Aiken County Equestrian Activities
Equestrians began to bring horses to this area during the 1800’s. The Aiken area has grown to welcome every equestrian discipline known. Visitors and locals enjoy fox hunting, dressage, flat racing, driving, polo, jumping and trail riding.
Year-Round Equestrian Sports
Aiken hosts year-round equestrian events, featuring polo tournaments in the spring and fall played on historic Whitney field, triple-crown equestrian events, and dressage riding tournaments.
Polo
Aiken’s Polo history includes the Bostwicks, the Hitchcocks, and many other wealthy Americans. Aiken serves as an ideal location for year-round polo. International and American polo teams practice, play, and compete in polo events.
Aiken Polo Club
Season: (September-November) and (April-June)
803-643-3611
Games are at Whitney Field off Whiskey Rd.
www.aikenpolo.org
La Bourgogne Club de Polo LLC
Season: (September-November) and (March-May)
305-790-5212
Games are on Saturday and open to the public.
www.labourgogneclubdepolo.com
New Bridge Polo & Country Club
862 New Bridge Rd., Aiken
803-648-3699
www.newbridgepolo.com
Wagener Polo Club
561-719-3318
www.wagenerpolo.com
Steeplechase
Steeplechase combines the precision of jumping with the speed of a race to create a very exciting event! The races are between two and four miles in length and the fences are 52-inch hurdles at varying heights. This is the chance for all to get outdoors and enjoy the history, horses and heritage of Aiken.
Fox Hunts
Historically the sport of the elite, fox hunting in Aiken is a fall favorite event. Usually held in Hitchcock Woods, the largest urban forest in the South, the event involves a scent drag, fox hounds, and hunters.
Aiken Hounds
A hunt club and, more importantly, a community of equestrians educating future generations about the history of fox hunting and the tradition of working hounds across the land.
www.theaikenhounds.com
Whiskey Road Fox Hounds
Hunts are Thursdays and Sundays from mid-October through late March.
304-545-7628
www.whiskeyroadfoxhounds.com
Horseback Riding
Aiken County offers beautiful trails for the equestrian enthusiast. Enjoy a relaxing hack through the winding trails of Langley Pond Loop Trail. Guided trail rides are available to beginners and advanced riders.
The Trail Riding Company
803-507-5487
www.thetrailridingcompany.com
Horseback riding adventures. Birthday parties and celebrations.
Rebel Ranch Horse Tours
803-640-2765
www.rebelranchhorsetours.com
Guided trail rides and basic horsemanship lessons.
Equestrian Events
SPRING
McGhee’s Mile Harness Races
March
620 Banks Mill Rd., SE, Aiken
803-617-8511
Enjoy a fun day of racing.
Aiken Triple Crown
Last 3 Saturdays in March
1st Race Weekend: The Trials
Thoroughbreds compete in flat races at the Aiken Training Track.
2nd Race Weekend: Aiken Steeplechase Hurdle Jumper Races.
3rd Race Weekend: Polo
Proceeds aid community and charities.
Aiken Trials: www.aikentrainingtrack.com
Steeplechase: www.aikensteeplechase.com
Pacers and Polo: www.usca.edu
Aiken Horse Show
1st weekend in April
Hitchcock Woods
www.Aikenhorseshow.org
Spring Polo Season
April – June
Aiken Polo Club
803-643-3611
www.aikenpolo.org
FALL
Fall Polo Season
September – November
Aiken Polo Club
803-643-3611
www.aikenpolo.org
Oktoberfest at Stable View
Last weekend in September
803-522-0067
www.stableviewfarm.com
Aiken’s first FEI event that will run 1*, 2*, and 3* divisions.
Fall Steeplechase
November
www.aikensteeplechase.com
The Aiken Fall Steeplechase is a one day event on Saturday, with a pre-race warm up party on Friday night. Watch horses pound the plush turf and soar over fences at the Aiken Fall Steeplechase!
Blessing of the Hounds
Thanksgiving Day
Hitchcock Woods, Aiken
Equine Facilities
Eventing
Aiken Horse Park
Intersection of Audubon Dr. and Powderhouse Rd., Aiken.
803-226-0121
www.aikenhorsepark.org
66 acres in historic Aiken where events are held year-round.
Dara Knot
4069 Wagener Rd., Aiken.
www.daraknotaiken.com
88 acres set on rolling terrain. Offering shows throughout the year for spectators to attend, as well as clinics that are open to auditing.
Full Gallop Farm
3828 Wagener Rd., Aiken.
803-215-6590
www.fullgallopfarm.com
Hosts events and provides lessons, boarding, and rehab.
Jumping Branch Farm
179 Fox Pond Rd., Aiken.
240-460-1094
www.JBfarm.com
Best known for its Beginner Novice through Preliminary cross country courses that are inviting, yet challenging to both horse and rider at the various levels. Host of several recognized schooling shows including dressage and combined tests, horse trials and derbies.
Sporting Days Farm
3549 Charleston Hwy., Aiken.
803-649-7075
www.sportingdaysfarm.com
Trails, dressage court, pavilion, stables, electric and water hookups, wash rack, paddocks and cross country obstacles.
Stable View
117 Stable Dr., Aiken.
484-356-3173
Hours 9am – 5pm
www.stableviewfarm.com
1,000-acre recreational venue with premiere training facility for equestrians, 15 miles of trails for bird watchers/nature lovers, LEED Gold certified pavilion for weddings and corporate retreats, and 22 professionally designed accommodations for overnight guests.
The Vista Schooling and Event Center
859 Old Tory Trail., Aiken.
803-262-5263
www.schoolthevista.com
Dressage arenas, derby stadium jumping arenas, and cross-country schooling.
Equestrian Trails
Hitchcock Woods
Laurens St., SW at Boundary Ave., SW, Aiken.
803-642-0528
www.hitchcockwoods.org
The largest privately-owned urban forest in the country. It’s 2,100 acres and 70 miles of sandy trails have been a haven for pedestrian and equestrian users since the early 1800’s.
Langley Pond Loop Trail
113 Langley Dam Rd., Burnettown.
803-642-0528
www.langleypondpark.com
The wooded trail is 2.8 miles winding through a cool canopy of lush woods accessible only at Langley Pond Park.
Hunter/Jumper
Highfields Event Center
118 Gaston St., NE, Aiken.
803-649-3505
www.psjshows.com
9am-3pm
Banquet rental facility in covered area equestrian event facility.
Racing & Steeplechase
Aiken Steeplechase Racecourse
2020 Richland Ave., E, Aiken.
803-648-9641
www.aikensteeplechase.com
Aiken’s largest sporting event is held at this beautiful venue.
Aiken Training Track
538 Two Notch Rd., SE, Aiken.
803-648-4631
www.aikentrainingtrack.com
Historic Thoroughbred training facility, home to annual events.
McGhee’s Mile
620 Banks Mill Rd., Aiken.
803-617-8511
Training center with polo accommodations and stalls.
Riding Lessons
Devonwood Farm
215 Woodward Dr., Aiken.
803-502-1000
www.devonwoodfarms.com
Riding lessons for adults and children and summer camps for children.
New Era Farm, LLC
1720 Wire Rd., Aiken.
803-262-5434
www.newerafarm.com
Riding lessons offered for children 5 yrs. and up, adults of all ages in a safe professional environment. Covered arena, available for rent.
Radway Eventing
4627 Whiskey Rd., Aiken.
239-464-0534
www.radwayeventing.com
Radway is a United States Pony Club Center. Offers training, boarding, sales, camps and riding lessons for beginner to advance students on one of our Horses/Ponies or your own mount.
Specialty
Aiken Equine Rescue
532 Glenwood Dr., Aiken.
803-643-1850
www.aikenequinerescue.org
Tour the Aiken Equine Rescue facility and meet the horses. Tours are on Monday – Saturday from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. Tours are free, donations are welcome.
Almost Heaven Stables
220 Golf Course Rd., Warrenville.
803-646-1021
3 obstacle courses, 30 acres of trails, and use of the arena for those who want to haul in their personal horses. For only $30 per person CASH (subject to change). Boarding available. Call Valerie for more information and to schedule use of these amenities.
Great Oak Equine Assisted Programs
1123 Edgefield Hwy., Aiken.
803-226-0056
www.greatoakeap.org
Great Oak provides equine assisted activities that promote the physical, emotional, and psychological health of individuals with disabilities. Our programs are the catalyst for unbridled personal growth and awareness. A proud Member Center of PATH International and all of our instructors are Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors with PATH International.
Halfway to Heaven Mustang Rescue
336-870-9398
www.halfwaytoheavenrescue.com
A 501(c)(3) organization that rescues and trains Wild American Mustangs of the West. One of their goals is to inform and educate the public on the plight of the amazing American horses. Please call or text to visit the rescue.
Looking Glass Farm
289 Daytona Rd., Wagener.
803-522-4395
www.kellysigler.com
Offering private riding lessons for adults and children, full private training facility for horse and owner, schooling days, workshops, and camps. Overnight accommodations with stabling available upon request.
New Holland Acres
1514 Old 96 Indian Trail, Batesburg.
Rodeos – Broncs, bulls, roping, barrel racing. Partners with New Holland Fire Department to do educational events. Equine education, fall festivals, trunk or treat for Halloween, seasonal events.
Overbrook Farms
2030 Gallop Hill Ln., Wagener.
803-646-8350
www.overbrookaiken.com
Offers a chance to try polo in a beginner friendly relaxed game.