Hey friends,
I’m contemplating a move to south central Missouri. I’m long time horse owner, kept my horses at home for 30 years. Retired from dressage eventing competition.
I’m finding many great properties. I’m having a hard time finding veterinarians, and no luck finding farriers. Am I moving to a horse desert? I know people trail ride, but I have no idea how to tap into that community.
Any advice or experiences would be so helpful!
Springfield area?
i live in central Mo. MIZZOU (Missouri University Veterinary Teaching Hospital), in Columbia, is EXCELLENT! I have a local vet with very little horse experience. He might have two other clients besides me and my 18 horses. For most things, i will trailer the hour and a half to MIZZOU. There is some very beautiful land around Hermann, MO. It’s a great town. Kinda trumpy tho.
Columbia, hmm, how are the winters? I’m moving from northern Illinois to completely escape the wind and cold. I’d like to not have to plow the driveway 
I don’t mean I want Florida heat, just warmer.
I just started to look around Springfield. Looks like a really nice area.
Katie York Sisk is an equine vet that just moved to Cathrage, Mo sometime in the last year or so. I think she started her own practice there.
I just looked up Cathrage. That gives me more options in the Southwestern part of the state. That’s very good to know! Thank you.
I don’t live in Missouri, but I am from the Midwest. You’re still going to have a full winter. Amount of snow depends on the year, and you’re not going to be getting lake effect snow, but you’re 100% not moving into a different climate. You’ll have to head down to Texas or Georgia to stop having to plow your driveway.
We usually have a couple of snowstorms a year. Plowing will depend on amount, but it should be much less than northern Illinois, I think. And maybe an ice storm at some point. As for cold, maybe once or twice a winter, it will dip to 0 or shortly below overnight, but mostly winter = 30ish. The thing I like about southern Missouri is that when it does snow/dip, it never stays there. You will have a bad day, then the yo-yo bounces back. Very odd to have something settle in for days and days and days. I lived in Minnesota for four years, where snow and cold did settle in for the long haul, and I appreciate Missouri’s version. You wave at it as it drives by, but it will not set up camp for the season.
As for vets, Columbia is excellent. There are few equine-specific vets out in the rural areas. Most likely, you are going to be getting a “we see everything, large and small” practice for routine stuff and haul to Columbia if you need something major. There is a repro vet specialist in West Plains.
Cost of living is low, and while we have four distinct seasons, winter isn’t too bad. I like it.
There is a great repro clinic with surrogate mares and pastures for their gestation etc. in Columbia. Mexico Mo/Fulton Mo is nearby and the college there actually has an equine studies program. The topography in and around Columbia is nicer than Springfield and so is the rainfall. It has good soil for pasture grass too. There are a few dressage schools there…one notable, another not so notable but progressive and good. And…it’s a college town so there are good restaurants and interesting shopping/activities. I happen to be on the fire department there and their infrastructure for town and outlying areas is second to none. Como for the win! (i actually live an hour and a half away in Hermann, Mo (google it…it’s a very cute tourist town)
dressagetraks is right about temps/snowfall. There are many single layer Tshirt days in Dec. Fescue grass and also ladino clover grows all year round …grazing is good. (timothy/orchardgrass/brom is single season however).
I lived in Rolla, MO for about 6 years, and I had to trailer 2+ hours to St. Louis for really good quality veterinary and farrier care. We couldn’t get a saddle fitter to come to the barn my trainer was at either. It was very unpleasant and I don’t recommend picking somewhere too rural. Columbia has the vet school, so I think it’s a great compromise. Further south into Missouri, you will have a harder time finding quality care for your horses unless you’re close to a larger town like Springfield.
I live about 35 minutes N/E from where @Viranh was and not only do I have an awesome farrier-- I have a wonderful horse vet ( 25 years now).
I am 90 minutes from Columbia MO( south/ east) and I know there is a lameness specialist somewhere out of the STL area who travels around the state.
We can have snow (or none ) but it always melts quickly. We do have the occasional ice but it is hit and miss. Days are usually above freezing but we do have some cold nights. What we do have is mud and rain but with the right ground prep that can be taken care of.
Thanks ChocoMare, I will!
Oh boy, I thought the snow would melt. We had -30 for several days last year, I really don’t want to do that.
Candyappy,
That weather doesn’t sound too bad. I’m just so tired of below zero for weeks and snow upon ice upon snow. It’s so hard to turn out in 12 inches of snow covered by 1/2" of ice. Well it’s not hard, it’s impossible until you break it up. Thank you.
Dressagetraks,
I liked several properties near West plains. I’m still glad to hear there are large animal vets in the area. I searched online but that has limitations when trying to find a good vet. They don’t need to advertise. My favorite vet close to me know can work on all large animals. She’s also the first to send me to another vet or clinic if necessary.
I’m glad to hear you like it!
Eightpondfarm,
I’m going to search the Columbia area. Seems like a fantastic area for horses and people with a dressage/eventing background. I find we talk the same language. For example, I have a friend who calls her horse a jumper. The horse has gone over cross rails. It’s just a translation issue
Also good to know pasture is good. I thought it must be good going by the number of cow/calf operations. The cattle look great.
I will look into Hermann. Thank you!
Viranh,
I was kinda afraid that might be the case. 2+ hours for a good farrier - yikes! And Rolla is right on the major highway. Thank you for sharing this.
She already replied! I love this forum. Thank you
Edited for clarity:
I did have a regular farrier, to be clear, but he was not capable of the specialty shoeing my horse needed to be sound and my vet could not locate a farrier in the area who was. That vet also could not do portable x-rays and his machine only did film. I ended up hauling to Mid Rivers outside St. Louis. If your horse is uncomplicated, you’d probably be ok, but as soon as you need specialty care, you’re going to be hauling a ways.
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