I am contemplating relocating to Scottsdale/ Cave Creek, AZ. area from North Texas. How is it to keep a horse there year-round. Unfortunately, I can’t go to Michigan to escape the heat every summer, wish I could, LOL. There are not really any show venues around DFW . I would like to live in a more horsey area. I know they have a lot of AQHA stuff. I keep going back and forth between AZ. and Ocala. I also prefer the heat. I just wonder how the horses handle it out there in the summer. Is it windy all the time??? Snakes? Which we have here, copperheads etc. We don’t see a lot of rattlesnakes unless West of Waco. Is everyone on a dry lot out there? Thanks for any input !
It’s hot and dry. Phoenix had over 100 days last year of over 100 degrees and it doesn’t cool down much at night. They do have a lot of shows there. Snakes? Most rattlesnakes will do anything they can to avoid you. I’m not in that part of Arizona, but every rattlesnake I’ve seen was running away as fast as possible. Do not expect to graze your horse in Arizona. Not only is it hard to find grass but we are running out of water and spreading it around on land so your pony can nibble on it, isn’t a realistic or environmentally sound idea. Expect dry lots.
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@Work2Ride, sorry that North Texas has lost its horse show mojo. I’m a lifetime H/j rider, kinda retired from the show scene, but I have been here in greater Phoenix for decades.
Horses survive in good barns with lots of ventilation, and in some cases, swamp coolers, or misters. The summers are hotter every year, with the lowest night temps rising. Coolest part of the day in the summer is around 5am. It’s not windy all the time. That’s Oklahoma 
, or maybe other parts of Arizona. Snakes happen, but not often and I don’t worry about them.
Parts of greater Phoenix have flood irrigation, so there is pasture. Scottsdale and Cave Creek, or really anything north of the Salt River, do not have a canal system to serve irrigation, so yes, expect dry lots. SE part of the area, like Queen Creek, and the west side, like Buckeye, have irrigation options, and so pasture there is sometimes offered for some boarding.
As far as shows, I don’t know much about AQHA. There are some HJ shows, in Phoenix and Tucson. However, nothing like Ocala… Lots of roping action and reined cow horse here. Those venues are not generally suited for hj shows, or dressage either. Some schooling shows. Showing is crammed into maybe Sept, clearly October and April, maybe May.
The option that I like best for the summer: ride at night. Find a lighted arena and stay out of the sun. Around sunset, there is always a good breeze, and it’s pretty doable, meaning, no, you won’t die from sunstroke :).
One thing to think about: we do have a lot of great vets in Phoenix, and excellent farriers. There are at least 7 vet practices who serve the very large general boarding facility where my horse lives.
Hey, thanks for the info! I love the heat/ vs cold. Especially as I get older LOL. I just wasn’t sure about horses year-round. Seems doable.
