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  HORSEBACK RIDING ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA 

Lawton Stables is a full service Equestrian Center located within the Sea Pines Plantation on beautiful Hilton Head Island. Hilton Head visitors have described the area as "The Gem of the LowCountry." Lawton Stables is nestled on 24 acres within the Plantation and has easy access to the scenic Sea Pines Forest Preserve. The Preserve covers 606 acres of natural beauty. We are able to offer you a glimpse of its beauty during one of our hour long escorted Western style trail rides which depart several times daily. We offer you the chance to meander through the lush acres of the Preserve on horseback to really get a feel for the true untouched Lowcountry.

We also offer carriage rides and pony rides for our younger visitors, and all of the family will enjoy our collection of small animals. Being an Equestrian Center, we also specialize in horse boarding and training and English and Western riding lessons. Here at Lawton, there is something for all of the family to enjoy!

Our small animal farm is free to visitors.

 
HISTORY OF LAWTONlawton-stables-hilton-head-sea-pines-plantation.jpg

In January of 1867, Eliza Summers and Julia Benedict, both teachers in their early twenties, left New York bound for South Carolina. When they arrived on Hilton Head Island, they settled on Lawton Plantation in what is now Sea Pines Plantation. At that time, there was the main house and 50 cabins for freed slaves. Eliza and Julia taught various skills that the freed slaves needed to lead productive and independent lives. The plantation house doubled as a school house. The courageous ladies endured hardship, rattlesnakes, and mosquitoes during their adventure. Unfortunately, nothing of their plantation house remains, but the spirit of adventure that Eliza and Julia displayed still lives on at Lawton Stables!

Lawton Stables moved to its present position on the island in 1969, from its original position in Harbour Town. The stable was moved to make way for the newly planned Harbour Town Golf Course and now world-famous lighthouse. The new owners of Lawton Stables started a complete renovation program in January 2008.  In 2008, two new arenas were built with championship footing, the trail operations were moved, the paddocks and grounds were irrigated, and the animal farm was rebuilt and moved. 2008 also saw the arrival of Harley, a beautiful and warm-hearted Clydesdale who is of the Anheuser-Busch line of Clydesdales. In 2009, over 200 truckloads of dirt were added to raise the pastures for the benefit of the horses, the new welcome center and hay barn was built, and the new Beresford Boarding Stable was completed in April, 2010.