The Aiken Trials, Aiken's day of races for young horses, will feature a race for polo ponies this year. The ponies, which are required to be playing horses, will run 300 yards from a standing start to compete for the title of "Fastest Polo Pony in Aiken."
The Aiken Trials will be held on Saturday, March 14. The card has six races, four of them for untried 2-year-old race horses, one for seasoned horses of racing age, and the polo pony race, which will be the fourth of the day. Although members of Aiken's old Winter Colony probably raced polo ponies in Aiken before World War II, this is the first time that the Aiken Trials will include a race for polo ponies.
There are six polo ponies entered in the race. They are:
1-Eli Yale, 6 year old chestnut gelding, owned, trained and ridden by Pam Gleason
2-Jasmine, 9 year old chestnut mare, owned, trained and ridden by Theresa King
3-Do What, 6 year old bay gelding, owned, trained and ridden by Tom Uskup
4-Elegant Matter, 7 year old bay mare, owned, trained and ridden by Ben Gregoncza
5-Aztec, 9 year old chestnut gelding, owned by the Aiken Horse LLC, trained by Gary Knoll and ridden by Salvador Torres.
6-Sabrina, 9 year old bay mare, owned, trained and ridden by Edgar Cato III.
The polo pony race is sponsored by The Aiken Horse.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Southern Saddlery Closes
After 18 years of serving Aiken’s equestrians, Southern Saddlery closed this February.
Susan Henderson, the store’s owner and founder, says that she is retiring from the retail trade to pursue other interests.
“I’m very thankful for the years of support the store has gotten from Aiken’s horse people,” she says.
On Friday, February 20, Susan made the announcement that the store would close at the end of the month after a going-out-of-business sale. Word spread rapidly, and Southern Saddlery was soon flooded with customers. People bought so much and so quickly, that the store was essentially empty in a couple of days, closing its doors by Thursday, February 26, two days ahead of schedule. An Aiken horse community icon, Southern Saddlery will be missed.
Susan Henderson, the store’s owner and founder, says that she is retiring from the retail trade to pursue other interests.
“I’m very thankful for the years of support the store has gotten from Aiken’s horse people,” she says.
On Friday, February 20, Susan made the announcement that the store would close at the end of the month after a going-out-of-business sale. Word spread rapidly, and Southern Saddlery was soon flooded with customers. People bought so much and so quickly, that the store was essentially empty in a couple of days, closing its doors by Thursday, February 26, two days ahead of schedule. An Aiken horse community icon, Southern Saddlery will be missed.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
A Horse Park for Aiken?
On Wednesday afternoon January 21, word spread like a line of flame through the horse community: there was to be an open forum at the University of South Carolina Aiken Convocation Center, to discuss the construction of a large-scale, international-quality horse park in the city. Numerous horsemen from the show, event, hunt and driving worlds joined realtors and other people connected with Aiken’s equestrian world. The meeting room suddenly didn’t have quite enough chairs.
“Only around 30 people R.S.V.P’d,” apologized one of the organizers, Mary Ann Keisler, who is director of tourism at Thoroughbred Country, an organization dedicated to promoting the hospitality industry in western South Carolina. “And there are many more of you here than we expected.”
It turned out that the meeting wasn’t about a horse park. Rather, it was a forum conducted by Robert Cleverdon, director of an Ireland-based company called Tourism Development International, to solicit ideas and opinions about how to promote Aiken and Edgefield Counties as tourist destinations. Tourism Development International is a consulting firm that was hired by South Carolina’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism to create a comprehensive tourism plan for the state. One option in that plan calls for solidifying Aiken’s reputation as an equestrian destination by making it the location of a horse park that could be used for shows, clinics and other equestrian events.
Robert Cleverdon had an agenda that he tried to follow during the meeting. That agenda included identifying various things other than the equestrian life that might attract tourists. The meeting was also intended to address potential tourist attractions in Edgefield County. Several people had made the trip to USCA from Edgefield, and they may have been eager to discuss historic houses, Native American archeological sites and bike trails in their neighborhoods. However, the overwhelming majority of attendees were horse people from Aiken. They had come to talk about a horse park, and that is what they did.
Cleverdon, an Englishman, didn’t appear to understand exactly what was happening. He would ask if people in Aiken wanted more museums, and someone would reply that they thought a horse park would be good for the area because it would complement the many great equestrian facilities we already have. He would suggest that we could develop our waterways to attract more tourists, and someone else would answer that they worried that the horse park might detract from the charm of Aiken. Although a horse park was, indeed, one of the official topics of discussion, after a few rounds on the subject, Mr. Cleverdon tried, with little success, to get people to stop bringing it up. The end result was perhaps a bit disappointing for horsemen and Englishmen alike, since neither got to explore the topics that interested them in any depth.
Tourism Development International will be making recommendations to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, and they might even suggest developing a horse park for Aiken. However, in the current economic climate, it is unlikely that the state would be able to do anything in the near future. Funds for creating such a facility would have to come from a public-private partnership, and even then, the state would have to be on firmer financial footing before considering such a thing.
What the forum did prove was that Aiken’s horsemen are very eager to talk about a horse park. Following the meeting, Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt, a realtor with Meybohm and a horsewoman, spoke with Representative Tim Young, a state legislator who was eager to pursue the idea further. Several area horsemen are planning to set up meetings that really are about a horse park, both to explore its possible impact on the area and to determine ways that it could be made a reality. Stay for the latest updates.
“Only around 30 people R.S.V.P’d,” apologized one of the organizers, Mary Ann Keisler, who is director of tourism at Thoroughbred Country, an organization dedicated to promoting the hospitality industry in western South Carolina. “And there are many more of you here than we expected.”
It turned out that the meeting wasn’t about a horse park. Rather, it was a forum conducted by Robert Cleverdon, director of an Ireland-based company called Tourism Development International, to solicit ideas and opinions about how to promote Aiken and Edgefield Counties as tourist destinations. Tourism Development International is a consulting firm that was hired by South Carolina’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism to create a comprehensive tourism plan for the state. One option in that plan calls for solidifying Aiken’s reputation as an equestrian destination by making it the location of a horse park that could be used for shows, clinics and other equestrian events.
Robert Cleverdon had an agenda that he tried to follow during the meeting. That agenda included identifying various things other than the equestrian life that might attract tourists. The meeting was also intended to address potential tourist attractions in Edgefield County. Several people had made the trip to USCA from Edgefield, and they may have been eager to discuss historic houses, Native American archeological sites and bike trails in their neighborhoods. However, the overwhelming majority of attendees were horse people from Aiken. They had come to talk about a horse park, and that is what they did.
Cleverdon, an Englishman, didn’t appear to understand exactly what was happening. He would ask if people in Aiken wanted more museums, and someone would reply that they thought a horse park would be good for the area because it would complement the many great equestrian facilities we already have. He would suggest that we could develop our waterways to attract more tourists, and someone else would answer that they worried that the horse park might detract from the charm of Aiken. Although a horse park was, indeed, one of the official topics of discussion, after a few rounds on the subject, Mr. Cleverdon tried, with little success, to get people to stop bringing it up. The end result was perhaps a bit disappointing for horsemen and Englishmen alike, since neither got to explore the topics that interested them in any depth.
Tourism Development International will be making recommendations to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, and they might even suggest developing a horse park for Aiken. However, in the current economic climate, it is unlikely that the state would be able to do anything in the near future. Funds for creating such a facility would have to come from a public-private partnership, and even then, the state would have to be on firmer financial footing before considering such a thing.
What the forum did prove was that Aiken’s horsemen are very eager to talk about a horse park. Following the meeting, Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt, a realtor with Meybohm and a horsewoman, spoke with Representative Tim Young, a state legislator who was eager to pursue the idea further. Several area horsemen are planning to set up meetings that really are about a horse park, both to explore its possible impact on the area and to determine ways that it could be made a reality. Stay for the latest updates.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Eventing News
There can be no doubt that Aiken is the place to be this winter if you are an eventer. Not only are there competitions, training and schooling opportunities galore, pretty much everyone is here. This year that includes riders from the United States Equestrian Federation’s winter training list of “Developing” riders as well as a selection of elite riders in consideration for the United States Eventing Team that will compete at international events in the coming years.
The riders will train at Three Runs Plantation, an equestrian development on the Southside. There will be three sessions, held on February 17-21, March 4-6 and March 17-19. On February 18, riders will train over the cross country course at Paradise Farm on route 302 east of town. Captain Mark Phillips, who recently renewed his contract as the U.S. chef d’équipe, will work with the riders. Wayne Raeford, who is the owner and developer of Three Runs, will be holding a V.I.P. brunch at the Three Runs clubhouse on February 19 with proceeds to benefit the USEF.
Other eventing extras this winter include a USEF benefit gala cocktail party and silent auction held at Phillip Dutton’s Red Oak Farm in Bridle Creek on the evening of March 6. This will be the second of five annual parties that Evie Dutton (Phillip’s wife) and Dineen Daniels (Bridle Creek’s co-owner and developer) are organizing in order to assist the USEF. Phillip Dutton will speak about the 2008 Hong Kong Olympics and there will be a silent auction and bountiful hors d’oeuvres. There is also a possibility that Gina Miles, who won the individual silver medal at the Games, will fly in from California. Tickets are $55 and can be purchased at Meybohm Realtors’ downtown office until February 27.
Horsemen might also want to check out the “That’s a Promise” tour, put on by Pennfield Feeds. Pennfield, a Pennsylvania-based company, feeds many of the horses on the U.S. Eventing Team, including horses owned by Phillip Dutton. Another Pennfield-fed horse, Jamaica, a driving horse owned by Chester Weber, was recently named the USEF Horse of the Year. The “That’s a Promise” tour starts in Florida and will be in Aiken on March 10. The evening will include talks about equine nutrition, the chance to meet Olympic riders, sip wine and sample hors d’oeuvres and compete for the opportunity to win a training session with an Olympian. Proceeds will benefit the USEF Young Rider program. For tickets and more information: www.thatsapromisetour.com.
The riders will train at Three Runs Plantation, an equestrian development on the Southside. There will be three sessions, held on February 17-21, March 4-6 and March 17-19. On February 18, riders will train over the cross country course at Paradise Farm on route 302 east of town. Captain Mark Phillips, who recently renewed his contract as the U.S. chef d’équipe, will work with the riders. Wayne Raeford, who is the owner and developer of Three Runs, will be holding a V.I.P. brunch at the Three Runs clubhouse on February 19 with proceeds to benefit the USEF.
Other eventing extras this winter include a USEF benefit gala cocktail party and silent auction held at Phillip Dutton’s Red Oak Farm in Bridle Creek on the evening of March 6. This will be the second of five annual parties that Evie Dutton (Phillip’s wife) and Dineen Daniels (Bridle Creek’s co-owner and developer) are organizing in order to assist the USEF. Phillip Dutton will speak about the 2008 Hong Kong Olympics and there will be a silent auction and bountiful hors d’oeuvres. There is also a possibility that Gina Miles, who won the individual silver medal at the Games, will fly in from California. Tickets are $55 and can be purchased at Meybohm Realtors’ downtown office until February 27.
Horsemen might also want to check out the “That’s a Promise” tour, put on by Pennfield Feeds. Pennfield, a Pennsylvania-based company, feeds many of the horses on the U.S. Eventing Team, including horses owned by Phillip Dutton. Another Pennfield-fed horse, Jamaica, a driving horse owned by Chester Weber, was recently named the USEF Horse of the Year. The “That’s a Promise” tour starts in Florida and will be in Aiken on March 10. The evening will include talks about equine nutrition, the chance to meet Olympic riders, sip wine and sample hors d’oeuvres and compete for the opportunity to win a training session with an Olympian. Proceeds will benefit the USEF Young Rider program. For tickets and more information: www.thatsapromisetour.com.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Sharer Dale is Jumping Higher
Sharer Dale, a professional realtor and amateur rider who recently relocated to Aiken from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, has been supplementing her income by outjumping the pros at this winter’s Progressive Show Jumping events. At the Aiken Winter Classic at the end of December, she was fifth in the $10,000 Mini Prix riding her horse Antares, then won the $5,000 Welcome Stake with Antares and took second with her other top jumper Gerry 79. At the Aiken Winter Classic II in early January, she came back to win the $10,000 Mini Prix, again riding Antares. In the jump-off, she bested Daniel Geitner, a top local professional, by nearly six seconds.
“My guys are really good,” says Shari, speaking of her horses. “I bought Antares off a video nine years ago when he was 6. I had told Wilhelm Genn that I needed a horse with a sense of humor, and he picked out Antares for me. Antares was in Germany. The video was of him jumping with a 13-year-old girl riding him. He was obviously so forgiving, with such heart. Every time he came around a corner and saw a fence, his ears would just shoot forward. I knew he was the right horse for me. I could never replace him.”
In addition to her seasoned campaigners, Shari also has two young horses she is excited about. Over the winter she and Sarah Thompson, the Aiken veterinarian, went down to Argentina where they bought three horses from La Tatabra, the best-known breeder of jumping horses in that country. One horse is for Sarah, the other two are for Shari. These horses are just coming 4 this year, so it will be a while before their jumping careers really take off, but watch out for them in the future. Shari keeps her horses at home and rides with Drasius Arkus. When she is not on a horse winning jumper classes, Shari works at Meybohm downtown
“My guys are really good,” says Shari, speaking of her horses. “I bought Antares off a video nine years ago when he was 6. I had told Wilhelm Genn that I needed a horse with a sense of humor, and he picked out Antares for me. Antares was in Germany. The video was of him jumping with a 13-year-old girl riding him. He was obviously so forgiving, with such heart. Every time he came around a corner and saw a fence, his ears would just shoot forward. I knew he was the right horse for me. I could never replace him.”
In addition to her seasoned campaigners, Shari also has two young horses she is excited about. Over the winter she and Sarah Thompson, the Aiken veterinarian, went down to Argentina where they bought three horses from La Tatabra, the best-known breeder of jumping horses in that country. One horse is for Sarah, the other two are for Shari. These horses are just coming 4 this year, so it will be a while before their jumping careers really take off, but watch out for them in the future. Shari keeps her horses at home and rides with Drasius Arkus. When she is not on a horse winning jumper classes, Shari works at Meybohm downtown
Midshipman to Aiken TB Hall of Fame
New Addition to TB Hall of Fame
After a 12-year drought, the Aiken Thoroughbred Hall of Fame will induct a racing champion this spring. Midshipman, a colt owned by Darley and started at the Aiken Training Track under Stonerside’s Tim Jones, won the Eclipse Award for outstanding Juvenile (2-year-old) Colt of 2008. He will be the first horse inducted into the Hall of Fame since Dogwood Stables’ Storm Song won the Eclipse as the outstanding Juvenile Filly of 1996.
Midshipman was sired by Unbridled’s Song, one of the top ten money-earning sires of 2008. His dam, Avenue of Flags, was a multiple graded stakes winning mare from California, who won $631,190 on her way to becoming California’s champion 3-year-old filly of 1997 and champion older female of 1998. Midshipman started his racing career on August 17 with a win at Del Mar (California), followed on September 3 by a win in the Grade I Del Mar Futurity. He was second in the Grade I Norfolk Stakes, and capped his 2-year-old year by winning the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on October 25. His performance was good enough to make him the overwhelming winner in the Eclipse Award voting, garnering 195 votes, some 160 ahead of his closest competitor.
Midshipman was one of the horses that Bob and Janice McNair sold to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Makhtoum as part of the sheikh’s deal to buy Stonerside Stables back in September. Now a part of Darley Stables and a winner of $1.38 million, he was one of five young horses from that outfit to fly back to Dubai this December, presumably in preparation for a run at the United Arab Emirates Derby in late March. If all goes well, perhaps he will be stateside again on the first Saturday in May. Aiken always loves rooting for an Aiken-connected Kentucky Derby contender.
Induction into the Aiken Thoroughbred Hall of Fame is an honor that has been bestowed upon 39 horses, including Midshipman. To qualify, a horse must be recognized as a champion by winning an Eclipse Award, and must have trained in Aiken at some point in its career. Midshipman was not the only horse with Aiken ties who was up for an Eclipse this year. Another contender was Eight Belles, nominated in the 3-Year-Old Filly category. Eight Belles, who trained at Legacy Stable under Ron Stevens as a 2-year-old, finished second in the Kentucky Derby before breaking down on the racetrack where she was euthanized.
The ceremony honoring Midshipman will be held on Sunday, March 15 at 12:30 p.m. at the Thoroughbred Hall of Fame and Museum in Hopeland Gardens.
After a 12-year drought, the Aiken Thoroughbred Hall of Fame will induct a racing champion this spring. Midshipman, a colt owned by Darley and started at the Aiken Training Track under Stonerside’s Tim Jones, won the Eclipse Award for outstanding Juvenile (2-year-old) Colt of 2008. He will be the first horse inducted into the Hall of Fame since Dogwood Stables’ Storm Song won the Eclipse as the outstanding Juvenile Filly of 1996.
Midshipman was sired by Unbridled’s Song, one of the top ten money-earning sires of 2008. His dam, Avenue of Flags, was a multiple graded stakes winning mare from California, who won $631,190 on her way to becoming California’s champion 3-year-old filly of 1997 and champion older female of 1998. Midshipman started his racing career on August 17 with a win at Del Mar (California), followed on September 3 by a win in the Grade I Del Mar Futurity. He was second in the Grade I Norfolk Stakes, and capped his 2-year-old year by winning the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on October 25. His performance was good enough to make him the overwhelming winner in the Eclipse Award voting, garnering 195 votes, some 160 ahead of his closest competitor.
Midshipman was one of the horses that Bob and Janice McNair sold to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Makhtoum as part of the sheikh’s deal to buy Stonerside Stables back in September. Now a part of Darley Stables and a winner of $1.38 million, he was one of five young horses from that outfit to fly back to Dubai this December, presumably in preparation for a run at the United Arab Emirates Derby in late March. If all goes well, perhaps he will be stateside again on the first Saturday in May. Aiken always loves rooting for an Aiken-connected Kentucky Derby contender.
Induction into the Aiken Thoroughbred Hall of Fame is an honor that has been bestowed upon 39 horses, including Midshipman. To qualify, a horse must be recognized as a champion by winning an Eclipse Award, and must have trained in Aiken at some point in its career. Midshipman was not the only horse with Aiken ties who was up for an Eclipse this year. Another contender was Eight Belles, nominated in the 3-Year-Old Filly category. Eight Belles, who trained at Legacy Stable under Ron Stevens as a 2-year-old, finished second in the Kentucky Derby before breaking down on the racetrack where she was euthanized.
The ceremony honoring Midshipman will be held on Sunday, March 15 at 12:30 p.m. at the Thoroughbred Hall of Fame and Museum in Hopeland Gardens.
Owen Rinehart to Polo Hall of Fame
Aiken has always had a stellar reputation in polo circles for attracting and producing outstanding players and ponies. Some of the best players in the history of the game have graced Aiken’s fields, including the immortal Tommy Hitchcock (1900-1944), a 10 goal player who was often considered the best player the sport had ever seen, and Adolfo Cambiaso (1975 - ) an Argentine 10-goal superstar whose reputation has even eclipsed Tommy’s. In fact, of the 21 American born players who have been awarded a 10-goal rating by the United States Polo Association, seven (a full third!) have lived and played in Aiken.
This February, another of Aiken’s players will be inducted into the National Museum of Polo Hall of Fame in Lake Worth, Florida. Owen Rinehart, who attained a 10-goal handicap in 1991, is this year’s living inductee. He joins other Aiken-connected poloists on the roster, including Pete Bostwick, Thomas, Tommy and Louise Hitchcock, Alan Corey Jr. (father of the Alan Corey who plays today) Elbridge Gerry (who attended Aiken Prep School) Philip and Stewart Iglehart, Norty Knox, Devereux Milburn, Lewis Smith, Louis Stoddard and Harry Payne Whitney.
Owen Rinehart has a long list of polo accomplishments, including wins in the U.S. Open, the U.S. Handicap, the Gold Cup, the Monty Waterbury Cup, the America Cup, the Hall of Fame Cup, the World Cup and the East Coast Open. He also played for America in the Westchester Cup in 1992, the last year that the U.S. won the historic international match against England. This year, he serves as coach for the American team in the first year that the Westchester Cup will be contested on American soil since 1939.
Although Owen has a stellar reputation as a player, he may be best known for breeding, training and developing horses. His breeding operation is one of the most well-respected in the nation, and horses bred and trained at his Isinya Farm on Langdon Road have won numerous Best Playing Pony Awards in some of the top tournaments in the country. Additionally, he was named Best Mounted Player in both the 2005 Gold Cup (played at New Bridge Polo and Country Club) and in the 2007 U.S. Open in Palm Beach.
Owen will be inducted at the 20th Annual Hall of Fame Awards Gala at the museum on Friday, February 13. Other inductees include the Aiken “Ponies to Remember” Belle of All, owned and played by Louis Stoddard; and Rotallen, owned and played by Norty Knox. The evening begins with a Champagne reception and a silent auction to benefit the Hall of Fame. There will be a seated dinner, then the awards ceremony, then dancing. Tickets are $200 per person. (www.polomuseum.com or call 561.969.3210)
This February, another of Aiken’s players will be inducted into the National Museum of Polo Hall of Fame in Lake Worth, Florida. Owen Rinehart, who attained a 10-goal handicap in 1991, is this year’s living inductee. He joins other Aiken-connected poloists on the roster, including Pete Bostwick, Thomas, Tommy and Louise Hitchcock, Alan Corey Jr. (father of the Alan Corey who plays today) Elbridge Gerry (who attended Aiken Prep School) Philip and Stewart Iglehart, Norty Knox, Devereux Milburn, Lewis Smith, Louis Stoddard and Harry Payne Whitney.
Owen Rinehart has a long list of polo accomplishments, including wins in the U.S. Open, the U.S. Handicap, the Gold Cup, the Monty Waterbury Cup, the America Cup, the Hall of Fame Cup, the World Cup and the East Coast Open. He also played for America in the Westchester Cup in 1992, the last year that the U.S. won the historic international match against England. This year, he serves as coach for the American team in the first year that the Westchester Cup will be contested on American soil since 1939.
Although Owen has a stellar reputation as a player, he may be best known for breeding, training and developing horses. His breeding operation is one of the most well-respected in the nation, and horses bred and trained at his Isinya Farm on Langdon Road have won numerous Best Playing Pony Awards in some of the top tournaments in the country. Additionally, he was named Best Mounted Player in both the 2005 Gold Cup (played at New Bridge Polo and Country Club) and in the 2007 U.S. Open in Palm Beach.
Owen will be inducted at the 20th Annual Hall of Fame Awards Gala at the museum on Friday, February 13. Other inductees include the Aiken “Ponies to Remember” Belle of All, owned and played by Louis Stoddard; and Rotallen, owned and played by Norty Knox. The evening begins with a Champagne reception and a silent auction to benefit the Hall of Fame. There will be a seated dinner, then the awards ceremony, then dancing. Tickets are $200 per person. (www.polomuseum.com or call 561.969.3210)
Aiken Gets Arena Polo
Aiken’s polo players have been threatening to start playing arena polo here for years, and several polo enthusiasts have gone so far as to put up polo arenas. There has even been at least one exhibition game over at The Plains of Aiken development. Now, although there is no word of anyone organizing regular arena practices or making an arena club, we will have an arena polo tournament, thanks to Randy Russell, president of Polo America and the man behind the Ford Trucks Balloon and Polo Festival, held here in 2007 and 2008.
Randy has put together the Ford Trucks U.S. Open Arena Championship, a 14-16-goal tournament that will be held at an arena he is in the process of completing at his home in the Steeplechase development on Aiken’s Southside. The tournament runs from April 28 until May 3. It will be limited to eight teams and already has attracted serious interest from three or four.
A polo arena is 300 feet long by 150 feet wide, although many arenas are either bigger or smaller. Whereas outdoor polo has four players to a side, arena polo has just three. The ball, made of inflated plastic or leather and about the size of a Florida grapefruit, resembles a mini soccer ball. Players can bounce the ball off the walls (“boards”) of the arena and they score by hitting the ball against a marked-off (usually) recessed area the arena’s end.
Like many indoor versions of outdoor sports, arena polo can be both faster (in terms of how the play changes) and more physical than grass polo. The game is definitely easier to watch and understand since the players never get that far away from the spectators. Many players, especially those from Northern climes, get their start in arena polo, which can be played year round indoors, even in Chicago or Maine. Horses that play in the arena have to be quick, bold and handy. They can even be a little bit crazy: on the grass a hot-headed, keen horse might be hard to stop, but in the arena there is nowhere to go but to the play.
The entry fee for the tournament is $1,000 per team and parking for spectators will be five dollars per car, and five dollars to attend the final match. There will be a Kentucky Derby party after the consolation finals on Saturday, May 2, at which players, spectators and friends can watch the race and (presumably) indulge in Mint Juleps. All proceeds go to benefit the families of servicemen at Fort Gordon. The families of Fort Gordon have also been the beneficiaries of the Ford Trucks Balloon and Polo festivals.
“I didn’t have a connection to the military before,” explains Randy. “But after we made the families of Fort Gordon the beneficiaries of the first balloon festival, I saw how appreciative they were and how much it is needed. Now about 90 percent of my events benefit military families. We’ve been able to help about 30 families attend funerals of loved ones that have died in the line of service. We’ve also been able to help a little boy get treatment for a blood disease after his mother ran out of insurance and ran up all her charge cards. We raised enough money to pay for his treatment and to pay off all her credit cards. Now the little boy is cured and playing soccer.”
Randy has put together the Ford Trucks U.S. Open Arena Championship, a 14-16-goal tournament that will be held at an arena he is in the process of completing at his home in the Steeplechase development on Aiken’s Southside. The tournament runs from April 28 until May 3. It will be limited to eight teams and already has attracted serious interest from three or four.
A polo arena is 300 feet long by 150 feet wide, although many arenas are either bigger or smaller. Whereas outdoor polo has four players to a side, arena polo has just three. The ball, made of inflated plastic or leather and about the size of a Florida grapefruit, resembles a mini soccer ball. Players can bounce the ball off the walls (“boards”) of the arena and they score by hitting the ball against a marked-off (usually) recessed area the arena’s end.
Like many indoor versions of outdoor sports, arena polo can be both faster (in terms of how the play changes) and more physical than grass polo. The game is definitely easier to watch and understand since the players never get that far away from the spectators. Many players, especially those from Northern climes, get their start in arena polo, which can be played year round indoors, even in Chicago or Maine. Horses that play in the arena have to be quick, bold and handy. They can even be a little bit crazy: on the grass a hot-headed, keen horse might be hard to stop, but in the arena there is nowhere to go but to the play.
The entry fee for the tournament is $1,000 per team and parking for spectators will be five dollars per car, and five dollars to attend the final match. There will be a Kentucky Derby party after the consolation finals on Saturday, May 2, at which players, spectators and friends can watch the race and (presumably) indulge in Mint Juleps. All proceeds go to benefit the families of servicemen at Fort Gordon. The families of Fort Gordon have also been the beneficiaries of the Ford Trucks Balloon and Polo festivals.
“I didn’t have a connection to the military before,” explains Randy. “But after we made the families of Fort Gordon the beneficiaries of the first balloon festival, I saw how appreciative they were and how much it is needed. Now about 90 percent of my events benefit military families. We’ve been able to help about 30 families attend funerals of loved ones that have died in the line of service. We’ve also been able to help a little boy get treatment for a blood disease after his mother ran out of insurance and ran up all her charge cards. We raised enough money to pay for his treatment and to pay off all her credit cards. Now the little boy is cured and playing soccer.”
Horsemen's Hangouts
Aiken isn’t just a great place to ride. It’s also great place for horsemen to network and socialize: everyone who is in the area is bound to come downtown for dinner or a drink, at least once in a while. When they do, they’re pretty likely to run into other horse people. People looking for work as riders or grooms often say they have the best luck getting hired just by going to the Polo Bar at the Hotel Aiken and talking to people.
This winter, there are a few new additions to the scene. One is a new cocktail hour on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at The Willcox, one of Aiken’s stateliest and most historic hotels. The Willcox’s manager, Tina McCarthy, a horsewoman, is married to Dan McCarthy of Farmer Road Polo, the premier green horse training facility for polo in the area. With the McCarthys’s equestrian connections, it is little wonder that the cocktail hour is frequented by horse people of all disciplines. Of course, it also helps that numerous visiting horse people choose The Willcox as their residence during their sojourns in the city.
The other new addition is a welcome one for horsemen on the East side of town. New Bridge Polo Club has opened the New Bridge Café, serving breakfast and lunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. The chef is from Argentina and the menu is North American with a South American flair. For instance, for lunch, you could order a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich. Or you could have the Milanesa (crisply fried breaded beef) lunch plate. Either way, prices are quite reasonable and the atmosphere is laid back, elegant and understated.
This winter, there are a few new additions to the scene. One is a new cocktail hour on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at The Willcox, one of Aiken’s stateliest and most historic hotels. The Willcox’s manager, Tina McCarthy, a horsewoman, is married to Dan McCarthy of Farmer Road Polo, the premier green horse training facility for polo in the area. With the McCarthys’s equestrian connections, it is little wonder that the cocktail hour is frequented by horse people of all disciplines. Of course, it also helps that numerous visiting horse people choose The Willcox as their residence during their sojourns in the city.
The other new addition is a welcome one for horsemen on the East side of town. New Bridge Polo Club has opened the New Bridge Café, serving breakfast and lunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. The chef is from Argentina and the menu is North American with a South American flair. For instance, for lunch, you could order a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich. Or you could have the Milanesa (crisply fried breaded beef) lunch plate. Either way, prices are quite reasonable and the atmosphere is laid back, elegant and understated.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Eventers are Coming
If it's January in Aiken, that means the eventing season is upon us. With more eventers making Aiken their year round home, the season is stretching out across the calendar, of course. But January, February and March are months in which Aiken becomes the center of the event world, at least on the East Coast.
Aiken's eventing snowbirds include some of the top names in the sport, including the 2008 USEA rider of the year (Phillip Dutton) and the USEA female rider of the year (Sally Cousins.) Corinne Ashton, who rode Dobbin to 2008 Event Horse of the Year honors, will also be in town through March.
With all of the eventing activity on its way, we decided to post Lois Britten's Eventer's Guide on this blog. The article was originally published in the September 2008 edition of The Aiken Horse.
An Eventer’s Guide to Aiken
Where to Ride, Train and Compete
By Lois Britten
Every year, more and more event riders discover the benefits of wintering in Aiken. First and foremost, there are the competitions. Throughout February and March, Aiken’s eventers find seven recognized events, all within a 20 to 30 minute drive, no matter where they base their operations. Add in the events at Pine Top Farm in Thomson, Ga. (about an hour’s drive away), and the number of Aiken area events jumps to 11.
In addition to the competitions, event riders can benefit from schooling sessions with one of the many elite event riders wintering in Aiken. The opportunity here is unparalleled: Phillip Dutton, Sally Cousins, Heidi White, Kim Severson, Lellie Ward, Craig Thompson, Jan Bynny, Jim Wolf, Canadian Olympian Ian Roberts – and that’s just a partial list. Want more? Why not improve your dressage and stadium jumping skills with lessons from one of the top dressage or hunter/jumper trainers in town?
For anyone planning a first-time escape from snow and ice, as well as for everyone returning, here’s your Eventer’s Guide to Aiken. Where to stay, where to school and what to do to make your trip to this amazing horse hamlet a memorable one.
Boarding
Nothing beats the convenience of boarding where you can school crosscountry, and all of Aiken’s eventing venues take boarders, depending on stall availability. Visit the farm websites (under “Schooling” below) for information and a virtual tour.
If you check the “Events, Schooling Shows, Clinics” page on the Jumping Branch Farm website, or Sporting Days Farm website’s “Stabling” page, you’ll find many other boarding options. Some are commercial. Some are private farms accustomed to taking in boarders during the winter months. Some even provide housing for both you and your horse – an especially attractive option for late sleepers! There are many top-notch boarding facilities advertising throughout the Aiken Horse, as well as in our Business Card, Directory of Services and Classified sections. There are also some newer eventing farms in the area, such as Rumor Has It Farm in Windsor, with cross-country, stadium and dressage schooling areas in various stages of completion.
Housing
If you love the B&B life, how about one of these options? The Town and Country Inn – Bed, Breakfast and Stables – is just five miles from downtown, on what we call the Southside (www.towncountrybb.com, 803-642-0270). A bit farther out and to the east, in Williston, you’ll
find Aiken Barn, Bed and Breakfast (aikenbbb@yahoo.com, 803-266-3990). Both let you bunk with your horse. Well, not literally, but you get the idea.
Annie’s Inn is a traditional B&B (no ponies, please) just east of town in Montmorenci. The location can’t be beat. It’s smack-dab in the middle of Aiken’s four main event sites and just 15 minutes from both downtown and the Southside’s strip of restaurants and shopping.
Cottage and apartment rentals are another option during the winter months, some in the charming downtown historic horse district. Check for rental listings in the Classified sections of The Aiken Horse (www.theaikenhorse.com) and The Aiken Standard (the local newspaper: www.aikenstandard.com). Or check in with a local realtor or with the Aiken Chamber of Commerce (www.aikenchamber.net).
Of course, you can also opt to stay in a hotel. Aiken is a rather active business center, and has quite a number of hotels that will accommodate relatively long-term guests. There are luxury hotels (such as The Willcox, a lovely historic inn downtown – President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is said to have stayed there regularly) or the usual chain hotels and motels, many of them located on Whiskey Road.
If you enjoy nightlife, you might consider the Hotel Aiken, still often referred to as “The Holley House” by locals, although it hasn’t been called that officially for at least a decade. Hotel Aiken’s Polo Bar is an equestrian hotspot, attracting an ever-changing stream of foxhunters, show jumpers, event riders and polo players most evenings throughout the fall, winter and spring seasons. The bar can be a bit noisy (especially after 10 pm on karaoke night) so if you do stay at the hotel, you might consider one of the motel-style rooms next door to the historic building itself, where it might be quieter. Even if bars aren’t your thing, you should plan on stopping by the Polo Bar one night – you’ll probably be amazed by all the horsepeople you see there.
Schooling
With seven cross-country schooling sites within about a 10-mile radius, Aiken has an embarrassment of riches. The four venues that host USEA events usually close their courses two weeks before a competition, although there are occasional exceptions, so double-check. All four courses are open for schooling the day after an event, when the jumps are still beautifully decorated. Do, however, always call ahead, even if you know the course is open. You need to find out the farm’s procedures for signing a release and making payment. Plus, if the farm knows you’re coming they’ll be sure there’s water in the water jump. Don’t bring your dog with you unless you are told it is O.K.!
USEA Venues
Full Gallop Farm. Manager: Lara Anderson. Course: This Tadpole through Intermediate course runs over rolling, open hills, through short wooded paths and between fields. Parts of the course are quite scenic, winding between small ponds. There are two water jumps and the footing is excellent.www.fullgallopfarm.com, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com. 803.644.6789
Jumping Branch Farm. Manager: Julie Zapapas. Course: The Tadpole through Preliminary course goes along wooded paths and between pretty fields with rolling hills. There is also a galloping track and a dressage ring. Jumping Branch, like most places in Aiken, boasts excellent sandy footing. www.jbfarm.com, zapapasj@bellsouth.net. 803.642.3485
Paradise Farm. Manager: Lellie Ward. Course: Tadpole through Preliminary over rolling, open hills and between fields. Paradise Farm features a nice, sloping hill that affords an impressive and extensive view of almost the entire course. Again, the footing here is superb. www.paradisefarmaiken.com, lellie@paradisefarmaiken.com. 803.643.0138
Sporting Days in Aiken. Manager: Joannah Glass. Course: Another Tadpole through Preliminary course over open terrain with an extensive view. The course includes hunt fences as well as all the traditional crosscountry jumps. The footing is excellent. www.sportingdaysfarm.com, sdaikenht@aol.com. 803.648.0100
Other Venues
Chime Bell Chase. Managers: Woody Baxt and Alan Young. This is a beautiful property on the southside of town, so if that’s where you’re based, it will be your most convenient option. Tadpole through Preliminary jumps are scattered throughout the property. Inviting jump trails wind through the woods (Beginner Novice/Novice level) and the Whiskey Road Foxhounds (one of Aiken’s six recognized hunts) runs a very popular hunter pace here on the Monday of Presidents Day. Added bonus: the water jump is always full! The charming Mr. Young meets visitors at the entrance with the necessary release form, so you must call ahead for an appointment. www.chimebellchase.com, woody162@gmail.com, 201.410.6028.
Hopeland Farms. Manager: Cathy Howard. Some of the original property here has been sold off, but there are still about 20 very nice schooling fences available, Tadpole through Training, on good footing. Hopeland is convenient because it’s close to town and its water jump is especially good for green horses. Appointments are absolutely required. Call Cathy at 803.645.2682 and she’ll greet you personally when you arrive.
Pine Top Farm. Manager: Glenn Wilson. Pine Top’s a bit over an hour’s drive, but it features jumps up through the Advanced level. The fences are varied and scattered across open fields and through wooded areas. Get a group together and make a day of it. It’s worth the trip. www.pinetopfarm.com, glenn@pinetopfarm.com, 706.595.3792, 706.449.1907
Need Anything?
Forget to pack your favorite dressage saddle pad, your spurs, buckets, a grain scoop? Encounter an unexpected wardrobe malfunction. No worries! There are no fewer than nine tack, feed and supply stores in and around town. Aiken County Farm Supply, Aiken Saddlery and Supply, Banks Mill Feeds (bulk sales only), Boots, Bridles and Britches, Double HH Feed & Supply, Equine Connection, Oak Manor Saddlery, Southern Saddlery and Zach’s Tack are all located within a 15- to 25-minute drive, depending on your base of operations
Maybe you need some repairs to your equipment. In that case, for any and all manner of boot or tack repairs just call Aiken’s “Saddle Doctor,” Holly Spencer (803.642.5166). Her shop is right behind the Aiken Training Track in town, and she’s a whiz.
Recognized Horse Trials In Aiken
September 27–28: Pine Top Farm
October 18: Paradise Farm
November 28-30: Pine Top Farm
January 31–February 1: Pine Top
February 3–4: Full Gallop
February 7–8: Sporting Days
February 10–11: Full Gallop
February 14–15: Pine Top
February 20–22: Paradise Farm
February 27–March 1: Pine Top
March 6–8: Jumping Branch
March 10–11: Sporting Days
March 14–15: Sporting Days
Aiken's eventing snowbirds include some of the top names in the sport, including the 2008 USEA rider of the year (Phillip Dutton) and the USEA female rider of the year (Sally Cousins.) Corinne Ashton, who rode Dobbin to 2008 Event Horse of the Year honors, will also be in town through March.
With all of the eventing activity on its way, we decided to post Lois Britten's Eventer's Guide on this blog. The article was originally published in the September 2008 edition of The Aiken Horse.
An Eventer’s Guide to Aiken
Where to Ride, Train and Compete
By Lois Britten
Every year, more and more event riders discover the benefits of wintering in Aiken. First and foremost, there are the competitions. Throughout February and March, Aiken’s eventers find seven recognized events, all within a 20 to 30 minute drive, no matter where they base their operations. Add in the events at Pine Top Farm in Thomson, Ga. (about an hour’s drive away), and the number of Aiken area events jumps to 11.
In addition to the competitions, event riders can benefit from schooling sessions with one of the many elite event riders wintering in Aiken. The opportunity here is unparalleled: Phillip Dutton, Sally Cousins, Heidi White, Kim Severson, Lellie Ward, Craig Thompson, Jan Bynny, Jim Wolf, Canadian Olympian Ian Roberts – and that’s just a partial list. Want more? Why not improve your dressage and stadium jumping skills with lessons from one of the top dressage or hunter/jumper trainers in town?
For anyone planning a first-time escape from snow and ice, as well as for everyone returning, here’s your Eventer’s Guide to Aiken. Where to stay, where to school and what to do to make your trip to this amazing horse hamlet a memorable one.
Boarding
Nothing beats the convenience of boarding where you can school crosscountry, and all of Aiken’s eventing venues take boarders, depending on stall availability. Visit the farm websites (under “Schooling” below) for information and a virtual tour.
If you check the “Events, Schooling Shows, Clinics” page on the Jumping Branch Farm website, or Sporting Days Farm website’s “Stabling” page, you’ll find many other boarding options. Some are commercial. Some are private farms accustomed to taking in boarders during the winter months. Some even provide housing for both you and your horse – an especially attractive option for late sleepers! There are many top-notch boarding facilities advertising throughout the Aiken Horse, as well as in our Business Card, Directory of Services and Classified sections. There are also some newer eventing farms in the area, such as Rumor Has It Farm in Windsor, with cross-country, stadium and dressage schooling areas in various stages of completion.
Housing
If you love the B&B life, how about one of these options? The Town and Country Inn – Bed, Breakfast and Stables – is just five miles from downtown, on what we call the Southside (www.towncountrybb.com, 803-642-0270). A bit farther out and to the east, in Williston, you’ll
find Aiken Barn, Bed and Breakfast (aikenbbb@yahoo.com, 803-266-3990). Both let you bunk with your horse. Well, not literally, but you get the idea.
Annie’s Inn is a traditional B&B (no ponies, please) just east of town in Montmorenci. The location can’t be beat. It’s smack-dab in the middle of Aiken’s four main event sites and just 15 minutes from both downtown and the Southside’s strip of restaurants and shopping.
Cottage and apartment rentals are another option during the winter months, some in the charming downtown historic horse district. Check for rental listings in the Classified sections of The Aiken Horse (www.theaikenhorse.com) and The Aiken Standard (the local newspaper: www.aikenstandard.com). Or check in with a local realtor or with the Aiken Chamber of Commerce (www.aikenchamber.net).
Of course, you can also opt to stay in a hotel. Aiken is a rather active business center, and has quite a number of hotels that will accommodate relatively long-term guests. There are luxury hotels (such as The Willcox, a lovely historic inn downtown – President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is said to have stayed there regularly) or the usual chain hotels and motels, many of them located on Whiskey Road.
If you enjoy nightlife, you might consider the Hotel Aiken, still often referred to as “The Holley House” by locals, although it hasn’t been called that officially for at least a decade. Hotel Aiken’s Polo Bar is an equestrian hotspot, attracting an ever-changing stream of foxhunters, show jumpers, event riders and polo players most evenings throughout the fall, winter and spring seasons. The bar can be a bit noisy (especially after 10 pm on karaoke night) so if you do stay at the hotel, you might consider one of the motel-style rooms next door to the historic building itself, where it might be quieter. Even if bars aren’t your thing, you should plan on stopping by the Polo Bar one night – you’ll probably be amazed by all the horsepeople you see there.
Schooling
With seven cross-country schooling sites within about a 10-mile radius, Aiken has an embarrassment of riches. The four venues that host USEA events usually close their courses two weeks before a competition, although there are occasional exceptions, so double-check. All four courses are open for schooling the day after an event, when the jumps are still beautifully decorated. Do, however, always call ahead, even if you know the course is open. You need to find out the farm’s procedures for signing a release and making payment. Plus, if the farm knows you’re coming they’ll be sure there’s water in the water jump. Don’t bring your dog with you unless you are told it is O.K.!
USEA Venues
Full Gallop Farm. Manager: Lara Anderson. Course: This Tadpole through Intermediate course runs over rolling, open hills, through short wooded paths and between fields. Parts of the course are quite scenic, winding between small ponds. There are two water jumps and the footing is excellent.www.fullgallopfarm.com, fullgallopfarm@yahoo.com. 803.644.6789
Jumping Branch Farm. Manager: Julie Zapapas. Course: The Tadpole through Preliminary course goes along wooded paths and between pretty fields with rolling hills. There is also a galloping track and a dressage ring. Jumping Branch, like most places in Aiken, boasts excellent sandy footing. www.jbfarm.com, zapapasj@bellsouth.net. 803.642.3485
Paradise Farm. Manager: Lellie Ward. Course: Tadpole through Preliminary over rolling, open hills and between fields. Paradise Farm features a nice, sloping hill that affords an impressive and extensive view of almost the entire course. Again, the footing here is superb. www.paradisefarmaiken.com, lellie@paradisefarmaiken.com. 803.643.0138
Sporting Days in Aiken. Manager: Joannah Glass. Course: Another Tadpole through Preliminary course over open terrain with an extensive view. The course includes hunt fences as well as all the traditional crosscountry jumps. The footing is excellent. www.sportingdaysfarm.com, sdaikenht@aol.com. 803.648.0100
Other Venues
Chime Bell Chase. Managers: Woody Baxt and Alan Young. This is a beautiful property on the southside of town, so if that’s where you’re based, it will be your most convenient option. Tadpole through Preliminary jumps are scattered throughout the property. Inviting jump trails wind through the woods (Beginner Novice/Novice level) and the Whiskey Road Foxhounds (one of Aiken’s six recognized hunts) runs a very popular hunter pace here on the Monday of Presidents Day. Added bonus: the water jump is always full! The charming Mr. Young meets visitors at the entrance with the necessary release form, so you must call ahead for an appointment. www.chimebellchase.com, woody162@gmail.com, 201.410.6028.
Hopeland Farms. Manager: Cathy Howard. Some of the original property here has been sold off, but there are still about 20 very nice schooling fences available, Tadpole through Training, on good footing. Hopeland is convenient because it’s close to town and its water jump is especially good for green horses. Appointments are absolutely required. Call Cathy at 803.645.2682 and she’ll greet you personally when you arrive.
Pine Top Farm. Manager: Glenn Wilson. Pine Top’s a bit over an hour’s drive, but it features jumps up through the Advanced level. The fences are varied and scattered across open fields and through wooded areas. Get a group together and make a day of it. It’s worth the trip. www.pinetopfarm.com, glenn@pinetopfarm.com, 706.595.3792, 706.449.1907
Need Anything?
Forget to pack your favorite dressage saddle pad, your spurs, buckets, a grain scoop? Encounter an unexpected wardrobe malfunction. No worries! There are no fewer than nine tack, feed and supply stores in and around town. Aiken County Farm Supply, Aiken Saddlery and Supply, Banks Mill Feeds (bulk sales only), Boots, Bridles and Britches, Double HH Feed & Supply, Equine Connection, Oak Manor Saddlery, Southern Saddlery and Zach’s Tack are all located within a 15- to 25-minute drive, depending on your base of operations
Maybe you need some repairs to your equipment. In that case, for any and all manner of boot or tack repairs just call Aiken’s “Saddle Doctor,” Holly Spencer (803.642.5166). Her shop is right behind the Aiken Training Track in town, and she’s a whiz.
Recognized Horse Trials In Aiken
September 27–28: Pine Top Farm
October 18: Paradise Farm
November 28-30: Pine Top Farm
January 31–February 1: Pine Top
February 3–4: Full Gallop
February 7–8: Sporting Days
February 10–11: Full Gallop
February 14–15: Pine Top
February 20–22: Paradise Farm
February 27–March 1: Pine Top
March 6–8: Jumping Branch
March 10–11: Sporting Days
March 14–15: Sporting Days
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