Update: Moved horse from Michigan to Apopka, FL and we are thriving!

[Lamma70]

Update after 3 years: We moved to Katie Freeman’s farm (Summerwind) in Apopka and are thriving!

Update: We are buying a house in Rock Springs Ridge in Apopka, FL, so will need to find a place to board. I won’t plan on transporting my horse from Michigan to Florida until around November (when it cools down a bit more)

My ideal place would be a no-drama (or as drama free as can be) eventing barn (where an adult amateur (grew up in Pony Club and 4-H) with an 18 year old semi-retired horse, could trail ride and take lessons on a lesson horse) within 20 minutes from our house. My current horse isn’t crazy about ring work, and I might even consider leasing another horse too that I could actually event or show dressage.

I have paid up to $650 in board in Michigan with excellent care, trails and an indoor arena.

I have seen some people refer Windsong, Jennie Jarnstrom at Class Act Farm, Hilda Donahue at Oakmore. Any other recommendations? Also, any transition tips when moving a horse from Michigan to Florida? Will November be a good time to bring him down?

Thanks everyone! Getting excited!

[3rottenponies]

You might get ahold of Hilda Donahue of Oakmore/Ashmore Equestrian center. The farm is within riding distance of the Clarcona Horseman’s park, and so they often trail ride there. I have also heard good things about Windsong Equestrian Center.

[Lamma70]

Thanks 3rottenponies! I will check that out! Any cute towns in Central Florida that you would recommend?

[AppaloosaDressage]

@Lamma70

Thanks 3rottenponies! I will check that out! Any cute towns in Central Florida that you would recommend?

Mount Dora

[Lamma70]

Thanks AppaloosaDressage! I have heard many good things about Mount Dora, so will have to check it out! I love Appaloosa’s too!

[ABookworm]

There are a few equestrian communities in Montverde just outside of Clermont. I would highly recommend looking in that area. The main one has plenty of residents who are from the Midwest!

[AppaloosaDressage]

Also may be worth while to check out the group “Central Florida Horse and Tack Sawp” on Facebook. There are a ton of properties, boarding and training facilities advertised out there. Could post an ISO add to put out some feelers too…If you have Facebook

[Belair]

Wherever you look, make sure you have good internet available. We’re on acreage near Sorrento, and can only get CenturyLink. Cable is available 1/2 mile down the road but not at our house. Working from home could be a problem as CenturyLink tends to go down every time it rains, which is every day in the summer.

[Lamma70]

Internet service is definitely a concern as I will be working remotely. So, any good suggestions for good internet service?

[Florida_Gator1]

CenturyLink is all that is available in a lot of areas. It is what I have but they finally upgraded the wires to my house or whatever and it doesn’t give me issues anymore.

You could also check out the Umatilla, Eustis, Sorrento, Apopka areas. Lots of property available for sale. I live in Umatilla on a property that backs up to the Ocala National Forest so can trail ride forever but it is a sleepy town otherwise with typical small town drama where everyone knows everyone else’s business

[Heart_s_Journey]

My sister lives in Chuluota a small town east of Orlando. They have 7 acres that backs up to the LIttle Big Econ River. While she no longer has horses, she can ride the Little Big Econ State Forest from her house. That area is chock full of really nice St John’s Water Management properties that allow riding, country parks, etc. I brought my horse to her place twice and we rode the forest as well as trailered to local places. There are at least 20 properties nearby to ride.

[AppaloosaDressage]

@Florida_Gator

CenturyLink is all that is available in a lot of areas. It is what I have but they finally upgraded the wires to my house or whatever and it doesn’t give me issues anymore.

You could also check out the Umatilla, Eustis, Sorrento, Apopka areas. Lots of property available for sale. I live in Umatilla on a property that backs up to the Ocala National Forest so can trail ride forever but it is a sleepy town otherwise with typical small town drama where everyone knows everyone else’s business

I’m in Umatilla too! Agree, it’s a lovely secluded horse friendly area.

[lorilu]

There are equestrian areas along the east coast, too - Vero, Melbourne, Deland ( Poulin has a barn there). Nearer Orlando, there is an equine community near Altamont Springs and Apopka. You might contact Central Florida Dressage the local GMO for more info (the have a facebook page), even if you don’t ride dressage. ALso to the west, some horsey areas and trails near Brooksville.

[Lamma70]

Thanks everyone! I am actually going to be down in Florida in February, so will check some of these places out. Any good restaurant recommendations in Apopka or Mt. Dora? Or, any other recommendations for seafood outside of Orlando and Disney Springs?

[Belair]

LOL…restaurants in Apopka… FancyQ is pretty good. Typically stick with Mt. Dora for restaurants if you want to stay in Apopka/Mt. Dora. Winter Park has quite a few good restaurants if you want to stay a bit further south.

[2tempe]

OP - central florida resident here. If your hubby is going to look for work in Orlando - might want to see where he lands, as the traffic is pretty rough and some of the areas listed will be a decent commute if he’s actually in the city. Just fyi, it takes me 50 minutes to get from Mount Dora to airport when all is well, and that is essentially all highway. We have both comcast and century link here, but some other areas a bit more rural - only a couple miles - aren’t so consistent.

[4horses]

I would find temporary board until he finds work. I’m located north of Ocala in Alachua. Beautiful trails nearby but you have to trailer in.

[Lamma70]

Thanks everyone! I will be in Florida this next week, so plan to look around a bit. Thanks for all the advice!

[Lamma70]

Just updated my post. We are moving to Apopka (from Michigan) at the end of August. Any barn suggestions for boarding that might also have lesson horses and possible lease situations?

[happilyretired]

Another Central Florida resident … sounds like you’ve decided on Apopka. You’ve already gotten recommendations for WindSong (lovely facility), and Hilda Donahue who is at Ashmore in Apopka. WB in Sanford is a HJ oriented barn – large and with a huge covered arena. Some tips for evaluating Central Florida barns … pay attention to airflow and ventilation as its VERY HOT and HUMID. Go visit on a steamy afternoon in August to get a real feel for the barn in the summer. A covered arena makes a HUGE DIFFERENCE in terms of being able to ride in the summer. And remember we get rain pretty much every day in the summer and so without a covered arena you’d likely be trying to ride in a swamp quite often without a covered arena. If turnout pastures don’t have irrigation there won’t be much (if any) grass in the winter. All that said it’s wonderful here in the winter and many shows close by-- dressage and eventing – if you’re interested in competing. Finally – 2tempe’s advice re traffic is also good advice. Depending on time of day traffic can be awful – especially where there is construction and anywhere around I4.