S.C. Equine Show This Weekend at Garrison Arena

The South Carolina Upstate Equine Council proudly announces its 8th annual "Horse Play in May" fundraising event Saturday and Sunday at the T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena in Pendleton.

"This two-day annual event presents classes for many equine disciplines, and it's free to the public," said Donna Patterson, Chairman of SCLIEC. "It's the primary fundraiser for our non-profit organization which encourages, promotes and advances the quality of life through development of the equine industry."

On Saturday, the Hunter/Jumper series begins at 8 a.m., and the Carolina Horse Show Association Open Show starts at 10 a.m. The Open Show series includes English, Western, Arabian: games and more.

On Sunday, the Dressage and Combined Training series will begin at 8 a.m. The weekend also features Championship Awards and a Hunter Derby with a $500 cash purse, sponsored by Burton Properties and Jordan Burton. There will be a silent auction, and a drawing for equine prizes from Noble Outfitters.

The 2015 Horse Play in May event presented over 100 horses, from as far away as Charlotte, Columbia, Asheville and Atlanta. Funds raised from the event have provided scholarships, enhanced the trails and trailhead at Fants Grove, and have supported improvements to benefit equine events at the Garrison Arena.

Organizers expect this year's event to be their biggest and best yet.

All classes will he held under cover at the T. Ed Garrison Arena, so weather is not an issue. The arena grounds offer numerous stalls and RV hook-ups for out-of-town guests, and a variety of concessions is available on site. The host hotel for the event is the Holiday Inn Express in Clemson, less than five miles from the arena.

Horse Play in May is the primary fundraiser for the SCUEC, a volunteer 501(c)(3) organization.