Aiken in April?

[xitmom]

Has anyone stayed down in Aiken in April? I will be bucking the trend a bit and heading down there in a week and staying through the end of April, while my trainer and colleagues are all heading back north at the end of March. Winter isn’t over by a long shot in April where I live, and I just can’t take the idea of being here during mud season. Don’t ask how many shoes my guy lost in the paddock last April! My farrier was NOT pleased.

So, I will need to find another place to board and a trainer to work with for the month. I have a young TB and we are doing BN/Novice level work right now. I would like to be someplace that has some xc elements on site. Reading through the archives I have seen recommendations of Lellie Ward and Lynn Coates Holmes as local trainers. Are either a good fit for this description? Any others I might want to talk to?

Anything different to plan for in April other than slightly warmer weather? Need to pack fly masks/sheets or is it still too early for that? What else should I be considering?

[CatchMeIfUCan]

We aren’t staying through the end of April, so I am not much help there, but we stay at Full Gallop and love it. XC, show jumps, and hacking galore. An older British 4* rider names Simon comes in to do lessons, and he is fabulous.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

Laura VanderVliet is based down there an would be another one good to lesson with. Let me know if you would like her contact info.

[Hej]

Also, be aware that April in Aiken is about as close to heaven on earth as it is legally possible to be.

[judybigredpony]

You will enjoy the weather everyone else missed …

[goodmorning]

Another 6" of snow Winter will end…eventually…in the meantime, planning ahead for a terrible worst mud season ever is a wise idea. Have fun!

[Herefordgirl]

Hi there,
I just got home from Aiken and I had the pleasure of staying at Paradise Farm owned by Lellie Ward. She is a class act and an incredible wealth of knowledge. I was able to take 2 lessons with her and I learned more from her in 2 lessons than I have in years. Give her a call and book your stay. You will not be sorry!