Fall 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

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7

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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HIT THE TRAIL

18 UNDER 21: GIGI PHILLIPS 30 EQUESTRIANS: BILL CALVERT 34 POLO IN THE CAROLINAS 43 EYE FOR BEAUTY: LARISSA ANN 48 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 50 PARTING SHOT: JULIO MENDOZA

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34 FALL 2023

Fall 2023 Volume 9, Issue 3

Editor Lauren Allen Publisher Pam Gleason Layout & Design Larchwood Productions Contributors Caroline Allen Lauren Allen A & S Photography Shannon Brinkman Amanda Delgado Pam Gleason Gary Knoll Virginia Koper Shawn McMillen Shelley Schmidt Ashley Sisco Natalie Suto Advertising Lauren Allen 803-240-1275 Pam Gleason 803-643-9960 Ashley Haffey 607-743-1309 General Inquiries Lauren Allen 803-240-1275 thecarolinasequestrian@gmail.com Cover Riders enjoy the trails and vistas at the Biltmore Estate.

Image courtesy of The Biltmore Company.

Like us on Facebook: The Carolinas Equestrian Magazine Twitter: TheCarolinasEQ Intragram: CarolinasEquestrianMag Web: TheCarolinasEquestrian.com

The Carolinas Equestrian (TCE) 1176 Old English Road Lugoff, SC 29078

From the Editor S

weater weather is here! I admit that I subscribe to the pumpkin spice fan club, and this is my favorite time of the year. I love the way orange, yellow and red leaves rain down like confetti from the sparkling blue skies. I enjoy it when the horses are frisky and the days are crisp.

I love going for a hack any time of the year, but fall is a particularly great time to take a trail ride. The Carolinas have some spectacular places to see from horseback, and we compiled a list of some of our favorites for you. Read about it in our cover story, Hit the Trail.

In our region, the historic game of polo is most closely associated with Aiken, South Carolina where polo players have been galloping down the field ever since 1882. Today, polo is thriving in Aiken, and there are some hints of a broader Caronlinas polo revival. Find out more in our feature, Polo in the Carolinas.

Our Under 21 Equestrian this issue is Virginia Valentine Phillips, better known as Gigi. She has been on a winning streak, most recently bringing home the top prize in the South Carolinas Governor’s Cup Equitation Final. We had the opportunity to learn about her and her horse Birdy.

Also in this issue, massage therapist Vanessa Koper pens some practical advice on equine massage, and hunter/jumper horse trainer and “R” Steward Bill Calvert is profiled as our Equestrian of the Carolinas.

Finally, we are excited to showcase the beautiful art of Larissa Ann Lycholaj, and to share her fascinating story: she is only just beginning to make her mark on the equine art world.

We hope you love these stories and pictures. Please reach out to us through our website at TheCarolinasEquestrian.com or on Facebook or Instagram and tell us about people we need to talk to, events we need to cover, or places we need to go see.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the copyright owner.

The Carolinas Equestrian does not necessarily endorse the views and perceptions of contributors or advertisers.

The Carolinas Equestrian is owned by The Carolinas Equestrian LLC.

Lauren Allen, Editor The Carolinas Equestrian 7

Hit the Trail

Riding through the countryside is a wonderful way to revel in the natural beauty of the Carolinas.

There are excellent trail options for every horse and rider, and hidden benefits to both.

by Lauren Allen

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Caroline Allen fall 2023

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Ashley Sisco 10

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Pam Gleason

W

hen is the last time you took your horse on a trail ride? The Carolinas are home to an astonishing variety of terrain, ranging from winding mountain tracks to sandy gallops through the surf. There are many miles of glorious riding paths to enjoy, and riding out has benefits far beyond taking in the scenery. Trail riding can sharpen your skills, build partnership with your mount and improve both your own and your horse’s mental and physical health. If you aren’t lucky enough to have bridlepaths at your riding facility, you can often trailer to the trails. In some places, you can even rent a suitable horse and take a guided ride.

Here is a quick survey of some of the best places in the Carolinas for horseback riders to visit.

State Parks

Many riders avail themselves of the generous offerings in the North and South Carolina State and National Park system.

In South Carolina, Kings Mountain State Park in Blacksburg has 15 equestrian campsites fall 2023

Above: Enjoying the Hitchcock Woods in Aiken, South Carolina Left: Riding on the beach on the Carolina coast.

and 30 miles of riding trails that range from rolling hills to rocky outcroppings that boast spectacular views of the Piedmont region.

Lee State Park in Bishopville, South Carolina offers seven miles of trails, featuring forested and swampy scenery in the Sandhills region.

There is also equestrian camping, and a stable and show ring available for rental.

H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field Trial and Recreation Area in Cheraw, South Carolina has 27 equestrian campsites available, and a stable with 24 stalls. There are more than 20 miles of trails with sand roads, and a show arena.

Hunting Island State Park in Beaufort County, South Carolina offers horseback riding on the beach. The equestrian beach has over four miles of coastal beach available for riding in the months of December, January and February each year, with the purchase of a permit for $25 per horse. Ranger recommendations are to consult the tide schedule in order to ride at low tide.

For more information on riding at a South Carolina state park, call 866-345-PARK or go The Carolinas Equestrian 11

Trail Riding is Good for Riders

Ashley Sisco

Trail riding can be a versatile addition to the competitive and recreational rider’s regimen, says Erin McGuire of Remarqueable Athletic Solutions, LLC. McGuire is a professional mental skills coach and an amateur equestrian with a degree in applied sports psychology.

“Trail riding can provide a mental reprieve for horse and rider, pressing pause on the monotony of ring work,” she explains. “Think of exercising in a gym versus exercising outdoors: while ring work is necessary, the variety can help alleviate burnout that arises from the repetition that comes with it. Whether you’re enjoying a casual walk or doing jog sets for fitness, the change in scenery benefits horse and rider alike with an appreciated brain break.” Setting aside goals to just enjoy the time with your horse is a beautiful aspect of trail riding.

According to McGuire, trail riding can also serve as a gentle reminder to enjoy the journey. Riding is often a sport of solitude, and connection is generally oriented toward the horse, but trail rides provide opportunities to connect with a group of other riders in a low-key environment. “Whether it’s a local meet up or a special trip, planning a trail ride is a fun way to enjoy good company, four-legged friends and beautiful scenery, especially here in the Carolinas!” McGuire points out that trail riding is something that horses and riders of all levels can participate in and enjoy, although suitability and safety concerns come first, of course.

Riding outside the ring also presents an element of the unexpected. “Trail riding allows riders to strengthen their trust with their equine partners” says McGuire, “Wildlife, rustling of trees, and leaving a familiar setting are challenges that help acclimate to other potentially overwhelming situations such as a cold, windy day or a bustling competition. Being able to stay calm for your horse, and for your horse to reciprocate, strengthens your trust in each other.”

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online to SouthCarolinaParks.com. A current negative Coggins is required at all parks in South Carolina.

In North Carolina, the DuPont State Recreational Forest in Cedar Mountain, near Asheville, welcomes equestrians on almost all of its multi-use trails, with mountainous terrain featuring streams and waterfalls. Riders must be prepared to encounter bicyclists and trail hikers.

The Pisgah National Forest, also at the western edge of North Carolina, links 500,000 acres of hardwood forest with Tennessee and Virginia, and features whitewater rivers and waterfalls. Pisgah welcomes horseback riding and camping, and Pisgah Forest Stables offers a variety of trail riding experiences on their horses during the season. Trails are open to mountain bikers and hikers, so be prepared for company.

Moses H. Cone Memorial Park is in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, just off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are approximately 25 miles of wide, winding trails open for horseback riding and carriage driving, and riders can make arrangements to camp at the adjacent Blowing Rock Equestrian Preserve.

For more information about North Carolina National Parks visit NPS.gov/state/nc/index.htm For more information about trail riding destinations in North Carolina, visit Ride North Carolina: nchorsecouncil.com/ride-northcarolina

Private Equestrian Preserves

Broxton Bridge Plantation in Ehrhardt, in the Lowcountry county of Bamberg, South Carolina features over 6,000 acres of riding trails through pine forests and following the Salkehatchie River. The plantation has been in the Varn family for 11 generations and, according to the owner, Gerhard Varn, the peak season for trail riding there starts in the fall and goes into the crisp winter days. Each trail is well maintained, and the sandy footing provides excellent drainage. Paths are wide enough for two horses to enjoy winding through the hardwood forests and around cotton fields. The plantation also hosts competitive endurance rides several times a Fall 2023

The Biltmore Company

You can bring your own horse to the Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina, or you can take a trail or carriage ride on one of theirs.

year at the national and international level. For more information go to BroxtonBridge.com The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina offers two options: bring your own horse or ride one of theirs. The Biltmore Equestrian Center has an equestrian trail system that runs throughout the estate, and is almost entirely exclusive to horseback riders. According to the director of equestrian activities, Elizabeth McLean, there are 80 miles of trails open daily, with an additional 40 miles of competition trails on the west range of the estate that are used for endurance rides and trail competitions.

“Our trails vary from generally flat, wide paths along the French Broad River, to rolling hills and single track as you head out of the river valley. They can also offer a variety of experiences, depending on whether you’d like a quiet ride in a more secluded part of the estate, or the sweeping views of the Biltmore House.”

The “Ride Biltmore” program is for riders who wish to bring their own horses. Riders fall 2023

may purchase a one-day, five-day, or annual equestrian pass. Primitive camping and several stabling options are available for overnight guests. Discounts are offered to annual equestrian pass holders and guests who are staying at one of the estate’s lodging options.

Guests also have the possibility of guided trail rides or carriage rides with estate-owned horses at Deerpark Carriage and Trail Ride Barns.

“Our trail herd consists mostly of draft crosses or quarter horse varieties. Our carriage horses are all Belgian draft horses,” says Elizabeth McLean.

The full list of offerings and prices can be found on the website: Biltmore.com A relatively new option is the Western Experience: Spy Coast Farm at Tryon International. Tryon International Equestrian Center is situated on 1,600 beautiful acres at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Tryon, North Carolina. Visitors can now book opportunities to ride experienced trail horses through the rolling forests and even through the The Carolinas Equestrian 13

Trail Riding is Good for Horses Nicole Swinehart, DVM of South Carolina Equine Associates says there are many reasons to hit the trail for the health of your horse.

“One benefit to trail riding your horse is getting out of the ring—some horses just need a mental let down from the drilling and the same thing day in and day out.

It is stimulating for them to get out on the trails and into the woods. When you are in a ring it is pretty much the same scenery all the time. When you go into the woods, they’re definitely more alert and more in tune to their environment. They’re looking forward, their ears are tuning in back and forth…versus being in the arena where they are pretty much tuned into their rider.”

Another excellent reason to get out on the trail is the physical benefit for the horse. Travelling across country gives the horse’s body a break from the endless circles of the riding arena. According to Dr. Swinehart, trail riding requires horses to use different muscles and improves their conscious proprioception (their awareness of where their feet are) with the different types of footing.

“Horses, as they move through trails, are navigating through hills and valleys, deeper footing, softer footing . . . Making those adjustments is so important for strengthening their collateral ligaments, the supporting ligaments of the joint. They just don’t get that when they are constantly travelling on flat, level ground.”

Dr. Swinehart also points out the social benefits of trail riding, not just for riders but for horses.

“Often when people trail ride, they go in a group of other horses and riders. So, there is also a social aspect for the horse of going out and doing something fun rather than in the ring when the emphasis is on the individual rider and horse.”

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Green River. Two one-hour-long rides a day are scheduled at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM, and the maximum party is 12 riders. Joshua Orvin, who is the events coordinator at Tryon International, tailors the rides to the needs of the group.

Riders in Tryon vary from seasoned competitors who are showing at the facility and want to share an enjoyable horse experience with their whole family, to, for example, the staff of an area doctor’s office enjoying a company retreat. Orvin describes the Spy Coast horses as “top notch” and says that the groups meet at the General Store at Tryon International to sign waivers, then head off together in a shuttle van to the Spy Coast Farm stable nearby. From there, they embark on their rides with three or four stable hands along as guides. The trails are wide open and sometimes touch on Tryon’s spectacular international cross country course.

Visit Tryon.com for more information.

The Walthour-Moss Foundation in Southern Pines, North Carolina stewards approximately 4,000 acres of unspoiled woodlands. The preserve is a sanctuary for wildlife and is well known for its sandhill trails that welcome equestrian riders and drivers. Riders must sign a waiver and carry a cell phone, and the preserve is open daily from sunrise to sunset. For more information visit walthour-moss.org The Hitchcock Woods in Aiken, South Carolina is a historic 2,100-acre haven for equestrians dating back to the days of Aiken’s winter colony in the 1900s. The Hitchcock Woods Foundation manages the property, which is the largest privately owned urban forest in the country, and riders and carriage drivers are welcome during the daytime hours, as long as they stay on the beautiful pine woods trails and in control of their horses. Groups of ten or more must register with the foundation in advance at 803-642-0528. For more information about hours and where to park, visit the website hitchcockwoods.org Camden Hunt Country in Camden, South Carolina is the territory of the state’s second oldest foxhunt: an approximately 10,000-acre preserve set aside for equestrian use. Terrain is Fall 2023

encountering a variety of moving vehicles, and be sure to school them in crossing water before you are in a situation where you have a river crossing.

Ride with a friend and a fully charged cellphone, and bring a map—you may even be able to use an online mapping app like AllTrails on your phone, to help find your way around . . . and most important, back to your trailer.

Packing a small first aid kit is a good idea. Wear a helmet, maybe also a safety vest. Is there a tag on your tack and a way to identify your horse if you somehow part company? Do you have a way to water your horse? Don’t just count on your unicorns drinking from a river if they have only seen water buckets their whole life! Be sure to have a bucket of water back at the trailer if your ride is long.

Most important, clean up after yourself and your horse. Being a good guest on the trails is the best way to help make sure these beautiful places continue to welcome equestrians in this ever more urban world.

Below: Riders in the Hitchcock Woods in Aiken, South Carolina Above: The Western Experience in North Carolina provided by Spy Coast Farm through Tryon International Equestrian Center.

predominantly pine woods with sandy footing, with a few swampy low spots to traverse. There are jumps scattered throughout (and a path to ride around each one.) Visitors may ride on the trails by paying an “occasional rider subscription” available at $12 per ride for up to five rides per year. Release waivers and negative Coggins must be on file with the Camden Hunt.

Visit camdenhunt.com for more information.

Trail riders interested in group rides and camping can also visit JudgesRideList.com for an ongoing list of organized trail rides in the Southeast – there are one or two almost every weekend throughout the year.

Be Safe and Be Smart

Be sure that you have adequately prepared for the trail you are about to take. Will there be traffic, hikers, bicyclists? Have you trained your horse to encounter these potential spook triggers? Practice getting your horses confident fall 2023

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Under 21 Gigi Phillips

attending North Carolina’s CharlotteMecklenburg Virtual High School in order to focus on riding and her role as a working student at Cedarhill. She does therapy on the horses using Magna Wave and laser, and she cleans up and handles laundry for the barn. At the shows, she feeds and mucks, packs feet, and wraps and poultices legs. “I really like to know what’s going on with my horse, so I like to understand what the wrapping does and why I am doing it,” she says. She also enjoys watching and learning when the veterinarian comes.

Gigi plans on riding in college, hopefully on a team. After college she would love to do something with horses, maybe be an assistant at a barn. “I think I want to major in business; I want to be in the horse business and as a working student I’ve learned a lot of the horse part, so I need to figure out the business part.”

When asked about other plans, Gigi laughs. “I am very competitive and I really enjoy the various divisions and moving up the ranks. Also, I just love being around the animals. I kind of decided what I liked from a young age and I just have been ‘all-in’ with horses.”

Natalie Suto

irginia Valentine Phillips (“Gigi”), a 17-year-old hunter and equitation rising star, recently added the South Carolina Governors Cup to her growing resume of wins.

A lifelong student at Cedarhill Farm in Marvin, North Carolina, Gigi started riding with her trainer, Andrea Guzinski, when she was just 5 years old, following in the footsteps of her mother, who also rode at Cedarhill as a junior.

“I started riding with the little summer camp for beginners at Cedarhill and then started taking lessons twice a week in kindergarten or first grade. We leased a pony in second grade, then moved to a division pony and eventually all the way up to the Junior Hunters,” she said.

Gigi’s horse Thunderbird (“He goes by Birdy”) was imported from Germany as a jumper but he was spotted by the Aiken-based trainer, Daniel Geitner, who suggested he would make a nice hunter. “We bought him in December 2021, and he was champion his first time out,” says Gigi. “He’s super sweet and really brave – he loves everyone and everything, and he just does whatever you want him to do.”

Gigi is currently a junior in high school,

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A & S Photography

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Equine Massage Therapy

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An Owner’s Guide

By Vanessa Koper

quine massage therapy is a form of bodywork for horses that combines a detailed knowledge of anatomy, physiology, muscular kinetics and equine behavior with a variety of massage techniques. Done properly, it can address tension in the musculoskeletal system, promote relaxation, and improve performance and overall well-being. To be effective, an equine massage therapist must have developed a feel for how to apply the correct amount of pressure in just the right spots to create a positive response in the muscle and surrounding tissues.

In the United States, the general practice of equine massage began in the 1970s when Jack Meagher, a massage therapist for NFL athletes, was asked to provide massage therapy for the United States Equestrian Team. He worked with the USET during their preparation for, and at, the Montreal Olympics in 1976 where he helped United States eventers to win individual gold and silver medals as well as team gold. The method he developed — sports massage — is one of the most popular forms of equine massage today. Sports massage is a specialized therapy fall 2023

for athletes designed to enhance performance, prevent injuries and aid recovery. It differs from other types of massage that focus primarily on relaxation and stress relief.

Why should equine massage be part of your horse’s care routine?

Whether your horse is just getting started, is a high-performance athlete, a weekend warrior, or an all-but-retired pasture ornament, care and maintenance of his most important asset — his well-functioning body — is paramount.

• Muscles influence how your horse moves, bends and breathes, how the joints align, the circulation of his blood and the flow of his lymph, as well as his posture, soundness, stress level and demeanor. Massage is much more than simply a relaxing experience for your horse.

• Massage improves exercise recovery and speeds muscle healing. The micro-tears and trigger points caused by the stress of exercise heal faster when your horse receives regular massage sessions. This helps create stronger muscles with a healthier range of motion.

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•

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An equine massage therapist gently manipulates the soft tissues to work out tension, knots, kinks and adhesions to soften, stretch and improve the range of motion and freedom of movement of muscle, fascia, joints and skin.

Tight, tense and fatigued muscles increase the risk of injury. Massage can improve the health and function of the muscles and tendons to help ward off these injuries.

Regular massage can help your horse relax into the parasympathetic state: the state in which the body is able to release stress, digest and repair.

Massage boosts your horse’s natural immune response and increases the production of mitochondria, the microscopic structures in cells that create energy. More mitochondria lead to more adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell’s energy-carrying molecule, which increases energy to heal.

Massage increases the release of endorphins, which are natural pain relievers, leaving your horse with a lasting feeling of well-being.

Pain and tension interfere with the body’s ability to recover from illness or injury. Massage can be an effective, natural way to regulate pain and accelerate recovery for both acute and chronic conditions.

Benefits of massage include improved muscle function, improved joint alignment, an increase in stride length and range of motion, improved self-awareness, enhanced relaxation, improved recovery, reduced risk of injury, increased career longevity, and improved performance.

Some signs that your horse might need a massage include: • • • • • • • • •

Stiff or tense muscles Reduced range of motion or flexibility Abnormal posture or gait Soreness or sensitivity to touch Resistance or difficulty performing certain movements or exercises Behavioral changes, such as increased stress, irritability, or unwillingness to work Signs of discomfort during grooming or saddling Changes in performance or athletic ability History of injury or trauma

How often should your horse get a massage?

In general, horses benefit most from massage every four to six weeks, but how often your horse gets a massage depends on the current condition of his muscles, his age, training, physical condition, competition schedule, and of course, your own goals and budget. For example, if your horse is competing in a physically demanding sport, massage may be beneficial before and/or after competitions and once or twice a month during training. You can discuss your horse’s individual needs with your equine massage therapist, but whatever schedule you choose, know that even the occasional massage is better than none.

Massage is one of the most, if not the most effective musculoskeletal therapy available. It can be customized to meet each horse’s physical needs. Leaving it out of your regular care and exercise routine leaves a huge hole and a missed opportunity.

Doesn’t your horse deserve a massage?

A former eventer, Vanessa Koper has spent over 30 years riding, training and caring for equine athletes. She studied massage at Langley Equine Studies in Washington State, and brings her extensive knowledge and experience to equine massage and bodywork, helping horses of all disciplines improve their performance and stay sounder and happier longer. Koper Equine, LLC: Happy Healthy Horses at koperequine.com; or follow KoperEquine on Facebook.

Please note that training levels for someone to be able to call themselves an equine massage therapist can differ enormously, from self-taught or weekend courses through in-depth accredited qualifications from reputable training providers. Please choose yours carefully!

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Equestrians of the Carolinas Model Horseman: Bill Calvert

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illiam (Bill) Louis Calvert, a licensed horse show steward, horse trainer and longtime outdoorsman, was born in Sacramento, California in 1953. Although he earned a degree in economics from the University of Nevada, he grew up ski racing and had dreams of pursuing that as a career.

However, a series of injuries ended his dreams of staying in the snow, and ultimately led to him taking up horses as Plan B. What started as a back-up plan soon became a full-time career, taking Calvert from the West to the East Coast in the early 80s; first to Massachusetts, then Connecticut, then Florida and later to Camden, South Carolina to work with the legendary horseman Max Bonham. Finally, he moved to the Charlotte area in North Carolina where he still lives with his wife, Lisa.

“I’ve been married to my wife for almost 40 years. She had been around the industry and understood the business…We met on a blind date. A friend said she knew the perfect girl 30

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Bill and Lisa Calvert

for me, and she was right.” Lisa, who grew up foxhunting and qualified for the Maclay Finals on a large pony in the 70s, had her own stable at the time. Today, they have two grown children, Sarah (a horseman like her parents) and James.

At the age of 70, and after multiple knee reconstructions and replacements, Calvert still rides and trains horses. “My favorite thing to do on a horse is starting them. Just because even a bad one gets better every day. When they’re young they just get better all the time,” he says.

When asked if he has a formula for starting horses he replies “Pretty much what the cavalry did; just old style, no gimmicks, straight and forward,” which seems like it could describe Calvert himself.

Recognizing his advancing years, Calvert became a recorded “R” steward and schooling supervisor for USEF horse shows. “I started pursuing the steward thing about seven years ago as a way to keep active when I decided to quit riding… I work all over the Southeast doing Fall 2023

essentially stated that British rule was null and void and that the colonies would only answer to the newly formed Continental Congress.

The statue bears an uncanny resemblance to Calvert, and for good reason since he was its model. The sculptor, Chas Fagan, worked closely with Calvert for many years, studying his form on horseback in order to develop drawings and samples to win the commission.

After being memorialized in bronze, what is left to do? When asked about the future, Calvert says that he plans to “steward until he is dead” and to continue to ride, play golf, and to fish. At every show he attends, Calvert finds a place to go fishing. “I’ve fished every horse show I’ve ever been to,” he says. “I’ve done it my whole life. I just like doing it.

It’s meditative — you’re exploring, nature watching, seeing birds you’ve never seen before, then something pulls back at you…”

When asked if he eats the fish, Calvert just laughs. “I buy my food at Trader Joe’s.”

An avid fisherman, Calvert finds a place to fish wherever he is officiating.

The Spirit of Mecklenburg statue between the Pearl Street Bridge and Morehead Street in Charlotte. Calvert was a model for the sculptor.

that. It provides a steady income and a way to be meaningful in the horse business in a different way.

“When I steward, I move around a lot,” he continues. “I judge occasionally but I don’t like sitting for hours. People think stewarding is only about enforcing rules, but it’s more about trying to get people to be smart and safe. If you’re any good at it, you’re ahead of it. You get people to do things right on the front end – don’t wait until they get into trouble.

“Most of what people are doing wrong is because they don’t know any better. So you watch for those mistakes, and you go over and you explain what the rules are and how they can do it better. Most people are very receptive to that.”

In 2010, a bronze statue of Captain James Jack, called the Spirit of Mecklenburg, was dedicated in Charlotte, North Carolina. Captain Jack is a historical figure known for his ride from Charlotte to Philadelphia in 1775 to deliver a copy of the Mecklenburg Resolves, which

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Pam Gleason

Polo in the Carolinas

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by Pam Gleason

arch 25, 1882, was a momentous day in the history of Aiken, South Carolina.

That was when the first gala polo match was held in the city. In addition to polo, there were “sumptuous luncheons” and dress parades by the city’s military company, the Palmetto Rifles. But, according to an April 1, 1882 article in the Charleston News and Courier, “All this paled into insignificance before the brilliant and successful introduction of James Gordon Bennett’s popular national game, polo. It has caused a great sensation and revolutionized the city as far as amusements are concerned.”

The first Aiken game was organized by Clarence Sutherland Wallace, a composer who had relocated to Aiken from New York along with his wife Jennie, a horse trainer who bucked tradition by riding astride. The sport itself originated in modern day Iran some 2,000 years ago, and came to America by way of England in 1876, introduced by James Gordon Bennett,

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the eccentric publisher of the New York Herald.

Early American matches took place on the infield of Jerome Park Racetrack on Long Island, which is probably where C. S. Wallace learned to play.

When he moved to Aiken for his health in the early 1880s, he brought a taste for polo with him.

Today, Aiken is the undisputed center of polo in the Carolinas. There are no fewer than six polo clubs recognized by the United States Polo Association (USPA) in the Aiken area, including at least four that hold regular tournaments and matches open to spectators. Polo fields are vast and high maintenance, each taking up the same amount of space as nine football fields and requiring consistent mowing, watering, fertilizing, liming and weed-killing so that the ball rolls true and fast. Between clubs and private farms, Aiken has at least 40 regulation-sized polo fields, many of them irrigated and seeded with hybrid turf specially developed for sports fields. Aiken’s Whitney Field, where polo has Fall Fall 2023 2023

Pam Gleason

Former 10-goaler and Aiken resident Adam Snow at La Bourgogne Polo Club Middle school polo: Zoe Smith, Alejandro Ontiveros and Noa Schatz

particular growth in both youth and women’s polo.

“For youth polo, I sometimes feel like we are cheating in Aiken, because so many professional players live here, and their kids grow up in the game,” he says. Tiger, a former 7-goal player with a long list of accolades and accomplishments, took up polo as a teenager in Aiken, and his daughter Summer, 18, is one of the stars of Aiken’s girls’ interscholastic polo team, which has won the USPA Girls’ Interscholastic National Championship for three years in a row. Many of the players in the middle school and interscholastic program are like Summer and have a head start from their polo families, but Tiger says that some of his most dedicated players are totally new to the sport.

“We do a good job of introducing the game to people who have never been connected to polo,” he says.

Pam Gleason

Pam Gleason

been played regularly for about 140 years, may be the oldest continuously played upon field in the country.

Aiken’s tournament season runs from April through mid-June in the spring and from September through early November in the fall.

During these months, there is usually at least one game or practice any day of the week. Sunday, the traditional day for tournament finals, often accommodates five or six formal matches, along with numerous practice games. Aiken is home to around 300 registered polo players, and many more come to play for a tournament or a weekend during the season. In addition, Aiken Youth Polo (AYP) has an active and successful lesson and training program, where young people have the chance to play competitive polo from the middle school through the interscholastic and the intercollegiate levels.

According to Tiger Kneece, who is the manager of Aiken Polo Club and who runs the AYP program along with his wife Susie, polo is healthy in Aiken and has been experiencing

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her family in Aiken and in Palm Beach, Florida.

Hope, who was the first woman ever to represent the United States on a team to contest the historic Federation International de Polo (FIP) Championship last fall, made it to the finals of the Argentine Women’s Open a month later, and is rising to 10 goals in women’s polo, making her America’s highest rated female player and one of just a handful of 10-goalers wordwide.

Aiken is a hotbed of polo activity, but it is not the only place in the Carolinas with a polo past, and it may not be the only one with a polo future either. This fall, exhibition matches returned to Camden, South Carolina’s historic polo field, which was established only a few years after Aiken’s Whitney Field. Camden and Aiken once had a friendly polo rivalry, as did Aiken and Columbia, where skilled poloists played for about 35 years. Other places with polo fields just waiting for players include the Charleston and Hilton Head areas, where it is rumored test Cyril Harrison, a 7-goal player and member of the Polo Hall of Fame, played in Camden in the 1940s, where he founded The Tack Room.

Summer Kneece on the ball; Anna Coscia defends. Aiken Polo Club.

“Another thing that’s just exploding now in Aiken is women’s polo,” Tiger continues.

“This fall, we’ve had five women’s tournaments between Aiken, New Bridge and La Bourgogne Polo Clubs. Summer played in all of them — when she got asked to play in an 8-goal tournament at New Bridge, she couldn’t because she was maxed out.”

Women’s polo is growing internationally, too. In most cases, polo tournaments are coed, and women play with and against men on an equal basis and under the same handicapping system. Women-only tournaments used to be a fairly rare occurrence, but that is changing.

Several years ago, the USPA instituted a separate handicapping scale to be used exclusively in women’s games, and women’s polo is on an upward trajectory, with a growing number of prestigious tournaments in America, England and Argentina. Women who play in Aiken have been invited to compete internationally, including Hope Arellano, 20, who is based with 36

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Aiken Polo Club Women's Challenge final: Malia Bryan tries to hook Anna Palacios

matches and exhibition games are planned for 2024. North Carolina, too, has its share of polo enthusiasts, though it has only one club at the moment, the Triangle Polo Club near Raleigh.

However, there once was polo in Charlotte, as well as near Asheville, and there has been talk of bringing polo to Tryon for several years.

“All these places need is someone to say they want to play, and to put in the work to make it happen, and then boom, you’re off and running,” says Tiger. “The next place I see polo taking off is the Low Country,” he continues, noting that he recently gave a polo clinic to 12 members of the Salt Marsh Pony Club based in Charleston County. “They came here and they loved it. They had the best time of their lives, and every one of them said they would love it if there was polo going on in the Low Country.”

Aiken Polo Club was recently recognized with a State of South Carolina Historical Marker on Whitney Field. The granddaughter, greatgranddaughters, and great-great granddaughters of Clarence Sutherland Wallace, who first

brought polo to Aiken, came from across the country for the dedication of the marker. It was the finals of the Aiken Women’s Challenge Cup, and a perfect day to celebrate polo’s past, remember the beginnings of a great tradition, and look forward to an even brighter future for polo in the Carolinas.

Alan Riddick and Gary Bunker with Mary Grimes and family.

Mary Grimes's grandfather introduced polo to Aiken in 1882.

For more information follow Polo In the Carolinas on Facebook fall 2023

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2024

JUNE

6-9 USEF/USHJA $50,000 National ‘A’ Rated Hunters & Level 4 Rated Jumpers ‘Summer Classic I’ 15-16 USEF/USDF “Summer Solstice” Dressage 19 Hunter/Jumper Institute 21-23 USEF/USEA Summer Horse Trials (BN, N, T, M, P, I, A) 27-30 USEF/USHJA $50,000 National ‘A’ Rated Hunters & Level 4 Rated Jumpers ‘Summer Classic II’

JULY

4-5 USEF/USEA Stable View Local Charities Horse Trials and USEA Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Championships 8 Schooling Dressage 15 Hunter/Jumper Institute 7-19 Private Function 30-June 2 USEF/USHJA $50,000 National ‘A’ Rated Hunters & Level 4 Rated Jumpers ‘Summer Classic’

3-7 USEF/USHJA $50,000 National ‘A’ Rated Hunters & Level 4 Rated Jumpers ‘Mid-Summer Classic’ (pending USEF approval) 13-14 USEF/USDF “Only in America” Dressage 17 Hunter/Jumper Institute 19 Eventing Academy X-Country Schooling Day 20 Eventing Academy Schooling Day 21 Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials

AUG SEPT OCT

5-7 Stable View $60,000 FEI CCI-S 2/3/4* & USEF/USEA Horse Trials (T, M, P, I, A) 11-14 USEF/USHJA $50,000 National ‘A’ Rated Hunters & Level 4 Rated Jumpers ‘Spring Classic’ (pending USEF approval) 17 Hunter/Jumper Institute 20-21 USEF/USDF “Spring Fever” Dressage 27 Aiken Symphony – Horses and Harmony

11 Schooling Dressage 12 USEF/USDF “Fall Frenzy” Dressage 18 Hunter/Jumper Institute 19-22 USEF/USHJA $50,000 National ‘A’ Rated Hunters & Level 4 Rated Jumpers ‘Fall Classic’ 27-29 “Oktoberfest” $60,000 FEI CCI-S 2/3/4* & USEF/ USEA Horse Trials (BN, N, T, M, P, I, A) 2 Schooling Jumpers 3 Whiskey Road Hunt 4-6 T.I.P. Championships 9 Schooling Dressage 11 Eventing Academy X-Country Schooling Day 12 Eventing Academy Schooling Day 13 Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials 16 Hunter/Jumper Institute 19 Whiskey Road Hunt 31-Nov. 3 USEF/USHJA $50,000 National ‘A’ Rated Hunters & Level 4 Rated Jumpers ‘Fall Finale’ (pending USEF approval)

NOV

MAR

2-3 USEF/USDF “Southern Comfort” Dressage 8 Eventing Academy X-Country Schooling Day 9 Eventing Academy Schooling Day 10 Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials 14-17 USEF/USHJA $50,000 National ‘A’ Rated Hunters & Level 4 Rated Jumpers ‘Winter Classic’ (pending USEF approval) 20 Hunter/Jumper Institute 22-23 Southern Belle Classic Auction 29-31 Private Event

9 Eventing Academy X-Country Schooling Day 10 Eventing Academy Schooling Day 11 Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials 14-15 USEF/USDF ‘Too Hot To Trot I” Dressage 16-18 USEF/USDF “Too Hot To Trot II” Dressage 21 Hunter/Jumper Institute

6 Schooling Jumpers 7 Whiskey Road Hunt 13 Schooling Dressage 15 Eventing Academy X-Country Schooling Day 16 Eventing Academy Schooling Day 17 Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials 20 Hunter/Jumper Institute 24 Whiskey Road Hunt

DEC

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10-11 USEF/USDF “I LOVE Dressage” 16 Eventing Academy X-Country Schooling Day 17 Eventing Academy Schooling Day 18 Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials 21 Hunter/Jumper Institute

MAY

10 Schooling Dressage 13 Winter Combined Test 17 Hunter/Jumper Institute 20-21 USEF/USEA “Aiken Opener” Horse Trials (BN, N, T, M, P)

APRIL

CALENDAR DATES

4 Schooling Jumpers 5 Whiskey Road Hunt 7-8 USEF/USDF “Winter Wonderland” Dressage 13 Eventing Academy X-Country Schooling Day 14 Eventing Academy Schooling Day 15 Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials 18 Hunter/Jumper Institute 26 Whiskey Road Hunt

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An Eye for Beauty Larissa Ann Fine Art

By Lauren Allen, Photography by Amanda Delgado

T

“They were all naughty because they had hirty-two-year-old artist Larissa Ann Lycholaj has an eye for beauty, an ear learned all the tricks of how to get kids off,” she laughs. “Everyone thought that I would last a for language and a taste for adventure. week, and I would get tired of mucking stalls and The mostly self-taught painter lives in Vass, carrying buckets, but I was stubborn.”

North Carolina, and works in gouache and oils to capture the unique Larissa played the viola, “Joining the Army was very personalities of animals and rode horses and painted. the beauty of nature. unexpected and out of character After high school, she spent a year at Ithaca College as an Larissa Ann grew up in for me, but it has been the undecided major, taking art northeast Pennsylvania, greatest adventure.” in a middle-class family and environmental studies classes before leaving school to in the suburbs, but she begged her parents to let her ride horses. Her follow a relationship to Colorado. There, she got mom eventually located a trainer who would a job working for a horse trainer, but couldn’t let her trade barn chores for riding lessons, so find any other work, so she decided to enlist in the Army. at 12 years old she carried buckets and mucked “Joining the Army was very unexpected and stalls for the chance to ride the ponies that were coming back from summer camp. out of character for me, but it has been the fall 2023

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“I had been working really long hours in Germany and the nearest language course was in the German Alps, so I decided to take the time to focus on being alone and recharging.” But then Griffin Ray, a handsome young Marine, invited her to join a group of other military members for lunch. The group became close and started exploring Europe together during their free weekends. They went to Venice, and Griffin was the only one who agreed to go with Larissa to the tiny island of Murano, known for glass blowing. Once they were there, the entire island shut down because a storm was blowing in, and on the boat back to Venice, as the rain was pouring down, Griffin wrapped his arms around her — and the rest is history.

Being in the Army and travelling all over the world hasn’t left much time for painting, but Larissa found a way to combine her interests through the Carolina Horse Park’s Painted Ponies fundraising project. This is an annual event in which local artists paint a life-sized greatest adventure. The army took me from Colorado to Basic Training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, and then I went to Monterey, California where I trained for a year and a half, and then Texas and Georgia before being stationed in North Carolina.”

Larissa is still active-duty military and lives near Fort Liberty (formerly known as Fort Bragg.) She is trained as an Arab linguist. “I speak Modern Standard Arabic and I test in Levantine and a few other dialects, too.” She says she had no idea what she was getting herself into, and that her recruiter guided her into the linguistic track after she scored well on placement tests. “My training ended up being two years long, but I got to go to Morocco and live with a host family for a month. I got to go to Casablanca. I’ve seen so many places and learned so much.”

Another adventure is just beginning as Larissa recently married a man she met five years ago in Germany during language-refresher training.

Their story is straight out of a Hallmark movie.

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Sargeant Reckless ended up selling to a friend fiberglass horse that is displayed in downtown of Larissa’s who purchased it from overseas, and Southern Pines, North Carolina, before being who is herself a Gold Star wife. Larissa has since put up for auction. Larissa’s painted pony painted two more horses for the Carolina Horse “Sergeant Reckless” incorporates her love of Park. horses, art and the military community.

“The whole experience was very affirming “Reckless was a Marine Corps Staff and it reminded me that this is Sergeant — the only horse I am something that I am called to do. In aware of to ever wear military rank.

“There is a lot of She was a feisty little chestnut mare symbolism built into the fact, I made the decision to decline a promotion because I was feeling that the Marines bought in Korea design with red, white, to carry ammunition and she so called to do the art, and I wanted and blue paint, and the to rediscover that part of myself so I trained with the men. They taught her what they needed and she did it 22 poppy flowers for 22 could go full-time into the art and all by herself. veteran suicides a day.” the horses and see where that takes me.”

“There is a lot of symbolism built into the design with red, “Every animal has such a unique personality; if I am painting an animal, I really white, and blue paint and the 22 poppy flowers try to capture their expression and what makes for 22 veteran suicides a day,” Larissa continues.

“I was trying to raise awareness about that, and them special,” says Larissa. “I’ve always been drawn to nature and animals, and I love being the gold star on the face is for the Gold Star families: our community being military there are outside. I want to capture that feeling when you are out in nature and there is a beautiful moment a lot of Gold Star families, whether it’s wives, husbands, mothers or fathers who have lost a that makes you stop and appreciate where you are and what you have.” family member in service to the nation.”

Visit Larissaann.com or Facebook: Larissa Ann Fine Art & Curations fall 2023

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ADVERTISE IN OUR WINTER 2024 EDITION!

Our space reservation deadline is December 29, 2023 and the issue will be out in January 2024. Check out the full ad rates and advertising guidelines on our website: thecarolinasequestrian.com, or contact us for more information.

Advertising design assistance is available.

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Ashley Haffey, Troutman, NC ads4thecarolinasequestrian@gmail.com 607-743-1309 Fall 2023

Pam Gleason

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Parting Shot

Gold for Mendoza Julio Mendoza Loor and his horse Jewel's Goldstrike won the individual gold medal in dressage at the Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile this October. Mendoza, who lives and trains in Tryon, North Carolina rides for his native Ecuador. His win punched his qualifying ticket to the 2024 Olympics in France. Photography by Shannon Brinkman.

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