Finding a new place!

[threepinesstable]

Hey there everyone,

We currently run a large boarding facility in Upstate New York. It’s been a hard decision but I think we have come to the conclusion that we are in need of a fresh start away from the harsh NY winters. We have been scouring over Zillow trying to find the right fit but just can’t make up our minds about where we want to be. Here’s what we would love in a place:

-Winters that don’t typically go below 40 and don’t run into May
-Not tons of mud!!!
-Hot hot summers are not great but might be OK depending on the length of time that it stays miserable
-Some snow is OK too but the less the better
-An established hunter jumper scene/nice local circuit
-Board rates above $500 ideally

So far the places we have thought of are mostly in the Carolinas (Columbus, Aiken - also Asheville but how’s the horse scene there?). We had also thought of Parker, CO but thought it might be too much snow.

Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[ThreeWishes]

You say board rates above $500. Most barns I know from Aiken to Tryon to show barns in Georgia to Florida will be easily double that. Why do you say above ?

[SLW]

The Cincinnati/Lexington area is very nice.

[Bebe_Falcon1]

Tryon, NC?

[threepinesstable]

We had thought of there too. Are the winters there much different than upstate NY? And are the summers scorching or bearable? Thank you!

[SLW]

It’s a strong & stable horse area with airports nearby.

To examine the weather/seasonal differences go to a weather site and look up the average differences. I’ve never lived in upstate NY but I do know winter in Lexington, KY is nothing like upstate NY. Summer will have muggy moments but all of the south has that in different degrees.

Have fun in your search!

[gertie06]

Another vote for the Carolinas.

What discipline(s) do you teach? What level of showing do you want? Do you have school horses, or do you want clients who own their own?

I ask because I think there are several parts of the Carolinas that are underserved. Tryon and Aiken may be saturated with professionals and farms, but there’s a lot more to NC/SC than those two places.

[threepinesstable]

I was thinking that as well about Aiken. So many people, probably not a need for more professionals. We do hunter/jumpers. At the moment I don’t do many lessons, just boarding but I’m hoping to start at some point in the future. My goal would be to do a local circuit with some A shows in between with clients who either lease from me or own their own horses. How is ashevilles horse scene? Is there a desire there for a hunter jumper barn? Their climate seemed nice but didn’t seem to be much of a “horse town” like Aiken. Also, Columbus is appealing since it’s close to TIEC but not sure if that’s saturated with trainers as well.

[gertie06]

Yeah, the Tryon area is pretty saturated (and that includes Columbus). Such a lovely area, though.

This is just my opinion, but around here, anyone with a show clientele also teaches regular lessons. Many also do training rides. I can’t think of anyplace that just boards, but also takes their boarders to shows. Or…are you thinking you’d allow boarders to bring in their own trainers? That’s a decent option.

Asheville might be a good option, in the sense that it has few h/j farms (and an affluent, educated population). It’s also not too far from TIEC. That being said, it’s not a super horsey area, so one might worry about the availability of vets, farriers, hay, etc.

Maybe think about the Triad area (Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem). It’s got some good resources, but isn’t oversaturated IMO.

[Arelle]

North Texas - it’s hot, but not terribly humid. Two local circuits; close enough to go to several A shows during the year. We have a good bit of business already, but a lot of barn owners have closed up and retired recently.

[threepinesstable]

Sorry I may have not explained well. We do just mainly boarding now, but if we were to move I would start a lesson program/convert to more of a show barn.

[threepinesstable]

Interesting - when you say north Texas are you thinking Lubbock/Amarillo area? I know next to nothing about Texas.

[threepinesstable]

Is Boyd considered North Texas? Just found a place there that looks nice.

[RMJacobs]

@threepinesstable

We had also thought of Parker, CO but thought it might be too much snow.

Parker in no way meets your criteria. I lived in and around it for 25 years, had horses just outside town for 15 years, and loved it. But it has a tough, long winter. My husband did most of the horse care, but when he wasn’t available and I needed to do the feeding, it seems like it was always about ten below zero. I remember one winter (2006/2007, I think) in which we got storm after storm and were lucky to plow enough paths for the horses to get to the waterer and move around a bit.

I moved to South Carolina and brought my last horse with me. He was retired (as was I), and he really liked the South Carolina climate. I boarded him in Loris, and he died there.

I’m back in Colorado now, but with no critters to care for. That makes a big difference in livability, at least for me.

Rebecca

[clanter]

@threepinesstable

Is Boyd considered North Texas? Just found a place there that looks nice.

Boyd is just north of Fort Worth and basically on the edge of one of the highest growth areas in the country…

[Arelle]

Boyd is a little bit out, but I think depending on what your business model is then it could be really beneficial. It’s right down the road from Outlaw Equine, which is a premier vet clinic, and close enough to the DFW crowd that you could find clientele.

[wsmoak]

South of Atlanta might be an option. Historically it’s been an eventing and foxhunting area but I see they’ve started having H/J shows at Poplar Place Farm in Hamilton GA.