146 SIDELINES APRIL 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Sidesaddle classes remain a great part of the show’s tradition.
Team classes at the Aiken Horse Show.
expanded to include cousins, step-relatives
and distant relations.
New this year is a $350 Aiken Hunter
Under Saddle Challenge Championship.
The winner from the Ladies Hunter Under
Saddle Challenge and the winner from
the Gentlemen’s Hunter Under Saddle
Challenge ride off for the prize in the Hunter
Under Saddle Challenge Championship
class.
The final day of competition offers the
highest payouts of the weekend and
attracts the stiffest competition. Paybacks
are available in the $250 Aiken Driving
Club Silver Fox Challenge, the $500 Junior
Foxhunter Stakes and the $1,500 Security
Federal Bank Foxhunter Stakes.
Throughout the day, junior and senior
riders compete in working, handy, under
saddle, teams and pairs classes. Foxhunter
Handy classes require riders to demonstrate
skills they would encounter during a hunt.
“The class includes opening a gate, jumping
a bank into the ring or a rail out of the ring
and other things they would encounter out in
the field,” Gail explained.
Sunday’s classes also include Sidesaddle
Under Saddle, Sidesaddle Hack and
Sidesaddle Over Fences classes. New for
this year are Silver Fox classes, specifically
for riders 55 and older.
“We have ten corporate sponsors who
help make the show possible,” said Doug
E. Rabold, Executive Director, Hitchcock
Woods Foundation, “Security Federal Bank,
Berrie Road, and Aiken Hounds are some of
the largest.”
Benefit Show
Proceeds from the show are donated to the
Hitchcock Woods Foundation. The funds are
used to maintain the trails and care for the
forestland. “We have to do controlled burns
to avoid burns caused by lightning strikes or
stray cigarette butts and it costs money to
do those,” explained Linda, who has served
as Master of the Aiken Hounds for 20 years
and is a trustee for the Hitchcock Woods
Foundation.
Not only is the show designed to raise
funds for Hitchcock Woods, it is an event
that preserves the legacy of Mrs. Hitchcock
while celebrating the hundred year old
tradition of foxhunting in the woods. “We
hope other hunts come and compete,” Linda
encouraged.
The Aiken Horse Show will take place
April 4-6 and will benefit the Hitchcock
Woods Foundation. The show is located at
Hitchcock Woods 2200 Dibble Road. Parking
is available only in the Stable on the Woods
lot
.
Highlights include $4,850 in cash prizes,
youth classes, foxhunter classes and family
classes. General admission is free, but there
is a $10 per vehicle parking fee. For more
information visit
.
Pairs classes are an important part of the Aiken Horse Show.
