August-September 2023

SUZY HASLUP

Realtor™

KATHRYN SIDERS

Licensed Assistant

An Accredited Land Consultant, Suzy achieved the title of Leading Sales Agent in 2013, 2015, 2016 & 2020, received recognition in Meybohm’s “Best of the Best” & President’s Club, and earned 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022 RLI APEX awards for top producing land real estate agents.

AIKEN HORSE DISTRICT

$2.99 MILLION

Old Greentree Stables, a 10 A. equestrian property located in the heart of Aiken’s Horse District across from Aiken Training Track & near Bruce’s Field fronts 3 clay roads, (Two Notch, Grace Ave., and Mead Ave.), w/border of Magnolia trees. Featuring 21 stalls in 3 barns, 21 paddocks, grass jump fields, 2 residences & a groom’s quarter. 4BR/4BA brick ranch on Grace Ave. has hardwood floors, solid surface countertops, built-ins, wood beamed ceilings, brick fireplaces, fenced yard, & patio. Multiple grass paddocks w/live oak trees throughout the property. Rare find in Aiken’s Horse District & suitable for any equestrian discipline w/several areas perfect for dressage or jump rings. Short hack along sand clay roads to 70 miles of riding trails in the 2200 A. Hitchcock Woods and easily accessible to the shows at Bruce’s Field.

WOOD’S END LOTS

This Olde Aiken downtown cottage is the winner of the 2018 Wild-Lipes Treasured Home Award from the Aiken Historic Foundation. Kintyre, built in 1937, has 3BR/2BA, Pine & oak wood floors, transoms, wood burning fireplace, plantation shutters, GE Profile appliances, quartz countertops, pantry, sunroom, TUFF garden shed & detached one car garage. Hardiplank siding, extensive brickwork & paved driveway complement this home. A true gem!

5BR/3.5BA hardiplank home w/7.2 A. in a private gated community. Open floor plan w/custom kitchen, SS appliances, granite, & downstairs primary BR. 4 stall center aisle barn w/tack room, feed room, wash stall, storage, & laundry. Two 12x14 stalls w/1 in/out stall to a dry paddock. 3 grass paddocks, private sand riding arena & community trail system, arena, & access to picturesque ponds. The camera security system monitors the house & barn.

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.

UNDER CONTRACT

Great home located near the hospital, USCA, restaurants & shopping. The well laid out floor plan has an open kitchen/great room w/gas fireplace, separate dining room w/picture frame wainscotting & laminate wood & carpet floors. Owner’s suite is located on the main level & includes a large walkin closet & dual sink vanity in the bathroom. The upstairs has two bedrooms/one bath & loft area. New water heater & all appliances convey.

Exquisite lakefront 5 BR home on 9.8 A with over 8,612 square feet of living space on three levels with a second residence is privately situated in the gated community of Farmstead with easy access to downtown Aiken or Augusta. Separate 3 BR/2BA 1639 sq. ft. hardiplank and brick apartment built in 2018 over a 3-car garage. Fish from your own gazebo and enjoy the casual elegance of this home.

3 bedrooms/2.5 bathroom home w/saltwater pool located on 1.19 acres of land. Freshly painted interior, this house has wood floors & stone fireplace in living room & light filled dining room. Beadboard ceiling kitchen w/eat-in area, white cabinetry, and stainless steel appliances. Primary bedroom w/trey ceiling & large bathroom w/double vanities. Bonus features flex space, ideal for a home office. Attached 2 car garage, City water & high-speed internet. Back patio & deck overlook a fenced saltwater pool and pool house.

OLDE AIKEN $499,000 KINGS RIDGE $869,000

Delightful Morrison-Wright Cottage, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, offers an elegant home and beautiful gardens to enjoy entertaining and fine living in downtown Aiken, SC. This impressive 'town' house will captivate those who appreciate the glamour of yesteryear and those looking for a harmonious combination of formal, family and outdoor living spaces for a stylish Southern lifestyle!

Eleven fluted Corinthian columns grace the front porch with extraordinary carved capitals, all in excellent condition. The detailed restoration of the fan-shaped leaded window and side panels of the front door will last another 100 years! The drama of the grand entrance is a perfect setting to continue the glamorous living that began in the early 20th century. Imagine a holiday tree gracing the front hall, seen through the front door, welcoming your guests with good cheer! You will love the prime in-town location, an easy stroll or bike to downtown restaurants, shops, art & performing arts venues. Both Aiken and Palmetto Golf Clubs are nearby as are Hitchcock Woods, boarding & training facilities for horse & rider. We invite you to come see this sensational downtown Aiken property to appreciate its grandeur, restoration & exceptional livability!

5 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath Home | 5926 sf | 2 Car Parking Pavilion

Heated "Cocktail" Pool | Patio | Wrought Iron and Brick Fenced Entry & Gardens Offered for $1,600,000

Resort-Style Living - Kings Ridge

928

Nestled on 5+ acres, this stunning home offers 3-levels of living space with a fabulous kitchen and primary suite on the main floor. Gather friends/family for ‘game night’ in the lower level or for ‘movie night’ in your personal home theater. Outside, relax to the sound of the 3-tier waterfalls by the zero entry, heated pool and attached spa. The outdoor pavilion enjoys a 7 seat, granite bar area; refrigerators, RecTeq grill, dining & living area w/fireplace. Just beyond you will find a lighted, multisport court perfect for your morning workout! Come explore this sporting life property!

6 Bedrooms | 5.17 Acres | Pool & Sport Court

Offered for $1,600,000

Renovated, Historic Home on 4.56 Acres on Beautiful Landscaped Grounds. Fine Appointments include an Inviting Southern Veranda, Pine & Heartpine Flooring & High Ceilings. Gorgeous Great Room w/ Full Bar is Ideal for Hosting Sizable Parties, Hunt Breakfasts & More. Home Features Elevator, Luxurious Primary Suite and 4 Guest Bedrooms with Private Baths. Property includes Guest Apartment, Fitness Room/Studio, 3-Bay Garage & Equipment Garage. Gated, Fenced Level Land is Ready for Your Equestrian and Sporting Life Amenities. Prime Location Close to Horse District & Views to Bruce’s Field! 5+ BR Home | 4.56 Acres | Guest Apt | Studio Offered for $1,950,000

Captivating equestrian and waterfront property offering a harmonious blend of tranquility, privacy, and convenience for the equestrian and sporting life enthusiasts. Quality built lux home and barn, stunning infinity pool and spa. Enjoy dockside entertaining and some of the best spotted bass fishing around! Have a 3-sport day at home & head up to the barn to tack up and take a ride on the trails or to school your horse in the nearby Mt. Vintage community arena. Your sanctuary at Sea Horse Farm awaits !

3 BR + 3.5 Bath Home| Heated Pool | Dock

8+ Acres | 5-Stall Barn | 3 Pastures

Offered for $1,785,000

356 Sorrell Red Court

Cissie Sullivan

Tracey Turner

Photography

Addison Amato competing at the Stable View Eventing Academy schooling show on the Connemara stallion Get Smart.

Photography by Gary Knoll Section Three Rachel Chowanec Kaney riding Romano BRH, a PRE gelding owned by Lee Burton of John's Island, S.C. Grand Prix Dressage in the "Spring" at the Aiken Horse Park.

Photography by Pam Gleason

2023

Aiken Horse The

If you have turned on the news lately, you can’t escape the coverage of the hot weather that is making so many parts of the country and the world unbearable. We’re lucky in Aiken, however, since we are having a very normal summer so far. Sure it’s hot, but it’s always hot here in July. Fortunately, we have frequent afternoon thunderstorms and relatively cool nights and mornings. This has made it a great summer for riding, as long as you get up early enough to avoid the midday heat and sun. As of now, we haven’t even had any 100-degree days, putting 2023 at the bottom of the list for extreme hot weather recorded in the state since 1893. (In case you are wondering, the year with the highest number of 100-degree-plus days in Aiken was 1902, when the thermometer surpassed the century mark an astounding 30 times! The hottest day on record was August 22, 1983, when the high was 109.)

Summer really is Aiken’s most underrated season. When the weather is good, as it has been this year, it is actually quite pleasant for riding, schooling and competing. We have had plenty of rain, so the grass in our pastures is lush and green, making our horses fat and happy without much effort from us. We have some bugs, but nothing like what they have in many other equestrian places. The woods, fields and wetland areas are filled with wildlife: deer, foxes and colorful birds, including our favorite bluebirds, Mississippi kites and the prehistoric-looking wood storks and pileated woodpeckers. We also have a bald eagle or

two flying around Aiken County, and any day now I expect to see cattle egrets in the fields with horses. When I think about what makes Aiken, Aiken, for me it starts with horses and history, but it also includes natural beauty and wildlife. Summer is a great time to appreciate all of these things. We think we have a great issue for you and we hope you enjoy it. Our AugustSeptember issue marks the beginning of a new year at The Aiken Horse, our 19th. It’s hard to believe we have been around so long, because it seems like it was only yesterday that a handful of friends gathered in my office to discuss what needed to be in an Aiken newspaper devoted to horses. On the other hand, we have seen a lot of changes in the 18-plus years since we were founded, mostly in the dramatic expansion of the summer calendar and the growth of the year round equestrian population. Growth is a tricky thing, of course. We want enough growth to sustain a healthy economy, but we don’t want so much that we lose our small-town feel. We also need to be vigilant about protecting our green space and natural areas, including not just riding areas, but wetlands, forests and downtown old growth trees such as the South Boundary live oaks. Without nature, Aiken would not be Aiken at all. We hope everyone has been having a wonderful summer and is looking forward to the fall season. We know we are! As ever, if you know something we should know, or you have an idea for an article, reach out and let us know. We are a small, local publication, and we rely on our readers to spot the next Aiken trend and keep us up-to-date on what is happening. We want to continue to be your horse newspaper.

Gleason Editor & Publisher

Fall 2023 Aiken’s Action

By Pam Gleason

It might not feel like it yet, but we don’t have much summertime left. By August, the days are getting noticeably shorter, the oppressive heat is starting to abate, and autumn is well on its way. Fall is one of the busiest times in the Aiken horse world, and this year will be no exception. What’s coming up? Here is an abbreviated guide.

Hunter-Jumper & Dressage

Bruce’s Field at the Aiken Horse Park, which has generally been quiet in the summer, has not had much of a break at all this year, hosting the Aiken Summer Classic A rated hunter-jumper shows the third and fourth weeks of June, Dressage in the “Spring” in July, and two weeks

The hunter-jumpers have also been patronizing the A-rated series at Stable View this summer, which has its last A-rated show on September 21 and its Fall Finale November 2-5. The series offers generous prize money, including $100,000 in bonuses for competitors who have participated in seven of the nine shows. Stable View also has recognized dressage shows in August and September and schooling dressage shows in September, October and November. Additionally, the Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) Championships will be returning the first week of October, bringing in Thoroughbreds from around the region. You have to qualify for the championships by showing somewhere that T.I.P. points are offered and the cutoff date to qualify is August 31. If you have a Thoroughbred and you’re interested in participating, make sure to declare your interest. (tjctip.com for more information and the necessary forms.)

Other shows this fall include a full schedule of schooling and locallyrated hunter-jumper shows at Highfields Event Center, as well as the Full Gallop Farm Halloween Open Horse Show on October 29.

Eventing

Aiken’s eventing calendar seems to be growing all the time, with both recognized and schooling opportunities at several local facilities. Some highlights include

of A-rated Equus Events Aiken Summerfest in the latter half of August. As we head into September, Equus Events will be back at the park with their signature fall event, the Premier-rated Aiken Fall Festival, followed by two weeks of “October at Bruce’s Field.” This is the show that falls over the Halloween holiday, and always features a Halloween-themed costume class. Then, anyone who loves the jumpers shouldn’t miss the return of the Split Rock Aiken CSI2*, which brings world class talent to Aiken from November 8-12.

the annual Oktoberfest

$60,000 FEI CCI-S 2-4 star and USEF/USEA Horse Trials from September 29-October 1 at Stable View. This event is designed to be spectator friendly, and, among other things, offers “Graze and Gaze” on Saturday evenings at the elegant pavilion, featuring wine, beer, soda and a variety of other refreshments.

Other interesting happenings include a Young Event Horse and New Event Horse qualifier at The Vista on September 13. The YEH and NEH events, which generally include some lovely young horses shown in hand, provide a great opportunity for people with green horses to get them to a competition, and for spectators to see tomorrow’s champions. There are also monthly recognized and unrecognized horse trials, combined trainings and derbies at Full Gallop and Sporting Days, and the popular Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials at Stable View in August, October and November. Jumping Branch will hold a combined test,

The Split Rock Aiken CSI2* brings world class talent to the Aiken Horse Park.

Oktoberfest at Stable View

showjumping and dressage event on October 21, and Dancing Horses Equestrian out in Williston has regular low key competitions perfect for horses and riders just getting their feet wet in the sport.

Polo

Players whose horses have been taking the summer off will be getting them ready again starting in August, while those who have been playing all summer somewhere that’s cooler than here will be winding down their season up North and getting ready for Aiken’s fall tournaments.

The practice polo season begins in early September at Aiken’s four active clubs, and tournaments commence by the second or third week of September. Aiken Polo Club has two four goals, two six goals and two women’s tournaments. Wagener Polo will have three six goals and a four goal, and New Bridge will have three eight goals and the New Bridge Women’s Challenge. Along with the two women’s tournaments at Aiken

Driving, Steeplechase & More

There is, of course, so much more on the schedule than what has been mentioned here. Some marquee events include the Windsor Trace CDE and CT, a combined driving event in Windsor the first weekend of November. This event brings in whips and their horses from around the region and is the largest driving happening in the Aiken area.

Do you need to buy a horse? Do you enjoy watching other people buy them? Then you can’t miss the Best of the West Horse Sale that will be taking over the Aiken Training Track in downtown Aiken September 29 and 30. Best of the West is almost as much a horse show as it is a sale –expect to see people do things with horses that you did not think were possible – or that you were cautioned not to do when you were a child.

Do you want to help a horse? Plan to attend the annual “Mane and Shell” oyster roast that is a fundraiser for Aiken Equine Rescue. The oyster roast takes place at the rescue, 532 Glenwood Drive on Aiken’s Southside, and will be held on October 19.

Polo Club, and one at La Bourgogne, this will make four women’s tournaments in Aiken, which is likely to attract outside players and teams from around the country, as well as at least a few from overseas. Don’t miss the annual Ponies and Pearls women’s final at New Bridge, which is a benefit for the Brooke USA Foundation, an organization that promotes equine welfare worldwide. The event takes place on October 22.

Other polo highlights include the National Youth Tournament Series Final at New Bridge, September 13 -17. This tournament will feature some of the most talented young players in the country who had to qualify for the finals by being named an All Star in a qualifying NYTS match during the season. There are also pavilion games on Saturdays at Aiken’s newest venue, La Bourgogne Club de Polo on Coleman Bridge Road in Wagener. Featured games at La Bourgogne include the Chukkers of Hope fundraiser on September 30 and the Anthony Meunier “Give Me Wings” 20 goal in October. The most unique polo event of the year is probably La Bourgogne’s “Polo Sous La Lune” match which takes place after dark on a lighted field on November 11 out at La Bourgogne.

If you don’t play polo but want to watch, Sunday is the traditional day for a match game with spectators and an announcer, but during the season, you can often find a match any day but Monday. La Bourgogne’s featured games are all on Saturdays so they don’t conflict with the other clubs, and they are always set up with spectators in mind.

Check the clubs’ websites for tournament schedules, and call the hotlines for daily match schedules. (Aiken Polo: 803-643-3611, aikenpolo.org; La Bourgogne: 305- 790-5212 labourgogneclubdepolo. com; New Bridge: 803-644-7706, newbridgepoloclub.com; Wagener: 803-566-8610, wagenerpolo.com.)

Finally, the Aiken Steeplechase will hold its fall meet on Saturday, November 18. If you haven’t been to the new racecourse yet, this will be a good chance to check it out. The National Steeplechase Association holds Aiken’s new track in extremely high regard. In fact, NSA representatives were so impressed with the design, the footing and the overall facility that they rearranged their fall calendar to make Aiken’s meet the final one of the season. It will feature championship races and $130,000 in purse money spread out over five races. Since this will be the last chance for trainers, owners, horses and jockeys to earn points for year-end championships, expect to see some top horses and fierce competition. The fall meet is usually a more local and horseoriented affair than the spring meet, and includes shops, entertainment, refreshments and the very popular stick horse races for kids. Tickets are on sale now – go to aikensteeplechase.com for more information or to secure your spot.

Consult our full schedule in Section Three for more, and check back with us in the October- November issue for any updates. As ever, if you are considering attending any of these events as a competitor or a spectator, be sure to call or visit the relevant website first to ensure that dates and times have not changed and to find out any other important information before you leave the house.

There will be four women's polo tournaments in Aiken this fall.

Photography by Gary Knoll

News and Notes

Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Championships to Stable View

The University of South Carolina Aiken Intercollegiate Eventing team is the reigning national champion. The team won that distinction this spring at the Intercollegiate Championships at Tryon International in Mill Spring, North Carolina. Next May, they will have the chance to defend the title on their home turf when the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Intercollegiate/Interscholastic championship comes to Stable View.

Stable View has been awarded the joint competition for 2024 and 2025, and organizers are already hard at work to make the event both memorable and distinctive. The championships will be held during Stable View’s regularly scheduled Local Charities May Horse Trials, and levels will run from Beginner-Novice through Intermediate. The competition takes place from May 4-5, 2024 and May 2-3, 2025.

The USEA has been holding intercollegiate competition since 2015 and offering an intercollegiate championship since 2016. This will be the first time, however, that there will be an interscholastic eventing championship. The Interscholastic Eventing League was approved by the USEA in August 2020, with a mission to “bring together junior riders with a common interest and provide a supportive community through which students can continue to pursue their riding interests.”

To be eligible to become a member of the IEL, young people must be registered as junior members of the USEA and they must be in the 7th through 12th grade. There are no restrictions on what kind of school a member attends, and homeschooled and online-schooled students are welcome. Members of the IEL can form teams based on any kind of association: they may go to the same school, ride at the same barn, belong to the same Pony Club, or they might just be good friends. The only restriction is

that riders may only be affiliated with one interscholastic team at a time. There is no limit to the number of riders on a team.

The IEL is just getting started and there are currently only 27 registered IEL affiliate teams. There are none so far in the Aiken

everybody how low the barriers to entry are,” said Barry Olliff. “It’s very easy to put a team together.”

Plans for the championships themselves include additions to the school spirit competition, which will include such things

area, despite a plethora of young people here who event. Barry Olliff, who owns and runs Stable View along with his wife Cyndi says that their goal is to double the number of affiliate teams in the interscholastic organization and encourage more young people to sign up.

“Our job is to go out and create interscholastic teams, just by telling

as a hobby horse trials, representing all three phases of an event, along with stall and window decorating contests.

For more information, visit the Stable View website (https://Stable Viewfarm. com) or the USEA’s page about the IEL (https://useventing.com/eventscompetitions/competitions/interscholasticeventing-league)

Aiken has plenty of young event riders who could make up interscholastic teams to compete in next spring's championship

Maryland 5-Star

The third annual Maryland 5-Star Three-Day event is approaching in October, offering U.S. event riders a chance to compete at the pinnacle of the sport during the fall season. This is an opportunity previously achievable only by flying to Europe to compete at the Burghley CCI 5-Star in England or at Étoiles de Pau in France.

This year’s event, held at Fair Hill in Elkton, Maryland, runs from October 1316 and includes a CCI-5*L, a CCI-3*-L (which is the national championship at this level) as well as the USEA Young Event Horse Championships. There are only seven 5-star eventing competitions in the world,

teams and he said, “I think it’s made the eventing circuit here in America so much better with the opportunity to run the 5-Star horses twice a year here in America, instead of shipping your horse all the way to Burghley or Pau. For my own selfish reasons – it’s only 20 minutes from my house in Pennsylvania – to be able to compete at a five-star and sleep in your own bed is really special since usually I have to fly halfway around the world.”

Following the fall three-day events, Boyd’s horses get some time off and then start back into work in December. They usually ship to Aiken in January and then he said they spend a couple of months working on their fitness

for the 5-star level in the spring, to be able to give it a few more months and contest Maryland [in October] instead of Kentucky [in April] is healthy for them. It can only be positive for the sport to have another fivestar here.” He added, “Having another fivestar here in the U.S. is also a reason for the top international riders to come over here to compete, and for the up-and-coming riders it’s another chance to size themselves up against the best riders in the world.”

- Amber Heintzberger

SC Equine Advancement Act

Once again there is an act being proposed in the South Carolina state legislature that, if passed, would make it legal to bet on horse racing in this state. The current legislation is called the South Carolina Equine Advancement Act, and it was developed by the South Carolina General Assembly’s bipartisan Equine Industry Support Committee. The bill would make it legal for South Carolina residents to participate in online wagering on horse racing through a very limited number of specially licensed online wagering shops. A portion of the proceeds from those bets would be used to fund a grant program for equestrian businesses, nonprofits and activities. Proceeds would also be used to create an official, self-funded South Carolina Equine Commission. Supporters of the bill stress that its creation is being driven by the need to provide grants and funding to the equestrian industry, not by the desire of online wagering companies to set up shop in South Carolina.

including Maryland in the fall and Land Rover Kentucky in the spring.

Boyd Martin, a top international competitor, won the inaugural 2021 Maryland 5- Star riding the Turner family’s mare On Cue. He and his wife Silva, who is a Grand Prix dressage rider, are based out of their own farm, Windurra, in Cochranville, Pennsylvania, but Boyd spends his winters in Aiken at Stable View. This year Boyd plans to compete three horses at Maryland: Contessa, Luke 140 and Catarina. He will also take his Tokyo Olympics partner Tsetserleg (also owned by the Turner family) to Burghley and he’ll compete Fedarman B (Bruno) owned by the Annie Goodwin Syndicate, at Pau. Boyd has represented the United States on multiple Olympic and World Championship

and preparing for the spring competition season, so the Maryland 5-Star fits well into his existing schedule.

Other Aiken eventers who will head to Maryland this fall include Emily Hamel (featured in the June-July issue of The Aiken Horse) and Sarah Kuhn, who has a story in this issue. Sarah and her horse Mr. Cash Van de Start will be making their first 5-star appearance.

Boyd Martin said that he thinks having a fall 5-Star on U.S. soil will help American riders be more competitive in the future, partly because it will give them more time to prepare for the level if they are stepping up rather than pushing to make it to Kentucky in April.

“If you have a horse that’s not quite ready

There have been various attempts over the years to legalize betting on horse races in both Georgia and South Carolina, usually in conjunction with plans to build parimutuel racetracks in the state. None of these have been successful. Although South Carolina does have a lottery (they are careful to call it the “education” lottery) and allows residents to participate in some multi-state lotteries as well, gambling is illegal in the state, and the rules are pretty strict. It is, in fact, expressly illegal to do such things as play cards for money in your own house, and even to have a friendly wager with your friends at the Aiken Steeplechase. (Oops.) Did you know that it is illegal in South Carolina for a homeowner to permit “any game or games to be played in his house on the Sabbath?” Given these strong feelings against gambling, a bill to allow online wagering on horse races seems like it might face a bit of an uphill battle.

Proponents of the bill, however, put most of their emphasis on the parts of the legislation that are designed to support the equine industry, relegating the parts  that deal with gambling to a secondary position and further

Continued on page 24

Boyd Martin riding On Cue at Bromont this year. Photography by Michelle Dunne

obfuscating the effect of the bill by using unfamiliar terms to describe it. The kind of betting that the bill would allow is called Advanced Deposit Wagering, which basically means you have to pay for your bets before you place them and cannot bet on credit. It is the kind of wagering generally used in online betting on horse racing by such outfits as Twinspires.com, where you could have bet on the Kentucky Derby this May if you did not happen to live in South Carolina where this is illegal.

The effects of this bill, if passed, could be far-reaching. For instance it would open the door to parimutuel wagering (online, using your phone) at such events as the Aiken Trials and the Carolina Cup, provided both the tracks and the parimutuel companies were on board.

Promotional material provided by proponents of the bill can be found on the website saveschorses.com and includes statistics gleaned from a 2019 study carried out by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and the University of South Carolina’s SmartState Center of Economic Excellence on the economic impact of the equine sector in South Carolina. This study found that the equine industry contributes nearly $2 billion to the state’s economy each year and directly supports about 29,000 jobs. The study also found that the horse industry in the state was both healthy and growing rapidly, a message that seems to be contradicted by the saveschorses website, which relies more heavily on a recent study committee report written by the South Carolina House Committee on Agriculture after interviewing stakeholders from around the state. This study’s conclusion is that the horse industry is dwindling and that we are in danger of losing “most if not all of the jobs and investment in South Carolina related to the equine industry to neighboring states” unless we do something to shore up the equestrian economy.

Whether the horse industry here is growing and healthy, or dwindling and about to die out, establishing a self-supporting grant program for equestrian activities would likely be quite beneficial for South Carolina’s horsemen, especially for those in rural areas. Equestrian nonprofits in the state, whose revenues have been heavily impacted by the pandemic and other economic woes, would also welcome whatever support they could get. And legalizing online sports betting on horse racing? Let’s just say it could be fun.

The Race for Aiken Mayor

The Presidential race is the biggest election news in America these days, but there are many local contests that may have a more significant impact on people’s lives. One of those is going on here and now: the race for Mayor of Aiken. The current mayor, Rick Osbon, has held the position since 2015 and is now running for a third term. When he ran for reelection last time, in 2019, he was unopposed. This year, two challengers have stepped forward. One of them is Teddy Milner, a longtime successful businesswoman who owns the downtown restaurant It’s All Good. The other is Kathryn Wade, an Aiken native, businesswoman and a member of the Housing Authority board. Both women say that they want to increase transparency and accountability in city government, and both are committed to preserving those things that “make Aiken, Aiken.”

All three candidates are Republicans and will meet in a primary election on Tuesday, August 8. If any candidate gets 51% of the vote, he or she will be the Republican nominee. If no candidate gets 51% of the vote, there will be a runoff election between the top two vote-getters on August 22.

The official mayoral election takes place on Tuesday, November 7. However, since there is no Democratic candidate, the primary election on August 8 is the only race that counts: the Republican nominee will be unopposed in the general. In a regular November election, about 7,500 people vote for mayor. An August election is

likely to draw a smaller crowd, especially with many city residents out of town during the hottest months of the year.

It’s difficult to beat incumbents in American elections – in 2022, 90% of incumbents running for local executive branch offices won their races. However, with what is likely to be a relatively small turnout, a few hundred votes could make a big difference, diminishing the incumbent advantage.

Because of this, supporters of each candidate are stressing that every vote definitely counts. The challengers hope to benefit from a “throw the bums out” mentality that is animating city residents who were opposed to the now-defunct Project Pascalis. This was the plan that would have razed the Hotel Aiken and the entire block it sits on to make a multistory hotel and parking garage.

Project Pascalis is no longer under consideration, but there are other controversial plans, including a downtown presence for the Savannah River Nuclear Laboratory, which some residents believe would destroy Aiken’s small-town charm. Other changes that have raised alarms include the apparently accidental removal of old growth trees near the Farmer’s Market, and what some people contend is an official emphasis on rapid growth at the expense of preservation. Opposition to the current administration has often been quite vocal.

Although Lessie Price, a member of the Aiken City Council, has served as Mayor Pro-Tempore, no woman has ever been electedMayor of Aiken. This is surprising considering that women have been strong leaders in the city, and especially in equestrian culture, ever since the days of Louise Hitchcock, Godmother of the Aiken Winter Colony, and Eulalie Salley, the city’s premier realtor in the 1920s and 1930s. Could that change this year? We will find out soon enough.

The primary takes place on Tuesday, August 8. Early voting started on Monday, July 24 and runs until Friday, August 4. Any city resident who is a registered voter is eligible to cast a ballot in the primary, regardless of party affiliation. Not sure where to vote? Your voting location might be the same one you use during other local and national elections, but it also might have changed. Early voting takes place exclusively at the Aiken County Government Center at 1930 University Parkway. For more information on or where to vote, check out the City of Aiken website: www.cityofaikensc.gov

Wanda Key Shepard

The Aiken equestrian community was shocked and saddened to hear of the unexpected death of Wanda Key Shepard on July 15. Wanda worked in the Progressive Show Jumping office at Highfields for two decades and was a board member of the South Carolina Hunter Jumper Association. She was famous for her dedication to her job and to her horse show and personal families, her sense of humor and her no-nonsense personality. She cared deeply about the people who came to her shows, and was known to text trainers to make sure that they got home safely after a late day showing. She also sent out texts to remind people about entry deadlines – “Girl, get your entries in,” was a typical message. Her friends remember her especially for her love of animals, for her devotion to her children and grandchildren, and for her favorite drink: Dr. Pepper.

Progressive Show Jumping has announced that they will be dedicating their Back-to-School show on August 4-6 to Wanda’s memory. In addition, they will allow all pony hunters that are qualified for the 2023 USEF Pony Finals to show for free during the event.

Wanda was born in Augusta, Georgia and grew up in New Ellenton, South Carolina. Survivors include her husband, Dr. Gary Shepard; two sons, Brandon and Justin Smith of New Ellenton, two grandchildren, Madison and Collin Smith; sister-in-law, Tamara Key, and niece and nephew, Haley Napier and Colt Key. A Go Fund Me has been set up to help her family with her final expenses, and memorial contributions may be sent to Danny and Ron’s Rescue, PO Box 604, Camden, SC 29021 (dannyronsrescue.org). Wanda was 55.

Now Available Offered through New Bridge Realty

Woodland Farm: $1,200,000

Woodland Farm is situated on 18 acres in the heart of New Bridge Polo Club on Paloma Lane. The stables boasts 16 matted stalls with indoor wash stall, tack and feed rooms, groom’s quarters with en-suite, horse laundry and ample storage. Lovely owner’s apartment with updated kitchen, bathrooms and open floor plan living and dining rooms. Ten lush, green paddocks for turnout with mature shade trees. This farm is a unique property that is centrally located to all club amenities, including Field #1, the clubhouse, pool, tennis court, and exercise track. Ready for you and your horses to call home, this gem won’t last long, so hurry!

Dove Cottage: $565,000

Dove Cottage sits atop a scenic ridge providing unobstructcted views of serene horse pastures which surround the 7-acre parcel. This 2 bed/2-bath cottage, which was completed in 2022, features lovely rear and front porches, vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, granite countertops, and white plantation shutters with Board and Batten Hardi Panel siding. Gated property, perimeter fenced with several paddocks ready for horses. Ample room for barn and riding ring.

Lauren Circle: $80,000

Lot 3B is a lovely, 1.2 acre parcel next to newly built homes on Laurens Circle. Scenic views of polo fields 4 and 5 and established horse pastures in the distance. This level lot can accomodate just about any style home. A private and serene setting allows you to enjoy the country and equestrian lifestyle in a secure, gated community with the amenities of an equestrian country club. This lot is ready for you to build your dream home!

USPA NYTS Championships

September 13-17, 2023

USPA Northrup Knox 8 Goal

September 20 - October 8, 2023

*New Bridge Women’s Challenge 10-14 Goal

October 9 - 22, 2023

*USPA National President’s Cup 8 Goal®

October 11-29, 2023

Bronze Trophy 8 Goal®

October 27 - November 5, 2023

* Prize Money Awarded

newbridgepolo.com

FALL POLO SCHEDULE

Secret Lives of Horses Angel: A Local Legend

By Nancy Johnson

Angelica Dee Bar, a 26-year-old registered Paint mare, has always been known simply as Angel. According to her owner, Tammy Hanson, the name suits her.

Tammy was teaching at a riding stable in Las Vegas in 2003 when she first met Angel. “I needed to retire my son’s pony which I also used for lessons. The farm owner suggested I give Angel a try as a replacement,” Tammy says. She was a bit hesitant because Angel, a 5-year-old at the time, was very green.

Despite her greenness, Angel was very gentle and well behaved with the lesson students and Tammy’s son, Kyle, instantly fell in love with her. “We bought Angel in 2004 for Kyle’s 11th birthday,” Tammy remembers.

Kyle and Angel learned everything together. “Angel really had done nothing before Kyle started riding her,” Tammy explains. Supposedly, the little mare’s previous owner had had her under saddle for about 60 days with the intention of making her a reining horse before Tammy purchased her. Kyle never did any reining with her, but he did just about everything else.

Although Angel took to jumping immediately, she did have one odd quirk for a while. “She had a definite dislike for white fences,” Tammy says. “Some white was okay, but if it was solid white, she’d stop.” She soon got over it and became a very consistent jumper. Kyle and Angel were active in Pony Club and regularly competed in dressage, eventing, and show jumping on the West Coast.

When the family moved to Aiken in 2005, Tammy became the co-District Commissioner for Aiken County Pony Club and Kyle and Angel quickly made a name for themselves, competing in all disciplines of Pony Club rallies as well as other local competitions.

Tammy remembers a highlight of their Pony Club days. In 2008, Kyle on Angel and another Aiken Pony Club member, Mary Taylor Miller aboard her Haflinger, Slick, performed a pas de deux at the Pony Club Championships in Lexington, Virginia. Dressed as bride and groom in costumes made by Mary’s mother, Angel and Slick won the crowd and judge’s approval, taking home the blue ribbon for their performance.

By the time he was 15, Kyle’s interest in riding was waning due to other teenage activities. “That’s when I took over Angel and I’ve enjoyed trail riding her ever since,” Tammy says. Although Kyle now lives in Los Angeles, when he visits, he spends lots of time with Angel and always takes her for a little ride.

For a time, Tammy also taught lessons on Angel and discovered the mare was an especially good mount for students with disabilities. “She was fantastic with Down syndrome kids and kids with autism that I taught, so quiet and patient.” Angel was also in a summer camp program for special needs kids. “She was just unbelievable; kids would be sitting on her, and she would just close her eyes and rest.”

Angel added another line to her resume in 2018 when Tammy and her friend Carol McElwee founded the Aiken Volunteer Mounted Unit. Formed in partnership with Aiken Department of Public Safety, members of the Aiken Volunteer Mounted Unit serve as ambassadors to the community and act in a non-law enforcement capacity in various operations, ceremonial details, and other areas of public relations.

Angel has been a regular on the team ever since, participating at many local events including the Aiken Trials, opening ceremonies for the annual horse show at the Great Oak Therapeutic Riding Center, and just recently an “Amp the Alley” music concert in downtown Aiken. This summer Angel will be spending some time at the Odell Weeks Center as part of the City of Aiken’s Parks and Recreation department’s

summer children’s programs. She will also be at the upcoming movie nights hosted by Aiken Steeplechase. “She’s become quite a local legend. At events, Angel and I are usually the ones carrying the South Carolina flag,” Tammy says, adding, “The state flag has to be lower than the American flag, and since Angel is only 14.2, she’s the right height.”

Tammy notes that Angel is perfect for local events because she is

good with kids. “She’s not an ‘in your pocket’ kind of horse, but rather is a bit more standoffish. Some of the horses in our group tend to push themselves right into people’s faces for attention, which can scare people. Angel just stands back and waits until they approach her.”

Angel has one blue eye and one brown eye, an unusual trait that seems to fascinate the local community. “For some reason this shocks people and they often ask if she is blind in the blue eye, which she is not,” Tammy confirms.

As wonderful as she is, Tammy confides that Angel, like any horse, is not perfect. “The worst thing about Angel is that she does not like to be alone. When we travel to do an exhibition, she has to have another horse with her at the trailers. She has always been like that. When Kyle was showing her, she would scream if a horse that came with her walked off. Oddly, I take her alone on trail rides all the time. She is fine with that, but if she starts out with a buddy, she doesn’t want them to leave her.”

Ever since moving to Aiken, Angel has lived at home with Tammy, her family and their other horses. She lives outside as much as possible, but during hot weather she spends more time inside with fans. Currently, her stablemates include two mini horses, two mini donkeys, and a mustang that is her best friend.

“I bought the mustang for myself last October so that Angel could retire,” Tammy says. She rode the new horse in the Aiken Christmas parade, and ever since then the mustang has been on stall rest with one ailment after another, including a suspensory strain. “I’ve spent a fortune in vet bills on the mustang. I keep saying how easy Angel has been for all these years. She has been amazingly healthy, and I hope she will continue to be for many more years.”

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

Not our first rodeo.

BRIDLE CREEK

EQUESTRIAN COMMUNITY

From the developer of Three Runs Plantation comes another wonderful equestrian neighborhood in Aiken, South Carolina. Bridle Creek meanders across 1,000 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. Now selling in Phase Three. Inquire today by calling 1-888-297-8881 or email info@bridlecreekaiken.com

1,000 Acres Miles of groomed and marked trails Jump arena Dressage arena with mirrors X-Country schooling area

Homesites from 5+ acres

From the developer of Three Runs Plantation

Aiming High Sarah Kuhn’s Five-Star Ambitions

By Amber Heintzberger

When, Sarah Kuhn, who is a professional eventer, moved to Aiken, she had left a budding career in environmental marketing to pursue her passion with horses. Nine years later, she has expanded her original farm from 12 to 75 acres and has a thriving business, a string of

purchased him sight unseen off a video from complete strangers in Belgium. Her original plan was to get him going and then resell him.

“He seemed talented but not ultra-talented,” she recalled. “I tried to sell him, but he was too spooky and quirky. I had a young horse that was injured, so I ended up keeping him to compete. He’s been a very good horse, and I’m excited about him. He definitely is an individual! He was always quirky, but he has always been willing to work for me.”

Together the pair have galloped around nine 4-star level events, including at Stable View in Aiken, at the Carolina International at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, North Carolina and at the Land Rover Kentucky 3-Day-Event in Lexington. Now they are aiming for this fall’s Maryland 5-Star at Fair Hill in Elkton, Maryland. With the event still several months away, Sarah said she’s trying not to think about it and stress too much, instead focusing on training and fitness for both herself and her horse.

“It’s a lifelong goal to do a 5-star, and to have developed him myself from Beginner-Novice is really exciting,” she said. “I feel like I wouldn’t want to do my first 5-star on any other horse, because he gives me a lot of confidence.”

Sarah had hoped to do the 5-star at Kentucky this spring, but missed the qualification by a few seconds on cross-country, so she needed to complete another 4-Star L competition. After completing the 4-L at Kentucky, looking back, she said that she feels everything happens for a reason. Looking forward to Maryland, Sarah said Mr. Cash is more developed than he was in the spring and is ready to step up to eventing’s top level.

upper level horses as well as a few young horses in the pipeline. Sarah Kuhn Equestrian is based at her own Fair Oak Farm on Wire Road in Aiken, and Sarah, 35, has been quietly making a name for herself on the upper level eventing circuit.

The horse that has been most instrumental in bringing Sarah up the levels is an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood named Mr. Cash Van De Start. Having just sold a few horses and with money to invest, she

“Competing at Kentucky was a lot!” she said. “It was a lot of atmosphere, but he performed really well. Obviously I wanted to be in the 5-star, and I want to do that next spring. Unfortunately he lost a shoe early on, so I couldn’t go super fast, but he jumped well and it gave me a lot of confidence. He’s still fairly young and hopefully has a long career ahead of him.”

Sarah’s mother, Deborah Kuhn, has owned the horse for his whole career and Sarah said that she is very supportive. “She doesn’t ride, but she’s very into eventing and producing young horses. She’s excited to have a 5-star horse; she still lives in Massachusetts, where I grew up, and comes to visit often and is very involved in his everyday maintenance and everything.”

Sarah and Mr. Cash at Carolina International. Photography by Pam Gleason

Sarah and Mr. Cash in the jog, LandRover Kentucky. Photography by Michelle Dunne

Mr. Cash

Sarah said Mr. Cash’s quirkiness makes any event an adventure. For one thing, he cannot go in a trailer by himself, and he always needs a buddy nearby when he travels to a competition. “You also have to feed him first; if you feed anyone else first, he loses his mind. Even if he doesn’t know the horse next to him, I have to distract him with treats when that horse leaves its stall or he’ll lose his mind. During arena familiarization, everyone knows to keep their distance from us, because he’s spinning around and freaking out. But he also knows when it’s time to get down to business. We don’t try to change him, we just accept who he is. . . .For example we have the same gallop track that we’ve been using for years, and he won’t go to one corner. We’ve tried giving him a lead, bribing him – I’ve tried everything but that corner just gets cut off when we gallop now.”

Mr. Cash can also be a difficult ride. “He’s extremely brave at the jumps but quirky and spooky and gets distracted between fences. He is a workhorse . . . I gave him a couple weeks off and he hated it so much I just got him going again. He’s nice on the flat, but not the biggest mover in the world, so it’s been a struggle getting him engaged and developed, but he never says no. He’s so willing, and a bit hot. I think he also has a restless mind, so he’s a good event horse because you can jump one day and do flat the next, and maybe take him out for trot sets. He really likes it.”

She laughed, “He’s so obsessed with other horses, but he actually doesn’t like other horses. We joke that he can’t be so mean to his friends! He’ll bite them and be mean to them even though he has to have another horse near him. But he’s a really sweet boy and tries really hard and I feel grateful to have him, obviously.”

Life in Aiken

Although she went to college and studied environmental science, Sarah’s passion was always horses. She tried a 9-to-5 job for a while, but her heart was not in it.

“I was riding as an amateur and decided I really wanted to ride fulltime and be a professional,” she said. “I really love it: It’s my passion and I can’t imagine doing anything else. Even when I’m away for a few days I miss it, so I know I’m doing the right thing. I do a lot of buying and selling, but at the moment I’m focusing on myself and my horses and I have a lot of clients, so I’m focused on helping them as well. I’m still interested in environmental work, but I’m really living my passion right now . . . my main hobby is also my career, so I just feel super lucky.”

Fair Oak Farm, which is in the Wire Road Polo Club development, is an ideal place for her business.

“It’s close to downtown Aiken, and I have about 30 horses here yearround,” she said. “I love Aiken, it’s a little hot in the summer but it’s a great community.” She added with a laugh, “And it’s better than winter in Massachusetts!”

Some of the horses at her farm belong to clients or are in for training and some are Sarah’s competition horses. In addition to Mr. Cash, these include Grey Gatsby, a 10-year-old Irish Sporthorse gelding that Sarah hopes to move from the 3-star to the 4-star next year and a 7-year-old Irish Sporthorse, Hashtag Trending, who has competed at 2-star and

will be doing the 3-star at Young Event Horse competitions in the near future. Sarah also has some exciting up-and-coming 5-year-olds.

“I love developing young horses and I’m lucky to have developed these to the upper levels; it’s taken a long time!” she said.

While she’s focused heavily on her own horses and competing, Sarah also enjoys watching her students succeed. Currently she has a number of students who are members of the USC Aiken Eventing Team and recently accompanied them to the Intercollegiate Championships in Tryon, North Carolina where the team won the competition.

“I’m so proud of them!” she said.

Looking back, Sarah said she has no regrets about making Aiken a home for herself and her horses. She takes advantage of the large number of upper level professionals in the area, training with Erin Sylvester, a 5 star eventer, on the jumping phases in the winter and with the renowned dressage trainer Jeremy Steinberg.

“Aiken is such a great place to be in terms of eventing, especially at the higher levels,” she continued. “We’ve got all these great venues like Stable View, Jumping Branch, Dara Knot, The Vista, and it’s a great community. We have so many resources for horses, and while there’s a lot of growth, downtown is still walkable and they’re preserving land in a nice way. Hitchcock Woods is an amazing place to ride. I really like it here.”

Competing in showjumping at LandRover Kentucky. Photography by Michelle Dunne

Built Back Better Daybreak Farm’s Rebirth

By Nancy Johnson

“Ihaveblocked the actual date out of my mind,” Stephanie von Bidder says. “It was just over two years ago, at the end of June.” That was the day the barn at her Daybreak Farm burned to the ground. Daybreak Farm is Stephanie’s boarding and training business on Sizemore Road in Aiken, and it has always been her passion. As tragic as it was to lose her barn, Stephanie is eternally grateful that not a single person or animal was killed or injured.

The past two years of rebuilding Daybreak have been quite a journey for Stephanie. While many in her situation would bemoan their bad luck, she looks for the positives she encountered through the process.

“It was really like the perfect storm for me to have the opportunity to build at this point in my life,” she begins. “Because if I had attempted to do this in my 20s, I wouldn’t have had a clue where to start or what things were important to me in a barn.”

But after having lived the life of a professional horseman for 20 years, Stephanie has seen a great deal and knows what works best for her and for her customers.

“It was devastating when I lost the barn as I had worked so hard to make it what I wanted. But there were always little things that bothered me about it, things that I couldn’t do anything about.” A smile comes to her face, and she adds, “This gave me the chance to change the things I didn’t like, while incorporating all the things that I loved about the old barn into the new one.”

Stephanie learned and experienced a lot, directly and indirectly, due to her loss. The fire at Daybreak was not the only prominent barn fire in Aiken that year. In fact, the barn at Aiken Equine Rescue had burned down just a few months before Daybreak did.

“I think the fact that the Aiken Equine Rescue barn fire had occurred and mine was right behind it really opened eyes,” Stephanie says. “These were both freak incidents in clean, well-run, and organized barns. People realized that this could happen to anyone, and it changes your life in a moment.”

She emphasizes that navigating insurance after a disaster is a challenge. “It’s not something you really want to know about, but I’ve learned some things that I feel are important to share. The biggest thing I found is that it is very difficult, especially with an older barn, to determine replacement value.” She explains that people think that because a

structure is older its value is less, but you will still pay current rates to rebuild. “Prices of materials fluctuate incredibly, as I’ve learned, and it’s very difficult to stay on top of that.

“In our day-to day-life, most of us hire someone to help us with our insurance needs. We pay our insurance premium and think that is that,” Stephanie says. “My biggest advice is to reevaluate your insurance needs regularly and be your own advocate. Having an accurate value figure is the most important thing. What my policy looks like today, even for my

home, is very different than before the fire.

“Another consideration is what you would do in a worst-case scenario. For me, that is having a horse business and no barn.” For someone in her situation, who owns her property, suddenly having to rent a place to run the business is a big additional expense.

“I was lucky enough to own my own place, but all of a sudden, I didn’t. I had no coverage for that – in fact, I didn’t even know such coverage existed.” This type of insurance, called business interruption insurance, is not common and is quite expensive, but Stephanie feels people should be aware of it so they can decide whether to take it.

“I put my insurance policies into place when I was in my 20s, I’m now 45,” Stephanie says. “It’s very easy to lose sight of what’s going on over time. Horse people are notoriously busy and are focused on their horses and not necessarily on the business part of things.”

It took about six months of muddling through insurance requirements and site cleanup before construction of the new barn could begin, which gave Stephanie time to choose a builder. Eventually she selected BJ Kemp, and while it took longer than she had hoped to complete the project, she feels strongly that she made the right choice. “BJ was fantastic to work with. He’s very laid back and put up with my many changes,” she says.

“The original barn had been built in pieces; it was like a little village,” Stephanie continues. She discovered that the somewhat unusual layout worked really well for her, because she could arrange horses in a manner that kept them all happy. “It was like having pods.”

Knowing that the design worked well for her, she decided to build the new barn with a similar footprint. The main barn consists of five stalls, two wash racks, a small kitchen area, and a lovely tack room. There is a (not-yet-finished) roomy apartment that looks out across the courtyard to a seven-stall shed row barn with several grooming stalls adjacent. Slightly removed from the main barn is a two-stall shed row that was spared in the fire. “It’s perfect for horses that are a bit territorial or don’t like being disturbed by other horses walking past.”

She admits that, at first, she was unsure about building a metal barn.

“I wanted the barn to have a warm feeling and I’ve seen a lot of metal barns that look industrial and cold, like an airplane hangar,” she says. The addition of wood doors and shutters, custom made by one of her customer’s husbands, gave the barn the softer look she wanted.

Stephanie says that throughout her ordeal, the Aiken horse community confirmed its compassion and loyalty in many ways. The outreach included everything from her neighbors Fernanda Kellogg and Kirk Henckles giving her stalls in their barn for six months, to her close friend Clint Bertalan taking time away from his arena construction business to do all the site work for the new barn. Some offered advice on building, and countless others just asked how things were going and gave much needed emotional support.

She is especially thankful to her customers, most of whom have been with her for a long time. “Their support has been unbelievable. They all pitched in and participated in the rebuilding process, offering their ideas and opinions on all sorts of things. This is their home too,” she says.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without my family,” Stephanie adds. Her parents moved to Aiken from New York about six months after the fire. Having them physically nearby, as opposed to talking on the phone, made a world of difference to her. “And they helped me so much financially,” she says. “If I had to wait for the insurance money to come in, I wouldn’t be able to get started for at least a year.”

“It’s been an amazing experience; I know that sounds kind of weird. I try to look at the positive and the silver lining. I’ve had a lot of opportunities– I’m a lucky person and I have so much to be thankful for. I am so blessed to have my family, friends, and customers. I’m very independent and I don’t like to ask for help, but honestly, I didn’t have to. People just wanted to help.”

Stephanie concludes, “This has been very fulfilling for me – I put my heart and soul into the old barn and with the new barn, I’ve completed my vision.”

Sporting Days Farm

Welcome to our 2023-2024 Schedule

“Where the Stars Meet”

2023 Season

Sat. Sep. 2nd CT Dressage, Jumpers, Jumper Derby

Sat. Oct. 22nd CT, Dressage, Jumpers, XC (2 phase and 3 phase)

Tues. Nov. 7th Ct, Dressage, Jumper, Jumper Derby

Wed. Nov. 8th Sporting Days Farm Awards Lunch Banquet

2024 Season

Sat. Jan. 6th

Sporting Days Farm USEF/USEA Horse Trials I

Sat.-Sun. Feb. 3rd & 4th Sporting Days Farm USEF/USEA Horse Trials II

Sun. March 3rd

Sat. April 20th

Sporting Days Farm USEF/USEA Horse Trials III

Sporting Days Farm USEF/USEA Horse Trials IV

sportingdaysfarm.com

Seasonal Stall Rentals

3549 Charleston Hwy, Aiken, SC 29801 803-226-2024

Photography by Gary Knoll

Filling the Western Gap Blue Collar Performance Horses

Story and Photography by Jessica O’Connor

Blair Cummings has had a vision of bringing more western riding resources to the Aiken area ever since she and her husband Ted relocated from Connecticut in 2014. An avid stock horse enthusiast, she has enjoyed a successful American Quarter Horse Association and National Snaffle Bit Association show career in western pleasure and ranch events, and has spent time in the sorting pen. She and Ted, who own and run Cummings Insurance, have their own stable called Double C Performance Horses, which is based at their farm in Ridge Spring, just north of Aiken.

Last fall, Blair’s friend and riding companion, Bradley Honeycutt, moved to Texas. After that, Blair realized that her riding time was starting to dwindle. She was worried about riding alone since she was becoming older (and perhaps a bit wiser) and so she was not going out as frequently as she would have liked. Luckily, Bradley had a solution that would also become a means to further her vision.

“When Bradley decided to move to Texas, he knew that I was going to be lost without him here,” Blair said. “My riding got less and less, and Bradley knew it. He told me he knew someone that he thought I would get along well with, and suggested I let her come ride with me and maybe give me some lessons”

That someone was Santana Poteet, a young fourth generation horsewoman from Swansea, South Carolina. The pair began riding together, and eventually Santana, 26, revealed her desire to work in the equine industry full-time. In response, Blair encouraged Santana to open her own training business. Santana was worried about where she could base her operations, but Blair met those concerns with an offer she couldn’t refuse: the use of her own spacious stable and riding facility in Ridge Spring. Half of the stable would house Blair’s personal horses and would continue to go by the name Double C Ranch Horses. The other half would become home to Santana’s Blue Collar Performance Horses, which opened in June 2023.

Santana’s program is aptly named, not only representing the “using” type horses she strives to produce but also the sweat equity she has put in throughout the course of her life as she’s worked to find her place in the industry

“I started riding before I was born,” Santana said with a laugh. “Early on, my biggest influence was probably my great-uncle, Blanchard Poole, who got me started in dressage, jumping, and some driving. Then I rode with Vicky Wilkes and Charlie Jackson for games and NBHA barrel racing. From there, I’ve also ridden with Todd and Carey Ready, and Nick Valentine. When I was competing in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, I also worked with Joy McMillon and Ruth Finley. I then rode under Jeff Temple for my college team at USC Aiken. I was their establishment for their western division”

At USC, Santana earned a Bachelors of Business Administration in accounting, a certificate in equine business management, and then an MBA, along with certification in equine massage.

Santana’s early riding experience was diverse, showing in dressage, riding jumpers, and dabbling in eventing before moving on to showing western pleasure and the all-around at open and breed shows. She says she uses bits and pieces of what she learned from each discipline and trainer in her program today.

“I like to pick training methods and make my own out of little pieces from everybody,” she said. “I also try to incorporate a little bit of the good from all the disciplines into what I’m doing now, especially having so many horses to ride. They all operate differently and they all think differently. There’s something I can take from every discipline to help each horse along its journey in whatever its discipline is, or whatever the owner’s goals are for it”

Although Santana has had the guidance of many great horsemen and women throughout her life, she said that what really molded her into a horse trainer was something else.

“Behind the scenes of riding the dressage horses, I was goofing off riding ponies and stuff at home,” she recalled. “My grandma would always buy auction horses and then tell me ‘Here, you fix this horse. Make him good and we’ll sell him and buy you a better horse.’ I started with a $300, probably slaughter-bound, pony, and I just started breaking these things with no clue what I was doing.”

She continued, “I progressed quickly, and when I was 10 or 11, I bought a 3-year-old Paint, broke him, showed him in the western pleasure, and he turned out to be a really good horse. I sold him to an amateur, and she’s still showing him, to my knowledge.”

Today, Santana, who is an AQHA/PtHA Professional and a carded show judge, feels that part of what makes Blue Collar’s training program unique is the fact that she spends as much time as possible getting her horses truly broke, both inside and outside the arena.

“I take the time and ride the horses,” she said. “We don’t just drill them in the arena. I take them out and we trail ride through the pasture; we ride down to the pond. They’re used to traffic, the pigs, dogs, the tractors in the peach orchards. It’s nothing for them to go a horse show. Even our show horses get a day when we just ride them out. It gives them a mental break and lets them clear their heads and enjoy being under saddle.”

Santana takes a similar approach with the riders in her lesson program, acting as more of a cheerleader than a drill sergeant, especially when it comes to building their confidence.

“I address the confidence issue on the ground, before a horse is ever involved,” she said. “I try to get in their head and teach them that they can trust me – if I tell them to do something, it’s because I know they can do it. I know it’s safe. I get them so task-driven that they kind of forget that they’re nervous, or about an accident they’ve had. That’s how we work through it, and it’s worked really, really well.”

Blue Collar Performance Horses currently offers lessons, conditioning and consignment of sales horses, and private training, though there is currently a six month waiting list for training clients. With the demand for western training growing in the Aiken area, Santana’s program fills a gap in the industry. There are not many western-focused facilities nearby, and Santana, who describes her program as “an all-around barn with a heavy focus on ranch and pleasure,” already has clients traveling from as far as Charleston and Georgia.

With Santana’s help, Blair hopes that her facility in Ridge Spring will continue to encourage growth in Aiken’s stock horse and western community. Her future plans include building a covered pen, hosting clinics geared toward those interested in western events, and planning an even bigger and better Ridge Spring Open Classic horse show for 2024. Last year’s inaugural event, held in conjunction with the Ridge Spring Harvest Festival, boasted a little over 50 entries and 200-plus spectators according to Blair’s estimate.

“I tried to run it like horse shows were run when I was a kid,” Blair explained. “Everybody that won first place got a trophy. We also did a “Challenge Trophy” class and circuit awards. Everybody just had fun. It was a fun show.”

To learn more about Blue Collar Performance Horses and the Double C Ranch Horses facility, visit www.bluecollarperformancehorses.com on the web, or find them on Facebook.

Santana wishes to extend a special thanks to her sponsors: Bmar Media, Glowing Results-Equifuse, and Schneider Saddlery.

For

the Love of Dog And the Power of Play

By Pam Gleason

As the title suggests, For the Love of Dog is a book that will appeal to dog lovers everywhere. Although the book’s subtitle is “the ultimate relationship guide,” it isn’t really a guide at all. Instead, it is a wide ranging, thoughtful, provocative, informative and humorous look at dogs and their relationship to humans through the ages. It includes myths and legends from ancient times, the latest in the scientific research on canine cognition and emotions, some thoughts on modern dog training philosophy, and a step-by-step manual on training your dog to learn the names of objects in your home.

The book was written by Pilley Bianchi and illustrated by Calum Heath. About half the pages are filled with black and white drawings, giving it the feel of a graphic novel. Heath’s drawings have appeared in The New Yorker and the New York Times, and he has a charming and lighthearted style that always adds meaning to the text. The book is broken into sections making it easy to read all the way through, or dive into anywhere and read piecemeal.

There has been a surge of interest in canine science in recent years, bringing with it a plethora of books to bring new findings to a general audience. While For the Love Dog may share some DNA with these books, it is a different creature altogether. It could be mistaken for humor, or for a children’s book, but it isn’t really either of those things. It is a funny book with gravitas, and an instructional book that does not take itself too seriously. If it makes you laugh when you read it, it will probably also make you think.

In the dog world, Pilley Bianchi’s primary claim to fame is her association with South Carolina’s most illustrious dog genius, Chaser the Border Collie. Chaser grew up in Spartanburg, South Carolina with Pilley’s mother and father, Sally and John Pilley. In 2004, Dr. John Pilley was a professor emeritus of psychology at Wofford College in Spartanburg when the family acquired Chaser as a floppy-eared black

and white puppy. To satisfy his curiosity and to give him a new goal in his retirement, Dr. Pilley decided that Chaser would be more than just a family dog: She would be an experimental subject to help him discover exactly how much human language a dog could learn if carefully taught. The answer was “quite a lot.” In fact, Chaser demonstrated that she could recognize and understand 1022 words, more than any animal ever tested. What’s more, she understood simple sentences, grammar and syntax. In 2011, Dr. Pilley and his Wofford colleague Dr. Alliston Reid published these findings in two scientific journals: Behavioral Processes, and Learning and Motivation. The world sat up and took notice. Chaser became an instant international celebrity, making appearances on the Today Show, Nova Science Now and 60 Minutes among other things. She was on the cover of the National Enquirer and London’s Daily Mail, and she even had a six-page spread in the French magazine Paris-Match. With so many fans for his celebrity dog, it is no surprise that Dr. Pilley was asked to write a book about her life, and he did. Chaser the Border Collie, Unlocking the Genius of the Dog that Knows a Thousand Words came out in 2013 as a New York Times Bestseller.

Chaser’s story weaves in and out of Bianchi’s new book, and she is described as the book’s “guide dog.” The philosophy that Bianchi espouses is based on Dr. Pilley’s training methods, which emphasized play rather than treats or clickers as motivators for dog learning.

Although both Dr. Pilley and his daughter agreed that Chaser was intelligent and wonderful, they believe that she was not unique, that Chaser demonstrated the learning potential of dogs of all kinds.

“Dogs are smarter than we think and Chaser was not an anomaly,”

said Pilley Bianchi in an interview. “It was the man who was extraordinary and the relationship that he had with her. I’ve gotten letters from people who say things like ‘Well, isn’t that something that your dad ended up with this smart dog?’ and it’s kind of surprising to me that so many people think that. So one of the things that this book is about is that any dog can be smart.”

In her career, Pilley Bianchi has been a musician rather than a writer or a dog trainer, so writing this book may not have been something that she originally intended. Circumstances spurred her on, however. After the first Chaser book was so successful, Dr. Pilley was asked to write another one about how to train a dog using the power of play. He was working on that book with Bianchi in 2018 when he unexpectedly became ill with leukemia and died a few months later. Sally Pilley and Chaser both died the next year. The unfinished manuscript was suddenly without a celebrity dog, the man behind her, and consequently a book publishing deal. Bianchi knew, however, that the manuscript she had was important and she needed to share it with the world, not just for her father’s legacy, but because so many people and dogs needed to improve their connections with one another. It took several years (and the disruption of the pandemic) to reimagine the manuscript in its current form, but after Pilley found Calum Heath and his illustrations, the whole project came together seamlessly. The book is published by Princeton Architectural Press and the official launch date is August 22.

One of the primary themes of For the Love of Dog is that, for a dog as well as for a human, learning should be fun. Dogs learn best when they are in a play mode rather than when they are being drilled and commanded. The humor in the book, both in the text and the illustrations, embodies that same idea for the reader. The book is fun and easy to engage with in a lighthearted way, but that only further emphasizes the serious message that play is important.

“We have so much fun with our dogs, and we should have fun with them,” said Bianchi. “And they should have fun with us too.”

Home to Home Finding Forever

By Pam Gleason

Animal lovers often think it will never happen to them, but it might. They could end up in a position where they have to find a new home for a pet. This can occur for a variety of reasons: an unexpected illness, the death of the owner, having to move to a small apartment or assisted living. And then there are times when an animal has to be rehomed for everyone’s sanity. You get a puppy to be a friend for your beloved 7-year-old dog, and when that puppy grows up, he decides he hates your longtime companion and vice versa. You can’t walk them together; you can’t leave them alone together; your living room becomes a potential battlefield. In this case, it would be better for everyone to rehome the younger dog. It’s not giving up on him or dumping a family member. It’s making a rational and practical choice to improve the lives of both dogs, not to mention their owner.

People who need to rehome a pet are generally anxious to see that the animal goes to a good home, but they don’t always know how to find one. That is where the Home-to-Home website comes in. Home-toHome provides a nationwide database on which people can list their animals for rehoming. Animals listed on Home-to-Home are always free and the organization does not allow any fees, which protects the site from being taken over by breeders and dog flippers. It’s a common myth that giving away a pet for free is dangerous, and that asking for a fee can improve the chances of a successful adoption. Extensive research has shown that this is not true. What is important is for the person relinquishing the pet and the adopter to have a clear understanding of the animal’s needs and personality, and for everyone to make an honest assessment of their own desires and abilities.

Because of this, people are encouraged to interview prospective adopters carefully, and do home checks or ask for veterinary references. The Home-to-Home website provides a list of sample questions they might ask, as well as adoption agreements and contracts. The premise behind this is that the current owners know their pets better than anyone, so they are the best ones to pick their next family. For adopters, choosing an animal from the website gives them the chance to talk to the current owner and learn more about the animal’s behavior and medical history – something that does not normally happen if you adopt from a shelter.

Although the Home-to-Home website is nationwide, the Aiken County Animal Shelter has its own page, which is overseen by Ellen Priest, a board member of Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS) which is the organization that works with the county shelter on animal welfare issues.

“Home-to-Home gives owners a way to rehome their pet safely and it keeps that pet out of the shelter,” said Ellen. “When animals are surrendered to the shelter, the stress of suddenly being caged in a loud, confusing environment causes an adoptable animal to shut down and become highly stressed out. By going straight to another loving home, we can avoid that.”

When an animal is listed on the Aiken County page of the Hometo-Home website, Ellen also posts the picture and description on the FOTAS Facebook page, which has over 17,000 followers.

“Many owners try desperately to find another home for their pet before surrendering it, but they don’t have the resources that FOTAS does,” she said. “We hope to use our extensive social media network to let more potential adopters know about the pet.”

Home-to-Home was founded in 2015 by the Better Together Animal Alliance (formerly the Panhandle Animal Shelter) in Sandpoint, Idaho in response to a surge in their shelter population. They started the website as a pilot program, and within a few months, the shelter saw a 31% decrease in owner surrenders. Since animals given up by their

owners are the ones most likely to be euthanized for space in crowded shelters, this was a very significant statistic. Hoping to replicate their results elsewhere, they offered their website to other shelters, and soon Home-to-Home had local chapters nationwide.

The Aiken County Animal Shelter joined the Home-to-Home network in 2019. “The first year we did it, we had 277 pets placed on the website,” said Ellen Priest. “Then the next two years it was almost identical – 384 and 386. This year, it’s only July, and already we have had 311. It mirrors what you see in the shelters, and this year the shelters have been just absolutely overrun.”

Ellen says that she does not have exact statistics on how many animals get adopted off the site because some people don’t report when an adoption has happened, but that Home-to-Home has been very successful. The animals with the best chance of finding an adopter quickly are those that have been well cared for and are easy to get along with: dogs and cats that have been spayed or neutered, are up-to-date on their shots, and don’t have any behavioral or physical issues. Small dogs and cats are easier to adopt out than large dogs. Equally important is that the animal have a good picture or two and a description that gives an idea of his or her personality.

This is not to say that large dogs or animals with problems won’t attract an adopter. In fact, the Aiken chapter of Home-to-Home has even facilitated the adoption of a dog that had been shot in the back and had to get around using a wheelchair. Cats and dogs aren’t the only animals that have been placed: there are also guinea pigs, lizards, pigs, birds and horses. Recently, the Aiken chapter even listed a pair of goats.

“People were just clamoring for the goats,” said Ellen. “They got adopted right away.”

The Home-to-Home website fulfills the goal of keeping owner surrenders out of the shelter at the same time encouraging responsible pet ownership.

“It slows down the process of surrendering a pet,” said Ellen. “We get a lot of people who end up finding a family friend to take the animal, or people changing their minds and deciding to keep the pet . . . I think it puts the ball back in their court, makes them realize that it’s not as easy as just stopping by the shelter and dropping off their dog and being done with it. It makes them think more about it and realize that, you know, maybe this isn’t something that I want to do.”

The long term goal that FOTAS has set for itself is for the Aiken County Animal Shelter to be a resource rather than a destination. The Home-to-Home website is a vital part of that mission, helping to keep animals out of shelters while at the same time fostering a sense of community in the animal loving world. One other thing that Hometo-Home tries to do is to take some of the stigma out of the need to rehome a pet. Surrendering an animal to a shelter is traumatic, but rehoming a pet directly into a loving home can be the best thing for everyone involved.

Ask the Judge

Questions about Dressage

With Amy McElroy

Dear Amy,

I am planning to compete at recognized dressage shows this summer in Aiken. I have a few questions that I hope you can answer for me.

First, with this heat, I am not planning to wear my show jacket, which I know is legal, assuming that jackets are waived at the show. But is it mandatory to wear a belt? If I do wear a belt, are there color restrictions? Also, the sun bothers my eyes, and I wonder if it is OK to wear sunglasses and/or an oversized visor? That white dressage arena footing has a lot of glare!

Next, I know that a caller is permitted when riding your test, but do judges frown upon that? Will it affect my score? Lastly, is it true that you can be eliminated after you finish your test? Why would that happen?

Hot Topics

Dear Hot Topics,

You bring up some interesting questions!

I can understand not wanting to wear a jacket on these hot summer days, and that is perfectly fine as long as jackets are waived at the show in which you are competing. There currently is no ruling on the wearing of a belt. Surprisingly, there isn’t a rule that you have to tuck your shirt in, either. Ultimately, you want your appearance to look neat and professional, however.  If you are comfortable with a belt, you should absolutely wear one, whether you’re wearing your show coat or not. A belt that matches your helmet, coat (if you are wearing one) or saddle pad would look lovely, but there is no ruling on this. I would stay away from too much bling, though – glittery things distract the eye and you want your judge to focus on your ride. But whether you wear a belt or not will have no effect whatsoever on your score, so this is completely optional.

As far as sunglasses go, yes they are permitted, since there is no rule banning them. If you do wear a pair, please make sure they fit securely and are not falling down over your nose, because this would be distracting for everyone. However, there are some rules about helmet visors. A legal ASTM safety helmet that is securely fitted may have a wide brim as long as the brim is an integral part of the helmet. Unfortunately, you cannot add any visors, sunshields or anything else to your helmet. In fact, any added attachment is illegal and may be a reason to be eliminated.

In regard to having your test read to you as you ride, you are correct that you are allowed a caller for tests fourth level and below. (They are illegal for tests over fourth level.) The use of a reader will have no influence on your judge or on your score. There may be an issue, however, if your reader does any talking other than reading the test as

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.

written or makes noises such as clucking as you ride by. This could be considered outside help and possibly be a cause for elimination. Another interesting note: your caller must read you the test as written in English: you are not allowed to use a different language unless you have obtained permission in advance.

Even if you do have a reader, be sure that you are familiar with your test so that the reader is reminding you where to go, not telling you for the first time. It is best for your reader to be knowledgeable about the arena, and especially to know where the letters are. Try to have someone who reads loudly and clearly and is an asset to your ride.

Finally, and unfortunately: it is definitely true that you could be eliminated after the completion of a ride, even if it was a great one. This could happen for a variety of reasons. One possibility could be because of using illegal equipment. For instance, your whip could be too long, or you might forget to take off your horse’s boots or bell boots, which are legal in the warmup, but illegal in the arena. Rider attire can also be an issue, for example not wearing a coat when coats are not waived, having bold patterns on your clothing, not having a collar or sleeves on your shirt. Sometimes, something you innocently put on your horse, like a lucky feather or good luck charm in the mane, or a questionable design or bling on your saddle pad can be an issue. If there is any blood on your horse, whether from spurs, a cut in the mouth or even if your horse kicks himself, this could be a reason for elimination. Any type of outside assistance is not acceptable.

Why would you be allowed to start and complete your test if there is something about your horse, equipment or presentation that calls for your elimination? There are several possible reasons. First, the problem might be recognized by your judge during your ride, in which case he or she has the option to stop your test and excuse you immediately. Or, he or she may stop you and give you the option to complete the ride, but not have the score count. Or the judge might not recognize the problem until the end of the ride, or might contact the technical delegate to look into any issue, and tell you the bad news after your ride is finished. Another possibility occurs when the ring steward performs a tack inspection after you ride.

I hope this does not happen: No judge wants to eliminate you! It is always advisable to read the dressage section in the USEF Rulebook as well as the handbook offered from USDF and USEF called the Visual Guide to Attire and Equipment. This is very informative. It even has colored pictures of everything that is allowed and not allowed.

I hope this helps you to be confident and comfortable in you presentation, while staying as cool as possible, keeping the sun out of your eyes, and remaining in compliance with all the clothing and equipment regulations. Feel free to have a reader, and always stay updated on the rules.

Enjoy your shows and good luck!

Remembering Angel Diaz A True Original

By Pam Gleason

If you spent time at Aiken Polo Club in the early 1990s, you might have encountered Angel Diaz. If you did, you would probably remember. He was the one dressed like a gaucho on the sidelines or at the trailer: flat-brimmed wool hat, bombachas (gaucho pants with legs that taper at the ankle), boots, and a wide, sometimes bejeweled belt, where he always had a prominent knife. Angel came to Aiken as a polo groom, manager, horse trainer and horse trader, and ultimately became a polo player, horse breeder and Aiken County property owner as well. He was well known in the polo world, especially in the Argentine community, and traveled up and down the East Coast and as far west as California to buy and sell horses. Angel, who spent the final years of his life in his native Argentina, died there of natural causes on Saturday, July 22. He was 74.

The story of Angel’s life has so many different chapters and adventures it could be an 18th century English novel. He was born in the small town of Norberto de la Riestra in Buenos Aires province, the youngest child in his family. When he was 7, he was sent to live with his older sister and her family on the dairy farm where they worked, and he was put to work there as well. It was the early 1950s and there was no mandatory education and Angel did not go to school.

The work was hard and he did not like it: one thing he remembered having to do was tie the calf to its mother’s front leg while she was being milked so it would not try to nurse. By the time he reached his teens, he was determined to go somewhere else. He had heard of an estancia where they bred and trained horses for racing and polo and, since he had an

innate affinity for horses, he decided to go there and ask for a job. He was just 13, but he set out on his own, taking the bus to the town that he thought was near the estancia. When he arrived, he went to a country store and the proprietor asked him where he was going and how he planned to get there. Angel told the shop keeper the name of the farm, and that he was planning to walk.

“That’s a whole day’s journey,” the shop keeper replied, and offered him some food and a place to rest for the night.

Angel set off the next morning and by the evening arrived at the estancia. The people there took him in, gave him a place to stay and put him to work. He cared for mares and foals, was exposed to racing and to polo, and eventually worked his way up to become a polo groom. This job brought him to downtown Buenos Aires and to the famous Palermo polo field, where he made many connections in the polo world.

When Angel was 21 he entered mandatory military service, which is where he got his first formal education. Afterwards, he continued to work in polo, as well as in custom farming in the countryside around the city. When the opportunity came to accompany a string of polo ponies to Spain on a ship, he jumped at it. The trip took a month and was hard on the horses as well as on their grooms.

Over the next years, Angel worked polo in Argentina, England and Spain. His most memorable job was working for the Romanian-born French businessman Robert de Balkany, who founded the Sainte Mesme polo team at his chateau on the outskirts of Paris. De Balkany, who was

married to Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy (the daughter of Umberto II, the last king of Italy) thoroughly enjoyed his wealth and status. His chateau was lavish, his stables first class, and his tastes were both flamboyant and eccentric. For instance, he employed a mariachi band to follow him around the grounds of the chateau, playing while he sang.

Angel ran the polo operation for de Balkany at the chateau for three years. He was exceptionally good with the horses, and he learned how to handle his boss as well, which was not easy by any account. When de Balkany was invited to play at Palm Beach Polo Club in the 1980s, Angel accompanied him. Coming to America had always been his dream, and when he arrived, he knew he wanted to stay, and he did.

De Balkany was eventually called back to France, and Angel stayed on to work as polo manager and horse trainer. He worked in Florida in the winters, managing the polo operation for Alvaro Carta and his daughter Alina, and then for Henryk de Kwiatkowski’s Kennelot team. By the late 1980s, he had gone into business for himself, buying and training horses, teaching polo, and playing in tournaments, earning a 1-goal rating. He came to Aiken in the early 1990s, and soon had a job working for the polo player Bill Hook at his farm in Statesboro, Georgia.

In 1995 Angel married Jill Nekoroski and they purchased their La Victoria Farm in Wagener. There they trained and bred polo horses, spending time in Florida in the winters and going on the road to sell horses at clubs in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic during the summers.

“Angel could talk to anyone,” said Jill Diaz. “He could talk with Prince Charles – literally – and with the most salt of the earth person with equal interest and respect. He could do farm work, build fences, repair equipment. He could cook. He could ride and train horses, fix horses. He really understood the polo business, and he had this amazing ability to match a player to the right horse. I can remember so many times seeing him give a horse to someone to try, and thinking that it would never work, but then not only would the player buy the horse, he would love it. The next year, when we came back to that club, the player would come up and hug me, saying thank you for selling me my best horse.”

Angel was generous, especially with his horses and with his time. He was always ready to help young professionals who were just starting their polo careers, offering them playing opportunities and his own horses to ride, not to mention calling up favors among his extensive contacts in the world of high goal polo. He never forgot a favor done to him either, and when he had the chance to repay it, he always would. For instance, Charlie Herrick, then the owner of Banks Mill Feed in Aiken and a player at Aiken Polo Club, had gotten Angel his job with Bill Hook. A

year later, Angel came up to Charlie when they were both at polo.

“You are good to me. You got me a job,” he said. “Now I’m gonna do you a favor. Pick any one of my horses I have tied to my trailer, and you can buy for $2,500.”

Charlie was looking for a horse, and the price was certainly right. He selected a black mare that became one his best horses, worth many times her price tag. “It was a steal,” said Charlie. “I thought Angel was a wonderful person. He was a good horseman. He was honest about his horses. And he made a good horse.”

According to Jill, one of Angel’s most distinguishing traits was his genuine love for people. He definitely had a gruff exterior, but he made friends wherever he went, and she said it was impossible to run errands with him because he got into long conversations with everyone. Perpetually curious, he liked to learn new things about the world and he loved to make connections with people. Despite his lack of formal education, he learned to speak four languages (Spanish, English, French and Italian), most likely because he was so eager to communicate. He spoke English with fluency, but he had his own ways of saying things and his own expressions that were unique to him.

For instance, one of Angel’s most typical expressions was the command “Do you mind cut it off?” which he would address to horses if they were fighting, or people doing something that bothered him.

Angel’s voice definitely carried authority.

“Once we were in a grocery store and the woman ahead of us had a little kid that was throwing a tantrum and crying,” remembered Jill. “His mother kept begging him to be quiet, but he just kept whining and being a brat. Angel really hated that. Finally he looked at the kid.

“Hey. Do you mind cut it off?” he said.

“The kid instantly stopped crying and fell completely silent,” continued Jill. “At first, I was mortified. But then the woman turned to us and said, “Can you come over to my house?”

Although after he was established in Aiken, Angel no longer dressed like a gaucho, he remained one at heart, never happier than when he was in the thick of the polo world, at a game or at an asado. He was a largerthan-life character, and a true original with a remarkable, varied and interesting history who made an indelible impression on everyone who knew him.

Early days of Palm Beach Polo Club

Jill and Angel in Gilbertsville, New York. Photo by Snoopy

BOARDING/TURNOUT/ TRAINING

Dry stalls and full care available at Sporting Days Farm 150 acres with practice areas. Great for green horses. 803-226-2024 text preferred.

Y Legacy Farms is happy to provide full care boarding for all horses. Our facility provides private stalls, paddocks for turnout, run-ins, feed, hay, flat work and lunge area, full ring, trails, gallop stretch, and climatecontrolled tack and hospitality room. Contact Beth or Aaron. 803-295-3441 Ylegacyfarms@ gmail.com

FARM SERVICES

Southern Ridge Excavation. Drainage, grading, small clearing, pad prep, utility ditching, pond mowing. Third generation family operated; Licensed & insured. Call Alex Koegel. 803-522-5752. 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,

Classifieds

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

LB Performance Hay. From Farm to Stable. Local and imported hay; large or small quantities. Hay delivery and unloading. Lou Berizzi: 803-640-5484. 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 803-645-8960.

HORSES & PETS

Competitive Third Level Dutch Warmblood for sale. 9 years old, amateur friendly, quiet in the show ring and on trails. Push-button

ride. www.haffeydressage.com for video. Text: 607-743-1309. Two former polo mares looking to step down to easier career. Both sound and have plenty of life even though in upper teens. Nice on trails, easy w-t-c, but not dead heads or for total beginners. Not spooky, good alone or with other horses. 803-295-8687

Trinity Farms Terriers: Irish Russell Terriers. Old World, Healthy 100 year old. Bloodlines w/ proven calmer dispositions. Health & dispositions guaranteed. Preservation breeders for 48 years. trinityfarmskennel.com; easyjacks. com. Donna Fitzpatrick 803-6483137.

RENTALS/HOME SHARES

Aiken Luxury Rentals. Fully furnished cottages; walk to downtown. Perfect for temporary

For Rent

Beautiful 4-5 stall horse barn with glorious attached apartment and all horsey accoutrements. In the middle of 5,000 riding acres in Columbia County, New York. 201-410-6028

assignments, or housing while you build. Work-from-home ready; high speed internet. Antique finishes & modern convenience. info@aikenluxuryrentals.com. aikenluxuryrentals.com. 803-6482804.

Aiken Vacation Rentals. Comfortable, clean furnished homes. Downtown, Pet Friendly, Fast WiFi. info@ aikenvacationrentals.com Call/ Text (803) 216-5414 Locally owned small business. AirBnB Superhost.

Whisper Farm: Lodging for riders and their horses. Every bedroom comes with a stall and paddock! Close to foxhunting, eventing & polo in the 302 Equestrian Corridor east of Aiken. 410-9241790. thewhisperfarm.com.

Directory of Services

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 2023. 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

Y Legacy Farms is happy to provide full care boarding for all horses. Our facility provides private stalls, paddocks for turn-out, run-ins, feed, hay, flat work and lunge area, full ring, trails, gallop stretch, and climate-controlled tack and hospitality room. Contact Beth or Aaron. 803-295-3441 Ylegacyfarms@gmail.com

COMPANION ANIMALS

Trinity Farms Terriers: Irish Russell 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 & FARM SERVICES

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. Call Alex Koegel. 803-522-5752. southernridgex@gmail.com.

FINANCE/MORTGAGE

Tessa Thompson: Loan officer for New American Funding, local to the CSRA. I am licensed in GA, FL, SC, TN, and AL. I love to help others achieve homeownership and I answer any questions throughout the process. My direct number is 678.665.7916 and my email is Tessa.thompson@nafinc.com. Call me today to get preapproved!

HAY

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 803-645-8960

LB Performance Hay. From Farm to Stable. Local and imported hay; large or small quantities. Hay delivery and unloading. Lou Berizzi: 803-640-5484.

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

PHOTOGRAPHY

Allison Wilkins Photography, 843-327-7667, allisonwilkins.photo@ gmail.com. Specializes in Event Photography. Equine Events, Branding, and More. Package pricing tailored to meet your specific needs!

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, Keller Williams Realty Aiken Partners. “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

Sullivan-Turner Team, Meybohm. Specializing in marketing & selling Aiken’s horse country properties. southernhorsefarms.com. 803-215-4734.

Whisper Farm: Lodging for riders & horses. Every bedroom has stall & paddock! Close to foxhunting, eventing & polo in the 302 equestrian corridor east of Aiken. 410-924-1790. thewhisperfarm.com.

Advertising in The Aiken Horse

CLASSIFIED ADS are $30 for the first 30 words & 40 cents for every word thereafter. Add $5 for blind classified.

PHOTO CLASSIFIEDS for horses: $40; Limit 30 words & one picture

PHOTO CLASSIFIEDS for real estate, etc. $50; Limit 60 words & one picture.

BOXED CLASSIFIEDS: add $5 to your total

DIRECTORY LISTING ADS: $30 per issue or $100 for the year (6 issues.)

BUSINESS CARDS: $75 per issue or $300 for the year (6 issues.)

DISPLAY ADS are available in a range of sizes. For a detailed rate sheet and publication schedule, visit our website: TheAikenHorse.com

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 for classifieds and business cards online: TheAikenHorse.com Pay a Bill or call us: 803.643.9960

Advertise in the October-November issue! Deadline September 22, 2023

Subscribe: $36 per year. Check out on our website or send your check to Subscriptions, 705 Flowing Well Road. Wagener, SC 29164

Dressage at the Aiken Horse Park

Photography by Pam Gleason

Aiken Area Calendar of Events

August 2023

2-6 Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show II. Blowing Rock Equestrian Preserve, Blowing Rock, NC. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

3-6 USEF/USHJA $50,000 A-Rated Hunter/Jumper Summer Classic III. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@ stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

4-6 Back to School Horse Show PSJ C-Series. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

4 Movie Night at the Aiken Steeplechase Racetrack: Secretariat. Gates open at 6:30 PM | Movie starts at 8:30 PM. $10 per car in advance, $15 per car (cash or check only) at the gate. Passes can be purchased at the Aiken Steeplechase Office or at Odell Weeks Activity Center. (Rain date August 11.) For more information: aikensteeplechase.org

5 Schooling Show D & CT at Chatt Hills. 9445 Browns Lake Rd, Fairburn, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, chatthillseventing.com

5-6 Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark. com

5-6 USEF/USDF Early Morning Blues by Viewpoint Dressage. Pinehurst Harness Track. Pinehurst, NC. Carolinadressage.com

5-6 WHES August Horse Trials, CT, D. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@carolinahorsepark. com, carolinahorsepark.com

6 Schooling Horse Trials. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com, fullgallopfarm.com

8 Tuesday Night Schooling. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center. 3381 Hunting Country Rd, Tryon. 828.859.9021. frcshows@gmail.com, fence.org

11 Eventing Academy XC Day. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm. com

11-12 Gala of the Royal Horses. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark. com

11-13 Dressage Show Made in the Shade I-III. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com

11-13 Tryon Summer Finale 1. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com

12 Eventing Academy Schooling Day. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

12 August Dressage Tests of Choice. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo. com, fullgallopfarm.com

12-13 Tryon Summer Dressage 3 & 4 USEF/USDF. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com

13 August Horse Trials. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com, fullgallopfarm.com

13 Eventing Academy Schooling Horse Trials. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

16 Fun Day @ The Vista. Aiken Driving Club. Aiken. Peggy Dils, 803-295-6785 dilsaiken@gmail.com aikendrivingclub.com americandrivingsociety.org

16-17 USEF/USDF Too Hot To Trot Dressage I. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

17-27 Aiken Summerfest I&II. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. tara@aikenhorsepark.org, aikenhorsepark.org

18-20 USEF/USDF Too Hot To Trot Dressage II. Eventing Academy XC Day. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

18-20 Sedgefield at the Park Late Summer H/J. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@carolinahorsepark. com, carolinahorsepark.com

19 Highfields Just for Fun Show. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

20 Adopt a Highway. Camden Hunt. Camden. therealcamdenhunt@ gmail.com, camdenhunt.com

20 R adway Eventing Pony Club Show. 4627 Whiskey Road, Aiken. radwayeventing.com

22 Tuesday Night Schooling. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center. 3381 Hunting Country Rd, Tryon. 828.859.9021. frcshows@gmail.com, fence.org

24-25 Cocktails and Cones. Golden Carriage Driving. 308 Bairwood Rd, Windsor. Goldencarriagedriving@gmail.com, aikendrivingclub.com

25-27 Mullet Hall Classic II. Mullet Hall, John’s Island, SC. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

26-27 Horse Show Ventures - The Southeastern Hunter/Jumper Series. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com

31-3 South Carolina Quarter Horse Association. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com

September 2023

1-3 Greensboro Classic National “A” Show. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@carolinahorsepark. com, carolinahorsepark.com

1-3 Recognized Horse Trials at Chatt Hills. 9445 Browns Lake Rd, Fairburn, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, chatthillseventing.com

2 FRC Horse Show. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center. 3381 Hunting Country Rd, Tryon. 828.859.9021. frcshows@gmail.com, fence.org

2 CT, Dressage, Jumper Show & Derby. Sporting Days Farm. 3549 Charleston Hwy, Aiken. 803.648.0100, cindy@firefoxfarm.com, sportingdays.com

2-3 G DCTA Labor Day Classic I & II. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com

2-3 USEF/USDF Cool Down Dressage by Viewpoint Dressage. Pinehurst Harness Track. Pinehurst, NC. Carolinadressage.com

3 XC Schooling at FENCE. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center. 3381 Hunting Country Rd, Tryon. 828.859.9021. frcshows@gmail.com, fence.org

6 Free Q&A with Holistic Equine Vet and Nutritionist Dr. Gabriele Gross. Reserve Club, Woodside Plantation. 3000 Reserve Club Drive, Aiken SC 29803. RSVP by Sept 3, text: 805-350-9224

6-17 Aiken Fall Festival I&II. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. tara@aikenhorsepark.org, aikenhorsepark.org

7 Horse Emergency Skill Training & Certification with Dr. Gabriele Gross. Aiken Equine Rescue. More info see HorseHealthCoach.com

8-10 Five Points Horse Trials. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@carolinahorsepark.com, carolinahorsepark.com

8-10 Lendon Gray’s Dressage4Kids & Atlanta Youth Festiva. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com

9 Schooling Show D & CT at Chatt Hills. 9445 Browns Lake Rd, Fairburn, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, chatthillseventing.com

9 Horse Emergency Skill Training & Certification with Dr. Gabriele Gross. Chesley Stables More info see HorseHealthCoach.com

9-10 Newton County Saddle Club Open Horse Show. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com

9-10 Palmetto Paint Horse Club. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com

9-10 USEF/USDF Fall Dressage Series I & II. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, poplarplacefarm.com

10 Schooling Horse Trials. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com, fullgallopfarm.com

13 Schooling Dressage. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

13 FEH/YEH/NEH Qualifier. The Vista. 859 Old Tory Trail, Aiken. 803.262.5263 vistaschooling@gmail.com, schoolthevista.com

13 Aiken Driving Club Educational Event. Aiken. Peggy Dils, 803-295-6785 dilsaiken@gmail.com aikendrivingclub.com americandrivingsociety.org

13-17 National Youth Tournament Series Championship. New Bridge Polo Club. 862 New Bridge Rd, Aiken. 803.644.7706, hbryan2485@aol. com, newbridgepolo.com

14 USDF/USEF Fall Frenzy Dressage. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

14-25 Wagener 4 Goal. Wagener Polo Club. 5720 Wagener Rd, Wagener. 803.566.8610, bkrpolo@aol.com, wagenerpolo.com

15-17 Tryon Fall Dressage 1 & 2 USEF/USDF. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com

16 Highfields Just for Fun Show. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

16 Schooling Show - Fall Classic. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, poplarplacefarm.com

16 VIP Horse Emergency Certification with Dr. Gabriele Gross, including Gourmet Meals and Wine Tasting. Magnolia Shadows, Ridge Spring More info see HorseHealthCoach.com

16-17 USEF/USDF Harvest Moon Dressage. NCDCTA. Sporting Services, Raeford, NC. Carolinadressage.com

16-17 H.J. Fox September Classics I & II. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com

17 Hunt Country Clean-Up. Camden Hunt. Camden. therealcamdenhunt@gmail.com, camdenhunt.com

20-8 USPA Northrup Knox Cup 8 Goal. New Bridge Polo Club. 862 New Bridge Rd, Aiken. 803.644.7706, hbryan2485@aol.com, newbridgepolo.com

21-23 Southeastern Charity Horse Show. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com

21-24 USEF/USHJA $50,000 A-Rated Hunter/Jumper Fall Classic. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

21-24 North American Suffolk Horse Association. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center. 3381 Hunting Country Rd, Tryon. 828.859.9021. frcshows@gmail.com, fence.org

22-23 Charles Combier 102. La Bourgogne Club de Polo, 1150 Coleman Bridge Rd, Wagener. 305.790.5212, labourgognepoloclub@gmail. com

22-24 Aiken Fall Festival. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

22-24 Sedgefield at the Park Derby Classic. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@carolinahorsepark. com, carolinahorsepark.com

22-24 Tryon Fall 1. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon. com, tryon.com

23 Derby Cross and Show Jumping. The Vista. 859 Old Tory Trail, Aiken. 803.262.5263 vistaschooling@gmail.com, schoolthevista.com

23 Dancing Horses Schooling Show. Dancing Horse Equestrian Center. 149 Moseley Rd, Williston. 207.210.7900, dancinghorses@ rocketmail.com, dancinghorsesaiken.com

23-24 South Carolina Equestrian Special Olympics. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. tara@ aikenhorsepark.org, aikenhorsepark.org

23-24 SCISA Western Team Competition and YEDA Team Competition. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com

25 Wagner Polo Final. Wagener Polo Club. 5720 Wagener Rd, Wagener. 803.566.8610, bkrpolo@aol.com, wagenerpolo.com

27-29 Tryon Fall Dressage 3 USEF/USDF. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon.com, tryon.com

27-1 Tryon Fall 2. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon. com, tryon.com

28-9 USPA Constitutional Cup 6 Goal. Wagener Polo Club. 5720 Wagener Rd, Wagener. 803.566.8610, bkrpolo@aol.com, wagenerpolo.com

29-30 Chukkers of Hope. La Bourgogne Club de Polo, 1150 Coleman Bridge Rd, Wagener. 305.790.5212, labourgognepoloclub@gmail. com

29-30 Best of the West Horse Auction. Aiken Training Track. 538 Two Notch Rd, Aiken. bestofthewesthorses.com

29-1 Oktoberfest $60,000 FEI CCI-S 1/2/3/4* Horse Trials. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm. com, stableviewfarm.com

29-1 Timberland Classic CDE & CT. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@carolinahorsepark. com, carolinahorsepark.com

30 FENCE Open Horse Show. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center. 3381 Hunting Country Rd, Tryon. 828.859.9021. frcshows@gmail. com, fence.org

30 Hunter Pace @ Airport Field. Camden Hunt. Camden. therealcamdenhunt@gmail.com, camdenhunt.com

30-1 Palmetto Paint Horse Club. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com

30-1 Newton County Saddle Club Open Horse Show Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com

October

3-5 Peter Tischer Driving Clinic. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@carolinahorsepark.com, carolinahorsepark.com

4 Schooling Jumpers. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

4-8 Tryon Fall 3. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon. com, tryon.com

5 Whiskey Road Hunt. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

6-7 Fall Polo 20-goal. La Bourgogne Club de Polo, 1150 Coleman Bridge Rd, Wagener. 305.790.5212, labourgognepoloclub@gmail.com

6-8 T.I.P. Championships. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken.

6-8 Octoberfest PSJ C-Series. Fence, Tryon, NC. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

7 Schooling Show D & CT at Chatt Hills. 9445 Browns Lake Rd, Fairburn, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, chatthillseventing.com

7 Run for Freedom 5k & 1-mile Fun-Run. Odell Weeks Activity Center. 1700 Whiskey Rd, Aiken. Raquel Tucker, 314.807.6694, tucker.directions@yahoo.com, thebridge2home.com

7-8 G DCTA Fall Harvest Schooling Show. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com

7-8 Progressive Show Jumping @ FENCE. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center. 3381 Hunting Country Rd, Tryon. 828.859.9021. frcshows@gmail.com, fence.org

7-8 USEF/USDF Pinehurst Fall Dressage by Sporting Servies. Pinehurst Harness Track. Pinehurst, NC. Carolinadressage.com

7-8 WHES Horse Trials, CT, D. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@carolinahorsepark.com, carolinahorsepark.com

7-8 Hunter/Jumper Show Cheryl & Co. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, poplarplacefarm.com

8 Wild West Fall Fest Fundraiser. New Bridge Polo Club. 862 New Bridge Rd, Aiken. 803.644.7706, hbryan2485@aol.com, newbridgepolo.com

8 R adway Eventing Pony Club Show. 4627 Whiskey Road, Aiken. radwayeventing.com

8 Hunt Country Clean-Up. Camden Hunt. Camden. therealcamdenhunt@gmail.com, camdenhunt.com

9 Wagner Polo Final. Wagener Polo Club. 5720 Wagener Rd, Wagener. 803.566.8610, bkrpolo@aol.com, wagenerpolo.com

9-22 New Bridge Women’s Challenge 10-14 Goal. New Bridge Polo Club. 862 New Bridge Rd, Aiken. 803.644.7706, hbryan2485@aol.com, newbridgepolo.com

10-15 Tryon Fall 4. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon. com, tryon.com

11 Schooling Dressage. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

11-29 USPA National President’s Cup 8 Goal. New Bridge Polo Club. 862 New Bridge Rd, Aiken. 803.644.7706, hbryan2485@aol.com, newbridgepolo.com

12-23 Kim Snider Memorial 6 Goal. Wagener Polo Club. 5720 Wagener Rd, Wagener. 803.566.8610, bkrpolo@aol.com, wagenerpolo.com

13 Eventing Academy XC Day. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm. com

13-14 Fall Polo 20-goal. La Bourgogne Club de Polo, 1150 Coleman Bridge Rd, Wagener. 305.790.5212, labourgognepoloclub@gmail.com

13-15 Southeast Regional Championship Horse Show PSJ C-Series. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

13-15 Four Beats for Pleasure. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938,scequinepark.com

13-15 Sedgefield at the Park Fall H/J. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@carolinahorsepark.com, carolinahorsepark.com

14 Eventing Academy Schooling Day. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

14-15 USEF/USEA October Horse Trials. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, poplarplacefarm.com

14-15 Dream Big Equestrian IEA Horse Show. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com

15 Eventing Academy Horse Trials. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm. com

17 Fall Hunting Begins. Aiken Hounds. Aiken. 803.643.3724, lchickey@gmail.com, theaikenhounds.com

17-22 Tryon Fall 5. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon. com, tryon.com

19 Mane & Shell Oyster Roast to Benefit Aiken Equine Rescue. 6-9 pm. Tickets in advance: $80; after October 10: $95. Oysters, Low Country Boil, beer & wine included. Live music, silent auction, live auction. Tickets on sale at Aiken Saddlery, Equine Divine, White Rose Eclectic, JC’s Seafood, Eventbrite & at the rescue. aikenequinerescue.org.

19-29 October at Bruce’s Field I&II. Aiken Horse Park Foundation, 931 Powderhouse Rd, Aiken. 803.830.7077. tara@aikenhorsepark.org, aikenhorsepark.org

20-21 Fall Polo 20 Goal. La Bourgogne Club de Polo, 1150 Coleman Bridge Rd, Wagener. 305.790.5212, labourgognepoloclub@gmail.com

20-22 South Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938,scequinepark.com

21 Whiskey Road Hunt. Stable View, LLC 117 Stable Drive, Aiken. 484.356.3173, info@stableviewfarm.com, stableviewfarm.com

21 Schooling - Spooktacular Classic. Poplar Place Farm, 8191 Highway 27, Hamilton, GA. 706.681.8748, poplarplacefarm.com

21 Highfields Just for Fun Show. Highfields Event Center, 147 Warehouse Road, Aiken. 803.649.3505, psjshows.com

21 Camden Horse & Hound Expo. Camden Hunt. Camden. therealcamdenhunt@gmail.com, camdenhunt.com

21-22 T RHC Horse Trials. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center. 3381 Hunting Country Rd, Tryon. 828.859.9021. frcshows@gmail.com, fence.org

22 CT, Dressage, Jumper Show & Derby. Sporting Days Farm. 3549 Charleston Hwy, Aiken. 803.648.0100, cindy@firefoxfarm.com, sportingdays.com

22 H.J. Fox Halloween Classics and Medal Finals. Georgia Horse Park. 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway. Conyers, GA. 770.860.4190, georgiahorsepark.com

22 Aiken Hounds Fall Hunter Pace at Fox Nation. Aiken Hounds. Aiken. 803.643.3724, lchickey@gmail.com, theaikenhounds.com

22 Ponies and Pearls Fundraiser. New Bridge Polo Club. 862 New Bridge Rd, Aiken. 803.644.7706, hbryan2485@aol.com, newbridgepolo. com

23 Wagner Polo Final. Wagener Polo Club. 5720 Wagener Rd, Wagener. 803.566.8610, bkrpolo@aol.com, wagenerpolo.com

24-29 Tryon Fall 6. TIEC. Mill Spring, NC. 828.863.1011, sarpke@tryon. com, tryon.com

26-6 Eloy Escapite Memorial. Wagener Polo Club. 5720 Wagener Rd, Wagener. 803.566.8610, bkrpolo@aol.com, wagenerpolo.com

26-29 South Carolina Quarter Horse Association. Carolina Equine Park (SCEP), 443 Cleveland School Road, Camden, 803.486.4938, scequinepark.com

27-28 Women’s Challenge 8-10 Goal. La Bourgogne Club de Polo, 1150 Coleman Bridge Rd, Wagener. 305.790.5212, labourgognepoloclub@ gmail.com

27-29 Sedgefield at the Park Haunted Classic H/J. Carolina Horse Park. 2814 Montrose rd, Raeford, NC. 910.875.2075, info@ carolinahorsepark.com, carolinahorsepark.com

27-29 Blue Ridge Hunter Jumper Show. Foothills Equestrian Nature Center. 3381 Hunting Country Rd, Tryon. 828.859.9021. frcshows@gmail. com, fence.org

27-5 USPA Bronze Trophy 8 Goal. New Bridge Polo Club. 862 New Bridge Rd, Aiken. 803.644.7706, hbryan2485@aol.com, newbridgepolo.com

28 Hunter Pace. The Vista. 859 Old Tory Trail, Aiken. 803.262.5263 vistaschooling@gmail.com, schoolthevista.com

28 Annual Meeting. Aiken Driving Club. Aiken. Peggy Dils, 803-295-6785 dilsaiken@gmail.com aikendrivingclub.com americandrivingsociety.org

28 Dancing Horses Schooling Show. Dancing Horse Equestrian Center. 149 Moseley Rd, Williston. 207.210.7900, dancinghorses@ rocketmail.com, dancinghorsesaiken.com

28-29 Recognized Horse Trials at Chatt Hills. 9445 Browns Lake Rd, Fairburn, GA. 770.892.2117, info@chatthillseventing.com, chatthillseventing.com

29 Halloween Open Show. Full Gallop Farm, 3828 Wagener Rd, Aiken. Lara Anderson: 803. 215.6590, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com, fullgallopfarm.com

Now Open

A PASTURE BOARDING

742 James Davison Heriot Road, Dalzell, SC 29040

facility for retired horses and resting polo ponies. Onsite owners. Convenient access to I-20 and I-95. All new fencing and refurbished grass Jared and Katherine Thompson 870-816-5814 highmeadowpastures.com

Top 5 benefits of MagnaWave PEMF (Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field Therapy)

Help

Pacheco HHP, CSM goldwowieequine@gmail.com https://goldwowie.com/magnawave-pemf/

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Winter Colony Estate “Live Oak”

THOMAS BOSSARD |

803.640.2845 | $3,500,000

Situated on just under 3 acres on Aiken's famed Easy Street, this completely renovated property was expanded and restored in 2003. Originally 3 separate buildings, the center is believed to be a 1840s home. Around 1910, the structures were combined including new construction of the living room which joins them today. The pool and pool house. were built in the 1920s and restored in 2000. The live oak in the rear of the house is approximately 300 years old and gives the house its name. The final addition to the estate was the current 2-car garage and apartment. The main house features 4 large bedrooms with sitting rooms, baths and closets. Custom kitchen with laundry room and pantry flow into a breakfast room. Large dining room opens to expansive living room with intricate mill work. There are 2 sitting rooms off the main living room, a game room, office, wet bar and half bath. There are extensive decks and patios throughout the property overlooking the gardens. The estate includes magnificent gardens, 2-car garage with gardener's bath & apartment, grand pool house, 9 stall barn with 3 paddocks and room for apartment above. Adjacent to the barn is a 3 car garage with a 2 bedroom apartment above. This property is truly a one of a kind and is just steps from Hitchcock Woods.

Three Runs Plantation

TOM MURRAY 626.644.3008 | $1,250,000

An architectural original in Three Runs Plantation! This house was created in the Carpenter Gothic Style. Custom built with the most unique architectural artifacts, this home is like living in an actual work of art. There are windows from a 1930's bank, antique glass, historic doors and knobs, ironwork, etc. The 2-stall barn has an 1100 square foot apartment above, featuring a more relaxed yet sophisticated style, often rented on Airbnb. The home is set around a tranquil courtyard and is surrounded by verdant landscaping and immaculately kept pastures. It is located near the main dressage and jumping arenas at Three Runs and minutes from 30 miles of groomed trails. This is truly one of a kind for the sophisticated buyer who appreciates architecture, design and the equestrian lifestyle.

New Construction at Bridle Creek

JACK ROTH 803.341.8787 | $879,000

Beautiful Donnie Shaffer home in Bridle Creek on 5.06 acres, 3321 sq ft, 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths plus sunroom, oak hardwood floors in foyer, great room, dining room, kitchen and owners bedroom. Ceramic tile in all wet areas, extra large mudroom, 17 SEER Heat Pump, 10' ceilings in family room and foyer, 9' elsewhere on the main floor. Kitchen Aid stainless appliances including gas cooktop, microwave and dishwasher, garden tub in owners bath with tile shower. Under construction; should be completed by late summer 2023. Community amenities include miles of trails, dressage ring with mirrors, jumping ring, cross country course, club house/fitness center.

Bridle Creek

JACK ROTH 803.341.8787 | $22,500 per acre

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 and jump arenas, cross-country schooling, and NEW activity center with fitness equipment and kitchen. Developer financing available!

Bridle Creek Hunt Box

JACK ROTH 803.341.8787 | $879,000

LIKE NEW Hunt Box on 5.4 acres with 1,932 heated/cooled square feet. Main home has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths with 1 bedroom/1 bath apartment. Features include 2 on-demand water heaters, high ceilings, screened porch, marble counter tops, gas logs in fireplace, custom kitchen with gas stove. Horse amenities include 3 stalls (12x12 size), automatic fly spray system, heated/cooled tack room, separate hay shed, private riding ring with silica footing, 2 run-in sheds, all 5.4 acres completely fenced. Amenities include miles of trails, dressage ring with mirrors, jumping ring, cross country course, club house/fitness center and picturesque surroundings.

Three Runs Plantation

MARY TROTMAN 502 857 1782 | $995,000

STUNNING custom home sits on 5.5 beautiful grassy acres with loads of privacy and great views! There are 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths on the main floor, and one large guest suite on the second floor. The kitchen is a dream for cooking & entertaining with a large island, Wolf range, pot filler, wine refrigerator and walk-in pantry, all open to the expansive living room. Multiple French doors open from the living room to a spacious screened porch with gas fireplace. Oversized 3-bay garage has space for equipment storage. Landscaping is irrigated and the perimeter is fenced with automatic gate. Several great locations for your barn, plus 5hp well pump with separate electric panel.

LAND

East Side Horse Country

MIKE HOSANG 803.270.6358 | $900,000

Conveniently located in the heart of the eastside equestrian corridor, this multi-use 80+ acre parcel offers an opportunity to create a lifestyle of your dreams. Equestrians, farmers, hunters, and developers — consider the possibilities!

Solstice Meadow

RANDY WOLCOTT 803.507.1142 | $85,000 EACH

Lovely residential building lots available in this quiet little equestrian neighborhood just south of town. Enjoy miles of riding and walking trails, including the 62-acre Freeman preserve. Available building lots ranging from 5 acres to 5.42 acres, offered at $85,000 each lot.

Storm Branch Acreage

COURTNEY CONGER 803.645.3308

Great opportunity to own nearly 42 wooded acres located off Storm Branch Road, convenient to both Aiken and Augusta. This property is close into town but has wonderful privacy, with horse farms and waterfront residential properties nearby in Johnson Lakes Estates. Offered at $420,000

COURTNEY CONGER: 803-645-3308

Mile Bridge Tract

MIKE HOSANG 803 270 6358 | $7,000 per acre

Expansive 362-acre tract available in Johnston area on the border of Aiken and Edgefield counties. Endless possibilities for this lovely land, with part of the acreage cleared, part wooded, and several gorgeous homesites. Approximately 137 acres cleared, and about 225 acres wooded with a mix of hardwoods & pines. Possible uses include hunting, horses, recreational, timber, farm, or residential development. Seller will consider subdividing.

The Paddocks

MIKE HOSANG 803.270.6358

Build your horse property in a desirable equestrian development with convenient south side location. Owners enjoy community riding trails and training arena. Beautiful building lots available!

Lot 9A has 12.58 acres $245,000

JACK ROTH: 803-341-8787

TOM MURRAY: 626-644-3008 BARB GOULD USKUP: 803-295-3199

JANE PAGE THOMPSON: 803-215-8232 RANDY WOLCOTT: 803-507-1142

ALEX TYRTEOS: 203-249-3071 SHELLEY FARQUHAR: 561-267-9514

BRIAN CAVANAUGH: 803-624-6072

BETTINA RUCKELSHAUS: 803-640-1625

Established Pasture

RANDY WOLCOTT 803.507.1142

ONLY $18,500 per acre

Lovely 12-acre parcel on Moore Road in east side horse country! Also offered as two 6-acre lots. Cleared with established grass waiting for your improvements.

THOMAS BOSSARD: 803-640-2845

MIKE HOSANG: 803-270-6358

LORI SALCH: 803-270-5972

ELIZABETH BLACKWELL: 850-566-6295

LEE HEDLUND: 803-221-6831

MARY TROTMAN: 502-857-1782

DANA MASSEY: 803-599-0400

LORI MARVEL: 843-324-5341

www.CarolinaCompany.com | Office: 803.648.8660