Track in the historic district downtown is the site of the Aiken Trials each spring and a place where
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young horses are prepared for careers on the racetrack every winter. First opened in 1942, it is in the National Register of historic properties in South Carolina and is managed by a board of shareholders. At the annual shareholder’s meeting this spring, Chad Ingram was elected to be the chairman, while Alice Knowles took over as president. Chad and Alice, who were both vice presidents of the track before the meeting, replaced Bruce Johnstone and Cary Frommer, respectively. Frommer had been president for the last two years, while Johnstone took over the chairmanship last spring. Frommer is a respected racehorse trainer whose stable of 60-odd horses is one of the track’s mainstays, while Johnstone, who is not currently an Aiken resident, is a former trainer who has been the New York Racing Association’s Manager of Racing Operations since 2007. The Aiken Training Track has been going through a transitional period in recent years, and its shareholders are tasked with finding ways to keep it viable and relevant in the changing equestrian landscape of the city, and the ever-evolving world of Thoroughbred racehorses. The track was once the winter training ground of some of the most prestigious racing operations in the country. Horse owners would send their young horses to Aiken to prepare for the biggest races in the country, and the barns around the track were filled with equine athletes that would go on to become household names. But the big stables are gone now, and there are many fewer horses galloping over the historic track each winter. Meanwhile, Aiken’s reputation in other disciplines has grown, and many of the stables that once housed champion racehorses have been eagerly purchased by owners of champion event horses, show horses and foxhunters. The Aiken Trials, which marks the end of the winter training season, has become more popular for spectators, even as the races have become less important for trainers. The new management of the track is reportedly already looking at ways to revitalize the program, which will be even more vital to the track’s future considering that Cary Frommer, who resigned as president because she is ready to spend more time with her family after over 35 years in the business, is hoping to reduce her training stable from about 60 horses to about 25. Considering that there were only around 100 horses training at the track this winter, that is likely to make a big difference.
Colt named for Cot
W. Cothran Campbell, who was one of Aiken’s most iconic horsemen before his death last October, will soon have a namesake on the racetrack. Cot was the founder and president of Dogwood Stable and the pioneer in racehorse partnerships. Credited with bringing more than 1,200 new owners into racing, his partnerships were incredibly successful, producing over 70 stakes winners, including Storm Song, winner of the 1996 Breeder’s Cup for Juvenile Fillies and the American Champion 2-year-old filly. Dogwood also owned Summer Squall, who won the Preakness Stakes in 1990 and Palace Malice, who won the Belmont in 2013. Dogwood horses won over $26 million in purses. In 2013, Campbell, then 86, decided to take a step back from full time work. Dogwood merged with Eclipse Partnerships, a successful racehorse syndicate with similar training and operating philosophies. This offered investors in Dogwood, as well as much of its staff, a seamless transition to a future beyond Cot’s leadership. At the end of this April, Eclipse Partnerships spent $550,000 to
June-July 2019
TEAMWORK TECHNOLOGY TRUST As the largest equine veterinary equine practice in the CSRA, Southern Equine Service is the only equine clinic with advanced diagnostic capabilities and a seasoned staff on par with those services offered at regional teaching facilities. Our team of veterinarians offer a multi-disciplinary approach to patient diagnosis that ensures optimum outcomes. Our in-house technology resources are unmatched and include the area’s only bone scan and 0.31 Tesla high resolution MRI. All of our doctors are equipped with portable radiograph and ultrasound capabilities to immediately address your horse’s needs while on-site. Most importantly, our dedication to delivering quality care is reflected in the strong doctor-client relationships we continue to build.
RN EQUINE SER E V TH
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In short, when you give SES the reins, you get better results.
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1 2 5 8 Ba n ks M i l l R d • A ik e n, S C 2 9 803 • 803-6 4 4 -1 54 4 • s ou th er n eq u i n es erv i c e.c o m June-July 2019
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purchase a 2-year-old colt from Palace Malice’s first crop at the Ocala spring sale of 2-year-olds in training. They are naming the colt Cothran in Campbell’s honor. Cothran’s dam is a 2006 unraced mare named Moon Beamy, by Malibu Moon and out of a Forty Niner stallion. This is her third foal. Her first, Daddy Justice by Lantana Mob (2012) won six races for a total of $290,388. Her second, Transgress by Into Mischief (2015), sold for $225,000 as a yearling at the Fasig Tipton August sale in 2016 and has earned $73,940 so far. Palace Malice, who became Aiken’s favorite son after his Belmont win, stands at stud at Three Chimney’s Farm in Kentucky for a surprisingly modest $15,000 fee. He covered 275 mares in his first two books, and foals from these first crops have been impressive. Last year, five of his freshman progeny sold for over $200,000 apiece at the yearling sales. This year, his highest priced 2-year-old, a colt out of Miss Always Ready, went for $850,000 at the OBS 2-year-olds in training sale in March, making him one of the sales toppers. When ranked by the average sales price of his yearlings last year, Palace Malice was one of the top ten freshman sires in the country. Anything can happen in racing, but it seems that the big horse’s first offspring are living up to their promise. Only a few of his 2-yearolds have hit the racetrack as of this writing, but two of them, Letsstaypositive and Two for Ten, both fillies, won their first races by over four lengths each, one at Keeneland and the other at Delaware Park.
Remembering Katrina Becker
The Aiken horse world was saddened to learn of the death of Katrina Hickox Matheson Becker on May 21. Mrs. Becker was a lifelong horsewoman and a generous and devoted supporter of the equestrian world in Aiken and beyond. Born in New York City and a graduate of the Foxcroft School in Virginia and Bennett College in North Carolina, she was involved in many different equestrian disciplines, from foxhunting and showing hunters when she was young to owning
This Just In: Stripes Confuse Flies
Why are there no indigenous horses in sub-Saharan Africa, but plenty of zebras? The main reason is probably because of two diseases: African Sleeping Sickness (trypanosomiasis) and African Horse Sickness, both potentially deadly diseases spread by flies, most especially by tsetse flies. These insects have been described as looking like houseflies on steroids and acting like horse flies because they have a nasty bite. Zebras are more tolerant of the two main African diseases than horses, but they also have the advantage that they are not as attractive to flies. Why not? Probably because of their stripes. For a long time, scientists have been trying to understand exactly what benefit zebras derive from being so oddly decorated. Do the stripes keep the animals cooler in the hot sun? Do they provide camouflage? Do they visually confuse their predators? The best explanation has been that the stripes somehow reduce the likelihood of being bitten by flies, a hypothesis that is growing in popularity. A new study, conducted by Tim Caro of the University of California Davis, Martin How of the University of Bristol and their colleagues, appears to bear out that hypothesis. The study, published this spring in the open-access journal PLOS One, compared the behavior of horse flies as they attempted to prey on zebras and solid colored horses held in similar paddocks. The researchers found that flies circled and touched horses and zebras at similar rates, but actually landed on zebras less than one-quarter as often. When horses were outfitted with a striped, black and white zebra-suit, flies landed far less often on the striped coat, but just as often on their heads, which remained uncovered. The authors found that while flies slowed down before landing on horses, they zoomed into zebras at a high rate of speed, often crashing onto the zebra and bouncing off before flying away again. As a result, flies were much less successful at biting zebras. “Zebra stripes are now believed to have evolved to thwart attack by biting flies,” remarked the study’s authors. “We observed and filmed the behavior of horse flies near captive zebras and horses and found that flies failed to decelerate close to stripes, preventing controlled landings. This finding provides further support for the hypothesis that the evolutionary benefit of zebra stripes is to reduce biting by predatory flies.” What does this mean for the horse owner? Maybe that when you buy your horse a flysheet, the ones with the zebra pattern are a good idea.
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The Aiken Horse
Katrina Matheson Becker presents an award to Joseph Ferguson at the 1966 C.W. Post Horse Show on Long Island successful racehorses when she was older. In Aiken today, Mrs. Becker was best known for her association with the driving world. Riding atop her impeccable carriage pulled by her impressive four-in-hand, she was a familiar sight in Aiken’s carriage parades until a few years ago. The owner of Katydid Farm in Windsor, she was a cofounder (with her former daughter-in-law Jenifer Matheson) of the Katydid Combined Driving Event, which is one of the most important and prestigious CDEs in the country, and is largely responsible for putting Aiken on the driving map. Her breeding program at Katydid has produced numerous successful horses and ponies for driving and sporting activities. Mrs. Becker’s contributions to equestrian sport are both too numerous to mention and were often made with so little fanfare and desire for recognition that they are all but invisible to the outside world. One of her many gifts to the horse world was helping to establish women’s polo at the intercollegiate level through her 1976 gift of the Katydid Trophy to the United States Polo Association for the National Intercollegiate Women’s Championship. This was invaluable in helping women’s polo gain legitimacy in what was, at the time, an almost thoroughly male-dominated activity. Since 1999, Mrs. Becker lived at Oakmeade, the grand Winter Colony estate built by Julian Peabody for the polo player Devereux Milburn. She was a supporter of countless charities and causes, both personally and through her family’s Barker Welfare Foundation. She was passionate about the preservation of open land as well as about Aiken and its horse world. In honor of this, the family has asked that memorial contributions be directed to two of her favorite nonprofits, The Hitchcock Woods Foundation or the Aiken Land Conservancy. Mrs. Becker leaves three daughters, one son (Bill Matheson of Aiken) seven grandchildren, a sister and a brother. She was 88.
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Courtney Conger
Randy Wolcott
Suzan McHugh
Thomas Bossard Brian Cavanaugh Jane Page Thompson Donnita Harmon
803.645.3308
803.292.8525
.
803.507.1142
803.640.2845
Lee Hedlund
803.221.6831 803.624.6072
Mike Hosang
Frank Starcher
803.270.6358 803.215.8232
803.270.6623
.
803.508.1936
Jack Roth
Alex Tyrteos
803.341.8787
203.249.3071
Barb Uskup
Melissa Major
HOMES . HORSES HISTORY . HOSPITALITY
803.295.3199 Broker In Charge
.648.8660
www CarolinaHorseProperties com . 803
Sandhurst Estate . Beautifully restored Winter Colony residence has 8
Willow Oak Farm . Turn-key equestrian facility on
bedrooms, 9 full baths, 2 half baths, and 10 fireplaces on 3 finished levels. Encompassing over 10,000 square feet, Sandhurst features soaring ceilings, elegant wainscoting and millwork, original heart of pine floors, and magnificent architectural details. Includes stunning pool, landscaped gardens, and 5 stall barn. Set on just over 5 acres adjacent to Hopelands Gardens, there is a private deeded riding easement to Hitchcock Woods. Call Thomas Bossard $2, 495,000
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Oak Tree Farm Country contemporary with 3 bedrooms and 3 full baths is nestled among live oaks on over 48 acres of board fenced pastures. All new baths and kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite counters, and all new wood & tile floors throughout. Sunlit great room and master bedroom feature cathedral ceilings and window walls with sweeping views of in ground pool and coastal fields. Center aisle barn has 3 stalls with room for more, tack & feed room, run-in and storage space. Call Courtney Conger $699,000
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Gardener’s Rest Priced below appraised value, this gem is the perfect mix of country living within 10 minutes of downtown Aiken. Remodeled ranch with spacious newer wing addition has 3 bedrooms, 2 updated full baths and updated kitchen, all set on a stunningly landscaped 2-acre lot. The fenced yard welcomes your fur friends, and offers a spot for a horse or two! Call Barb Uskup $194,500
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Gopher Farm Located in an equestrian area near Windsor is this partially developed horse property including over 20 acres with two board fenced fields, run in shed and unfinished barn with four stalls. There are 2 wells and 4 septic systems in place. Gopher Tortoise Preserve is located across the street and also adjacent to the property and offers miles of protected riding trails. Call Courtney Conger or Randy Wolcott $130,000
over 42 acres of board fenced fields includes handsome 16-stall barn with tack & feed rooms, wash stall, and spacious lounge. Well-appointed owner’s apartment features open floor plan with 2 bedrooms, custom kitchen, living room with fireplace. Arena with professional footing for dressage or jumping, trail riding around spring fed pond. Call Courtney Conger or Randy Wolcott $525,000
Stratford Farm . Five miles from downtown Aiken lies this 64 acre hill-
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Scott’s Estate This landmark 63.85 acre property, conveniently located only 6 miles from downtown Aiken, includes a spectacular 7 acre pond, fed by Shaw's Creek with natural swimming pool. Beautifully planted hardwood trees and extensive lawns sweep down from the house to the pond and a backdrop of mature pines behind the pond complete the dramatic landscape. The house has 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths, large farmhouse kitchen with eat-in alcove & wood burning fireplace, and large Florida room with second fireplace. Call Alex Tyrteos $1, 100,000
Chukker Cottage . Overlooking historic Whitney Polo Field is this exquisite brick residence on an acre of landscaped lawn and walled gardens featuring sparkling saltwater pool. The 5 bedroom, 6 bath home features approximately 4400 square feet of impeccable living space with soaring ceilings, wood floors, spacious rooms, master suite with two luxurious baths, formal living and dining rooms, gourmet kitchen, and lightfilled sunroom with access to large deck, pool, and meticulously maintained gardens. Bonus bedroom and full bath above the oversized garage. Brand new roof just installed! Plans are approved for a 2-stall stable with feed room, tack room, and living area with kitchen. Call owner/agent Lee Hedlund $1, 200,000
Hollow Creek Preserve . Attractive, low-maintenance home
boasts high ceilings, hardwood floors & crown moldings. Fabulous kitchen features walk in pantry, granite counters, stainless appliances. Spacious owner’s suite has room-sized bath with walk in shower & 2 walk-in closets . Separate den/office, laundry room, bonus room with full bath, walk-in attic storage, 2-car garage, security & irrigation systems. For the equestrian, this level lot w/shade trees is ready for barn & fencing. Call Jack Roth $525,000
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New Bridge Polo Club Possibly the best 6.85 acre building lot now available in an exceptional location at New Bridge Polo. A short walk away from the clubhouse, tennis court and swimming pool, it has direct access to Polo Field One and overlooks Field Three. The lot is perimeter fenced with established coastal Bermuda grass and a well and electrical service have already been installed. Call Alex Tyrteos $280,000
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Old Buckland Barn Equestrian training facility in Aiken’s historic 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 countertops and all appliances. There are 2 converted race barns with 15 expanded stalls total, board fenced paddocks, grooms’ apartment, dressage arena with mirror. Call Courtney Conger $1, 425,000
BRIDLE
Creek
Gardens
Call COURTNEY CONGER
cottage with stables in downtown Aiken just steps from Hitchcock Woods, Aiken’s 2,200-acre riding reserve! Delightful 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath home, updated in recent years, features high ceilings, wood floors, fireplace, and wall of windows overlooking patio & paddocks. For horses, there is a 3-stall shed row barn. Call Courtney Conger $675,000
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top farm. Privacy abounds with large mature trees surrounding the entire property. Five large fenced pastures, 4 fenced paddocks, 6 stall shed row barn with hay storage/tractor shed, 6 stall center aisle barn and 2 acre pond are centered by the main residence with large entertaining areas, 2 bedroom suites downstairs and 3 bedrooms up. Attached 6-bay garage with apartment above. Entertain on large deck overlooking sparkling pool. Call Randy Wolcott $760,000
TIMSHEL Level, partially cleared lots in developing equestrian area with easy access to Aiken, Edgefield and I-20. Riding rings and trails are underway, and homeowners with interests in eventing, hunter jumpers, driving and trail riding are in residence. Best of all, lots from 12.25 to over 14 acres are available for only $4,500 per acre!
Woolworth House . Historic Winter Colony
Tinker Creek . Wonderful 349-acre recreational tract with 2
excellent ponds from two different water sources. Improvements include large barn currently configured with 4 stalls, tack room, hound kennels and storage. Also there is a manufactured home serving as a caretaker's or hunting cabin. This multi-purpose property has some managed, thinned timber and open areas, and is well setup for hunting and fishing. Call Mike Hosang or Brian Cavanaugh $895,000
The Aiken Horse
Phase II now open! Lots range in size from 5 acres to nearly 12 acres. Amenities include miles of trails, stadium jumps, cross-country jump field, dressage arena, and a fitness center/community facility is planned. Lovely building lots offered at just
$18,000 PER ACRE Call JACK ROTH
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Three Runs Plantation Beautiful NEW Wolf Construction home on a great lot in Phase 7 has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths on main floor, with bedroom/bonus room and full bath upstairs. Property has 5.2 acres and 2-bay garage. Flooring throughout entire house is either oak hardwood, ceramic tile or carpet in bedrooms. Natural gas and hi-speed fiber optic internet available. Miles of groomed trails, schooling areas, dressage ring, pool, clubhouse and fitness center. CallJack Roth $579,000
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THREE RUNS
Plantation
Wadmalaw Island Equestrian . This Charleston equestrian property offers proximity, privacy and possibilities! Renovated main residence has 5 bedrooms (2 master suites!), 3.5 baths, huge walk-in closets with built-ins, home office and gym. Property includes nearly 17 acres, with 15 acres of fenced pasture and riding arena. Large 8-stall barn with kitchen, bath, laundry, wash area and detached tack room. The 4-stall barn has hay loft & storage. Call Jack Roth $1,150,000
Steeplechase Cottage . Beautiful 3-acre parcel in Aiken's Horse
$23,900 per acre
District has magnificent views of the steeplechase track and horse show grounds. The 3458 square foot main residence has open floor plan that includes 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths. Kitchen boasts top of the line appliances, and gracious screened porch overlooks salt water pool. Charming guest house has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. Call Thomas Bossard $1,599,000
Flowing Wells . Two contiguous parcels offered in estab-
lished horse community! Gorgeous pasture land with magnificent views has 43.37 acres of Bermuda grass plus a 6-acre pond is offered at $433,700. Wooded 24.5-acre parcel has new storage building with office that could be converted to barn with apartment, offered at $166,600. Combine both parcels for a wonderful equestrian business or sporting facility. Call Alex Tyrteos
Exceptional equestrian lots on private cul-de-sac within Aiken’s most established equestrian community! Amenities include clubhouse, pool & cabana, jump ring, 2 dressage arenas, sschooling rings, fitness center and miles of groomed trails. Four adjoining lots available at
Call JACK ROTH
.
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Red Top Estate Historic Aiken estate with grand rooms for entertaining, 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, and classic original architectural elements throughout. This Gilded Age residence with modern updates includes an apartment, formal gardens, carport on 1.22 acres. Call Jane Page Thompson or Alex Tyrteos $998,500
Light By Night Farm Exceptional homes for you and your horses at this 11.54 acre farm in Three Runs Plantation, Aiken’s premier equestrian community. Spacious & open 3-bedroom, 2-bath home features split bedroom floor plan, lovely screened porch off master. For horses, there is a center aisle barn with 4 stalls, tack room, bath & shower, and separate laundry. Attached garage is ideal for adding stalls or storage for tractors, trailer, and equipment. Call Jack Roth $735,000
OLD TORY TRAIL
CHARLESTON
11.68 acres of established grass with some fencing make for a blank slate in laying out your new farm in Aiken. Located in the heart of Aiken's Equine Corridor, this pretty parcel offers a lot of potential!
Grassed and level 22.65 acres perfect for multi-use equestrian facility in the heart of horse country. Large fenced paddock, runin sheds, and several wonderful home and barn sites.
Highway
Acreage
.
Three Runs Plantation . Two year old home
The Polo Club Location, Location, Location! "The Polo Club" is an early century charmer, which was originally built as a clubhouse for Whitney Polo Field. Directly across from Aiken's Training Track in Historic Horse District, the property has easy access to downtown Aiken and south side shopping. Enjoy the wraparound porch with picturesque views. Keep cozy in front of the 5 fireplaces. Beautiful hardwood floors and original details enhance this historic property that also boasts ample paddock space. Call Mike Hosang or Brian Cavanaugh $785,000
$154,000
Call JANE PAGE THOMPSON
with 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 3-car garage, stone deck and large mud room. Oak floors throughout in great room, dining area, kitchen, hallways, laundry and master bedroom and triple bonus room upstairs. Samsung stainless steel appliances and custom cabinetry throughout. Home has Anderson windows and doors, on demand natural gas water heater and furnace with all ceilings foamed for efficiency. Call Jack Roth $549,000
$175,000
Call MIKE HOSANG or BRIAN CAVANAUGH
NEW BRIDGE
Polo Club
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Rainbow Ridge Farm Adorable 6.5 acre farm lovingly improved by its owner, a rated local builder. Attractive 2-story cottage has 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, open floor plan with main level master. Gourmet kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Antique barnwood floors, rear porch overlooking 4 newly fenced paddocks with irrigation, 2 run-in sheds, and RV/machinery storage shed, which could easily convert to a 4-stall barn. Adjacent to trails in Windsor horse country! Call Alex Tyrteos $290,000
Large lot (8.71 acres) complete with fencing, well & septic across from endline of Field 2. World class polo community with polo fields, clubhouse, tennis & swimming pool.
Nearby Farm . Comfortable home with 3 bedrooms and 3 full baths near Stable View and other equestrian venues. The 32 acre farm offers fenced paddocks with pasture for turn-out, and new multi-purpose building for workshop, garage, barn or storage. Excellent location convenient to both Aiken and Augusta. Call Mike Hosang or Brian Cavanaugh $397,000
$99,900 Call MIKE HOSANG
Pearl Bonnet . This 4 bedroom, 2 bath
manufactured home on brick crawlspace foundation would make the perfect starter home! Island kitchen includes range, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer & dryer. Located on over 2 acres, the property is approximately 16 miles from downtown Aiken — close enough for convenience, yet far enough for secluded country living! Call Donnita Harmon $124,900
NEW BRIDGE
TALATHA
Exquisite 11.35 acre building site in a prime location at New Bridge Polo Club. Direct access to polo fields, clubhouse, tennis and swimming pool. Complete with plenty of fencing and 3HP well!
Planning your ideal Aiken horse farm? Here’s 2.5 wooded acres in south side equestrian community just minutes to shopping and dining!
Farms
Polo Club
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Lakeview Farm Stately gated entrance leads you into Lakeview Farm. This sportsman's retreat includes approximately 77 gently rolling acres mostly in grass, an 11 acre fishing/skiing lake with a country cabin set right on the shoreline. 2 bedroom, 1 bath cabin boasts a full length porch overlooking lake, large, open kitchen, family room with fireplace. Large, separate den with fireplace. Unique property n popular Highway 302 equestrian corridor lends itself to a variety of uses such as equestrian, recreational and farming. Call Mike Hosang $735,000
$185,000
Call JACK ROTH
bedroom, 2.5 bath home sits on over an acre with amazing views of the lake from the rocking chair front porch. Plenty of room for entertaining with bright & spacious living room and family room, crown molding, smooth ceilings and calming colors. Lots of storage in walk-out attic and the finished garage with workshop. Call Donnita Harmon $299,500
Courtney Conger
Randy Wolcott
Suzan McHugh
Thomas Bossard Brian Cavanaugh Jane Page Thompson Donnita Harmon
803.645.3308
803.292.8525
.
803.507.1142
803.640.2845
Lee Hedlund
Wexford Mill . Southern Living at its finest! This 4-
803.221.6831 803.624.6072
Mike Hosang
803.270.6358 803.215.8232
Frank Starcher
803.270.6623 803.508.1936
.
Jack Roth
JANE PAGE THOMPSON
$46,000
Alex Tyrteos
803.341.8787
203.249.3071
Barb Uskup
Melissa Major
803.295.3199 Broker In Charge
.648.8660
www CarolinaHorseProperties com . 803
June-July 2019
The Aiken Horse
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The Aiken Horse
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June-July 2019
The Aiken Horse
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Grand Prix at the Aiken Charity Horse Show
Photography by Pam Gleason
What Weed is That? Knowing the Enemy By Pam Gleason
T
here are few things that are more gratifying than seeing your horses out grazing in a green pasture. They are happy—after all they are grazing animals – they look good, and they may be able to derive many, of not all of their nutritional needs from the grass alone. Horses and pastures were made for one another. But it is not always easy to keep pastures healthy. Horses are notoriously hard on grass. Not only do they tend to graze selectively, leaving some patches of grass to grow tall while eating others down to the ground, they also compact the soil and often create bare spots where they congregate near gates, water troughs and feeding areas. In most cases, these bare spots do not stay bare for long, since they provide an opportunity for weeds to sprout, grow, flower and produce seeds. In pastures that are stressed from overgrazing, drought and nutrient-depleted soil, weeds can take over very rapidly, choking out the grass and ruining the pasture’s appearance and usability. Only a few of the weeds that are common in horse pastures in this area are actually dangerous, and most horses will tend to avoid eating noxious weeds unless they are starving. However, veterinarians report that about 10% of the colics that they see are related to horses eating something that they shouldn’t have. In addition, weeds take up space that could be used by more nutritious grasses, and some of them come with spikes, burrs, pollens or other allergens that can make walking around in the pasture unpleasant, to say the least. If you have weeds, you may only be interested in learning how to get rid of them. According to Brittany Peacock, who is the Aiken County Extension agent for livestock and forage, experts divide weeds into three different categories: grasses, broad leaved plants, and sedges. This is because plants in these groups are generally sensitive to different types of selective herbicide, so if you just want to eliminate broad leaved weeds, you might use one type of herbicide, while if you wanted to get rid of sedges you might use another. There are also herbicides that will selectively kill different species of grass, while leaving other species undisturbed, as well as herbicides that kill everything, which might be used on fence lines or to prepare a new pasture for sprigging with Bermuda grass. “The word weed is subjective,” says Vicky Bertagnolli, who is the
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The Aiken Horse
horticultural extension agent and master gardener coordinator of Aiken County. “A weed is just a plant growing somewhere that you don’t want it. If you have a cornfield with a rose bush in it, that rose bush is a weed.” “Some people consider crab grass a weed, but other people plant it for their horses,” agrees Brittany. “Some people want Bahia grass in their pastures, and others just want coastal Bermuda and consider Bahia a weed.” Likewise, some weeds that sprout in the pasture might be considered wildflowers, and many wild plants may have medicinal or nutritional qualities that are overlooked today, but were prized by earlier generations and cultures. Whatever the case, there are thousands of different species of weedy wild plant that grow in South Carolina. What weeds do you have? What follows is a general guide to some of the most common pasture weeds in the Aiken area this summer. Weed identification is complicated by several factors. First is the fact that common names for weeds are not especially precise and the same term may refer to different species of plant that may or may not be closely related. The second is that weeds may look very different in the various phases of their lifecycle. Finally, there may be hundreds or even thousands of species of the weed that are still in the same genus and look and act a lot alike. “It’s best to use scientific names for the weeds,” says Brittany, noting that plants of a particular genus may be identified fairly reliably, but that if you really want to know the genus and species of a specific plant, you need to send it off to Clemson University to be examined, which can be done at the cost of $20 per plant.
Pigweed
The term pigweed can refer to any plant of the genus amaranth. Pigweeds like to grow in sandy soil and in bare spots, and are often found near gates and water troughs. They are broadleaf plants with tall, spiky flower stalks and they are extremely prolific seed producers – an average plant can have as many as 500,000 seeds, which have a germination rate of over 50 percent once they hit the soil. They have a deep taproot, which makes them fairly drought resistant, and they can grow three inches a day in good weather. One particularly noxious species of pigweed is the spiny amaranth or spiny pigweed, which has thorns at the base of its leaves. Spiny amaranth shows up frequently when pastures are overgrazed. It can grow as high as seven feet tall, and it can take over bare spots and
June-July 2019
established pastures quite rapidly. Mowing, if it is done consistently, can control it, and it can also be eliminated with various pre-emergent herbicides and some post-emergents if they are applied when the plant is small and young: applying them to large mature plants has “disappointing” results according to the literature – in fact, some species of amaranth have been resistant to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, since about 2005. Pigweed is not truly poisonous, and indeed some species of pigweed were once part of the Native American diet. A horse that eats the leaves of the plant in small quantities is not likely to experience ill effects, but during times of drought, or when the plant is stressed, it might accumulate too much nitrogen in its leaves, causing to be considered unsafe forage for livestock. Amaranths, like other weeds, tend to grow best in pastures that have not been well-maintained. They can be particularly destructive to a pasture both because they are good at colonizing it and because they tend to remove a lot of nitrogen from the soil, depleting it and making it more likely to be invaded by other weeds.
Although the young shoots of the pokeweed plant can be specially prepared and eaten, the entire plant, from the highly toxic roots to the inky berries, is considered poisonous to mammals. Fortunately, horses rarely do try to eat it – if they do it can cause gas colic, as well as ulcers in the mouth and digestive tract. Birds are immune to the poisons in the berries and they love them. This means, of course, that they also tend to excrete the seeds, scattering them widely and ensuring an ever-increasing population of the aggressive plant. Because pokeweed contains so many different chemical compounds, it has often been thought to have medicinal qualities, and there are a number of folk and homeopathic remedies that involve parts of the pokeweed plant. Other names for pokeweed include pokeberry, inkberry, poke salad, American nightshade, cancer root, and pigeonberry.
Dog Fennel
In this area, dog fennel is the common name for Eupatorium capillifolium, a perennial plant in the sunflower family. Dog fennel
Pokeweed
Pokeweed is the common name for plants in the genus Phytolacca, most especially Phytolacca Americana. Pokeweed tends to grow abundantly and quickly along fence lines and in border areas. It has large, rather light green oblong leaves with serrated edges and its stems are often tinged with red. It is immediately recognizable for its abundant greenish white flower clusters, which give way to fronds of red or purple berries.
The juice from these berries is quite dark and can be used to make dyes and stains. Pokeweed is a perennial plant that dies back to its tubers each winter and reemerges in the spring. It is very fast growing, and mature plants can reach 10 feet or more in height.
June-July 2019
grows as a tall stalk covered with thin, feathery, hair-like leaves. Although it is not related to the culinary herb known as fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), it does resemble it superficially. Dog fennel can grow to be 6-10 feet tall. When the leaves are crushed or mowed they exude a pungent odor that makes many people sneeze. In the fall, the plant produces abundant little white flowers. O nce used to make tick and flea control for dogs (hence the name), dog fennel contains compounds that are toxic to the liver. Fortunately, horses rarely eat it. In other parts of the country, a different toxic weed, Achillea millefolium as also often called dog fennel. This plant, a member of the yarrow family, is also toxic to horses.
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Carolina horsenettle
Of all the weeds in the pasture, the Carolina horsenettle may be the most diabolical. Its scientific name is Solanum carolinense and it is not really a nettle; it is really a plant in the nightshade family. It has irregularly lobed leaves and attractive flowers that are white or purplish with yellow centers. These give way to fruits that look like striped green cherry tomatoes. Not only is this plant toxic to mammals, it is also covered with tiny sharp spines that readily break off, leaving splinters in the hands of anyone who foolishly thinks of uprooting the plant. Other common names for this plant include devil’s tomato, radical weed, sand brier and tread-softly. Horsenettle is very difficult to eradicate. It spreads both by seeds and by underground rhizomes and is resistant to many herbicides. Herbicides may even help it spread by eliminating competition from other weeds. Once a pasture has been colonized by horsenettle, it may
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The Aiken Horse
take a couple of years of work to get rid of it. Although horsenettle is poisonous to horses, experts believe that they would have to eat a fair amount of it to be affected. They are unlikely to do this because the plant it is not especially palatable, and its nasty sharp spines discourage sampling.
Sida
Arrowleaf sida (Sida rhombifolia) is an abundant, drought resistant weed in the mallow family, with arrow-shaped leaves and small yellow flowers. It is sometimes known as teaweed or ironweed. It is hard to distinguish arrowleaf sida from its relative, prickly sida (Sida spinosa). Both have a pair of small spines at the base of their leaves that are soft when the plant is young, but become tougher and sharper as the stalk matures and dries. After their pretty yellow flowers wither, the fruit of the plant opens to reveal five hard black seeds with thorns on them. These thorns cling to whatever brushes against them, helping to spread
June-July 2019
Cudweed
Cudweed is the common name for flowering plants from the genus Gnaphalium. Cudweeds are low growing plants with a rosette of oblong leaves at the base and fuzzy, whitish stems that may have a purple tinge. The oblong leaves are green on the top and white underneath. When the plant is mature, the tops of the stems are very fuzzy – they look like
the plant far and wide. Arrowleaf sida and prickly sida are not known to be toxic, and some horses do nibble on the leaves without apparent ill effects. However, there are varieties of sida in South America that are poisonous to horses, causing various neurological disorders, so it is probably best to try to limit horses’ access to them.
Cutleaf Evening Primrose
Cutleaf evening primrose (Oenothera laciniate) is a native plant that is often considered a wildflower, and one with various medicinal qualities
Q-tips. Cudweed is aggressive, taking over in bare areas, or anywhere that grass was mowed too short or overgrazed. Cudweed is not known to be poisonous to horses, and in some places the plant is considered an herb with various medicinal properties.
Rumex
Plants in the genus Rumex include a number of broadleaf weeds in the dock and sorrel families. One variety that is common in this area is curly dock, scientific name Rumex crispus. The plant grows in disturbed areas, especially in those that are associated with standing water. Native
at that. In the horse pasture, however, it is definitety a weed. Evening primrose is a low growing plant with irregularly lobed leaves and hairy stems – when it is very young the leaves of the plant resemble those of a dandelion. The flowers are yellow or orange colored and delicately shaped. Primrose is a very hardy plant that is resistant to many herbicides and can be difficult to eradicate. It is not toxic but it lowers the quality of pasture.
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to Europe and Western Asia it is considered an invasive species and a primary noxious weed because it is an aggressive perennial that is hard to eradicate. Curly dock has long narrow leaves and it produces a tall flower stalk. The flowers, which are clustered around this stalk, start out green but then dry to a distinctive red-brown color. Although if correctly prepared, curly dock can be eaten and used for various medicinal purposes, it is considered toxic to horses, who rarely ingest it due to its bitter taste. (Curious about the weeds in your pasture or need help eradicating them? The Aiken County Extension office can help. Contact Brittany Peacock at 803-508-7737)
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tHe sulliVAn turner teAm welcomes
cHArles dAVidson miller David Miller
Big tree fArm | estABlisHed PAstures & Polo field
BArn residence offers An oPen floor PlAn & incrediBle sunrise Views from your coVered front PorcH oVerlooking front PAstures & field. Horse comforts include 15-stAll (mAtted) center Aisle BArn w/cross Breeze & stAll windows, centrAlly locAted tAck room, HAy/feed room. 2 Bedrooms | 2 full BAtHs | mls 107147 | $800,000
HAtcHAwAy House & BArn on 30+ Acres
soutHern Historic 3 Bedroom, 2 BAtH Home situAted PriVAtely. HAy fields, 1/4 Acre Pond. 4-stAll BArn w/wAsH stAll & tAck room, HAy BArn & equiPment Building, fenced PAddock w/run-in. mls 105274 | now offered for $640,000 MLS 105274 | Reduced & Priced To Sell!
trout wAlk fArm | suPerB 90 Acre equestriAn ProPerty
one of tHe Prettiest fArms in Aiken witH Access to 142+ Acres of conserVAncy lAnd; fArm is suitABle for All disciPlines! well-designed 8-stAll courtyArd style stABle; gorgeous HAy fields, PAsture witH run-ins, trAils; equiPment storAge, Pool, Pond & 3 Bedroom, 2 1/2 BAtH mAnAger’s Home. offered for $1,695,000
coker sPrings | rond Point, one of Aiken’s iconic Brick wAlls tHe 1922 willis irVin designed residence offers grAce, BeAuty And PriVAcy on more tHAn 2 Acres of estABlisHed gArdens, stunning Pool & VerAndA. sePArAte APArtment. Horse ProPerty PotentiAl witH Access to grAce AVenue Bridle PAtH leAding to HitcHcock woods. 5 Bedrooms | 6 full BAtHs | 1 HAlf BAtH | mls 101391 | $1,295,000
David is a native South Carolinian who has a profound love of family, horses, and graceful Southern heritage. A former professional rider and trainer, David holds multiple World Championship titles in addition to Rider of the Year awards in his equestrian discipline of show hunters. His business and sales experience lend itself perfectly to his real estate expertise in equestrian and farm properties in the CSRA. David is able to assist clients in all aspects of the buying and selling process, whether it is a starter home, hobby farm, equestrian estate or anything in between. David takes a methodical approach to helping clients understand and effectively market equestrian properties, based on his extensive experience as a professional rider, and this makes him an ideal addition to the team. Integrity and ethics are at the heart of David’s motivation and drive to succeed in all that he pursues and the equestrian real estate market is no exception.
115 Burkelo rd | 20+ Acres in Aiken Horse country
BeAutifully designed 3 Bedroom, 3 1/2 BAtH Home w/stunning Views, greAt room, gorgeous kitcHen & PorcH ideAl for entertAining. Perimeter fencing, 3-BAy worksHoP & sePArAte BArn structure reAdy to AdAPt to your needs | mls 106081 | now $699,990
crosswAys - loVely Historic estAte on 4.2 Acres
deligHtfully renoVAted soutHern Home, Pool & gorgeous gArdens. gAted w/Perimeter wAlls/fencing; centrAl locAtion to Horse district & equestriAn Venues; gArAge w/APt 5 Bedrooms | 4 full & 2 HAlf BAtHs | mls 86999 | $1,750,000
11.41 Acres on lewis lAne | 12-stAll BArn w/ liVing quArters
englisH tudor-insPired wide center Aisle BArn witH wAsH stAll, feed room, tAck room & 1/2 BAtH. 3 Bedroom, 2 BAtH 1800 sf of liVing sPAce ABoVe witH loVely PAstorAl Views. AdditionAl 12 Acres AVAilABle. offered for $679,000
Cissie Sullivan
summerfield | equestriAn estAte witH coVered ArenA
eAsy Access to BotH Aiken, sc & AugustA, gA, tHis 74+ Acre estAte HAs it All! well-APPointed 4 Bedroom, 4,761 sf Home HAs stunning PAstorAl & Pond Views. 9-stAll stABle; tAck room w/ full kitcHen & BAtH; ligHted & irrigAted coVered ArenA; HAy & equiPment Building w/ studio APArtment. offered for $1,990,000
1042 woodlAnd driVe | 48+ Acre fArm
BeAutiful fArm designed for PriVAcy & enjoyment of nAture, AnimAls & Horses. ABundAnt HAyfields, fenced PAstures & AmAzing Views! 3 Bedroom, 2 BAtH modulAr Home, 7-stAll center-Aisle BArn, fenced PAsture w/run-ins. mls 105961 | $550,000
1731 citAtion | foxcHAse on tHe woods
excePtionAl turnkey equestriAn ProPerty! fully renoVAted 4 Br, 2 1/2 BAtH Home & greAt outdoor liVing sPAce. loVely PAddocks, 2-stAll BArn w/feed & tAck room & BArn storAge Building. 106324BELOW | now $520,000 MLS 106324mls | PRICED APPRAISED VALUE
15 reynolds | cAsA reynoldi
A rAre findon 50+ Acres. mAjestic liVe oAks, grAceful grAss lAwns, Ponds, extensiVe lAndscAPing, Blooming AzAleAs & dogwoods. A sPAnisH insPired wAterfront Home w/ exPosed BeAms, stAined glAss windows, custom wood crAfted doors from sPAin, & indoor gunite Pool. BoAt House. 3 Bedrooms | 2 full BAtHs | 1 HAlf BAtH | mls 106713 | $595,000
Tracey Turner
803-998-0198 | SullivanTurnerTeam.com 24
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Ask the Judge
Questions about Dressage With Amy McElroy
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.
Dear Amy, I recently went to a recognized dressage show as a spectator to observe before I attempt competing. I was curious about some of what I saw. I was wondering if you could explain some things to me. First: After finishing the test, everyone seemed to have a different way to get to the exit at A. Some people just turned around and left, some approached and thanked the judge, and some even added a circle before the exit. Is there an appropriate way to leave the arena when your test is completed? Second: Is it common for judges to call you and talk to you at the end of the test? The judge called several riders to the booth at the completion of their test and reprimanded them for using their voice while competing. What are the consequences of using your voice?
First-timer Dear First-timer, What a great idea to observe how a recognized show will be run. This will give you some insight on what to expect when you are ready to compete. In answer to your first question, I agree. As a judge I do see riders leaving the arena after their salute in many different ways. There actually is no real rule for leaving the arena other than the way stated on every dressage test: After the final salute, leave the arena at A in a free walk. In theory, it should not matter what you do: According to the USEF rulebook DR122.78, a test begins with the entry at A and ends after the final salute. Everything before the beginning or after the end of a test has no effect on the marks. So, after your final salute, your test is officially over. There is no time limit for leaving the arena. There is no correct way to turn – you may turn left or right at your discretion. However, a polite way to leave is to take a few walking steps forward toward your judge at C. It is then appropriate to thank your judge and even to smile before turning back onto the long side and exiting at A at the free walk. People sometimes do make a circle before leaving the arena, presumably for schooling purposes. Judges are usually not appreciative of this. Remember, once you have saluted, the next rider will be waiting their turn to enter. It is courteous to leave the arena promptly to help keep the show running on time. Stay focused and purposeful until you are out of the dressage arena. Once you are out, you may wave to and acknowledge any friends or spectators who are interested in your ride. Do remember that the judge can hear what you are saying at this time, as they will be finalizing their comments and scores. As for your question about the voice and the judge calling riders to
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the booth, the judge has the right to call any competitor to their booth to talk to them, for any legitimate reason. You do not see this often, but it does happen. The judge is generally not reprimanding riders, but pointing out reasons they may have some deductions on their test, and trying to help them do better next time. In this case the judge was clearly making a point about deductions on the test for the use of voice. According to USEF DR 122.3., the use of voice, clicking the tongue once or repeatedly, is a serious fault involving deductions of at least two marks from the movement in which it occurs. In cases where the movement has a coefficient, judges may choose to deduct only one mark off the movement. If your judge hears you using your voice in any way, they may cross the number awarded for the movement out, and then write “minus 2, voice” and put in the new number. For instance, if you would have had a 7 on your trot lengthening but judge hears you cluck, they might cross out the 7, make it a 5, and write the word “voice” in the scoring box. A voice deduction is not considered an error and there is no limit to how many deductions can be taken for voice in a test. However, there can only be one deduction per scoring box. Remember, voice can be any talking or sounds used to influence your horse’s way of going. Be very careful about using your voice – riders sometimes do not even realize that they are doing it, especially those who have a habit of talking to and clucking to their horses in their regular schooling. I hope this helps you be confident on how to exit the arena and not to be worried about the judge calling you over after your test – this does not happen very often, but when it does it is to help you. Good luck at your first show.
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Horse Books from Childhood Summer Reading By Mary Jane Howell
With the school year ended and the hot summer months stretching ahead, wouldn’t it be nice to escape with a trip down memory lane, reading list in hand, made up of our favorite classic horse books?
The Black Stallion
My list would begin with The Black Stallion by Walter Farley (19151989). Published in 1941 when Farley was 26, The Black Stallion tells the story of an untamed stallion and a 10-year-old American boy who first meet on a tramp steamer that docks at a port on the Red Sea on a voyage back from India. The ship is filled with everything from coffee to jute, and yes, a mysterious stallion, “the Black.” Farley had us enthralled after just one paragraph. We all know the story – the ship sinks in a storm with only the Black and the boy, Alec Ramsey, surviving. The pair makes it to shore on a remote island, forging a bond that lasts well after they are rescued and returned to New York. Characters such as Henry, who becomes the Black’s racing trainer, Tony the vegetable salesman and his cart horse Napoleon, and of course Alec’s mother and father, are carefully crafted and believable. The heart of the story, however, is the deep understanding and love Alec has for the Black. The scenes of secret nighttime breezes at Belmont Park, and the Black’s ultimate match race with the champion Thoroughbreds Sun Raider and Cyclone are some of the best in the book. Although Farley grew up in New York City, he had a direct connection to horses through his uncle, who was a Thoroughbred trainer before turning to show horses and then dabbling in harness racing. Farley knew his horses, so everything from barn scenes to stretch runs rings true, even if the storyline is pure fantasy. The Black Stallion was followed by many other books recounting the adventures of the Black and his offspring. There were 19 books in all, including a handful that introduced a new storyline featuring The Island Stallion, Flame, who is discovered in a secret valley on a Caribbean island by a boy named Steve Duncan – eventually the Black and Flame meet in a book called the Black Stallion and Flame. Farley also wrote three books for beginning readers, including Big Black Horse (a Black Stallion picture book) and two books about Little Black, a heroic pony. Books from the Black Stallion series were adapted into four movies, starting with the blockbuster, The Black Stallion (1979) starring Mickey Rooney.
Stories of the Old West
Will James (1892-1942), a French-Canadian artist and writer, wrote 24 books featuring cowboys and their horses. His most famous work, Smoky the Cowhorse (1926), won the Newberry Medal for Children’s Literature in 1927. Max Perkins, the famed editor at Charles Scribner’s
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Sons (where he shepherded the careers of Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Thomas Wolfe, among others) had published a short story about bucking horses written by James in 1922. After this, Perkins encouraged James to write novels, which he did. Smoky the Cowhorse tells the story of a strong-willed colt growing up on the range, who eventually becomes the beloved mount and
companion of a cowboy named Clint. Smoky’s life is filled with drama and adventure – he is stolen by a cruel man who beats him. He rebels and kills the thief, whereupon he becomes a famous rodeo bucking horse. Later, worn out from this career, he is used as a riding horse, and eventually is sold to another evil man who whips and starves him, before he is finally reunited with Clint and restored to health. No sugar-coating on a Will James story! Will James’s other novels, illustrated with his own pen and ink drawings, include his fictionalized autobiography, Lone Cowboy (1930), as well as the book American Cowboy (1942) which ends with the oft-quoted line “The cowboy will never die.” James wrote books and collections of short stories for children as well as for adults. His stories bring the Old West to life, and introduce the reader to memorable equine heroes a well as to iconic American cowboys.
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Stories by Marguerite Henry
No remembrance of childhood favorites would be complete without Marguerite Henry (1902-1997), who wrote 59 books, most of them horse books based on true stories. King of the Wind, published in 1948, is the story of the Godolphin Arabian, whose blood courses through every modern Thoroughbred. One of the most memorable of Henry’s books, it is an adventure story, a horse story and a lesson in world history and geography, as well as a vivid recounting of how the modern Thoroughbred breed came into existence. Following the journey of the royally bred
stallion Sham and his groom, a mute boy named Agba, Henry weaves a tale that begins in Morocco, travels through France and ends in England. Sham goes from being one of the prized colts of the sultan of Morocco, to a gift for the king of France, to an unrecognized cart horse. Finally, Sham ends up in England, where, owned by the Earl of Godolphin, he proves his worth after he is accidentally bred to Lady Roxana, a prized racing mare. When Sham’s first foal, Lath, is 2 years old, he outruns all of the earl’s other colts, and eventually wins the top races in the country. Lath brings his owner back from the brink of bankruptcy and establishes Sham, henceforth known as the Godolphin Arabian, as one of the founders of the English and American Thoroughbred. Henry’s other memorable books include the beloved Misty of Chincoteague series, Justin Morgan Had a Horse, Black Gold, Brighty
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of the Grand Canyon, and many others. Most of her books were illustrated by Wesley Dennis, who captured the spirit of Henry’s horses and humans alike.
Other Favorites
Enid Bagnold (1889-1981) wrote National Velvet, a famous book before it became a more famous movie featuring Elizabeth Taylor. National Velvet, published in 1935, features a horse crazy 14-year-old English girl named Velvet Brown. Velvet wins a talented horse named The Piebald in a raffle. Eventually, she rides him to victory in the world’s toughest steeplechase, the Grand National after pretending to be a (male) Russian jockey named James Tasky. C.W. Anderson (1891-1971) was an author, an illustrator and horseman born in Nebraska who was known for illustrating covers of the Saturday Evening Post as well as for his 35 books about horses. His most famous series tells the story of Billy and his horse Blaze, a fine start for young readers. Adventures abound – forest
fires, mountain lions and so on. Anderson also wrote and illustrated Black, Bay and Chestnut: Profiles of Twenty Favorite Horses, and then gathered his favorite horse stories into a brilliant collection entitled C.W. Anderson’s Favorite Horse Stories. Other favorite compilations include Hoofbeats – The Great Horse Stories of John Taintor Foote (published in 1950) and All Horses Go to Heaven, stories selected by Beth Brown (published in 1963). Today it seems that vampires and wizards and other dimensions take many young readers on flights of fancy, but give me a horse story any day.
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We offer a wide range of fencing, including equestrian properties and residential privacy fencing. Run in and storage sheds are also available.
Free estimates and design assistance Contact John at (803) 292-5161
2677 Wagener Rd. Aiken, SC 29801 (Hwy. 302 East, 3/4 mile east of Hwy 118)
803.641.7070
|
OakManorSaddlery.com
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aikenflaxbedding@gmail.com www.flaxfarm.ca Sole Distributors in Aiken area
June-July 2019
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Lisa Seger Insurance Distinctive Insurance for Your Lifestyle
Whether you ride for pleasure or competitively, owning a horse is a substantial commitment. The horse people at Lisa Seger Insurance can help you protect the emotional and financial investment you’ve made. Equine, Luxury Home & Auto
LisaSegerInsurance.com Pagan Gilman 770-283-7344 Pagan@lisasegerinsurance.com
June-July 2019
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IT PAYS TO SHOP AT
AIKEN SADDLERY! Aiken Saddlery Rewards Program! 1. Stop and Save 2. Best Deals on Great Brands 3. Great Customer Service!
ON ALL PARTICIPATING BRANDS 32
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Your Camden Showgrounds
I-20 Exit 101
288 STALLS WITH RUBBER MATS, 3 EXHIBIT RINGS WITH STATE OF THE ART FOOTING, 2 COVERED ARENAS, FANS, CATTLE PENS, GENEROUS SPACE FOR LUNGEING AND SCHOOLING, AND VENDOR AREA
scequinepark.com/calendar-2019 for more information For Booking Information (803) 983-0366 info@scequinepark.com a 501c3 non-profit organization
June 7-9
National Snaffle Bit Association Boot Camp
June 21-23
SC Quarter Horse Association
June 28-29
SC Dressage & Combined Training A Jr Clinic
July 5-7
Progressive Show Jumping H/J
July 12-14
Palmetto Paint Horse Club
July 26-28
Camden Summer Classic
August 23-25 Palmetto Paint Horse Club Dates Subject To Change Dates Subject to Change
scequinepark.com June-July 2019
Camden SC I-20 Exit 101 The Aiken Horse
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ABOUT NEW BRIDGE (visit newbridgepolo.com or call 1-888-4NB-POLO)
Now Available
Offered through New Bridge Realty
Contact Raza Kazmi, 888-4NB-POLO, info@newbridgepolo.com Homes for Sale
620 Paloma Lane (resale): 2 BR 2 BA Craftsman’s style cottage located steps from Polo Field #1. Furnishings included. $250,000
New Homes Under Construction
Choose your colors and move in! Surrey and Windsor cottages are custom built by Cooper Home & Stable. Design services provided by Cipolla Gallery.
Surrey Cottage: $365,900 Inviting 3 BR, 2.5 BA, with a large front veranda, porch and rear patio. Cottage has 2,118 square feet of heated and cooled living space, plus an attached, oversized 2 car garage.
Windsor Cottage: $379,500 Spacious, 3 BR, 2.5 BA, Craftsman’s style home. Single-level floor plan with lots of closet and storage space. Welcoming front porch, great room with fireplace and large, private master suite.
Homesites
Custom build a home of your design with the builder of your choice or choose one of the New Bridge style cottages or bungalows available from Cooper Home & Stable. Berkshire Lane: Wooded homesite with a view of The Stables and paddocks, dressage and jumping arenas and Polo Field #2. $39,900 572 McIntosh Loop: Nicely wooded 1+ acre homesites elevated over Polo Field #3 with view to creek and forest beyond. $65,900 Lauren Circle *just released*: Three 1+ acre homesites in a quiet, serene setting backing up to Clearwater Creek near Polo Field #4. From $35,900
Horse Friendly Estates Lauren Circle: Three cleared and fenced lots, each with 4-5.45 acres along Polo Field #4. Can be combined or purchased separately. Priced from $128,000$174,400 per lot. Lauren Circle: 5.61 acres cleared and fenced on the west line of Polo Field #4. $165,000 Paloma Lane: 11.28 acres, partially wooded. Ideal for barn, home and still have lots of room for turnout. $159,500
Karna Farm: $550,000 Rare opportunity to own a turnkey polo farm with ride in and out ability through private gate to Polo Field #4. 10.55 manicured acres with spectacular views. Spacious 12-stall barn, 2 BR, 1 BA apartment and outbuildings.
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New Bridge is an 860-acre gated equestrian community nestled among rolling pasture lands on New Bridge Road just 15 minutes from downtown Aiken. Born from the excitement, intensity and tradition of polo, New Bridge is the home of New Bridge Polo & Country Club and of Aiken Youth Polo, but also embraces equestrians of all disciplines as well as those who simply love the outdoors, with all sharing the essential joy of a life that celebrates horses, people and land - in a place that connects them. Residents enjoy an array of equestrian amenities including five meticulously groomed polo fields, stick and ball areas, an exercise track, polo arena, riding trails, all-weather GGT dressage and jumping arenas, miles of groomed roads made for riding and The Stables, our full-care, premier 24-stall boarding facility. A swimming pool with lounge area, a clay tennis court, and an Argentinian colonial-style Clubhouse with restaurant/bar (open spring and fall), balcony, porch, and outdoor spaces round out the perfect setting for everyone from families to empty nesters, casual riders to competitive athletes, and those simply seeking solace from a busy world. The New Bridge world is one where all can revel in the luxury of leisure, the excitement of sport, the abiding beauty of horse country, and the deep connections of a close-knit community. New Bridge: room to play; room to ride; room to live, all in a place you ! will want to call home.
ALSO AVAILABLE: THE MANOR HOMES Two uniquely designed, low maintenance, comfortable homes conveniently located next to the tennis court and across from the Clubhouse and Polo Field #1. Each home features a large kitchen, dining room, living room, and enclosed porch. Marvin windows, oak flooring throughout, granite countertops and many other upgrades. Downstairs master suite has a walk-in closet. Upstairs has room for 2 generous bedrooms and a bath (this is finished space in Unit 350 and unfinished in Unit 352). Unit 352 comes with a detached 2 car garage, while Unit 350 has a designated building space for a garage to be added in the future. Unit 352 @$319,500; Unit 350 @ $339,500. Includes membership to New Bridge Polo & Country Club and access to all the amenities that New Bridge offers.
June-July 2019
Terry -Found his fur-ever home-
199 Willow Run Road Aiken, SC (803) 648-6863 LetLoveLive.org June-July 2019
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AIKEN HORSE 3Runs 012919.qxp_Layout 1 1/31/19 10:45 AM Page 1
A neighborhood with all the likes.
Three Runs Plantation is trending. We’d love to save your place in this neighborhood of custom-built homes, barns and equestrian amenities. All in the heart of horse country in picturesque Aiken, South Carolina. To find out more, click on ThreeRunsPlantation.com.
AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA
2400 Acres • 30 miles of groomed and marked trails • Competition level jump & dressage arenas • X-Country schooling complex Clubhouse & outdoor pavilion • Pool & cabana • Activity/Fitness Center • Homesites from 5+ acres • Spec homes available or build to suit HOMESITES INDIVIDUALLY PRICED • DEVELOPER FINANCING AVAILABLE Marketed by The Carolina Real Estate Company, Aiken, SC. Plans and prices subject to change without notice. This does not constitute an offer in any state where prohibited by law. No time requirement to begin construction.
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Stay Cool Alison Head Secret Lives Dressage at Stable View Sharon Wilson Pan Am Prep The Hound Show
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June-July 2019
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Keep Your Cool
Enjoying Aiken’s Summer By Pam Gleason
A
re you in Aiken for the summer? Planning to ride for fun, train or even compete? If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may, or may not, be looking forward to riding, training and competing in the heat. There are definitely times in the Aiken summer when it is too hot to ride, not just for you, but for your horse, whose natural cooling mechanisms are not as efficient as yours (Besides, he is working harder than you are!) But, with the exception of days when we have a true heat wave, it is usually possible, and even pleasant, to ride through the Aiken summer. How? Here are eight tips for surviving the summer.
1. Ride in the morning
The way the weather works here in Aiken, if you are up and riding at dawn and shortly after, you will be out during the coolest part of the day. This can make a big difference. The average high temperature in Aiken during the months of June and July ranges from 91-93 degrees, which does not sound so bad. In practice, however, we are likely to experience many days in the mid-to-high 90s, along with high humidity and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Unless a thunderstorm does come and cool things off, the temperature tends to continue rising throughout the daylight hours, and the heat does not start to dissipate until several hours after nightfall, so unless you have a lighted arena, riding in the evening is not likely to provide much relief. Average low temperatures during this time are 66-70 degrees, and those are usually reached just before the sun comes up. Sunrise is between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m., and it often stays in the low 80s and below until 9 or 10 a.m. At dawn, the weather is usually pleasant and your horse is likely to be fresh and ready to work, even if you might need an extra cup of coffee.
2. Wear the right clothes
Fabric technology has gotten pretty amazing when it comes to keeping you cool in the heat, and makers of athletic wear and equestrian clothing are definitely on board. If you are going to ride in the heat and humidity, be sure your clothing incorporates the latest in cooling technology. You can buy athletic tops, riding shirts, britches, and riding tights that wick moisture away from your skin, helping it to evaporate and cool you down even faster than sweating alone. You can find clothing that is treated with various compounds that produce a cooling sensation when they are exposed to water. You can buy vests and hats that incorporate cooling packs that stay cold (and help keep you cool) for as long as 72 hours. When it is hot, your clothing should be loose so that air can circulate and you stay more comfortable.
3. Protect yourself from the sun
Start each day by putting on your sunscreen anywhere that your skin might be exposed. Be ready to reapply it later, and don’t be stingy with it. Try to minimize the amount of skin that will be exposed to the sun, not just to save yourself from burning, but because when the sun heats up your skin, it will make you significantly hotter. Try to find clothing that is breathable, and also has a sun protection factor. Wear a hat, preferably one with a wide brim. Wear sunglasses. The National Eye Institute recommends looking for glasses that block 99-100 percent of UV rays. Overexposure to the sun can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygium, which are growths on the white part of the eye.
4. Drink water
When you are out in the heat, you are probably losing much more water than you think. Experts agree that the best thing to drink to stay hydrated is pure water. Sports drinks and other types of drinks are great for replenishing your electrolyte balance after you have finished
June-July 2019
exercising, but water is the most efficient way to restore the moisture lost by sweating. How much you need to drink depends on many factors, including how hard you are exercising, how hot and humid it is, and how big you are. You have probably heard this before, but it bears repeating: how thirsty you are is not a good indication of how much you should drink. You may feel like you are no longer thirsty when you are still significantly dehydrated, so drink more than you feel you need to. Drink before, during, and after exercise. Experts also suggest that you avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages, since they can contribute to dehydration.
5. Cool down
When you are out riding or caring for your horses and you feel hot, cool off ! Use cold packs, a wet towel, or even hose yourself off or pour cold water on your head. Drinking a very cold drink or an ice slushy can also help lower your core temperature.
6. Use a fan
Fans in your home or barn don’t make them any cooler, but they will make you cooler by moving air over your skin and helping to make the evaporative process of sweating more efficient. In addition to the large fans that you might have in your barn, you can purchase small, battery powered personal fans and even fans that run off your cell phone battery. In addition to providing cooling benefits, fans will keep your barn more pleasant for everyone by helping to blow away flies and other insects.
7. Pay attention to your body
According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 650 people die every year from heat related illness and many more suffer serious health consequences. Don’t be a statistic: if you start to feel overheated, or you have muscle cramps, nausea, dizziness or a headache, these are symptoms of heat exhaustion and a signal that you need to go cool off or risk suffering heat stroke, which can be very serious and lead to death. If you don’t feel better within a short period, seek medical attention.
8. Know when to take a day off
Some horsemen take particular pride in being tough and riding in all weather, no matter how hot, cold, wet or stormy. This might be acceptable if you were only talking about yourself. But if you are hot, that means your horse is hotter and he has not necessarily agreed that he is as tough as you are. Pay attention to the temperature and the humidity and when it reaches dangerous levels, take the day off. There are many different ways that people estimate what “dangerous levels” actually are. The method currently used by the FEI (the international body that governs equestrian sports) is called the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Index. This is a complicated measurement taking into account the temperature, the humidity level, the wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover. According to the FEI, the WBGT index is “the only validated heat index for equestrian sport” and other methods, such as adding the temperature to the humidity level to arrive at a “heat index” or “comfort index” are unreliable and even dangerous, partly because these measurements are taken in the shade and you might be riding in the sun. In the past, the WBGT Index was difficult to derive, but now you can buy your own handheld WBGT Index heat stress thermometer. The WBGT Index was created for eventing competition, and first used at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. According to this index, when the reading is less than 28 C (82.4 F) there is no danger. At a reading of 28-30 C (82.4-86 F) “some precautions to reduce heat load on horses will be necessary.” At 30-32 C (86-89.6 F) additional precautions are necessary. When the WBGT index is 32-33 C (89.691.4 F) these are considered hazardous conditions. Anything above 33 C is considered “not compatible with safe competition.” (Find your own WBGT thermometer online. There are models made by Extech, Mengshen, Kestrel, and Reed Instruments among others. Expect to pay $25 - $1,200 depending on the features.)
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Alison Head of Looking Glass Farm New Addition to Dressage Community By Nancy Johnson, Photography by Gary Knoll
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or over 25 years Alison Head owned and operated her Looking Glass Farm in Hamilton, Virginia. On the 30-acre farm she typically had 25 to 30 horses, including some top level dressage horses of her own as well as those belonging to students. She even stood two stallions at the farm. So what brought her and her partner, Judy Hunter, to Aiken? Alison’s response is succinct, “Thirty acres, almost 30 horses and successive tough winters in northern Virginia.” It takes a lot to leave a place where you have a following and have had a lot of success. Alison’s personal resume includes USDF Bronze and Silver medals on a horse she trained from the very start, as well as Bronze and Silver Freestyle medals. She considers her greatest personal accomplishment to be with Granus, a Bavarian Warmblood she bought as a just-started 5-yearold from a jumper barn. “I took him from nothing to being long listed [with the USEF].” When Alison was competing Granus at venues such as Gladstone and Devon, she was also practicing law and he was her only horse. “It was nice because I could really concentrate on him,” she says. Alison had been juggling her legal career with equestrian pursuits since graduating cum laude from Georgetown University Law School. She always knew one of her two careers would have to go, and her passion was clearly the horses. So she bought a farm and made a clean break with the legal profession. At Looking Glass Farm, Alison never stopped. “She would ride all day long, 365 days a year, rain, snow, sweltering hot, it didn’t matter,” says Judy. “She just goes from one to another – teaching and riding and sometimes doing both at the same time.” “I like to do a little bit of everything with the horses,” agrees Alison. “I do like to compete, but probably less than when I was younger. I love to teach riders of all levels. Again I like the variety of levels. I like to work with the people who are starting in dressage because I try to teach a theory of training that will help them progress from the beginning. Sometimes when you get a student later on it is harder to teach them about the basics, but I also work with professionals and that is fun because you work in a different way.” Alison is also a dressage judge, but in the past it was difficult for her to get away from the farm to judge or give clinics, an aspect of her business that she enjoys and wants to expand upon. Having recently completed the arduous credentials to earn USEF S judge status, she now expects to be doing considerably more traveling to judge throughout the country. Alison and Judy had it in the back of their minds that they eventually wanted to downsize in a milder climate when they went to Tryon, North Carolina to see a young horse they had in training there. “We took some side trips around the area and I had always heard that Aiken was a true horse community, not like so many places that say they love horses, but then really don’t want you out on the roads or causing any inconvenience,” says Alison. They went to Aiken and wound up looking at some properties, not really thinking about buying. “We saw this place and just knew immediately that we really wanted it.” Then it just happened that Alison found a buyer for her farm in Virginia, which would make it all possible. “The world was telling me it was time to make a change.”
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Alison and Judy moved to Aiken in November 2018. Their farm in the Fox Hollow residential community is just over 11 acres with a charming house and a 4-stall barn. They brought 10 horses down from Virginia with them. Seven live on their farm and the other three are boarded at a farm next door. “Ideally, we want to get down to just four horses, but right now we are juggling a bit,” Alison says with a laugh. Their other charges include Lincoln, a rescued Chihuahua, and Ink Jet “the best indoor/outdoor cat ever, but she thinks she’s a dog.” Since moving to Aiken, they have a new addition from the Aiken County Animal Shelter, Jack, who they believe is a mini cattle dog and Jack Russell cross. Since relocating, Alison has been teaching and helping some members of the winter eventing community with their dressage. John Nunn, CEO of Nunn Finer Tack and an amateur who competes at the Preliminary Level, raves about her teaching methods. “As an upper level rider and judge, Alison is very knowledgeable; but it is the way she explained things to me that really stands out. I know I’ve been told the same things before by other instructors, but the way she put it just made more sense to me,” he says. John participated in a Fix-a-Test with Alison that was hosted by New Bridge Polo. “My score for the test was very poor. But working with Alison, I was able to bring it up a point at every movement. That was pretty amazing.” John is already looking forward to working with Alison in Aiken next winter and may do so sooner if she does a clinic near his home in Maryland. Alison says she travels to students’ local farms to teach. She says she actually likes it that Fox Hollow does not permit its residents to give outside lessons because she will be able to separate her home from work. Traveling to teach also gives her the opportunity to see many nice farms in the area. Judy is Alison’s right hand, helping with everything related to the horses, which enables Alison to travel. “I try to keep it to two or three weekends away so I have some time at home to work with my young horse and enjoy all that Aiken has to offer,” says Alison. “We’ve found that there is something horsey to do in Aiken every day. There’s a hunter show today and regular dressage, polo and driving. We loved watching the Grand Prix at Bruce’s Field. It’s such a nice venue, as are Stable View and other facilities.” They have also been exploring the Hitchcock Woods with Judy’s Quarter Horse and a retired FEI horse of Alison’s. “My mare is learning to be a trail horse,” Alison says. “She’s not so sure about it!” Alison’s expertise in dressage has also led her to a new endeavor in the horse business – equine appraisal. “I’m excited about getting involved in the appraisal business as I like seeing nice horses,” she says. She also has an idea for another niche in the horse business. She explains that she has been in the situation when a customer wants to look at horses, but there just aren’t enough in the area to make it worth their while to make the trip. “I’d like to develop a network where I bring a group of horses together for customers to see. I know a lot of professionals around the area and I like the idea of being an intermediary. I really do like finding good matches and I could even put people up here who are coming to try horses and take them around.” Contact Alison 540-540-729-4847 or lookingglassfarm@mac.com.
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Secret Lives of Horses
Ridley & Chalk: Schoolmasters Supreme By Nancy Johnson, Photography by Gary Knoll
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idley, 40, and Chalk, 38, were two of Karen Jones’s best lesson horses, “co-workers” at New Era Farm in Maryland for over 25 years. Although they certainly knew each other during the time they were working, the geldings had little interaction and were never turned out together. Since Karen moved her business to Aiken in the fall of 2017, however, both horses have been retired and share a large paddock and roomy shed. “They walk around together like they are attached at the hip,” Karen says with a laugh. Do they watch the other horses in the arena and reminisce about their decades of being the ones with that all-important job, teaching beginner riders? Perhaps. Both horses are remarkably sound, and with the exception of Ridley’s taking Pergolide for his Cushings disease, are on no other medications. Karen attributes their longevity in her lesson program to their work schedule. “I always stagger lesson days for all the horses in my program; they are never overworked, yet are kept fit.” With the move to Aiken, the lesson program had to be put on hold
while Karen and her husband built their new farm. The rest of the horses are now back in full work, but Karen felt it would be too hard on Ridley and Chalk to get them back into condition to be lesson horses. A Standardbred, Ridley came to Karen’s farm as an 11-year-old with very little experience. “Although he paces, I don’t think he ever raced,” she says, adding that his previous owner just occasionally rode him around her farm in Western tack. “I had taught the woman’s kids when they were young and one day she called me and said she thought the horse was a bit lonely. After all, he was the only horse on this big farm with just a lamb for company.” As soon as she took him home and saw Ridley ridden in the arena, Karen realized how truly green the little horse was. Fortunately, he was
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also very smart. “He’s under 15 hands, so I put a very good, small adult rider on him and in one night we literally taught him to walk, trot, canter and even jump crossrails.” Despite his lack of experience, Ridley quickly proved to be an outstanding schoolmaster. “He’s so kind that I could put anyone on him and never worry,” Karen says. “He took around the ones who couldn’t even steer or stop, and just took care of them. He was wonderful with voice commands, so I could stand in the middle of the ring and tell him what to do.” In addition to being quiet and steady, Ridley was also a very comfortable horse to ride. His canter was exceptionally smooth and he naturally judged his distance to jumps. “He was just an exceptional little guy,” Karen adds. Chalk came to New Era shortly after Ridley. Like Ridley, the 15 hand, 10-year-old Quarter horse, had been living a very leisurely lifestyle going on trail rides in Western tack. Their age, size, and Western tack is about where the similarity between the two ends. “When you see Chalk trot, you would think he was a fancy Warmblood,” Karen says. “He’s an absolutely elegant mover and jumps like a gazelle with perfect, natural lead changes.” Chalk was not a beginner’s mount. “Chalk was more of an advanced ride. He was very springy, making it hard for beginners to sit to him,” she says. “Plus, when he was younger, he tended to be a bit on the ‘looky’ side; not the kind of horse you could put just anybody on, but students who had some riding skills always wanted to ride him because he was so fancy and fun to ride.” Their differences aren’t just obvious under saddle. Karen describes Ridley as, “A kind of funny, quiet guy. He’s not super affectionate; he likes some attention, but draws the line at smooching.” She also notes that he’s very suspicious about eating anything that looks disguised. “If you put medication in applesauce or inside a treat, he won’t touch it. But if you put it right on his regular feed, he’ll gobble it up.” Chalk, on the other hand, is much more people-oriented and thrives on attention. Karen relays a story about a woman rider who always brought the horses peppermints. “She had to unwrap the peppermints at home and bring them to the barn in a plastic container because Chalk would harass her so badly as soon as he heard the wrappers crinkle that she couldn’t get them off !” Throughout his time with Karen, Ridley was always low man amongst his turnout buddies, whereas, until recently, Chalk was the boss of his pasture. When she saw Chalk beginning to lose his status in the herd, Karen hatched the idea of putting the two older gents together in their own paddock. She specifically chose a pasture that she can see from her house. “I told [my husband,] David that this will be the retirement pasture. It is the first thing I see in the morning and last thing I see at night. That way I can keep tabs on them.” Karen likes having Ridley and Chalk close to the action on the farm. “They both really liked their jobs and being included. They’ve been on the team a long time and certainly don’t owe us anything. We are just going to do our best to keep them in a very comfortable retirement and hope they live a long, long time.”
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The Aiken Horse
June-July 2019
SCQHA
South Carolina Quarter Horse Association scqhaonline.com
2019 SHOW DATES
June 21-23 • SC Equine Park, Camden, SC July 25-28 • T. Ed Garrison Arena, Clemson, SC October • TBA
“The Fun and Friendly Horse Show Association” For More Information contact Show Manager: Billy Prather (803) 669-1325 or Email Billy at bpquarterhorses@bellsouth.net
June-July 2019
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Dressage at Stable View
Photography by Pam Gleason
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June-July 2019
FORTHCOMING EVENTS June 5, July 3 & August 7
June 22
Wednesday Hunters & Jumpers
USEF/USEA Summer
8:00 AM Summer Start
Horse Trials (BN - P)
June 11 - 12
July 10 - 11
“Summer Solstice”
“Only In America”
USEF/USDF Dressage
USEF/USDF Dressage Judges: Fran Kehr and
August 14 - 15 &
Thomas Poulin
August 17 - 18 Back to Back USEF/USDF Dressage!
HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS
July 20 - 21 “A G at h er ing Pl a c e ” Aiken, South Carolina
www.StableViewFarm.com
Eventing Academy Schooling Show
DANIEL GEITNER (803) 270-5420 CATHY GEITNER (803) 270-0574
1224 SIZEMORE ROAD AIKEN, SC 29803
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
DFGSTABLES @ AOL . COM WWW . DFGSTABLES . NET
June-July 2019
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Sharon Wilson’s Pottery A Passion for Art
By Mary Jane Howell, Photography by Pam Gleason
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rom her vibrantly colored sunflower mugs to plates with horses that seem ready to leap off them, Sharon Wilson’s pottery pieces are not only exquisite works of art, they are practical as well. She uses these artistic creations as her everyday tableware and expects others to do the same. “Life is too short not to enjoy each moment, each day,” Sharon said. “I love eating off these plates, and drinking my coffee from one of the sunflower mugs.” These days Sharon has time to enjoy her morning coffee on the porch overlooking a rolling landscape of fields and tree lines, but that was not always the case. Horses were the cornerstone of her life until last year, when her final two came to the end of their long lives. The decades between falling in love with horses at age 6 and living without one in her backyard for the first time have been filled with jobs, marriage, children and grandchildren. “I truly believe there is a gene for loving horses – and you either have it or you don’t,” she said. She grew up in Gastonia, North Carolina, where her father, Dr. Charles Lahser, nurtured her “horse” gene. “When I was six I desperately wanted a horse, and dad sold his golf clubs to buy me one. We lived in town, but had a two-stall barn and paddock right next to the house. It was heaven.” Later, she was ready for a second horse, but this time around Dr. Lahser lent her the money to buy one herself – she dutifully paid him back later on. From a young age she was drawn to fox hunting, a sport her father enjoyed as well. The late Edgar Cato was master of the Mecklenburg Hounds when she learned to hunt, and she would ride with him throughout her life. “Fox hunting was like the perfect outdoor nature experience with your best friend, your horse, and it was exciting too,” she said. College and a career beckoned, and Sharon went to live and work in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. There she put her degree in marine biology to good use working in a research laboratory while giving riding lessons on the side. “Even in a beach town I had my horse, and swapped out barn chores for board. Pretty soon I was giving lessons to kids and adults for 50 cents an hour. I thought it was a pretty good deal, considering I had no overhead.” The beach life was traded for a job at the Medical Center of Georgia in Evans, but she still gave riding lessons part time. Soon her lessons brought in more money than the work at MCG, so the horses won out. She met and married Epp Wilson, the MFH of the Belle Meade hunt, and for more than 20 years she lived, rode and raised a family in Thomson, Georgia where the hunt is based. Her children Wendi and Chase grew up riding, and their farm “Foxboro” was a family affair. “I made so many friends in that hunt,” she said. After she and Epp were divorced, she left Thomson for Monticello, Florida, where her friends Marty and Daphne Wood had their Live Oak Hounds. “They were friends from way back and hunting with them was fun.” During this time she started to think more about art, and when she gave up hunting at the age of 60, she turned her energy and creativity to pottery. “I figured I had fox hunted for 48 years and it might be a smart thing to quit while I was ahead.” Sharon was taking classes and working out of a studio in Tallahassee when her sister Wendy suggested she move back to Georgia. Together, the sisters bought a three-story house in Social Circle near Atlanta and Sharon joined a local art community called the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF.) “With OCAF I had finally found another community like the one I had with fox hunting. People were fun and talented, and creating art was our common bond. I was doing my pottery and learning from
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others.” She had her own kiln and wheels and hundreds of ideas, drawn from a life spent with horses and in nature and she began creating in earnest. Today, she has two sets of horse plates for sale at Aiken Saddlery, and these have become some of her best-known work. “I sell them only as a set of four, because these were all horses that were part of our family,” she said. “Somerset is the black horse, Finale the chestnut, Tigger the bay, and O’Keif is the gray. My daughter Wendi has a set as her everyday dishes and I have them as well.” By this time, her children were grown with families of their own. Wendi had moved to Aiken, the hometown of her husband, Chris Smith, and Sharon often traveled to visit them, especially after they became parents. Eventually, Sharon moved to Aiken too, as did her son Chase and his family. Sharon built a house in the New Holland area.
Her studio is a few steps down the hall from the kitchen. Filled with light and views of sky and fields, the studio is the perfect space for a potter. There are blocks of wrapped clay, shelves of glazes, two wheels and a kiln. One wheel is for throwing; the other for trimming. When a piece is fired for the first time it comes out of the kiln with a soft peachy color (this is called bisque fired). Once the piece has cooled, Sharon traces her designs onto the clay. “I always sketch out my design first on carbon paper, and then transfer it onto the plate or bowl,” she explained. She works without borders and many of the designs flow off the edges of the piece. “How boring to have flowers or foxes just stay within the perimeter of a plate!” she said with a laugh. In Sharon’s world, a red fox runs headlong down a coffee cup, one fleet foot reaching for a world outside the confines of the glaze. Finale, the beautiful chestnut, has a mane that flows off the plate, as though in a Carolina breeze. Her sunflowers grow and stretch in and over plates and cups. There are big serving bowls with wild geese flying over the horizon, others with polo ponies. Her latest plate design features bucking horses. “The glazes are a bit of a mystery,” she said. “The colors change, sometimes dramatically, when the piece is in the kiln for that final firing.” The bucking horse plates are intricate in their color scheme. There is the color of the horse to consider, then the cowboy’s outfit, tack, chaps, bandanas and hair color. It goes on one way and when it comes out of the kiln 20 hours later it sometimes has taken on a life of its own. A pinto might end up more blue than brown, but that is all part of the magic. After years of moving, Sharon has put down strong roots. Her feet may be planted on the ground, but her pottery shows an artistic spirit that knows no bounds. “I think the greatest blessing of my life is to be here in Aiken with my children and grandchildren,” Sharon said. “It is a wonderful place to live.”
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Eventers Go for Gold
Pressure is on at 2019 Pan Am Games By Amber Heintzberger
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he pressure is on the United States Eventing Team. After failing to medal at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina last fall, the team needs a successful outing at this summer’s Pan American Games on August 1-4 in Lima, Peru. The United States has not yet qualified to compete in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, and two Olympic slots will be awarded to the two best placed teams in Lima. As of yet, no countries in FEI Olympic Groups D and E (North and South America) have secured qualification, so competition will be particularly intense between the U.S., Canada, and Brazil. Doug Payne, who is has a year-round base in Aiken, and Boyd Martin, who winters at Stable View, are both hoping to compete on the U.S. Team in Lima. Martin was a member of the gold medal-winning team at the Pan Am Games in Toronto in 2013, and recently was the topplacing American at the Land Rover Kentucky CCI5*-L in Lexington, riding Christine Turner’s Tsetserleg, who also won The Fork CCI4*-L in the lead-up to Kentucky. Tsetserleg was also Martin’s mount for the 2018 World Equestrian Games.
Payne finished fifth at Kentucky riding Vandiver, a horse he owns in partnership with Debbie Crowley, but said that he is more likely to be selected for the Pan Am Games with a young chestnut mare named Star Witness, which he owns in partnership with Katherine Winter and Laurie McCready. Star Witness finished second at the Ocala Jockey Club Three-Day Event in Florida and won her division at the Jersey Fresh International last month. Although he has been a member of a couple of Nations Cup teams, this would be Payne’s first time representing the U.S. at a major international championship.
First Team Experience
“It’s something you hope for and aspire to, and I would hope that if I am selected for the Pan Am Team, it’s the first of many,” said Payne. Although Vandiver might seem like a good choice for Lima, Payne said that he ultimately hopes to take the gelding to Aachen, Germany this summer and the Burghley CCI5* in England this fall.
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“We have four horses that we submitted for the Pan Ams but even though Star Witness is greener, she’s likely to have a better score,” he said. “She was a show hunter, but she was a total failure at hunters. A good friend, Emil Spadone, had her and she was just too hot – she has too much ‘blood.’ She jumps beautifully, so you can see why they tried, but she was just too much. The good part is she’d shown all the way through 1.20 meters, so in the end my job was just teaching her the nuances of cross country and dressage. She did her first Training level last year at Paradise, here in Aiken, and she’s moved up the levels quickly. She has the attitude and willingness to thrive in this sport. She’s one of those horses that the more engaged her mind is, the better off you are – if she’s actively engaged, she’s all in.” Payne said that the U.S. Eventing Team Chef d’Equipe Erik Duvander has been an immense help with his training this year, and he has also been getting coaching from the local dressage trainer Shawna Harding and has been working on his stadium jumping with Andrea King who has a formidable reputation for bringing along showjumpers. Doug says that he told Spadone, who often sends him young horses, that he didn’t want a chestnut mare, but that is exactly what was sent. “The first time I rode her she was in season, and she was a nightmare. This horse Kasper thinks he’s a stallion sometimes and she dragged me up to him, it was awful. The first thing we did was stick her on Regu-mate but she’s definitely an alpha mare. She’s a freak athletically, but every time you just take her for a hack she spooks at everything in sight. When she’s working she’s all business though – she’s going to be awesome.” In fact, Payne likes Star Witness so much that he plans to breed her, via embryo transfer, to Quiberon, a stallion that he has in training. Payne figures Vandiver would be the next choice for the Pan American Games, and expects that he will be in the mix for the Olympic selection as well, if things go according to plan. “We’re really lucky we have a bunch of horses coming along. Another one, Quantum Leap, is amazing; he went to Lyon in France last year but ripped his heel on cross-country so he didn’t jump, but he hasn’t had a rail yet at Advanced level.” Payne is based in Aiken with his wife Jessica, who is also an event rider, and they have a young son, Hudson. “Aiken is obviously horsecentric and for the training and development of horses there’s probably not a better place to be in this country, in that you have so many show venues and training facilities in a small radius. With the support of the community we’re very fortunate.” As far as balancing fatherhood with his competitive aspirations, Payne said, “I’m very lucky to have Jess, and while our stable manager Courtney Carson is not a babysitter, she is our backstop when we need help with him. We’re lucky to have a good team of people and family to help with Hudson since the way we stay afloat is competing a ton. Jess’s mom and my mom are both really involved, and Jess’s sister has a kid Hudson’s age and they play all day long.”
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A Magical Spring Season for Martin
Following his success at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-day Event as the top-placed U.S. horse and USEF National Eventing Champion, Boyd Martin said that Tsetserleg (known around the barn as Thomas) recovered well during his rest period and is in good form heading into summer. “For some reason he just had a magical spring,” said Martin. “Everything went according to plan and he feels magnificent coming back into work. Hopefully he will be my ride for the PanAms. I understand the U.S. would most likely be sending a group of experienced horses. It would be a huge honor to be picked for the team, and I’d guess we’re in the mix.” Having represented the U.S. at two Olympic Games, three World
Equestrian Games and a Pan Am Games, Martin is a veteran team member by now “One thing about competing for the team is it takes you all over the world,” he said. “Taking a horse to Peru was not on my list of expectations but I’m excited to get down to Lima and gallop around the military base and win a medal for the country. Being on a team, everything is taken care of and first-class, and I’m expecting a really good contest.” When questioned about the pressure of earning an Olympic qualification, he said, “There’s always pressure; obviously there’s the extra pressure of going well to qualify for the Olympic Games, but for me, I always put a huge amount of pressure on myself to perform well, especially at championships, and I’ll be giving everything I’ve got for a good performance. It’s not just another event but you’ve got to block all that stuff out and make sure that you personally put in a good performance.” Martin finds it exciting that the team training camp for the Pan Am team will be in Aiken this summer. The dates and location will not be announced until after the team is selected. He said that he and his wife
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Silva, a dressage trainer and competitor, have been coming to Aiken for 12 winters and they love it. “For the eventing horses the most important part of the year in my opinion is January and February, when you need to build up the horses’ fitness and make sure they’re in great condition for the upcoming season. I’m talking about the seasoned horses, who need to be strong and fit, and I can put some miles on them. On top of that we have the young horses coming through and there’s no better place to produce a young horse: there are competitions weekly and with Bruce’s Field in the picture we have world-class show jumping and dressage competitions as well. We’re very fortunate to be in Aiken and I’m blessed beyond belief to be at Stable View. It’s as good as it gets when it comes to a training facility: the indoor and outdoor rings, the miles of
trails, and the competitions every week. It’s really the ideal place for me to be in the winter. “I have a whole bubble of friends we’ve met through horses, not only the eventers but through Silva, the dressage world. I love hunting too and we’re slowly getting to know the foxhunters and that’s really making it feel like a home away from home. For anyone involved in horses at any level, Aiken’s a brilliant place.” Team selection for the Pan Am Games will be the 17th of June, after Bromont. Veterinary evaluations will take place June 15-16 in Virginia, and three weeks later the final preparation event is at The Maryland International CCI3*-S at The Highlands at Loch Moy Farm on July 5-7. Looking forward to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, a total of 15 teams can qualify in addition to slots for 20 individuals, making a total sum of 65 starters. Teams from China, Thailand and Poland recently secured their qualifications and countries previously qualified include Great Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. For European countries, two more slots are available at the Luhmühlen CCI5* in Germany in June, and the highest ranked nation from the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ series in 2019 will also qualify.
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Carolinas Hound Show Juniors Shine
By Ragan Morehouse, Photography by Steve Long
fter the foxhunting season has ended and the horses are enjoying A a well-deserved rest, foxhunters turn to hound shows to continue indulging their passion. Every spring, local area hunts select the best and
brightest from their kennels to represent their club at a series of shows held throughout Georgia and the Carolinas. This spring, both the Aiken Hounds (AH) and Whiskey Road Foxhounds (WRFH) competed, earning excellent ribbons and bragging rights for the next year. Attending a foxhound show feels a bit like stepping into a sepia-tint photograph. Dressed in white lab coats, velvet hunt caps, khakis, and paddock boots, the hounds’ handlers present a nostalgic scene as they escort their charges around the ring. The hounds have been washed
Henry Morehouse-Labuschange with Aiken Zorro
“We are basically looking at three things when we are considering a hound,” explains Larry Byers, a Master of Foxhounds for the Aiken Hounds and the head steward at the 43rd Annual Carolinas Hound Show held this May in Southern Pines, N.C. “First, we look at conformation. We want to see a strong, healthy body that contributes to a good hunting hound. Next, we watch how balanced he is as he’s running. Lastly, we look for that indefinable quality, presence. We want a hound that is more than willing – a happy hound.”
Harrison Labuschange with Aiken Peter
and show-sheened, their white coats gleam, and they radiate happiness, their tongues lolling as they gaze adoringly at anyone with whom they make eye contact. Women in floral dresses and wide-brimmed hats chat rail-side with gentlemen in seersucker suits as the judge evaluates each hound. Although socializing with fellow foxhunters in such a rarefied setting is reason enough to attend, the main purpose of hound shows is to
Miles Bauersfeld with Aiken Batman
Tegan Price with Aiken Rusty
give huntsmen and Masters of Foxhounds the opportunity to evaluate hounds that they may want to incorporate into their packs. Whether introducing a new bloodline or an outcrossing (mating an American foxhound with an English foxhound, for example), new blood is essential to maintain a healthy kennel. The shows provide the perfect opportunity for matchmaking.
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At the shows, competitors enter the ring and circulate around the perimeter. Then, at the judges request, the handlers and their hounds approach the ‘boards,’ a wooden runway in the center of the ring, one at a time. Here, the dogs are ‘stood up’ either by ‘stacking,’ where the handler kneels down to position the hound to its best advantage, or by ‘showing from the front,’ where the handler stands before the dog and uses hand signals (usually with a treat) to encourage their dog to stand straight and square. Once the judge has nodded his approval of the stance, the handlers remove the leash and throw a biscuit beyond the boards, using their voice to urge their dog to run to find the treat. The biscuits are thrown up and down the boards to enable the judge to see the dog move in both directions. Finally, the hound is re-leashed, stood up once more, and then dismissed to join the rest of the class on the rail. The highlight of the show is usually the junior handlers class in which children 6 to 18 years old present their hounds. Dressed in full regalia, the juniors follow the same procedures as the professional houndsmen. Crowd pleasers are usually the littlest ones who water-ski behind hounds twice their size and weight. This year, the Aiken Hounds had six juniors compete. “They are the future of the sport,” says Katherine Gunter, who is the huntsman for the Aiken Hounds. “It is so wonderful to see them so enthusiastic and to be a part in developing their love for the hounds and foxhunting. I love my kids!”
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Extended Adoption Hours! Mon. Wed. Fri. 11am- 5pm. Tues, Thurs. 11am- 7pm Sat. 11-4:30pm
AS22-1748736-1
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AIKEN COUNTY FARM SUPPLY
SERVING AIKEN COUNTY FOR OVER 50 YEARS
803-649-2987
1933 Park Ave. Aiken, South Carolina 29801
June-July 2019
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50,000 SQUARE FEET OF FUN FOR SALE. Why do so many equestrians worship Aiken, South Carolina? Its temperate climate, footing that never freezes, and year-round equestrian activities top the list. Now comes the opportunity to acquire your own piece of training paradise within the oasis of Aiken. Fully covered, lit, and irrigated, the 50,000 square foot arena at Tod’s Hill allows for all-weather, around-the-clock jumping, polo, dressage and more – just minutes from downtown Aiken – and even closer to home should you choose. The arena at Tod’s Hill is offered with an option of 15 to 50 residential acres within the gated equestrian community of Tod’s Hill.
THE ARENA AT TOD’S HILL OFFERED WITH AN OPTION OF 15 TO 50 ACRES MARKETED BY KARL MCMILLAN 843-693-6115 TODSHILL.COM
PROPERTY MARKETS GROUP
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Foals of 2019 Classifieds Directory of Services Aiken Polo Club Calendar of Events Index of Advertisers
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Foals of 2019
The Future is Bright By Pam Gleason
I
n years past, Aiken’s horse community has often been dominated by transplants, horsemen who come to the area from different parts of the country. The horses in the community were usually transplants, too, with most born and raised outside the area and only coming to Aiken when it was time for serious training or competing. All of that is changing now that this area has such a large population of full time horsemen who appreciate all that Aiken has to offer. Now horses aren’t just coming to Aiken; they are being born here. Each year
we have a diverse crop of Aiken foals with bright futures in a number of different disciplines. This is the third year that we have profiled foals born in Aiken. Our goal is to follow up on these foals from time to time to see how they are doing and find out what they become. We have five foals for you this year: one Irish Sport Horse, one Argentine polo pony/Thoroughbred cross, two Westphalians and one double registered American Paint and American Quarter Horse. Meet the Aiken Foal Class of 2019
The Picture of Dorian Grey
Irish Sport Horse (Irish Draft X American Thoroughbred) March 30, 2019 Colt By Cappa Irish Charmer out of Big Time Ceasar Owned by Leigh Partlow When Leigh Partlow first saw The Picture of Dorian Grey’s dam Big Time Caesar, the horse was on the Facebook page of the Bastrop Kill Pen in Louisiana. She and another off the track Thoroughbred were slated to be shipped for slaughter unless someone paid their “bail” and had them transported out of there. Leigh was not exactly looking for a horse, but she couldn’t see letting these two Thoroughbreds end up on a truck to Mexico and so she made the necessary arrangements to have them shipped to Valhalla Equestrian Center in Aiken instead. When the two horses arrived at their new home, they were both underweight and in need of TLC. Within a short time, they bounced back. The gelding known in the barn as Desi (his show name is I Love Lucy) was soon sound, happy and ready to go to work. He was put in training as an event horse. The mare, Big Time Ceasar, known as Lucy, turned out to have an injury to her hip that would keep her from competing. But she was definitely pasture sound, had lovely manners, a nice way of going, a big, strong frame and lovely conformation. What’s more, she was well bred: her grandsire on her sire’s side is Storm Cat, while on her dam’s side her great grandsire was Blushing Groom. “I love her breeding, but I kept her for a year and didn’t do anything with her because I wanted to see what she was like and if she was worth breeding,” says Leigh. And after a year the verdict was definitely yes. Leigh began shopping around for a stallion, first considering a Holsteiner and then settling on Cappa Irish Charmer, an imported approved Irish Draught Horse stallion standing in Kansas. “I chose him because I really liked his temperament – he can go out with other horses, for one thing. And he is talented and athletic,” she says. The Picture of Dorian Grey, known as Dorian, was born at the end of March. Currently, he is a bay, but his sire is a homozygous grey, which means that he will be grey too -- a few white hairs are just now starting to show around his eyes as he loses his fluffy foal coat. He is tall and leggy with an elegant, slightly Roman nose inherited from his father along with his grey coat. He has a long, floating stride. “I think he will be a really good eventer,” says Leigh. “His dam has the body type and his daddy is jumping upper level. I would love to sell him as a weanling to an experienced show home, to someone who is not going to back him until he is at least 3.” But for the summer, he will be staying at Valhalla, growing and learning. “He’s in a bit of a nibble phase right now,” says Leigh, “But he’s adorable and really sweet.”
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Canela
American Polo Pony (Argentine Polo X American Thoroughbred) April 2, 2019 Filly By Cielito out of Coming Up Roses Owned by Jill Diaz, Estancia La Victoria Jill Diaz is pretty excited about her new filly Canela. Born in early April, the filly is bright, athletic and personable, with an attractive chestnut coat and an unmistakable presence that comes from her selfconfidence and intelligence. “When you breed a horse, you’re always trying to get a mix of the best traits of the parents. You always say, I wish I could get this from the sire and that from the dam. It doesn’t always work out that way. But this time I think it did. The way she moves, it looks like I got the power and the speed of her mamma and the coolness and handiness of her dad. The horse you are dreaming of getting when you breed two horses, I think I got. Canela’s dam is an off the track Thoroughbred named Coming Up Roses. Born in 2008, she has royal blood. Her sire, Touch Gold, won the Belmont Stakes in 1997, upsetting Silver Charm, who had already won the Derby and the Preakness and looked like a lock for the Triple Crown. Her dam was sired by Affirmed, the winner of the Triple Crown in 1978. Roses raced 26 times, winning once and earning a few checks
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at Penn National and at Suffolk Downs, where Jill found her and purchased her as a polo prospect. When Roses arrived in Aiken, she immediately showed herself to be a horse with immense potential as a high goal polo pony. “She was one of the most powerful horses I have ever ridden,” says Jill, who started her, and was expecting to sell her to a top professional. But before the mare had a chance to progress very far in her training, she had a pasture accident, injuring her back so severely she could not be ridden again. After a few years of rest and recovery, Jill had her examined by the veterinarian and declared breeding sound. Last year, she was bred to Jill’s stallion Cielito. Cielito comes from polo pony royalty himself. His dam, who played the high goal in Argentina and America, is the daughter of the great Pucara, one of the most acclaimed sires in the Argentine polo world. His sire is Jill’s stallion Texas Sam, a Thoroughbred and a descendant of Seattle Slew. Cielito, like his mother, is a small bay, with conformation that reflects the Spanish blood of the Argentine Criollo horse, along with a sensible nature, extreme quickness and dexterity, and a healthy dose of racehorse speed. Born at Jill’s Estancia La Victoria in Wagener, from the beginning, Canela has proven to be smart and trainable, and she is exceptionally friendly, along with being proud and playful. “She is the best baby ever,” says Jill.
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Belle Rose
Westphalian (Hanoverian X Westphalian) April 9, 2019 Filly By Benicio out of Floreen Owned by Dr. Andrea Sieg, Westphalians for USA Dr. Andrea Sieg has high hopes for her filly, Belle Rose, born this April at her farm, Westphalians for USA, in Jackson. Belle is a bright chestnut with four white socks and a star. She has an outgoing, friendly personality and beautiful gaits. She will be inspected in late August and registered as a Westphalian Warmblood. “She will be a future top dressage mare for the upper level, with excellent rideability,” says Andrea. “She is super fancy with all her chrome and has a super temperament.” Andrea’s confidence in her filly is well founded. Not only is Andrea extremely knowledgeable about sport horse breeding, she is also an expert on the Westphalian breed and is the official U.S. representative for the NorthRhine Westphalian State Stud. She chooses her bloodlines carefully, and Belle Rose’s breeding represents some of the best available anywhere. Her sire, Benicio, who is a registered Hanoverian, won the 2011 German Bundeschampionate for 6-year old dressage horses and earned perfect 10s at his stallion performance test in the walk, trot and canter. His final score for the dressage section, 9.88, is the highest mark ever achieved in the history of the test. Her dam, Floreen, is a Westphalian mare who earned a Premium title at her inspection. She is by the legendary sire Florestan I, the sire of numerous licensed stallions that have been trained and competed up to the Grand Prix Level in dressage. For several years, Florestan I, who died in 2011, was ranked number one by the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses, which is the only international federation of studbooks for sport horses in the world. “Her dam, Floreen is very refined, but she doesn’t have enough bone for me, so I always choose stallions that have a little more bone. That is why I chose Benicio for her,” says Andrea, explaining that Benicio is a slightly heavier stallion, who imparts excellent quality to his foals. Belle Rose has a full brother on the farm, who, at 3, is just starting his lessons under saddle and he has proven himself to be easy to ride and to train, with the gaits and the quality to compete at any level. Andrea says she breeds only from the top German bloodlines (either imported horses or through shipped semen) and she foals out about 15 horses each year at her 135-acre farm, focusing her efforts on breeding dressage horses that are amateur-friendly, but have the potential to excel at upper levels. All the foals start their training in Jackson under German riders and are not offered for sale until they are at least 4 years old. “With the filly, it is always a question: do I sell her or do I keep her for breeding,” says Andrea. “The best ones I always keep for breeding. That is why I have so many!”
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Unnamed Colt
Westphalian (Oldenburg X Westphalian) May 9, 2019 Colt By Morricone out of Eireen Owned by Dr. Andrea Sieg, Westphalians for USA At three weeks old, this big colt hasn’t found his name yet, but he will soon. Currently, he is Belle Rose’s pasture mate at Westphalians for USA, and, like her, he is spending his days frolicking in the pasture and learning his first lessons in leading and being handled. Andrea Sieg, his owner, says she bred the unnamed colt, and she also bred his mother Eireen, and his grandmother Montmartre – in fact, the colt represents six generations of Andrea’s breeding. Eireen, who is a relatively big mare, is by Ehrentusch (1984-2005) who was a foundation sire for the Westphalian breed and one of the most important sires in the Westphalian society. The colt’s sire, Morricone, is the 2014 champion Oldenburg stallion, the product of a Trakehner
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sire and an Oldenburg dam that unites some of the best bloodlines in German breeding. An impressive black horse, Morricone has wonderful, uphill movement and a superb temperament, making him one of the most popular sires in Europe today. “The colt will definitely be something for the FEI level,” says Andrea, noting that she expects him to top out at 17 hands when he is fully mature and that, like his sire and dam, he will be a powerful mover. “He will not be for someone who is older and has just had back surgery,’” she says with a laugh. “He will have gaits with a lot of suspension, and will be for someone who can sit that, and who wants to compete in upper levels. But he will also have a very good mind. That’s the biggest point. I always breed first for the brain, rather than for the top movement. You can sell a horse who is not a top mover but is nice to ride and very well educated, but you cannot sell a horse who is crazy in his head and no one can ride him.”
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Secret Touch
Double Registered APHA & AQHA March 1, 2019 Filly By Telasecret out of RPL Touch N Tickle Owned by Carolyn McGaughey, Hilltop Farm of Aiken Secret Touch, born the first of March at Hilltop Farm of Aiken, is a double registered AQHA (Quarter Horse) and APHA (Paint) filly destined for the halter ring. Her owner, Carolyn McGaughey, expects that she will be a winner. She has good reason to believe this, since the filly’s dam, RPL Touch N Tickle, has been a World Champion halter horse many times over, and her sire, Telasecret is the sire of many World Champions.
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Halter horses start their careers early. While the other foals in this group will spend the next year or more growing and playing without much formal education, when Secret is weaned, she will go to kindergarten right away to learn to be a halter horse. Carolyn is planning to send her to Jeffrey Pait of Pait Quarter Horses on Aiken’s Southside. Jeffrey, a World Champion Quarter Horse trainer, has an excellent record bringing along young horses and developing them to their fullest potential for the halter ring. “Hopefully she will do well in the show ring and we’ll aim her toward a world title or two,” says Carolyn. “She’s smart and has a wonderful temperament. She should be an excellent broodmare down the road.”
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Classifieds 7 year old registered QH mare. Grey. 15.1 hands. Super quiet, no spook. Great in trails. Call for more information. 803-295-8687
Mill Race Farm, Aiken. Warm weather luxury horse retirement, breaking, training, layups. 803-640-1818
4-year-old TB Mare 16 hands Athletic. Call for more info: 239-989-2011
8-year-old OTTB Mare 16 hands Sound and athletic. Call 941-538-1164
BOARDING/ TURNOUT Chime Ridge Stables. Come join us! Fun group of mature riders at Chime Ridge Stables. Space available full, partial or DIY. 803508-3760; please leave message. Pasture board or dry stalls at Hilltop Farm of Aiken. Beautiful property in 302 corridor, close to town. Under new ownership. anguslady2@hotmail.com or 770468-5760.
BUILDING/REPAIRS/ PAINT
per bale round bales kept inside. Square bales at $7.00 per bale. Will deliver for a small fee. Please call 706-830-2600 or 803-8270864. email garymcelmurray@ glmconstruction.net Hoss Luva Hay! Exceptional quality Coastal Bermuda. Real fertilizer and lime to Clemson specs, not chicken litter. Never rained on. Square and round bales. Competitively priced. Can deliver state-wide. Fully enclosed truck. Satisfaction guaranteed. Jim McClain. 803.247.4803.
HELP WANTED
Building & Repair: Carpentry, Doors, Windows, Decks, Cabinets, Trim, Stairs, Railings, Gates, Wood Siding, Floors, Framing, Repairs. Licensed, bonded, insured. Contact Paul Dyches. paul.t.dyches@gmail. com. 803-645-6645.
HAY Round and Square Bales. Oakwood Farms: 3593 Silver Bluff Road, Aiken SC 29803. $60 per bale round hay bales. $70
Freelance writers who know horses! The Aiken Horse is looking for contributors. Experience writing preferred; experience with horses a must. Must be a self-starter able to work independently. Must be good with deadlines and willing to rewrite if necessary. Good attitude important. Email resume, writing clips and availability to AikenHorseJobs@gmail.com.
HORSES/PETS & SERVICES Needed: a retired or older bay gelding who needs a great home for trail riding in the Hitchcock Woods. I am an older woman and need a calm but well-trained horse to ride with friends. References available. An equitation hunter type would be perfect. Please call: Pat Kirk at 803-644-7433 Trinity Farms Terriers: Norfolk Terriers & Russell Terriers. Quality family dogs with proven calmer dispositions. Generations of great temperaments. Health/ dispositions guaranteed. Breeder of terriers for 40+ years. Donna Fitzpatrick. 803.648.3137. easyjacks.com & trinityfarmskennel.com & trinitynorfolkterriers.com.
Aiken. Downtown fully furnished cottages, historic stables. Executive relocation; corporate housing. Short & long term. aikenluxuryrentals.com; info@aikenluxuryrentals.com. 803.648.2804.
SHAVINGS Shaving Saver: Delivering you bulk shavings the economical & convenient way! Large, durable bags (950 lbs.) of pine shavings delivered to your stable. Reusable, eco-friendly bags make storage neat and simple; bulk pricing makes your bedding affordable. Quality blended easy sift & large flake shavings that your horse will love! Call or text Claudia White 410-303-4617 or email scshavingsaver@gmail.com
REAL ESTATE & RENTALS Aiken Luxury Rentals. Distinctive accommodations for horse & rider in beautiful
Advertising in The Aiken Horse
DIRECTORY LISTING ADS: $25 per issue CLASSIFIED ADS are $25 for the first 30 words & 40 cents for every word or $90 for the year (6 issues.) thereafter. BUSINESS CARDS: $60 per issue or $240 PHOTO CLASSIFIEDS for horses: $35; for the year (6 issues.) Limit 30 words & one picture DISPLAY ADS are available in a range of PHOTO CLASSIFIEDS for real estate, etc. sizes. For a detailed rate sheet and $45; Limit 60 words & one picture. publication schedule, visit our website: BOXED CLASSIFIEDS: add $5 to your total TheAikenHorse.com
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MAILING ADDRESS: The Aiken Horse, P.O. Box 332, Montmorenci, SC 29839 EMAIL: theAikenHorse@gmail.com We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.
Advertise in the August-September issue! Deadline July 22, 2019 Publication date: August 2019
Pay online: TheAikenHorse.com or call us: 803.643.9960
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Directory of Services BARNS,CONSTRUCTION & REMODELING Cooper Home and Stable. For Equestrians by Equestrians. A unique design and build general contractor specializing in equestrian construction and farm development, architecturally designed custom homes, historic renovations, remodeling and additions. Contact J. D. Cooper, cell 502-417-2307, office 803-335-3527, cooperhs.com. G. L. Williams & Daughter. Serving the CSRA for over 52 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.Free Estimates Available (803)6633715 Certified DBE.WOSB. www.glwilliamstrucking.com Larlee Construction, LLC. Fine Equestrian Facilities. 1096 Toolebeck Road, Aiken SC 29803. 803.642.9096. larleeconstruction.com. BLANKET CLEANING & REPAIR Aiken Horse Blanket Couture. Please see our business card ad on page 81. Elisa: 803-640-3211; elisa@aikenhorseblanket.com BOARDING/TURNOUT/TRAINING/SALES Chime Ridge Stables. Stalls available, full, partial or self care. Fun, friendly, adult atmosphere. Convenient to town, South Aiken 803508-3760. 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, CARE & SERVICES Trinity Farms Terriers: Norfolk Terriers & Russell Terriers. Quality family dogs with proven calmer dispositions. Generations of great temperaments. Health/dispositions guaranteed. Breeder of terriers for 40+ years. Donna Fitzpatrick. 803.648.3137. easyjacks.com & trinityfarmskennel.com & trinitynorfolkterriers.com. FEED, SUPPLEMENTS & SUPPLIES Aiken County Farm Supply. 1933 Park Ave., Aiken. 803.649.2987. Aiken Saddlery & Supply. Full service tack & feed store. 1044 E. Pine Log Rd., Aiken. 803.649.6583. aikensaddlery.com HAY Hoss Luva Hay! Exceptional quality Coastal Bermuda. Real fertilizer and lime to Clemson specs, not chicken litter. Never rained on. Square and round bales. Competitively priced. Can deliver statewide. Fully enclosed truck. Satisfaction guaranteed. Jim McClain. 803.247.4803. HOME & FARM SERVICES Be Fly Free. Automatic fly systems for barns and sheds. No unpleasant odor, no synthetic insecticides, no petroleum distillates. Call Carlos: 803-645-0361. beflyfree.com; carlos@beflyfree.com. INSURANCE Betsy Minton, Dietrich Insurance Company, 803. 617. 8353. Providing competitive comprehensive insurance for horses and farms. Excellent professional and personal service always delivered with a smile. betsyminton.com. 800 942 4258
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Hutson-Etherredge Company. Insuring Aiken farms since 1876. Your hometown independent insurance agency can customize your equine property coverage by choosing the best company to fit your needs. We are a full service insurance agency. Call Sandi Vogus for a quote! 803-649-5141 INSTRUCTION/LESSONS Amy McElroy. USDF Gold Medalist and USEF S judge. Instruction and training at all levels. Visit amymcelroy.com or call 803.6404207. Aiken Horsemanship Academy. Your naturally inspired adult learning resource! Offering Clinics, Courses, Starting Young Horses, Evaluations, and Lessons. JulieRobins.com 803-641-4715. B & E Stables. Elite Training and Sales Facility for all levels of horse and rider. Visit classicaldressagetraining.com or call Elaine: 803257-1949. 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 & DESIGN SERVICES Gary Knoll Photography.com. Commercial, portrait, weddings, advertising. Pet portraits. Complete wide-format video service. 803.643.9960 410.812.4037. garyknollphotography.com REAL ESTATE/ RENTALS Aiken Fine Homes and Land. Specializing in selling or renting homes, farms, land & barns for short or long term leases. 28 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. Aiken Luxury Rentals. Distinctive accommodations for horse & rider in beautiful Aiken. Downtown fully furnished cottages, historic stables. Executive relocation; corporate housing. Short & long term. aikenluxuryrentals.com; info@aikenluxuryrentals.com. 803.648.2804. 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, Meybohm. “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 for 15+ years. southernhorsefarms.com. 803-215-4734. TACK & TACK CLEANING/REPAIR The Saddle Doctor. Saddlery and harness repair. 538 Two Notch Rd. HollyMacSpencer@aol.com. 803.642.5166. YOGA/FITNESS Aiken Yoga: At Aiken Yoga we are passionate about sharing the benefits that regular yoga practice has on one’s physical and mental well-being. We offer Yoga classes, Yoga for Equestrians, Pilates, Barre, Cycle and Functional Fitness -- helping people to keep fit for daily living. Sarah Accord, RN, 116B Pendleton St. SW Aiken. 803-524-8833 or sarah@aikenyoga.com; for schedule go to aikenyoga.com.
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Aiken Polo Club action
Photography by Pam Gleason
Aiken Area Calendar of Events
JUNE 1 1 1 1-2 2 4-9 5 5 6-9 7-9 7-9 8 8
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8-9 GQHA Novice Show Series. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, www. georgiahorsepark.com Atlanta Youth Dressage Challenge. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, www.georgiahorsepark.com Combined Test and Dressage Show. The Vista Schooling and Event Center, 859 Old Tory Trail, Aiken, SC. 803.262.5263, www. schoolthevista.com USEF/USEA Recognized Horse Trials. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Us Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, www.poplarplacefarm. com Schooling HT/Combined Tests/Dressage tests. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken, SC. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com. www.fullgallopfarm.com Tryon Spring 6. Tryon International Event Center, 4066 Pea Ridge Road, Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1000, www.tryon.coth.com Schooling HJ Show. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken, SC. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, www.stableviewfarm.com Yappy Hour. 6-8 pm. SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare, 199 Willow Run Road Aiken, SC. 803.648.6863, www.letlovelive.org Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show- Saddlebred Division. Broyhill Preserve, 1500 Laurel Lane, Blowing Rock, NC. www.brchs.org Palmetto Sport Horse Spring Classic. T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena, 1101 West Queen Street, Pendleton, SC. Robert Obermiller: 828.674.1758, www.clemson.edu/extension/garrison NSBA Boot Camp. South Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. 803.486.4938, www. scequinepark.com Ela Ladwig Dressage Clinic. The Vista Schooling and Event Center, 859 Old Tory Trail, Aiken, SC. 803.262.5263, www.schoolthevista. com Chat Hills Schooling Show. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www. Chatthillseventing.com Rolling Hills Saddle Club (H,J,W,B). Wills Park Equestrian Center, 11925 Wills Rd, Alpharetta, GA. Info Line: 770.338.0143, www. willspark.com CEC HJ Show. Pine Tree Stables, 1265 Sanders Creek Road, Camden, SC. Lynn Conto: 803.424.1952, conto@bellsouth.net. www. camdenequinecircuit.com
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12-23 13-16 13-16 14-16 14-16 15 15 15
15
GHF/Massey Ferguson Annual Dressage Show. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, www.georgiahorsepark.com PSJ Mullet Hall Summer Classic. Mullet Hall Equestrian Center, Johns Island, SC. 803.649.3505, www.psjshows.com Ride-a-Test. The Vista Schooling and Event Center, 859 Old Tory Trail, Aiken, SC. 803.262.5263, www.schoolthevista.com Save the Horses Charity Horse Show. Wills Park Equestrian Center, 11925 Wills Rd, Alpharetta, GA. Mellisa Cotton: 404.557.6158, www.willspark.com USEF/USDF “Summer Solstice” Dressage. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken, SC. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, www.stableviewfarm.com Twilight #2. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www.Chatthillseventing. com The Classic Company’s Aiken Summer Classic. The Aiken Horse Park @ “Bruce’s Field”, 931 Powderhouse Rd SE, Aiken, SC. 803.226.0121, www.aikenhorsepark.org Harmon Classics Derby Mania. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center, 3381 Hunting Country Road, Tryon, NC. 828.859.9021, horseshow@fence.org, www.fence.org Tryon Summer 1. Tryon International Event Center, 4066 Pea Ridge Road, Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1000, www.tryon.coth.com Good Old Summertime Horse Show (H, J). Wills Park Equestrian Center, 11925 Wills Rd, Alpharetta, GA. Cheryl Sims: 404.518.9198, www.willspark.com Tryon Dressage Summer 1. Tryon International Event Center, 4066 Pea Ridge Road, Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1000, www.tryon.coth. com Pups and Suds. SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare, 199 Willow Run Road Aiken, SC. 803.648.6863, www.letlovelive.org Ela Ladwig Dressage Clinic. The Vista Schooling and Event Center, 859 Old Tory Trail, Aiken, SC. 803.262.5263, www.schoolthevista. com Young Event Horse/New Event Horse USEA/USEF Horse Trials and Dressage Test of Choice Show. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken, SC. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo. com. www.fullgallopfarm.com Hunter Pace. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www.Chatthillseventing.
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16 17-23 19
19-22 20-23 21-23 21-22 21-23 22 22-23 22-23
22-23 26
26-30 27-30 28-29 28-29 28-30 28-30 29-30
29-30 29-30
76
Schooling GDCTA Dressage, Show Jumping, 3-Phase. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Us Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, www. poplarplacefarm.com Good Times Barrel Racing Association Money Run. T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena, 1101 West Queen Street, Pendleton, SC. Robert Obermiller: 828.674.1758, www.clemson.edu/extension/garrison WHES Schooling Day and Horse Trials. Carolina Horse Park, 2814 Montrose Road, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2074, www. carolinahorsepark.com H. J. Fox Classics I & II. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, www. georgiahorsepark.com Obstacle Challenge. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www. Chatthillseventing.com June Recognized HT. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken, SC. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com. www.fullgallopfarm.com Fjord and Friends Fest. Broyhill Preserve, 1500 Laurel Lane, Blowing Rock, NC. www.brchs.org Twilight #3. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www. Chatthillseventing.com SC 4-H Horse Show. T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena, 1101 West Queen Street, Pendleton, SC. Kristine Vernon: 864.656.4028, www. clemson.edu/extension/garrison Tryon Summer 2. Tryon International Event Center, 4066 Pea Ridge Road, Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1000, www.tryon.coth.com Southern Fox Summer Classic (USEF). Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, www.georgiahorsepark.com Carl Black Classic IPRA Rodeo. Jim Miller Park, Marietta, GA. www.rodeosportsnetwork.com SCQHA Show. South Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. 803.486.4938, www. scequinepark.com USEF/USEA “Summer” Horse Trials. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken, SC. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, www. stableviewfarm.com PSJ Highfields June. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken, SC. 803.649.3505, www.psjshows.com Chat Hills Dressage Show. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www. Chatthillseventing.com Elite Showjumping (H, J). Wills Park Equestrian Center, 11925 Wills Rd, Alpharetta, GA. Vic Russell: 678.858.7192, www. willspark.com Twilight #4. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www. Chatthillseventing.com Tryon Summer 3. Tryon International Event Center, 4066 Pea Ridge Road, Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1000, www.tryon.coth.com Stars & Stripes Circuit (GQHA). Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, www.georgiahorsepark.com FENCE Rodeo. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center, 3381 Hunting Country Road, Tryon, NC. 828.859.9021, horseshow@fence.org, www.fence.org SCDCTA JR Clinic. South Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. 803.486.4938, www. scequinepark.com Feathered Horse Summer Classic. T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena, 1101 West Queen Street, Pendleton, SC. Gail Shrine: 512.653.3635, www.clemson.edu/extension/garrison Cheryl & Co. (H,J). Wills Park Equestrian Center, 11925 Wills Rd, Alpharetta, GA. Cheryl Sims: 404.518.9198, www.willspark.com Chat Hills Summer Event. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www. Chatthillseventing.com Ride Better Clinic. Stono River Stables, Charleston, SC. Laura Quarles: 843 813 5506, www.paradisefarmaiken.com Dressage at the Park. Carolina Horse Park, 2814 Montrose Road, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2074, www.carolinahorsepark.com
JULY 1 3 3
3-6 3-7 5-7 6 6-7
9-13 9-14 9-14 10 10
10-11 11-28 12-14 12-14 13 13 13-14 13-14 13-14 16 16-20 16-21 17
17-21
The Aiken Horse
GQHA Big A Circuit. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, www. georgiahorsepark.com Schooling HJ Show. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken, SC. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, www.stableviewfarm.com Twilight #5. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www. Chatthillseventing.com 2019 NBHA Triple Crown Super Show. Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter, 401 Larry Walker Parkway, Perry, GA. 478.987.3247, www.gnfa.com. Tryon Summer 4. Tryon International Event Center, 4066 Pea Ridge Road, Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1000, www.tryon.coth.com PSJ HJ Show. South Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. 803.486.4938, www.scequinepark.com Schooling HT/Combined Tests/Dressage tests. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken, SC. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com. www.fullgallopfarm.com Chat Hills Event. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www. Chatthillseventing.com Charleston Summer Classic. Mullet Hall Equestrian Center, Johns Island, SC. classiccompany.com. 843-768-5503 Tryon Summer 5. Tryon International Event Center, 4066 Pea Ridge Road, Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1000, www.tryon.coth.com Region 12 Youth Jamboree. T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena, 1101 West Queen Street, Pendleton, SC. Robert Obermiller: 828.674.1758, www.clemson.edu/extension/garrison Yappy Hour. 6pm. SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare, 199 Willow Run Road Aiken, SC. 803.648.6863, www.letlovelive.org Twilight #6. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www. Chatthillseventing.com USEF/USDF “Only In America” Dressage Show. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken, SC. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm. com, www.stableviewfarm.com Elite Showjumping (H, J). Wills Park Equestrian Center, 11925 Wills Rd, Alpharetta, GA. Vic Russell: 678.858.7192, www.willspark. com Pick Me! Adoption event. SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare, 199 Willow Run Road Aiken, SC. 803.648.6863, www. letlovelive.org PPHC Show. South Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. 803.486.4938, www.scequinepark.com CEC Show. Voxton Farm, 226 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. Linda Klein: 803.425.4795, voxtonfarm@aol.com. www. camdenequinecircuit.com Dressage Show. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center, 3381 Hunting Country Road, Tryon, NC. 828.859.9021, horseshow@fence.org, www.fence.org PSJ Highfields June. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken, SC. 803.649.3505, www.psjshows.com H. J. Fox “Wounded Warrior” Classics I & II. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, www.georgiahorsepark.com WHES Schooling Day and Horse Trials. Carolina Horse Park, 2814 Montrose Road, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2074, www. carolinahorsepark.com Schooling Show. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center, 3381 Hunting Country Road, Tryon, NC. 828.859.9021, horseshow@fence.org, www.fence.org Charleston Summer Classic. Mullet Hall Equestrian Center, Johns Island, SC. classiccompany.com. 843-768-5503 Tryon Summer 6. Tryon International Event Center, 4066 Pea Ridge Road, Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1000, www.tryon.coth.com Twilight #7. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www. Chatthillseventing.com SC 4-H Horse Camp. T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena, 1101 West Queen Street, Pendleton, SC. Robert Obermiller: 828.674.1758, www.clemson.edu/extension/garrison
June-July 2019
20
Clear Round Jumper Day. The Vista Schooling and Event Center, 859 Old Tory Trail, Aiken, SC. 803.262.5263, www.schoolthevista.com 20 Eventing Academy Schooling Day. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken, SC. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, www. stableviewfarm.com 20 GQHA Novice Show Series. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, www. georgiahorsepark.com 20 Schooling GDCTA Dressage, Show Jumping, 3-Phase. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Us Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, www. poplarplacefarm.com 20-21 Feel Good Festival. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www. Chatthillseventing.com 20-21 Tallboots HJ Schooling Show. Carolina Horse Park, 2814 Montrose Road, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2074, www.carolinahorsepark.com 21 Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken, SC. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, www.stableviewfarm.com 21 Schooling HT/Combined Tests/Dressage tests. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken, SC. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com. www.fullgallopfarm.com 23-28 Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show – HJ Division Week #1. Broyhill Preserve, 1500 Laurel Lane, Blowing Rock, NC. www.brchs.org 24-28 USPC Champions East. Tryon International Event Center, 4066 Pea Ridge Road, Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1000, www.tryon.coth.com 25-28 SCQHA Horse Show. T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena, 1101 West Queen Street, Pendleton, SC. Robert Obermiller: 828.674.1758, www.clemson.edu/extension/garrison 26-28 Camden Summer Classic HJ Show. South Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. 803.486.4938, www.scequinepark.com 27 Combined Test and Dressage Show. The Vista Schooling and Event Center, 859 Old Tory Trail, Aiken, SC. 803.262.5263, www. schoolthevista.com 27-28 Ride Better Clinic. Stono River Stables, Charleston, SC. Laura Quarles: 843 813 5506, www.paradisefarmaiken.com 27-28 Chat Hills Dressage Show. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www. Chatthillseventing.com 30 Schooling Show. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center, 3381 Hunting Country Road, Tryon, NC. 828.859.9021, horseshow@fence.org, www.fence.org 31-Aug.4 Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show – HJ Division Week #2. Broyhill Preserve, 1500 Laurel Lane, Blowing Rock, NC. www.brchs.
AUGUST 3
3-4 3-4 3-4 4 7 7 7-11 7-25
10
Chat Hills Schooling Show. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www. Chatthillseventing.com PSJ Highfields. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken, SC. 803.649.3505, www.psjshows.com Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, www.georgiahorsepark.com GDCTA. Wills Park Equestrian Center, 11925 Wills Rd, Alpharetta, GA. Karen Caverly, 770.713.4025, www.willspark.com Schooling HT/Combined Tests/Dressage tests. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken, SC. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com. www.fullgallopfarm.com Schooling HJ Show. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken, SC. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, www.stableviewfarm.com Yappy Hour. 6pm. SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare, 199 Willow Run Road Aiken, SC. 803.648.6863, www.letlovelive.org Tryon August 1. Tryon International Event Center, 4066 Pea Ridge Road, Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1000, www.tryon.coth.com Chat Hills HJ Show. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www. Chatthillseventing.com CEC HJ Show. Pine Tree Stables, 1265 Sanders Creek Road, Camden, SC. Lynn Conto: 803.424.1952, conto@bellsouth.net. www.camdenequinecircuit.com
June-July 2019
10
Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Day. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken, SC. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, www.stableviewfarm.com 10 Atlanta Youth Dressage Challenge. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, www.georgiahorsepark.com 10 Rolling Hills Saddle Club (H,J,W,B). Wills Park Equestrian Center, 11925 Wills Rd, Alpharetta, GA. Info Line: 770.338.0143, www. willspark.com 10-11 Horse Show Ventures - The Southeastern Hunter/Jumper Series. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, www.georgiahorsepark.com 10-11 Southern Classic Appaloosa Show and Slice of Summer Paint Horse Show. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, www.georgiahorsepark.com 10-11 Tryon Summer Dressage 5. Tryon International Event Center, 4066 Pea Ridge Road, Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1000, www.tryon.coth. com 10-11 Tallboots HJ Schooling Show. Carolina Horse Park, 2814 Montrose Road, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2074, www.carolinahorsepark.com 11 Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken, SC. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, www.stableviewfarm.com 14-15 USEF/USDF “Too Hot To Trot I” Dressage. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken, SC. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, www.stableviewfarm.com 16-18 Tryon August 2. Tryon International Event Center, 4066 Pea Ridge Road, Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1000, www.tryon.coth.com 17 GQHA Novice Show Series. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, www. georgiahorsepark.com 17 PSJ Highfields Just for Fun. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken, SC. 803.649.3505, www.psjshows.com 17-18 Young Event Horse/New Event Horse USEA/USEF Horse Trials and Dressage Test of Choice Show. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken, SC. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo. com. www.fullgallopfarm.com 17-18 USEF/USDF “Too Hot To Trot II” Dressage. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken, SC. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, www.stableviewfarm.com 17-18 The Jump Ahead Benefit Show (H,J). Wills Park Equestrian Center, 11925 Wills Rd, Alpharetta, GA. www.willspark.com 17-18 H. J. Fox Classics I & II. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, www. georgiahorsepark.com 23-25 Tryon August 3. Tryon International Event Center, 4066 Pea Ridge Road, Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1000, www.tryon.coth.com 23-25 PPHC Show. South Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. 803.486.4938, www.scequinepark.com 24-25 Ticket to Ride. Wills Park Equestrian Center, 11925 Wills Rd, Alpharetta, GA. www.willspark.com 24-25 WHES Schooling Day and Horse Trials. Carolina Horse Park, 2814 Montrose Road, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2074, www. carolinahorsepark.com 24-25 PSJ Mullet Hall Classic. Mullet Hall Equestrian Center, Johns Island, SC. 803.649.3505, www.psjshows.com 25 August Combined test/Dressage tests/Jump rounds. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken, SC. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com. www.fullgallopfarm.com 29-Sep.1 Elite Showjumping (H, J). Wills Park Equestrian Center, 11925 Wills Rd, Alpharetta, G A. Vic Russell: 678.858.7192, www. willspark.com 31-Sep.1 GDCTA Labor Day Classic I & II. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, www.georgiahorsepark.com 31-Sep.1 Harmon Classics Labor Day Spectacular. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center, 3381 Hunting Country Road, Tryon, NC. 828.859.9021, horseshow@fence.org, www.fence.org 31-Sep.1 Good Times Summer Blow Out. T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena, 1101 West Queen Street, Pendleton, SC. Robert Obermiller: 828.674.1758, www.clemson.edu/extension/garrison 31-Sep.1 Chat Hills Event. Chattahoochee Hills Eventing - Hosted at the Bouckaert Farm, 9445 Browns Lake Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, www. Chatthillseventing.com
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Business Cards
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Sole Distributors in Aiken area
78
aikenflaxbedding@gmail.com www.flaxfarm.ca
The Aiken Horse
June-July 2019
Monetta Farrier Specialties
TWO GREAT LOCATIONS
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Aiken, SC
803.685.5101
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June-July 2019
803.649.9343 home 610.960.2405 for immediate response The Aiken Horse
79
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800-942-4258
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80
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June-July 2019
June-July 2019
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Index of Advertisers Advertiser Aiken County Farm Supply Aiken Fine Homes and Land Aiken Horsemanship Academy Aiken Luxury Rentals Aiken Polo Club Aiken Saddlery, Inc. Auto Tech Barnware Be Fly Free Bill Ryan Carolina Real Estate Company Classic Company DFG Stables Downtown Dog Epona Equine Divine Equine Rescue of Aiken Estancia La Victoria Feather Fighters Fencing Solutions FITS Equestrian FOTAS Aiken G L Williams and Daughter Gary Knoll Photography Harrison K-9 Security Service, Hilltop Farm of Aiken L & N Equestrian Larlee Construction
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Lightning Protection Systems Lisa Seger Insurance MacQueen Equine Law Marrinson Stables Mary Crane Properties Meybohm - Dale Meybohm RE (Sullivan/Turner) Meybohm RE Haslup Meybohm RE Vaillancourt Meybohm Realtors Stinson New Bridge Polo Club Oak Manor Saddlery Paradise Farm Patty Merli Saddles Progressive Show Jumping, Inc Retired Racehorse Project SCQHA South Carolina Equine Park Southern Equine Service Spay SC SPCA Albrecht Center Stable View Farm, LLC Sweet PDZ (PDZ Co. LLC) The Kneaded Edge The Tack Room Three Runs Plantation Tod’s Hill/ReMax Warneke Cleaners
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June-July 2019
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OFFICIAL USEF DESIGNATED HERITAGE COMPETITION
Charleston
SUMMER CLASSIC
July 9-13, 2019 • July 16-20, 2019 Tuesday through Saturday
Post Office Box 1311 Johns Island, South Carolina 29457 843-768-5503 classiccompany.com
SM