Choosing a place to live based on hunts, land But! not going broke?

[mvp]

[QUOTE=Martha Drum;6978572]
My Louisa County, Virginia neighbors have been wonderfully welcoming and friendly to me, I certainly aspire to be the same to future newcomers.

As a New England native, though, I did take note of this bumper sticker the first time I saw it: “We don’t give a damn how you did back up North.” :lol:[/QUOTE]

I have always wondered how people in the West fit into the North/South friction. Perhaps were are irrelevant to the whole shebang.

But I do admire the water you guys have back there…

[awaywego]

No one has mentioned Pittsburgh area? The Sewickley Hunt is active, real estate is more reasonable than NoVa, and you can still do some showing if you wanted. At least when I was there, you could ride all over private properties in the area, hack from farm to farm - and Sewickley park even has a gravel trail you can hack on when footing is truly dicey. It’s actually all very close to downtown Pittsburgh too - much more do-able than the hunting hinterlands of Philadelphia or DC.

[linquest]

[QUOTE=Martha Drum;6978572]
As a New England native, though, I did take note of this bumper sticker the first time I saw it: “We don’t give a damn how you did back up North.” :lol:[/QUOTE]

Wouldn’t that be funny if someone graffiti-ed it with “We won”? Not that I’m suggesting that

[GotMyPony]

[QUOTE=Oh, baby, a trail system. That was the best part of Woodside, CA and Bedford, NY. And bet yer butt I’d keep my section open if I were a land owner. I benefited so much from the older, landed generation before me. [/QUOTE]

Not “a” trail system, 2 large trail systems in Tryon (aka Polk County, NC). Much of both areas - Hunting Country is one and Old Collinsville is the other - have minimum 5-acre zoning so very little risk of high-density development in their midsts. Plus a concerted effort in Collinsville (the CETA trail system) has succeeded in having about 60% of its trails (total 50-60 miles) put under permanent trail easements and the other, older trail system (FETA) is also making headway in that. Actually has more miles of trails but not as many easements… yet!

We love our landowners down here!

[Martha_Drum]

[QUOTE=linquest;6979221]
Wouldn’t that be funny if someone graffiti-ed it with “We won”? Not that I’m suggesting that ;)[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I passed on that because the bumper sticker on the next pickup truck read, “Keep honking, while I reload.” :eek:

[Simkie]

Bumping this thread up to fix the display issues on the front page.

[mvp]

[QUOTE=awaywego;6979062]
No one has mentioned Pittsburgh area? The Sewickley Hunt is active, real estate is more reasonable than NoVa, and you can still do some showing if you wanted. At least when I was there, you could ride all over private properties in the area, hack from farm to farm - and Sewickley park even has a gravel trail you can hack on when footing is truly dicey. It’s actually all very close to downtown Pittsburgh too - much more do-able than the hunting hinterlands of Philadelphia or DC.[/QUOTE]

My mind is open to Pittsburgh. But goshdolly, it’s far away from everything (but Ohio) on a map. I have been to the city one (cool), and I think Pittsburgh got a lot of press a few years back for being some kind of unexpected treasure of a city. Is that still so?

But from the more important horse angle: Aren’t board prices close to what you’d pay in the Northeast-- I mean on the Eastern Seaboard. I think I saw some unexpectedly high numbers posted here.

IMO, if you aren’t going to be near the East Coast, will deal with weather, then the cost of land/board had better be a major draw. You are right, though: It has to be cheaper than NoVA… but then again, so am I!

[WildBlue]

Have you prioritized your wants from most important to least? Because you’re kinda looking for the Holy Grail of horse ownership. For example, you get really good vets and farriers in areas that have plenty of money to spend on same, which tends to mean land is more expensive, etc.

For example, I’m in an area where fixtures are smaller and hard to hunt and the public riding and show scene is nothing like VA or SC, but I was also able to buy fenced, lush pasture with good water and great conditioning hills for just over $4K an acre. Hay is quite reasonable, and there are some good vets, farriers, brands of feed, etc if you’re willing to exert the effort to access them. It’s an outer circle of hell for someone who wants to hunt five days a week or show without driving very far, but it’s pretty awesome if your goals are more modest.

[imissvixen]

Rougemont, NC. It is the home of Red Mountain Hounds and is in striking distance of several more hunts. It is about 10 miles north of Durham, 20 miles from the Research Triangle Park, and Raleigh, Chapel Hill, etc. The real estate is very affordable, the people are really nice, it is very horsey, and the weather is good.

[florida_foxhunter]

I second Aiken in a heartbeat. Admittedly, it’s a bit easier than VA and certainly easier than MD (I’ve done Green Springs!)…it’s a great horse town where horse people are seeminly in charge! It’s affordable and there is always something horsey going on…plus the weather is bearable most of the time!
Good luck…

[ambar]

[QUOTE=mvp;6936821]
Anywhere else I haven’t thought of?[/QUOTE]

I believe most of Los Altos Hounds’ regular hunting is done south of the Bay Area, so if you want to return home, you should be able to pick up land in the Hollister-Gilroy axis for a lot less than Woodside (which I could never afford in a zillion years).

Me, I live in the Sierra foothills. It’s not especially convenient to most LAH meets, but being midway between UC Davis and Pioneer Equine means it’s hard to complain about vet availability, and farriers ditto. And I have five acres and am paying for it myself.

I guess one thing to think about before land shopping is, if you aren’t picking a place with multiple hunts within reach, make sure you like the hunt that’s there –

[Southern_Eventer]

Give some consideration to North Alabama, Huntsville area.

Three great hunts… Mooreland, Full cry, and Cedar Knob Hounds 45 minutes north in Cornersville TN. And Hillsboro Hounds just south Nashville.

The Mooreland hunt is on the flat and blazing fast, it’s rare that you don’t get a few good views. We’re eat up with coyotes around here!

Land is beautiful, especially just over the line in TN, and cost of living is dirt cheap compared to VA and Maryland DC area. Nashville is an hour away and Huntsville is a thriving tech town. Chattanooga is also an hour away.

And our hound “Wary” just won Grand Champion at Virginia!

[kcmel]

Yes, but it’s Alabama :lol:. (Just kidding–although I wouldn’t like the summers there!)

[mvp]

[QUOTE=imissvixen;6981961]
Rougemont, NC. It is the home of Red Mountain Hounds and is in striking distance of several more hunts. It is about 10 miles north of Durham, 20 miles from the Research Triangle Park, and Raleigh, Chapel Hill, etc. The real estate is very affordable, the people are really nice, it is very horsey, and the weather is good.[/QUOTE]

Having lived in metro areas on both coasts, I have to ask: How is affordable horse world just 20 minutes from something big-sounding like the Research Triangle Park possible? Or will it take you and hour to drive those 20 miles?

[Southern_Eventer]

[QUOTE=kcmel;7026911]
Yes, but it’s Alabama :lol:. (Just kidding–although I wouldn’t like the summers there!)[/QUOTE]

I HEARD THAT.

105 heat index today with the humidity !

[mvp]

@WildBlue;6981730

Have you prioritized your wants from most important to least? Because you’re kinda looking for the Holy Grail of horse ownership. For example, you get really good vets and farriers in areas that have plenty of money to spend on same, which tends to mean land is more expensive, etc.

I certainly did ask for the 5-fecta of horse ownership!

I had to ask because

1. God knows, there’s not a data-base or HGTV show out there that considers the right features of a place for the HO.

2. I thought I was not being unreasonable. For example, I was/am willing to give up a city that boasts an opera company. I’m not asking for it all— NYC’s cultchah and horses. I’ll give up a heck of a lot of high brow for good horsing.

[WildBlue]

I was just curious where you were willing to compromise, or if you’re holding out for the 5-fecta. <grins>

One reason I, personally, haven’t seriously considered the Carolinas is that I wasn’t crazy about the pasture quality, terrain (particularly the coastal half), and weather. I chose where I am (central Ohio) because it’s so darn easy to have horses here and the weather is fairly temperate (rarely above 90 or below 10F) with four distinct seasons. It’s not necessarily hunt-rich, as only two are within a 2-hour haul (more within 3 or 4), but there are gobs of horses and the cost of the hunts themselves are cheap ($50 capping) and between them they hunt 4 of the 7 days per week. I’m 10 minutes from a cross-country course that allows haul-in schooling, 15 from a place that holds monthly horse trials, and 20 to 30 minutes from three parks with horse trail systems and within an hour of 3 or 4 more. There is at least one hunter pace, organized hunt ride, schooling show, big-name clinic, or similar event occurring within half an hour of my farm every week, all summer.

It’s not traditional hunt country, but it’s horse friendly. And I throw that out there as an example because I suspect a lot of areas of the country have similar offerings, to a greater or lesser extent. <Kind of mulling out loud here.> Like the aforementioned TN/AL region–sounds like good hunting and the people I’ve met from those hunts seemed like a ton of fun, but I’m not sure I could handle the weather. Maybe you can. I’ve heard there are some serious hunts in Illinois and I know there’s a strong horse scene outside Chicago, but the expense (and weather) might be a bit chilling. Hrrrm. Are you leaning a particular direction yet?

[Ballygrace]

Any horse activity in Mt. Sidney, VA area?

We are making a similar search. leaving the Fredericksburg area and moving to a more rural and horse friendly area.

Does anyone know about the Mt. Sidney, VA area? There is a nice farm for sale there but we haven’t explored the area very much.

Ride out, how far to hunts, other horse folks in the area?

Thanks for any info.

[judybigredpony]

Still stick by my redneck ceciltucky location…great vets on every corner tons of knowledgable farriers Lancaster Co hay straw plenty of local Mills for fresh feed or every major minor brand in ton feed stores tack new used and Bartville…plus hunting in MD VA PA DE NJ all in reasonable drive distance plus places like Fair Hill or the Laurels and all,Unionville to trail ride …for Culture or Thai food there is Baltimore Lancaster Philly or Wilmington bet you can get all in Local college town Newark DE Thai and Play…into wine we got vineyards all over and scenic rivers for diversity…plus you can still get a lot of bang for your buck when farm shopping.

What’s your real nuts n bolts want aside from horse amenities…acreage house size type age barn and pasture wants …ring…indoor…ride off property? And $$$$ how much do you really seriously want to spend for this utopia…That is the all important answer…you may find a dream site in VA or WVa but have no cell service or really poor Internet and those amenities like DSL Vios Cable or satellite service can make or break a location…you go a little piece of heaven but can’t share it?.

[Linda]

We live in Bear Valley Springs - a gated 26000 acre equestrian community in Tehachapi which is about 2 hours north of LA in California. I know there are some hunts east of LA but not the specifics. The reason Im suggesting Bear Valley, is the community. We have an enormous equestrian center with ten arenas including a large indoor and 50 miles of trails deeded into the community layout. We do get 4 seasons of weather up here but the winters are not as strong as the east coast. We bought a foreclosed house up here 4 yrs ago, spent a yr fixing it and adding a barn etc. and wouldn’t leave it now! Love the lifestyle.