Dog walkers are more common on the streets of Sallye and Buzz Rich's Aiken neighborhood, but it's not uncommon to see a neighbor out for a stroll with a pony or two in tow.
The couple lives on Knox Avenue, on the edge of the Aiken Horse District near the Whitehall neighborhood.
Twenty-one years ago, the Aiken natives bought land and had a house built that backs up to Whitney Field, the site of Aiken's first polo game, and the country's oldest polo field in continuous use, according to the Aiken Polo Club.
It's one of about 40 polo fields in Aiken County.
"When I was a kid, I used to sneak through the woods here to watch polo games," Mr. Rich said.
More houses have been built, but largely, the neighborhood is "the same then as it is now," Mrs. Rich said.
The Rich's home has been updated and renovated. A year ago, they gutted the first floor of the 4,500-square-foot home, removing walls that had compartmentalized the living space.
"It was fine when we had three small children, but when they grew up and all came back home for the holidays, we realized we had five adults standing in this little kitchen, and I could barely get the oven open," Mrs. Rich said.
The downstairs area is painted a soft gray, and the master bedroom is a soft teal. The renovation also included a new space for a grand piano, as well as dark cherry cabinets and green granite counters for the kitchen.
They expanded the porch out back, adding a fireplace that looks over an in-ground pool and a hedge that separates the property from Whitney Field.
Aiken is "not a typical sleepy Southern town," Mrs. Rich said. "There's so much activity, but we can watch it all from here. My kids grew up thinking that a polo field was normal in the backyard. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else."
At home with
THE HOMEOWNERS: Sallye and Buzz Rich
THE HOME: A four-bedroom, 31/2- bath home on the edge of Aiken's horse district
IT'S A FACT: Mrs. Rich is proud of her art collection, much of it from discount stores and shops. "I can tell you the story behind every piece of art."
Around the block
What: Knox Avenue and Whitehall
Neighborhood Developed: 1950s to 1990s
Home sizes: From about 2,800 to 4,500 square feet
Sale prices: $299,000 to $499,000
Amenities: Paved roadway near horse district's dirt and clay roads, established trees and large setbacks from curb
Schools: Chukker Creek Elementary, Schofield Middle and Aiken High
Nearby: The area is about a mile south of downtown Aiken and less than two miles from the shopping centers between Whiskey Road and Silver Bluff Road.
IT'S A FACT: Whitney Field isn't the only attraction that draws horse lovers to the neighborhood. There's also the Fermata Club, Green Boundary Club and Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Back 
