Jasmine Farm About Us

Jasmine Farm began in March of 2000 when I finally realized my lifelong dream of owning my own facility. No more boarding my own horses, no more traveling to someone else’s farm to teach lessons on borrowed lesson ponies. The farm has grown from five acres to its current 30 acre facility with a full top of the line stadium course, a regulation-sized deluxe dressage arena with sound system, a 36 x 48 barn with heated wash stall and extra large tack room, a round pen, five paddock/pastures, and a swimming pool for after those summer rides! Behind the farm are hundreds of acres of wooded trails and dirt roads for hacking out.

Jasmine Farm is both a learning facility for children and adults and a training center for my own competition horses and horses taken in for training or resale. The neighborhood is quiet and low-key, in keeping with my philosophy of gently training horses and people alike.

I specialize in teaching dressage. My B.A. in English with a minor in Education help me present riding theory in a logical, easy-to-understand way. I advocate the United States Pony Club-recommended methods.

I am a 1970 model (if I were a car I’d be considered an antique now!). I have been involved in horses since 1978. I learned to ride on gaited (racking) horses, Saddlebreds, and Tennessee Walkers, which I showed on a state-wide level. I then did some Western pleasure and barrel and arena racing. I also spent a lot of time just trail-riding, going bareback, swimming the horses across large ponds, and just being silly! It is these times that I remember most fondly and I try to replicate that joy in my lesson program. Most people do not want to learn to ride to spend obscene amounts of money on the fanciest horse or win ribbons; they want to enjoy the human/equine bond, appreciate nature, and have fun. I strive to maintain that in a safe, structured environment.

I showed huntseat with the College of Charleston equestrian team for four years (1988-1992). During those years, we qualified for Nationals every year (earning the Reserve National Championship once) and I earned a 4th place individual national ranking in my division as well. I then pursued 3 day eventing where I won several horse trials throughout the southeast. I worked with fellow Aikenite Lellie Ward; as a working student at FareWell Farm in Blythewood, SC (then the host of the Eastern Preliminary DeBroke championships); at OneWood Farm in Blythewood, SC (host to the '96 Olympic gold medal-winning Dutch team). It was here that I became hooked on dressage. My first job teaching riding was at Hickory Top Farm in Eastover, SC- through this connection I also ran the summer riding program at Camp Rockbrook in Brevard, NC. When my husband's job transferred us to Georgia, I worked for Michelle Deel at Coldstream Farm-an extremely talented rider who imports top quality horses(www.dressageimports.com) and then taught riding lessons at Greg and Cindy Thaxton's High Point Farm in Athens, Georgia (host to the U.S. Olympic team during '96). That was a wonderful wokring situation for me, but the unexpected death of my father prompted us to move back to Aiken to be closer to my mom. I taught riding at Black Forest Equestrian Center, where I taught the Aiken Prep School riding program. I believe this is the most beautiful stable in Aiken - www.blackforestfarm.com. Yet another unexpected death, this time of my first husband Fletcher, prompted the move of my lesson program to my small home farm the last several years.

I have won several South Carolina and Georgia championship and reserve championship titles and placed in the Regional championships with different horses. Most recently I campaigned Norman Swygert of New York City’s mare California through second level- qualified and placed in the USDF championships. Currently I am working with my 6 year old Westphalian mare Simpatia on whom I need just one more third level score to earn my USDF Bronze medal. I also enjoy playing with my young quarter horse Debit, who is just about undefeated in her baby combined training classes. We have a couple very nice youngsters, as well as taking in clients' horses for training and resale. My main focus is matching appropriate temperaments and abilities of horses and riders, and I guarantee brutally honest representation- you will hear the good AND the bad about any sales horse and whether or not he or she is a good match for YOU.

$375 per month, includes blanketing in the winter and diligent fly masking in the summer. Deworming and farrier care billed as incurred. We feed Banks Mill’s “Elite”, a 10% fat, 10% protein, extruded grain with probiotics and garlic, along with alfalfa pellets, Sand Trap psyllium supplement 7 days per month, electrolytes in summer, and Solitude IGR, a fly control supplement. All horses have 24 hour access to coastal hay and/or grass. Alfalfa, orchard grass and timothy hays available if needed. Salt and mineral licks and turn out sheds (with fans) in each pasture. Maximum of five horses per pasture. Water troughs are scrubbed minimum of 3 times per week. Feed tubs and troughs are disinfected at least once per month. All horses here live outside 24 hours, unless an allergy or medical condition necessitates a stall, except in the case of a valuable competition horse who needs to be kept in to prevent sun bleaching or possible turnout injury. We bed on straw. I take great pride in how happy and comfortable my horses are and I will not compromise that for any reason. ALL HORSES MUST HAVE A WATERPROOF BLANKET AND FLY MASK.

Lessons available on or off the farm on your horse. In some instances, Jasmine Farm may have a horse for a student to use. We regret to announce that we will no longer be providing a lesson horse program for beginners.

Please call to discuss your needs. Horses accepted when space available.

Deficit Spending, 6-1/2 yr old FANCY large pony, fabulous hunter prospect, currently showing dressage. Won her very first walk trot test! Always jumps & LOVES it. Safe & predictable to ride, never spooky or hot, handles new/strange situations with great aplomb. Will trail ride anywhere with anybody. Has foxhunted with children on her. She is out of my best horse ever (retired superstar L.V. & is her only foal, so she, like California, is only for sale to the "right" situation.