Thinking of moving to the Las Vegas/Clark County area after college graduation. Can anyone tell me about the English, H/J community out there? Where do you board? How much do you pay for board? How big is the H/J community? What are the training philosophies? Horse buying/selling atmosphere? I’m moving from somewhere with limited boarding and training options, and don’t want to get myself in that boat again where I have to DIY everything at a western facility
My experience is old at this point so I won’t give prices, but you would have several options for H/J board, training, lessons, showing.
Where in the country are you coming from? Horsekeeping in the desert can be quite different if you’re used to 24/7 green rolling fields on the East Coast, for example.
I lived there many years ago, but my old trainer still runs a strong program there. Her name is Judy Nielson and she owns Aspen Hill Farm. It is an A-level show barn.
The tough thing about Vegas is turnout. There just isn’t much (or any in some cases). This did NOT work for my TB. Now that I’m older and wiser, I’m not sure I’d subject any horse to a life without turnout. It’s unnatural and cruel IMO.
You won’t find much for sale in Vegas, but CA is so close. That’s where most people shop and show.
There is a big hunter jumper scene in Vegas, although most of the shows are in Southern California with the exception of the Las Vegas National Horse Show at South Point in November (pre-covid times). The World Cup is often in Vegas. There are also some local hunter jumper shows I believe although I don’t know anything about them. Are you going to be in Henderson? Do you show on the A circuit, or don’t care about showing? I can give you some barns if you PM me.
It is the desert, so you will adjust your riding schedule to ride at 5am in the summer or not at all. There is no grass pasture unless it’s irrigated, which is incredibly expensive and I’ve never seen a barn with any. Are you bringing a horse?
