FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aiken, SC — Tuesday, November 11, 2025

AHPF Appoints Joanie Morris as Chief Operating Officer

The Aiken Horse Park Foundation announced today the appointment of Joanie Morris as Chief Operating Officer, effective January 2026. In this role, Morris will oversee day-to-day operations at Bruce’s Field, ensuring the continued execution of the Foundation’s strategic priorities and maintaining the highest standards of equestrian sport and guest experience.

Morris brings over twenty years of leadership experience in equestrian sport administration and operations. A respected figure in the industry, she has been closely connected to the Aiken Horse Park Foundation since its inception—first as a competitor and later as Event Director for the widely acclaimed $100,000 Grand Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field. Her longstanding relationship with the late founder, R. Bruce Duchossois, and her deep ties to Aiken’s equestrian community reinforce the significance of her return in this leadership capacity.

During her twelve years at the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), Morris served in several key roles, including Director of High Performance Communications, Event Director for the FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships, and Managing Director of Eventing. Her experience spans Olympic and international competition management, program development, team operations, and high-performance athlete support.

Since leaving USEF in 2019, Morris has continued to influence the sport through senior roles in events and equestrian business operations. She served as the Competition Director for the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory, co-organized the Virginia Horse Center Eventing competitions, and acted as FEI Coordinator for the Maryland International Horse Trials. She is also a field agent for Taylor, Harris Insurance Services. Morris has spent winters in Aiken since 1997 and remains an active competitor.

Seeing Bruce’s Field evolve is a testament to Bruce’s vision and to the leadership that has carried it forward, said Morris. It is a privilege to join the team in a full-time capacity, and I look forward to supporting the Foundation’s continued growth, advancing its goals, and contributing to the high standard of excellence that defines this venue.

Joanie brings a depth of operational expertise that will further strengthen our internal systems and long-term planning, said Tara Bostwick, Chief Executive Officer. Her national and international experience, coupled with her long history with Bruce’s Field, will elevate the quality, consistency, and guest experience across all of our events. We are thrilled to welcome her into this critical leadership role as we continue to deliver on our mission and uphold Bruce’s legacy.

Morris will focus on ensuring a smooth transition of her existing commitments throughout 2026 while preparing to assume full operational leadership at Bruce’s Field.

Please join us in welcoming Joanie to the Bruce's Field Family

Thank You 2025 Annual Fund Donors

Mr. and Mrs. W Thomas Matthews

Mr. and Mrs. George Wintersteen

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Fanning

Yawkey Foundation

Karen Bald

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bostwick

Mr. and Mrs. John Podjasek

Robert Gossett

Michael Newland

Annabelle Axinn

Nancy Victoria Ragonese

Ray Mills

Rodney Harkey

Michael Taylor

Tracey London

Martha Deegan

Caroline Bald

Kate Boggan

Marcos and Melissa Castro Beltran

William Bald

Robert and Jane Hottensen

Joel Mendez

Apolonio and Maria Fernanda Castro

The Impact of Your Annual Gift

Your annual support:

• Strengthens Our Mission: By providing reliable, unrestricted funds that we can allocate where they’re needed most.
• Supports Innovation: Allowing us to explore new ideas and expand our impact within the community.
• Demonstrates Commitment: Your recurring support signals to other donors, grantmakers, and partners that our work is valued and sustainable.

Every Gift Makes a Difference

Whether you give $50 or $5,000, your contribution plays a crucial role. Annual giving enables us to:

• Plan ahead with confidence
• Address unforeseen challenges
• Continue making a meaningful difference in the lives we serve

Join Us Today - It's not too late...

We invite you to be part of our story by making an annual gift. Together, we can ensure that the Aiken Horse Park Foundation remains a strong and vibrant member of our community—today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.

Make Your Annual Gift Today

2025 Park Sponsors

2025 Park Partners

Board of Directors

Gordon Lawson, Chair

John Stephens, Chair Emeritus

Jack Wetzel, President

Tara Bostwick, Vice President

Robert Hottensen, Treasurer

R. Scot Evans, Secretary

Amy Borun, Director

Craig J. Duchossois, Director

Shallan Duchossois Hazlewood, Director

Daniel Geitner, Director

Craig Phillips, Director

Administration

Tara Bostwick, Chief Executive Officer

John Maldonado, Director of Park Operations

Kate Boggan, Director of Marketing and Communications

Caroline Bald, Director of Finance & Business Operations

Nina Wakefield, Assistant Treasurer

Park Operations

John Maldonado, Marcos Castro, Jose Carmen Castro,

Apolonio Castro, & Joel Mendez,

The MISSION of the Aiken Horse Park Foundation is to promote Aiken’s equestrian way of life and to encourage the community’s civic, educational, and charitable endeavors.

Our VISION is to honor and preserve Bruce's legacy by maintaining and enhancing Bruce's Field as the pinnacle of equestrian excellence in the United States. We are committed to nurturing this historic property, blending state-of-the-art facilities with the cherished heritage of the land and community. Inspired by Bruce's dedication to stewardship and generosity, we partner with our community to support charitable, educational, and civic initiatives. We strive to be a vibrant, welcoming venue at the heart of Aiken, deeply rooted in respect, compassion, and the enduring spirit of our founder's dream.

Bruce's Legacy

When Bruce Duchossois acquired the field in 2000, he did so with a vision of its past, present, and future as a fixture of Aiken’s equestrian tradition. While his immediate goal was to save the land from residential development, Bruce’s dream was to grow it into South Carolina’s premier equestrian facility—maintaining its historic character, and paying forward the generosity of his predecessors.

Knowing he may not live to see his dream realized, Bruce created a Foundation to carry on his vision that “Bruce’s Field” may provide future generations with a place to hold the kinds of events that he cherished—old-fashioned venues with character and integrity; not an international horse park, but an intimate field in the center of the celebrated Horse District, where riders from the youngest lead line toddlers to the strongest Grand Prix competitors can come several times a season and compete on the best quality surfaces; not limited in its use, but a place where the City of Aiken’s many charitable and civic endeavors may be held for the benefit and enjoyment of all residents and visitors.

Bruce dearly loved Aiken and was so thankful for what it gave him. He offered this gift to the people and to the city, knowing that he would not be able to enjoy it himself, and asking nothing in return but that others enjoy it in his stead.

These shows seek to provide the kind of experience that Bruce cherished—old-fashioned venues with character and integrity, held on an intimate field in the center of the celebrated Horse District, where riders from the youngest lead line toddlers to the strongest Grand Prix competitors can compete on the best quality surfaces.