Photo credit: CM Bryson
Hay Community!
Things are really ramping up here at AAHC. We have a Horse Trailer Rodeo in the works (likely June), the photo contest for the wall calendar is going to kick off in a few weeks, and we are already working on this years Large Animal Emergency Response Course. Our volunteers have been busy attending meetings supporting trails at GIHP, Hard Labor Creek, and in Gwinnett. The Thursday lunches are becoming a popular place for community members to come for support (You are invited to join us! Details on the AAHC website.) We have so many exciting things planned for this year that I cannot list them all. In the newsletter this month, we are celebrating milestone in the growth of our online social network, honoring local leaders, and taking important steps to protect our young riders. — Amanda
AAHC News & Updates
We are incredibly proud of the work being done here at AAHC and are excited to see our community’s continued growth in this Year of the Fire Horse. This section is your go-to spot for the latest on what we’ve been up to, from major milestones to upcoming events you won’t want to miss!
10,000 NEIGH-bors!
We have officially hit a significant milestone: 10,000 members in our Facebook Group! When AAHC began in 2010, we had no idea it would grow into something so impactful. Today, we are far more than just an online group. Together, we are teaching first responders and owners how to handle equine emergencies, helping local landowners preserve their farms through mounted events, and advocating for the future—from arena improvements at Heritage Park to safety upgrades at Little Mulberry.
It is incredible to see so many horse lovers from Athens and beyond coming together to support and share their lives with one another. Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or just joined today, thank you for being part of this ride. This community has grown far bigger than we ever dreamed, and you continue to amaze us!
AAHC Events: Don’t Miss Out!
We have two major events just around the corner that you’ll want on your calendar:
The AAHC Gnome Ride (Feb 21): Registration is in full swing for our most whimsical ride of the year at Allison Creek Farm! Bring a friend and hunt for the hidden gnomes as your ride your horse. Remember: Register by Feb 18th to secure your lunch and avoid full registration costs.
Horse Trailer Safety Seminar (March 28): Gain peace of mind on the road with world-renowned expert Dr. Rebecca Husted. This hands-on clinic at Allison Creek Trailer Shop is FREE for AAHC members ($35 for non-members).
Register for Trailer Safety Seminar
Save the Date – Trailer Loading Seminar – March 15th
More Information coming soon! (Will be free for members)
Working Equitation – Coming Back to the Athens Area!
AAHC Member Chris Pritchard, owner of Poplar Springs Farm in Bishop, is working hard to bring Working Eq to our area! She has a clinic planned for Feb 28th (2 spots left!) with play days, more clinics, and shows to come! Join the AAHC FB group “Working Eq Wolf Pack” , follow Poplar Springs Farm on FB, or keep an eye on “Working Eq” tag on the AAHC website.
AAHC at the Rock Lobsters
Ready for some fun off the farm? The Athens Rock Lobsters hockey team has invited the AAHC community to come out for a night of local sports and fellowship! We’re trades our boots for blades (well, watching them, at least) to support our local hockey team together.
Join the Barn Family at the Rink:
Date: April 3rd at 7:05 PM
Location: The Classic Center Arena
Special members-only experience for AAHC Members
This is a great chance to get together with your riding buddies for a fun night out in Athens, and support Athens Area Horse Community. Grab your tickets at the link below and come help us cheer on the Rock Lobsters!
Buy Tickets for Rock Lobster Rodeo Night
AAHC Members, if you want to sign up for the High-five Tunnel or the photo on the ice after the game, be sure to fill out this form after buying your tickets:
Form for AAHC Member Experience at Rock Lobsters
Beyond the Barn: Protecting Our Riders
The barn should be a place of peace and trust, but recent events in our local community have reminded us that this trust can be weaponized. Following the sentencing of a local farrier for the assault of female horse owners, AAHC is taking a firm stand: Safety is the foundation of the joy we find with horses.
We are committed to ensuring that “grooming” remains a term we only use for our horses. To do this, we are launching a new safety initiative focused on:
- Recognizing Red Flags: Educating parents and riders on the subtle tactics predators use.
- Empowering Youth: Giving young riders the language to advocate for their own boundaries.
- Professional Accountability: Supporting our local pros through safety pledges and vetting resources.
We need your voice. We are forming a committee to lead these efforts and have listed several potential programs—from “Safe Barn” designations to youth clinics—in our full article. Please read the full post to see how we are moving forward and learn how you can help us protect the most vulnerable members of our barn family. You are invited to join the committee and/or send us your thoughts on how we can best serve the community.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE & JOIN THE COMMITTEE
GIHP Development & Trails
Feb 9th Conyers City Council Members Sherri Washington and Charlie Bryant held a “Conyers Conversation”, and the topic of discussion: Development at Georgia International Horse Park. They were clear: there will be development at GIHP but they wanted to gather information from the community about how to move forward. The audience was a mix of residents/tax payers and park users who travel from out of the city but come to the area as a direct result of GIHP to spend money. The message from the audience was clear: keep horses and the trails a central feature of any development. There were requests from the residents for a master plan to be developed as well as a sports arena.
Heritage Park
Great news for the community: Oconee County officially closed on those 110 new acres on January 9th! This is a huge step toward getting the longer, more connected trails we’ve all been waiting for. As we understand, the next big step is waiting on a grant decision before any work can actually start. That grant is key because it covers improvements for the existing and new property trail system. Once that’s settled, we’ll have a much better idea of the timeline for leveling up all the park’s facilities – including the arena improvements we have all been “patiently” waiting for.
Hard Labor Creek State Park
After 2 years, the blue trail at Hard Labor Creek is back open (sort of). Park staff say there is currently no plan to put the culverts back in where storms prior to Helene washed it out. But they have re-routed the trail and are looking at a repair to get the full Blue trail open again.
March 14th the HLC Friends group is hosting a Clip and Ride/Equestrian Workday – there are opportunities to help on horseback and on foot. The work is 8:30 to noon and park fees are waived for the day. AND volunteers who come to the equestrian workday will earn a pass for to come back and ride with a buddy for FREE! Sign up today – email: Friendsofhardlaborcreek@gmail.com.
Topicals: February Horse Care
Navigating the Cold and Wet Weather, plus Deworming!
February is the height of cold and wet weather season in the Athens area. To manage your horse’s mental health and prevent boredom during this season, remember the 3 F’s: Friends, Forage, & Freedom.
Whether your horses are kept IN or OUT, winter presents a few key worries:
- Hydration: A critical concern is ensuring your horse stays hydrated, especially when their water sources are frozen and they are cold.
- Warmth: Horses use forage to keep warm. Providing free choice hay helps them “set the thermostat” so to speak in their own bodies. At minimum, throw them extra flakes of hay on colder days.
- Air Quality (for stalled horses): If your horse is spending more time safely warm in their stall, take steps to ensure good air quality. Ammonia from urine can build up and lead to health problems.
Deworming Best Practices: Refugia
February is a great time to perform a fecal egg count (FEC). Current best practices recommend only deworming high shedders and not worming low shedders. This practice is called refugia.
- Refugia is beneficial because a horse’s digestive system evolved to carry a certain low parasitic load.
- Maintaining a population of parasites in your herd that are not resistant to dewormers is important for long-term parasite management.
Learn more about Deworming Best Practices
Community News
Redux Equine Rescue’s Impact in our Community for 2025
We want to share the incredible work being done by our friends at Redux Equine Rescue. Redux is a vital resource for our community, dedicated to helping horses and owners find their way forward in times of hardship. In 2025 alone, their impact was profound:
- Rescue & Placement: They welcomed 26 horses into the program and successfully found homes for 20.
- Unique Opportunities: Three horses were sent to the prestigious Heart of Phoenix Appalachian Trainer Face-Off, giving them specialized training and visibility.
- Community Support: Beyond traditional rescue, Redux helped one owner with a direct placement and provided a “safe place to land” for two horses whose owners needed temporary assistance.
- Compassionate Care: In cases where recovery wasn’t possible, Redux ensured 4 horses were helped across the rainbow bridge with dignity and peace.
Currently, there are 31 rescues working through the program. Redux isn’t just a name; it represents their signature “Re-DO” process: rescue, rehabilitate, reeducate, and rehome. If you or someone you know in the community needs help, is looking to adopt, or wants to donate/support in important local equine rescue, visit Redux’s website: https://www.reduxrescue.org/
Celebrating 50 Years of Kel-Mac Saddle Club!
Join us in honoring Georgia’s longest-running saddle club! Since its start in 1976, Kel-Mac Saddle Club has become a cornerstone of our community, blending horsemanship with an incredible legacy of philanthropy—raising over $170,000 for local charities and scholarships.
Join the Celebration: All current and former members, sponsors, and friends are invited to celebrate 50 years of memories, fellowship, and impact.
- When: Sunday, March 22 | 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
- Where: Farmington Community Center, Watkinsville, GA
Looking to Get Involved? Known for being beginner-friendly and inclusive, Kel-Mac is the perfect place for new riders and horses to start their journey. Their 2026 all-breed horse shows are scheduled for April 18, May 9, Sept 19, and Oct 24 in Madison, GA. With classes at just $10 and a welcoming atmosphere, there is a place for everyone in the arena.
Learn more at Kel-Mac.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram!
Here at AAHC we believe you deserve a thriving and strong local horse community.
As fellow horse people in Athens, we at AAHC understand your problems and opportunities, because we share them. We are here through it all, the good times and the hard times – together. We live here with our horses and with YOU.
Together we can invest in community initiatives that solve our problems. Here in the Athens area we need to save green space for horses and find skilled workers who are horse people.
Based on your level of activity within AAHC you could receive important discounts that may far exceed your cost of membership, AND your support means we can continue to work on the MANY initiatives supporting our mission to grow the local horse community.
AAHC Unsung Hero
We like to recognize an Unsung Hero at the end of the newsletter. These are volunteers who are are truly committed to our Community. These may be people who have helped carry heavy loads here at AAHC, or it may be volunteers who are making a difference out in our community.
Today we are recognizing Kelly Keating, as our unsung hero!
Kelly is a welcoming and proactive leader who serves as the driving force behind our local rider network. Her dedication makes a massive impact on Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation, where she leads the charge on vital trail maintenance and repairs.
From organizing workdays to coordinating trail improvements, Kelly’s leadership ensures Gwinnett’s equestrian trails remain a top-tier resource for us all. We are so grateful for her commitment and support of AAHC!
If you see this Unsung Hero out in our Community, please give them a hearty thank you. And if you know an Unsung Hero that we should recognize, please email us at athensareahorsecommunity@gmail.com.
Do you have local horse news or an idea for an article? Tell Us!
If you know about horsey news in your NEIGHborhood, or around town, AAHC wants to hear from you!
If you have a news tip or story idea, you can email us at athensareahorsecommunity@gmail.com, or use the form on our website.
See you at the barn! – Amanda McCoy and the team at AAHC
Athens Area Horse Community thanks it’s Corporate Partners for their continued support.
