A move is in my future, and I’m asking here for references of boarding stables with trail access in and around Augusta GA. Pasture with shelter preferred.
Thanks in advance,
KIOTDL
I wish I could help. I do know Augusta is not too far from Hitchock Woods (over the state line). Great trails there.
might want to look at Mt Vintage right across the river in SC - they have lots of trails and pasture (no run-ins though). Really great group of people.
Aiken and the Hitchcock Woods are a bit further than just over the river–its about 30 minutes to get there FROM the state line, and a lot further if OP is going to live/work on the other side (west) of Augusta.
If I had my druthers and was going to work in greater Augusta I’d be wanting to live and horsekeep in Aiken, SC, for sure, because its horse heaven there.
If I were going to have to live, board, and work strictly in metro-Augusta area, meaning in Georgia-- I’d be looking at my options in Grovetown or even further out, toward Thompson. Pine Top Farms (a huge eventing venue) is in Thompson as is the Belle Meade hunt. There may be some private barns with trails in and around Grovetown. I’ve made this suggestion before in other threads, call the friendly folks at http://www.bootsbridlesandbritches.com/index.php?p=page&page_id=about_us
They have stores in Grovetown and Aiken and surely can give you a lead as to barns and riding venues.
And when you feel like exploring the wilds of east central GA where I am (roughly 60 miles from Augusta) give me a holler!
I don’t mind hauling 30 minutes to get to great trails.
My friend lives in Aiken so we go there once per year & camp and ride. Right there by her is some Tortise trails (can’t remeber the full name)
mt vintage is an equestrian community in the North Augusta area - right across the river from Augusta. You do not have to be a homeowner to board there.
http://www.mountvintage.com/equestrian_center.asp
There are miles of trails and you don’t have to trailer. I lived in Evans and could get there in less than 15 minutes. Grovetown and Appling (there are several barns there) are also close but Thompson and Pine Top were much further. Aiken/HC Woods is nirvana in the area though, esp if you board right on the woods.
Also check out Aiken horse
Thanks for all the responses, y’all have provided me with a bunch of places to start looking into if the job comes through. Trail access isn’t my main priority, just an added bonus because I don’t have a truck or trailer. Pasture access is the main priority…horse is an aged, arthritic, gelding who needs to wander to stay comfortable.
Work would be between Augusta and Waynesboro, and DH seems set on living IN Augusta. Ideally, I’d love to live in an equestrian community like Mount Vintage, but Aiken just seems too far for the commutes we would have. Are there any eq. comunities south/southeast of Augusta?
Thanks again, and please, keep the recommendations coming.
Augusta has some nice amenities but is not, as near as I can tell, terribly horsey–Aiken sucks all that in. Even the Augusta cutting horse futurity didnt use to be held, strictly speaking, in Augusta–for years it was in N. Augusta, which is in SC, just to make things confusing.
At any rate, there are TWO whole tack stores practically next door to each other in Grovetown, so that’s where I would start. I unfortunately have to drive 75 to 100 miles to get to any tack store, that’s how horsey a lot of GA is. (I’m not counting TSC as a tack store.)
I have no clue about equestrian communities to the south or southeast of Augusta, alas. Equestrian communities per se are scarce-ish in GA once you leave the friendly confines of, say, Alpharetta. However, since you mention Waynesboro, the manager (or at least one of the guys that works there) at the Boots Bridles and Britches in Grovetown mentioned the last time I was there that he goes down to Burke County to ride the dirt roads there, so perhaps there’s some like minded individuals in greater Waynesboro who run boarding facilities…
I’m in Waynesboro and what you’ll find here are lots of private “farms” and very few (I can only think of one other besides myself) boarding farms in the Waynesboro area. Augusta’s not much better. If you go west towards Hephzibah / Grovetown / Appling there are more boarding opportunities out that way, but as for the south side of town…not much.
While you won’t find any equestrian communities in the Augusta area, you will find LOTS of small acreage properties if you’re interested in keeping your horse at home. That’s what alot of riders in our area have done - bought a small 2-5 acre farm and keep their horses at home. You do tet alot for your $$ in the real estate market down here.
There’s a Facebook group “Augusta Equine Riders” you might want to check out.
