It's Halloween Week at Bruce's Field!

Read on for a preview of all the fun coming your way October 22 - 25

 

FALL IN LOVE WITH AIKEN


October at Bruce's Field & November at Bruce's Field

Oct. 15 - 18 & 22 - 25 and Nov. 5 - 8

USEF National A Rated Level 3 Jumper


Bruce's Field

Aiken, SC

Week II Hospitality and Special Events Schedule


Breakfast on the Porch

Every Show Day 6 am - 8 am

Back Porch of Bruce's Field Show Office "Jack's House"

sponsored by ManeLine Art, Quinn Larimer & Nestledown Equine Services, and Tracey London


Wednesday, October 21


Pizza & Beer in the Barns

3 pm - 4 pm

sponsored by Astaria Farm


Thursday, October 22


$5,000 Welcome Stake

see whendoigo.com for times

Longleaf Arena

sponsored by LiftMaster


Afternoon Hospitality

3 pm - 5 pm

Hospitality Tent between the Stephens Arena and Miller Arena

sponsored by Rhumba Rum & Cigar Lounge


Friday, October 23


$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

see whendoigo.com for times

Stephens Arena

sponsored by G Farms


$5,000 USHJA Jr/Am National Hunter Derby

see whendoigo.com for times

Stephens Arena

sponsored by The Sullivan Turner Team


Afternoon Hospitality

3 pm - 5 pm

Hospitality Tent between the Stephens Arena and Miller

sponsored by Good Girl Brewing Co.


Saturday, October 24


$25,000 City of Aiken Grand Prix

see whendoigo.com for times

Longleaf Arena

presented by Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt


$500 Best Grand Prix Costume Award

during Grand Prix Awards

Longleaf Arena

sponsored by Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt


Bruce's Field Trunk O' Treat

during the Grand Prix and Costume Class

Ring-side at the Longleaf Arena


Halloween Costume Class

Following the Grand Prix

Longleaf Arena

sponsored by South Carolina Equestrian Alliance

prizes provided by Danny & Ron's Rescue


Halloween Barn Decorating Contest

winners announced during the Costume Class

Longleaf Arena


Halloween Spooktacular

during the Costume Class

Longleaf Arena Hospitality Tent

sponsored by Braemer Road


Sunday, October 25


Sunday Brunch

10 am - 12 pm

Hospitality Tent between the Stephens Arena and Miller

sponsored by Rardin Equestrian

HALLOWEEN COSTUME CLASS ENTRIES AVAILABLE IN THE BRUCE'S FIELD SHOW OFFICE

Due to USEF rules costume class participation is only open to horse show entries

$500 Best Grand Prix Costume Award

Sponsored by Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt


During the $25,000 City of Aiken Grand Prix, presented by Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt, all Grand Prix entries will have the opportunity to claim a $500 cash prize! How to win? Just have the best costume of course!

NEW FOR FALL 2026!

Fall in Love with Aiken Shows Now Using Event Pass

Say goodbye to waiting and last-minute paperwork hassles. EventPass is the fastest way to upload and verify your horse health documents.


Ensure your vaccinations, health certificates, and Coggins are in perfect order—no stress, no delays. Simplify your journey to the ring today.


DOWNLOAD THE APP NOW AND GET STARTED!

 

CHARITABLE PARTNERS

Bruce's Field is Supporting these Wonderful Organizations During Fall in Love with Aiken

USC Aiken

Equestrian Club Sports


Located in the heart of horse country, the university celebrates Aiken's longstanding equestrian tradition. We encourage all students who are interested in continuing their equestrian activities and lifestyle while furthering their education to explore the opportunities our university has to offer both in and outside of the classroom. Whatever your equestrian discipline, you will find it in Aiken.

Aiken Senior Life Services

Meals on Wheels


Nourishing Seniors and Fueling Independence


By providing meals, transportation, and social interaction to older adults, Aiken Senior Life Services – a private, charitable nonprofit organization established in 1971 – allows Aiken County seniors to gracefully age in place.


Aiken Senior Life Services, in partnership with Meals on Wheels America, provides nutritious meals to seniors unable to leave their home, or who have difficulty preparing meals, and who attend one of 4 group dining sites in Aiken County. Each meal meets the 1/3 recommended dietary allowance set by the FDA.

 
 

Saturday, October 24th

Bruce's Field Blood Drive


Local Blood for Local Patients


Every blood donation made with Shepeard Community Blood Center has the power to save up to three local lives.


As the region’s only local non-profit blood center, Shepeard provides lifesaving blood products to more than 30 hospitals and ambulatory services across Georgia and South Carolina. That mission is only possible because of generous volunteer blood donors like you.


Begin your lifesaving journey today.


Give here because you live here.

 

THANK YOU

FALL IN LOVE WITH AIKEN SPONSORS

Mr. & Mrs. Charlie Bostwick - The Ryals Family - Hunting Valley Farm - Tracey London

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THE MOST FUN YOU'VE EVER HAD AT A HORSE SHOW

 

Coming up at Bruce's Field in 2026

October at Bruce's Field I & II

October 15th - 18th & October 22nd - 25th

USEF National A Rated Level 3 Jumper

aikenhorsepark.org/fall-in-love-with-aiken


November at Bruce's Field

November 5th - 8th

USEF National A Rated Level 3 Jumper

aikenhorsepark.org/fall-in-love-with-aiken


Aiken Holiday Classic

Equus Events

November 27th - 29th

USEF National A Rated Level 2 Jumper

equusevents.com


Aiken December Classics I & II

Equus Events

December 3rd - 6th & December 10th - 13th

USEF National A Rated Level 2 Jumper

equusevents.com

 

2026 Park Sponsors

Diamond Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

 
Established in 2013 by the late R. Bruce Duchossois, the Aiken Horse Park Foundation received its IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt status in November 2014, with a mission to promote Aiken’s equestrian way of life and to encourage the community’s civic, educational, and charitable endeavors 

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

Putter Goodwin, Director


Administration

Tara Bostwick, Chief Executive Officer

Joanie Morris, Chief Operating 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

Charles Bostwick, Administrative Assistant


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.