What is the Best State to Start a Dressage Business?

[mvp]

@MysticOakRanch

Oh, I totally agree - but for starting up a dressage business, they both have something to offer. Tryon is “up and coming” - a place to get a foot in the door early. Seattle is much more established, but dressage is a bit of a growth market there. Climate is different, market is different. But if you look at OP’s question - these are two very different markets that may both meet her “request”.

It is like saying California and Wellington are very different markets - they are - totally different. But both are highly established dressage markets (in their own ways).

Yes, but the amount of money you need to set up a farm in those two areas is quite different. In this sense, it may be not like an “apples to apples” comparison like California vs. Wellington.

And at this point in the thread, I think the OP’s finances are going to matter. In fact, that’s what I meant when someone thought to compare Tryon to Seattle.

[piedmontfields]

Onthebit gave a great summary of mid-Tennessee. I agree that the Huntsville AL area is ripe for more dressage----and it is not utterly out of reach of GA showing opportunities, either.

Lucasb gave a very good description of north GA/north of ATL. It is a nice area, but also not trivial to navigate (due to traffic patterns). You would need more budget here than in some areas to be in a horsey spot—and that spot may not be convenient to places of employment (if that matters).

Another area to investigate might be Lexington, KY. Weather is worse than farther south, but it’s better than Michigan! Not a dressage mecca, so there may be more openings. The KHP is a good venue.

Finally, those who say “just say NO to Tennessee”, I to say I completely get that and agree! Alas, sometimes life and work gets in the way of the best intentions…

[exploding_pony]

There are so many variables. I’m a very liberal person, I need to live in a diverse, progressive area. I work in tech, so that limits you to a few highly impacted, expensive regions.

Been in CA for 30 years and can’t imagine living anywhere else. That said, it’s crazy expensive. Fires are an issue but so are floods and tornados (it’s a huge state, what you see on the news is a tiny area). The riding climate is much better than the years I spent in the midwest.

We have access to amazing trainers which is a huge plus. If you live in a metro area, it’s very, very difficult to find boarding.

The essential issue that everyone faces - if you want to make enough money to really run a nice facility, you have to have enough money to buy in a populated area where people are earning enough money to have fancy horses, good jobs, etc.

[RedOakAcres]

@orlando dressage

That was a question that I asked myself. When there is a region without shows, does that mean there are no dressage riders? Because I would think if there are riders that want to compete, there would be shows, or am I wrong?

I like Tennessee weatherwise! I see green pastures on the property pictures and compaired to other states it seems like you get more for your money. I was shocked to see no recognized shows in the Memphis area. I am not looking for to make big money with importing horses and I don’t want to travel all the way to Florida and leave my husband alone at home. But I want to show the horses I import and train and therefore I want to be close to shows. I saw that the recognized shows are most likely around Nashville. Seems like the place to be?

There are 4 rated dressage shows/year at Midsouth Dressage Academy in Hernando MississipI. It’s an amazing facility just south of Memphis.