Canadian Snowbirds bringing Horses to the USA - anyone done it?

[NorthwoodsRider]

This winter has been particularly hellish in Northern Ontario, as well as the rest of Canada and most of the US midwest…

… it’s gotten me thinking about my post retirement plans. We will definitely be moving to a more temperate part of Ontario after retirement (3 years out) and then “snowbird” to a warmer drier climate for the winter months. DH and I haven’t totally settled on an area yet, but we’ve been discussing maybe Arizona or Texas.

Original plan was to leave horse on pasture board at home for the winter, but the “through horses ears” FB page has really gotten me thinking about bringing horse (or horses depending on how much DH gets into it in the next few years) south with us, to continue riding year round.

Has anyone here done this? What are the pros/cons, other considerations? Looks like border crossing isn’t that complicated, unless we stay more than 60 days (which we might) at which point we have “imported” the horse to the USA and it needs a border vet check to return to Canada.

What about bringing hay with us to do a slow change of feed? Can you bring hay into the United States from Canada?

Like I said, retirement is still 3 years away, and settling on a final “snowbird destination” would probably be a few years after that once we’ve done some exploring of different areas. Just wondering if I’m onto something here or completely off base.

[cherham]

The weather in southern Ontario has not been much better this winter and hubby and I are also thinking of a nice warm place to retire with the horses in the winter. Barbados is our favourite winter destination but the horse transportation to the island leaves a lot to be desired twice a year. And its just too darn hot for the horses anyway.

Hence we are heading to Wellington in February to scope out the horse properties there and then afterwards will be looking at other southern locations in Florida as well. Arizona and the western states are just a little farther for us to drive with the horses. Florida seems more reasonable for us at this point.

We can retire now so we are actively looking at the moment. Interested to hear what others say about your (our) idea…

[NorthwoodsRider]

Cherham - Agreed, S.Ontario has been almost as bad this winter. DH’s current desire (probably not realistic) is to retire to someplace that has NO SNOW EVER, and fly to snow if he wants to see it. Mostly that’s a reaction to going south (Collingwood) at Christmas, and not being able to teach DGD (2 1/2) to ski because it was too darn cold even there (and that’s the general area we’re thinking of moving to at retirement). We came home to 2’ of snow in the driveway that had to be moved before we could get into the driveway, and then got another 1 1/2’ the following day and had to snowblow all over again. I’m DONE with winter, and it’s only the first week of January. We’ll still have snow until at least April. (there is not a sad enough crying face icon to express the depth of my hatred for cold and snow right now).

BTW - I cross posted on Off Course as well, since there are probably more people in the hunter/jumper/eventing/dressage groups that might have some info as well, so keep your eye on that one as well. My interest though is definitely solidly in the trail/endurance area.

[suz]

i’d like to bring my mare to lake county florida if we spend another winter here.
I haven’t touched base yet with boarding barns but what I see of the terrain and climate I like.
sorry I can’t speak to the border crossing piece.

[normandy_shores]

I brought a horse from FL to Canada, but it was a permanent import. I had a vet check and those papers, and paid GST. It was otherwise pretty painless. I’d think if you were willing to do the vet check to go down, and the vet check to come back, you shouldn’t have a problem. I’d ask about how to avoid paying GST on the same horse every year when you return!