USC Aiken equestrian team names new coach

USC Aiken has named John Abbott as its equestrian riding coach and will also establish Bridlewood Farm in Aiken as the headquarters for USCA's equestrian riding team, the Augusta Chronicle has reported.

Abbott, who moved to Aiken from the Atlanta area in 2009, purchased Bridlewood in the spring. According to a news release, he will be offering equestrian lessons and coaching there for equestrian team members and USCA students at a reduced lesson cost. Abbott will receive no payment from the university in his coaching role, the Chronicle article stated.

"I'm excited about the opportunity and I know it will grow because we live in a huge equestrian community," Abbott said in a statement. "We will develop a large equestrian team at USCA. And I know it will grow because a lot of college kids think about ‘Where can I take my horse and ride?' and ‘Do they have a riding team?'"

USCA's riding team is on the club sport level and started informally with a few riders last year. The university has been reaching out to the equestrian community and has lately been looking to give a more formal structure to its riding team and equestrian offerings to students.