February-March 2022 by Aiken Horse Productions

Volume 17 • Number 3 •

December-January 2021-2022

The Aiken Horse

February-March 2022

SuzyHaslup_TAH_Sept2019.qxp_Layout 1 9/18/21 11:31 AM Page 1

AIKEN HORSE DISTRICT $1.95 MILLION

KATHRYN SIDERS MICHELE HIGGINS Licensed Assistant

Licensed Assistant

An Accredited Land Consultant, Suzy achieved the title of Leading Sales Agent in 2013, 2015, 2016 & 2020. Her achievements include Meybohm “Best of the Best” & President’s Club, as well as 2018, 2019 & 2020 RLI APEX award for top producing land real estate agents.

FOX HOLLOW LOTS

WALKER AVE SE

Exceptional offering in the Horse District of Aiken with direct access to the Aiken Training Track, the clay roads and Bruce’s Field show facility. Property consists of three parcels totaling 8.24 acres, two barns (43 stalls), bunkhouse, metal breaking pen, 6 stall covered Eurociser, and six paddocks on the north and south side of Audubon Drive. Brick house built in 1968 has a two car attached garage, four bedrooms, two and one-half baths, hardwood floors, fireplace and cathedral ceilings. Property offered in its entirety but buyers could divide. Easy hack into Hitchcock Woods.

$469,000

HORSE FARM

$750,000

UNDER CONTRACT!

Fox Hollow is a premier gated residential equestrian community situated perfectly for those wanting to be close to both Augusta, GA and Aiken, SC. Fox Hollow covers just under 800 acres including a trail over beautiful Johnson Lake, irrigated show rings, mirrored irrigated 20 x 60 dressage ring, cross country course and over 30 miles of fabulous trails. Available now: Lot 19/12.45 A/$168,075

CEDAR MEADOWS

$649,000

Steps away from the clay roads of the Aiken Horse District off Grace Avenue is this traditional brick home ready for your updates. Formal living room with fireplace, dining room, family room & study, hardwood floors, owner suite on main level. Galley kitchen with breakfast room, laundry room & half bath on main level, four bedrooms and two baths up. Close to downtown, Hitchcock Woods and horse activities.

WOOD’S END LOTS

SWALLOW DIP

$599,000

SOLD

UNDER CONTRACT!

Big Sky Acres is a turn-key horse property in Cedar Meadows Equestrian on 6.6 acres. Access to community show ring & miles of fabulous trails. 3 BR/2 BA home has 9’ ceilings, open floor plan, hardwood & luxury vinyl flooring, new appliances, fresh paint & deck. In-ground pool w/fountain & fencing. New 4 stall center aisle barn w/feed room, wash rack, climate controlled tack room w/full bath. RV hookup, 12X24 run in shed & gorgeous pastures.

Recently built Mitch Johnson hardiplank house with barn, pool and new state of the art lighted pickleball court on 11 A farm in Bluffwood East. 3 stall center aisle barn w/storage above, climate controlled tack room with full bath, W/D hookups and workshop, run in sheds, automatic waterers and gorgeous board fenced pastures. Miles of trails for riding off the property.

Priced at $275,000 and $320,000, these lots provide an exceptional opportunity to own a farm bordering the 2200-acre Hitchcock Woods offering 70 miles of riding trails open to the public year round. Lots are cleared and ready for home and barn, paved cul-de-sac, underground utilities with city services and no HOA. Possible owner financing and lots may be combined. Direct access to trails of the Woods.

Winter Colony home on large lot on Chesterfield St. near the Willcox Inn & Hitchcock Woods. One level living with 3 BR suites/3 BA, heart pine floors, coffered ceilings, living room, library/den, formal DR w/original cabinets, kitchen w/custom cabinets, stainless steel appliances. Viking range, pantry & butler pantry. Screened porch overlooking backyard & pool with 1 bath pool or guest house.

www.AikenHorseRealty.com (803) 215-0153 • suzy.haslup@gmail.com

February-March 2022

The Aiken Horse

OUTFOXING THE REAL ESTATE MARKET

1039 CLARK ROAD At Hitchcock Woods UNDER CONTRACT IN 1 DAY

301 NEW LANE Equestrian District UNDER CONTRACT IN 1 DAY

342 BARNARD AV SE Mid-Town SOLD IN 1 DAY

6209 HIWASSEE RUN SOLD: $1,301,000

502 CHIME BELL ROAD SOLD: $1,925,000

your best friend in real estate OAKWOOD PLANTATION Superior building lots now available in Oakwood Plantation, a planned equestrian community in Aiken, South Carolina. Oakwood Plantation boasts an extraordinary landscape reminiscent of the forested terrain of Virginia and Maryland hunt country: gently rolling hills with majestic oak trees and boulder outcroppings. Oakwood provides an extensive network of private riding trails. Lots have access to Montmorenci city water. Marketed exclusively by the Fine Homes Team at Keller Williams Realty Aiken Partners. For information or tours:

FINE HOMES of AIKEN TEAM

David at 803-640-0123 Cornelia at 561-309-6636

The Aiken Horse

phone:803.640.0123 aikenhomes@me.com

CEDAR MEADOWS ROAD A wonderful 10-acre retreat nestled high on a hill above Cedar Meadows equestrian community. Enjoy quality craftsmanship, green amenities, & tranquil privacy in this custom 5749 sqft residence. Built to high standards, the residence blends contemporary style with hi-tech wizardry. 1st-floor Owner’s Suite w/2 walk-in closets & BA w/dbl vanity, shower, tub, & heated floor. Exceptional features: wood & tile floors, Savaria elevator to all 3 flrs, Pella windows, spacious Foyer, stone fireplace in Great Room, covered deck, formal Dining Rm, ceiling speakers, central vacuum, & 2-car garage. Kitchen: soapstone counters, knotty alder wood cabinets, & treetop view. Office. Laundry room. Basement has Superior PreCast walls, big workshop, sliding glass doors to yard, full bath, & the Pup Palace. $1,220,000. finest farms in Aiken, South Carolina. Call DavidThe at 803-640-0123 Call 803-640-0123 for estates, farms, homes & land.

February-March 2022

The Aiken Horse

SOlD SERENE WATERFRONT LIVING IN WEXFORD MILL lAKeFRONT lIvING AWAITS! 4 BeDROOM, 3 BATH HOMe WITH PRIvATe DOcK, eXPANSIve DecK AND THe MOST AMAzING vIeWS! MINuTeS TO POlO & eveNTING veNueS, TRAINING / BOARDING BARNS

303 WeXFORD MIll DRIve | $449,000

32+ ACRES IN TODS HILL EQUESTRIAN

SOlD

uNDeR cONTRAcT

HOBBY FARM IN 302 HORSE COUNTRY

STuNNING ARcHITecTuRe – FOXCHASE ON THe WOODS!

837 FlOWING Well ROAD | $385,000

1571 equINe cT. | $765,000

11.5 AcReS W/GOOD BARN SITe & ROAD FRONTAGe; AcceSS TO TRAINING veNueS PRIvATely SITeD 4 BR, 2 BATH HOMe WITH ROOM FOR eXPANSION ON 2ND level; OPeN KITcHeN / lIvING SPAce

9.5 ACRES FARMFIELD ROAD

PADDOcK & 4.24 AcReS! FOXcHASe RIDING RING & TRAIlS TO HITcHcOcK WOODS! 4 BR HOMe, 3 BATHS, 1 HAlF BATH, 3,955 SF cAlIFORNIA cOOl & MOuNTAIN cHAleT STyle cuSTOM-BuIlT HOMe!

SUNSET COTTAGE, CIRCA 1910

MIleS OF cOMMuNITy RIDING TRAIlS & ROllING PASTuRe. MINuTeS TO STABlevIeW, AN eASy HAul TO SHOW, TRAINING & FOXHuNTING veNueS GORGeOuS HOMe & BARN SITeS WITH STuNNING WATeR & PASTORAl vIeWS. lOTS ARe NOT SuBJecT TO DevelOPeR BuIlDING TIMelINeS

PeRIMeTeR-FeNceD & cleAReD AcReAGe IN eSTABlISHeD PASTuRe. IDyllIc lOcATION & eXcelleNT OPPORTuNITy TO BuIlD yOuR SeASONAl equeSTRIAN ReTReAT OR Full-TIMe ReSIDeNce. TRANSFeRABle MeMBeRSHIP TO NeW BRIDGe POlO & cOuNTRy cluB W/ AReNAS, TRAIlS, POOl, TeNNIS & cluBHOuSe.

NATIONAl HISTORIc ReGISTeR OF HISTORIc PlAceS. WIllIS IRvIN TuDOR RevIvAl DeSIGN WITH STONe & STuccO clADDING IN FRONT AND ceDAR SHAKe SIDING AT BAcK 3 BR, 4BA, WAlKING DISTANce TO DOWNTOWN AIKeN & AIKeN GOlF cluB !

FARMFIelD ROAD | $195,000

557 HIGHlAND PARK | $595,000

OAK GROVE – LEWIS LANE ASSOCIATION

STABLE at the RIDGE – 5.86 AC.EQUESTRIAN FACILITY

RARE DOWNTOWN MIXED USE PROPERTY

2319 cHuKKeR cReeK ROAD | $574,000

151 lAuReNS STReeT | NOW $895,000

ReeveS STReeT | $485,550

11.34 AcReS WITH AcceSS TO leWIS lANe ASSOcIATION TRAIlS, BANKS MIll cORRIDOR & 302 equeSTRIAN veNueS IDeAl FOR HORSeS WITH A lOvely HOMe SITe WITHIN A GROve OF lIve OAKS

PARcel 4 leWIS lANe | $215,000

19-STAllS, 2 GROOMING STAllS, 2 WASH RAcKS, HAy STORAGe, FeeD RM & lAuNDRy/BATHROOMS. PRIvATe OFFIce, lOuNGe AReA & KITcHeN. IRRIGATeD RIDING AReNA, 8 PADDOcKS & TRAIl eASeMeNT TO FReeMAN PReSeRve FOR RIDe OuT.

2178 SF cOMMeRcIAl ReTAIl SPAce WITH ReSIDeNTIAl lIvING quARTeRS ABOve. GOOD ReNTAl POSSIBIlITy. IDeAlly SuITeD FOR lIve/WORK, 1031 eXcHANGe & SeASONAl INveSTOR

uNDeR cONTRAcT BIRD’S NEST COTTAGE, CIRCA 1940

Full OF cHARAcTeR, cHARM & PeRSONAlITy, THIS HOMe FeATuReS HARDWOOD FlOORS, GRAcIOuS lIvING ROOM & eXPANSIve TIleD SuNROOM OveRlOOKING THe SPARKlING POOl & SuRROuNDING GARDeN. 3 BeDROOMS & 3 BATHS IN PeRFecT lOcAle FOR eNJOyING AIKeN’S SHOPS, ReSTAuRANTS, ARTS & cOMMuNITy Feel.

MIDTOWN HOME CLOSE TO BRUCE’S FIELD

WAlKING DISTANce TO POlO AT WHITNey FIelD & A GOlF cART RIDe TO PAlMeTTO GOlF, FeRMATA & GReeN BOuNDARy cluBS & BRuce’S FIelD. 3 BR HOMe + OFFIce, 2 BATHS, cOzy lIvING ROOM & FABulOuS GReAT ROOM. PRIvATe BAcKyARD WITH IN-GROuND POOl & PlAy/eNTeRTAINING SPAce

1038 HOlly lANe | $517,000 BARRINGTON FARMS

TRAIl AcceSS | JuST 3 PARcelS AvAIlABle RANGING FROM 5.5+Ac FOR $67,146 TO 11+AcReS FOR $125,000

WeXFORD MIll WATeRFRONT .69 AcRe | $65,000

MCCARTY MEADOWS - JuST 3 PARcelS ReMAINING 6 + AcS FOR $80,990 TO 8+AcS FOR $104,000

Cissie Sullivan

826 OleANDeR DRIve | $460,750

Land for Sale lANe ASSOcIATION

TRAIl AcceSS NONNIe’S lOT - 11.02 Ac. | $193,000 HeNRy’S TRANquIl ReTReAT - 8.23 Ac. | $157,000 HIGH FlAT FARM - 11.01 Ac. | $209,000 POND MeADOW - 13.68 Ac. | $250,000

133+ ACRES WITH PONDS & HAY FIELDS

GORGeOuS, IRRIGATeD TIFTON 85 BeRMuDA HAy FIelDS AND 2 lARGe PONDS. FeNceD FRONTAGe eNHANceD By PlANTeD PAlMS. IDeAl FOR AGRIculTuRAl PuRSuITS OR DReAM BIG & cReATe yOuR PARADISe!

MOOReS ROAD IN eDGeFIelD, Sc | $750,000

WeXFORD lANDING - AvIATION lOTS 10.36 AcReS OFFeReD FOR $49,000

GRAylyN lAKeS

2 AcReS | $82,000 - uNDeR cONTRAcT

WOODSIDe - GATeD cOMMuNITy cOuNTRy cluB AMeNITIeS ReSIDeNTIAl BuIlDING lOT ON GOlF cOuRSe 201 HeMlOcK DRIve | $29,000

Tracey Turner

803-998-0198 | SullivanTurnerTeam.com 6

The Aiken Horse

February-March 2022

EXCEPTIONAL 46+ ACRE EQUESTRIAN PROPERTY 1215 NEW BRIDGE ROAD - AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA

Beautifully sited on high open fields, find the peaceful amBiance of 46+ acres, an expansive 24-stall Brick staBle, 3 living quarters overlooking a pond & arguaBly the most stunning views in aiken,’s 302 horse country. sophisticated materials, inviting colors & open spaces are the stage for elegant living & entertaining, Both inside the Barn & field side. the architectural style is modeled after la dolfina, the argentinian staBle of adolfo camBiaso, the world’s greatest polo player. staBle features an office/lounge, tack/feed room, wash stall & full Bath. living quarters include a handsomely appointed, primary apartment + two apartments for pro, trainer or guests. land offers fenced paddocks, pond & laserleveled, irrigated polo field w/superB footing for any equestrian discipline. with transferaBle memBership to new Bridge polo & country cluB & 15 minutes to town center, this exceptional property is ideal as a full-time residence or seasonal equestrian getaway.

offered for $1,365,000 BLUE SKIES 4.5+ ACRES IN HORSE DISTRICT

142+ ACRE RANCH / COMPOUND EDGEFIELD, SOUTH CAROLINA

STUNNING CUSTOM RENOVATION STEPS TO HORSE DISTRICT

5+ Br, 7 1⁄2 Baths renovated & impeccaBly maintained historic home with elevator. expansive views across Bruce’s field, guest apartment, fitness room & 3-Bay garage. home features a wide veranda, hardwood floors, high ceilings and an expansive great room with full Bar. level land ideal for equestrian amenities.

3 custom homes each 3Br/2Ba for owner, guests & farm manager - all with gorgeous views. owner’s home has separate guest apartment & 1500 sf entertainment/hospitality area, ideal for parties, games & gatheriings. approximately 125 acres is graded, terraced & sprigged in tifton 85 Bermuda grass & irrigated for ultimate forage production.

stunning home & garden in one of aiken’s coveted neighBorhoods. Bespoke finishes include venetian plaster mantel; pecky cypress paneled ceiling & sculptural lighting. superB kitchen features cerused oak caBinets & honed granite counters. light-filled staircase leads to 3-room owner’s suite & 2 guest Bedrooms. oversized screened porch & inground pool, too!

928 two notch road se | $2,500,000

cielo dorato – 25 moores road | $1,600,000

325 homestead lane | $1,097,000

Cissie Sullivan

Tracey Turner

803-998-0198 | SullivanTurnerTeam.com February-March 2022

The Aiken Horse

Section One

SECTION

10 16 20 24 28

The Aiken Horse Show Stable View Season Opener Calendar Highlights News & Notes Aiken TB Hall Of Fame

Louise Hitchcock in the Hitchcock Woods: Welcome to the Aiken Horse Show circa 1928 Photography by Freudy

Section Two

Charlotte Osborne on Korano. Winter Wonderland Dressage, Stable View Photography by Gary Knoll

40 42 48 54 58 60

Engineered Equine Performance Ask the Judge Secret Lives: QP Dressage at Stable View Eyes on the Ground Overseas Shopping NibbleNet

SECTION Section Three

Get Smart and Tonya Amato jumping at The Vista. Get Smart is a Connemara stallion. Photography by Gary Knoll

68 76 78 80 84 86

Stallion Showcase Foals of Aiken Get Smart Breeding 2022 Thoughts on Breeding Heartbreak to Happiness

SECTION Section Four

Jan Pacific driving Bucky at the Aiken Driving Club Driving Derby, Highfields. Photography by Gary Knoll

91 92 94 96 97 98 100 103

Horses & The Law CAS Equestrian Aiken’s Junior Riders Index of Advertisers Classifieds Directory Aiken Driving Derby Calendar

February-March 2022

Aiken

The

Horse

Aiken’s Horse Publication P.O. Box 332 • Montmorenci, SC 29839-0332 • 803.643.9960 • TheAikenHorse.com • TheAikenHorse@gmail.com Time Dated Material • Periodicals • Volume 17 • Number 4

f it’s February in Aiken, that means one thing: the season is on. While horsemen in the Northern states are enduring another icy winter, here in Aiken, the weather is warming up, daffodils are blooming and our horses are starting to shed. This is not to say we will not have more winter weather, but spring is definitely right around the corner, and if you are a horseperson, Aiken is a great place to be. After a few relatively quieter seasons due to COVID, the action in Aiken seems to be back to its usual level, and there are possibly even more winter snowbirds here than ever before. Our competitions are multiplying, too, with a different show or equestrian happening going on somewhere pretty much every day from now through the end of May. Our traditional rites of spring are back, too. These include the three weekends of the Aiken Triple Crown (the Aiken Trials races, the Aiken Steeplechase, and the Pacers and Polo match) as well as two more highly anticipated Saturday events downtown. These are Grand Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field and the Bruce McGhee Memorial Harness Races at McGhee’s Mile on Banks Mill Road. Finally, after a COVID-induced hiatus of two years, the Aiken Horse Show has returned to the historic show ring in the middle of the Hitchcock Woods. For those who don’t know, the Aiken Horse Show, founded in 1916, is one of Aiken’s oldest equestrian traditions. It is an

February-March 2022

old fashioned hunter show with old-style hunter classes that is as much a social event as it is a horse show. This year’s show will be from April 1-3. We are pretty excited about this issue of the paper, which is the largest we have had in a long time – we needed four sections, rather than the usual three, to fit in all our articles and advertisements. It also includes our first ever stallion showcase and breeders’ guide, which you will find in Section Three, along with some followup pictures of the graduates of our annual June Foals of Aiken series. The veterinarians tell us that Aiken’s horsemen are doing more breeding every year and we hope that those of you considering breeding a mare this year or next will find this section helpful. It turns out that Aiken also has a very nice selection of stallions for a multitude of disciplines, and it was enjoyable for us to get to meet some of them. For those who are in Aiken for the winter season, welcome! For our year round residents and readers everywhere, we hope you enjoy this issue. As ever, if you have an idea for an article or there is some news we should know about, drop us an email. We want to be your horse newspaper.

Pam Gleason Editor & Publisher

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 theaikenhorse@gmail.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, or $36 for First Class. Send check or CC # & your mailing address: P.O. Box 332, Montmorenci, SC 29839 Or sign up on the web at TheAikenHorse.com

Aiken

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Horse

Aiken’s Horse Publication

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.

The Aiken Horse

Return to the Woods Aiken Horse Show is Back by Pam Gleason

fter a two-year hiatus, the Aiken Horse Show returns to the historic show ring in the middle of the Hitchcock Woods this April 1-3. The Aiken Horse Show in the Woods, inaugurated in 1916, is one of the city’s most venerable traditions, and is eagerly awaited by riders and the Aiken community at large. It is not just a horse show: it is a social event with reserved tailgaiting, a luncheon tent, and a silent auction filled with unique and interesting items. Coming at the traditional end of the foxhunting season in Aiken, historically it was the grand finale of the Aiken winter season, the big final event where the community came together to compete in the ring and socialize outside of it. Today, it marks the end of the winter season and the beginning of spring. It is also the biggest and the most important fundraiser for the Hitchcock Woods Foundation, the private entity that owns and manages the Woods. “I think people are definitely very excited that the show is back,” said Dana Massey, who is the director of the show. “They have been missing it, and we’re already getting calls from people looking for luncheon tables and information. There are a lot of new people in town, too, who have never been to the show before, so there has been a lot of new activity and questions from people who want to attend, either to watch or as exhibitors.”

A Unique Experience

There are many different shows in Aiken, but the Aiken Horse Show in the Woods is an experience that stands alone. The first major difference is that it is held about a mile into the Hitchcock Woods in a grassy ring surrounded by tall pines. Although it is not sanctioned by any organization and there are no points to win, it is definitely not a schooling show. Instead, it is an old fashioned hunter show, with a class list that includes competitions from the traditional hunter shows of the past – pairs, hunt teams, family class – and many of the exhibitors are foxhunters rather than dedicated show riders. It’s an old-fashioned show from “back in the day,” before horse showing was so much of a professional enterprise. The very first Aiken Horse Show took place on March 18, 1916 in the same show ring that is used today. The event was promoted in the newspapers with a small advertisement: “Gala day – Society event. Unexcelled Exhibition of Thoroughbred Horses.” The show’s organizers were eager for an audience. They even commissioned a train from Southern Railway to bring spectators from Augusta to Aiken. It worked: the front page of the March 21 issue of the Aiken Journal and Review had a feature story: “First Horse Show – Large Attendance at

The Aiken Horse

the Pine Tree Polo Club Grounds – Annual Event,” read the headline. The article went on to predict a bright future: “Saturday witnessed the successful initiation of an annual March horse show among the tourists here. By the success of Saturday’s show it is practically assured that this will become an annual institution,” read the first paragraph. The writer of those words saw his prophecy fulfilled: the show grew rapidly from a one-day event to a three-day affair that lasted from morning until night, with the final jumping class sometimes finishing after sundown, creating extra excitement for all involved. The organizers

of the first show would probably have been thrilled if they could have known that the Aiken Horse Show tradition would have such incredible longevity. This year marks the 106th anniversary of the show, making the event one of the longest standing equestrian traditions in the city, rivaled only by polo (1882) and foxhunting (1914.) Another feature that is unique about the Aiken Horse Show is the access that it gives to the Hitchcock Woods. Generally speaking, the Woods are off limits to motorized vehicles and can only be enjoyed by foot or on horseback. During the three days of the show, however, cars are allowed to transport spectators into the Woods and there is a parking area set up adjacent to the show grounds. This makes it possible for many people who might not be able to travel very far under their own power to spend time in one of Aiken’s most beautiful and unique places. This year, the parking area has been expanded, and there is now an option to obtain a three-day parking pass for a $25 donation rather than donate $10 per day for parking. The advantage of this goes beyond the five dollar savings: pass holders will also have a “fast pass” lane to get into the Woods and won’t have to wait in line behind oneday attendees. The money raised from parking goes directly to trail maintenance. Riding at the show is a special experience and regular exhibitors often say it is their favorite show of the year. The beauty of the ring itself is certainly a main factor. The ring is always decorated with colorful flowers, and the footing is lush green rye grass, planted each fall and carefully nurtured so that it is an emerald carpet by early spring. At the date of the show, the grass in Aiken has generally not greened up yet, giving this show ring a special appeal. Approaching the ring down the trail from Memorial Gate on show days, it can look almost unreal. To add to all this natural beauty, there is a large dogwood in one corner of the ring opposite the luncheon tent that consistently blooms at just the right time.

February-March 2022

Although the show’s setting makes it special, it also poses challenges. Spectators are allowed to drive their cars down the trail from the South Boundary entrance, but horse trailers are not allowed in the Woods. Exhibitors usually park their trailers at the Old Dibble Road entrance near the Stable on the Woods and then hack to the show grounds. This year, horses may also come into the Woods from the Coker Spring entrance, but riders will not be permitted to take their horses down the trail from the South Boundary entrance since that route to the show ring is reserved for cars. Trailers may be parked at the lot near the Green Boundary Club, but not on South Boundary Road.

Supporting the Woods

Proceeds from the Aiken Horse Show in the Woods go the Hitchcock Woods Foundation, which owns and manages the Woods. In addition to the lunches and sponsorship opportunities, the show also holds a silent auction that always includes some interesting items, especially hard-to-find historical books and artwork that pertain to the history of Aiken. The silent auction items are located in the luncheon tent. This year, the auction will be conducted online through Click Bids. This means that anyone can bid on items – they do not need to be physically present. It also means that there will be no more clipboards and pencils for bidders in the tent. Anyone who wants to bid will need to download the app to their phone and submit offers electronically. In addition to making the auction accessible to more people, Click Bids will also enable bidders to enter their maximum bid along with their desired bid and allow the program to do the bidding for them, much like bidding on eBay. The funds raised from the silent auction and the horse show this year are particularly important because, missing the last two years of shows, the Foundation went without two years of its biggest and best

fundraiser. The Foundation works to maintaining the woods and trails, manage the forest with controlled burns and other forestry techniques, and keep the park open to the public with no user fees. Beyond that, the Foundation has some new and exciting projects in the works. One of the most interesting is the creation of an educational walking trail. This self-guided trail will have points of interest marked by wooden boxes, within which walkers will find a QR code to scan with their phones. The QR codes will bring up professionally produced videos explaining something interesting about the Woods. Mary Katherine Philipp, who is the director of the Hitchcock Woods Foundation, says that she is very excited about this new project, which is still in early stages. “We think it will open up a whole new world for people who have

February-March 2022

never experienced the Woods. Sometimes the Woods are intimidating to people – where do you start, where do you go? The trail will give people some direction and a real reason to come.” Mary Katherine says that there will also be a new entrance to the Woods in the coming year, making it easily accessible to people walking there from downtown Aiken. This new entrance comes courtesy of the City of Aiken, which is in the process of completing a massive project to mitigate the effects of storm water runoff into the forest.

Important Information

The 106th annual Aiken Horse Show in the Woods takes place from April 1-3, 2022. Starting time is 9 a.m. every day. The competition starts with the $750 Aiken Hounds Welcome Stakes on Friday morning. There are eight classes on Friday’s schedule, including jumping and flat classes in the adult amateur and open hunter division. The day wraps up with the $1,000 Handy Hunter Stakes. Saturday is traditionally the day for children and families. There will be a full complement of children’s and junior classes, along with the family class, the open pleasure division and future hunter divisions for juniors and adults. There is also a therapeutic riding class and the everpopular costume class. Sunday is foxhunter day. Action starts off with the Foxhunter Hilltopper division, followed by separate hunter under saddle challenges for ladies and gentlemen. The sidesaddle division, which has

traditionally been at the end of the day, has been moved to the lunch hour so that more people can enjoy it. After lunch, the action moves on to the Foxhunter Division, perhaps the most competitive of the show. The Foxhunter division is open to horse and rider pairs that have been qualified by going out hunting together at least three times this season in a jumping division. The winner of the Foxhunter Championship traditionally has the honor of being featured on the cover of the next year’s show program, adding to the already competitive atmosphere of the division If you would like to be a part of the Aiken Horse Show experience but you are not riding, you can plan to come to the Woods and watch. General admission is free, but if you want to drive down and park near the ring, there is a $10 admission donation per day, or $25 for all three days. If you would like to support the show in a bigger way, you can reserve railside parking (this is quite limited) for $100 per day, or buy any number of different packages that will get you admission to the ringside tent, lunch each day, and admission to the sponsors’ cocktail party on Thursday night. If you have an item that you would like to donate to the silent auction, that would always be appreciated as well. For more information, to reserve lunch, to become a sponsor, or to enter the show, visit the website www.aikenhorseshow.org, or call 803-642-0528.

The Aiken Horse

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February-March 2022

Lawrence

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Stable View Season Opener

Photography by Pam Gleason

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The Aiken Horse

Calendar Highlights Spring 2022 by Pam Gleason

After a two-year disruption, Aiken’s equestrian rites of spring are back. While most of our equestrian competitions have actually been able to go on despite the COVID-19 pandemic, our big spectator-friendly spring events have been largely absent, or they have taken place with no spectators allowed. This year, however, although the pandemic is not exactly gone, the spring calendar is once again chock full of horse happenings, many with a decidedly social flavor. What’s happening in Aiken? Read on for some of the next few months’ highlights. For a complete listing be sure to consult the calendar in our fourth section.

course that is relatively easy for spectators to observe. This is an upper level, invitation-only affair for the competitors, who are drawn from a list of the top-ranked riders in the world. The cross country jumps are unique obstacles all inspired by iconic Aiken landmarks and features. William Fox Pitt, a British eventer who often tops the FEI’s world ranking list, will be competing – he will also be giving a clinic for Aiken riders at The Vista during the showcase weekend. Find out more and buy your tickets to the showcase on the Aiken Horse Park website (aikenhorsepark.org.) Learn more about training with William Fox Pitt on The Vista website (schoolthevista.com)

• Bruce McGhee Memorial Harness Races, Saturday, March 12

Harness racing has a long history in Aiken. Many of the same Winter Colony families that played polo and hunted back in the 1920s and 1930s also had trotters, and they enjoyed racing against one another on

• Eventing: Winter Season

Eventing in Aiken is a year-round activity. There are many practitioners of the sport based in Aiken full time and multiple recognized and schooling competitions every month of the year. From January through the middle of March, however, things really heat up with the arrival of seasonal eventers who come down from Canada, New England and the mid-Atlantic to take advantage of Aiken’s mild winters and plethora of competitions. These snowbirds include five star riders and members of various Olympic, Pan Am, and World Equestrian Games teams, many of them schooling their new and green horses at our competitions. This means if you compete in Aiken in the winter, you will be going up with the best. Find horse trials at Stable View, Full Gallop, Sporting Days and Jumping Branch Farm with additional schooling events, combined tests and two-phases at Apple Tree Farm South and The Vista.

the Aiken Mile Track (now McGhee’s Mile) built by Dunbar Bostwick in 1936. Harness racing is not as popular in Aiken today, but the McGhees, owners of the track, have a number of trainers who come down for the winter to condition their horses. A few years back, they reinstituted the tradition of spring races open to the public. Find out more and buy tickets and reserve railside spaces by liking McGhee’s Mile on Facebook or calling 803-617-8511.

• The Aiken Trials, Saturday March 19 (Aiken Triple Crown: First leg)

The Aiken Trials is an annual day of racing for young Thoroughbreds that have trained at the Aiken Training Track all winter long. Many of

• Grand Prix Eventing, March 4-5

Grand Prix Eventing, as distinct from regular eventing, is designed as a spectator-friendly affair, with a shortened and condensed cross-country

The Aiken Horse

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the races are for 2-year-olds that have spent the winter learning how to gallop under saddle and to break from the gate. For these horses, the Trials are a first outing in front of a crowd and an important element in their education. There are also races for 3-year-olds and the featured City of Aiken race for older horses. There are no purses for these races, and no (official) betting, and they don’t count on anyone’s permanent record. But the horses and their jockeys (their regular exercise riders) are generally “in it to win it,” and sometimes a real star is born. After all, Aiken was the training ground for 40 national champions, and Aiken trained horses have won 17 Triple Crown races. No wonder the Bloodhorse covers the Trials! (aikentrainingtrack.com) The Trials includes some other festivities such as Breakfast at the Gallops on March 18 (a chance to watch the horses work and learn more about them) and Ride the Rail on March 6, when Aiken’s horsemen can ride their own horses on the track for a modest $50 which goes to the Aiken Training Track. (aikenthoroughbredhalloffame.com; aikentrainingtrack.com)

• Pacers and Polo, April 2 (Aiken Triple Crown: Third leg)

Pacers and Polo is an exhibition polo game put on by the Aiken Polo Club on Powderhouse Field across from the Aiken Horse Park. It is the first official polo game of the spring season, and a benefit for the University of South Carolina Aiken’s Pacers baseball team. Polo practice at Aiken Polo Club officially starts the first weekend in April, with tournament matches beginning about three weeks later at all three Aiken clubs (Aiken, New Bridge and Wagener.) Aiken Polo Club

• The Aiken Steeplechase, March 26 (Aiken Triple Crown: Second leg)

players and fans are excited about the upcoming season because Sunday games will be back on historic Whitney Field, the oldest continuously used field in the country. Whitney was out of commission for the fall season because it was being resurfaced and seeded with an improved variety of grass that promises to make the games faster and more exciting for everyone. Polo season in Aiken lasts until June. (aikenpolo. org; newbridgepolo.com; wagenerpolo.com)

• Horse Shows, Driving, Dressage, Foxhunting and everything else

There are so many other equestrian events in Aiken this season, it would be impossible to name them all. There are hunter-jumper horse shows at Highfields and Stable View; dressage shows at Stable View and the Aiken Horse Park; driving derbies and pleasure shows, clinics and schooling events – the list goes on. Meanwhile, foxhunters from Aiken and beyond have regular outings in the Hitchcock Woods and at various hunt fixtures throughout the county, with a few hunter paces and other events thrown in. Aiken’s equestrian calendar is packed full, and there is pretty much something for everyone, but you probably can’t do it all. It’s going to be a busy few months. Everyone is getting excited about the Aiken Steeplechase this year, which is the first steeplechase meet in the city since 2019, and the very first one ever at the new dedicated Aiken Steeplechase track on Richland Avenue and the bypass. The Steeplechase is traditionally the largest spectator event of any kind in Aiken, attracting thousands of spectators from all around the area. Racegoers will be glad to learn that the new facility has more parking, more railside spaces and two addition entrance gates to cut down on race day traffic jams. In addition to the traditional guarantor tent, there will also be a (more exclusive) “winner’s club” as well as terrace boxes from which to watch the race. Companies may even reserve corporate tailgate spaces that come complete with a private luxury restroom. (Find out about all the options and prices at aikensteeplechase.org.) Other attractions at the steeplechase this year include a paddock playground for children, complete with an educational station and pony rides, a large village of shops, and adoptable dogs from the Aiken County Animal Shelter which will be brought by FOTAS volunteers. Opening ceremonies will include members of the Aiken County Pony Club, a color guard and a parade of hounds. The traditional carriage parade will be after the first race.

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The Aiken Horse

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The Aiken Horse

News and Notes

By Pam Gleason and Mary Jane Howell

From Paradise to Dara Knot

The biggest news for eventers this season is that the venerable Paradise Farm, one of Aiken’s most beloved and longest lasting eventing facilities, has changed hands. Paradise Farm was created by the international eventing rider and trainer Lellie Ward and held its first horse trial in 2001. Over the decades, its annual spring horse trials became an eagerly awaited fixture on

Aiken’s eventing calendar. A fall event was added later, along with schooling shows, hunter trials, clinics and lessons. The facility soon became the training ground for many of the area’s most talented horses and riders and has always been widely praised for its beauty and for its rolling cross country course. This winter, the eventing trainer Babette Lenna bought the property along with a group of seven investors. Since that time, they have been working to reimagine the facility, building on its background and history to carry it forward into its next chapter in Aiken. In that next chapter, the farm will have a new name: Dara Knot. “The Dara Knot is the Celtic symbol for inner strength, and comes from the Gaelic word ‘Doire’, which means ‘Oak Tree’— representing wisdom, power, endurance and strength,” Babette wrote on the facility’s Facebook page. “This property embodies all of those qualities, and as we take stewardship of and build on the farm’s strong foundation we felt this name was the most respectful direction we could take. It just seems to make sense as the best way to honor and respect the legacy of Paradise Farm.” “Owning something of this caliber has always been a dream of mine,” said Babette, whose training business, Babette Lenna Eventing, has been based in Ipswich,

Massachusetts. She has wintered in Aiken and competed at Paradise Farm and always loved the property. “I feel like if you are going to buy a farm it should be one where you can do what you want to do. Our goal is to make sure that the property can be useful for the community, a place where people can come and school in addition to being a place for my own business. “We wouldn’t be able to do any of what we plan to do if the infrastructure was not already here,” Babette continued. “We’re so grateful to Lellie for what she built: The farm wouldn’t exist without her and would never be what it is without her passion and her hard work. We’re so lucky to have that as our starting place, and we hope we can continue it and grow it forward into the future.” Before Babette and her investors purchased the property, a portion of the cross country course was sold to someone else. Paradise Farm’s traditional USEF eventing dates were also awarded to other facilities. In part because of these reasons, Babette says she does not envision holding recognized horse trials, at least any time soon. She does hope to have schooling two-phases and three-phases in the future, but these will take some planning. “I want to make sure whatever we put on the calendar adds to it rather than clutters it. I’m still working on conversations with other riders and organizers about what we need, and that’s going to take a little longer. I want to add value to the calendar, and I think that takes time.” Meanwhile, Babette says that Dara Knot is open for schooling and that you can sign up for your sessions online. Because there are no plans for a recognized show, the cross country course is being redesigned to be more of a schooling venue. “We are coming up with different types of exercises – every few weeks we’re moving the jumps around,” she said. “I’m super excited to be here,” Babette concluded. “I’m so grateful to be able to own this farm and to be a part of the Aiken community as it is developing so exponentially. I didn’t buy this to be my private facility. More important to me is for it to be a resource for the community. I want it to be a place that can really be open to people. I feel so lucky to be part of the energy here and to take it on and continue to grow.”

The Aiken Horse

Tack Stores Galore

Do horse people like shopping? If it’s at a tack shop, of course! Aiken already has some excellent places to buy tack, equipment, and equestrian clothing. These include Oak Manor Saddlery, Aiken Saddlery, Aiken County Farm Supply, the Aiken Tack Exchange, and of course Dover Saddlery on Whiskey Road. We also have many great places to buy riding clothes, such as the FITS Equestrian Outlet and Equine Divine downtown. This year there are some new additions to the local line-up. We will have a new saddle shop soon in the form of CAS Equestrian, which will be on Richland Avenue. (This will be in the building occupied by the Aiken Tack Exchange before they outgrew that space.) The next new addition is Adams Horse and Pet Supply, which has moved from its original home in Maine to 119 Bolton Court, off Pine Log Road. Adams was founded and is owned by Merance Adams who moved to Aiken permanently some years ago, and so it was only a matter of time before her store followed her south. The store has a large online component, with a smaller in-person shop, and is especially well known as a place to buy good blankets and equipment at reasonable prices. If those two additions are not enough, there are rumors of a tack shop specializing in Western tack and equipment coming to Aiken sometime this year. Western riders have been lamenting the lack of a good Western store in Aiken for many years so this should be welcome news to the cowboy crowd or to anyone who appreciates a good pair of boots.

Aiken Goes Western

Speaking of Western riding, fans of the cowboy life are starting to make their presence known in Aiken lately. It’s not that we have not always had a strong Western component here. After all, Aiken’s horsemen used to go across the river to Augusta every January to watch the cutting at the Augusta Futurity, as well as the barrel racing at the NBHA finals, and both competitions brought in accomplished riders from all over the country. The NBHA itself was founded in Augusta in 1992 and used to have its offices in the Augusta Chronicle building downtown. Now both those major competitions have moved to Perry, Georgia, and the NBHA organization has gone all the way to Fort Worth, Texas. Although we have had some large Western events at the Hippodrome in North Augusta, an occasional South Carolina Quarter Horse Association show at Highfields Event Center as well as some smaller unrecognized one-day shows out in the county over the

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years, things have been pretty quiet lately on the Western front. That is starting to change. For instance, last fall there were several successful barrel racing competitions at Crown B Ranch in Wagener, drawing an enthusiastic crowd. And this January, Crown B held a two-day roping clinic with Cesar de la Cruz from Texas, who flew in to show the locals how it is done. This was followed by a jackpot roping competition – the cattle often seemed to have the upper hand in this, but the participants enjoyed themselves and the event garnered praise all around. More important, it gained the Western sports some new young converts who can’t wait for another opportunity to swing a rope off a horse. This winter, Aiken’s Western riders are starting to get both energized and organized: they are definitely ready to come out of the shadows and share the stage with the English sports. One driver of this momentum is Chris Butler, who lives in the

heart of the 302 equestrian corridor, but is a member of the reining rather than the polo or eventing tribe. Chris and his partner Bradley Honeycutt came to Aiken last year along with their Quarter Horses. Chris, a former Disney employee with a marketing background and a flair for organizing, has been running evening networking events on a regular basis around town. His latest venture is to galvanize the Western horse community, which he started by creating the Facebook group, Aiken Western Rider. “I started Aiken Western Rider near the end of January, and it took off right away, like wildfire,” said Chris. “We wanted to have a place where Western people could share information and meet each other. Our goal isn’t to change the world here, it’s just to make it better.” Chris and other Western enthusiasts are hoping to put on a one-day Western show sometime this spring, though the date,

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format and location are still up in the air. “We feel like there are enough Western people in the area to make it successful,” he said. “My thought is that it’s time to really make a splash.”

Caton Bredar to Speak at Breakfast at the Gallops

ABC, CBS and Fox. Asked about some of her favorite memories, Caton said that covering the Dubai World Cup for many years was an amazing experience. “The first year I went was in 2005, when Roses in May won, and from 2009 until 2014 I was always on horseback. In 2011 Japan had the first and second finishers, and when I interviewed the winning jockey Mirco Demuro who was on Victoire Pisa, he just started to cry. Japan had suffered the devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11 and two weeks later they won the richest race in the world – it was so emotional. “Dubai does not have a plethora of lead ponies, so I would go to the track a few mornings before World Cup Day to try out a few horses. Not many of them had much experience,” she said with a laugh. Another favorite race and venue for Caton was the Mass Cap held at Suffolk Downs outside Boston. Such notable racehorses as Seabiscuit and Whirlaway, Cigar, and Skip Away have won that race. “The Mass Cap was an amazing race that always drew stellar fields. Horses shipped in from all over the country. There was a great broadcast team for Fox that included Jay Privman. This was when the NTRA (National Thoroughbred Racing Association) put together a championship series – big races all over the country. We had so much fun!” These days Caton chooses to work a bit less and is a freelancer for TVG. Once a month she will go where there’s a big race, and then in April she will be part of the team that covers spring racing at Keeneland, in Lexington, Kentucky. “I’m looking forward to visiting Aiken,” Caton said. “I know my grandfather spent time here when he was riding the Greentree horses in the 1940s and 1950s. He even rode in the Trials – and he always kept the silver trophy he won.”

by Mary Jane Howell The racing analyst and broadcaster Caton Bredar will be the guest speaker at this year’s Breakfast at the Gallops on March 18, held at the Aiken Training Track. The annual event gives spectators an opportunity to watch morning training and to hear local Thoroughbred conditioners discuss their horses. Caton grew up near Arlington Park in Chicago, where her father, Ray Metzler, was a trainer and her grandfather, retired Hall of Fame jockey Ted Atkinson, was an Illinois racing steward. She worked as an exercise rider at the track during high school and after receiving a degree in English from Knox College, she went back to Arlington to host the Breakfast Show on television on weekend mornings. “Hosting the Morning Show really led to all the broadcasting jobs I had afterwards,” explained Caton. “I have always felt that if you did a good job, showed up and tried hard, that you would be respected. It was a plus to have the track experience and the fact that the management team at Arlington was looking for a woman was a plus. I was in the right place at the right time.” Caton discussed the horses and did interviews with owners and trainers for the audience, sometimes on horseback, a skill that she has used many times since. When the first 24-hour interactive horse racing television network, TVG, appeared in 1999, Caton was part of the original team and the lead anchor for four years. She covered national and international racing, including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Dressage & Jump Ring open to rent by the hour at Longchamps Updated cross-country course with constantly in France and the changing exercises to meet your needs Barbados Gold Best terrain for conditioning in Aiken Cup. From there she moved to another www.babetteeventing.com/aiken racing network, Babette Lenna HRTV, and also 207-837-0842 worked on broadcast 4069 Wagener Road @babetteeventing teams for ESPN, (Formerly Paradise Farm)

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Celebrating Thoroughbreds for 45 Years Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum Celebrates Anniversary By Mary Jane Howell, Photography by Richert Burke

ucked gracefully into a corner of Hopelands Gardens in Aiken’s historic district, a carriage house once belonging to Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin is now celebrating its 45th anniversary as the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum. Where once there were carriages and horses, now there are trophy cases, rooms dedicated to some of Aiken’s notable horsemen, and a Hall of Fame section where

the racing achievements of 40 national champion horses who trained in Aiken can be viewed. The Aiken Jaycees were the first to explore the idea of having a building dedicated to the famous Thoroughbreds who trained in Aiken and to the racing industry that played such a big part in the city’s history. The late Mrs. Iselin’s carriage house, built in 1902, seemed to be the perfect fit for the project. Mrs. Iselin had left her estate, Hopelands, to the City of Aiken, so there was no need to purchase a building. Also, Mrs. Iselin had been a Winter Colony resident and a noted horsewoman who owned stables both in the United States and in England. It seemed only fitting that a racing museum and hall of fame be housed on her former property. Although both the mayor, H. Odell Weeks, and the city council

The Aiken Horse

supported the project, it wasn’t until Mr. and Mrs. Whitney Tower stepped in in the mid-1970s that the project really gathered steam. A member of the Whitney family, Mr. Tower was, at the time, vice president of the National Racing Museum in Saratoga Springs, New York, and chairman of its Hall of Fame. His life was intertwined with racing in so many ways – for generations the Whitney family had operated successful racing stables (Greentree being the most famous); he was the racing editor of Sports Illustrated for 22 years and later the cofounder of Classic magazine. Whitney Tower helped to compile the information needed on the first inductees to the new museum, while Joan Tower chaired the fundraising committee. In May 1976, the Aiken City Council donated $5,000 toward renovations of the carriage house, while another $15,000 was raised through community donations. The Aiken Jaycees contributed labor and material costs. The grand opening of the Hall of Fame was on January 23, 1977. Among those in attendance were Mayor Weeks, members of the Jaycees, Hopelands trustees, and the trainers whose horses were in the first Hall of Fame Class – John Gaver, MacKenzie Miller, James Maloney, E. Barry Ryan, Virgil “Buddy” Raines, Mike Freeman, Mrs. William Post, and Mrs. J.D. Byers (these two women were representing their husbands.) Twenty-one horses were inducted that day, and their race records show what a powerhouse Aiken was for developing spectacular racehorses. Their names represent the best of both dirt and turf runners, as well as a handful of steeplechasers. In alphabetical order, here are the names of the horses elected to Aiken’s Hall of Fame that day: Assagai, Barnaby’s Bluff, Blue Peter, Capot, Conniver, Devil Diver, Elkridge, Gallorette, Hawaii, Kelso, Lamb Chop, Neji, Oedipus, Open Fire, Politely, Quick Pitch, Shuvee, Snow Knight, Stage Door Johnny, Tea Maker, and Tom Fool. Among them, these horses had won most of the major races in the United States and they had long careers in the decades that, some would say, were the pinnacle of the sport, the 1940s through the 1970s. The dedication of the Aiken Hall of Fame was just not local news. The Thoroughbred Record, a weekly racing magazine, made it their cover story in the February 2, 1977, edition. Managing editor Dan Farley wrote: “… Aiken was an oasis for the thoroughbred and his worshippers. And, thank goodness, Aiken today still is what it was then. Just as significant, the Aiken of tomorrow, because of the legacy of one and the efforts of many, will maintain its place in the world of the thoroughbred.” From the original 21 horses, the Hall of Fame membership has now grown to 40. Amongst them are Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont winners, as well as Breeders’ Cup champions, all trained in Aiken. Lisa Hall has been a mainstay at the hall of fame and museum for over 20 years. A longtime employee of the City of Aiken, in 2000, Lisa moved from her job as supervisor of the City of Aiken’s Odell Weeks Center to oversee the museum as its coordinator. It was a perfect fit – in fact, when Lisa officially retired in 2015, she immediately resumed her position at the hall of fame on a part time basis. Lisa works with a nine-person board and has 22 docents on rotation. The museum not only has a dedicated area for its Hall of Fame members, but there are rooms on the second floor that are treasure troves of racing memories. The Pete Bostwick and Jim Maloney room is filled with win photos, newspaper articles and trophies; Mike Freeman’s

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collection of Blood Horse magazines is an integral part of the Whitney Tower Research Room, and there is a children’s room for the smallest of racing fans. In 2013, after Aiken-based Dogwood Stable’s colt Palace Malice won the Belmont Stakes, the wheels were set in motion to have a room dedicated to Dogwood Stable and its president Cot Campbell. It is filled with memorabilia – Cot’s well-worn fedora and binoculars, win photos, copies of the Dogwood newsletter and the three books that Cot penned (Lightning in a Jar, Rascals and Racehorses, and Memoirs of a Longshot) are all there. The stable’s famous green and yellow silks are proudly on display, and such notable Dogwood runners as Palace Malice, Summer Squall (Preakness winner), his daughter Storm Song (Breeders’ Cup winner and champion filly of 1988), and turf master Dominion are just some of the horses whose win photos grace

the walls. “To have the Dogwood Room in the museum is such an honor and Cot and I, along with the whole Dogwood team, were so proud the day it was officially opened in 2014,” recalled Cot’s wife, Anne Campbell. “To be there alongside such racing icons as Mack Miller and Jim Maloney, who were such great friends of ours and such legends in the sport, still bowls me over.” Another unique part of the museum is the collection of trophies won by Cragwood Stable horses. Cragwood’s owner, Charles Engelhard Jr., made his fortune in the precious metals industry in South Africa, but loved racing and kept stables not only in the United States but in England and South Africa as well. Hawaii was one of his top runners in that country, and after winning major stakes in South Africa, the colt was shipped to the US where he was trained by MacKenzie Miller who maintained a winter training base in Aiken. The win photo of Hawaii’s victory in the 1969 United Nations Handicap at Atlantic City Racecourse is part of the trophy display, and if you look carefully, you will see Princess Grace of Monaco presenting the Engelhards with the win trophy. (Grace Kelly’s father was a major shareholder in the track and Princess Grace and her children were often at the racing oval during summer visits). Although his American runners were quite successful, Engelhard’s greatest racehorse was the incomparable Nijinsky, who was named the European Horse of the Year in 1970. Charles Engelhard Jr. died in 1971 and several years later his widow, Jane Mannheimer Engelhard, presented a large collection of the Cragwood Stable trophies to the museum. The trophies represent wins from 1962 through 1976. It is a stunning collection – and one that needs polishing twice a year! But the Aiken Racing Museum does not stay wedded to the past. In

February-March 2022

the courtyard there are stalls that are used for smaller exhibits – one being the popular Thoroughbred training exhibit. It features various equipment used, from exercise saddles to a variety of bits. There is also a stall that holds an Equicizer (think of it as an exercise bike for equestrians). Developed by former jockey Frankie Lovato, Jr., this particular piece was donated by Billy and Vicki Bernard. The Equicizer is used by jockeys as part of their fitness routine, and visitors to the museum can try it as well. “The Equicizer is one of the most popular items in the museum,” said Lisa Hall with a laugh. “We know by the number of times we have had to replace the saddle!” Although there are 40 Champions in the Hall of Fame, there has been a lull in prospects lately. To be inducted into Aiken’s Hall of Fame, a horse must have spent part of its training career in Aiken and must have been awarded the Eclipse Award in its particular racing division – for example, three-year-old colt. National champions are hard to come by, and so it was decided that a locally trained racehorse should be recognized each year with an award and ceremony. Stonerside Stable’s

Congaree was the first recipient of the Aiken Trained Horse of the Year in 2002. These horses must have spent part of their career training in Aiken County and must have won at least one graded stakes race during the year, or exceeded $500,000 in career earnings. The museum also plays host to art exhibits, book signings and special exhibits such as one featuring the Triple Crown races. This year there are many events planned to mark the anniversary year, including a historical look at the racing powerhouse, Greentree Stable, scheduled for August 30 to September 12. However, the museum will be closed for February and March because of work being done on the fire suppression system. Many of the regular spring exhibits will be postponed, but it is best to call Lisa Hall at 803643-2121 or 803-642-7631 for further information. The museum’s website (aikenracinghalloffame.com) is a wealth of information and has details on all the members of the Hall of Fame as well as the Aiken Trained Horse of the Year. Racing aficionados will especially enjoy the many race videos on each horse’s page. The museum was awarded The Carolinas 2020 Best Equestrian Attraction, but it has long held a special place in the hearts of local racing fans. Hidden gems abound, and it takes more than one visit to soak in all the history that the museum offers.

The Aiken Horse

a 501c3 non-proﬁt organization

Your Camden Showgrounds

Since 2009

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

THANK YOU For Your Support of our “Make a Mark on the Park” Campaign! The Stall Plaques Look Amazing! We love to see our visitors showcased across the property! We still have stalls available. Makes a Great Gift! NAME A STALL We will provide the name plaque to honor your horse.

Reach out to us via PM on www.facebook.com/SCEquinePark for details. Ask us about NAME A BARN, NAME A RING & MORE!

Thanks for moving the Park forward. We look forward to seeing you ringside!

Dates Subject to Change

Feb 2 Feb 11-12 Feb 16 Feb 18-20 Feb 25-27 Mar 4-6 Mar 12-13 Mar 19-20 Mar 26-27 Apr 2-3 Apr 8-10 Apr 16-17

Winter Wednesdays Schooling Series SC Quarter Horse Association Special Event Winter Wednesdays Schooling Series Extreme Trail Course Clinic South Carolina Horsemen’s Council SC Quarter Horse Association Palmetto Paint Horse Club Four Beats For Pleasure Harmon Classic Hunter Jumper Show SC Dressage and Combined Training Association Progressive Show Jumping Spring Palmetto Paint Horse Club

Please contact the Show Manager with questions about their event. For Booking Information 803-420-0407 or info@scequinepark.com

443 Cleveland School Rd Camden SC 29020

scequinepark.com 30

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Camden SC I-20 Exit 101 February-March 2022

SOMETHING BIG IS

COMING!!!

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CHECK BACK FOR BIG CHANGES COMING TO AIKEN SADDLERY! now carrying buckeye feed!

February-March 2022

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AIKEN HORSE Bridle Creek 101921.qxp_Layout 1 10/19/21 1:20 PM Page 3

neighborhoods can be unicorns, too

BRIDLE CREEK EQUESTRIAN COMMUNIT Y

From the developer of Three Runs Plantation comes another wonderful equestrian neighborhood in Aiken, South Carolina. Bridle Creek meanders across 600 wooded acres, featuring ve-acre lots and larger. Amenities include a dressage arena, jump arena, X-Country Schooling area and an activity center with meeting, social and tness space. All this plus miles of scenic trails. Phase One is already sold out, with more to come. Inquire today by calling 1-888-297-8881 or email info@bridlecreekaiken.com 600 Acres • Miles of groomed and marked trails • Jump arena • Dressage arena • X-Country schooling area Activity/Fitness Center • Homesites from 5+ acres • From the developer of Three Runs Plantation HOMESITES INDIVIDUALLY PRICED • DEVELOPER FINANCING AVAILABLE • BRIDLECREEKAIKEN.COM 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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Engineered Equine Performance Ask the Judge Secret Lives: QP Dressage at Stable View Eyes on the Ground Overseas Shopping NibbleNet

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February-March 2022

2022 STABLE VIEW CALENDAR

FEBRUARY

12-13 16 17 19 20 21

JUNE

5 7-9 12

18-19 24-26

JULY MARCH

5-6 9 11 12

7 9 10 16-17

13 15 16

APRIL 9-10 23

MAY

9 17 19 20

SEPTEMBER 14 15 23-25

NOVEMBER 5

AUGUST

1-3

11 13 14 17-18 19-21

OCTOBER

DECEMBER

10-11 17 19 20

11 14-15 19 21 22

117 Stable Dr, Aiken SC February-March 2022

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February-March 2022

Engineered Equine Performance Tools for Conditioning and Rehabilitation By Pam Gleason, Photography by Gary Knoll

axine Emerich discovered she had a passion for equine rehabilitation about ten years ago. At the time she was working as an engineer at a federal research facility in California while also running her own professional horse training business. One way or another, she ended up with a number of horses that needed rehabilitation work: problem horses, off-the-track Thoroughbreds and horses with assorted injuries. Caring for them brought her to a dedicated equestrian rehabilitation center called Premier Equine Center in Oakdale, California where she was introduced to various advanced techniques and equipment, including water treadmills. She started spending time at the facility to learn more, and was impressed by how much horses improved in the program. It seemed like an important aspect of horse care and training that does not often get much emphasis. Maxine and her husband Paul Jaquith relocated to Aiken about six years ago. Paul is also an engineer, and for a time both continued to work in the engineering field in the Aiken area. Meanwhile, they bought land with a small stable in the 302 equestrian corridor east of town and started to establish their own farm. Maxine was running her training business, and once again found herself with horses that needed rehabilitation. Remembering her experience with the water treadmill in California, she decided that she really needed to have one at her own farm. “I knew I wanted to put in a treadmill,” she said. “I didn’t know I was going to do a full rehab facility here. But about three years ago I was talking to my friend Casey Daugherty who runs Stellar Equine Performance Therapy, and I told her I missed the facility in California because the water treadmill could fix so much, and that I couldn’t wait until I had my own. And she said, why don’t you do a full-fledged rehab facility here. That was the kick that got me started.” Maxine has experience in business management and capital project planning, and she used her skills to develop a business plan and raise funds for the new venture, Engineered Equine Performance. She also continued her training in equine bodywork and therapy, getting certified in PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field) therapy, doing ridealongs with various veterinarians and getting training on running water treadmills for horses. She also left her engineering job so that she could pursue her passion full time. Knowing that the water treadmill would be the mainstay of her rehab facility Maxine was determined to purchase the best model she could find. Her research led her to Equine Therapy International, a British company that manufactures a cold saltwater treadmill with enhanced safety features. Maxine was determined to buy this model, but she had to go all the way to England to see one and get her training on it since the company has no distribution in the United States. “This treadmill is state of the art,” she said, demonstrating how the machine is recessed into the floor so that the horse does not have to walk up or down any ramps. There is no need for chest or butt ropes either, because the front and back doors of the water compartment are reinforced. The compartment is also wider and longer than that of most treadmills, which makes it more comfortable and less confining for the horse. The belt can be programmed to move at speeds up to 10 kilometers an hour (a good trot) but most work is done at a walk, about 4.6 kilometers an hour, depending on the horse. The exercise can be made more difficult by adding more water, or by setting the entire machine at an angle of up to as much as 15 degrees. Perhaps the most beneficial thing about this treadmill is that when Maxine calls it a “cold water” treadmill, she really means it. The water used in the therapy sessions does not come from the hose. Instead it

February-March 2022

comes out of an 1,800 gallon tank, and it goes through a chiller set to 33 degrees, making for water in the 35 degree range. The “salt” is Epsom salts, which are added to the tank from 50-pound bags that Maxine buys at Aiken County Farm Supply, going through about 400 pounds a month. This gives the water the same salinity as seawater. “Cold salt water is better for the legs,” said Maxine. “It keeps them cool, tightens the skin, improves circulation and is good for the lymphatic system. The horses love it. Once they get used to the treadmill they love the water. They get in and do their session and when they come out their legs are nice and tight.” The water treadmill has many uses, both for rehabbing injuries and for conditioning. Now that the winter competition season is on, Maxine said that the main customers for treadmill work are active competitors. “The treadmill has a lot of benefits,” she said. “It increases stride length, provides suppleness, and it’s anaerobic strength training without impact. On the treadmill, horses become a lot straighter. I have seen horses that come in walking with their front end on a separate track from their hind end, but because the belt is completely straight and flat, they feel that and they figure out how to straighten their body.” Typical rehabilitation work includes bringing horses back from tendon and ligament injuries as well as alleviating the symptoms of kissing spine syndrome, a condition in which the upward facing spiny processes of a horse’s vertebrae make contact with one another causing pain. Kissing spine is often accompanied by a back that dips downward under a rider’s weight. Because the treadmill encourages a horse to contract his stomach muscles and bring his back up, Maxine says that treadmill work can strengthen the horse’s core enough to provide relief. Although the water treadmill is the centerpiece at Engineered Equine Performance (EEP), there are also other advanced modalities at the facility. These include pulsed electromagnetic field therapy via a combi-floor, which is a vibrating platform equipped with PEMF that can be used to increase circulation in the horse’s whole body, but particularly in the hooves and lower legs. The combi-floor includes a built-in scale that makes it an invaluable tool for monitoring a horse’s body condition. The facility can also provide PEMF via blankets and handheld devices, low level laser therapy, a nebulizer and a Game Ready ice compression boot. In the coming months, there will also be a salt chamber for respiratory and skin conditions. This is an enclosed stall that will be filled with aerosolized salt from the Bering Sea and the Himalayas. Salt chambers are used to treat such things as allergies and COPD, and they can also help increase a horse’s lung capacity. Engineered Equine Performance was scheduled to open in 2020, but the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic delayed things for almost two years. However, everything was finally ready by the fall of 2021 and the facility welcomed its first horses in October. Since that time, it has gained a steadily growing following in the Aiken horse world, among horse owners and veterinarians alike. Although anyone can schedule a conditioning session for a horse at EEP, rehab work requires a veterinary referral. “The reception has been very positive,” said Maxine. “I’m really excited about it.” In the coming months, there will be a number of seminars and events at EEP, including a clinic with Dr. Matthias Baumann, an Olympic gold medalist from Germany who is a renowned expert on the use of cold salt water treadmills. Find out more at engineeredequineperformance.com and follow them on Facebook.

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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 was recently at a USDF dressage show with a friend of mine. While she was competing, the judge blew the whistle and eliminated her. The judge said this was because my friend’s helmet was not properly secured. This was the helmet she usually competes in, so we were quite surprised she was eliminated. Can the judge do that legally? And what does it mean for a helmet to be “properly” secured? I also have a question on another note, since I do not want to get eliminated: for Christmas I received two show shirts that have the integrated collars. They are beautiful and I cannot wait to wear them, so my question is, what do I do when the weather is warm and coats are waived? Can I still wear these shirts? Please advise.

Confused about Clothing Dear Confused,

Thank you for reaching out about these important and interesting dress code rules and violations. I would be happy to review the rulings with you. Let’s start with headgear. According to the USEF 2022 rulebook, DR120 1.1, “Protective headgear is defined as a riding helmet, which meets or exceeds current ASTM standards for equestrian use and caries the SEI tag. The harness must be secured and properly fitted. Any rider violating this rule at any time must be prohibited from further riding until the headgear is properly in place.” In your friend’s case, it is possible that her helmet’s harness strap was originally appropriately secure, but by this show it might have loosened from normal wear and was no longer properly fitted; this might explain why she was never called out before. This rule is in place for your safety and full protection. In addition to judging your ride, one of the many assessments your judge must make is whether all your dress and equipment are legal for your level and the class in which you are competing. For the judge to have stopped your friend, I am guessing her harness strap was much too loose or the helmet was moving around on her head. It is your judge’s responsibility and duty to keep you safe, and it is both legal and appropriate for the judge to take action if needed. If your judge notices that your strap and/or helmet is not properly fitted before

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you enter the arena, it is possible you might have time to adjust before you come down the centerline. But once you are in the arena, if the judge believes your equipment is unsafe, her only option is to eliminate you. This is a tough lesson, but a safe one. Whether you are competing at a show or riding at home, please make sure your helmet is securely on your head. Now let’s talk about your new show shirts. The integrated stand-up collar show shirts are very popular this year. For those of you who do not know, this is a shirt with a collar that has non-detachable neckwear built into one solid shirt. This style of shirt has become very popular for many reasons. Beside being quite elegant, there is its convenience factor: No more tying a stock, worrying about placing a pin, or struggling to make sure it is all centered, to name a few things. These shirts look perfect as soon as you put them on. But can you wear them when you are not wearing a coat over them? According to USEF 2022 rulebook DR120.15 Shirts with tie, choker, stock tie, or integrated stand up collar are required. Rule 120.21 states that when coats are waived you must wear a shirt with sleeves (long or short), with a collar (no t-shirts), and no neckwear. So what to do if you are wearing an integrated shirt? The answer is nothing. You may wear your shirt without penalty. Neckwear is only required to be removed when it is an add-on. There is no need to open any buttons or zippers if there are any. The same also applies if you do have removable neck wear, which you will need to take off when jackets are waived. There is no ruling that requires you to have any button or zipper opened or lowered when not wearing your show coat. However, you should keep in mind that if you do not wear a coat, your shirt (with an integrated collar or not) must not have a bold pattern (if you could see the pattern from a short distance it is likely considered to bold) or bright colors (for example neon green). According to the 2022 rulebook DR124 2b. “Elimination for dress code violations inside the competition ring is mandatory.” So it is very important to be clear on these shirt dress code rules! I hope this gives you more insight on dress code rules regarding helmets and show shirts. So come proudly down the centerline with your well-fitted helmet and secure chin strap and show off your beautiful new shirts with or without your coat, with no worries about neckwear. Do remember to wear your smile! And enjoy the ride.

February-March 2022

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Secret Lives of Horses

Quarter Pounder Does Double Duty By Nancy Johnson

uarter Pounder, a 25-year-old-Haflinger pony, is as popular at Aiken’s Great Oak Equine Assisted Programs as the hamburger of the same name is at McDonalds. QP’s memorable name came courtesy of the daughter of his owner Wendy O’Brien when they bought him as an adorable 2-year-old, 23 years ago. She was a fan of the television series Little House on the Prairie, and the name was an homage of sorts to the Laura Ingalls character nicknamed Half Pint. Wendy, who was at that time focused on eventing and breeding, found QP at a stable in Millbrook, New York. Knowing that Haflinger

horses were renowned for their quiet, easy-going dispositions, she bought him with plans for his becoming a guest horse. Since he was not suitable to be an event horse, she decided to try driving him, something she hadn’t done since she was a child. He took to the sport well, and Wendy fondly recalls her early days showing him at the Duchess County Fair in New York, and the culmination of their partnership as they competed in the Advanced combined driving event at Gladstone, New Jersey, and then in Canada where they won their division. “He and I learned the sport of combined driving together and because of QP, I was able to go on to represent the U.S. as a member of the combined driving team,” Wendy says. Eventually, QP retired from competitive driving but continued to drive for a while as the wheeler of a Halflinger four-in-hand. After that, Wendy thought QP deserved a real retirement, so he came to live on her Montmorenci farm where he was occasionally ridden by her grandchildren, including a six-month-old in a basket saddle. Much of his time was spent relaxing in a big pasture with his buddies, two miniature horses named Jellybean and Egbert. As one of the founders of the Great Oak equine assisted therapy program, Wendy was fully engaged with getting the program started a few years ago. She had often observed how incredibly gentle and bomb proof Quarter Pounder was, especially with her young grandchildren. Wendy had a feeling that QP had a second career in him. Plus, at 14.2 hands, he was the perfect size for a therapy horse: small enough not to intimidate a child, but big enough to carry an adult. “We were in the middle of our capital campaign and the Great Oak facility was under construction,” recalls Nicole Pioli, who is the executive director of Great Oak. “Then Wendy realized QP, who was 19 at the time and just hanging out in her backyard, appeared to have the perfect disposition to be a therapy horse. So, we began to go out and work with him.” Following some extensive schooling and de-sensitizing work, QP became one of the first horses to be accepted into Great Oak’s program. Nationally renowned for its excellence, Great Oak will be celebrating its fourth year in operation on February 14. “If I could have six horses

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in the barn like QP, I’d be happy,” Nicole says. “He immediately fit into the job. QP has the best personality. I mean, everybody loves him.” It’s easy to see why the students and volunteers all love QP. “He is an exceptionally handsome Haflinger,” Nicole notes. “And he’s just such a character! He plays with the kids, picking up tennis balls and cones in his mouth. Yet, he’s a well-trained pony. Our students have ridden him at the Special Olympics and the Horse Show in the Woods.” Nicole explains that QP is one of the few horses at the farm tolerant enough to be trained to use the lift for those students in a wheelchair. Although regularly schooled at the trot and over cross rails, QP is predominantly ridden by students who only walk. “He’s so valuable with the younger students and those who use the lift, that we don’t want to ask more of him,” Nicole explains. In a typical week, QP is ridden by 10 students, giving him plenty of time off to relax with his two best buddies. Like his friends at Wendy’s farm, these are minis, but Pancake and Waffles are mini donkeys. “QP is a really smart pony,” Nicole says. “He knows who is riding him and totally knows whose buttons he can press. He’s been known to try them when one of the volunteers is schooling him, but we can put a 4-year-old child on him and when they whisper ‘Whoa’ in the tiniest voice, he’ll stop immediately with all four feet square.” While children love QP for his gentleness and endearing personality, adults love him too. Nicole tears up when she talks about an adult student who was especially fond of QP. “Beth was just an array of joy,” Nicole says, describing a student who lost her battle with cancer. “She and QP had a special relationship. At her last time out to the farm, Beth didn’t have the strength to ride, but she wanted to see QP. She sat on the mounting block and QP walked over and just dropped his head in her lap. We all just looked at each other in amazement.” Dawn is a student who is currently riding QP regularly. Her husband, John, says, “QP has been a perfect match in temperament and disposition for therapeutic riding. The bond created between QP and Dawn has been fantastic.” Although she is in a wheelchair, Dawn has taken to wearing a Fitbit to track the steps she takes with QP. She gets a kick out of comparing their steps with those of the volunteers at Great Oak. Eva Finnan, Great Oaks lead instructor, says QP is “The most compassionate and understanding of horses, especially with the nervous or small student. He truly knows his job is to give encouragement and to show patience when needed. He is the horse that stands so quietly while we fiddle and fuss with the lift to help our student mount and get settled in the saddle correctly and QP will adjust his manner according to what the student before him requires.” She pauses and adds, “Having been around horses most of my life in one capacity or another I can honestly say that I have never known such a special horse as QP.” “It’s just amazing to have QP go from being a simple driving pony to advanced combined driving levels and then to have a whole new life at Great Oak – where he is a superstar,” Wendy says. “I think QP is glad he came out of retirement,” Nicole adds, “He really enjoys his job and he’s just an all-around, incredible asset to our farm!”

February-March 2022

Secret Lives of Horses is sponsored by Triple Crown Nutrition: Providing nutrition beyond compare.

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February-March 2022

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February-March 2022

Ride the Rail

Have you ever wanted to ride on the Aiken Training Track?

! s u n Sunday, March 6, 2022 Joi 10am - 2pm

Experience the fun of riding on the historic Aiken Training Track on your horse. Choose your own pace ... walk, trot, canter or gallop! Ride with friends or go out on your own. Entry Fee: $50 per trip – Proceeds to benefit the Aiken Training Track.

Required of all riders - Proof of negative Coggins test within

12 months; All riders must wear approved helmets and appropriate footwear; Riders must sign a waiver & juniors (under 14) must ride with an adult; No colts, stallions, or ridglings. Contact ATTRidetheRail@gmail.com or visit www.aikentrainingtrack.com

photo ©AnneHoover.com

February-March 2022

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Stable View Dressage: Winter Wonderland & January Schooling

Photography by Gary Knoll.

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February-March 2022

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February-March 2022

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Eyes on the Ground

Top Riders Know the Benefits By Pam Gleason

t is often said that a true horseman never stops learning. Horses, as the saying goes, can teach you something new every day. Most horsemen do recognize that they need to be open to learning from their horses. The very best horsemen, however, also know that they can improve the most if they seek coaching and instruction from other people. Whether the rider is an amateur just getting started in the show ring or a professional at the top of the game, good “eyes on the ground” (a person who watches you ride and tells you what they see) can make the difference between success and failure, or between winning and missing out. “I think anybody at any level needs help,” said Sally Cousins. “Anyone who thinks they know everything is making a big mistake.” Sally is a well-known international five star eventing rider and trainer whose accomplishments are too many to enumerate. They include being named the United States Eventing Association Leading Lady Rider for eight years in a row between 2008 and 2013, and numerous successful outings at the world’s most prestigious events such as the Kentucky Three Day, and Burghley and Badminton in England. This winter while polishing her showjumping skills at hunter-jumper shows from her winter training base in Aiken, she has been taking advantage of coaching from Laura O’Connor, a trainer, judge and showjumping veteran who relocated to this area last year. “I knew who Laura was, and I was happy to see her here,” Sally said. “So I asked her if she could help me in my warm-up at a show. She was able to teach me some fine points, but also some very basic things.” Sally went into her class, got a clear round, and won, and a coaching partnership was born. Laura O’Connor, whose showjumping career includes being named Leading Lady Rider at Spruce Meadows for three years in a row, says that her ability to be a rider’s eyes on the ground comes from her own experience riding, as well as coaching that she benefitted from when she was at the pinnacle of her showjumping career. When she was competing, she was helped by such luminaries as Leslie Burr Howard, her longtime trainer, as well as the Hall of Fame showjumper Norman Della Joio. “Norman saw me competing a stallion I had, Fairplay 21, in Wellington one winter, and he told me I needed his help,” she said. “And so I went to his farm and he would tell me what I was doing, and what needed to be done to improve.” Laura pointed out that Norman himself, successful as he was, always relied on his wife Jeanie, a 50 percent partner in his business, to set practice jumps for him and to troubleshoot jumping issues. “Norman reiterated to me that everybody needs help from the ground.” How does Laura help a rider improve a jumping round by working with her in the warm-up ring? “I look for a pattern with the horse and rider,” she said. “Sometimes a horse and rider can get in a rut, so I watch them and study their balance together. Often just a small tweak or a change in their warm-up can be the difference between a clean round and persistent four fault performances. My goal is to take away frustration and miscommunication and help them find a balance together that works for both.” For instance, in the warm-up, she might set a more difficult fence for a horse, or have the rider jump an oxer on an angle to encourage him to pay closer attention to what he is doing with his body in the air. She might ask for a rollback or take away a ground line, or ask the rider to stop trying to help the horse so much, so that he takes responsibility for his own jump. “When I started learning with jumpers, Leslie Burr Howard used to say to me don’t bore me in the schooling area,” she continued. “I always remembered that and did something different.”

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But she emphasizes that the techniques that she uses in the warm-up are training, not gimmicks. “I don’t use gimmicks. I use experience and knowledge to improve a horse’s technique and skill set, and I change my school -- prepping for the ring is different every time. Horses change. A good ground person, someone who is good “eyes” can adapt and see what is needed that particular day to get the best jump out of a horse. It’s not gimmicks, it’s hardcore training gained from experience riding. Riding horses is an individual sport, and for some riders that starts to mean that they rely entirely on their own perceptions, without accepting help from anyone else. This can be a significant detriment to their progress, even for people with years of experience, since it can be difficult for even the best riders to know what they are doing and what little adjustments they need to make in order to improve. “I like to think I know what I am doing on top of a horse,” said Sally. “But it turns out there are some things that I am doing that I don’t know about. That’s one reason I have found Laura’s help to be very important.” Sally, who has always sought the coaching of top riders in dressage, cross country and showjumping, notes that one of the great things about Aiken is that excellent trainers from all disciplines are here, especially in the winter months, making world class expertise very accessible. “It’s a luxury in Aiken because it’s so close,” she said. “You shouldn’t feel bad about asking for help,” said Laura, who feels that riders who don’t accept any coaching might be allowing their egos to interfere with their progress in the show ring. “I think people in the horse world are starting to recognize the importance of coaching a little more. Everyone needs help.”

Above: Sally Cousins and Laura O’Connor. Right: Sally Cousins competes at Bruce’s Field.

February-March 2022

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February-March 2022

Made in Aiken, South Carolina

1270 Banks Mill Rd SE Aiken, SC 803-641-0007

February-March 2022

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Overseas Horse Shopping A European Adventure By Pam Gleason

t’s no secret that the horse market is crazy right now in the United States. While it may be perfectly possible to find and buy a green horse or a young prospect for a reasonable sum, well-trained, made horses that can perform almost any job competently are hard to come by. Not only that, they have also gotten extremely expensive. This is especially true in hunter/jumper circles, where the price of high end horses has skyrocketed, partially due to the scarcity of inventory and partially because immense recent gains in the stock market have meant that people on the upper ends of the income scale are feeling particularly flush. “Horse people don’t care what they spend anymore,” said one trainer. “It’s getting out of this world.” Although prices have also gone up overseas, COVID related disruptions have put a damper on things and demand has not risen there as fast as it has here. Importing horses from Europe has always been an attractive way for Americans to find eventing, dressage and showjumping horses. With the current climate in the U.S. horse market, it is becoming even more appealing. Sharer Dale, who is a realtor with Keller Williams in Aiken as well as an amateur show jumping rider, recently returned from a trip to the Netherlands where she purchased her next showjumping partner, a 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare named Miss Moneypenny (formerly Candy VH.) She explained that there were several reasons that she went overseas in search of her next horse. “I was looking for fresh inventory,” she said. “There can be a lot of pressure sometimes when you buy a horse locally or one that has a record or a history here. Plus, there just seemed to be a better selection there of horses that could do what I wanted that were in my price range.” Sharer trains in Aiken with Teddi Ismond, who helped her with the search and accompanied her on the European trip. According to Teddi, one reason that it might be easier to find a made horse for the jumper ring in Europe is that it is not as difficult for professionals to produce horses for the show ring there as it is here. Horse showing costs are much lower in Europe, so that it is less expensive to give a horse the seasoning it needs. As a result, there are many trainers who spend much of their time bringing along young horses. “They have such a great program over there for the 7 to 9 year old horses,” Teddi said. “And the breeding over there is also great. They are very picky about how they breed, and the results speak for themselves.” According to Teddi, the first step in organizing a successful overseas horse-shopping trip is finding a local broker or agent to help. “I would tell anyone who wants to buy a horse in Europe to find a really good person over there that you trust,” said Teddi. “Don’t go by yourself – people there are way smarter than we are! Do your research first, and take your trainer with you.” Teddi chose Alec Bozorgi to act as agent. Alec is an American who competed successfully from the juniors through the Grand Prix level in the States before relocating to the Netherlands. Today, he works with various trainers to find horses that are suitable for American clients and is well-connected in the European show jumping world. In a process that took about three months over the fall, Alec started sending Teddi and Sharer videos of horses that were available for her to try. In order to help him choose appropriate animals to show them, Teddi also sent Alec videos of Sharer riding so that he could get a sense of her style and the type of horse she got along with. By the time they were ready to make their European trip in November, Teddi and Sharer had narrowed the prospects from about 40 horses down to just six. “You can do a lot of research online,” said Sharer. “I found an app called “clipmyhorse.tv.” It’s a subscription service, and if you’re looking

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David Tromp introduces Miss Moneypenny to the American showring at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography Team.

for a showjumper, you can see videos of all the horse’s shows, not just the ones they send you. There was one horse that looked good in our video, but when I watched some of her other rounds, I saw that she had to be chased down to the water jump. I just said, that’s not my horse. I wanted a horse that knew what its job was, and that I could have fun with and be competitive.” Teddi and Sharer flew to Amsterdam on a Wednesday, meeting Alec as soon as they landed. In an action-packed five days, they tried horses all over the Netherlands and took a flight into Germany. The horse Sharer had liked best from the beginning, Candy VH, ended up on her short list to try again, and Alec arranged for the horse to be shipped to the farm where he keeps his own horses for Sharer’s second ride. Alec had already arranged for a prepurchase exam, so when Sharer said she was ready to buy, Candy could be vetted immediately. “We did a dual vetting,” said Teddi. “The horse went to their vet, but we had our vet at home on Facetime. She watched the whole thing and they emailed her all the x-rays as they were taking them. I would recommend that too – have your own vet do the pre-purchase. It really worked out great.” Using Alec’s connections with an equine shipping company, they were able to secure Candy a flight back to the states that very weekend. After spending the requisite time at a quarantine barn in Maryland, she arrived in Aiken a few days before Christmas. Then she started the process of acclimating to her new home on Sharer’s farm, in an atmosphere very different from what she was used to. “That’s another thing people should know about importing a horse from Europe. Their horsemanship is very different from ours,” said Teddi. “Often people will go over there and see one thing with a horse and then be totally surprised by what that horse is like when it gets here. Over there, they don’t have the space we do, and their horses are not used to being turned out. The amateurs there ride much different; they ride very deep-seated, and they are stronger riders with a tendency to put a lot of bit on a horse and ride with a lot of spur. You have got to give the horse time to settle in and get Americanized.” Sharer says that she and her new horse are taking their time getting to know one another. After spending about a month in Aiken, both went down to the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, where Sharer competed on her older horse Rango while a professional, David Tromp, took over the ride on Candy to introduce her to the American show ring. However, Sharer expects that she will be in the irons soon, and she says she is thrilled with her purchase. “I think she is going to be a really good match for me, and we all know that it takes a while to find that match. And the shopping experience itself was easy and enjoyable, the way it should be, the way I try to make it for my real estate clients.” Would she do it again? She laughs. “Are you kidding? In a heartbeat.”

February-March 2022

USEF/USEA Horse Trial Dates December 4, 2021 (P-ST) February 5, 2022 (P-BN) February 6, 2022 (TBA) March 5-6, 2022 (P-ST) April 23, 2022 (P-ST)

Apple Days D Schooling HT February 11, 2022 March 11, 2022 March 25, 2022

SportingDaysFarm.com

3549 Charleston Highway, Aiken Text Only: 803-226-2024

Relationship is Everything! We are here to Help you and your Horse Develop more Confidence Create True Partnership Have Fun Riding your Horse Enjoy Deep Trust and Connection

See our free online resources www.TheHorsemanshipAcademy.com After 20+ years of helping horses understand people, Julie Robins has created The Horsemanship Academy to help people understand their horses.

February-March 2022

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Revolutionary Haynet

Dinner and a Movie thanks to NibbleNet® By Sarah Eakin

are some product designs that stagnate over time, and the There traditional haynet is one of them. Or at least it was until the

“Animals are so picky,” Deb said. “We had friends who had horses who had eating issues and we began to supply haynets to them.” Even horses who graze in the wild are inefficient grazers and do not eat everything they touch with their lips. However, they can spend 15 hours nibbling away at the grass and cover a lot of ground while doing so. It’s no

horsewoman Deb Rusden considered the way horses eat, came up with a revolutionary new haynet concept and created her own NibbleNet® company.

“It had to do with finding a way for horses to ‘graze’ as they would in a natural way,” said Deb, whose business is run from Palm City, Florida with her husband, Dan. Solely manufactured in the U.S.A., NibbleNets come in over 20 different styles and sizes, holding everything from one flake of hay up to a 50 pound bale. Deb explains that the difference between their trademarked NibbleNet and a traditional haynet has to do with how much hay a horse can pull out of the bag in one mouthful. “With a string hay bag with one-inch holes, the horse can still grab hay on both sides of the string, making it easier for the horse to get the hay,” said Deb. “With the NibbleNet, the horse must pull the hay through a webbing hole, making it more difficult and slowing the horse down.” In addition there is far less waste - a welcome relief to anyone who has had to muck out a stall or a trailer after a long road trip only to mourn the amount of spoiled hay on the floor.

The origins of the traditional haynet are debatable, but it was likely a spinoff from the feed bags used in the military. In the 1950s, haynets were made from tarred rope, but eventually that cumbersome material was replaced with nylon. The basic draw net design had not changed for decades until Deb and her husband came up with the addition of a grid of sturdy webbing.

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surprise then that a horse in a stall who has finished his hay quickly is going to be bored. Using a NibbleNet encourages a horse to eat slowly, the way he would if he were grazing. The benefits extend from aiding in the prevention of ailments such as ulcers, colic, laminitis and obesity to helping prevent stall vices developed by bored horses. Deb had one such horse. She supplied him with an early design of the NibbleNet but he soon figured out how to balance it on his cheek so it wouldn’t move and he could eat freely without much effort. Deb put her thinking cap on and made the shape of the next net round, which prevented his tactics from being successful. “It’s all about outsmarting them,” she said. The idea that eating can also be entertaining - like dinner and a movie - took off in an unexpected way when Deb was approached by the Atlanta Zoo to provide large haynets for their elephants in order to obtain the same benefits. Now there are zoos in Europe, Canada and the U.S. using the trademarked NibbleNet for their hooved animals such as giraffes and zebras. More recently the NibbleNet was introduced for primates with fruit added to the hay to suit their diets. “It’s been a lot of fun and still is,” Deb said. When asked if there are other inventions on the horizon, she put it simply: “You never know.”

February-March 2022

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Placing Thousands of Homeless Pets Into Loving Homes for Over 85 Years.

Be their second chance today. (803) 648-6863 199 Willow Run Road, Aiken www.LetLoveLive.org 62

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February-March 2022

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Inside 68 76 78 80 84 86

Stallion Showcase Foals of Aiken Get Smart Breeding 2022 Thoughts on Breeding Heartbreak to Happiness

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February-March 2022

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Stallion Showcase Choosing the right partner

By Pam Gleason. Photographs provided by owners

he art and science of horse breeding has progressed immeasurably over the last few decades. Whereas in the past, mares usually had to be in close proximity to their mates to ensure pregnancy, nowadays breeding technology is so advanced that mares can be bred successfully with cooled and shipped, or frozen semen. Want to breed to a stallion in Europe or in Australia? No problem: frozen semen can be shipped to

the vet clinic, and your mare can be bred to a stallion that is thousands of miles away. Mares can be separated from stallions by time as well as by distance. Since frozen semen is very stable, it is even possible to breed a mare to a stud that has been dead for decades. Embryo transfer is now also commonplace in the equestrian world, so that the foals of valuable

Alrick LGF

2007 FHANA Friesian Stallion. Amazing Grand Prix Dressage Friesian Stallion with sport pedigree! Son of Anton 343 Stb Sport and out of Ster mare Dora P. Alrick (Ricky) is a perfect gentleman with superb manners on the ground and in the saddle. Pleasure to work with, super smart and eager to learn, Ricky passes his amazing character on to his offspring making them amateur friendly. 2022 stud fee $1500 LFG, 2 year contract. Standing at Maple Swamp Farm in Waynesburg, KY. Live cover or fresh cooled semen available. Contact Ela Ladwig 661-331-0063. www.mapleswampfarm.com.

Ladino

2015 Imported Lusitano Stallion, Sooty Buckskin. APSL Approved; IALHA Registered. 14.3 hands. Ladino is truly one of a kind. Handsome, easy-going, lovely movement, solid slow cadence – everything you want in an Iberian, scaled down to a special fun-size for the petite or junior rider. Not only is he beautiful, but he’s as sweet as they come – turned out at pasture with a group of geldings, and a complete gentleman in the breeding shed Ladino is the foundation stallion for our “Ibertini Project” – breeding exceptional Iberians in the 14.1 – 14.3 hand range for riders seeking horse-type quality in a smaller mount. We also believe he offers a unique opportunity for breeders of performance ponies who’d like to add the special Lusitano characteristics into their program. Ladino’s first foals will be on the ground in 2022. Introductory Stud Fee: $1,500 Fresh Cooled Semen (collection/shipping approx. $450) Limited Live Cover (mare care additional) Sharon Madere. Silver Moon Iberians. 804-677-7046. Ocala, FL. www.SilverMoonIberians.com; www.EquiLightenment.com

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February-March 2022

The Score Card

The Score Card, registered ApHC stallion, possesses breeding, brains and unsurpassed beauty! By multiple world/national champion stallion The Secret Score, out of Mine All Mine, by multiple world/national champion stallion Always Dignified. 7 panel n/n. 16.3 hands tall. 5 years old. Owned by Katie Langdale/Rosewood Farm. Stud fee $700, LFG. Stands at Performance Equine Veterinary Associates in Aiken, SC.

competition mares can be carried by dedicated surrogates, while the genetic mothers carry on their careers with essentially no downtime. This also means that it is possible for the genetic foals of a mare to be born after she has passed on. It is even feasible to obtain eggs from the ovaries of a deceased mare, fertilize them and implant them in a living recipient mare. Theoretically, then, you could have a perfectly healthy foal born to two parents who have already “crossed the rainbow bridge.” All of this starts to sound like futuristic science fiction, but it is actually not only possible, but happening right now. All these technological advances have opened up the field of horse breeding in ways that were unthinkable in the past. Mare owners now

have a multitude of options when it comes to choosing a stallion, and the only real limiting factor is generally how much they are able and willing to spend. In some ways, this means that the choice of a stallion is more difficult than ever before. With so many options, how do you choose the best match for your mare? The first step, of course, is deciding what you are breeding for. If you have a purebred, registered mare with good bloodlines and you have ambitions of competing in breed shows with her baby, you will of course need to limit you search to stallions that are registered by or approved for that particular breed. If you are breeding for performance, however, you might consider widening your search to encompass other

Otto P. Ster Sport

KFPS Friesian stallion (Doaitsen 420 x Teade 392) 16.2 hands, homozygous black. Otto P. is a proven sire with offspring training and showing successfully. Currently competing at Fourth Level dressage and schooling PSG, he has qualified for USDF Finals in 2021 and 2019, finishing in the top 10 in the nation for 1st Level MFS in 2019. Otto P. has a wonderful temperament and work ethic and passes these, along with his athleticism and trainability, to his offspring. Fresh cooled and frozen semen available. Breeding fee: $1000 fresh cooled (Live Foal Guarantee and booking fee included); $500/dose frozen. Standing at Stone Mountain Creek Farm in Traphill, NC. www.stonemountaincreekfarm.com; stonemountaincreekfarm@gmail.com

February-March 2022

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Kembingur from Azur

2007 Icelandic Horse stallion, 5 gaited. Kembingur sires correct, athletic foals with phenomenal temperaments that are suitable for pleasure & show in a variety of disciplines. Kembingur foals out of non-Icelandic Horse mares are excellent sport pony types with 4 gaits: walk, trot, canter and tolt. 2022 stud fee: $700 LFG. AI & live cover available. Standing in Aiken, SC at Meant To Be Farm: 412-779-2679 www.MeantToBeFarm.com

Dante MG

KWPN black stallion. 16.2 hands. Approved Oldenburg, activated KWPN-NA. Stamps his type, good character, trainability, fancy gaits and big scopey jump. Loved by the dressage, jumping and eventing breeders. $1000 LFG includes first collection. www.majesticgaits. com Contact: Kathy Hickerson, Majestic Gaits, 68 Russell Hill Rd, Brookline, NH 03033. 603-557-4054 (cell) 603-673-4344 (farm). In Aiken in January and February.

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February-March 2022

Persuader

17.2 hand Registered Clydesdale, Registration #26838. Looking for your next foxhunting Sire? Persuader produces beautiful, athletic Clyde and ClydeX offspring with equally beautiful minds. Shipping fresh cooled semen Feb 2022-Aug 2022 Season. Live Foal Guarantee Contract $750; Collection Fee: $250. Located in Knoxville, TN. For more information, contact djlequestrian1@gmail.com or visit Persuader Clydesdale Stallion on Facebook.

breeds, even very different breeds, to create a crossbred horse, with, you hope, the best qualities of each type. Thoroughbred broodmares are a favorite for this kind of cross breeding. Cross your Thoroughbred with a draft horse to create a larger, heavier, yet athletic horse with a calmer temperament ideal for the hunt field. Cross her with an Arabian to produce a refined and beautiful Anglo-Arab, or with a Connemara pony to create a versatile smaller sport horse that can compete with

the best. Many people cross their Thoroughbred mares with European warmbloods hoping for warmblood movement and presence coupled with Thoroughbred heart and stamina, all at a lower price than importing a purebred from overseas. Beyond choosing the breed or type of horse, you will need to select the particular individual stud that will give you the best chance of having the foal of your dreams. This gets quite a bit trickier, and

Get Smart

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

February-March 2022

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Eventide MM

Up-and-coming purebred Arabian junior stallion, flashy and sporty with the W15 gene. He is tested 3-panel negative, AA Ee W15, and double-registered AHA and pinto. As a 2-year-old, he was first in the AHA Region 12 and 15 qualifying show, besting older stallions in Sport Horse in Hand; at 3, he was Reserve Champion over warmblood stallions in hand at Rosinburg Dressage’s rated USDF show. With his excellent walk, lofty, ground-covering trot, and extremely balanced canter, Eventide MM is a fabulous choice for your mares needing balance and clarity in their gaits, as well as refinement in the head and neck. Great bone and feet, and wonderful even temperament. Currently in training to become the cornerstone of our sport horse program, with an emphasis on his future warmblood inspections. This year, we are aiming him towards Trakehner, Oldenburg, and Westfalen tests, as well as Arabian Sporthorse Nationals. Eventide MM will be expecting his first foals in 2022. Private treaty. Facebook.com/eventidemm

depends greatly on your goals and aspirations, as well as on your mare herself. Every horse breeding expert will tell you that your first step in breeding is to take a long and objective look at your mare. You need to assess her strengths and weaknesses, and from there, decide what qualities you can’t compromise on in the stallion. Is your mare a bit smaller than your ideal horse? Breed to a bigger stud. Does she have an average trot, while you are looking for more expression? Breed to a horse known for his nice movement. Is your mare’s back a little longer than ideal? Be sure the stud has a shorter, stronger back. There is no guarantee that these pairings will work the way you hope, of course. If the stud you are considering has had many foals in the past, study them as much as possible to see which traits he seems to pass along to his offspring. If he has not had many foals, examine horses in his family tree. Some stallions are more prepotent than others, meaning that they pass along more of their traits, “stamping” their foals in their likeness.

In some breeds, duplicating certain bloodlines in a pedigree can work out well, while other bloodlines should only appear sparingly in a family tree. With the rise of breeding technologies that enable a stallion to breed many more mares than he would be able to if only bred naturally, there is the risk that some bloodlines will become too popular, and unwanted recessive traits and unsound tendencies will start to manifest themselves. The “popular sire” effect is well known in horse breeding, and first came into widespread consciousness in the Quarter Horse world in the 1970s and 1980s when overbreeding certain halter horse lines led to an inherited genetic muscular disease called hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP.) The actual gene for HYPP was identified in 1992, after which horses could be tested to see if they have it or not. Since that time, many other genetic diseases endemic to various breeds have been discovered, enabling horsemen to make intelligent decisions about whether to breed their mares to certain stallions or not. Theoretically, this should mean that these

Idalgo

Idalgo is a 2010 approved Westphalian stallion by Indoctro X Clinton. He had a very successful career up until he was imported and also approved here in the USA. He has top placings in both Grand Prix and 3’6” Performance Hunters. He’s very sweet and tends to pass on his kind nature and beautiful build and head to his offspring. $1,200 fresh. Call 361-249-1606. (Aiken)

But in any breeding, the mare is at least equally important: in fact, almost any experienced breeder will tell you that the mare has more influence on the outcome of a breeding than the stallion. For this reason, it is very important not to breed any mare that you wouldn’t want to duplicate, even if you think a great stallion will improve her. This is particularly true of mares who are not sound, or who have difficult temperaments. The impulse to breed a mare that can’t be ridden anymore but is still young and otherwise healthy is understandable, but giving in to that impulse is usually not a good idea. If you are breeding any kind of purebred horse, it is also prudent to study your mare’s pedigree and that of any prospective stallion to make sure that you are not breeding horses that are too closely related to one another.

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genetic disorders could be completely eliminated from the gene pool by never breeding a horse that has even one copy of a gene. Unfortunately, in horse breeding, some highly desirable traits are often linked to genetic diseases, so that many disorders persist because people continue to breed horses with one copy of a known bad gene, reasoning that, as long as the horse’s mate does not have the same defect, the actual disorder is not very likely to be present in the foal. Consulting a pedigree expert in your chosen breed can be a good idea, and in certain breeds, it is also recommended that you have your mare tested to make sure that she does not have any hidden genetic disorders. It is also important to be realistic about what kind of foal you really want and what your mare can produce. If you are breeding for an adult amateur,

February-March 2022

7021 Neapolitano XI-21

Imported Lipizzaner stallion 7021 Neapolitano XI-21. “Ike” is Registered with USLF, LANA and the Slovenian Registry. He is imported from Topolcianky and has rare bloodlines in the USA. Stands 15.2 hands tall. Owned by Katie Langdale/ Rosewood Farm. 803-718-8001. Stands at Performance Equine Veterinary Services in Aiken, SC. Stud feed- $1250, LFG

a stallion with a reputation for producing easygoing foals would be a better choice than one whose foals have extravagant movement and Olympic potential. If your goal is to raise a foal that does have worldclass ability, either for yourself or to sell, you will likely be disappointed if your mare is not of the same caliber as the stallion. In some breeds, of course, a few of these decisions are made for you, since your mare will have to be qualified by breed inspectors before she is bred to the best stallion lines. On the other hand, sometimes mare owners want to breed their mares for specific traits and attributes, and may want to go the cross breeding route to obtain something special and unique. Tonya Amato, whose Connemara stallion Windy Isles Get Smart stands in Aiken, says that owners of many different type of mare breed to Smartie to get a bit of his temperament, athletic ability and unflappable nature, not to mention because he is a golden palomino with at least a 50-50 chance of throwing color. (In this case palomino or buckskin.) Katie Langdale’s The Score Card from Rosewood Farm is another local stallion who stands at Performance Equine Vets in Aiken. Like Get Smart, The Score Card is a sport horse with flashy color – in this case Appaloosa – who will likely produce unique spotted babies. Down in Ocala, Sharon Madere of Silver Moon Iberians has recently started a program to breed smaller-sized Iberian horses for petite and junior riders that is called the “Ibertini project.” The imported stallion Ladino, at 14.3, is a cornerstone of this breeding program, and the hope is to breed some smaller purebreds as well as to offer him as an exciting new outcross for pony breeders. There are some other interesting crosses that are gaining a following in certain circles. Juli Cole who owns Meant To Be Farm in Aiken has been breeding Icelandic horses for many years and has recently started cross-breeding them – she has several Appaloosa/Icelandic horses on

her farm, which she says have many Icelandic traits along with appaloosa coloring. Icelandic horses have a specific gene mutation in their DNA called the DMRT3 gene mutation, which enables them to perform two additional lateral gaits in addition to the regular walk, trot and canter. Horses with one DMRT3 gene mutation can do a special gait called the tolt, while those with two DMRT3 gene mutations can perform a fifth gait, the faster flying pace. Juli’s stallion Kembingur from Azul is five-gaited and has been genetically tested to ensure that he has two copies of this mutation in his DNA guaranteeing that if you cross him with a three-gaited mare, your foal will have that extra fourth gear. For this reason, he has proven to be a popular outcross for people who are looking for a friendly small horse or large pony that is comfortable to ride. “I am finding the Icelandic Horse crossbred horses to be very athletic and capable of performing a variety of disciplines in the show ring and being great pleasure riding horses,” says Juli. “I’m seeing a lot of nice impulsion and drive off the hindquarters, extension in the front end, with a fluid, graceful movement. I believe they will make excellent, large sport type ponies suitable for adults and children.” Whatever type of horse you hope to produce, it is important to bear in mind that breeding is always a gamble. You may choose a stallion because he has positive traits that you hope will counterbalance small flaws in your mare, only to have foal with all the worst traits of the sire and dam. Your foal might be everything you ever dreamed of, or he might be quite the opposite. It is often true that it would be less risky and expensive to decide to buy a weanling or a yearling to raise than to breed one yourself – at least that way you know what you are getting. Even in this day of high tech breeding and genetic testing, the old racehorse breeding adage holds true: Breed the best to the best and hope for the best. That is all you can do.

Cornelius BP24

2013 Imported and Approved Barock Pinto Studbook Stallion. Black and White Tobiano Pinto, homozygous for black (Bontfine x Lucas x Anton) 5-time World Grand National Champion. Excelling in Dressage at Third level and proven sire of champion foals. Outstanding temperament and trainability, which he passes on to his offspring. Standing at Stonebrook Equestrian Center in Gastonia, NC. $1000 stud fee, $250 booking fee. 704.674.3636. cornelisbp24@gmail.com; www.cornelisbp.com

February-March 2022

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February-March 2022

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Foals of

Then &

El Smooch (2020)

Thoroughbred gelding owned by Ron and Kathy Madden of Jellicoe Creek, LLC El Smooch, 2 this year, has been getting lessons on being a racehorse at the Aiken Training Track. He’s still friendly and curious, but he definitely loves to run and wants to be a racehorse. Next stop: The Aiken Trials. Keep an eye out for him.

Scorz (2017)

AQHA gelding owned by Trent Searles, Scottsdale, AZ At 5, Scorz is already an old pro in the showring A superb halter horse, in 2021, he went to the American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbu Ohio, where he was named Congress Champion Youth Aged Geldings and Grand Champion Youth Geldings. Scorz was bred by Gerri Leigh Pratt and was born and raised at Pait Show Horses on Aiken’s southside.

Canela (2019)

American Polo Pony owned by Jill Diaz Canela has been a natural athlete with a superb attitude since she was born. Just coming 3 this spring, she is saddle broken, has started to stick and ball, and has even started playing a little green horse polo. A great granddaughter of the phenomenal Argentine polo stallion Pucara, she is totally natural in every way and looks to be a high quality prospect for any kind of polo.

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February-March 2022

f Aiken

& Now

Dorian Gray’s Irish Charm (2019)

Irish Sport Horse owned by Carie Turner Dorian Gray was purchased by Carie Turner last year and went to live with her in Texas. Already about 16.2 hands at almost 3, he’s a striking grey and is in training with Carie to be her next event horse. She says he is the best youngster she has ever had the pleasure of working with and she is excited about the future. Dorian was bred in Aiken by Leigh Partlow.

us, n

SSF Candy (2018)

Argentine & American Polo Pony owned by Deb Walsh and Tom Thayer of Silver Stone Farm Candy is extremely powerful and quick, taking after her dam, the high goal superstar Candileja who played the Argentine Open four years in a row and the U.S. Open eight years in a row under her owner, the 9-goaler Tincho (Agustin) Merlos. Deb Walsh says they are taking their time with her, and expect her to mature into a stellar high goal polo pony.

Imfreakinwickedguys (2021) AQHA filly owned by Caitlin Nickles Officially a yearling, Wicked is halter broken, stands for the farrier and loads on the trailer. She is destined to be a barrel horse and she is fast, quick and certainly looks the part.

February-March 2022

The Aiken Horse

Getting Smart

Height is just a number By Sarah Eakin

onya Cummins Amato’s passion for Connemara ponies started with a revelation. “I thought: I’m 5’2”. Why do I need a big horse?’” It turned out, she didn’t. ‘Windy Isles Get Smart’, a golden palomino Connemara pony weanling she purchased, was the answer. Now 11 years old, Smartie is 14.1 hands, a far cry from the tall Warmbloods Tonya had previously ridden, and his name was chosen to reflect the intelligent decision that she made to go on a road trip and find herself a smaller horse. “I got smart,” she said. The Connemara is the largest pony breed (averaging 14 to 14.2 hands) and has historic diversity in its bloodlines. The original pony came from the eponymous region in County Galway, a tough habitat featuring peat bogs, lakes, mountains and a rugged coastline. Some believe the Connemaras’ ancestors were brought to Ireland by the Vikings, while others place their roots in the now-extinct Irish Hobby Horse, the warhorse of the 13th century. Either way the native stock was impacted by a bizarre twist of history when the Spanish Armada, sailing around the British Isles to take the long way home to Spain, ran aground on the West Coast of Ireland in 1588. The ships carried horses, many of which escaped and set off into the wild to interbreed with the native ponies. Arabians, Hackneys and Thoroughbreds were added to the mix in the 18th and 19th century, so that when the breed was finally established with the foundation of the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society in 1923, there had been centuries of natural selection. This resulted in a pony renowned for its stamina, heart, sympathetic temperament and adaptability. Or as summarized on the American Connemara Pony website: ‘Connemaras can do it all, and be your best friend!’ Now there are Connemara breeders all over the world, including Britain, North America, across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Since Tonya and her family moved from Canada to the South two years ago, Aiken, too, has a Connemara breeder, with Windy Isles Get Smart standing at stud (when not competing) at the Jump 4 Joy Training Center on Aiken’s Southside. Tonya’s love for Connemaras started after her husband Andre discovered the breed on the Internet and suggested Tonya investigate. She saw a Facebook post with a photo of a Connemara cross jumping along with the tagline ‘Defying gravity.’ “I want that!” she said at the time. When she found Get Smart, Tonya and her husband lived in Ontario, Canada while her prospective purchase was in Illinois. It was a 17-hour drive with a trailer in tow to go look at him, but she was optimistic about the outcome of the journey. “We had already made the decision. We had told the lady to get the paperwork ready,” Tonya said. And sure enough, they returned to Ontario with Smartie in the trailer. “We are fortunate to have Smartie, and many beautiful and talented crossbred and purebred Connemara ponies and horses on our farm,” said Tonya. “We are the Connemara family.” Andre now rides a Connemara Holsteiner Cross, Superman, at Preliminary level in eventing. “I had a 17.3 Holsteiner mare imported, but she lacked heart in competing,” Tonya explained. “I bred her to Sebastian, a full brother to Erin Go Bragh [a Connemara pony renowned as an Advanced eventer in the late 1990s].” Superman, the 17-hand offspring of the match, Tonya described as: “a Cross Country machine. He’s really neat.” Perhaps surprising for a pony breed no taller than 15 hands, pure and part-bred Connemaras have competed at FEI levels of showjumping, eventing and dressage: they are remarkably athletic. During the late 1990s, Erin Go Bragh made his mark in eventing and was a popular stud, siring 225 offspring. Stroller, a Connemara Thoroughbred Cross show jumping champion, was virtually a household name in the 1960s in the UK. He won repeatedly at the highest level and reached silver medal position for show jumping at the Mexico Olympics in 1968, despite being just 14.1. Further back, in 1935 a pure Connemara

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named Nugget cleared a 7’2” puissance wall at London’s Olympia Horse Show at the seasoned age of 22. This age is somewhat less astonishing when coupled with the fact that the Connemara breed’s average lifespan is between 30 and 40 years. Along with longevity, versatility is the Connemara’s forte, and Tonya soon realized that. “My approach to training a horse is to let the horse decide. I listen to what they like to do. Smartie is different, he doesn’t really care and I always knew he would be a superstar. I’ve always said that I didn’t train Smartie, he trained me.” Smartie started competing at 3rd Level dressage at the age of 7 and he has gone on to a varied career, from pulling Tonya’s daughter Addison through the snow on her sled, to eventing, to dressage, to hunter derbies, to trail riding. Tonya is particularly impressed by his capability to tackle movements other horses find challenging. “His counter canter and lead changes,” she said, “are amazing.” “He never ceases to amaze me with his desire to learn and his ability to jump. His zest for competing is always so inspirational and fun,” Tonya said. Addison, who has a Connemara pony of her own, has also ridden the stallion a couple of times successfully, which Tonya attributes to the instinctive nature of the Connemara breed. “When she gets on he goes straight into super protective pony mode. He’s very protective of her,” Tonya said. But while mild in manner, the Connemara, Tonya believes, never ceases to make a powerful impact. Often palomino or buckskin in color, Connemaras are pretty. “When you ride a palomino Connemara you feel like you’re a princess,” she said. “Everybody turns their head.” As a sire, Smartie is very prepotent, usually passing along the dilute color gene that produces a buckskin or a palomino. In fact, most of his crops have come out 85 percent buckskin or palomino. What he does not tend to pass on is his short stature. “Owners are not expecting that. They are expecting a pony,” Tonya said. “But if the mare is a Warmblood, the foal is going to be big.” To date Smartie has sired almost 50 foals and has started to make his mark in Aiken. Hannah Jungling, an eventing rider living in Aiken has bred her Connemara Thoroughbred cross to Smartie and is expecting a foal in May. The event rider and trainer Pam McNair had a foal last year out of her 17.1 hand Thoroughbred mare off the track, which is “a beautiful buckskin,” according to Tonya. Named a Shade Smarter (aka Daisy) the filly is Pam’s final eventing prospect. “I hope to event her,” she said. “I just turned 60 this year, so this is probably going to be my last hurrah.” At eight months old, Daisy is already 13.2 hands tall. She ponies off one of her uncles and is happy to load and to be clipped. “I’m very excited about her,” Pam said. Smartie’s fans can keep up with him and his progress on his own Facebook page, where they can read news of his breeding and other announcements. These include, recently, the arrival of an exciting new broodmare, Zara II who is a Holsteiner Grand Prix Jumper from Quebec. Just in Aiken for a short time, she is already in foal. “Smartie has the sweetest personality ever,” Tonya summarized. “He is funny and he makes me laugh. When you groom him he will tell you where he’s itchy. At the end of the day, he is my competitive partner and my best friend.” Follow Get Smart on Facebook: Get Smart Connemara Stallion

February-March 2022

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Horse Breeding, 2022

Many Options for Mare Owners By Pam Gleason

hen spring is in the air, restless horse owners everywhere start to ask themselves the same question. Should I breed my mare? It’s the right season, the grass will soon be green, and in a little less than a year, there could be a new foal or two frolicking in the pasture. So. Should I? For many people the answer to this question is, or should be, ‘no.’ Maybe the mare has some undesirable traits that she could pass along to a baby; maybe she would be a great broodmare, but the owner does not have the facilities or the expertise to get into the breeding business. Maybe it is just too much of an expensive and risky proposition: while you could get lucky and have everything go smoothly, you could also run into all kinds of distressing and costly problems, up to and including losing a beloved mare to pregnancy complications. “Breeding is not for the faint of heart,” says Dr. Rachel Beets, who is a partner at Southern Equine Services in Aiken, and who does most of the practice’s reproductive work. “A lot of people think, oh I’m going to breed this mare and she’d going to get pregnant right away and it’s going to go great. But things don’t always go well, even in the best circumstances, and a lot of the things that can go wrong are out of our hands – the mare doesn’t ovulate, or the shipped semen gets ruined because the FedEx truck is late. Breeding is very exciting and fun, but it can be very heart-breaking as well.” Even with these risks, however, more and more people in the Aiken

area are breeding their own horses. This includes amateur owners who might want to breed a single mare to perpetuate a bloodline as well as professionals in need of top stock to show and sell. There are several good reasons for this rise in breeding. One has to do with advanced reproductive technologies that are now available. Most breed registries (with the Thoroughbred Jockey Club being a notable exception) allow all kinds of breeding: live cover, artificial insemination with cooled or frozen semen, embryo transfer and so on. This has made it much easier to find a stallion for your mare. The other main reason has to do with a rising demand for good horses and a shortage of them on the market.

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The price of horses has been going up and up, and yet even if you have all the money in the world, you can’t buy a horse if no one is willing to sell. As one example, the multi World Champion Quarter Horse trainer Jeffrey Pait of Pait Quarter Horses in Aiken has been breeding on a small scale for the halter horse circuit for many years, usually having no more than two or three foals each spring. This year, he already has five on the ground and is expecting four more. He has a simple explanation for increasing his breeding program. “There is a huge demand for top end Quarter Horses right now,” he says. “You can hardly find one. If the horse is a winner, nobody wants to sell. So you’ve got to raise them.” For the typical mare owner, the decision to breed is often more emotional than practical. But as long as there are no significant reasons not to breed a particular mare, there is really nothing wrong with that: what is there about owning horses that is practical, after all? It is important, however, to assess any mare as a breeding prospect before going too far down the path. The first question is probably “Is this mare worth breeding,” while the second is “Is it healthy and safe for this mare to be bred?” “As far as red flags go on the health of the mare, the main things are age and body condition,” says Dr. Beets. “We get a lot of people with an old mare, that is maybe retired and they want to breed her. If that mare is in poor body condition, it’s not going to work. Reproduction is a luxury for the body; it is not a necessity. We do breed older mares a lot, but it just depends on the individual.” Dr. Sabrina Jacobs, who is the founder of Performance Equine Vets, says that the definition of “older” varies, depending on the horse, and that it also makes a difference if the mare has been bred before or not. Performance Equine Vets specializes in advanced reproductive techniques and is a USDA licensed import and export facility for frozen semen and embryos. “A mare that foals every other year generally is very fertile, up to about 20,” Dr. Jacobs says. “It is usually a different situation if that mare shows up to age 20 and then you want to breed her. If you try to get a foal from her then, her body has not done that before and she’s likely to be in a very negative place to proceed without some difficulties.” “Mare owners should know that they do have options,” Dr. Jacobs continues, explaining that even an older maiden mare might still be a good candidate for breeding if you are ready to go the embryo transfer route. In an embryo transfer, a mare is impregnated, and then, after the embryo is created and before it has a chance to implant itself on the uterine wall, it is flushed out and placed in the uterus of a recipient mare who then carries the foal as though it were her own. Embryo transfer started to become common in horses about three decades ago, and is now quite popular, especially for performance mares who don’t have to miss a competition season to produce genetic offspring. It can also be used for older mares or mares with other physical problems to help safeguard their health and to ensure an optimal environment for the developing fetus. You even have options on how to obtain an embryo. The most common way is to inseminate the donor mare and let the embryo develop in her before flushing it out and placing it in the recipient. Another way is for the veterinarian to go into the mare’s ovaries with a special tool and extract a number of oocytes (immature eggs), develop them in an incubator, and then fertilize them using ICSI. (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a form of in vitro fertilization in which a single sperm is injected into an egg.) Using ICSI has several advantages: it is more likely to produce a viable embryo, it requires less semen, and it has the potential to yield more than one embryo. Multiple

February-March 2022

embryos, if you get them, can be implanted into several recipient mares, or frozen to be used later. “We can even tell you the sex of the embryo before we implant it,” says Dr. Jacobs. “That way you can plan your breeding program a little better – you might not want a boy this year so we could save that one for later.” It is not terribly common to end up with large numbers of viable embryos, but it certainly happens: last fall the clinic produced six out of one ICSI procedure from a single mare. Three of those were implanted in recipients while three were frozen for another year. Highly advanced techniques such as ICSI are only available at a small number of specialized reproduction facilities, but most veterinarians are able to perform embryo transfers. Obtaining a recipient mare can be a different story. There are a handful of farms on the East Coast that maintain recipient mare herds which are leased out to breeders for the year. Performance Equine Vets has its own herd of about 300, and finds them in demand all the time. Can you use one of your own mares as a recipient? It is of course possible. Recipient and donor mares must have their heat cycles

mare and the stallion are physically present in the same stable. The next option is to use cooled and shipped semen, and to inseminate the mare through artificial insemination. Cooled semen tends to lose some of its potency, but can remain viable for about two days for most stallions – some are longer lasting than others. Using cooled semen generally requires various veterinary interventions, including ultrasounds to ensure that the mare is fertile before you inseminate her: semen is expensive, and you don’t want to waste it on a mare that does not have an egg that is ready be fertilized. To get the best results, you also might need to use various hormones to induce the mare to come into heat on a relatively predictable schedule. Frozen semen is the most expensive option. The semen itself, which comes in “straws”, is more convenient in some ways than cooled semen because you can thaw it and use it at the exact moment the mare comes into heat, without worrying about it losing its potency while you wait for her to hit the right part of her cycle. The problem with frozen semen is that it is significantly less likely to produce an embryo than fresh or cooled semen. For this reason, the timing of the insemination is crucial:

Valkyrja from Meant To Be Farm with her dam, Vanadis from Azur. Purebred Icelandic mare and filly at Meant to Be Farm in Aiken.

synchronized as closely as possible, and to ensure a successful breeding, it is recommended to have between three and five recipients to make sure that one of them is in the right part of her cycle to receive an embryo when it is ready. In addition, the recipient should ideally be young and healthy, with no abnormalities in her reproductive tract. For these reasons, essentially all recipient mares come from specialty facilities. The cost of embryo transfer in the Aiken area is generally between $7,000 and $10,000 and includes leasing the recipient until the foal is weaned, with extra costs for additional services. It is, of course, very possible to go a more natural route, which is generally less expensive, and there are a number of options available. The most cost effective option is to get a mare pregnant through live cover. This usually means determining when a mare is in heat and bringing her to a stallion to be bred. A few farms in the Aiken area, mostly those that produce ranch-type Quarter Horses and polo ponies, still use pasture breeding in which broodmares live with a stallion in his herd for a week to a month or more. But for most, live cover is done with the stallion in hand. Although it is undoubtedly more natural, live cover can also be very dangerous for the mare, the stallion, and the handler, which is one reason why many breeders use artificial insemination even when the

February-March 2022

not only can you inseminate the mare the moment she has an egg that is ready, you pretty much have to. This requires regular monitoring of her reproductive organs with an ultrasound machine. “The textbook answer is that you have to check the mare every six hours,” says Dr. Jacobs of Performance Equine Vets. “But you are not going to get an excellent success rate that way. We check them every one to two hours and inseminate them right when they ovulate. It’s very labor intensive.” Because of this, mares that will be bred using frozen semen stay in the clinic for as long as it takes. “If your mare stayed on your farm, we’d have to move in with you,” she said. Whatever route you choose, breeding is a rewarding, exciting, risky and potentially expensive proposition. A typical gestation period is between about 330 and 346 days, or about 11 months, though some perfectly normal pregnancies are longer or shorter. This means that if you breed this March, next year at this time, you will probably be in a state of nervous excitement as you wait for your foal to hit the ground. And when it finally does, that starts a new adventure – raising and training your horse from babyhood on up. With luck, that foal will be healthy, and become everything you dreamed of on the day that the first thoughts of breeding entered your consciousness and took hold.

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February-March 2022

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February-March 2022

Thoughts on Breeding A Polo Player’s Perspective

By Adam Snow, Photography by Gary Knoll

owner’s decision of if, when, and whether to breed does have more to reeding horses taught me to like geldings. While my wife Shelley do with emotion than logic. If we breed Sky this March to my favorite and I had, over the years, raised the odd foal on our farm, it wasn’t polo stallion, River Dance – who stands conveniently across the street really until 2010 that we decided to give breeding a serious try. We at Owen Rinehart’s Isinya – and she delivers a healthy baby, this foal owned several really good retired mares and I, too, was on the fence would be the first 3rd generation polo pony we will have bred … and about my own retirement from playing professionally. This could mean probably ever will. Like mother (Tequila), like daughter (Sky), like more time for me on the farm to help with the young ones, so the idea granddaughter? Writing this, my mind already skips to potential names. of getting a foal or two out of some of my favorites was appealing. Of those original five stud-colts that foaled back in 2011, one didn’t Up to that point, if I was trying young ones to add to my string, I survive, due to birthing complications, one foal and mother pair we wouldn’t even look at a gelding. With two notable exceptions – Wyatt gave to a great home in Texas with the dam’s former owner, and three Earp and, later, Vee – I only played mares. I loved their sensitivity and of them I went on to play happily in competitive polo. One of these is athleticism, and I was at least aware of the potential for breeding when among the best horses of either sex I’ve ever played. I may not be able to their playing days were over. I was a “mare guy,” so I thought. That spring we bred five mares Pumbaa, Bag Lady, Josephine, Haley, and Chlöe to two different stallions. And over the spring of 2011, roughly 11 months later, five male foals touched down on our New Haven Farm in Aiken. In addition to my cumulative disappointment regarding gender – the number of male horses on the farm had, more or less overnight, increased fivefold – our mom and pop operation was somewhat overwhelmed by the new numbers and the individual attention these foals required. I was still traveling to play, and our organization was set up as such; so it was more of a mom than a mom and pop operation. (Fortunately, Shelley is an equine veterinarian: her skills were called upon frequently.) So, that season we chose not to breed back any of these mares, and never again bred more than three in any given year. It was a quick transition to what Jeff Hall, another professional player, coined “boutique breeding” – going for quality, not quantity, with just a few. But even boutique breeding had its challenges, namely that I became so attached to these homebreds – their mothers represented the cream of my playing career – that I didn’t want to sell them. And since I was into my 50s, breeding with the goal of my playing their offspring seemed to defy logic. For instance, I’m rarely fully confident on one until they’re 8 or 9-years-old. And, by 11 or 12, they’re even better! So, given my own age as well as the fact that our children weren’t playing, the math didn’t add up. So we bred small numbers for four more years, and then we stopped … and I kept playing. Today, I feel like the beneficiary of those breeding years. I love the second generation horses that I get to play – five of my favorites are from our breeding Above: Adam playing Sky at Aiken Polo Club, 2019. Left: Sky, retired on the farm, 2022. – and I could never have afforded to purchase this quality of horse in the later stages of my career. Most show them the way I once did. But I can still feel it; and he’s got it. So, of these homebreds were started under saddle by Shelley, as well as by when it comes to liking geldings – as well as, and sometimes better than, the Aiken-based trainers Julie Nicholson and Don Healey. And one – mares – breeding made a believer out of me. LolliBopp – was, very tentatively, backed by me. I have no doubt that being involved with the entire process of a horse’s lifespan – from their big-kneed suckling days; to weaning; to starting in the round-pen; to The content of this piece is adapted from a chapter in the new book by training; to playing keep-away, practices, and then one day competing Adam Snow and Shelley Onderdonk, to be published by Trafalgar Square them in tournament polo – is a truly special, and unique, experience. Books (www.HorseandRiderBooks.com) in 2023. Adam and Shelley are It’s been almost seven years since the last foal, LolliBopp, was born also the authors of Polo Life, Horses, Sport, 10 and Zen, available online on our farm. Presently, and for mostly emotional reasons, we are at pololife.co.) Adam is a former 10 goal professional player based in Aiken. contemplating breeding two mares this coming spring. Perhaps an

February-March 2022

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From Heartbreak to Happiness Small Breeders Attest to Ups and Downs By Nancy Johnson

att and Melissa Raulerson, the owners of M & M Arabians in Wagener, took a leap of faith when they bred their two Arabian yearling colts. Melissa explains just how close they were to not breeding them, or any more foals for that matter. “We have bred and shown our own Arabians for over 20 years, but then we had such a tragic year, we weren’t sure we could do it anymore,” she says. Within a terrible 48 hours, the couple lost their best broodmare and her unborn foal, plus the foal of a second broodmare. Several months later, they lost their beloved stallion. “It was one of those small breeder horror stories,” she says, adding, “You put all your hopes and dreams into it and something like this happens and your whole world falls apart.” The couple was so devastated that they were going to take a break to decide if they wanted to get out of breeding altogether. Then a very good friend offered them two nice mares. “She said, ‘If you want to jump in there and do it again, you just take them.’ We decided to go for it; so we bred them and then worried for the next 11 months.” She notes that in addition to the regular concerns with breeding, both mares were maidens. “I couldn’t help but think, if this goes south, it’s going to go south bad,” she recalls. One mare was bred to Matt and Melissa’s stallion, Raja El Halimaar, shortly before they unexpectedly lost him. The other went to an exceptionally well-bred stallion, El Farid FWF, who himself was the result of a frozen semen breeding from a stallion that had died over 20 years ago. “We feel like we had a village help us raise these two COVID babies. It’s like everybody in Aiken has had a hand in getting these

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colts born, kept healthy, and getting show ready. Throughout their pregnancies, everyone I ran into would cautiously ask me if all was well at our house.” In the spring the mares had two healthy colts, though not without incident. The Raulersons’ veterinarian Dr. Lisa Handy was constantly by their sides with both babies. One mare didn’t want to accept her foal at first and the other dropped hers out in the pasture with four other horses. In addition to running their small breeding operation, Matt and Melissa work on the Arabian horse show circuit up and down the East Coast, doing assorted duties including managing ring gates and scribing for dressage. “This past spring, we decided to just drag the yearlings along with us,” Melissa says. At their first Arabian show, the colts, Al Shifa MM and Maaraj MM, not only won against other yearlings, but won in the amateur and open sport horse in-hand classes (hunter and dressage type) against mature stallions. Encouraged by their early success, the couple continued showing the colts which led to numerous Arabian and USEF high score awards. One highlight was Maaraj MM sweeping the Region 15 Arabian Horse Association championship show. He won the championship in Yearling, Amateur, and Open Stallion classes for both hunter and dressage types while Al Shifa MM was the reserve champion. Melissa says she and Matt plan to begin showing both colts again in April. “We will start to campaign them again and just let them tell us how much they want to do. We did a lot last year and don’t want to push them too much. I want to have a lifetime with them,” she concludes.

February-March 2022

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Horses & The Law Cas Equestrian Aiken’s Junior Riders Index of Advertisers Classifieds Directory Aiken Driving Derby Calendar

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February-March 2022

Horses and the Law A Call to Action By Jim Ritchie

his month we turn our attention from contracts and liability issues to public policy and an opportunity for the South Carolina equestrian community to chart a bold course for the future of equestrian sport and our equine industry. Last spring, in response to requests from equine industry advocates, the South Carolina General Assembly established the “Equine Industry Support Measures Study Committee.” The committee is made up of representatives from the house and senate, including Representative Bill Hixon of Aiken County. The remaining members include staff from the Department of Agriculture and equine professionals. The mission of the committee is to study the current health of the equine industry in South Carolina, evaluate the impediments to its growth and competitiveness, and make policy recommendations to address these challenges. The committee has held a series of public hearings, received data and input from a wide spectrum of the horse world, and sought out experts from a variety of fields. Several members of the committee even traveled to Kentucky to see first-hand how state and local governments support that state’s vast equine industry. Later this month, the committee will issue its report to the General Assembly. While South Carolina is not Kentucky, our state supports a significant and diverse equestrian community. A 2019 study by the University of South Carolina reported that the state is home to over 73,000 horses and ponies. The equine sector of the state’s economy generates 22,500 jobs and produces an annual economic impact of approximately $1.9 billion. While this is a good foundation, the potential to generate substantial economic growth and increase equine-related tourism is being constrained by several factors. These challenges include a lack of high-caliber competition facilities, poorly maintained state recreation assets, weak promotion by state agencies, and almost non-existent public financial support. As a result, South Carolina is losing many important opportunities. Based on the work of the committee to date, several ideas are emerging that may provide the tools needed for the state to reach its full potential as a leader in equestrian sport, education, and equine-related business. The leading ideas are designed to work together to advance the industry, promote equestrian sport and education, and increase equestrian-related tourism. The committee sees the first step as establishing a state commission to lead the effort and manage the expectations of state government and the public. The commission would coordinate with the private sector and all levels of government to develop initiatives to improve the industry’s

February-March 2022

competitiveness and advance the interests of the diverse equestrian community. The commission would also manage funds that may be appropriated by the General Assembly or generated by other revenue streams to support the work of the commission. Additional powers, duties and responsibilities would be added depending on the nature and amount of funding the commission may receive. In order to power real action by the commission across the state, there will need to be reliable and adequate funding. The committee recognizes that providing proper financial resources and targeted investment incentives are the keys to achieving its policy goals. Our neighboring states are already making substantial capital investments and providing strong financial support for equestrian economic activity. As a result, statewide the South Carolina equine industry is less competitive and is not able to capitalize on the rise in popularity of equestrian events, competitions and horse-related experiences. The leading sources for funding such initiatives include state issued equestrian-themed vehicle license plates, user fees tied to the purchase of equine feeds, and money related to state revenue from horse racing. The committee may recommend some or all of these in its report. The Georgia Equine Commission relies on revenue from vanity license plate sales. That program generates around $33,000 annually and funds a variety of projects. North Carolina imposes a fee on bagged equine feeds and it reportedly generates approximately $250,000 annually to support the work of equine initiatives. There is a bill pending in the South Carolina House that would establish a “nickel a bag” fee to fund equine promotion. The South Carolina Horseman’s Council estimates that such a user fee would bring in around $180,000 each year. The third option, horse racing related revenue, would bring in substantially more funding but it is also more controversial and legally complex. Allowing horse race wagering in South Carolina would not actually require the construction and operation of racetracks in the state. Under provisions of federal law and state Advanced Deposit Wagering (ADW) laws many states are permitting citizens to bet on races held in other states. Under this approach the state generates revenue by license fees for ADW businesses and related tax measures. It will be interesting to see if South Carolina explores that option. After the committee completes its work, all further action will require that legislation be introduced and passed with the support of the governor. In my experience as a state senator, the equine industry improvement initiative will succeed only if the industry and the equestrian community actively push for action. Members of the General Assembly have dozens of policy matters and constituent requests vying for their time and attention and very few members understand the challenges of the horse world. If South Carolina equestrians (and all who are part of equine commerce and recreation) want to see the equine industry grow and prosper, they will need to become active on this matter. When the committee’s report is published, I encourage you to read it and contact your representative and senator to let them know the importance of supporting the equine industry in South Carolina. By taking forward-thinking action today, South Carolina can forge a strong future for its equine industry and the equestrian community for years to come. Jim Ritchie is head of Ritchie & Associates, LLC and served as a State Senator from 2001-2008. He represents business and equine law clients across the Carolinas. For more information visit tryonequinelaw.com or call 864.527.5955. © Ritchie & Associates LLC.

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The Aiken Horse

February-March 2022

Introducing CAS Equestrian

Angela Langen brings her company to Aiken By Nancy Johnson

hen the German native Angela Langen first introduced maxflex saddles to the world in 2008, she was seeking to provide a more comfortable and flexible saddle for both horse and rider. Little did she know that now, some 14 years later, her innovative concept of a saddle with a flexible tree would be the high-end industry standard. Aiken is now home to Angela as well as to her company CAS Equestrian and the maxflex saddle. The saddles and their accompaniments (girths, saddle pads, sheepskins, half pads, and shims) will soon be available at Angela’s new store, CAS Equestrian, 1450 Richland Ave. E. in Aiken. But the saddles, like Angela, have German roots. A lifelong rider, Angela started out working in the saddle business in 2002 for a German company that made treeless saddles. “At that time, there were only wooden trees,” Angela begins, “and I liked the idea of having something more flexible and comfortable for the horse.” Angela soon she found herself looking for possible ways to improve the treeless saddles, which she says were basically upscale bareback pads. While she loves bareback pads and has designed several nice models that are available at CAS Equestrian, she knew they were obviously not for all types of riding. “I had a 5-year-old stallion at the time and when I rode him in a treeless saddle, I didn’t feel quite safe enough,” she says. “I started thinking that there should be something in between – like a hybrid saddle that was adjustable and comfortable to the horse, but would still provide the safety, security, and feel of a normal saddle.” By 2006 Angela was starting to gather materials for the maxflex tree and after finding a saddlemaker in Argentina to produce the saddles themselves, she launched her business in 2008. She still works solely with the same saddlemaker today. “At the beginning, he said I was crazy,” Angela recalls. “He didn’t think it would work, but was willing to give it a try.” Angela praises his expertise and ideas, noting, “As an accomplished rider, he really understands what we are creating. It’s great because he is an eventer, whereas I focus on dressage, so we each have ideas for different designs.” All of the maxflex models, currently numbering about 25, are built on a polyurethane tree with a narrow twist, allowing the rider’s legs to be in a natural position. The gullet is embedded in the tree which gives additional wither clearance and stabilizes the tree. “Because it is flexible, the head of the tree allows us to fully customize the gullet and tree to fit any horse,” Angela explains. While she has a variety of jumping saddle models, she offers slightly more dressage models “as there are more options with deeper or flatter seats.” Angela is planning to keep between 50 and 100 saddles at the shop. “I like to have plenty of saddles in stock for anyone who is in a rush. That way there will be something we can work with,” A lot of adjustments can be made to the saddles to ensure a proper fit. Wither tracings are an important tool for Angela. “I do a lot of remote fittings. It’s not that complicated to make a good wither tracing and I can help someone through it, or of course, I am always happy to work with another saddle fitter. I also use photos of the horse when fitting a saddle.” “Options to fit the saddle to the horse is what really sets my saddles apart from others. I have a passion for saddles and am always curious

February-March 2022

about how they are put together,” says Angela, noting that even the best saddle fitter can only do so much with most saddles, because the options are limited. “My wool flocked panels can be adjusted, I have different shapes and heights of panels, and the custom gullet is a huge advantage. These saddles are easy to work with for any knowledgeable saddle fitter.” Angela says that a customer should allow about three months for a completely custom maxflex saddle. Angela ensures a perfect fit and gives the customer many options, such as selecting different knee rolls or shorter flaps. In addition, maxflex saddles can be fully customized with stitching and piping colors or even accents with patent leather or crystals. The price for most off-the-rack maxflex saddles ranges from $3,000$4,000. A fully custom saddle will run about $4,500-$5,000. Bareback pads, which cost between $385-$425, are far from the average bareback pad, since they include wool flocked knee rolls and a felt underside. The maxflex company grew and flourished in Germany through 2017. “I had nine employees and 45 representatives,” Angela says. “I was selling an average of 200 saddles a month. And I was still doing fittings. I don’t like to just be sitting in the office designing, I love to go out and do fittings in person.” Business was booming, but Angela decided to move to Napa, California to be with her partner, the international Grand Prix dressage rider, Carlos Carneiro. Carlos teaches classical dressage and working equitation. In addition, he imports and trains Lusitanos from his native Portugal. Angela easily shifted maxflex’s home base to California and her saddles quickly gained popularity in California and beyond. When Carlos’s longtime employer in California announced her plans to retire and close her business, the couple had a big decision to make – where did they want to base their businesses? They ruled out staying where they were. “I was so tired of the dust and poor air quality due to fires in California,” Angela says. “I felt so bad for the horses living in that climate.” Carlos travels the states giving clinics and found that he preferred the East Coast to the West. He had been to Samantha Charles’s farm in Aiken several times to give clinics and liked the area. “The final impetus to our choosing Aiken was Samantha,” Angela says. “She encouraged me to visit. Even though I came in August, and everyone told me it is the hottest month here, I loved it!” Angela, Carlos, their sons, 4-year-old Valentino and 14-month-old Leon, 19 horses, and two dogs are all adapting very well to life in Aiken. “It’s a lot,” Angela admits with a laugh. “But I love being with the horses, my kids, and my job.” While Angela enjoys dressage, right now she is just riding for fun and she especially loves trail riding in Hitchcock Woods, which reminds her of the Black Forest in Germany. She even rode in the Hoofbeats Parade through downtown Aiken in December. “It was just amazing. I had no idea it would be that big!” “Aiken is so unique,” she says. “I was in a grocery store and of the six people in line, four were in breeches and boots.” Angela’s set-up for her new store offers customers an unusual opportunity – they can try saddles right there. There will be a place to ride and a parking area for those who want to bring their horse for fittings and trials. She expects to have the shop ready by mid-February. Call for an appointment, 707-346-1843, or see the website, casequestrian.com for more information. Angela is also available by appointment for saddle fittings on any brand of saddle. “Fittings for other brands is also a big part of my business. I don’t push clients to just buy my saddles,” she makes clear.

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Aiken’s Junior Riders 2021 Highlights By Nancy Johnson

iken has been known as a horse town for a long time. Dressage, hunters, jumpers, polo, eventing, foxhunting, racing, driving, and various Western disciplines can all be found in and around Aiken. Equine sports are lifetime sports, and we often see riders still riding and competing well into their 70s and even 80s. On the other end of the spectrum, Aiken has lots of young riders; many of whom had big successes and accomplishments in 2021. Here are a few of them.

A fond Farewell to the pony ring

As the daughter of two professionals, it is not surprising that Lilly Geitner, 14, has been riding and showing her whole life. She will undoubtedly remember 2021 as a bittersweet year. In 2020, many young riders, including Lilly, were disappointed when COVID-19 forced

the cancellation of the prestigious USEF Pony Finals. Last February, Lilly began riding a green pony, aptly, though not intentionally, named Farewell. In August, Lilly rode Farewell to outdo a field of 64 medium green ponies in Lexington, Kentucky and take home the Medium Green Pony championship at the Pony Finals. “It was really a great way for me to end with the ponies. I feel like I went out with a bang!” Lilly says with a smile. Farewell was then leased out, giving Lilly more time to concentrate on her larger mounts. She qualified and showed two horses, Banks Mill and Mamacita, in the Junior Hunter 3’3” divisions. Both horses had good ribbons, with Mamacita winning a class. Although she enjoys riding the hunters, Lilly says she is developing a special fondness for the jumpers. “I am really going to concentrate on the jumpers and equitation this year,” she says. “I have been showing in the Low Junior Jumpers at 1.2 meters and am looking to move up in 2022.”

After winning the championship with her high school team, as well as an Allstar and Horsemanship Award, Summer traveled to Chicago to the National Youth Tournament Series Finals where she was a member of the winning girls’ team and was named tournament MVP. She finished the 2021 season in Houston by winning the Women’s Texas Open. “I played with Rocking P, a team I’ve watched and admired for years. For me to have the opportunity to play with them was fantastic!” Although she hesitates to look too far into the future, Summer says, “I really enjoy playing polo, so I think I will always have horses and polo in my life. But I don’t know yet if I plan to do it professionally. I am just so grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given. I couldn’t do it without my family, friends, and my great horses.”

Sister Act

Between the two of them, Celia, 18, and Liza, 17, the Cram sisters showed dozens of horses to innumerable wins in 2021. The daughters of Highfield’s owners, Rick and Cathy Cram, they ride everything from the greenest horses and ponies to the most well-trained ones. Celia began the year with a number of catch rides for the Ocala trainer Bobby Braswell. Liza started 2021 with two of her family’s young investment horses. “Celia and I both have learned to ride what we have,” she says. “Both my horses got sold, so then I catch rode a bunch and did the equitation on my sister’s horse, Avano S (“Biggie”), qualifying for the Medal and Maclay finals.”

Outstanding in the polo field

Aiken Youth Polo, just four years into its program, really put its name on the map in 2021 when the girls’ high school team won the Interscholastic National Championship. Coach Tiger Kneece couldn’t be prouder of his team, which consisted of his daughter Summer Kneece, Sophie Grant, and the identical twins, Robyn and Reagan Leitner. Summer, 16, reflects on the team’s success. “Our high school team is so much fun and has been a great experience for all of us. Sophie graduated, but Robyn, Reagan, and I will continue to play together, and we welcome new team member Brianna Jordan. We are going to do our best to win it again next year.”

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February-March 2022

Celia says one of her most memorable showing experiences of the year was a four-week stint with her family in Saugerties and Lake Placid, New York. She and Liza each showed several green horses in both the hunter and jumper rings. Liza agrees, “The New York shows were such a great experience. It was a whole new level of competition and I loved watching all the really top horses and riders.” Celia’s final shows as a junior were a whirlwind, since she had qualified and competed on three different horses for all the prestigious equitation finals – the Capital Challenge, the Maclay Regionals, the Medal Finals, Maclay Finals, and Washington Finals. Liza had some bad luck that marred otherwise excellent rounds in the equitation finals at both the Capital Challenge and the Medal Finals at Harrisburg. However, she was thrilled at the Medal Finals when the judges awarded her mount, Biggie, the Best Equitation Horse title. Celia’s junior days are over, but her riding career continues as an equestrian studies major and member of Savannah College of Art and Design’s renowned equestrian team. “The coach is fantastic, and everybody is in it to win it!” she says. With Celia away at school, Liza is kept extra busy riding horses and ponies for her family and their clients. She has a couple of goals for her final year as a junior. “I want to get really consistent with our young jumper in the Low Junior Jumpers and do the Zone Jumper championships in Tryon,” she says. “And, I want to have a good year in the equitation with Biggie. He’s such an amazing horse and I don’t want to let him down.”

Partnering with an old pro

Aiken Pony Club has a lot to do with 10-year-old Ryder Dodge’s progress as a rider in 2021. He enjoys the camaraderie of the other kids and the opportunity to experience different aspects of horses, like foxhunting, tetrathlon and rally. “I feel like I’ve become a much more experienced rider this year and through Pony Club have learned a lot about caring for horses as well,” he says. It was also through Pony Club that Ryder found his new mount, Startburst Benny. Ryder started riding two years ago on a very small pony and was ready to move up to a medium pony with a bit more scope. Meanwhile, fellow Pony Club member Addy Amato was ready for a large pony that would give her more of a challenge than the very experienced Benny. Within just a few months of leasing Benny, Ryder took him to his first competition, Stable View’s Eventing Academy. His mother, Sarah Dodge, praises the format. “On Saturday, the kids get to school over both the cross country and stadium courses and then Sunday is the actual competition.” Ryder and Benny finished in second place, a huge accomplishment. “I really like riding Benny and it’s going great so far,” Ryder says. “I especially like cross country because you can really let your pony go a bit and do his job. Benny seems to like it best, too.” In 2022 Ryder plans to compete at more local events and some hunter shows. “My goals for this year include going to rally and getting my D3 rating,” he explains.

Come on, ‘Dude’

This year, Tegan Price, 12, learned a life lesson about flexibility. He started out the show year on a leased palomino pony, appropriately named Blonde. The intention was for him to show the made pony locally for a year before venturing into the regular Pony Hunter division at the rated shows the following year.

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The pair collected many championships at the PSJ series. Tegan says that a highlight was winning the 2’ Derby at three consecutive shows. Their plan seemed to be right on track. Then, with several PSJ shows left, Blonde unexpectedly had to be returned to her owner in Maryland. Tegan was disappointed about not being able to finish the year with Blonde, but he had an ambitious plan. He told his mom he wanted to ride the very green pony they had at home in the final shows. Voxton’s Dude Perfect immediately went to what Tegan calls “extreme boot camp” to prepare. Despite having never jumped a course on the pony, Tegan and Dude were Reserve Champion at their first show together. Tegan collected a pile of PSJ 2021 year-end awards in the Short Stirrup Hunter and Equitation divisions as well as winning the Mini Medal Reserve Championship. Currently, Tegan is preparing Dude to show in the Pony Hunters at the PSJ 2022 series. He is grateful for the help of his mother and several local trainers who teach him. Tegan frequently rides ponies, especially for sale videos, for various professionals in Aiken. “The opportunity to ride lots of different ponies has helped me so much,” he explains. Tegan concludes with optimism, “My new goal for 2022 is a PSJ yearend award with Dude in the Pony Hunters while preparing for the ‘A’ shows the following year.”

Perseverance pays off

Eleven-year-old Charlotte O’Neal, an eventing competitor, admits that 2021 was a challenging, year with her horse, Pluto. When she got the 15-hand gelding about two years ago he was very green. While he has progressed a great deal, the horse is often spooky, making it difficult for Charlotte to fully trust him. He also tends to buck, very hard, on a cross country course. “I sometimes get frustrated because he can seem like he’s on a good path one day, but then have a really bad day the next,” Charlotte explains. She credits her friends and trainers at Pony Club for helping her get through the tough times. “I love Pony Club because I meet new friends and Pluto and I get an opportunity to get out more and learn from great trainers.” Charlotte’s perseverance paid off as she and Pluto not only competed at the Tadpole Level (2’3”) at Jumping Branch and Full Gallop but finished second at both outings. “I like all three phases of eventing and am hoping to move up to

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Index of Advertisers Advertiser

Page

Section

Advertiser

Page

Section

Advertiser

Page

Section

Aiken County Farm Supply

Epona

Moorefield Farm

Aiken Fine Homes and Land

Equine Divine

New Bridge Polo Club

Aiken Horse Park Foundation

Equine Expressions

NibbleNet

Aiken Horsemanship Academy

Equine Rescue of Aiken

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Oak Manor Saddlery

Aiken Luxury Rentals

Fields Sawmill

Performance Equine Vets

Aiken Polo Club

FITS Equestrian

Progressive Show Jumping, Inc

Aiken Saddlery, Inc.

FOTAS Aiken

Rado Residential

Aiken Steeplechase Association

G L Williams and Daughter

RE/MAX Tattersall Group

Aiken Tack Exchange

Gary Knoll Photography

Aiken Training Track

Grant Seger

Redman International Horse Transport

American National Insurance

Greystone Properties

Ride The Rail

Amy Scott Art

Greystone Properties

Rosewood Farm

Apple Tree Farm

Hamilton Paving

Shane Doyle

Auto Tech

Helios

Silver Moon Iberians

Balanced Sport Horse

Highfields

South Carolina Equine Park

Banixx

Hitchcock Woods Foundation

Southern Equine Service

Banks Mill Feeds

Humble Acres Organics

Southern Ridge Excavation

Barnware

Janice Holmes

SPCA Albrecht Center

Blue Ribbon Trailer Wash

Jill Diaz Polo

102

Sporting Days Farm

Breakfast at The Gallops

Juli Cole

Stable View, LLC

Bridle Creek

Keller Williams Stinson

Supreme Top Form

Burgard Tractor

Kingdom House Painting

Teddi Ismond

Carol Gillis, DVM

Lightning Protection Systems

The Kneaded Edge

Carolina Company RE

LOC Equestrian

The Kneaded Edge

Carolina Company RE

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Mark Lexton

The Tack Room

CHAPS

The Willcox

Claudia Novick

Meybohm RE (Sullivan/ Turner)

Get Smart

D & M Partners

Triple Crown Feeds

Dara Knot

Meybohm RE (Sullivan/ Turner)

Tryon Equine Law

DeeAnn Ladwig

Meybohm RE Haslup

Vivien Fritz

DFG Stables

Meybohm RE Vaillancourt

Woods Market

Engineered Equine Perf.

Meybohm Realtors (Denehy) Missy Miller Equestrian

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February-March 2022

Classifieds Reagan is a 9 year old APHA/ Hanoverian cross mare. She has been shown at the county level jumpers up to 1.10 meters. She is brave, balanced with plenty of scope. I am her trainer and have owned her since birth. Reagan is 15.3 hands and is barefoot.

Stray Cat Outreach has a Barn Cat Placement Program and we are looking for cat lovers who have a barn or other secure outdoor structure and are interested in adopting cats not suitable for life inside a house. Cat temperaments range from feral to friendly. This program is designed to find homes for cats that have traditionally been deemed unadoptable through our adoption efforts. As a no-kill group we want to work with you to ensure one of their nine lives! For information please contact straycatoutreach@gmail.com or call 864 602 1549

Dara Brumfield Beech Island 8584147552

Dream temperament, dream horse. 3 year old Andalusian started under saddle. Amateur friendly with competitive gaits. Text 607-743-1309 for more information or visit our website for video. www.lanecovedressage.com

BOARDING/TURNOUT/ TRAINING Chime Ridge Stables. South Aiken. 803-508-3760 phone or text. Dry stalls and full care available at Sporting Days Farm 150 acres with practice ares. Great for green horses 803-226-2024 text preferred FARM SERVICES Southern Ridge Excavation. Drainage, grading, small clearing, pad prep, utility ditching, pond mowing. Third generation family operated; Licensed & insured. Member Aiken Chamber of Commerce. Call Alex Koegel. 803522-5752. southernridgex@gmail. com. G. L. Williams & Daughter. Serving the CSRA for over 54 years. Specializing in hauling, grading, clearing, property maintenance, and excavation. We provide everything from several types of fill dirt, top soil,

Blue Ribbon Trailer Wash Trucks, boats, barns, decks, patios, houses & more. “For a winning shine every time.” Call Pete 561-313-2339

compost, mortar sands, crushed asphalt/concrete, to screenings and a variety of rocks. Roll-off containers and manure removal available. (803) 663-3715. Certified DBE. WOSB. www. glwdtrucking.com HAY Hoss Luva Hay. Exceptional quality local Coastal Bermuda Hay, Alfalfa mix and Canadian Timothy. Competitively priced. Will deliver state-wide. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Jim McClain: 803.247.4803 Round and Square Bales. Oakwood Farms: 3593 Silver Bluff Road, Aiken SC 29803. $60 per bale round hay bales. $70 per bale round bales kept inside. Square bales at $7.00 per bale. Will deliver for a small fee. Please call 706-830-2600 or 803-8270864. email garymcelmurray@ glmconstruction.net Moorefield Farms. Premium Ohio Hay. Now in Aiken!

Regularly scheduled reliable delivery direct from our farm to you. Large or small quantities, no middleman. Consistent quality. Alfalfa, timothy, orchard and mixes. Quality guaranteed. MoorefieldHayFarms.com. 330201-1700. HORSES/PETS & SERVICES Andy’s Pet & Home Services: Take comfort knowing your horses and pets are well cared for while you’re away. Years of experience and professional knowledge focusing on small horse farms and pets. References available. Text 847-828-4781. Based in Aiken. Away Days Farm Services: Lifelong horseman w/ racetrack, polo and show facility experience available for farm sitting, allanimal care, fence mending and farm and landscape maintenance with your equipment. Jon Ruedisueli (603)322-3019, captjon@hotmail.com

Big Beautiful Healthy Cocker Spaniel Puppies. 8 weeks old on 1/1/22, Claws clipped,tails docked. 4 females @$450 each; 1 male @ $400 each. All shots. Reg. with CKC. 706-231-2334. Trinity Farms Terriers: Irish Russell Terriers & Norfolk Terriers. Old World, Healthy 100 year old. Bloodlines w/ proven calmer dispositions. Health & Dispositions guaranteed. Preservation breeders for 48 years. Donna Fitzpatrick 803-648-3137 easyjacks.com, trinityfarmskennel. com RENTALS/HOME SHARES Aiken Luxury Rentals. Fully furnished cottages; walk to downtown. Perfect for temporary assignments, or housing while you build. Work-from-home ready; high speed internet. Antique finishes & modern convenience. info@aikenluxuryrentals.com. aikenluxuryrentals.com. 803-6482804.

Advertising in The Aiken Horse CLASSIFIED ADS are $25 for the first 30 DIRECTORY LISTING ADS: $25 per issue words & 40 cents for every word or $90 for the year (6 issues.) thereafter. Add $5 for blind classified. BUSINESS CARDS: $70 per issue or $290 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

February-March 2022

MAILING ADDRESS: The Aiken Horse, P.O. Box 332, Montmorenci, SC 29839 EMAIL: theAikenHorse@gmail.com We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.

Pay online: TheAikenHorse.com or call us: 803.643.9960

Advertise in the April-May issue! Deadline March 25, 2022 Publication date April 7, 2022

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Directory of Services ANIMAL CARE/HOUSESITTING Away Days Farm Services: Lifelong horseman with race track, polo and show facility experience available for farm sitting, all-animal care, fence mending and farm and landscape maintenance with your equipment. Jon Ruedisueli (603)322-3019, captjon@hotmail.com Andy’s Pet & Home Services: Take comfort knowing your horses and pets are well cared for while you’re away. Years of experience and professional knowledge focusing on small horse farms and pets. References available. Text 847-828-4781. Based in Aiken. BLANKET CLEANING & REPAIR Aiken Horse Blanket Couture. Creative coolers; your colors. Creative equine-ware. Tack covers/carry bags Saddle pad enhancements. Blanket wash/waterproof . Blanket repair. AikenHorseBlanket.com. Elisa Denaburg. 803-640-3211 BOARDING/TURNOUT/TRAINING/SALES Chime Ridge Stables. 803-508-3760 Sporting Days Farm. 3549 Charleston Hwy, Aiken, SC 29801. 5.5 miles from Aiken byoass. Offers year round, seasonal or short term board as well as dry stalls. 150 acres with trails and practice areas. USEF/USEA Horse Trials in the winter, schooling shows. Visit our website to see all we offer in 2022. www.sportingdaysfarm.com The Stable On The Woods: Elite boarding & training facility and home to trainers Darrell and Melissa Vaughn. With access to Hitchcock Woods, our barn sits on 70 acres and boasts a full size dressage arena with mirrors, show jumping arena and highquality grass pastures making this the ideal place for you and your horse. Training program to meet your needs, whether your discipline is Dressage, Eventing, Hunters, Jumpers or Foxhunting. thestableonthewoods.com 603.785.0435 Vaughn Equestrian: offering training, sales, and boarding. Professionalism is the guiding principle of owners Darrell and Melissa Vaughn in shaping every component of Vaughn Equestrian. Dressage, Jumpers, Eventing & Young Horses. training and sales. vaughnequestrian.com (603)-785-0435 COMPANION ANIMALS Trinity Farms Terriers: Irish Russell Terriers & Norfolk Terriers. Old World, Healthy 100 year old Bloodlines with proven calmer dispositions. Health & Dispositions guaranteed. Preservation breeders for 48 years. Donna Fitzpatrick 803-648-3137 easyjacks. com, trinityfarmskennel.com CONSTRUCTION & GRADING G. L. Williams & Daughter. Serving the CSRA for over 54 years. Specializing in hauling, grading, clearing, property maintenance, and excavation. We provide everything from several types of fill dirt, top soil, compost, mortar sands, crushed asphalt/concrete, to screenings and a variety of rocks. Roll-off containers and manure removal available. (803) 663-3715. Certified DBE. WOSB. www. glwdtrucking.com Southern Ridge Excavation. Drainage, grading, small clearing, pad prep, utility ditching, pond mowing. Third generation family operated; Licensed & insured. Member Aiken Chamber of Commerce. Call Alex Koegel. 803-522-5752. southernridgex@ gmail.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. Also: Alfalfa mix & Canadian Timothy. Can deliver state-wide. Fully enclosed truck. Satisfaction guaranteed. Jim McClain. 803.247.4803. Moorefield Farms. Premium Ohio Hay. Now in Aiken! Regularly scheduled reliable delivery direct from our farm to you. Large or

The Aiken Horse

small quantities, no middleman. Consistent quality. Alfalfa, timothy, orchard and mixes. Quality guaranteed. MoorefieldHayFarms.com. 330-201-1700. Round and Square Bales. Oakwood Farms: 3593 Silver Bluff Road, Aiken SC 29803. $60 per bale round hay bales. $70 per bale round bales kept inside. Square bales at $7.00 per bale. Will deliver for a small fee. Please call 706-830-2600 or 803-827-0864. email garymcelmurray@glmconstruction.net INSURANCE Betsy Minton, Sterling Thompson Equine, 803-617-8353. Now writing homeowners insurance for private residences. No horses required but certainly welcomed. Access to top-notch underwriters offering customized, affordable coverage. Still delivering excellent competitive insurance options for your horses and farms. betsyminton@sterlingthompson.com. Sterling Thompson Equine: 800 942 4258 INSTRUCTION/LESSONS Amy McElroy. USDF Gold Medalist and USEF S judge. Instruction and training at all levels. Visit amymcelroy.com or call 803.640-4207. Aiken Horsemanship Academy. Your naturally inspired adult learning resource! Offering Clinics, Courses, Starting Young Horses, Evaluations, and Lessons. JulieRobins.com 803-220-1768. Jodi Hemry Eventing. Three-Star Eventer offering professional training, sales, boarding, instruction, horse shows, located in the heart of Aiken. 803-640-6691 JodiHemryEventing@gmail.com JodiHemryEventing.com HORSE SHOWS VirtualHorseSport.com. Online Horse Shows & Coaching. Prizes; Privacy! All licensed judges. 2022 Championships! Try it today!-

LAWN CARE/LANDSCAPING Patterson’s Lawn Care services the Aiken area with irrigation, french drains, and routine lawn maintenance. If we start a job we finish it. Text or call for service: 803.840.7765. REAL ESTATE/ RENTALS Aiken Fine Homes and Land. Specializing in selling or renting homes, farms, land & barns for short or long term leases. 29 years experience in helping people find the property of their dreams, even if it takes building it! Call Barbara Lawrence, 803-439-0778 for honest & realistic answers to your real estate questions. Carolina Real Estate Company. Fine homes, estates and horse properties in Aiken, South Carolina. Let us welcome you home to AIKEN, Home of Horses, History & Hospitality! carolinahorseproperties.com. (803) 648-8660 Sharer Dale, 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. 544 Two Notch Rd. HollyMacSpencer@aol.com. 803.642.5166. TRAILERS C&D Mobile Trailer Repair: We repair all trailers and campers. Wiring, lighting, wheel bearings packed, axel work, trailer brakes. Portable welder available to fix repairs on-site. Text: 712.621.6252. Aiken.

February-March 2022

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Aiken Driving Derby, Highfields Event Center

Photography by Gary Knoll

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Aiken Area Calendar of Events

FEBRRUARY 2022 1 2 2 2-8 3 3-4 3-6 3-6 3-6 5 5 5 5 5-6 6 7-8

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Tuesdays in the Park. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. tara@aikenhorsepark. org, aikenhorsepark.org. Schooling Hunter/Jumper. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com Winter Wednesdays. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com WRFH Hunt Week, Whiskey Road Foxhounds, whiskeyroadfoxhounds.com Apple Tree Farm South, Schooling CT/Dressage, 1530 Oak Ridge Club Rd Windsor, SC Allison apltrefarm@aol.com (603)345-0382 appletreefarm.org Tom Murray Dressage Clinic for Eventers. Viola Farm, Aiken. 213.434.3704. sydnyk2@sbcglobal.net Aiken Winter Encore, USEF “A” Bruce’s Field at the Aiken Horse Park, 931 Powderhouse Road SE, Aiken. 803.830.7077, aikenhorsepark.org, equusevents.com Winter Encore USEF Jumper. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. tara@ aikenhorsepark.org, aikenhorsepark.org. Tryon Winter Indoor 3, TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com Camden Equine Circuit Springdale Show at Pine Tree Stables 1265 Sanders Creek Rd. Camden, SC 803-243-4417, springdale47@gmail.com Highfields Just for Fun Show Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com Buckle Series - Sorting, BSC Arena Waynesboro GA Johnny Lovett 706-551-2190 or Cliff Chancey 706-840-3971 Schooling Show at Chatt Hills. 9445 Browns Lake Rd, Fairburn, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, chatthillseventing.com Horse Trials/Schooling, Sporting Days Farm, 3549 Charleston Hwy. Aiken, SC Cindy Wood (410) 726 8926 cindy@ firefoxfarm.com SportingDaysFarm.com ADC Driving Derby #2, Highfield’s Event Center, 198 Gaston Rd., Aiken, SC 29801. Peggy Dils, 803-295-6785 dilsaiken@ gmail.com aikendrivingclub.com americandrivingsociety.org Water Treadmill Clinic with Dr. Matthias Baumann. 4064 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Maxine Emerich-Jaquish: 803.646.8754, maxine@ engineered equine performance.com, www.facebook. com/engineeredequine Schooling Dressage Tests of choice. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com, fullgallopfarm.com Tuesdays in the Park. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077, tara@aikenhorsepark. org, aikenhorsepark.org Recognized Horse Trials. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo. com, fullgallopfarm.com

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Windsor Trace Continuous Drive. Chateau Log Farm, 1070 Curb Chain Lane, Windsor. Lisa Singer: aikendrivingclub.com Aiken Local Social Event. Aiken. Chris Butler: 843.957.9074, www.facebook.com/groups/608942250243293 Apple Tree Farm South & Sporting Days Farm, Schooling CT/Dressage, 1530 Oak Ridge Club Rd Windsor, SC Allison apltrefarm@aol.com (603)345-0382 appletreefarm. org sportingdaysfarm.com Tryon Winter Indoor 4, TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com SCQHA (South Carolina Quarter Horse Association) Special Event. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. Ericka Thomas, 803-295-2781, scquarterhorse@gmail.com, scequinepark.com USEF National Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com Pine Top Horse Trials 1432 Augusta Hwy, Thomson, GA 30824 pinetopeventing@gmail.com “I Love Dressage” USEF/USDF Dressage Show. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@ stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com Radway Eventing Pony Club Show 4627 Whiskey Road, Aiken. radwayeventing.com Schooling Series Kick Off - Valentine’s Classic. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, poplarplacefarm.com Tuesdays in the Park. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. tara@aikenhorsepark. org, aikenhorsepark.org. Winter Wednesdays Schooling Series. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. Matt Christison, 803.420.0407, mmathis443@gmail.com, scequinepark.com Schooling HT, Combined Tests, Schooling Jump rounds, Dressage tests of choice Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803.215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo. com, fullgallopfarm.com Young Event Horse Qualifier. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com Apple Tree Farm South, Schooling CT/Dressage, 1530 Oak Ridge Club Rd Windsor, SC Allison apltrefarm@aol.com (603)345-0382 appletreefarm.org Eventing Academy X-Country Schooling. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm. com, stableviewfarm.com RSNC BSC Arena Waynesboro GA Johnny Lovett 706-5512190 or Cliff Chancey 706-840-3971 Extreme Trail Course Clinic. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. Laura Thomas, 803315-9977, scequinepark.com USEF National Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

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Atlanta Youth Dressage Challenge Dressage & CT Schooling Show, Georgia Int. Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, Liz Molloy 770-6344089 missliz@taramiaridingschool.com georgiahorsepark.com Eventing Academy Horse Trials Schooling Day. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@ stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com USEA Recognized Horse Trials, Jumping Branch Farm 179 Fox Pond Road, Aiken 240-460-1094 timshaw628@gmail.com Pipe Opener II CT Carolina Horse Park, 2814 Montrose Road, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2074, carolinahorsepark.com Sarah Crevar Thomas secretary@carolinahorsepark.com Dressage at Bruce’s Field at the Aiken Horse Park, 931 Powderhouse Road SE, Aiken. 803.830.7077, aikenhorsepark. org Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm. com, stableviewfarm.com IEA Region Finals-Regions 1 and 6, Georgia Int. Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com President’s Day Hunter Pace Whiskey Road Foxhounds, whiskeyroadfoxhounds.com Hunter Pace - Celebration Hunter Pace Series. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@ stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com Schooling Dressage Tests of choice. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com, Tuesdays in the Park. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. tara@aikenhorsepark. org, aikenhorsepark.org. Windsor Trace Cones Day. Chateau Log Farm, 1070 Curb Chain Lane, Windsor. Lisa Singer: aikendrivingclub.com Apple Tree Farm South & Jumping Branch Farm, Schooling CT/Dressage, 1530 Oak Ridge Club Rd Windsor, SC Allison apltrefarm@aol.com (603)345-0382 appletreefarm.org jbfarm. com Elite Show Jumping at Chatt Hills. 9445 Browns Lake Rd, Fairburn, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, chatthillseventing.com South Carolina Horsemen’s Council. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC, scequinepark.com Pine Top Horse Trials 1432 Augusta Hwy, Thomson, GA 30824 pinetopeventing@gmail.com PSJ Series C Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com Camden Equine Circuit Springdale at Country Springs 803466-7134 countrysprings01@gmail.com Low Country Classic I & II SCDCTA/USEF/USDF Dressage Show, Mullet Hall Equestrian Center, Johns Island SC, scdcta.com/calendar Spring Dressage Show. Georgia International Horse Park. Conyers. 404.289.9328, goodhorseman.org Audubon Drive & Lunch. Silver bluff Audubon. Aiken. Peggy Dils, 803-295-6785 dilsaiken@gmail.com aikendrivingclub. com americandrivingsociety.org ADC Driving Derby #3, Highfields Event Center, 198 Gaston Rd., Aiken, SC 29801 Peggy Dils, 803-295-6785 dilsaiken@ gmail.com aikendrivingclub.com americandrivingsociety.org

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Recognized Horse Trials. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo. com, fullgallopfarm.com Grand-prix Eventing. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. tara@aikenhorsepark. org, aikenhorsepark.org.

The Aiken Horse

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SCQHA (South Carolina Quarter Horse Association), Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com 4-6 Highfields USEF National Jumping. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com 5 Buckle Series - Sorting, BSC Arena Waynesboro GA Johnny Lovett 706-551-2190 or Cliff Chancey 706-840-3971 5-6 Recognized Horse Trials at Chatt Hills. 9445 Browns Lake Rd, Fairburn, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, chatthillseventing.com 5-6 Hunter/Jumper Show. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, poplarplacefarm.com 5-6 USEF/USDF “Southern Comfort” Dressage. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@ stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com 5-6 USEF/USEA Horse Trials/Schooling, Sporting Days Farm, 3549 Charleston Hwy. Aiken, SC Cindy Wood (410) 726 8926 cindy@firefoxfarm.com SportingDaysFarm.com 5-6 William Fox Pitt clinic at The Vista. 859 Old Tory Trail, Aiken. Missy Miller: 251.213.5010, schoolthevista.com 7 Cross-Country Schooling, Sporting Days Farm, 3549 Charleston Hwy. Aiken, SC Cindy Wood (410) 726 8926 cindy@firefoxfarm.com SportingDaysFarm.com 8 Tuesdays in the Park Finale. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. kate@ aikenhorsepark.org, aikenhorsepark.org. 9 Eventing Academy X-Country Schooling. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm. com, stableviewfarm.com 9 Rider Confidence Makeover Series. Aiken. Kendra DeKay: 803.443.4755, kendradekay@gmail.com, equestrianethos.com 9 Aiken Local Social Event. Aiken. Chris Butler: 843.957.9074, www.facebook.com/groups/608942250243293 10-11 Apple Tree Farm South & Sporting Days Farm, Schooling CT/Dressage, 1530 Oak Ridge Club Rd Windsor, SC Allison apltrefarm@aol.com (603)345-0382 appletreefarm. org sportingdaysfarm.com 11 Rider Confidence Makeover Series. Aiken. Kendra DeKay: 803.443.4755, kendradekay@gmail.com, equestrianethos.com 11 Eventing Academy Horse Trials Schooling Day. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@ stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com 11-13 Highfields USEF National Jumping. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com 12 ADS WT CT. Chateau Log Farm, 1070 Curb Chain Lane, Windsor. Lisa Singer: aikendrivingclub.com 12 Dressage Test of Choice. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo. com, fullgallopfarm.com 12 Radway Eventing Pony Club Show. 4627 Whiskey Road, Aiken. radwayeventing.com 12 Shamrock Classic. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, poplarplacefarm.com 12 Dressage & CT at FENCE. Tryon. frcshows@gmail.com, fence.org 13 Cross-country Schooling at FENCE. Tryon. frcshows@gmail. com, fence.org 12-13 Palmetto Paint Horse Club. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com 13 Horse Trials. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com, fullgallopfarm.com 13 Unstoppable Obstacles Workshop. Aiken. Kendra DeKay: 803.443.4755, kendradekay@gmail.com, equestrianethos.com 16 Schooling Horse Trials. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo. com, fullgallopfarm.com 16 Rider Confidence Makeover Series. Aiken. Kendra DeKay: 803.443.4755, kendradekay@gmail.com, equestrianethos.com

February-March 2022

17-20 Elite Show Jumping at Chatt Hills. 9445 Browns Lake Rd, Fairburn, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, chatthillseventing.com 18 Rider Confidence Makeover Series. Aiken. Kendra DeKay: 803.443.4755, kendradekay@gmail.com, equestrianethos.com 18 USEF/USHJA $50,000 A-rated Winter Classic. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@ stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com 18-19 RSNC BSC Arena Waynesboro GA Johnny Lovett 706-5512190 or Cliff Chancey 706-840-3971 18-20 Pine Top Horse Trials 1432 Augusta Hwy, Thomson, GA 30824 pinetopeventing@gmail.com 19 Aiken Trials. Aiken Training Track, 538 Two Notch Rd, Aiken. 803.648.4631, aikentt@bellsouth.net, aikentrainingtrack.com 19-20 Four Beats for Pleasure. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com 19-20 Hunter/Jumper Show. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, poplarplacefarm.com 24-25 Apple Tree Farm South & Sporting Days Farm, Schooling CT/Dressage, 1530 Oak Ridge Club Rd Windsor, SC Allison apltrefarm@aol.com (603)345-0382 appletreefarm. org sportingdaysfarm.com 24-27 Tryon Welcome 1, TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com 25-28 Camp Kelly for Two Leggeds. Looking Glass Farm, 289 Daytona Rd, Wagener. Kelly Sigler. 803.522.4395. kellysigler. com 26 Horse Trials. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com, fullgallopfarm.com 26 Spring Steeplechase. Steeplechase Racecourse, 2020 Richland Ave East, Aiken. Jessical Miller: 803.648.9641. info@ aikensteeplechase.com, aikensteeplechase.com 26 Schooling Show at Chatt Hills. 9445 Browns Lake Rd, Fairburn, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, chatthillseventing.com 26 CT & Dressage at The Vista. 859 Old Tory Trail, Aiken. 803.262.5263, vistaschooling@gmail.com, schoolthevista.com 26-27 Harmon Classic Hunter Jumper Show. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com 27 Hunter Pace at Chatt Hills. 9445 Browns Lake Rd, Fairburn, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, chatthillseventing.com 27 ADC Driving Derby Final, Highfield’s Event Center, 198 Gaston Rd., Aiken, SC 29801. Peggy Dils, 803295-6785 dilsaiken@gmail.com aikendrivingclub.com americandrivingsociety.org 31-3 Tryon Welcome 2, TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com

April 2022 1

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Spring FEI CCI-S 2/3/4* & USEF/USEA Horse Trials. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com 108th Annual Horse Show in the Woods. 2200 Dibble Rd, Aiken. Dana Massey: 803.599.0400. aikenhorseshow.org Highfields Just for Fun Show. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com Buckle Series - Sorting, BSC Arena Waynesboro GA Johnny Lovett 706-551-2190 or Cliff Chancey 706-840-3971 South Carolina Dressage & Combined Training Assoc. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com

February-March 2022

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Tryon Welcome 3, TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com The Fork at Tryon, TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com Progressive Show Jumping. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com Recognized Horse Trials at Chatt Hills. 9445 Browns Lake Rd, Fairburn, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, chatthillseventing.com Radway Eventing Pony Club Show. 4627 Whiskey Road, Aiken. radwayeventing.com Hunter/Jumper Show. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, poplarplacefarm.com Spring Fever Dressage. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com Aiken Local Social Event. Aiken. Chris Butler: 843.957.9074, www.facebook.com/groups/608942250243293 Tryon Welcome 4, TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com USEF/USHJA Hunter/Jumper Spring Classic. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com Canter Masterclass. Aiken. Kendra DeKay: 803.443.4755, kendradekay@gmail.com, equestrianethos.com Spring Classic. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, poplarplacefarm.com 74th Tryon Block House Steeplechase Race, TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com Combined Test & Dressage. Jumping Branch Farm 179 Fox Pond Road, Aiken 240-460-1094 timshaw628@gmail.com Aiken Carriage Classic. Highfield’s Event Center, 198 Gaston Rd., Aiken, SC 29801. Peggy Dils, 803-295-6785 dilsaiken@ gmail.com aikendrivingclub.com americandrivingsociety.org Palmetto Paint Horse Club. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, SC. 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com Jake Kneece Memorial 4 Goal. Aiken Polo Club, Whitney Field, 420 Mead Ave, Aiken. 803.643.3611. aikenpoloclub@gmail.com, aikenpolo.org Highfields USEF Premier Jumping. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com RSNC BSC Arena Waynesboro GA Johnny Lovett 706-5512190 or Cliff Chancey 706-840-3971 Spring Hunter Pace. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com USEF/USEA Horse Trials/Schooling, Sporting Days Farm, 3549 Charleston Hwy. Aiken, SC Cindy Wood (410) 726 8926 cindy@firefoxfarm.com SportingDaysFarmcom USEF/USDF Dressage Spring Series I & II. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, poplarplacefarm.com Highfields USEF Premier. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com Schooling Horse Trials. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com, fullgallopfarm.com Unstoppable Obstacles Workshop. Aiken. Kendra DeKay: 803.443.4755, kendradekay@gmail.com, equestrianethos.com Schooling Show at Chatt Hills. 9445 Browns Lake Rd, Fairburn, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, chatthillseventing.com

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Business Cards Aiken Vacation Rentals Thanks for a great ﬁrst year! Our cozy furnished downtown pet-friendly rentals are fully booked for the 2021 - 2022 winter season! Now accepting bookings beginning April 2022. On Facebook @AikenVacationRentals AirBnB SUPERHOST KendraDeKay@gmail.com (803) 443-4755

Laura O’Connor Equestrian Ventures

Rider ~ Trainer ~ Coach

• USEF Licensed ‘R’ Judge • National Snaffle Bit Association Judge • Experienced Clinician • International US Rep. in Showjumping • Jumpers, Equitation & Hunters

Mobile: 561-252-4992

Web: Locequestrianventures.com Email: Locequestrian@gmail.com

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Advertise! Business cards are $70 per issue or $290 for the year. Add a yearly directory listing for $45 (regular price $95). Reach your next customer through The Aiken Horse! Visit our website for complete rate cards and information. TheAikenHorse.com 803-643-9960 theaikenhorse@gmail.com

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A I K E N, S O U T H C A R O L I N A

HOMES | HORSES | HISTORY | HOSPITALITY

C ome

Home to Greener Pastures

www.CarolinaCompany.com | 803.648.8660

Historic Horse District COURTNEY CONGER 803.645.3308 . $1,425,000

The Paddocks

Buckland Barn, an historic training facility in Aiken’s downtown Horse District, has spacious 2,787 square foot main residence, combining 2 original cottages with central great room. Cottage is delightfully renovated with wood floors, granite counter tops and all appliances. Two converted race barns have 15 expanded stalls, board fenced paddocks, grooms’ loft apartment, dressage arena with mirror. Easy access on sandy clay roads to downtown dining and shopping, equestrian venues and Hitchcock Woods, Aiken’s 2,200 acre riding reserve with over 60 miles of sandy trails.

MIKE HOSANG 803.270.6358

Equestrian lots now available in popular south side horse country — build a home for you and your horses in this friendly community! The 21 lots offered in Section One range from 5.34 acres to 13.83 acres. Community amenities include arena and miles of perimeter riding trails. Wooded lots start at just $16,000 per acre, cleared lots are $18,500 per acre.

. $1,500,000

Impeccably transformed horse farm encompasses over 52 acres, with 20 board fenced pastures, gated entrance, 8-stall center aisle barn with lounge and , broodmare barn, enclosed equipment shed with hayloft, renovated 4-stall barn, run-in sheds and round pen. Newly renovated brick home has 2 apartments — 2 bedrooms & 2 baths upstairs, 2 bedrooms & 1 bath down.

Hatchaway Bridge Farm RANDY WOLCOTT 803.507.1142 . $842,000

Remarkable newly built horse farm on over 9 acres. Custom built 4 bedroom home features gourmet kitchen large cathedral ceiling great room with fireplace, 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths on the main level. Upstairs are 2 large bedrooms with bath. Attached 4-stall barn with large tack room/ lounge has 2nd full kitchen, adjoining full bath and laundry, 2 large fenced pastures with adjacent trail system. Community amenities include large schooling field with rings for dressage & jumping, and miles of trails.

Timshel Gardens COURTNEY CONGER 803.645.3308

Two lovely level parcels available in equestrian community. Both lots are cleared, stumped, and planted in grass, and are perimeter fenced in non-climb wire with board on top. Community riding area with dressage and cross country course, with miles of riding trails. Timshel Tract with 12.49 acres is $132,000 and Pottery Mill Parcel with 10.38 acres is offered at $113,000.

at Three Runs Plantation JACK ROTH 803.341.8787 . $1,500,000

Beautiful 12.8-acre equestrian property offers elegant 3000 sq. ft. home with main floor master suite, huge family room with fireplace and French doors to covered deck. Includes office (or dining room), breakfast area, laundry, whole house generator, kitchen with stainless appliances & island. Upstairs are 2 bedrooms with private en-suite baths. Unfinished space above 2-car garage, heated salt water lap pool with waterfall. Main barn has 5 stalls, soft brick floors, tack room with washer/dryer, feed room, farrier bathroom, hay storage, and 2 bedroom apartment upstairs with kitchen and full bath, laundry and deck. Includes irrigated paddocks, 2-stall barn with storage space, 3 wells and 2 septic tanks. Located across from activity center, cross country schooling area, professional jump arena and dressage arena with mirrors.

Bridle Creek JACK ROTH 803.341.8787 . Phase 3B $22,500 per acre

Chime Bell Farm

RANDY WOLCOTT 803.507.1142

Blue Poppy Farm

From the developer of Three Runs Plantation, Bridle Creek meanders across 600 wooded acres of Aiken’s horse country, featuring equestrian homesites of 5 acres or more. Community amenities include dressage & jump arenas, cross-country schooling, and NEW activity center with fitness equipment and kitchen. Financing available!

Paddocks Bend

TOM MURRAY 626.644.3008 . $499,000

Peaceful lakeside living with your own dock on 18 acre semi-private lake. Comfortable home offers exquisite views, custom porcelain plank floors, fireplace, built ins, updated kitchen with granite counters, spacious owners suite, 2 guest bedrooms, and separate living space with microwave, fridge and bath above garage with separate entrance. Irrigation system, separate storage building.

Equestrian Corridor

JANE PAGE THOMPSON 803.215.8232 . $485,000

Custom built log home with large porch across the front and screen porch at the rear. Soaring ceilings in the great room and eat-in kitchen spaces. European main bath opens to laundry area where the washer and dryer convey. Built-in banquette and other thoughtful details add charm and storage to this 3 bedroom, 2 bath split living floor plan. This 16.38 acre parcel has a detached 2 car garage, garden shed and timber. Located in prime equine area, this is a great spot to start your Aiken Sporting Life.

Courtney Conger

Three Runs Plantation TOM MURRAY 626.644.3008 . $675,000

Unique huntbox has 4700 square feet under one roof. There are multiple storage and utility spaces as well as 2 separate bedrooms, each with bath. The barn area offers 2 stalls, turn out, run in shed and 2 large pastures. Includes 2-car tandem garage plus single garage. Main living area has vaulted ceilings in an open plan with gas fireplace. Set in phase 6 of Aiken's premier equestrian community, this property is close to the 30 miles of groomed trails and a short ride to the south complex arenas.

East Side Horse Country MIKE HOSANG 803.270.6358 . $616,220

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

Burtons Ferry Farm RANDY WOLCOTT 803.507.1142 . $329,000

Mini-farm on 8.8 acres of beautiful pasture in Allendale County has renovated brick farmhouse with many upgrades. The 3-bedroom, 2bath home has updated kitchen, large living room with fireplace, spacious owner’s suite with new bath. Grassland oasis with antique barn, new fencing, 2 large pastures, 2 paddocks, round pen, dog yard, vegetable garden, above ground pool, fire pit with grill.

Randy Wolcott

Jack Roth

Fox Hollow on the Lake MIKE HOSANG 803.270.6358

One of Aiken's premier equestrian communities, Fox Hollow on the Lake is private, gated and conveniently located between Aiken and Augusta. Fox Hollow offers wonderful equestrian amenities including community riding/walking trails, dressage arena, jumping arena and cross-country course. Great opportunity to build! Enjoy privacy & convenience. Lot 59 has 7.66 acres and is offered at $111,070 | $14,500 per acre Lot 64 has 17.16 acres and is offered at $231,660 | $13,500 per acre

Tom Murray

Thomas Bossard

Mike Hosang

Alex Tyrteos

Brian Cavanaugh

Lee Hedlund

803.645.3308

803.507.1142 803.341.8787 626.644.3008 803.640.2845 803.270.6358

Barb Gould Uskup

Donnita Harmon Jane Page Thompson

803.295.3199

803.508.1936 803.215.8232 203.249.3071 803.624.6072 803.221.6831

Office: 803.648.8660 | www.CarolinaCompany.com