The riding trails at H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field Trial and Recreation Area are pretty quiet during July and August.

The South Carolina sun in the middle of summer keeps riders indoors. Around the first of September, however, riders will return to H. Cooper Black’s 7,000 acres, joining sporting dog owners who use the area for retriever competitions and American Kennel Club licensed field trials.

Boykin Spaniels, Jack Russell terriers and Labradors, among other breeds, will be put through their paces this fall in field trials and hunt tests. In October, the park will host Hoofing for Heroes, a project created to help wounded veterans who used to ride get back in the saddle.

H. Cooper Black, which reported about 48,000 visitors in 2010, is managed by the South Carolina State Park Service and offers stables, corrals and kennels for four-legged visitors, campsites with electricity and water, and a clubhouse that seats more than 70 for their human companions.

The State Park Service requires owners and handlers to follow South Carolina laws regarding animal health and the release of field trial birds. Detailed regulations, usage fees and reservations are available from the park manager by calling (843) 378-1555 or emailing hcooperblack@scprt.com.

If you’re going:

H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field Trial and Recreation Area is 11 miles south of the town of Cheraw between U.S. 1 and U.S. 52. The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round and the office is open generally 11 a.m. to noon but might vary.