An Increasingly Preferred Venue for Equestrians
Aiken is the southeast community that probably matches these criteria most
closely: the climate is warm but seasonally varied. It is affordable, with typical
home prices around $250,000 and annual property taxes averaging only
$1,500. Good healthcare facilities are offered by several University of South
Carolina teaching hospitals and the Medical College of Georgia. Culturally,
the colleges and Aiken Center for the Arts offer classes, exhibits, entertainment
and events. For recreation there are amenities for every equestrian
discipline, as well as multiple world-class golf courses. To top it all, Aiken is
a mid-size town with a diverse mix of educated residents from industry and
academia.
Aiken has a long history of attracting equestrians, dating back to the Winter
Colony days of the 19th Century when the Mellons and the Vanderbilts
brought their horses and their pets to engage in various riding activities during
the winter months.. The primary attractions are the mild climate, excellent
footing and spectacular scenery, as well as the assurances of a very sociable
environment. Since those early days, the equestrian culture has been
advanced by the arrival of various trainers who established venues that have
become part of the hunter-jumper competition calendar, including Full Gallop
Farm, Highfields Event Center and Bruce’s Field at Aiken Horse Park. Many
riders on the circuit have found it financially more viable to base their winter
campaigns in Aiken due to the relatively affordable cost of stabling, typically
a fraction of the cost of Tryon to the north or Wellington to the south. Another
important factor has been the influx of an enterprising community of yearround
horse people who have established businesses catering to the equine
community, from veterinarians to tack and feed store owners and farriers. It
is estimated that the equestrian economy of Aiken generates over $70 million
per year. February 9 marked the grand opening of Dover Saddlery’s new
store location in Aiken.
Continued...
AIKEN, SC
32 www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com
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