Tag Archives: Hurricane Florence

Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Aiken Fall Festival: Week 1 Highlights

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Photo: Erin McGuire and Kasarr, Winners of the $5,000 Welcome Stake.

The Aiken Fall Festival, Week 1, was the place to be this past week. With over 400 horses competing in full divisions there was not a quiet moment and the buzz of our busy show resulted in two features on the local news.

Beyond the great competition, we had many new faces taking part in our horse show and getting to know Aiken for the first time.

When they weren’t riding, David Jennings and Freddie Vazquez jumped in as Aiken ambassadors, sharing their excitement for Bruce’s Field as first-time competitors in local press interviews.

Kyle Dewar and Clever Van De Helle came out of the gate with a win in the Saturday night American Standard Grand Prix sponsored by Aiken Saddlery and Gavin Moylan made the trek down from Upperville looking to get his young jumpers some positive miles in their first Grand Prix. Mission accomplished!

Classic Winners from the week include:

  • Lindsay Maxwell and Precedent, A/O Hunter Classic
  • Maggie Hill and Cassanto, Junior Hunter Classic
  • Chloe Watrous and Casual, Children’s Hunter Classic
  • Maddie Tosh and Love Me Tender, Pony Hunter Classic
  • Haley Gassel and Werner 61, 1.30 A/O Jumper Classic
  • Christina Webb and Lalainy, 1.20 A/O Jumper Classic
  • Stephanie King and Co-Starr, High Child/Adult Jumper Classic

We will continue to have exhibitor parties each night, with Friday night set aside for the 7th Annual Bridles & Birdies fundraiser. Tickets can be bought in the show office or by clicking here.

Hurricane Florence Update

We are continuing to monitor the ever changing track of Hurricane Florence. The safety and wellness of all of our animals, competitors, and staff is of the upmost importance. At the request of our competitors who will be staying with us through the weekend, we are planning to run a consolidated two day schedule for the Aiken Fall Festival II, starting Thursday and ending Friday.

We encourage those who plan to show to enter as soon as possible. The more information we have from our competitors, the more ability we’ll have to tailor a schedule that effectively addresses the challenges we are facing.

At this time, our team is sorting through stabling. Once all of the horses are resettled, we anticipate having the ability to offer additional stabling to evacuees. Please contact our office at 803-266-8410. We will remain on site throughout the weekend to assist with any feed and bedding orders that our guests might have, as well as to provide hospitality each day.

We know that our competitors are saddened and frustrated about these circumstances, and we share those sentiments. With that in mind, we now turn our focus to making the best of a difficult situation and providing any assistance we can offer to those who may need it.

Thanks to all for your patience and understanding.

Megan & JP Godard,
Horse Show Managers, Equus Events

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What Happens to NC’s Wild Horses When a Major Hurricane Like Florence Hits?

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A filly was born to North Carolina’s wild horse herd in Corolla on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. She’s pictured here with her mother. Cathy Forgnone.

BY ABBIE BENNETT 

North Carolina coastal residents are evacuating or battening down ahead of Hurricane Florence — at least the human ones.

The wild horses that make their homes on the coast of the Tar Heel state are staying put, and they might be better prepared to outlast a storm than anyone.

Hurricane Florence is a category 4 storm as of Monday evening — 400 miles wide and still gaining strength and speed as it bears down on the Carolinas coast.

North Carolina’s wild horse herd has seen its share of storms, though. They’ve been around for 500 years, after all, the Corolla Wild Horse Fund (CWHF) said on Facebook Monday.

Currituck County, where the herd lives, ordered a mandatory evacuation of the Outer Banks communities, Corolla and Carova, beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Neighboring Dare County — where much of the staff that looks after the herd lives — and other coastal counties along the coast issued evacuation orders for all residents and tourists.

“The horses have lived on this barrier island for 500 years, and they are well equipped to deal with rough weather,” the CWHF said on Facebook Monday. “They know where to go to stay high and dry and are probably in better shape right now than most of us humans who are scrambling with final preparations.“

And CWHF staff believe the horses won’t need any human help.

“Anything we might do in the hopes of ‘protecting’ them would probably end up being more dangerous and stressful for them than the storm,” the CWHF said.

Florence could bring storm surge flooding to the Outer Banks reaching 8 to 15 feet or higher, according to the National Hurricane Center.

There are 18 rescued horses at a farm the CWHF cares for, and staff is “making sure they are ready to ride the storm out safely. They have shelter, but also the option to stay outside.”

Read the rest of this article HERE.

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Kentucky State Resort Parks Offering Discounted Rate for Those Seeking Shelter from Hurricane

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Adverse weather rates available at all resort parks through Sept. 30

FRANKFORT, Ky. (September 11, 2018) – Kentucky State Resort Parks are offering a discounted rate of $49.95/night on lodge rooms to residents of any East Coast state seeking shelter from Hurricane Florence. The rate for one bedroom cottages is $69.95/night and for two bedrooms, $79.95/night.

These adverse weather rates are available at all resort parks until September 30th by calling the park front desk direct.  An out of state driver’s license must be presented at check-in to receive this rate.

Park locations and phone numbers are available at https://parks.ky.gov.

As in past years, Kentucky State Parks support surrounding states during adverse weather in the same manner we support Kentucky communities in a crisis.

Contact: John F. Cox
johnf.cox@ky.gov
502-330-8058