I’m considering moving to Asheville NC from south GA to be closer to my grandmother. If I do choose to move, it won’t be any sooner than January 1 of next year, but I will be visiting her several times between now and then and would like to pop over and take a look at apartments/houses and barns. I’m having a hard time finding barns in the area. West side of Asheville would be preferable. I’m paying $650 now for exceptional full board so I’d like to stay in that price range. Anyone have any suggestions? I have a friend in Hendersonville and I know Tryon is just a skip down the road, but Asheville is already an hour away from my grandmother in Franklin (no man’s land) and I don’t want to be any further or I may as well stay where I am. I’m also open to leasing a small farm or something with land for pony to be at home (although I know a year from now availability will be very different than it is today). Any suggestions would be appreciated!
I have a friend west of Asheville. I’ll have to get her contact info and I’ll PM you.
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That would be awesome, thank you!
I have a friend from Asheville as well and I can assure you, it’s one of the best places for any budding equestrian. You are making a great choice. Please keep us posted.
We moved to Asheville August 2015 from Denver by way of NW Chicago. We love the area and are really happy here.
The majority of barns are hunter/jumper or general purpose. I boarded at a place in Candler, about 10 minutes from W Asheville, that I’d recommend with some reservations. There are a few barns in the Alexander/ Weaverville area that would be 20-30 minutes from downtown. The Biltmore does board but from other locals it isn’t worth what you pay in regards to turnout/general care although they did just add a new boarder barn this past summer.
We bought land in Leicester to keep my horse and we board a friend’s horse. We’re about 25 minutes from downtown Asheville and an hour from TIEC. There’s a local amateur and friend that put in a fantastic GGT dressage arena for fellow ammies to trailer in for lessons or arena time. She is in Facebook as The Good Horse Arena.
We have some great dressage trainers in the immediate area. I typically jump school with friends but would trailer down to Tryon area for an actual jump lesson. Dom Schramm came to the Biltmore last June and is returning this year so fingers crossed we can get him more often.
We moved to Asheville August 2015 from Denver by way of NW Chicago. We love the area and are really happy here.
The majority of barns are hunter/jumper or general purpose. I boarded at a place in Candler, about 10 minutes from W Asheville, that I’d recommend with some reservations. There are a few barns in the Alexander/ Weaverville area that would be 20-30 minutes from downtown. The Biltmore does board but from other locals it isn’t worth what you pay in regards to turnout/general care although they did just add a new boarder barn this past summer.
We bought land in Leicester to keep my horse and we board a friend’s horse. We’re about 25 minutes from downtown Asheville and an hour from TIEC. There’s a local amateur and friend that put in a fantastic GGT dressage arena for fellow ammies to trailer in for lessons or arena time. She is on Facebook as The Good Horse Arena.
We have some great dressage trainers in the immediate area. I typically jump school with friends but would trailer down to Tryon area for an actual jump lesson. Dom Schramm came to the Biltmore last June and is returning this year so fingers crossed we can get him more often.
Cool, good to know EricBosMan! I definitely fall into that category.
MyDarkPassenger so much good information, thank you! I haven’t got even a clue where in town I’d be living yet, but like I said west side is ideal. I would probably train with my friend in Hendersonville and clinic when I could so I’m not super concerned about trainers unless there’s someone just amazing. Thanks for the info on the Biltmore, I was curious about that. How necessary is an indoor? Where I’m from the whole town shuts down for 2 days if we even THINK there MIGHT be flurries. So the snow thing would be a whole new experience for me (and pony too!). And how harsh are the summers being in the mountains? Here the heat index is 110°+ from about July 1-September 1. May and June it’s just around 100-105. Humidity is usually 60-80% on a regular day. Sorry for the weather questions, but it’s a huge factor for me.
I understand the weather concerns, my horse is a roarer and the humidity can be a big factor for him.
Winters are relatively mild. This year we’ve had one big snow of about 6" and the whole area shut down. Schools are closed with minimal snowfall because of the differences in elevation- Asheville may have no snow but the country roads have snow or ice. I have no indoor or ring and I could still ride 5 days a week depending on my work schedule. Most boarding barns have a covered arena if not just an outdoor. Our first summer was very mild (80s with humidity) but last year was a bit different because we didn’t have any significant rainfall for months. The weather is pretty ideal to me with rainy seasons in spring and fall but still manageable for riding. A typical heatwave at hottest peak would be in the 90s with high humidity but that doesn’t last more than a week or so typically.
I have 2 TBs on 24/7 with access to a run in. I’ve blanketed them a handful of times at night and not once during the day. Since November we’ve had temp from 50-70 with overnight low between 32-50 with a few dips in the teens.
Wow! That sounds amazing. I pass out in the heat and can’t drive in the snow so weather was one of my biggest concerns (although I could learn to deal with snow). But it sounds very manageable on both ends. Was the 6" the only time it snowed all year or just the only significant snow you got?
Last year we got ~10" overnight in October or early November and even my husband had a snow day at a bank. Last year and this year besides the “big snows” we’ve had a few flurries or less than an inch. It’s perfectly acceptable to not go anywhere after that amount too! The roads are not salted nor plowed diligently so that combined with the general sense of not knowing how to drove in the snow it is safer to just stay home.
Being a native of Illinois where the summers are relentlessly hot and muggy while the winters are endlessly dreary and cold, this feels like paradise! The sun shines most days and the nights are almost always a bit cooler which makes it very riding friendly.
It definitely sounds like paradise! I used to spend summers in Franklin with my grandmother when I was a kid but weather always feels different when you’re young so I don’t really remember what it was like. I know it’s super nice any time I visit her now but I usually only go for a weekend and she’s on the mountain so I wasn’t sure how different it would be in Asheville. It sounds lovely. And it’s good to know staying home when it snows is acceptable! I figured everyone was still expected to function, in which case I would be toast! :lol:
Keep in touch if you decide to move, I’d love an eventing buddy.
Yes definitely!
