Horsepitality

By Marianne Yost Photos by Shelly Marshall Schmidt

Welcome to Aiken, South Carolina, the equine-centric town where the love of horses has uniquely influenced architecture, creating an unusual collection of custom-built residences for horses and their humans. Are the people She wanted one thing beyond all living in barns? Or are the horses living in houses? In Aiken, both it others. The perfect view from her seems, as they often share a roof. kitchen window, which drove the This mélange of equine-human proximity fosters an unusual architectural design of her new lifestyle that might be surprising to custom-built home. She had finally non-Aikenites, but it is de rigueur in this town. acquired her “dream horse,” and now she would build her “dream In this town, it is not unusual for horses to poke their heads through house” around that horse. The view open stall doors into dinner from her window looks out to the parties, or for black-tie banquets barn. As she makes her coffee or does to be held down the center aisles of barns. Aiken residents don’t just the dishes, there he is, his beautiful ride their horses and tuck them head hanging over his stall door, his into their stalls for the evening, they invite them along to the party. kind eye looking right back at her. It makes her smile to be able to see him, Wellington, Florida and Hunt Country, Middleburg, Virginia have even while inside her home. had their share of hunt boxes, or groom’s quarters tucked into the recesses of farms and estate properties. But Aiken’s full blown love affair of living in close proximity to their horses has been part of the Aiken culture for well over 100 years, as the wealthy “Winter Colony” northerners created pocket size estates they built in friendly proximity to each other, creating the horsey neighborhood, now called the “Horse District”, with stabling for polo ponies, racehorses, and fox hunters just a short walk from their doorsteps, as well as the staff that cared for their four-legged friends. The governing bodies of the City of Aiken and Aiken County have long appreciated the positive influence of equestrian activities on the local economies and have created careful zoning to protect the interests of those wanting to live closely with their steeds, while balancing the needs of “non-horsey” neighbors. Those who choose to share a roof with their horses certainly don’t skimp on style. Often hunt boxes or large apartments here are modern and voguish, and one would never know there is a barn on the other side of the door. Many are more elaborate than fine homes.

The barns are part of the interior design plan along with the home, creating a seamless transition when you cross the threshold from one to the other.

One couple has found this concept so much fun they have incorporated it into two different properties they have built over the years.

In an equine oriented neighborhood, just outside downtown Aiken, resident Chris Powers and her husband Bob, have created a multi-purpose room that incorporates an elegant tack room, lounge and guest room.

It’s chic, with a welcoming, high, fluffy bed, a gray chesterfield leather sofa, and a large equine portrait. However, the pièce de résistance is her elegant horse Olive, who joins their guests when her specially designed window from her stall into the room slides open so she can poke her head into the festivities, normally to enjoy happy hour with her humans. Chris had the window ledge designed at “bar height” with a cocktail-friendly drink ledge so she could have a view down the length of the barn through her four horses’ stalls. When selling their previous farm, they learned that their similarly designed custom barn, with a sliding stall window that opened into a guest bedroom, was a key selling feature of that property.

Chris’ design of that first barn was inspired by her miniature horse, Slick, who could perform tricks, so she incorporated him into the barn plan knowing he would be great

entertainment at parties. And, she was right — Slick was a showstopper.

When building their second farm, and after losing a beloved sister too early to cancer, she wanted to feel the comfort of having her horses close. “The horses are beautiful, and seeing my horses graze out of every window of my house was immensely comforting. That’s why this house is designed so all of the windows have views of horses grazing. It gives me a sense of calm to be with them,” she said.

When asked if her builder was surprised by the request to build the horses into the design, Chris answered, “Nah! It’s Aiken! The builders aren’t surprised at anything in Aiken!” ■

Horsepitality

What’s the attraction to living with our horses and why is it so comforting to be around them?

Horses share a similar family structure, can communicate emotions and feel empathy, learn to trust, show stress, require social relationships to be healthy, and learn by observation. Not only do people have all of these traits, but they can also recognize them in horses, just as horses can read the same in humans.