If you could move, where would you go?

[danhelm441]

I second the Hudson Valley, it’s hard to imagine there’s a more gorgeous and horse-friendly part of the country. So many barns have stunning indoors, too. It makes winter even more bearable than in the south, where it’s cold and dark enough to be miserable, but not enough to justify building an indoor. The only drawback is the HCOL, but coming from the Bay Area, you wouldn’t have much in the way of sticker shock.

I also would second the Willamette Valley. I only knew of it for the wine . But I drove through Corvallis and was struck by what gorgeous horse country it was. Bend was too dry for my tastes, but Corvallis was just lovely. Idk if it’s actually in the Willamette Valley, so I apologize if my geography is off. I’ve lived my whole life a long way away from the west coast!

[Salty]

I grew up in Corvallis. The name means “heart of the valley.” It’s absolutely beautiful, definitely in the Willamette Valley, but close enough to the ocean and the mountains that you can enjoy them easily. The McDonald Research Forest has miles of gorgeous trails for conditioning too.

[Demerara_Stables]

Totally understand property taxes and land cost, but Half Moon Bay is lovely this time of year (really every time of year ).

If you’re set on leaving the bay, I do love Ocala or Sarasota (grew up there), and am a HUGE fan of Lexington. If we wanted to leave CA, we’d probably end up in KY or VA.

DH works in tech and I’m “retired” from tech, now a trainer.

[Rumorhasit93]

Come to Seattle! It’s cheap compared to the Bay Area

Seriously, though. Thunderbird Show Park is 2 hours away (and the #2 show venue in NA after Spruce).

Tons of turnout, covered arenas, and trails if you want to have some fun.

Relatively easy haul to SoCal and tons of barns go to NorCal shows as well.

[IndysMom]

The only place I’d ever move to is Roanoke, VA. Beautiful little city with tons of things to do, but a rural area just outside of it. About 60 minutes from the Virginia Horse Center. Has four seasons but winter isn’t horrible and summer isn’t miserable.

The area is growing at an amazing rate so many opportunities in many careers. Great place to raise a family. Very “green” culture with a lot of emphasis on outdoor activities.

[mika0116]

So given your desires – I’d say Hudson Valley NY, outside of Boston, MA, or Greater Seattle area. If you can tolerate the weather (my DH couldn’t we made it 2 years in the PNW before buying in SD County, CA – aging parents among other reasons, after living 7+ in LA County)… it is a great place to live.

No income tax in WA - lots of tech work - I am not sure about health care but presumedly - I make… 30k NET less living in CA due to income taxes alone vs WA. Thunderbird was like 1hour 15 mins away from us… I can recommend a trainer North of the city in Snohomish. We lived in Skagit (remote tech workers) - 4k sq foot brand newly renovated custom built hardwood rental house on the water for like $3.5k/ mo

We considered a move to the Bay Area (DH lived there before he met me) – just couldn’t stomach it. SD County is the only place I could live in CA given our lifestyle… and sometimes I cringe at our insurance situation and property taxes. We bought before rates are what they are now… we put a massive amount down (north of 30%) … AND we have no kids and don’t want them…

[ShenanAnna]

Colorado, not too very close to Denver. Very green, nice weather.

[LazyA1]

My brother and SIL live on the Western Slope. How bad are the winters in Montrose? Coming from a Texas gal. Are the winters any different on the Western Slope than near Denver? Does it depend on how close to the mountains you are?

Carbondale seems to be the horsiest on the Western Slope, but isn’t that up in the mountains?

[dags]

I’ll throw in another Lexington vote. Currently here; have lived in Tulsa, Chicago, Santa Barbara & Los Angeles previously. Santa Barbara will always be my favorite, but I was never going to be able to afford a home there. I also loved the vibrant, no-car existence of living in downtown Chicago, but 90 minutes to get to a horse basically killed any chance to ride.

We’re now in downtown Lex, can walk anywhere & everywhere, and it’s 20 minutes to go ride at a beautiful stable with indoor, outdoor and loads of pasture. It’s really the best of both worlds.

Real estate has certainly skyrocketed but still more affordable than most other places. We pay very little in property taxes and, honestly, it shows. But that’s a perk for some.

When compared to Chicago winters & Oklahoma summers, Lexington is very mild.

Also 5 million hospitals here for the healthcare position. Tech is going to be a little harder to find work in that’s local, but I expect a great deal of that can be done remotely.

Add in Red River Gorge(ous!) being < 1 hour away + KY Horse Park with some of the country’s best competition right in your backyard and we just love it. Feel free to PM if it ends up on your short list!

[Ponyplusaninch]

I adore Lex; if you need more in the healthtech space come find me in Cinci and Columbus, OH–much larger scenes. Winters are worse than KY (ugh) but the COL and cost of board stays close to the same.
You could also look at Louisville which is one of my fav cities.

[ShenanAnna]

I don’t know much about the western slope. When I worked there briefly years ago, it was pretty barren of people and horses, except for ranch use.

I was thinking about east of the Rocky Mountains, where most of the civilization is.

[Hoofbeat_Heartbeat]

Thank you all for the replies, super helpful!

Currently interested in Lexington area and Oregon; we have family in OR so that is certainly a draw, but the affordability/horsey-ness of Lexington is certainly appealing.

There’s a few of you I will PM (thank you!). Currently DH are talking about a trip out to Lexington to explore. What areas would be recommended to check out?

And then, of course, if we end up liking the area… there is the subject of barns. My horse is the most high maintenance of high maint horses health wise (it’s a novel; long story short, has frequent colic episodes), so wherever we end up, I will need a facility and program that provides excellent and attentive hands-on care.

Thank you again! Love the COTH forums!

[cheektwocheek]

I’m outside of Lexington and love it! I can do a different horsey activity everyday. You do need a truck & trailer, even if you board. Too many fun things to do.

Last week I shopped at the Dressage finals, rode in a clinic & then went to both Eagles Nest & Masterson for a hack. Shaker is out for a Month during deer season.

[clanter]

@Hoofbeat_Heartbeat

My horse is the most high maintenance of high maint horses health wise

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital is in Lexington

[Hoofbeat_Heartbeat]

I did tell my husband, “Well at least he would have access to the best vet care in the country!”

[Hoofbeat_Heartbeat]

The horse would, not the husband

[sami-joe]

As a native Californian – now back in CA – who spent most of my life in Maine, I can say without reservation that once you make a home in Northern New England, especially if you attend the annual March town meeting and read the local newspaper(s), you’ll experience community in a way that Californians, heck, most Westerners, can only dream of.

The winter-hardy horse community there is a breed apart, helpful, strong, canny, self-effacing, and funny. You can’t pry frozen horse poo up off the rock hard paddock with a roofing shovel very long without cracking yourself up.

Of course, everyone will know you and all your business, regardless of whether they acknowledge your existence for the first several years. New Englanders appreciate thrift and persistence, so if you can channel some of that, you’ll be fine. Try hard not to arrive with the newest, biggest everything, or it’ll add another half-decade to your transition.

Another source of “Where to Move Advice” is City-Data. The forums have a similar helpful, sometimes slightly spiky vibe to the CoTH forums, and I’ve learned a lot about various places I’ve lived and traveled there.

[avjudge]

@sami-joe

You can’t pry frozen horse poo up off the rock hard paddock with a roofing shovel very long without cracking yourself up.

I find it much more effective to tap it from the side with a small sledgehammer.

@sami-joe

Of course, everyone will know you and all your business

When the guys from New York State were assembling our modular barn here in northern New Hampshire, they were surprised at all the cars slowing down as they drove by. I asked, don’t they do that everywhere you work? Apparently not.

[NancyM]

Where ever you go, think about the future. About what you need to survive. Call me an alarmist if you like, but things can change. The environment, the weather, “civilization”. The Covid Pandemic was just a little taste of what can happen. Do not trust humans, they are fickle things. Economic, environmental and societal collapse happens. Viruses, starvation happen. The climate changes are real, and a serious consideration. Floods, fires. Lack of water. “Water is the new gold”. Don’t depend on civilization to “look after you” because it may not.

I know you were asking about the equine community etc, not the end of civilization as we know it. … but there you go anyway.

Things never stay the same, the world is constantly changing around us. Don’t depend on it staying the same as it is now.

As you can see, I’m a bit of a pessimist (or realist) about humans. We moved to a place that is quite self reliant. Dry environment with lots of water. Good for horses and people. Not many people around here. Big garden, hayfields. Irrigation. Wood heat with plenty of dead trees (more all the time). Horse shows are a bit of drive away, but available. For now.

Probably not the input you were looking for, but there it is all the same. Good luck!

[BroncoMo]

Legit, if I were to move, that would be one of the first things on my mind. Accessibility of quality hay, quality vets, quality farrier. I live in an area where only quality hay is a thing and I do wish I was in a situation to move to satisfy the other needs. If I ever go anywhere, it’ll be to Kentucky.