Sandhills Equestrian Directory

Shows & eventsSomething is always going on

The calendar, the two big venues, the western arenas within a couple of hours, and the steeplechase and hunter‑pace circuits up and down the coast.

Shows, venues and the calendar

Shows, clinics, hunter paces and events run year‑round here. The calendar and the two big venues are the places to start.

Show jumping on the derby field at the Carolina Horse Park, Raeford.
Hoofbeats CalendarThe community calendar for Sandhills equestrian events: shows, clinics, hunter paces, driving, Pony Club and more. Check it before you plan a weekend.hoofbeatscalendar.wordpress.com → Carolina Horse Park · RaefordFifteen minutes south of Southern Pines, 250 acres built for competition. Eventing, hunter/jumper, dressage and combined driving shows run through the year, along with schooling shows and clinics, and each spring the Carolina International brings the world's top event riders to town. Permanent stabling, multiple rings, cross‑country courses and RV hookups on site.carolinahorsepark.com → Pinehurst Harness Track · PinehurstA historic Standardbred training track and fairground in the Village of Pinehurst, on the National Register. Beyond harness training it hosts horse shows, clinics and competitions through the year, plus the Spring Matinee Races and the Pinehurst farmers market.Map →

Steeplechase season, up and down the coast

The Sandhills sit in the middle of the Mid‑Atlantic and Carolina jump‑racing circuit. Spring and fall race meets make an easy weekend trip:

  • Virginia: Middleburg Spring Races and the Virginia Gold Cup (spring), Foxfield (spring and fall, Charlottesville), Virginia Fall Races, International Gold Cup and Montpelier Hunt Races (fall).
  • Maryland: the timber classics: My Lady's Manor, the Grand National and the Maryland Hunt Cup (three spring Saturdays), plus Fair Hill and Shawan Downs.
  • Carolinas: Queen's Cup (Mineral Springs, NC, spring), Aiken Steeplechase (spring and fall) and the Carolina Cup (Camden, SC, spring). Southern Pines' own Stoneybrook Steeplechase ran from 1949 until the Carolina Horse Park retired it in 2025.

Dates move year to year; the National Steeplechase Association keeps the master schedule.

Hunter paces in the Carolinas

A hunter pace is a marked cross‑country ride over hunt country at a "fair hunting pace," usually 6–12 miles with optional jumps and lunch after. Most hunts run one or two a season and welcome non‑members:

  • Sandhills: Moore County Hounds and the Carolina Horse Park hunter paces.
  • Elsewhere in NC: Sedgefield Hunt (Greensboro), Red Mountain Hounds (Rougemont), Triangle Hunt, Mecklenburg Hounds (Charlotte), and the Western Carolina Hunter Pace Series around Tryon, Sept–May, one of the largest in the country.
  • South Carolina: Camden Hunt, Aiken Hounds and Whiskey Road Fox Hounds (Aiken), Lowcountry Hunt.

Dates for local paces post on the Hoofbeats Calendar and each hunt's own site. Hunts and paces can list here too.

Western, too: rodeos, barrels, reining, cutting and trail rides

The Sandhills reads English at first glance, but within a couple of hours there's a full western calendar. The venues below carry most of it; the associations run the series.

CCRA Arena localThe Sandhills' own western arena and venue: barrel races, roping, play days and rodeo‑style events close to home, with a busy Facebook group that carries the schedule and results. The first place to look for a Saturday night under the lights.Facebook group → Hunt Horse Complex · Raleigh ~1 hr 15The state's busiest horse venue, 80+ events a year. Rodeos (the Raleigh Stampede in February, pro rodeos in spring, the ABT Finals "Bulls, Bells & Barrels" in December), big barrel races such as the Spring Extreme, NCQHA's Tar Heel Summer and Fall Classics, and the State Fair's October run of high school rodeo, open barrel racing and mounted shooting.Full event calendar → LP Arena · Sanford ~40 minThe closest western arena to Southern Pines. Barrel racing (including the Foothills Barrel Classic in October), NCQHA's Carolina Spring show and open shows through the year. 350 Arthur Maddox Rd, Sanford. The Facebook page carries the monthly schedule.Facebook page → Sen. Bob Martin Ag Center · Williamston ~2 hr 45The reining hub of the Southeast: the Carolina Classic Derby (spring), the SERHA Main Event and North American Reining Stakes (July) and the Carolina Fall Classic with the NRHA Southeast Affiliate Finals (October). Also NC High School Rodeo, Da Bomb barrel racing, NCQHA circuits and open shows, with RV hookups on site.Event calendar →

Who runs the series

  • Rodeo: Southern Rodeo Association events at the Raleigh Stampede; NC High School Rodeo Association (also at the State Fair); Bulls & Barrels nights around the region.
  • Barrels: NBHA North Carolina districts, Da Bomb Barrel Racing, and the Spring Extreme and Foothills Classic weekends above.
  • Reining: Southeastern Reining Horse Association (serha.org) and NRHA affiliates, mostly at Williamston.
  • Cutting & ranch: NCHA-affiliated cuttings and ranch sorting run on the Williamston and Raleigh calendars; Tryon (~3½ hrs) also hosts large western events.
  • Open & all-breed shows: NC Quarter Horse Association (ncqha.com), United Horsemen of the Carolinas, Central Carolina Western Horseman's Association, Johnston County Horse Show Series, NC 4‑H.

Trail rides & fun rides

  • Walthour‑Moss Foundation, Southern Pines: the big one, every day, free. Details above.
  • Uwharrie National Forest / Badin Lake (~1 hr 15): about 40 miles of marked horse trails with Canebrake Horse Camp (electric sites, showers, wash station) and the primitive Badin Horse Camp. The place for an overnight ride.
  • Raven Rock State Park, Lillington (~45 min): bridle trails along the Cape Fear River with a horse trailer lot and primitive equestrian camping.
  • Sandhills Game Land, Hoffman (~25 min): thousands of acres of longleaf; horses are allowed on designated roads and trails, so check the NC Wildlife regulations and hunting seasons before you go.
  • Organized rides: Cape Fear Trail Riders Association, the Western Carolina Hunter Pace Series' trail division, and club fun rides posted on the Hoofbeats Calendar. Trail groups can list here.