Aiken Training Opportunities

Kyle will be staying at Full Gallop Farm  from the end of Jan to the end of March; if anyone is interested in coming down to school with him for a few days or sending a horse down to get a jump start on the season contact him via e-mail or call / text him at 330-277-6592 for more information.  Can't bring a horse but you would still like to come and ride in Aiken???  Kyle will have Jill  available until she is sold. She's brave, bold and uncomplicated ... just the right blend to have some fun in the sun.

Jill at Team Challenge last fall - her 1st Training Level Event

Here's a video of Jill doing a gymnastic last summer

   
Event /  Cross Country Schooling Facilities:

• Bridle Creek Farm
• Full Gallop Farm
• Jumping Branch Farm
• Paradise Farm
• Pine Top Farm 
• Sandyhills Farm 
• Sporting Days Farm

 USEF High Performance Eventing Winter Training Sessions 

@ Stable View Farm with Coach David O'Connor:

• February 12-13
• February 19-20
• March 17-18

Google Map to Area Farms

Area Hotels:

•  Hotel Aiken Downtown (803)648-4265
•  Holiday Inn Express (803)648-0999
•  Annie's Inn Bed & Breakfast- (803)649-6836 
•  Days Inn-Downtown (803)649-5524 800-329-7466
•  Holiday Inn Express (803)648-0999
•  The Wilcox Inn (803)649-1377
•  Best Western Executive Inn (803)649-3968
•  Comfort Inn & Suites (803)641-1100 800-228-5150
•  Fairfield Inn & Suites
•  Hampton Inn (803)648-2525 800-426-7866
•  Howard Johnson (803)649-5000
•  Inn of Aiken (803)502-0000 
•  Ramada Limited (803)648-6821 800-272-6232  
•  Sleep Inn Aiken (803) 644 9900
•  Super 8 (803)641-8800 800-800-8000 
•  The Guest House at Houndslake (803)648-9535 
•  Town & Country Inn B & B (803)642-0270 website 
•  Holly Inn 803.648.4265
•  Carriage House Inn (803)644-5888 
•  Deluxe Inn (803)642-2840
   

Other Links:

• Aiken Chamber of Commerce
• The Aiken Horse Magazine
• Hitchcock Woods
  

Things are beginning to get a little busy ...

Things are really picking up around here with the weather being so nice and people wanting to gear up for the Event season.  Kyle has had people coming for cross country lessons and sending their youngsters here to get them started cross country.  Autumn Grogan's lovely be warmblood Selahway David to cross country like a fish to water. Rene Alexander's Raz come today for Eventing boot camp and Cindy Bauer is bringing her lovely mare Shea down for Kyle to give her another cross Country school.  Check out the video of David on his first day here and his first cross Country school.

 

While the Connemara stallion Blue Ridge Monroe has been progressing well the turn out situation has been a little challenging with 5 mares, our geldings and training horses.  So Monroe went back home for a little while until we have a little more we can get another separate pasture for him. Check out his videos of him doing his first cross country course.

In addition to the Event horses, Kyle has been working several racehorses for the Horse Power Company in North Canton.  Here are some pictures of a couple of those lovely TB's who definitely could have a future as sport horses when they are done with their racing careers.

Michelle Hubb's lovely 2 year old filly is at SGF for Kyle to get her started.  This nice moving athletic filly has been very agreeable to everything that has been asked of her so far.  She took to wearing tack, is working well in the round pen and will begin getting long reined this week and it won't be long after that that she will be long reining all over the farm before Kyle actually begins to ride her. Hopefully in a few weeks she'll be taking long walks and slow trots around the farm to put a base on her along with the balance and physical development that comes with riding on our hills.

In addition to his teaching and training rides; Kyle continues to work with Jack and Jill.  He rode them both in the Eric Dierks clinic a couple of weeks ago and hopes to have them both ready to ride at the Winona Horse Trials. 
  

April 16 updates:  first ride on Ruby, she was a very good girl.

First ride on Ruby, she was a very good girl!

 

 

Rugby & Jack - more horses than stalls ;)  With this weather usually not a problem.

From left to right: Marianna, Patty, and Ahna, all waiting their turn to do their course

On Line Auction to Benefit the USPC Grand Prix Award

As one of the recipients of the inaugural Grand Prix Award in 2009 (which was a trip to Ireland) Kyle is helping to raise money for those Pony Club members who aspire to ride at the Preliminary level at the Pony Club Championships and compete for the grand prize. ALL proceeds from this auction will go to the USPC Grand Prix Award which will (as funds will allow) award up to FIVE $1,000 scholarships to the winning Preliminary Team (including stable manager) at the USPC Championships.  

Auction Item:

Kyle & Stunt Pilot CCI* @ Hagyard Mid-South 3 Day Event

• ONE cross country lesson for up to 4 riders in the group
• At Stone Gate Farm
• Taught by USEA Level 1 Certified Instructor & USEF Technical Delegate Kyle Smith

Value: 

• $25 schooling fee/horse
• $25 lesson fee /rider
• Total value $200

Levels:

• Intro – Prelim
• Groups must be of similar level                    

                                                                                   About Kyle:

Kyle and Summer's Gift @ the KY Classic CIC**

• Recipient of the inaugural Grand Prix Award
• Calvary Award recipient
• Recipient of the ‘Worth the Trust Scholarship’
• Recipient of the Courtney Reeves Memorial Award
• USPC Graduate ‘B’
• Competed in the NAJYRC 3 times
• Competed through the CCI** level
• 2008 USEF CCI* Reserve Champ Amateur Rider
• Working student for Sarah Kozumplik & Eric Dierks
• Has ridden with the legendary cross country expert Lucinda Green every year for the last 13 years!

      Auction Info:

·         Auction will run from Sun. March 4 – 9:00pm Sun. March 11

·         To  place a bid click    here

·         The high bidder will be posted daily on the Stone Gate Farm Facebook page @ 9:00am & 9:00pm

·         All bids are 'time stamped'. In the event of a tie at the end of the day, the first person to place the bid will be the high bidder for the day

·         If there is a tie at the closing of the auction, e-mails will be sent to the tied bidders and they will have until 10:00 pm to place another bid.  If there is still a tie, the earliest bidder will be declared the winner.

 ·         Any bids above $200 is tax deductible 

          Get together with a few friends and plan on a fun day while supporting a good cause

                      ALL proceeds will go to support the USPC Grand Prix Award