Hi! Looking to do a possible relo from SF Bay Area to NM, either in the ABQ or Santa Fe area, but have not decided this yet. Some online searches have yielded what looks to be promising boarding options. I have a 7 YO Tbred (currently dealing with lameness issues, so a significant halt to work and training) that I would very much like to do some low level eventing. Did find a couple eventing barns - one in ABQ and a couple in Santa Fe. That 's not critical, so much as a quality environment with good care, oversight, decent facilities, including option for dry lot turnout/or boarding in dry lot with shelter, and a good trainer/trainers available. I wouldn’t even care if this is a primarily Western focused facility as long as the environment and the price is right. Hoping to do this for around $500/month or less. Any suggestions?? Thanks!!
Have you physically visited both places to get an idea of what it’s like to live there? Born and raised in a little town just North of Santa Fe but moved away years ago. I personally love Santa Fe for the art and culture, winters I could do without. Albuquerque I’m not as fond of. There are areas you don’t want to go, even during the day. Horse areas include Bosque farms, Los Lunas, some places in Rio Rancho. Santa Fe has Grand Prix shows - Hippico. Can’t comment on boarding, been too many years, only familiar with one in Espanola, lovely facility and nice owners, sadly not the best of towns.
Thanks, js :). I have been at least 15 times to NM, but have never stuck around ABQ, or not really much in Santa Fe, either, other than stopping for groceries or having lunch. I’m also a skier (lots of time spent at Taos Ski Valley) and am highly motivated to get out of the Bay Area and somewhere where horse and ski costs are more manageable. My understanding is that ABQ has undergone some radical changes for the better in the last 10 years, (nicer downtown, pretty strong restaurant scene) but, is a city with some significant crime. That said, I also get the idea that, like any other city, location is very important. Santa Fe attracts me due to the arts culture, and it’s size. I lived in SF for 20 years, made use of all the city things, but left for Sonoma county 7 years ago and my heart is really in a smaller town/more rural environment. Housing costs seem to be significantly less in ABQ (and coming from the hyper $$$$ Bay Area, am stunned at what fairly modest home prices deliver in terms of value) than in Santa Fe. Going to ABQ for 5 days during the Christmas period, will be taking a hard look at neighborhoods, talking to a realtor, and getting a feel. Will probably spend a day or 2 in Santa Fe, and I’m sure there will be more than one trip before taking the leap!
A kid in my barn rode at a barn in Roswell for a few weeks while her family was in Santa Fe. Barn did HJ, possible including AQHA, and had a cross country course.
Hi! I board at an eventing barn in Abq and am very happy there. We recently got a new boarder from the Bay Area and she still can’t get over the differences in the prices of, well, everything hehe. I’ll pm you some more info about some of the options in the area!
Hi, Risuena!! Thanks so much for your info! I had found Tonaya online and definitely want to check them out. Great to hear that you are a fan of their horse care. For me, that’s the most important. I’ve had blunt trainers, and one or two that would occasionally yell at me. Not at all into that - I’m an adult, don’t think that is at all appropriate or necessary, and especially when teaching children. So, ‘blunt’ is fine, but the yelling variety I try to stay away from 
Prices in general in the area are really flooring me. I’ve done a bunch of research about real estate, and I keep thinking that something must be wrong with ABQ! Not really, but I’m so warped by decades of living here. I’d love to get more ideas, too, for boarding options. Really appreciate this!! Thank you so much.
