Aiken County offers many activities for horse lovers to enjoy
Sep. 30—Horse lovers will find plenty to do in Aiken.
They can compete, enjoy relaxing rides in one of the nation's largest urban forests or experience the excitement of equestrian sports as spectators.
There's something going on throughout the year.
The Aiken Triple Crown kicks off in mid-March with thoroughbreds racing on the flat in the Aiken Trials at Aiken Training Track. Then thoroughbreds soar over jumps in the Aiken Spring Steeplechase at the Aiken Steeplechase Racecourse.
The series concludes with a charitable polo match that benefits USC Aiken during Pacers & Polo at the Powderhouse Polo Field.
Also during March, harness races are held at McGhees' Mile.
Another annual event is the Aiken Horse Show, which has been a Hitchcock Woods tradition for more than 100 years.
During the spring and fall, there are Aiken Polo Club matches on Sundays at Whitney Field, where the sport has been played each year since 1882, longer than anywhere else continuously in this country.
The Blessing of the Hounds in Hitchcock Woods is an Aiken Thanksgiving tradition and also is the official start of the foxhunting season for the Aiken Hounds, which conducts the nation's oldest drag hunt.
Racing returns to the Aiken Steeplechase Racecourse in the autumn, when the Aiken Fall Steeplechase is renewed.
The Aiken Horse Park Foundation's Bruce's Field and Stable View are the sites of many action-packed horse shows and eventing competitions.
Highfields Event Center, Full Gallop Farm and other venues also offer opportunities for riders and their horses to win ribbons and other prizes.
Another popular activity for hippophiles locally is carriage driving.
Horses are the stars in the festive Hoofbeats and Christmas Carols Parade, which is held each year in December in downtown Aiken.
