Discovering the Top Equestrian Communities in the South

The South has long nourished a deep-rooted equestrian culture. Reflecting its love of horsemanship, this part of the US has an array of equestrian communities that cater to horse enthusiasts of all disciplines.

Some equestrian communities are designed for hands-on horse owners, while others target people who want the equestrian lifestyle without the daily responsibility of owning a horse. They feature different perks, like sprawling estates, well-maintained trails, and state-of-the-art facilities. Some include access to a riding instructor and barn manager to provide care for your horse. For those who want a more hands-off approach to horse ownership, leasing or lessons on facility horses may be available.

Given all the options, finding a community that fits your and your partner’s vision of an ideal equestrian lifestyle is possible. Come explore seven of the South’s best equestrian communities. We’ll highlight the unique features and amenities that make them suitable for horse lovers.

Aiken, South Carolina

Aiken started as a winter escape for wealthy Northerners who brought their love for all things horse with them. It quickly gained prominence as a wintering equestrian destination and remains a top destination for equestrian sporting competitions.

To highlight Aiken’s long roots in many equestrian traditions, Aiken Polo Club held its first match in 1882. It’s one of the oldest clubs in the US and one of six in the Aiken area. In total, 40 polo fields run matches in Aiken. Sunday contests are a regular event in-season, frequently packed, and just one of the reasons why Aiken is a “Polo Capital of the World.”

But Aiken also uniquely has The Blessing of the Hounds, an annual Thanksgiving Day event marking the start of hunting season in Hitchcock Woods. This fox hunt has been ongoing for over a century and is run by the Aiken Hounds hunting club, the nation’s oldest drag hunt.

Aiken’s horses include thoroughbred racing. The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum documents some of the region’s prominent horses, trainers, and wins. All told, at least 39 National Champions have a connection to Aiken, whether through foaling, training, or stabling. And if you are into carriage racing, the Aiken Driving Club is the hub of the carriage-driving community.

Living in Aiken, you’ll have access to all these equestrian communities, plus the Hitchcock Woods, a privately-owned urban forest right in the heart of Aiken. It’s twice the size of New York’s Central Park, with 70 miles of trails for hooves and feet.

When you’re finished with riding for the day, small-town Aiken delights with world-class dining to explore, some beautiful downtown parks, and an arts culture complete with a symphony, adult choir, and orchestra.

Aiken has numerous equestrian communities, from the gated luxury estates with barns on your property to neighborhoods with winding bridle paths, shared barns, and arenas. Homesites often range from 4-20 acres.

Wellington, Florida

Florida’s beaches may gain all the fame, but horse lovers would probably prefer Wellington over Palm Beach. The self-titled “Winter Equestrian Capital of the World” attracts thousands of horse fans for the prestigious Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and the National Horse Show.

The festival and additional equestrian events take place at the opulent Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. This showpiece covers 150 acres with multiple stadiums perfectly capable of hosting Grand Prix show jumping, global dressage festivals, and polo matches. And those polo matches, part of the International Polo Club Palm Beach, are a sight to behold. Thousands come attired in their polo weekend best to tailgate and stomp divots when in season.

Wellington was purposefully designed to cater to the equestrian enthusiast, so it has an elaborate 57-mile bridle trail system. But it matches the equestrian lifestyle with world-class amenities. Besides the fabulous facilities, the city has championship golf courses used by the PGA Tour, an opulent performing arts center, and ample boutique and luxury shopping. Families come for its top-rated public schools. Plus, the Atlantic beaches are within a half-hour’s drive when you want to relax by the surf.

The residences include luxurious estates connected to Wellington’s bridle paths and horse barns with leasing options. The twelve equestrian-driven developments include gated and non-gated neighborhoods and usually have at least one acre of land.

Tryon, North Carolina

Thus far, our highlighted destinations have been sandier landscapes, but Tryon is among the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain foothills. Imagine riding amongst the blue-tinted rolling hills and forested landscapes of North Carolina from your equestrian estate.

Tryon International Equestrian Center hosts numerous international events on its 1,450 acres, including the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2018. It has ten arenas and over 1,000 stalls. And the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) mixes a nature preserve with lighted show rings and stables for 200 horses.

From the local arenas used for show jumping and dressage events to the cross-country courses, Tyron delivers a mix of equestrian training options to appeal to different facets of the sport.

Outside of riding horses, the TIEC aims to be the ultimate destination. On-site shops cater to horse lovers’ needs, while there are restaurants and entertainment areas. And the milder weather can be appealing if the heat of Florida and South Carolina’s horse towns doesn’t appeal to you.

Tryon has clubs and facilities that train in the steeplechase, dressage, carriage driving, and much more. The result is a packed, year-round equestrian calendar.

Besides the horse community, which matters to Tryon very much (see the horse statute downtown), Tryon has a charming downtown with vintage stores, bookshops, and art galleries. The surrounding countryside also appeals to visitors for its whitewater, hiking trails, and adventure courses.

Tryon’s equestrian residences are still developing, allowing owners to customize their perfect home in horse country. Many are independent properties, but some master-planned communities are purpose-built for the horse lifestyle. One of these is Tyron Equestrian Farms, where the home sites start at five acres and connect to mountain trails.

Camden, South Carolina

Like steeplechase racing? Then Camden might be the right community for you! The “Steeplechase Capital of the World” is a historic equestrian community with world-class steeplechase races, polo matches, and fox hunting events.

For steeplechase racers, few events are as coveted as the Carolina Cup, where thousands descend on Springdale Race Course to watch the international tourney. Box seating is reserved years in advance. The course is home to the National Steeplechase Museum.

Steeplechase may be popular here, but there’s more to Camden’s equestrian community. At the South Carolina Equine Park (SCEP, the 60-acre center has two covered pavilions that can host hunter and jumper events, dressage competitions, ranch horse shows, and youth events.

The early settlers set the horse tradition, and the culture of fox hunting, polo, and racehorse training persisted through the centuries. Horses have always been dominant in Camden, but visitors also come to explore the Revolutionary battlefields, the motorsports park, and art museums.

Outside of horses, Camden is an incredibly historic community in central South Carolina with colonial roots to the 1730s. It has many historic properties and sites, like the only golf course in the state designed by renowned architect Donald Ross. There are championship tennis facilities and tournament-quality pickleball courts.

Your equestrian real estate options include small horse farms, estates with barns, and upscale horse properties.

Ocala, Florida

What equestrian hotspot list would be complete without Ocala? This central Florida city has a reputation as the “Horse Capital of the World.” Renowned for its fertile land and abundance of horse farms, Ocala boasts a thriving equestrian community with over 1,200 horse farms. Some say the ratio of horses to people is 1:4.

In Ocala, winter is king in the equestrian community. While it does have a year-round presence and roster of events, the winter show and racing season swell the number of horse vans, trainers, and equestrian enthusiasts.

The state-of-the-art World Equestrian Center supports the horse scene with its 22 outdoor rings and four climate-controlled indoor sporting arenas. It bills itself as a multi-disciplinary center and has an event calendar to back its claim. Western shows include the Tom Powers Triple Futurity, while it’s also hosted jumper, hunter, and dressage events like those on the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. The Ocala Breeders’ Sale is a massive event for finding the next star in the horse world.

Besides the WEC, Ocala has five other horse event centers like the 500-acre Florida Horse Park and the HITS Post-Time Farm. Horse racing takes place at the OBS Track.

The thoroughbred racing scene is equally robust, with Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown winners spending their time picking up speed at Ocala farms.

But Ocala also has ample forested lands and farmlands, with over 80 miles of horse trails in the Cross Florida Greenway alone. That doesn’t even include the more trails available in the nearby tracts of the Silver Springs Forest, Ocala National Forest, and Withlacoochee Forests.

Ocala’s large enough to have a full suite of things to do outside horses. Pick from over a dozen golf courses or any of the state parks. Canoe and kayak the Silver Springs or Withlacoochee. Shop at Paddock Mall, or head to downtown Ocala for upscale dining and shops. This city is a hub for the region, so it has a significant healthcare presence in all specialties and quality schools for families.

Central Florida’s housing tends to be more affordable for the state. In Ocala, you can choose between owning an independent horse farm or buying into a planned community.

Middleburg, Virginia

Middleburg has long been a haven for equestrian enthusiasts and sits in the heart of Virginia’s horse country. Known for its historic charm and scenic landscapes, Middleburg horse lovers partake in fox hunting, polo clubs, and show events. The horse traditions here date back centuries to the American Revolution. The local Piedmont Foxhound Club is the oldest of its kind in the US.

Numerous prestigious hunts and events take place throughout the year, with perhaps the Gold Cup at Great Meadows in The Plains being the best known. This event can’t be missed for steeplechase fans as it draws the sport’s best, including future Olympic hopefuls. Another top event is the Middleburg Spring Races.

The town oozes small-town American charm against the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain backdrop. Downtown’s historic buildings date to the late 1700s, now home to unique boutiques and fine dining in charming cafes. Between the sprawling horse farms are award-winning vineyards and wineries. People also come to Middleburg to visit the antique stores and rustic-feeling taverns.

Your real estate options include vast horse farms to smaller equestrian estates catering to those who don’t want to run a large horse farm.

Southern Pines, North Carolina

More people may know Southern Pines as a golfing destination thanks to next door Pinehurst, but this town has a robust equestrian scene thanks to the soft Sandhills region. Southern Pines boasts a mild climate, making it an ideal location for year-round equestrian activities.

The area offers a unique blend of equestrian sports, including eventing, dressage, and carriage driving. The hive of activity is the Carolina Horse Park, which has 900 acres, trails, and multiple arenas for different facets of the sport.

In addition to the horse park, the Walthour-Moss Foundation (WMF) has 4,000 acres for equestrian activities, particularly the bridle paths that wander under the longleaf pines. There’s also a fox hunting club, the Moore County Hounds.

Downtown has that classic southern look with stately magnolia trees and beautiful azaleas that burst to bloom in the spring. Among these are charming restaurants that give this small town a more eclectic vibe. The shops include indie bookstores, local art galleries, and antique stores. And Southern Pines has a strong literary tradition you can explore at the Weymouth Center for the Arts.

The equestrian communities in Southern Pines often include barns and common areas for use. Take Grand Pines as an example, which has a dressage arena and a jumping course. And The Fields has ten miles of private trails, a cross-country course, and three arenas.

Equestrian life in the South

What are you waiting for? Saddle up and bring your hoofed friends to the South, where the equestrian communities combine top-notch facilities with a well-rounded lifestyle. Whether you seek the excitement of world-class competitions or the tranquility of scenic trails, these top equestrian communities have what you’re looking for.