I’m getting back into riding seriously and just finished up my first ever clinic with Lucinda Green in Aiken. It was an amazing experience and now I’m hungry for more! I’ve browsed through the various Facebook groups but I’m having a hard time finding much info on clinics near Aiken, Southern Pines, or Tryon. Is there really a shortage of clinics in all of these very horse centric areas or am I just not looking in the right places?
Southern Pines does have clinics, but it’s usually with a specific type of rider or someone really big named coming in. I think because there is just so many high level riders in the area. Probably similar to Aiken and Tryon.
Holly Hudspeth usually gets some great clinics being run up at her place north of Raleigh (Quail Roost), Jospeh Murphy just ran a clinic at Will Faudree’s and may be coming back. Bernie Taurig comes at least once a year and so does Eric Hogan. @ACMEeventing farm hosted a Dom Schramm clinic and will likely do one again, and I think Sara Gumbiner may host one as well.
The cool thing is, unless you want to, you don’t need to clinic. You could trailer up to Southern Pines for a weekend, and take your pick of who to lesson with between Jumpers, cross country and dressage. Most of these amazing coaches will come and teach you a lesson if you find a bed and bale somewhere, or you can trailer in. Feel free to message me, and I can help you get set up with any of the above! Including a B&B with awesome hosts and turnout paddocks. (None of this is mine, I am a Canadian ammie transplant in So. Pines who has made a lot of awesome friends in a year 🤣)
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AMWookey, thanks so much for your reply and kind offer. I hadn’t thought about being able to trailer down and just take lessons for a weekend! I will definitely be in touch as this is something I would really like to do a few weekends in January and February! 🙂
Almost everyone in Tryon goes south for the winter it seems. Most of them go to Ocala. 
But I’ll head to Aiken for a week of (hopefully) sunshine at the end of February and catch some lessons!
If you join one of the Sandhills Equestrian Pages which covers the Southern Pines area-clinics are usually posted. If you want to do a dressage clinic-Jaron Verhji is having one at my trainer’s barn Dec 19& 20. You can message me if interested.
I’m going to agree with AMWookey about trailering in for a weekend. There are a lot of great trainers in the Southern Pines Area-Bobby Costello, Caitlin Romeo and Will Faudree to name a few. Mark Weissbecker has a beautiful facility along with Will Faudree.
By the way @@ACMEeventing has a really nice facility!!!
A lot of BNT’s come to Aiken for the winter, so you can also just call and schedule a lesson with one of them.
For clinics here check with some of the farms.
I would start with Full Gallop farm, Julie is very nice and helpful and she could steer you in the right direction.
Also check out the Stable View website for upcoming clinics.
Off the top of my head some of the BNT’s who come down here (starting Nov or Dec through March or April),
are Philip Dutton, Boyd Martin, and Sally Cousins, (I highly recommend her)
There are a lot more but I need more coffee to remember!
