Best Equestrian Communities in South Carolina
Are you a horse enthusiast looking to retire in South Carolina? Then your research has led you to the right place! Not only is South Carolina a great place to retire for the ideal climate and affordability, it also has a lot to offer lovers of an equestrian lifestyle.
From thoroughbred breeding to horse races to sprawling landscapes for riding and top-notch equestrian facilities, here’s a list of the best equestrian communities in South Carolina.
Brays Island Plantation- Sheldon, SC
Sporting Classics Magazine calls it “the South’s most outstanding residential sporting community.” Located between Charleston and Savannah, this community combines world-class hunting and shooting facilities and over 60 miles of equestrian trails with traditional resort-style amenities including championship golf, tennis, swimming, fitness, dining and concierge services.
Haig Point- Daufuskie, SC
This South Carolina horse community’s private equestrian center has activities for all ages and abilities including private riding lessons, trail riding, pony clubs and camps--along with full boarding services offered to members who own horses. Accessible only by private ferry, Haig Point’s amenities blend into the island’s natural beauty, including the 20-hole Rees Jones Signature Golf Course, a fitness center and the Calibogue Club with views of the Calibogue Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.
Oldfield- Okatie, SC
An equestrian’s paradise, this community has 20 acres dedicated to horses and riding pursuits, including a modern 12-stall barn, 2 riding arenas, jumping courses, pastures, and miles of riding trails. Oldfield Equestrian Center is a private facility for Club Members only with boarding and training services available. Other amenities include a Greg Norman golf course, Sports Club with 6 tennis courts, fitness center, resort-style swimming pool and lap pool, the River Club with fine and casual dining and the Outfitters Center - a hunting lodge with outfitters store and wildlife education center.
Palmetto Bluff is a vibrant South Carolina equestrian community and recreational preserve enriched by wilderness and wildlife, unspoiled rivers and salt marshes, and the sounds and smells of nature. As one of the largest waterfront land properties on the east coast, the 20,000-acre property of Palmetto Bluff offers 32 miles of riverfront and marsh front coastline along the May, New and Cooper Rivers in the heart of the South Carolina Lowcountry.
Rose Hill Plantation- Bluffton, SC
Rated among the best equestrian communities in South Carolina because of its 50-acre Rose Hill Equestrian Center that includes 35 boarding stalls, main riding arena, dressage riding arena, riding trails, wash areas, 18 acres of fenced paddocks, 22-acre polo field, jumping facilities, and 17 miles of riding trails. Residents are also treated to a championship golf course, acres of parks & nature trails, deepwater access, fishing & kayaking, tennis & pickleball, swimming pools, and a lively community clubhouse.
This community’s on-site equestrian center offers guided trail rides through the 603-acre Sea Pines Forest Preserve, plus pony rides, a petting zoo, summer camps and riding instruction. Homeowners at this 5,000-acre oceanfront enclave also enjoy four championship golf courses and five miles of pristine Atlantic beaches, along with a full-service marina, tennis facilities, resort dining and a 603-acre Lowcountry nature preserve.
Seabrook Island- Seabrook Island, SC
With a full-service equestrian center, guided trail rides, professional boarding services, and one of the only beach rides on the East Coast, Seabrook Island is the perfect South Carolina equestrian community. An island resort community located 30 minutes from Charleston offering a South Carolina Lowcountry lifestyle, members love access to Atlantic beaches, golf, tennis, and marina facilities.
Spring Island- Spring Island, SC
Anchored by a 30-acre equestrian center that includes a 24-stall barn surrounded by 16 grass paddocks and pastures, two sand riding rings and one turf arena, and 30 miles of scenic riding trails--this private island community sits in the heart of South Carolina’s Lowcountry. An Arnold Palmer golf course is the centerpiece, with 3,000 acres of lush maritime forest preserved for the exclusive enjoyment of no more than 400 families.
The Cliffs Lake Region- Six Mile, SC
Equestrian facilities at this South Carolina community include training and riding rings, a stabling barn, and miles of riding trails through the adjacent Jocassee Gorges State Park. It’s a collection of three gated mountain-lake residential communities located on the shores of 18,500-acre Lake Keowee. Together these three properties offer a full complement of recreational activities, including a pair of signature golf courses designed by Tom Fazio and a signature golf course by Jack Nicklaus.
The Cliffs Mountain Region- Travelers Rest, SC
Homeowners in this family of Blue Ridge Mountain communities located on both sides of the North Carolina-South Carolina border gain access to an equestrian center and one of America's most impressive club memberships, encompassing a total of seven championship golf courses with designs by Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio and Gary Player. Additional amenities include a full-service marina, a beach club, tennis, indoor and outdoor pools and expansive health and fitness facilities.
