I am considering a move to Aiken SC and am looking for insight into the boarding barns as well as any dressage trainer recommendations. I am open to both private and public barns and have a trailer so don’t need to board where the trainer is. What is the average full care boarding costs? I’m also mulling over the idea of a small horses property…Any thoughts on equestrian communities such as Three Runs Plantation? Thank you!
Jeremy Steinberg is now in Aitken and does local lessons during the week (he travels on most weekends). I believe he lives in Three Runs, so if you lived there you could hack to stellar training.
There are lots of other good folks in the Aitken area, too. Where would you be moving from? That would help me describe costs.
Jeremy Steinberg
Hi! I just moved to Aiken in December after spending a couple of years checking it (and other Southeastern horse meccas) out. I am delighted with my choice. Please ask me here or in PMs any questions you like and I’ll do my best to answer. Heck, come visit and stay in my place while you come look around.
There are a couple FB Groups I’d sent you to:
This one is for horse things in particular:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/aikenscdesj/
And this is for Aiken more generally:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/259423214079573/
Camden, SC is nearby and they have a (less active) group on FB as well.
I’d say that most people here keep their horses at home here (and at all price points), but you can find boarding. I believe somewhere in the “Aiken, SC Area, Dressage” etc. group, someone asked about the average price of boarding. I think the consensus was that full care in a year round place averaged about $675.
Boarding for horses and housing for people comes at all price points. Hay, other than the locally-grown Coastal Bermuda (which not all horses can heat) is a significant expense here. And I think the depth of horsemanship is pretty good and has been for a long time. All that means that boarding will not be artificially low as it is in many markets. Housing, on the other hand, can be had surprisingly cheaply if you want to find it.
You absolutely can buy your own little place, and you can do that at just about any price point. Three Runs is the most expensive land and development here. It is reputed to have some of the drama that goes with a development of its kind.
There are smaller, more modest/older developments if you want to live in one of those and enjoy what they have to offer— horsey neighbors, some kind of ring and some kind of riding trails.
My advice to you is to figure out what you want to spend on a farm, what you want to do with your horses (compete, just trail ride, hunt, play polo) and pick the place with like-minded people.
Buying outside a development will save you a significant amount of money. On some farms, you can ride off your property. I think it really takes your own boots on the ground and living here to pick the land or existing farm that will suit you.
After that, it gets down to money-- how much you have/want/can spend on a hobby farm.
And, yes, there are dressage trainers of all stripes, as well as trainers of other stripes. You will be able to find someone to suit you.
Hope you like Aiken!
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I third taking advantage of living near Jeremy Steinberg if you can.
