Living in Tryon

[Snugglerug]

So–what would it be like? Cost of living? Quality boarding barns that don’t break the bank? Quality trainers who are there year-round? Housing prices? General quality of life? Best airport to fly in and out? Climate?

I have been asked by my employer to consider a promotional opportunity that would require us to move, but would be a big career move and would give us a great deal of flexibility on where we live. The move probably wouldn’t take place until 2019. Tryon is very attractive not only because of the horse-centered environment, but because of the proximity to the mountains. (My husband is a hang glider. That’s his great passion as horses is mine.)

However, this has really come up very suddenly so I don’t want to get tunnel vision. I’d love to hear other suggestions of locations that would provide us both with opportunities to pursue our passions. We could live anywhere in:
Maryland, Virginia, No. Carolina, So. Carolina, or Florida. Florida is likely out due to the distinct lack of Mountains.

We’re currently in Michigan and love it, but as we look ahead to retirement, less winter looks tempting.

Love to hear your thoughts and suggestions! Thanks!

[GotMyPony]

Hi, I live in “Tryon Horse Country” as it’s known around here. I absolutely love it and have been here about 16 years after career in Memphis, Dallas, then small East Texas town. One point is you have to enjoy a rural lifestyle - the entire County that Tryon’s in has a total of about 20,000 residents, so you’ll have to travel to nearby bigger towns/cities like Spartanburg and Greenville, SC, or Asheville, NC (all within 30 minutes) for “city shopping” and entertainment. If you’re a clothes horse or hobby shopper, Tryon might be a little laid back for you.
Speaking of clothes, riding clothes are accepted absolutely everywhere here from grocery stores to restaurants - in fact there’s a program here called “Boots & Breeches Always Welcome.” It’s also beautiful, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and also about 3 hours from SC coast and Charleston (easy drive) .
Horse-wise it would be hard to find better: the horse community here was started 100 years ago by a Michigan (!) hotelier named Carter Brown who, after visiting, decided Tryon would make a great winter equestrian colony for his wealthy friends. The equine industry is one of the top 2 economic drivers here (true even before Tryon Intl Equestrian Center).
We have many year-round trainers in dressage, eventing, hunter/jumper. The number of farriers is mind-boggling and we have at least 5 independent mobile vets as well as a great surgical/referral hospital, Tryon Equine, which is headed by a former Chief of Staff from UGA Vet School.
Real estate and farms can run the gamut depending on how large or fancy you want to get, from $250k for a smallish farm needing some work to $ 1million and more. There are many boarding barns, most full board, some linked to specific trainers, and at least one that’s a well-equipped (rings and covered arena) partial/self-board for those who plan on being out everyday to see their horses.
If you enjoy trail riding you’ll like our 2 dedicated equestrian trail systems, which together cover hundreds of miles of private property. We also have 3 show venues that stay busy year-round, including the historic Harmon Field (started by our Michigander friend), FENCE (Foothills Equestrian Nature Center) with 300 permanent stalls, a covered arena and several rings; and Tryon International Equestrian Center with top/elite level showing throughout the year (with Winter break while owners are at Wellington.
I don’t know anything about hang-gliding here but I imagine Asheville would be the center for that kind of activity in these parts and your husband could probably google to see what’s going on. Western NC in general is very outdoorsy so I suspect there’s something out there.
I’m going to PM you the name of a weekly newsletter about Tryon Horse Country that you might be interested in.
Meanwhile, good luck with considering your options - it sounds exciting!

[Snugglerug]

GotMyPony, thank you for all the detail! It sounds amazing. No shopping necessary, with the exception of tack stores, of which I’m sure there are plenty. Otherwise shopping is not my bag; I do what I have to but weekends at the mall are not of any interest at all. We love the small town life. We both grew up in very small towns and currently live on a couple of acres just outside of town. I telecommute, so 6 miles to the barn and back is about as far as I wander on the day-to-day. Tryon sounds like a little piece of heaven. I got your message about the magazine and will absolutely sign up! Thanks!

[Hunter_s_Rest]

It’s very very pretty there, very natural, so much forest, tons of really cool and very popular roads for driving (there are classic car rallies, car club rallies, motorcycle rides, and I’m sure bicycles too - though the hills would be pretty challenging using pedal power.)
My mom has lived there (in a condo community smack dab on Horse Country Trail - right on the FETA trail system, center of old Tryon hunt country, 7 minutes from ‘downtown’ - such as it is.) She boards her horse 5 minutes away (passes FENCE and another schooling place on the way there) and the boarding place has a show ring, trails on the farm, good turnout and is on another part of the trail system.
She has a walkout basement mini-apartment that she rents sometimes if you wanted to give the area a test drive. PM me here and I’ll hook you up.

[Snugglerug]

Thank you Hunter’s Rest! We are talking about a possible trip. I’ll PM if it becomes reality!