Oktoberfest Recap
Barry’s September Letter
At last, we’re making some serious progress with uses for the conserved back 850 acres.
Towards the end of 2024, we started to develop the concept of the Aiken Trails Club @ Stable View. Now, with increasing Membership and the opportunity to add Events such as Yeti Dark Horse and Battle of the Run Clubs to the existing roster, we're increasing foot traffic while also providing business for The Bistro.
To provide runners, walkers, and joggers with additional routes, we’re in the process of identifying old logging paths and
refurbishing them with the target of increasing our 15 miles of Trails to 17 miles by the end of this year.
Additionally, with the recent appointment of Emma Rogers, we’ve been able to develop a further area of new business for the back 800 acres - that of producing natural medicinal substances such as salves, lotions, balms, and tinctures.
Some readers will recall that Keith Bradley undertook an Audit of Stable View’s flora back in 2019.
Keith, now the South Carolina Botanist, is updating that Audit.
Some of the plants of specific interest in 2018 are not now of special interest, but there are others that are - an updated list of flora at Stable View will be circulated, once completed, in the late summer/fall of 2026.
Meanwhile, there’s a specific focus on identifying a salve, a tincture, a lotion, and a balm. These will be propagated and grown at Stable View with products made here for sale. The pricing point will be $25.
As you are aware, Stable View is well known for its honey. We’re about to add some new products to our range of available natural offerings.
One of these might be St. John’s Wort, which is well known for its treatment of depression and anxiety.
A couple of teas are also on the list for 2026. There's a lot of work to be undertaken regarding not just which natural remedies we might produce, but in addition, we're going to need to do further research regarding the safety and the current regulatory environment in which we're working.
As we develop the program, so we hope to make inroads into the significant costs associated with maintaining the back 800.
Eco Tours are also on the list as we intend to introduce the concept of Walks, Tours, and Educational visits to Stable View. We hope to see you soon. Meanwhile, please respond with any observations or questions
The Stable View Team.
Rider Spotlight: Ella Caproni
Ella Caproni is a frequent competitor at Stable View, recently competing in TIP Championships and the Eventing Academy. Ella began riding when she was seven years old. She shared, “My family owns a small farm in North Adams, Massachusetts, originally used for dairy and later beef cattle. I begged and begged my parents for a horse as a kid. They eventually caved, and a family friend gifted us Fire, a twenty-six-year-old retired barrel racer who very quickly dumped me on my butt several times. For some reason, that didn’t
Photo by Christine Quinn Photography
deter me; I was hooked and started riding at a hunter/jumper lesson barn.”
Fast forward to 2020 when Covid hit and changed the paths of many. While many schools switched to online classes, Ella saw that as a chance to convince her parents to let her homeschool independently online. She said, “I spent my high school years as a working student in Wellington, Florida, with Aimee Boyer at Harmony Hill Farm. During my senior year of high school, I leased—and now own—my beloved mare, Dollar Girl (aka Dolly), to compete in the children’s jumpers all over New England and WEF.”
Ella and Dolly
Photo by
After she finished high school, Ella decided to take a gap year before going to college. She took a leap of faith and decided to branch out of her comfort zone and ride with a new trainer for the year. Ella said, “That decision landed me at Stable on the Woods, working and riding for Melissa and Darrell Vaughn. I quickly fell in love with all the horses, clients, and Darrell’s teaching techniques, and I refused to leave. Next month will mark two years of me being here—roughly a year and a half as barn manager.”
Not only did Ella fall in love with
her trainers and job, but she also fell in love with Aiken. She reflected, “I also fell in love with Aiken as a whole. It became my home away from home—a strong, supportive community that truly feels like family. I was quickly surrounded by people who constantly do everything they can to support one another.”
Ella has recently started dipping her toes beyond the hunter/jumper world. She currently has a four-year-old Thoroughbred project named Elvis. She shared, “This past summer, I finally did my first event at Stable View’s Eventing Academy. Stable View has definitely
Ella and Elvis
Photo by Christine Quinn Photography
been a tremendous stepping stone in my young horse’s training. I really appreciate how they offer the Sprouts division, which gave my horse the perfect opportunity to trot all the jumps and get used to relaxing in a show atmosphere. I find the energy at Stable View to be incredibly inviting for young horses while still giving tons of exposure. Elvis and I just moved up to Starter for the TIP Championship Combined Test, and we plan to run our first full Starter event next month at Stable View’s Eventing Academy. At the moment, we don’t have any major goals—just enjoying doing little bits of every discipline that Aiken has to offer.” Next time you see Ella and Elvis out on cross country be sure to cheer a little extra for this exciting combination.
Ella and Elvis
Photo by Christine Quinn Photography
Stable View Partnerships: Land Rover
Land Rover has been a long time supporter of Stable View. Jaguar Land Rover of Columbia brought six Land Rovers, mostly of the Defender Model to both Oktoberfest and TIP Championships. At Oktoberfest they had a tent, allowing interested parties to stop by and learn more about the cars. Interested parties could even be entered to win a free off-roading driving experience.
Luckily, in between customers, the Stable View Media team was able to chat with the Land Rover Team. They shared that Land Rover takes great pride in its equestrian events and Stable View is a perfect fit for the brand. The team shareed, “It’s great to
come showcase some of our vehicles over here at Stable View and be part of the community right here in Aiken.” The team then explained what makes the Land Rover Defender so special. They said, “It’s a rugged, off-road SUV comparable to the Jeep Wrangler, a Ford Bronco, even a G Wagon to an extent. These vehicles in particular range from different engine sizes, from a four to a six to a V8, and even to a Turbo V8 option. Rather you want a luxury vehicle, a super luxury, or a little bit more off-road, this is the perfect vehicle for you.”
Next time you’re at a big event at Stable View, be sure to check out the Land Rovers.
Ring in the New Year at Stable View
Ring in the new year in fashion by joining Stable View’s New Year’s Eve party. You don’t want to miss the food, drinks, company, dancing, music, or fun. There will be live music provided by Lola Grace and The Night.
The fun will take place in the Stable View Pavilion. With both a large indoor space and a wraparound porch, you can bring in the new year in style regardless of the weather.
Tickets are $100 per person or $750 for a table of eight. Buy your tickets today at the following link.
Oktoberfest is Over - CCI4*-S
Oktoberfest was mostly sunny with some rain showers and some weather delays sprinkled in. Vendor row was full all weekend. Devoucoux, Forestier Sellier Saddlery, Land Rover, VTO Saddlery were just a few of the many vendors selling everything from food to saddles to embroidery services and more.
On Saturday, VIP ticket holders filled the second story of the pavilion, allowing them a 360-degree view of the competition. Sponsors such as The Sharer Dale Team. GGT Footing, and GL Williams and Daughter gathered in their gazebos perfectly positioned with views of cross country both in and out of the
Mary Bess Davis and Imperio Magic
Photo by Kevin McCormick
arena. Maxine Emerich-Jaquish, owner of vendor, Engineered Equine Performance, shared, “Being a vendor here is really useful because we get to see a lot of foot traffic and horse traffic we don’t see on a normal basis. Also, it was great to see all the competitors we work with on a daily basis with their horses.”
In the CCI4*-S, only two combinations were ultimately able to top the overnight leaders (Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Connor), and one was Caroline herself. She and HSH Double Sixteen were the only pair to jump double clean, winning the division on 33.4. Mary Bess Davis and Imperio Magic were the second fastest pair of the day, finishing in second place on a 38.6. Mary Bess shared, “I knew as soon as I left the box that he was just so ready and balanced and game. I just knew it was going to be a good day because he was just dead on the whole way around. It was honestly really fun because he was right there with me all the way around and just sailed through everything. You just realize how lucky you are to have the horse that I have.”
Caroline finished third with HSH Connor and fourth with HSH Tolan King. Aiken locals Emily Hamel and Corvett finished in fifth place. Emily shared, “Barry was great. I couldn’t have asked for a better ride. He just felt like it was easy. It rode exactly how I thought it
would. I thought it was a great course and a really good prep for Pau. A really good confidence preparation run. I am so proud of Barry and it is so special every time I get to take him out on cross country. He is my horse of a lifetime!”
Regarding her CCI4*-S course, Helen West shared, “I was pleased with how the tracks rode. I thought that the combinations rode pretty much as I expected. I think the first combination in the all weather arena rode tougher than perhaps I expected. The first part of the course was very galloping and then I think going into the
Boyd Martin and Colley Nutcracker
Photo by Dave Shapiro
arenas was harder to make that adjustment. I think the ground was absolutely stunning and because the footing was so good the horses were traveling over it so well. You just watched them and they were wanting to gallop and jump. Overall, it was a really positive picture and a good day for the sport.”
Stable View’s Barry Olliff reflected, “As you’d expect, ‘Constant Improvement’ is what Stable View is seeking to achieve for its April Four-Star. We’re developing the concept of separately roping the 4* so that it becomes its own track. This will mean that 4* riders will - wherever possible - have their own real estate. In addition, we’re taking out four of our paddocks. This will enable us to soften certain turns while offering significantly greater choices in terms of Cross Country Course design.”
In addition to the CCI4*-S level, Beginner Novice through Advanced FEI Divisions ran as well One-Star through Four-Star FEI shorts. It was the first year Stable View ran the CCI1*-S Division. Course Designer, Mogie Bearden-Muller, exclaimed, “I’m hoping everyone has so much fun at the One-Star here that we’ll have more entries when more people know about it."
Stable View thanks all riders, grooms, and spectators for supporting Oktotoberfest.
Through the Lens: TIP Edition
Photos by Kevin McCormick
Intercollegiate Corner: Alumni Spotlight
The Stable View Alumni Cup will return for the third year next Spring. It will take place May 15 -17 the same weekend as the now stand-alone USEA Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Eventing Championships. th th,
Many of the riders who now compete on an alumni team were once Intercollegiate members themselves. Stable View caught up with one Sewanee University alumni who is currently calling Aiken her home. Sissy Sugarman graduated from Sewanee in Spring of 2024. While she was in school she was an active member of the eventing team.
Upon graduation, Sissy and her horse, Carmani, moved to Aiken. Sissy had already been a frequent visitor of both Aiken and Stable View, coming to train and compete. She and Carmani competed in the Intercollegiate Championships at Stable View in 2024, and she previously boarded Carmani here as well. Sissy was part of the small but mighty three-person Sewanee team, where they even won third place in the spirit contest. The team, while small, made themselves seen at Champs by going all out in their stall decorating, giving it their all in the hobby horse and mechanical bull competitions, and cheering on competitors from all teams. Their purple presence was not to be missed.
In 2025, the combination came back to Stable View to compete in the Stable View Alumni Cup. This year, their drive was about five and a half hours shorter, and they joined the other Aiken locals in day trailer parking. When asked about her experience competing at champs as both a student and an alumnus, Sissy shared, “Everything about Stable View is top-notch. Barry and Cyndy do a great job keeping the boutique/VIP feel that makes Stable View unique even as it continues to expand its horizons.”
Stable View hopes to see Sissy back for the 2026 Alumni Cup!
Stable View Spotlight: Kevin McCormick
Kevin McCormick joined the Stable View team in the spring. He is part of the social media team and will be the operator of the new Stable View Jumbotron when it arrives. Kevin shared, “My role here at Stable View is a bit complicated sometimes. I am part of the Media and Marketing team that plans content for social media. I’ll shoot and edit the videos so they can be posted. My videos are more
specific to certain things like the "Day In The Life" and the Aiken Trails Club. Once the jumbotron has arrived, I will operate and create content for that too.”
Kevin has been creating videos for the last eight to nine years. He also said, “I did start attending Full Sail University after getting out of the Navy, where I learned a lot of the basics. Personally, I believe it’s possible to learn how to do this by getting out there and just making content. You can learn from it no matter if it’s good or even bad. I also worked at Best Buy for about 6 years, selling cameras, and even developed my own classes to teach people one-on-one.”
Outside of work and video editing, he enjoys gaming. Kevin explained, “I’ve always been a big gamer on console, PC, and even tabletop games. Once or twice a week, I’ll go meet with locals and play D&D. I find that the improv skills learned and honed from this help with creativity, and that is needed for content creation.”
Kevin has been a great addition to the social media team, primarily working alongside Dave Shapiro. Together, they can gather more content and create a wider range of videos, including preparing videos for the jumbotron. Kevin shared, “My favorite part about my job is shooting videos. It’s something I love to do
even in my own time. I like getting an idea and planning on how it will come out and then executing it to make it a reality. My favorite part about Stable View is meeting new people. I like interacting and talking to new people because you can always learn something new. It’s even better if they’re a rider because they love seeing themselves in our social media posts.”
Kevin shares a cautionary tale, “If you see me out and about with my camera.... don’t run. It’ll make me chase you for content.”