During the winter season of every year, proffessional riders travel down to the southern states to skip the colder weather which is always a difficult time to keep horses in work and even more difficult to care for them. While we do brave the cold temperatures, wind, snow, ice and much more we would rather spend our winter season down south. It's much easier to care for the horses when you're not trying to shovel paths for them outside, breaking icy buckets and more on top of your daily chores. Not to mention, the weather is never too cold to ride down south and every discipline runs shows. So it makes it easier to keep horses conditioned and in shape all while getting a head start on your season! Most eventers head down to Ocala, Florida or Aiken, South Carolina where they can compete at multiple jumper shows, two phases, three phases at both the schooling and recognized levels. Those who ride the Hunter/Jumper discipline go to Wellington, Florida and compete at the Winter Equestrian Festival which is a rated show series. However Wellington also has schooling shows off the WEF grounds.
I visited Aiken during the winter of 2015 under the instruction of Jessica Halliday who runs JH Eventing. I had just started out with eventing so everything in Aiken was based on hands on learning and not the extensive all the other riders experience while they are down there. During my week there I had a daily riding lesson, went to open XC schooling practices and watched some of my team members ride, went to shows where I watched and learned about the rules of eventing and more. As well as learned about the daily care and maintaince of an upper level event horse at back at the home base in Aiken. The farm we stayed at in 2015 was Frog Hollow Farm which is run by the same trainer of Apple Knoll Farm in MA. My first time traveling to Aiken was more to see the experience and to learn about what this sport truly is about. By the time I came back from Aiken in 2015 I knew that I wanted to continue eventing and that throughout more winters I would want to keep traveling back.
March 8, 2018 - March 12, 2018 - My second trip to Aiken:
March 9, 2018 - We started our day watching Jessica Halliday compete two horses at the event at Sporting Days farm, once she finished riding those two horses we loaded up and went to "The Vista" which is a private club that has XC schooling, dressage rings to school in and a regular jump ring. Jess schooled one of her horses on the XC course and then rode a clients horse dressage in the ring. After that, we went back to the barn and did trot sets around the field. I rode a horse named Shy and Jocelyn rode a horse named Bandit. Jess showed us around her new property in South Carolina then Jocelyn and I filled hay bags for all the horses and we went back to the hotel because we were exhausted.
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Jess & Jessie at Sporting Days XC
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Jess & Swiper at The Vista XC
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March 10, 2018 - We started the day with a dressage lesson, I rode a paint horse named Bandit who is a roper but is down in Aiken to stay in shape. During my lesson we worked on basic dressage so bending and getting connection. Using the hind end properly etc. We rode in the ring mostly on a 20 meter circle where we did alot of transitions and spiral in/out work. It's helpful for me because I am so used to my horse and getting her to bend to the inside and outside is not a problem for me. However every horse is different and every horse has a different button. Following my dressage lesson, Jess had me tack up Shy and take her for a hack around the fields with Jocelyn on Westie. When we came back - Jess gave Jocelyn and I a jump lesson where we practiced grid work and course work. My horse tends to rush herself at the jump so I always have to sit back and really hold her back to the base of the jump, where as Shy I needed to keep sending her forward and to the jump. It was cool to get a change of ride and be able to feel what it was like to ride a braver and confident horse.
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March 11, 2018 - The day started out with traveling off farm to go pick up a potential sale horse for Jess. When we got to the farm, Jess rode the sale horse and one of her clients tried him out too. Then they decided to take him home, so we loaded him up and drove back to the barn. Once we got back to the barn, Jess sent Jocelyn and I to school four horses. I rode Bandit and Shy while Jocelyn rode Westie and Leo. We both schooled them out in the field on the flat. Once we were done, we went back to the barn to untack. Jess then told us to go back to our hotel so we could explore Aiken, rest and pack before our flight home early Monday morning.
Overall, my Aiken experience this year was incredible. I know that in the future once I build a business that is strong enough to run itself with the help of trusted staff. I am going to want a north and south location, that way clients and their horses can head south with me in the winter and be able to enjoy keeping their horses conditioned and in shape. It will take a long time to create a business that can allow for this to happen, but one day I hope to be able to provide a program like this for future clients.