Thanks for the input! We are moving down over Labor Day weekend, so will plan to start looking around then. Also, the barn that I boarded at in Michigan didn’t require full vaccines/worming depending on fecal samples and health/age of horse and how long they have been receiving vaccines. My horse is also barefoot. Are there any barns that would be a little less rigid on vaccine/worming requirements? And, what are the minimum vaccine requirements in Florida?
I find it amusing when people say you just MUST have a covered arena to ride in the summer down here. It’s all about what you’re used to, I guess.
When I lived in Ohio, I boarded, and ALWAYS boarded somewhere with an indoor arena, because otherwise you can’t ride 2/3 of the year. Spring is too wet, winter too cold + snow and ice are a hindrance. Summer was mostly doable outside, if you were okay with being dive-bombed by huge horse flies, but I usually rode inside in the summer too because um no thanks on the dive-bombs. I really only rode outside consistently in the fall, which I hated, I much prefer riding outside. I’ve been in Florida for ~2.5 years, in Ocala, and covered arenas are rare from what I see. I have my own farm now, without a covered arena, and can happily ride year round. Sure, the sun is brutal in the summer, so I usually ride around 7pm in the summer, or cover up with a sun shirt and wide brim on my helmet. But honestly, the flies and horse flies are WAY less than they ever were in summers/fall in Ohio. Fall, Winter, and Spring are beautiful and easy to ride outside. IMO, anyway, and my farm is sandy soil so it is extremely well drained. No problem to ride during or immediately after a downpour, especially since I put my grass “arena” at the top of a little hill.
Yes, November should be good weather to ship them down. That’s when we moved in 2016, it was a super easy trip for them (Brook Ledge).
CenturyLink is also the only internet available at my house, and I can only get max 8 mbps. I work from home. It’s not awful, but I definitely cannot do my work easily if someone is also playing video games or watching a streamed movie.
Florida requires yearly vaccinations, but I haven’t found anything that specifies exactly which ones, just whatever your vet recommends for your area. Most vets recommend vaccs every six months down here, however, because there is no real winter to kill off the bugs for a few months.
I do not know of any state specified deworming requirements. Typically you don’t have to deworm in the summer because it’s too hot for them to survive.
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Have you found a barn to board at? I would recommend where I board, but we are always full with a waiting list (in Sorrento, RK Farm). I ride with Marcea Funk at Rocking Horse. One of my former Pony Clubbers and Marcea’s working student has taken over running the barn, while Marcea is just teaching.
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I do not believe Florida “requires” vaccinations - just a Coggins test every 12 mos. As for vaccinations, take your vets advice. Many boarding barns require vaccines. In general (in my experience) strangles is only given if you regularly compete at big shows with lots of ship ins. Most of my friends do a 6 mos cycle,and if you compete some shows require certain vaccines within 6 months of the event. Here is a great chart from a vet in the Tampa area: http://www.keystoneequine.com/What_You_Need_To_Know.html
Regarding worming in the summer, while it is true the eggs cannot survive in the manure if it is spread and its over 90 degrees, they certainly DO survive inside the horse. Many of my friends worm on egg counts; some barns I know require worming on a schedule.
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Katie Freeman is also in Apopka. Haven’t been to her barn in years but see her and her students out and about at the shows. Might be worth looking into…Delta Equestrian is in Sorrento, may be a little far for you to commute but I know she has a few lesson and lease horses that are fun and kind… A few different trainers frequent there for lessons, Hilda Donahue is one of them. Windsong is close to you and a lovely facility with friendly people and horses 
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Claudia Heath is in Apopka off of Rock Springs as well. She has some very nice lesson/lease horses, and the care is wonderful.
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Awesome! Thanks everyone! We are moving down over Labor Day weekend and plan to move my horse in November, so don’t plan to look at any barns until after we move. But we will be right off Rock Springs road, and would love to be able to keep him right down the street! ðŸ˜
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OP - one thing to be sure of when you move is to have VERY accurate health papers; the Ag Center is a stickler for this stuff.
https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Consumer-Resources/Animals/Animal-Movement/Equine-Movement-Requirements
As you consider all this, WindSong is lovely but there are not really lesson horses or a full time trainer. It does get high marks for proximity to your new location!
I think it is becoming more common to go with fecal counts and worm only as necessary.
Katie Freeman is very close to where you will be - Summer Wind Farm. Last I knew, she had a horse or two available.
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EWT/WN are vaccines that I wouldn’t skip in Florida without very good reason.
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I’m sorry to hijack but am also considering a move to Orlando (Lake Nona - if anyone has any opinions/knowledge to share on the area I’d love to hear it!). I’ll be bringing my horse and will also be looking to board. We are “just” recreational/trail riders and don’t show, so that aspect of the facility is not so important to me.
Top care and a relaxed atmosphere would be most important. I’d be looking for full board as I work full time and would not be able to get to the barn more than twice a week. I’m currently in the northeast and am wondering (roughly) what I should anticipate paying for this sort of setup in the Orlando area? I will be traveling down soon and will do all of the visits but I can’t seem to find any pricing online at most of the barns in the area. Thanks in advance for any thought!
Not very familiar with that side of town but I know there are a number of boarding facilities in the St Cloud area, which is close to Lake Nona. Will ask a couple people I know, but guessing full board would start at about $650 and go from there depending on services/amenities.
Not the greatest weekend to move! Let’s hope Dorian doesn’t hit us on Sunday.
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So luckily (or unluckily) the initial Buyers of our house in Michigan backed out a week ago, so we aren’t moving this weekend. Thankfully we got another offer and plan to close in Mid-September. Hopefully no hurricanes are nearby then!
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Not to hijack the thread but I am ecstatic to see a couple people from my same small, sleepy town of Umatilla! Who would have thought!
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Oh…Summer Wind Farm looks nice, and it’s only 8 miles away from our new house! Thanks 2tempe!
Thanks Belair! Claudia Heath’s farm looks nice too, and I like that it is right next to Wekiva Springs State Park. I am assuming there are trails to ride on in the park! And, that is also only 8 miles away! Liking the closeness of these barns and trails!
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Thanks AppaloosaDressage! Katie Freeman’s barn looks really nice!
Thanks Lorilu! A friend had told me that she thought a Coggins test was required every 6 months, so glad to hear it is every 12 months. I just got a coggins test for him, so am all set there. Also planning on getting him an EWT and WN. Any others to consider? I don’t plan on giving him the strangles vaccine. I guess I should look at that chart you sent!
It will probably also depend on the barn I move him to!
Wanted to post an update. I ended up moving my horse to Summerwind Farm in Apopka with Katie Freeman, and it has been great! She was able to help me get him in better shape and we are now showing dressage! Poor guy. He thought he was going to semi-retire and just trail ride. He is 21 and doing well! Thanks for everyone’s help in this search! 
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