Dara Knot

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Aiken, SC
Lesson • Train • School • Compete
[email protected]

10/30/2026

We are so VERY excited about our new employee housing here at Dara Knot! Huge shout out to Aiken Housing Center who have been AMAZING to work with and we highly recommend them for any of your housing needs!!! New adventures every day here at the farm!!

10/26/2026

Our November Three-Phase is right around the corner, and entries are officially open! 🍂
If you've been wanting to come out and give it a go, this is your chance! With inviting courses, a supportive and encouraging atmosphere, and well-maintained grounds, our schooling shows are a great opportunity to gain experience and build confidence.
We'd love to have you join us!
Sunday, November 15th
Entries are now live on EventEntries! Sign up at the link below, and come ride with us. 🐎
https://evententries.com/ ==
**reposted with correct date**

10/20/2026

Our first Three-Phase of the fall is in the books, and we’re so grateful to everyone who made it such a wonderful day. Thank you to our competitors, volunteers, and everyone who came out to support us! 🍂
The cross-country course will remain open for schooling over the next few weeks—come get some practice in ahead of our November 15 horse show.
In addition to the course, there are new Modified, Preliminary, and Intermediate questions to school during your visit.
And don’t forget about our gallop track! New signage is expected in the next week or so to mark distances and help you plan your conditioning sessions.
Come ride with us! Book your schooling at daraknotaiken.com/schooling. 🐎

10/17/2026

October Horse show in full swing!!
Thank you to our sponsors, our volunteers and our competitors for coming out and supporting!!!!

10/14/2026

We’re excited to officially welcome Madison Blodgett into her role as Trainer at Dara Knot.
This exciting change and addition to what we can offer all of our Dara Knot clients comes at a time that our business is really growing and expanding. This next chapter means greater access, flexibility, and support within the program as it grows!
With Babette and Madison working together, riders benefit from two trainers who share the same core teaching philosophy while bringing their own perspectives and ways of communicating. Madison is slowly growing her own clientele as well and is welcoming ship-in clients for lessons and offering training and competition rides through Dara Knot. Get behind a young trainer who has a passion for this sport and the horses and riders who want to grow and progress with in it.
Madison brings valuable experience both in and out of the competition ring. She has competed through the 3* level, produced horses through Intermediate, and participated in the Emerging Athletes U21 program in 2022 and 2023. Her experience developing horses across the levels directly informs the thoughtful, encouraging approach she brings to teaching and training.
Her foundation in the sport began in Maine with Sandy Porter-Bean and Audrey Bean at Pendragon Farm. She later began riding with Babette Lenna before moving to Aiken in December 2021 to join Dara Knot full-time. Since then, her role has grown from barn management into training and competing horses and, as many of our clients have already experienced, teaching.
Formalizing Madison’s role as Trainer reflects both the professional she has become and where Dara Knot is headed. Together, Babette and Madison will continue developing a collaborative program centered around each horse-and-rider partnership and the goals they’re working toward.
We’re incredibly proud to have Madison stepping into this next chapter and excited for what it will bring to our clients and the Dara Knot program.
Interested in riding with Madison? Send us a message to learn more about lessons, training, and competition rides.

10/08/2026

The cross-country course is officially open for schooling, and the jumps are set in preparation for our October 17th Three-Phase! 🍂
The grounds have enjoyed a well-deserved summer break, and it shows! The grass is greener than ever, the footing is fantastic, and the course is ready for you.

While the official course is still being finalized and jumps are not yet numbered, they're generally in place for the event, making this a great opportunity to get some practice in ahead of show day!

Come take advantage and ride with us! Book your schooling session at https://www.daraknotaiken.com/schooling. 🐎

10/05/2026

The countdown is on to our Fall Three-Phase at Dara Knot! 🍂
Join us on Saturday, October 17 for a full day of competition, with something for everyone.
We’ll be offering Three-Phase divisions from Starter through Training, Dressage and Show Jumping at all levels, and Combined Test divisions from Intro through Advanced, along with Test of Choice.
We’d love to have you. Entries are open on Event Entries and close October 13. We’ll see you at Dara Knot! 🐎

09/29/2026

A busy weekend at Stable View Oktoberfest, with plenty to be proud of. 🍂
Between personal bests, move-ups, and young horses finding their confidence, the Dara Knot team had a lot to celebrate. With nine horses in our crew, there was plenty to juggle, but we arrived feeling prepared—and it was rewarding to see that preparation pay off.

Some highlights:
• Madison stepped back up to Intermediate following her horse’s summer vacation. An encouraging return to the level, with plenty to build on this fall and exciting goals for 2027.
• Hayley’s sales horse, Wrigley, put in a great weekend to finish fifth!
• EA and her new horse, Murphy, tackled their first recognized Beginner Novice together, looking like a partnership that’s been together far longer.
• EA’s Mac and Rosary's Coco both had lovely outings at Beginner Novice. These are two promising young horses, and we’ve really enjoyed having the rides on them to bring them along.
• Babette’s Oakey had another great run at Modified. He was a little strong on cross-country, but he’s showing that he knows his job, and we’re excited to keep building with him.
• Babette’s young horse Salty is coming into his own, making this weekend’s Novice run feel easy and giving us plenty to look forward to next year.
We were also excited to welcome Maddie Mum and Morgan Gannett to the team for the weekend. Both had plenty to be proud of with their own horses and were a big help throughout.
Super groom Charolette Thompson was our glue this weekend!! She worked her butt off and our success would have limited without her!!
Thank you to the owners, riders, and supporters who made it all happen. From helping between rides to cheering each other on, the whole team showed up for one another. That’s what made this weekend feel so special. 🤍
One more horse show at Bouckaert before a well-earned rest, and 2027 planning is already underway!

Address

4069 Wagener Road
Aiken, SC
29806

Telephone

+12078370842

Website

http://daraknotaiken.com/

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