I want to live somewhere warm. [Archive]

FlashGordon

Dec. 9, 2008, 09:09 AM

I'm tired of putting on 3 pairs of socks, 3 shirts, 2 pairs of pants, a fleece vest, a winter jacket, 2 pairs of gloves, and heavy boots just to go out to the barn. This goes on from November to April. It gets old, real quick.

Truth is tho if I didn't have a horse I probably would not set foot outside at all during the winter, I just HATE the frigid temps.

I'd love to live someplace where I can be outside, comfortably, most of the year. It'd be great to be able to ride outside, and turn horses out on grass all year round. Does this place exist? I dunno...

Those of you in warmer climates, tell me where you are and why you like it, whether you are a transplant, or grew up there.

onelanerode

Dec. 9, 2008, 09:26 AM

Come to North Carolina! :D

I was born here and have lived here all my life, with the exception of a short jaunt to Birmingham, Ala. Summer can be a b!tch, but "frigid" isn't something we get much of, and it's not in the same league as up north.

We do have hurricanes though. And, as my neighbor from Massachusetts is fond of pointing out, big-a$$ bugs! ;) But spring and fall bring fantastic riding weather, and the central part of N.C. is nice. You're also not far from Southern Pines or the Hunt Complex, which host shows/events. And of course EqT is here. :)

I think it's a lovely place to live. :)

caradino

Dec. 9, 2008, 09:28 AM

ME TOO.

fortunately/unfortunately i have nothing to take care of or ride at the moment, and my job keeps me inside, so i've successfully avoided the elements and other unpleasantries of winter in the northeast so far.

the horror of winter is my current excuse to find an extremely wealthy man to marry. then i can buy a fancy horse and show in FL all winter long, and never have to see a single flake of snow!

jeano

Dec. 9, 2008, 09:32 AM

Middle Georgia. Winter starts around Christmas, usually, but this year hit early, with some lows in the teens by Thanksgiving. "Normal" high temperatures in the winter can run from low 40s to low 60s. Thunderstorms are possible any day of the year. Snow with accumulation happens once every ten years or so. It melts within hours. Low temperatures can dip to single digits but dont stay there. Spring starts in late January/early February. Freezing temperatures after the spring equinox are rare. Gray overcast days in winter are sporadic and usually associated with warm rain moving up from the Gulf, but we can get cold rain in the upper thirties and ice storms. For the most part, what they say about the sunny South is true--lots of fair weather.

I grew up in WV and then spent 25 years in SW Ohio. Served my time in the Land of Winter from November to May, thanks.

Grazing season here is roughly late March to the first hard freeze in November sometime. I have ten acres of warm season grass pasture and two horses and get thru the winter very comfortably on 100 square bales. Last winter only needed 75. I only this week started giving my two hay and am only letting them have a flake to share in the mornings and a flake apiece at night because they are fat as pigs on what they can pick from the pasture even though it is all dead, dead, dead. If I put in some fescue in a paddock or two I dont think I would need to feed hay at all.

As if that's not enough to like, I am on sandy soil and have No Mud. None, not any. Heese have a run in but mostly only use it for shade in the summer. Bedding expenses are zero.

I think someone who lives to show would be miserable in my location, but if you want to trail ride its pretty good. I dont have a trailer and dont need one. I like that.

No tack stores for many miles, but that's a problem my wallet can live with.

Warning, the blood will "thin" and you will eventually whine and need long underwear to ride in temperatures below 50. But the plus side is you will also acclimate to hot summers IF you dont run your AC down to 60 degrees in the summer...I ride all summer, very seldom take a day off because its too hot. Horses dont seem to mind, you just learn to take it easy when temps and humidity are both high. In our local climate, humidity is not that bad, we are on the correct (piedmont, eastern) side of the mountains and above the coastal plain, right on the fall line. Its nice.

Lori B

Dec. 9, 2008, 09:35 AM

I grew up in the midwest, where it is probably much like upper NY state, winterwise. Maybe not as snowy, but plenty cold. Have been in VA & MD since 1991, and to me, MD is pretty mild, winter-wise. My fellow riders may beg to differ, but we don't get much serious snow, and it has been in the 30s all week, so I don't think that's so bad. And we have a similarly excellent long spring and fall of mild weather. Had a horse trial Nov. 16, and while it was in the 40s, the footing was perfect, which is the most important thing (IMHO).

It's the hot humid summers that kill me. I can always put on MORE clothing, but there is a limit to how much you can take OFF, particularly riding and showing. I almost passed out from the heat in the portajohn at a horse show a couple summers ago, and swore off showing in July from that day on.

birdsong

Dec. 9, 2008, 09:40 AM

SW Fl right now is primo for the weather...Absolutely lovely clear blue skies and the day time temps are between 72-79.
But the down side is the hot hot wet summers. (did I say hot?)

I just want to be a gypsy and follow the good weather.

FlashGordon

Dec. 9, 2008, 09:46 AM

Jeano, that sounds like a really lovely place to be. The sand is a bonus. Mud season up here is killer.

Lori the hot summers are something I have wondered about. I'm not a gigantic fan of hot and humid either. Mild all the way around is nice but unattainable probably. I know my dad in Middle TN says they get crazy hot temps during the day in July and August. But hey I could still ride in the evening, or early morning, and horses could be out overnight....

Birdsong my trainer moved to Sarasota over the summer and I nearly cried. Not only because I miss her, but out of jealousy!! She is frequently sending me pics of her riding in tank tops and hanging out on the beach...

Hubby and I both wonder why we stay here, with most of our family elsewhere, and both of us hating the fact that nice weather happens only from late May to September and then you're pretty much done....

jeano

Dec. 9, 2008, 09:50 AM

Heese are barefoot, too. Dirt roads are more sand and red clay than gravel and rocks.

I do tend to ride in the morning or evenings in midsummer. Technical wicking fabrics are my friend, and wear a godawful ugly Cashel sunbonnet brim on my Tip helmet--usually do NOT have a hot sweaty wet head. And I wear long sleeves midsummer, too, not wanting a malignant melanoma anytime soon. I can find shady places to ride, fortunately.

MSP

Dec. 9, 2008, 09:56 AM

MS is similar to what Jeano described. It gets cold but not that dead frozen winter like up north.

Grazing year round only on mild winters unless you seed a winter grass. But I did that one year and both horses coliced for two weeks on and off during a warm up period.

Usually I don't need much hay to get by but last two years the horses have needed more hay. I think it may be do to drought conditions and poor quality grazing.

I was born and raised in MA/NH so well accustomed to New England winters. Unless you have the bucks to have an indoor, riding was few and far between in the winter up north. Down here I ride year round and if anything maybe skip a day here and there because it got real cold. The cold never stays long so interruptions are not long.

Biggest problem is short days. My riding is reduced during the winter unless I ride in the dark. I did that last year because I had to but this year I am too busy with the extra animals and kids to squeeze in riding in the dark!

Summer can be very hot but you ride in morning or afternoon. I love my sun set rides in the summer! Hunting season is serious business here, lots of hunters, so that is limiting as well. During deer hunting seasons I ride in two safe fields and don't wander into the trails.

I was looking to move south for riding when my DH happened along and he was living in MS. So I packed up and moved and we got married two years later. I don't think I could afford to move back even if I wanted to, it would be a big down size! You can own more land and a bigger house here than many other parts of the country. I do miss the mountains and I go home 1 to 2 times a year.

Bluey

Dec. 9, 2008, 10:03 AM

I heard you about winter clothes, we call it the Michelin Man look.:lol:

We are having our first blizzard right now, a mini one as far as blizzards go.
All is white, the winds are howling, but there are no drifts and the sun is trying to come thru at times.
There was not even ice in the water throughs this morning, although it will by tomorrow at 20F.

Here, we may have an open, warm winter, where we are riding in shirtsleeves in the sun in January, or not see the grund, covered with snow for six weeks with 5' drifts that keep blowing into the paths we just opened.

We take it as it comes and still like it here.:)

FlashGordon

Dec. 9, 2008, 10:07 AM

You guys are really tempting me.

My dad is in Middle TN and I love it. My step-mom is from MS and apparently has a large chunk of land down there.... I keep telling her and my dad they should build a farm and let me run it for them.... :D

Bluey that is crazy you guys can vary so much weather-wise, but I suppose the gulf coast will do that to you.

We've been kicking the relocation idea around for awhile. Sending hubby's resume all over the place and figure hey, if something good comes up down south, we are OUT of here..... goodbye snow! goodbye wind! goodbye winter!

jeano

Dec. 9, 2008, 10:10 AM

re: hunting season--it does keep me off some of my favorite trails from the start of deer gun season in October til New Years--but I still ride out, just stick more to dirt roads and property where I know the hunters, plus wear my orange vest, slap an orange cloth over the saddle pad, and ride mostly mid day and during the week. DO NOT RIDE AT ALL ANYWHERE on opening day, too many trigger happy idiots plus it sounds like the Battle of Verdun...

eventchic33

Dec. 9, 2008, 10:13 AM

I am from Upstate NY and moved to VA for exactly those reasons. We just bought a place just over the line into WV and it is a touch colder here then in Berryville where we were at first. However its not bad. This year seems to be colder earlier tho. I love it down here and very happy that we moved. No significant snowfall as of yet here but my mom had 3" for thanksgiving(NY) and my son was at his fathers in way upstate NY and had about 3 feet he said. NO THANK YOU.

MSP

Dec. 9, 2008, 10:14 AM

If your step mom is from MS she can fill you in on the critters! I forgot to mention the critters!

I guess really not worse than up north just different set of predators, well maybe a bit worse! :winkgrin: We have gators, black widows, 3 types of venomous snakes and those hated fire ants! Out of all of them I hate the fire ants the most! :mad:

county

Dec. 9, 2008, 10:19 AM

Vesper Sparrow

Dec. 9, 2008, 10:30 AM

Grew up in Md. (Annapolis) but have lived in southern Quebec for 30 years. I know what you mean about the winter, particularly if you have horses. I used to love visiting my parents in Md. at Christmas--it felt like a southern vacation. Heck, even visiting my sister in southern NH at Christmas feels like a southern vacation compared with Quebec.

However, I never visited them much in summer once I moved out. I have a childhood friend from Md. who moved from Va. to Pa. because she couldn't take the heat in Virginia.

I think the ideal place is somewhere in between, like southern New England. Or the Pacific Northwest, if you can stand the rain and the risk of earthquakes.

mjrtango93

Dec. 9, 2008, 10:32 AM

Well you can always come live with me! I am in Northern CA and it doesn't snow here....ever! Good thing is it also doesn't get that hot, in the summer we are generally are in the low 90's (and we don't really get any humidity, yeah dry heat) and freak if it hits 100 more then 2 days in a row. Right now we are having one of the coldest snaps in I believe they said 5 years as its been mid 40's for almost 1 week, but then again last week was in the 70's. It rains but not that bad, and we don't have bugs big enough to eat you either. But with the great weather comes the downer, we are always in a drought and only have green grass from about November to April :(.

FlashGordon

Dec. 9, 2008, 10:38 AM

Vesper, we just returned from a wedding in St. Anicet.... holy cow that took cold to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL!!! :eek:

Saw lots of horses though, outside, woolly and happy...

Vesper Sparrow

Dec. 9, 2008, 11:06 AM

Vesper, we just returned from a wedding in St. Anicet.... holy cow that took cold to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL!!! :eek:

Saw lots of horses though, outside, woolly and happy...

And St. Anicet (and to a lesser extent, Montreal) are in Quebec's sunny south...
I guess we can just be grateful we don't live in Quebec City, or La Tuque, or northern Minnesota or Alaska...

It has been a really cold early December, though. The big lake outside my door (Lake of Two Mountains, where the Ottawa River widens to meet the St. Lawrence) is frozen all the way across.

jetsmom

Dec. 9, 2008, 11:28 AM

Out here in El paso, we avg about 55 degrees in the winter (nights get into the 30's), with some days in the high 60's. Generally dry. Usually get about an inch of snow around Christmas that melts off during the day. Only get about 15 days in the summer where it is over 100, but dry not humid. Today is our coldest day of the year so far...high 49.

Land is cheap, hay is cheap, and some major shows are within 5 hrs.

Blue Yonder

Dec. 9, 2008, 01:17 PM

It's a balmy 70 right now, sun is shining. Tonight's going down to low 40's, maybe with precipitation, but that'll be the worst day so far this year.

As an Air Force brat, I lived everywhere from Caribou, Maine to Texas and Alabama, including VA, GA, LA, OK. Where I am is where I chose to be permenently. South Texas may get hot, but it's not too humid, and the weather's nice almost all the time. Land is cheap, people are friendly, prices are low. With the farm just the way I want it, we're not going anywhere, but if I had it to do over again, I'd actually head closer to Brenham or College Station. Extraordinarily beautiful and affordable.

I have a little barn apartment if anyone needs a warm-weather vacation!

Bluey

Dec. 9, 2008, 01:23 PM

---"Bluey that is crazy you guys can vary so much weather-wise, but I suppose the gulf coast will do that to you. "---

I am in the TX panhandle, 4000' high, semi-desert, almost desert, lizard country.;)

We can be from -10F at the coldest to 110F the hottest, but never for long and most always dry, so it is not as bad as it sounds.
Windchill right now, at 26F, is 6F, supposed to get to 10F tomorrow morning and to a high of 45F and in two more days back to 60F.:cool:
The news just announced and the blowing snow has caused several accidents on I-40, closing the expressway in several places, since it is a whiteout out there.:(

Here are our horses, cozy and warm under there, picture just taken from the house:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a298/Robintoo/Horses2-20-07781.jpg?t=1228846708

The disadvantage to living here is that there are no shows, other than western and rodeo/playday and not that many top ones at that.
From here, you have to travel many hours to compete seriously in anything else with horses.

tkhawk

Dec. 9, 2008, 01:33 PM

Seven-up

Dec. 9, 2008, 02:23 PM

I'm in southern LA, and it's 70 and raining right now. It'll be 38 and raining tomorrow night, though. The saying goes, "If you don't like the weather in Louisiana, just wait a minute."

Yeah, we have hurricanes, which to us locals is just another excuse to drink ourselves silly. They're more of an inconvenience than anything if you grew up here. The transplants are the ones who freak out the most. I actually can't wait for next year--it will be our 1st hurricane season with a generator. I won't know what to do with myself, having both a/c and tv after a storm!

In the summer, it's 97-ish, which is 115+ when you add in the humidity. That's from May til November. Yeah. On the plus side, our winter is about 2 weeks long, and it's a few days here and a few days there, never 2 weeks straight. I won't ride/hate to go outside if it's lower than 45-50 degrees. That's freezing to me. I think the coldest I've ever felt was 23 degrees? I can't imagine how anything could feel colder than that. I have no concept of it. :lol: I've seen it snow here 2 times in 30 years.

When I started typing this, it was raining. Now there's sun peeking through my blinds. See? All you have to do is wait a minute. :yes:

lesyl

Dec. 9, 2008, 03:12 PM

Those of you in warmer climates, tell me where you are and why you like it, whether you are a transplant, or grew up there.
Well Flash down here in Tucson it is almost always at least 75 degrees and sunny 360 days per year. Come on down and join up with the rest of the Canadian flock.

I am a transplant from Montana so it did take about 3 years to adjust to the rarely less than 75 degree days. Fun things are riding horses in the dry washes, great sunsets, and access to public lands for trail rides. Smaller H/J community, but has HITS in Arizona spring and fall.

Amwrider

Dec. 9, 2008, 03:46 PM

Florida!

Downside is the hurricanes, but keep in mind the news only covers the "worst" of the storm damage. If you are not in a low-lying area you will be safe from the water and storm surges and would only have to worry about wind and trees falling.

I have lived in FL since 1979 and love it. You can ride all year long, soil is sandy not muddy, the worst are the mosquitos and fleas.

MunchkinsMom

Dec. 9, 2008, 03:58 PM

Ocala is the place to be for horse people. Average winter temps - 70's for the highs, 40's for the lows. No rain in December and January (our dry season).

I moved here from CT 4 years ago, the winters were literally killing me, couldn't take it. And the bugs were worse in CT in the summer than they are here.

No mud, no rocks, lovely rolling hills of green bahia grass, live oak trees that stay green all year long.

No lack of feed stores, tack shops, vets, farriers, you name it, we've got it.

As I child I lived in the Finger Lakes region, of course kids love 6 months of snow! As an adult, no thank you.

We do get maybe 10 nights per winter where we have freeze warnings, that means it will be below 32 for 2 or more hours overnight. This year has been cooler than normal, already had at least 7 freeze warnings since October, which is unusual.

Because Ocala is in the middle of the state, the hurricanes do not impact us as badly as some of the coastal areas, yet we can hop in the car, drive for an hour or so, and be at the beach, either coast.

Land and farms are coming back down to more reasonable prices, they were cheap in '04, but then that housing bubble raised the bar in the following two years.

FlashGordon

Dec. 9, 2008, 04:01 PM

You guys are killing me.

As I sit here, working and typing, staring out at grey skies and mushy brown snow. Oh, and some weird sleety rain.

We have been house hunting locally but I cannot see myself *anywhere* around here. It is weird. Nothing is piquing my interest (well, aside from the 8 acre property with the 3 stall barn, 2 pastures... and no house! Ha.) I have lived here my whole life and perhaps it is time to peace out for awhile.

okggo

Dec. 9, 2008, 04:07 PM

I'm in MD, near the WV, VA, AND PA lines. My outdoor is covered with snow and ice. My fields are frozen. High has been in the 30s, water hoses are frozen. Horses are on winter vacation (aka owner hibernation - and no place to safely ride them), I agree that I absolutely hate it, add the darkness on top of it, bleck.

We plugged the trough heaters in and blew a fuse. So now when I feed I have to strategically turn off and on lights and unplug/plug in so I don't cause another black out.

My day..wake up, put on the layers mentioned (wool socks, 2 sweats, down coats, hat, gloves, and my pull overs). Go out in the dark and feed and release. Get ready and go to work. Get home in the dark. Repeat morning scenario but add skidding the tractor down the huge hill to put in a new round bale (in the dark) and filling up water, all the while turning off lights and unplugging as I go so as to not blow another fuse. Weekends, day light..ring is snowy and frozen. I look like the abominable snowman and couldn't possibly fit my chaps over all my other garb.

Waaawaaawaaa. But I would like a white Christmas, then it can get warm :)

EqTrainer

Dec. 9, 2008, 04:17 PM

Hurry so I don't have to buy a plane ticket to meet Win.

Huntertwo

Dec. 9, 2008, 04:30 PM

The problem with places that are warm in the winter is there hot in the summer. Lived in Az., Ga., and N.C. way to hot for me I'll stick to Mn. it gets cold in the winter sometimes but the rest of the year is really nice. We never hit 90 this past summer once.

I'm with you County. Not crazy about the cold, but absolutely HATE the heat and humidity! I'd never last living down south. :dead:

Huntertwo

Dec. 9, 2008, 04:32 PM

SimplyRed

Dec. 9, 2008, 04:33 PM

Come to North Carolina! :D

But spring and fall bring fantastic riding weather, and the central part of N.C. is nice. You're also not far from Southern Pines or the Hunt Complex, which host shows/events. And of course EqT is here. :)

I think it's a lovely place to live. :)

I agree! I live in Western NC and it's awesome! Little chilly in the winter but never too bad! Summers get a little hot but nothing like Florida or those really hot dry places! I pretty much love it here!

equest

Dec. 9, 2008, 04:44 PM

I live in Broward Co. FL. The weather is great in the winter but the horse life is too pricey. The few horse acreages are pretty much out of reach financially, and board has been going up and up....There are other options in Palm Beach County , particularly Loxahatchee near West Palm Beach where a horse property can be had for a reasonable price and you're near WEF and lots of local shows.

I lived in Fort Myers Florida, which was even more reasonably priced for horse ownership and properties, but lacks much of a job market - hence the move to Broward Co.

Ocala would also be ideal for me except professional jobs are limited there. If you're in the health care field or some such field that does have growth in that area, it would be heaven.

Twisting

Dec. 9, 2008, 04:49 PM

Not all places that are warm in the winter are hot in the summer. Hawaii is nice 80ish year round. It doesn't feel like Christmas when I'm mucking the yard in a tank top. Combine the weather with the miles of tropical mountain trails and ocean views and you start to forget that you can drive around the whole island in 4 hours. Not to mention getting someone to ship something to you is like pulling teeth.

Come join me in Hawaii, you'll never want to leave. I sure don't.

mjrtango93

Dec. 9, 2008, 04:52 PM

MistyBlue

Dec. 9, 2008, 04:56 PM

I've heard the worst parts of NYS is near the Lakes.
I'm with County and Hunter2...I'd die of melting in summers in those warmer climates. I guess it's all in preferrences...some would rather deal with 3-5 months of killer heat and humidity and others would rather deal with 3-5 months of really cold and snow.
Horses acclimate to temps...but I just can't see my horses being happy standing in an outdoor sauna 3-5 months per year over being the crisp cold air the same amount of time. I can always blanket and bring them inside if the weather gets really nasty...you can only cool a horse so much if the temps soar.
Once for giggles I searched online for what would be "ideal" climates for horse folks...I searched the planet and not just the country. Apparently Uruguay came up as the winner...the online thing I read stated the winter lows were 45 and the summer average highs were 75-80, always breezy since it's coastal and many areas of it are open rolling grasslands. Now I have no idea how accurate that was...but sounds pretty decent. Although I'd miss the cold winter weather a bit...I happen to enjoy the cold as much as any other season.

equineartworks

Dec. 9, 2008, 05:06 PM

It's 42 here right now but damp which is a whole 'nother ball of wax. It feels positively tropical though compared to the single digits we have had lately :eek::eek:

yellow-horse

Dec. 9, 2008, 05:13 PM

i live in the middle penninsula of va, i just went out and fed in my bathrobe, of course yesterday it was freezing, i'd quess its about 60 right now
i moved here from nj, i prefer the weather here, its no worse in the summer than in nj, however it lasts longer, i prefer the warm weather to the cold, i ususaly take off riding in july/aug and ride all winter, soil is soft and sandy where i live, even if the ground is frozen in the morning there are very few days when its still frozen in the afternoon

classicsporthorses

Dec. 9, 2008, 05:18 PM

I am in the same area of NY as equineart and we are seriously thinking of moving in the next couple of years, daughter is in HS. Mr. CSH will be finishing tractor trailer school in Jan so he can do anywhere.

I LOVE the hot and humid days, I deal with them SO much better then the cold. If it's 50 degrees I have a sweatshirt on, and I have lived in this area my whole life. Yes, NYS is beautiful and we are a few hours from the lakes but My God, the weekend weather we had recently makes you want to pack your bags quick and just put a for sale sign in your yard!

We are looking too. With Mr. CSH driving around the country he will give us a good idea. We almost moved to VA a number of years ago but I wanted to stay near my family. I have already had enough of winter and it's only December.

equineartworks

Dec. 9, 2008, 05:21 PM

Yes, NYS is beautiful and we are a few hours from the lakes but My God, the weekend weather we had recently makes you want to pack your bags quick and just put a for sale sign in your yard!

Wasn't it brutal!?!??!?!??! Por DH was out getting Dumplin's stall finished and putting in his turnout and he came in honestly frozen. I fell so bad for him!

SarahandSam

Dec. 9, 2008, 05:24 PM

I was having the exact same thought this weekend... I like winter for about a week, with the pretty snow and all. After that I am so done. The miserable temperatures this weekend, this icky slushy stuff right now, and my uncomfortable awareness that I'm going to need a lock de-icer tomorrow but don't have one... ack. It's impossible to motivate myself to do anything outside in the winter and I don't even get to enjoy being at the barn. I really keep thinking of the southwest--I don't mind dry heat. Or maybe the Carolinas or Virginia... they seem to have some variety in seasons, but not as cold...

I really want to go to Hawaii, but isn't hay and board pretty expensive?

crazy gray horse

Dec. 9, 2008, 05:33 PM

I'm in NYS too - and I HATE it here. It was 0 degrees yesterday - tomorrow it's going to be 50. I don't mind the snow - actually like riding in it, it's great conditioning for the horses. But I hate the frigid weather and the ice/ sleet / freezing rain which we seem to get more of here than snow. And I hate hot humid weather which also brings the bugs - horse flies, deer flies - UGH!!

We spent 4 years in the Puget Sound penisula in WA state and I found it heavenly. Winters were in the 30/40s and summers were in the 70s. NO BUGS in the summer. It's gray in the winter and it does rain, but it's not a constant rain. We got the "rain storm" but otherwise it was misty or drizzly. Way better than NY winters :yes:

MunchkinsMom

Dec. 9, 2008, 05:45 PM

II LOVE the hot and humid days, I deal with them SO much better then the cold. If it's 50 degrees I have a sweatshirt on, and I have lived in this area my whole life. Yes, NYS is beautiful and we are a few hours from the lakes but My God, the weekend weather we had recently makes you want to pack your bags quick and just put a for sale sign in your yard!

Then you would really like Ocala. However, I have found it is not nearly as hot and humid as it gets in other areas of Florida. And on those really hot summer days, you just adjust - do your chores either early morning or early evening. And on the rare occasion when the sweating does get to me - I tell myself "beats frostbite!" - because I can go jump in the pool, or cool off in the house in under 10 minutes. Up north, it took me HOURS to thaw out, with aching feet and hands - nope, not going back to that.

I have not been there in 40 years, but I also lived for 3 years in Albuquerque, with horses, and liked that a lot too, but it did get colder in the winter, and we had occasional snow, which brought everything to just about a standstill because they can't handle it when it does happen. Of course it melts in a few hours. It was fun changing from shorts to long pants and driving up into the Sandia's to go skiing, then come home and put the shorts back on. But there were some things to adjust to, like high-altitude cooking, and snakes, lizards and spiders.

thatmoody

Dec. 9, 2008, 05:52 PM

Ocala is really nice - not as hot as over here on the East Coast (although I grew up in Bradenton and it was way hotter there than here!). It really is brutal in the summer, but the long warm winters beat our 3 months of stinkin' heat. Ask me again in August/September though how I like Florida!

I do all my chores in the morning and ride in the evenings. I don't like to ride in the AM because it just seems hotter then to me. I get really used to sweating, and eventually you adjust.

Heck, I was sweating while riding today! And my dumb horse is from Nebraska, and HIS blood hasn't thinned yet. That may take 7 years, and in the meantime he's growing a coat like he thinks it's gonna snow!

phoebetrainer

Dec. 9, 2008, 06:17 PM

Why not shift country all together? We have no hurricanes, in this part of the country, no snow, high summer temperatures are 95 Fahrenheit (most people think that's a hot day), winter weather is cold if it gets to 32 F. No poisionous animals: snakes etc; no wild animals which could attack horses, dogs or cats. Grass grows most of the year round in most parts of the country, horses tend to be kept outside 24/7 (sheeted in summer, clipped and rugged in winter if competing). I compete nearly every weekend. Do a variety of different things, but if I wanted to specialise I could still do so each weekend through the season (August - April) travelling a maximum of 2 hours. I hunt in the winter and could do that if I didn't have to work about 3- 4 times / week, travelling up to 2 hours each time. Local hunts and competitions are about 15 mins drive away.

Simkie

Dec. 9, 2008, 06:34 PM

IfWishesWereHorses

Dec. 9, 2008, 06:46 PM

Summer is hot...but not too hot - maybe 28 degrees Cels (about 88F).

Winter is cold (to me) which is about 10-15 degrees (about 50 to 60F)

Never snows, and I never need to wear gloves etc.

10mins from many beaches, 10mins from 10,000 acres of forestry to ride in, 20 pony clubs to use to school XC etc (for about $10 a pop)...5mins to a huge equestrian centre where they hold 2-3 shows per week, all year around! and all this in the largest city in NZ, commuting from here to the city is about 30mins.

Yes, I love love love where I live. Im very fortunate to be born here, and thankful my english mother came out here to live when she was a child lol!!!

phoebetrainer

Dec. 9, 2008, 06:47 PM

Ah yes, being born here helps! You need to find someone who has a job vacancy they can't fill within NZ, that you are perfect for! Also have a tertiary qualification or LOADS of money. NZ will always take people for their money;). We have lots of immigrants from Asia, not quite sure what their criteria is, but maybe you could become asian for immigration purposes!!

DLee

Dec. 9, 2008, 06:52 PM

I lived early on in Saratoga, then almost 30 years in Idaho... I'm pretty happy here. It's just cold enough, and only really one bad month (August) in the summer.... it works for me. :yes:
I would not want to be any farther north again!

IfWishesWereHorses

Dec. 9, 2008, 06:57 PM

Like Phoebetrainer said...it seems to be very easy to get in here lol!

Find a job that nobody else can do or that you are perfvect for...and you are halfway there!

Or marry a kiwi ;-)

spotted mustang

Dec. 9, 2008, 07:04 PM

northwestern Alaska :D You wouldn't like it here, but:
Great for people who love winter. Very fuzzy horses. Endless country to roam. Lots of wildlife all around my house: reindeer, muskoxen, wolves, foxes, bears, Arctic hares, ptarmigan, salmon run in our creek in August. Playing in the snow from November to May. Skijoring with my dog (haven't tried horse yet) every day. Dog mushing. Most days: sunny, bright, temps around 0-20 degrees (perfect for playing outside). Some days: minus 30, windchill minus 60, blowing snow so hard you can't see across your driveway. Whole house shakes in 90-mile per hour winds.
I love it here, but it ain't the ideal horse country, that's true

spotted mustang

Dec. 9, 2008, 07:10 PM

The saying goes, "If you don't like the weather in Louisiana, just wait a minute."
Then again, they say that in every place I've ever been to ;)

lassoch

Dec. 9, 2008, 07:14 PM

Come to California. :D Winters Lows = 35 degrees, maybe one or two days a year. Summer highs = 100 or so, again, a couple days a year. Between that it's mostly 70 degrees and sunny a lot of the time.

Although I have to say, this year we are in a drought. :no: It has only rained once this year...great for riding, bad for everything else.

MistyBlue

Dec. 9, 2008, 07:36 PM

See now being from the east coast...the thought of moving to CA would turn my hair grey. (er)
Earthquakes, mudslides, enormous forest fires, cost of land, etc.
There's so many things to consider in so many spots. That's probably why I'll stay in New England...the only disasters we have here are the cost of living and the taxes. :lol: I'm in southern CT about 8 miles from the shore...600' about sea level. So my little spot is usually 5 cooler in summer and 5 degrees warmer in winter than surrounding areas. We don't get massive bug issues...but we do get those nasty B52 bomber flies in August and a few small swarms of no see-ums in spring. No hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc. Very few fires and those are small and quickly contained, despite being heavily wooded we're rarely dry. Droughts happen but never serious ones...worst one I can recall in almost 40 years only for to the point that people on city water had to stop watering their lawns and washing their cars. Many to most of us are on wells...and the well water here is heavenly. Pure, clear and remarkably like bottled water. Well water stays a constant 45 degrees...summer or winter. Excellent for shows, trainers, tack shops, feed stores and all things horsie. Nice trail systems...well kept up and maintained by the CHC. You can find anything from reining to dressage to hunter/jumper to saddleseat to driving...no matter what you want to do there's a few places to do it. Winters can be cold but nothing like some of the more northern places...we do get cold snaps of single digits but those rarely last longer than a week. On average it stays around or right below freezing. We get snow but not buried in it anymore. Summers we'll get short heat waves up to high 90's and once in a while over 100. It can get humid but not stifling. Autumn is beyond spectacular.
But....it ain't cheap. It's not mega-bucks expensive unless you want to live and/or board in Fairfield County area. And a few spots are more affordable than others. Finding huge open green acreage is tough and will cost you a lot though no matter where it is in this state. Expect wooded, rocky, ledgey and some spots of swampy.
All in all a pretty nice place to live and have horses. It doesn't take longer than 90 minutes or so to cross the state either. I can't even wrap my brain around states like TX where a county is the size of the state I live in...or open areas where you can see forever. Farthest we can see here is to the next stand of woods, LOL!
Some states are gorgeous with nice weather and inexpensive property/cost of living but have issues I wouldn't want to deal with. I couldn't live in Tornado Alley...seeing a funnel touch down and head my way would turn my insides to liquid. :eek: Having to evacuate for hurricanes and then cleaning up afterwards sounds like a major pita. Same with flooding. Can't imagine having to deal with long droughts. If the ground shakes...I'd move in a heartbeat. Same with if it suddenly bursts into flame or turns to liquid and slides away. :winkgrin:

MunchkinsMom

Dec. 9, 2008, 07:48 PM

MistyBlue - you do so get hurricanes in CT - guess you were not living there in '85 when Hurricane Gloria hit (I was, it was a mess for a long time).

Granted, not as often, but you can get them there.

Along with tornados, hail storms, ice storms, t-storms, blizzards that shut down the state for days on end. . . (I lived in CT for 30 years, and saw it all).

I live on the side of a mountain in Portland, yet the CT river would flood every spring, and close some of the roads in town for a month.

Don't get me wrong, I loved living in CT most of the time, and every spot on the planet has plusses and minuses.

And there are times when I would rather be somewhere else other than FL, I guess that is just human nature.

Gray Horse H/J

Dec. 9, 2008, 08:29 PM

Ugh, FlashGordon I am right with ya.

I absofreakinglutely HATE WINTER!!!

It's not so much the cold, I can handle the cold. I don't like it, but I can deal with it. I cannot STAND the snow, sleet, and freezing rain. It rained here (here being northern IL, an hour or so NW of Chicago) all morning and part of the afternoon and it was around 37 degrees. By the time I left work my car was buried in snow and it had dropped several degrees. And of course was still snowing. The drive home was interesting since roughly 3/4 of the people driving in snow have no business driving in snow.

My attempt to go to the barn was futile. I live in a hilly, unincorporated subdivision. Being unincorporated, the plowers deem it unworthy of their time and we rarely get our streets plowed. And to get literally ANYwhere out of my subdivision you are forced to go uphill. My car got stuck directly in front of my house. Would not budge. I finally got it back in the driveway by shoveling out the tires, throwing down salt, and, when those did nothing, laid newspapers (yes newspapers - the paper was still laying in my yard) under the tires.

Needless to say, here I sit, instead of sitting on my horse which I would much rather be doing.

So Flash, if you find a good place to move, let me know. I may grab the horse and the boyfriend and relocate!

nightmoves

Dec. 9, 2008, 08:42 PM

I grew up in the midwest, spent close to 40 years there. I've been in Florida for 4 years now and the winters are the absolute best. It's hot here in the summer but it gets pretty darned hot in the midwest too it just lasts longer here and we usually have a good breeze. The hottest place I've ever been is KY in the summer. YUCK I would never want to live there and deal with the hot summers and icy winters. You get used to the heat and work around the hottest parts of the day. My horses love it here there is no way I would ever move back north.

SuperSTB

Dec. 9, 2008, 08:51 PM

MistyBlue! I'll be in CT- Southington- tomorrow actually staying until Sunday. I'll wave to ya:)

So I'm looking forward to the trip and not looking forward to the trip weatherwise :winkgrin:

I move to So Cal 2 and 1/2 yrs ago. I was basically paranoid that it would not suit me in the least. I adapted fast- VERY fast. Some think that triple digit heat is unbearable- alas I love it now. It's been in the 60's and I'm FREEZING my buns off. Actuallly the thermostat says 72 in my office and I've got the space heater going full blast. I don't know how I'm going to survive the next couple days back east.

Yeah we have fires, earthquakes, mudslides, but you know as big and as common the events are- this state is so damn huge it never feels like 'my backyard'. This year we had the earthquake (epicenter 15 miles from house) and the fires a couple weeks ago (about 20 miles) but it still wasn't horrible to deal with. The hardest thing for me is Santa Ana Winds- I hate them.

We ride year round. On hot days it's morning or evenings. Cold days we bundle up and wonder how people survive in 50 degrees and below. The scenery is amazing. The places to go are amazing. Horse keeping is easier in my opinion.

FlashGordon

Dec. 9, 2008, 08:58 PM

Yes, NYS is beautiful and we are a few hours from the lakes but My God, the weekend weather we had recently makes you want to pack your bags quick and just put a for sale sign in your yard!

Yes! This weekend did me in.

Riding? What is that? Hard to do with 10 layers of clothes. You can't even get your leg over the horse! A lot of times we just abandon tack and hop on bareback over blankets. A friend and I (where are you AllyandPete) had great fun this weekend attempting to get her ON her saddle-less beast...

MistyB we are near the lakes and it is definitely rough. Upstate can be nasty, but with the wind and the snow off the lakes it is really brutal at times. Doing farm chores in that kind of weather is hard... tredging through snow drifts with the wind whipping. Manure flying back in your face as you're pushing the wheelbarrow.

Whine, whine... I know. I would love to have a farmette, but don't think I would want to have one HERE! Farm sitting for a friend last winter cured me of that desire.

EqT I'll see how quick I can escape! :lol:

In The Gate

Dec. 9, 2008, 09:05 PM

SarahandSam

Dec. 9, 2008, 09:20 PM

Yes! This weekend did me in.

Riding? What is that? Hard to do with 10 layers of clothes. You can't even get your leg over the horse! A lot of times we just abandon tack and hop on bareback over blankets. A friend and I (where are you AllyandPete) had great fun this weekend attempting to get her ON her saddle-less beast...

Hehe, that was my weekend too. Ten minutes of walking around the indoor bareback before Sam and I mutually decided this was pointless and cold, had a nice grooming and called it a day.

I would never have my horse at home in this weather. It is too dang cold for chores. I would do it in a warm-weather area, and would love to have a farmette... but not in a WNY winter. My board pays for me *and* my horse to be happy and warm.

propspony

Dec. 9, 2008, 09:23 PM

well... You could always move to Vegas. :-p

I've been here for 10 years now, and have to say that the winters are *to die for*

We have a short cold spell in Dec. (always during NFR, and keep in mind that "cold" here is a high in the 50s) and we average 3 days of rain a year. (aww who am I kidding? Only one of those days is *real* rain)

We have the opportunity to show 9 months out of the year,(Sept - May) and for the other three months you have the option of heading over to California.

Not to mention that between the South Point Equestrian Center, National Finals Rodeo and the Bi-yearly World cups. We're a happening town. :-D

We have no state tax and a reasonably healthy job market.

Now, the summers are hot as heck, but don't worry... it's a dry heat! ;-p ;-p

tkhawk

Dec. 9, 2008, 10:00 PM

I've spent my whole life in CA, and let me tell you it feels plenty cold here during winter!

:lol::lol:

I know, I know. They call us CA weather wimps for a reason. We're just not well adjusted for cold.

I know what you mean. I lived up north for a long time and everyone said the beautiful CA weather , I did not know what it meant!:lol: Granted it is way better than other areas and 20 is the coldest you got. But in the coast you get a constant drizzle and mud and cold and wind in the winter and a part of spring.

But I moved down south and suddenly realized what it means by CA weather-lovely here-especially closer to the coast. Finally realized what an ocean breeze means and not a blowing wind!!:lol: It is nice down here, you can go to the beach in your tees and shorts or no tees. I moved even more to the south and here for half the year you can actually swim in the ocean. The weather is just lovely-it is winter and you have nice 70 and maybe 50 at night. Inland you do have more variation. Because of the weather, you can ride all year, even if it "rains", it clears out fast and in aday or two the trails are fine.

But the erthquakes are really not that scary. I have been through a few-it is almost more scary after the event than when you are going through it! Most public buildings/structures are reinforced for earthquakes so we are ok-unless you live in one of the older homes. Even then unless it is the big one, not much to worry.

Fires I have gotten used to now. I remember the first fire I experienced, the smoke filled the sky and there was a haze that came to our barn. I drove as quickly to the barn as possible expecting to see major evacuations. But nobody was out, so I knocked on the BO's door and talked to her. She was just not worried-she had been through two that went through the barn, so a little smoke didn't bother her at all. She had her plan and said she would call me and told me not to worry. After a few fires, I am ok. It is scary, the other day I was driving on the freeway and there was brushfire right off the freeway-all of a sudden it makes you realize you have a tank full of combustible material. But otherwise, most folks there are used to it and I am becoming used to it too.
But you can't beat the weather and now with prices tumbling down, it is actually somewhat affordable..

equinelaw

Dec. 9, 2008, 10:03 PM

Its warm and nice out today here. No mud. Never any mud. Neener neener:winkgrin:

onelanerode

Dec. 9, 2008, 10:15 PM

Hehehe. Yeah, it was 63 here today ... it's supposed to be 70 tomorrow and 60 on Thursday. And then it will get "cold" this weekend with temps in the upper 40s/low 50s. :winkgrin: But hey, we've already seen snow twice this year ... pretty flakes dancing through the air and that's as far as they get. :lol:

kearleydk

Dec. 9, 2008, 10:16 PM

I'm not technically in Ocala. I'm about an hour north of there so it's a tiny bit colder. Florida is hot in summer but I've lived in central Miss. and it felt hotter to me. florida seems to pretty much always have some breeze. Huricanes are not that bad if you are in the center of the state. Avoid the coastal areas anywhere in the south if you are worried about hurricanes.

Nicest climate I've lived in was Costa Rica. There you pick your temperature by picking the elevation and that's it. Not saying I want to live there though. In spite of all the drawbacks nothing beats the good ole' US of A.

Dick

Dec. 10, 2008, 12:33 AM

S.cal is pretty good. If you live close to the coast, it will not get hot in summer. Well sometimes if you live in the hills, the canyons can block the ocean breeze and you get real hot-even though technically you are closer to the ocean than a lot of the flat places. You do have the occasional wildfire. But otherwise weather wise very nice. You can ride all year long ..

'Ocassional' Wildfire? Try everytime the wind blows over 20 mph. Look at the news, there is another one this afternoon a couple miles from where I used to board my mare.

Simkie

Dec. 10, 2008, 12:46 AM

EVERYONE who is in a cold climate should have some Patagonia R1 gear. It's technical fleece and it honestly keeps me going in our cold winters--and I am a cold weather WIMP. It's a nice THIN baselayer that is warm, warm, warm.

Northern CO was actually awesome until about a week ago. We had mild, unseasonal weather Sept-Nov and our first snow in early Dec. Now, of course, weatherbug is telling me it's 17 deg out, which is TOO COLD :(

Simbalism

Dec. 10, 2008, 01:19 AM

I live in central Va, near Richmond. I am originally from western NY(near Buffalo). I did a few years stint in Fla, but missed having "seasons". I have lived in Va for a little over 30 years. I love that I can ride all winter with just a few days off for inclement weather. I ride all summer long as well, usually just riding earlier in the day or at night to avoid the truely hot days. I had a riding lesson last evening(Tuesday) and had to take my fleece shirt off and was comfortable with a long sleeve polo shirt.

Peggy

Dec. 10, 2008, 02:44 AM

I think it was something like 75°F at the barn today. They are predicting a 50-year cold snap over the weekend with daytime highs dipping down into the mid-50's. Non-coastal Southern California can get pretty hot in the summer and it's not as much of a dry heat as it once was. The coastal parts tend to be pretty pricey. Not much in the way of green pastures tho.

I've always felt that a white Christmas was overrated.

MistyBlue

Dec. 10, 2008, 06:46 AM

MunchkinsMom...I was here for Gloria...it was a bit of a mess but nothing catastrophic. We were outside seeing who could catch the most flying lawn chairs. Only out of power for 24 hours. Our neighbor's beagle got loose during it and my brother I think still has the photos of that pups ears flying straight up, funny little dog. A hurricane that doesn't die out as it comes up the coast once every 30 years or so isn't so bad. We get only a few heavy snowfalls per year, ice storms once a year at most unless you're in Litchfield county, the ice seems to love it there. With blizzards/nor'easters the state no longer shuts down for those for more than 24 hours and that's one a winter or so. I think the biggest weather issue is that it's not uncommon to have a t-shirt on in the morning and need a parka by the afternoon...or vice versa.
SuperSTB...I grew up in Southington! :D Have fun while you're there...coming to CT for any fun reason?
FlashGordon...whenever I watch the weather channel they're always happy to talk about the "lake effect weather" because apparently it's much more exciting than the inland weather, LOL! It's a really windy morning here...and oddly enough almost 60 degrees right now and the sun isn't even up yet...but I don't think it's manure flying wind, I don't think I'd like that. :eek: :lol:
This is the "fun" of CT weather...day before yesterday at this time it was 5 degrees...right now it's 60 degrees with a 30 mph wind. Supposed to rain like crazy today and tomorrow too...*sigh*...mud. :no:

bf1

Dec. 10, 2008, 07:01 AM

Simke - you are missing the point! We can dress to stay warm - but it is a pita to do so. Takes so long to just go to the barn for a quick check! Yesterday was a bit of a relief - it was in the 40's and raining, but wow - didn't need to put on the snowpants, hats, neck gator, gloves etc. just to run out and throw a flake. But now - the inch of rain is all freezing into a sheet of ice. ICK. I would love to move - I am thinking Tennessee - but it will never happen. We own a farm in Mich - and with this economy - probably couldn't sell it for 1/2 what we have in it. And my family is near, and my husband loves this place. I do like it here - just not in the winter!

paohatch

Dec. 10, 2008, 10:23 AM

The problem with places that are warm in the winter is they're (sic) too hot in the summer. way to hot for me :eek:

I can echo that. Grew up in Maryland, worked in central FL for 5 yrs and yes the winters are wonderful (isn't that what the snowbirds say?) but I couldn't handle the summers. I would melt or just not want to go outside into the heat. Transplants all start the conversation with...' Remember your first summer in Florida?'

If I could find work in NC, I would consider that the move to heaven but for now, Maryland is fine.:)

Simkie

Dec. 10, 2008, 10:39 AM

Simke - you are missing the point! We can dress to stay warm - but it is a pita to do so. Takes so long to just go to the barn for a quick check!

But with the R1 gear, you'll have 2 layers instead of 5. It makes getting outside faster, and it make it easier to change into PJs and lay in front of the fire when you're done, too.

FlashGordon

Dec. 10, 2008, 10:48 AM

I had a chat with the old grey horse, he said he'd like warmer weather too.

Hubby has been all for it for awhile now. Just a matter of finding the right job opportunity for him. He has dropped hints about moving back to the UK, and while in some ways I would love to.... I could not take my horse, and not sure about the dog... plus I don't think England is the pleasant, sunny climate I am looking for!

Eh we will see. What is meant to be, and all that....

IndysMom

Dec. 10, 2008, 11:16 AM

Flash,
I don't think you'd like England much either. I was in London on May 31-June 2nd one year and had to wear my WINTER coat!! COLD AND RAINING AND GREY ICK!!!!

Cornwall wasn't much better in the month of May either. And it's the southernmost part...

Unfortuantely, DH's family is all here in WNY otherwise, we'd be out of here as soon as we can retire. We've already toured around Knoxville, TN and I have several friends who have moved to upper NC.

Now, if I can just persuade the trainer to move in about 10 years. hm.....

equineartworks

Dec. 10, 2008, 11:24 AM

When I woke up at 6am it was 55 degrees and raining. It's now 35 and sleeting...we are in for a doozey I'm afraid. :(

And Dumplin' and Tito are still on the road (worried)

Seven-up

Dec. 10, 2008, 03:14 PM

I jinxed myself. Yesterday it was 70, today it's 40-something and raining. Supposed to get down in the mid-thirties and possibly sleet. Is that how you spell that? I don't even know! Snow flurries in Louisiana. HA!:lol:

MunchkinsMom

Dec. 10, 2008, 03:34 PM

bf1

Dec. 10, 2008, 03:48 PM

Ahhhh, I get it now Simkie. 2 layers instead of five. Still too many! Well, the pj thing sounds nice. And the fire. We have a gas fireplace, which while nice and easy, isn't as nice as the real deal....

MistyBlue

Dec. 10, 2008, 04:15 PM

MunchkinsMom, those beagle ears are HILARIOUS in windy weather, aren't they? Nuisance the beagle got out during Gloria and tried taking off chasing flying stuff...but his ears were straight out. He finally stopped and turned to look at us since we were all calling for him to come back and my brother snapped a shot of him staring right at us with both long ears straight up in the air, LMAO! His jowels were sideways too...funny photo!

bf1...I WANT one of those propane/gas fireplaces in the worst way. I don't heat with wood but have a fireplace. When we bought the place the owner hadn't cared for the chimney in ages and I think it's past needing repointing and probably needs a new flue at this point. I don't want to spend a billion dollars to fix that only to burn wood once a year. I can't burn wood and go to bed, I worry about sparks and the cleaning of ashes is a pita. I want to stick a gas insert in there and drop a small metal pipe flue down the chimney and have a fireplace that works by remote control!
maybe it's a good thing we haven't done that yet...a fire in a fireplace puts me right to sleep...it's like a visual tranq to me. :sleepy:

Ponyaddict

Dec. 10, 2008, 04:22 PM

I'm in San Diego and had to wear a sweatshirt this morning - ugh! :lol:

JanM

Dec. 10, 2008, 05:28 PM

Misty-you can get a ventless propane gas log set up for anywhere from $700 on up depending on the size and how fancy it is. You don't even need a chimney (they capped my vent flue off and took the chimney chase (outer part that sticks out of the roof) off and it's a flat plain roof now. The additional expense is a propane tank (I bought mine, but you can rent them too)-propane is also cheaper now. It's great when you have a power outage or if you just like a nice fire in the winter. The remote controls don't necessarily work all that well (or it's the brand everyone uses) because they don't light the pilot they just do the on and off for the main flames, and a friend had one that had a wall switch for it so all you have to do is light the pilot and flick the switch (the spark for the pilot is run by batteries so no electricity involved).

MistyBlue

Dec. 10, 2008, 05:32 PM

That's not a bad price...I already have a propane tank outside hooked up to the house...I have a gas cooktop. But if I switched to a propane fireplace too I'd probably also switch to hooking the grill right up to the bigger tank and then swap this sized one for a bigger one so it's not refilled so often. As it is I only get the cooktop one filled once every 8-10 months.

JanM

Dec. 10, 2008, 07:51 PM

After my recent house fire (not that bad and not propane related) I found out that renting a tank costs a bit but if you want to get a bigger one or get rid of it or whatever changes over the years that renting is better. With a rented tank the company would have emptied it, stored it for me and then redelivered and filled it. I have a hundred gallon tank and the workers had to cope with it being kind of in the way-but they managed, and the company didn't want anything to do with the entire process. And you can sometimes get the gas log sets on sale-your local gas company or big box hardware store usually has end of model year types or the kind of generic ones are usually cheaper.

My relatives that live on farms usually only have propane tanks for supplies for the barn and house (the dairy/horse farm people use it to heat part of the dairy processing section and the tack area, and water heaters for the wash racks) and have the tank far away from the house and bury the lines-this is much safer.

phoebetrainer

Dec. 10, 2008, 08:10 PM

Last night after work I went to a friend's place where horsies had spent the day. Took myself and 2 13 year olds to a schooling farm and school XC and SJ til 8:30 pm. Was wearing a polo the whole time. Can't remember when I last wore a sweater, even at 6:00 am.

No bugs or flies. Washed horses off at 8:00 pm and let them dry outside. This is a great place to live.

Proud To Be Spotted

Dec. 10, 2008, 10:16 PM

Well, its snowing her in far SW Houston, Texas. Yes snowing, not sticking, but still I moved down here to get away from this. Hurricanes and now SNOW!!!

I got off work at 7:30, home at 8:30 pm and had to drag warm water out to them. Im not make for this..

dani0303

Dec. 10, 2008, 10:57 PM

Bluey

Dec. 11, 2008, 07:36 AM

Bluey- My bf is from Amarillo (not sure if you're near there?) and that's what he said the weather is like. I couldn't handle it!!!

I live in coastal SC. We have pretty hot, humid summers but AWESOME winters. Our average highs are in the 60s and we rarely get below 40. :D

Yes, we are some miles from Amarillo and it is really not bad at all, other than the wind.
We are the second windiest place in the USA, other than a mountain pass in Maine.
We average two days a year without any wind.;)

Our race horses trained very well here, would go to a track and generally do well in their first races on condition alone.:winkgrin:

MSP

Dec. 11, 2008, 10:20 AM

Its snowing in Mississippi! :lol:

Run for cover!:lol: Only snows about every 10 years here and it is shear panic when it does!

short strided

Dec. 11, 2008, 11:28 AM

It is snowing here too! When I woke up we had 2 inches of accumulation. Probably the third time in my entire life (I'm 32). Everything is at a standstill... schools and bridges closed, etc.

My dogs were so confused this morning!:lol:

MSP

Dec. 11, 2008, 11:32 AM

That reminds me of the first time my Florida bred TB filly saw snow after I moved her to NH. She ate it and rolled in it; it was fun to watch her!

I wish I was home, I don't think my MS bred mare has ever seen snow. She is probably hiding in the barn! :D

Plumcreek

Dec. 11, 2008, 11:39 AM

Yesterday, my local Walmart still had a small hunting stuff section and 2 pairs of sock liners for $6. The sock liners are the only reason my feet are warm these days. My once-tougn-but-now-old husband could not believe how warm his feet were with the liners. Go get 'em.

Carnelian

Dec. 11, 2008, 12:24 PM

On Tuesday the day's high was 85 and it shot down to 30 with rain and light sleet by the time my lesson(s) started. Usually we only get bad weather in January and February. We've had the nation's high (in the 90s) in December a few times over the years.

I have to say it's nice to only use a sheet most nights for my mare's nighttime turnout. Thin socks, regular breeches, same gloves I use in the summer and a sweatshirt. Plus we are in a drought so the rain (that turned into sleet) we just got was the first in 2 months--good and bad.

This is the first winter I have an indoor arena. I still ride outside most evenings, but am getting to be a prima donna about it being "SO COLD" when it hits 40 degrees. I'm sure I'll get a lot of sympathy for that!

Downside: 98 degrees in the summer with oppressive humidity.

Upside: cheap Mexican food on every corner!!!

SuperSTB

Dec. 11, 2008, 12:46 PM

MistyBlue I remember you saying you used to live in Southington a while back when there was that story about the 10 rescue horses and zoning a couple years back. My In-laws live over off of Flanders (Hawthorne Dr). I'm here as I type :)

Rainy weather- not as cold thankfully!

MistyBlue

Dec. 11, 2008, 01:03 PM

Ah, I know that area well. I used to ride by not far from there are a kidlet on my way to a reservoir in summers. Good spot to swim with your horses...we used to sneak through some backyards near there. Well, we weren't really sneaky since the homeowners all knew we were there and half would come out of the house with slices of bread, carrots or apples for the horses. :lol: My first horse got to love apple slice sandwiches, LOL!
Lovely weather we're having here, huh? 2 straight days of rain...although it could be worse since most states near here seem to be getting ice. But I just slid my way through my paddock with the Jeep bringing cubes, dengi and bedding to the barn and my boys are inside and grumpy again today.
At least it's decent cookie baking weather...which I should get back to doing now.

Seven-up

Dec. 11, 2008, 05:48 PM

I went to sleep last night in Louisiana, and I woke up in some bizarre alternate universe. We probably got about 4 inches total.

Enjoy!

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e287/hunterjumper77/Horses099.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e287/hunterjumper77/Horses100.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e287/hunterjumper77/Horses101.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e287/hunterjumper77/Horses104.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e287/hunterjumper77/Horses107.jpg

My dog was not amused.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e287/hunterjumper77/Horses106.jpg

Horses just went outside to play in the snow. CA horse wants to know where the hell she got relocated to. More pics later.

LouLove

Dec. 11, 2008, 08:52 PM

I am in Ontario, Canada. It is cold right now. That damp -something cold with the windchill factor.

The only thing that I can think of...to make you feel better is...

You wouldn't appreciate those beautiful thawing spring days or gorgeous autumn breezes half as much without going through this crap.

Ok - I know you were looking for reasons to move to somewhere warm. Just do it. Ignore everything I wrote above!!!;P

SarahandSam

Dec. 11, 2008, 10:18 PM

I am in Ontario, Canada. It is cold right now. That damp -something cold with the windchill factor.

The only thing that I can think of...to make you feel better is...

You wouldn't appreciate those beautiful thawing spring days or gorgeous autumn breezes half as much without going through this crap.

That is a valid point... there really is something wonderful about that first nice breezy spring day, horse grazing at the new tiny shoots of grass, scraping all the winter hair off him...

Though it is admittedly hard to think of that when you're layering up just to take the dog out to pee. (:

jeano

Dec. 12, 2008, 09:10 AM

The snowy LA pics are just great--every time we get any accumulation of snow her in Middle GA everybody freaks out, nobody goes to work, and us transplanted yankees are the only folks who show up--this happened a few years back when I was working at the local state hospital--I think I was the only RN who came in for the dayshift. When I drove in to work the roads were CLEAR for the most part , just WET, NO ICE, but everyone stayed home out of blind, unreasoning fear and panic because they knew You Cant Drive in That Stuff.

DH and I always joke that the churches will be packed...all the unbelievers will get religion as a result of a few measly flakes.

As regards the first mild breezy day of spring stuff--my horses and I get that experience after every cold snap here. Even better, the huge sigh of relief when we get the first brisk night of fall--its truly wonderful to LOOK FORWARD to winter.

EqTrainer

Dec. 12, 2008, 09:15 AM

[quote=SarahandSam;3721069]

there really is something wonderful about that first nice breezy spring day, horse grazing at the new tiny shoots of grass, scraping all the winter hair off him...

/quote]

Well, this happens in NC too, just in March not May :D

MistyBlue

Dec. 12, 2008, 09:17 AM

LOL...I can definitely understand southern states shutting down for snow.
But even being a lifelong CT resident...I have to admit that a good 75% of the drivers here still freak out during the first 2-3 snowfalls too. It's as if they're shocked as hell that it actually snowed and forget how to drive in it. It would be better if they stayed home but the fools still insist on trying to drive anyways. :confused:

There's plenty to enjoy in every season even if each has it's downsides.
Summer: might have heat and humidity and bugs but also has long lazy days and light out until late, the sunrise can be enjoyed in a tank top outside with a cup of coffee, shows, relaxing in the shade on a hot day, fireflies at night and the fun of a pop up thunderstorm to cool everything off for a short time.

Fall: okay, so you have to wear blaze orange when riding outside your property and some areas have to put blaze orange sheets on their horses so hunters don;t mistake them for deer. BUT...the air is suddenly dry and getting crisp and fresh, the horses are *thrilled* summer is over and get frisky, the leaves change to gorgeous colors, trail riding over shows and schooling so horse and rider can have fun instead of every riding needing to be a schooling session, bugs start going away and neither horse nor human is a big sweat machine.

Winter: Yes, ice sucks. And some people hate cold. But most do acclimate after a couple weeks. The air is as clear as it can get...the sunsets and sunrises have fantastic colors, the horses are fuzzy and toasty to the touch, snow makes everything picturesque and there's few things more peaceful or beautiful than during a snowstorm...seeing the flakes float down and everything is perfectly clean and silent. Rides after dark during a snowstorm...steamy horse breath and toasty butt from being bareback on the horse. Coming in from being outside all day and enjoying the warmth and a cup of cocoa and a cat on your lap and dog on your feet.

Spring: Mud, mud, mud. Blech. And shedding horses. But the air goes from crisp and cold to "soft" and warm. Those first few days of the southern spring breezes...seeing green buds on the trees and flowers starting to pop up. Bugs aren't quite back yet...by late spring the weather is close to perfect again like the beginning of fall. Perfect temps without humidity or windchills, sunny days, some light spring rains.

I don't think I could live happily anywhere that doesn;t have 4 full seasons instead of just getting cooler a few months and then warmer other months. Each season has great things about it that more than make up for the crap things. :D

FlashGordon

Dec. 12, 2008, 09:22 AM

Seven-up

Dec. 12, 2008, 09:04 PM

Seven-up, the views out our window are about the same right now. :lol:

It is hard to get motivated to get to the barn. I go daily, and once I'm there I am fine, but putting on a million layers and scraping ice off the car and driving on the crappy roads... Blech.

I console myself with a stop at Tim Horton's for a hot chocolate on the way there. Now THAT is something I would miss if I moved south...

Not anymore. The snow is gone. Save for a couple of tiny spots left in the yard, and a rock hard snowball in my freezer. :lol: Gone for another 10 years or so. Oh, there's still at least half a snowman in almost every yard. They're not quite dead yet. I saw one wearing a bikini and a wig, and another with a neck full of Mardi Gras beads and a bra hanging from its little stick hand. :lol:

And we do have hot chocolate down here, ya know. ;)

equest

Dec. 13, 2008, 09:50 AM

Not anymore. The snow is gone. Save for a couple of tiny spots left in the yard, and a rock hard snowball in my freezer. :lol: Gone for another 10 years or so. Oh, there's still at least half a snowman in almost every yard. They're not quite dead yet. I saw one wearing a bikini and a wig, and another with a neck full of Mardi Gras beads and a bra hanging from its little stick hand. :lol:

And we do have hot chocolate down here, ya know. ;)

LOL!

I grew up in La. and Miss. so I understand what a big deal it is. I got so excited when I was a kid, whenever we had the slightest accumulation.

equineartworks

Dec. 13, 2008, 10:42 AM

It was downright UGLY in upstate NY these past couple of days. Luckily yesterday it stopping crapping from the skies or we would be all frozen in slush. Today the sun came out but it is COLD!

FlashGordon

Dec. 13, 2008, 01:42 PM

Same here equineartworks. The wind and blowing snow convinced me to stay home last night instead of making the drive to the barn. It is rare that I miss a day but I just couldn't do it yesterday! Sat home in PJ's last night instead.

Today it is sunny but bitter. My mom teases me that I've never been a cold weather person, it is so true, and every year I am less and less tolerant!

Seven-up

Dec. 13, 2008, 01:53 PM

I think if I could live anywhere, (besides Hawaii or Monte Carlo:lol:) it might be somewhere around S. Carolina. It's still got the southern charm, beautiful live oaks, and I think it still snows every once in a while. And call me crazy, but being a LA girl, I kinda like hurricanes. Soothing, in a strange way.

maunder

Dec. 13, 2008, 02:16 PM

This morning in the Finger Lakes Region of New York was moonlit and two degrees with a lovely covering of snow that made everything absolutely magical.

I LOVE the changes of seasons although they bring more expense for heating and more work for chores....but they kill the bugs and we don't have the multitude of TICKS the warmer climates have :lol:

catknsn

Dec. 13, 2008, 03:55 PM

Grew up in Wisconsin. Moving to SoCal was heaven for me, but it's not horse country. Now I'm in the muddy PNW and that's not bad but not my ideal either. The mud gets old to deal with. I dream about picking up clean feet and picking those sandy paddocks that were as easy as cleaning cat boxes in California!

I think eventually I would like Tennessee or Georgia - lots of grass, no serious cold weather and not so much rain. The only issue is earning a living there. My job in Tennessee pays about 60% of what it does here and I don't think I can make it on that.

JanM

Dec. 13, 2008, 06:44 PM

Catknsn-don't forget Tennessee doesn't charge personal income tax so that's less expense, and land there is cheaper usually so that might help too.

Anyone that wants to relocate and wants to know about the entire state tax picture should go to retirementliving.com and click on state taxes-it's amazing what the differences are on things like grocery tax, etc. and especially what they charge you for on taxes. When I moved to Colorado my welcome to the state was a bill from my car insurance-$200 increase every six months (and I switched very quickly).

MaresNest

Dec. 13, 2008, 08:04 PM

Aiken, SC:

- Mid-winter highs in the 50's, lows in the 30's are normal. Next week it's going to be in the 70's/40's.

- No mud. The footing is Coastal Bermuda grass growing in sand. It can rain 3 inches in the morning, and you're riding in the afternoon.

- Summers are really not that bad. Less humid than you would think. (Less humid than central VA, at any rate.) Highs in the low 90's. I find it more comfortable than VA summers were.

- Thriving horse community. Even more than VA, though the outlying areas get non-horsey quick. It's a very locally concentrated horsey community.

- There's still some affordable property, but it varies widely. You can pay $25k an acre, or you can pay $5k an acre. Just have to be diligent about looking.

spotted mustang

Dec. 14, 2008, 12:52 AM

Plumcreek

Dec. 14, 2008, 02:54 AM

Colorado - 60 high today, 14 high tomorrow, and the next 3 days.
Friends and I went to watch the Parker Christmas Carriage Parade. Only bands, decorated horses, carriages, and lots of ponies pulling small carts. Was fun.

Bugs-n-Frodo

Dec. 14, 2008, 03:38 AM

Well, I live in the "Inland Empire" of SoCal. It is great now. From the end of Sept to the middle of June (IMO) it is nice, June is getting a little too hot but July, August and Sept. are HOT! And, I mean HOT! It gets up to 120 degrees in the heat of the summer. I ride during that time of year, but usually VERY early in the morning after the desert has been cooled by the darkness of night. October and November are lovely, December is our rainy month but, most of the time, the rain can't make it past our mountains, but that is what gives us out scenic snow capped mts. We do get rain, a little, not much. January, February and March are nice and the temps can get to the 80's. April and May start to warm up but it is still lovely. Temps in the 90's here are not bad, it is not HOT because the heat is dry, unlike in Maryland, where if it is on the 90's you can't breath. Once the temps get over 105, it is not comfortable. There are tons of horses here but mostly western riders. Very few dressage and hunters. I love winters here! I am sick of the sand... and sometimes the wind.

The first snow fall of this year, that is Big Bear and the view from my barn. (http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i309/bugsnfrodo/bigbearantler.jpg)
View from my house. (http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i309/bugsnfrodo/stbiminicr.jpg)
View from my barn's upper ring, the large mountain int he background is the same mountain you see in the view from my house at a different angle. (http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i309/bugsnfrodo/100_0121.jpg)
The pass. When there is weather blowing through, it is VERY windy at my barn, at my house, I am protected by the Mts. (http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i309/bugsnfrodo/100_0123.jpg)

starlady

Dec. 14, 2008, 07:05 AM

I see all you guys complaining about rain, ice, snow, sleet, and all I can think is---that's WATER!! Lovely, lovely, precious WATER, which we need desperately over here.
So I wish we could take all your extra storms, and you would probably like the endless stretch of "warmer and drier than usual for the season" that we are having. Is there any way to trade?

--s.

MistyBlue

Dec. 14, 2008, 08:04 AM

Wow, you're in Israel? I think you're the first poster from Israel I've seen on here.
I'm sure you'd love the excess water we get in some areas here...wish we could send it there. I'm sure the pacific northwest can spare a whole lot of it, they get rained on all the time. But I think they make up for it with milder temps than other areas of the USA.
In a desert country like there, what is your basic feed for the horses? I always wondered that for desert countries...we do have desert areas here in the USA but it's small areas of states and not entire countries so hay and/or bagged hay cubes can be shipped in from not too far away. Not too long ago my daughter was watching the movie Troy and she turned to me and asked, "Mom, they all have horses and they're in the desert. What are they feeding them? They can't grow hay or grain there, can they?" I was stumped...I had no idea what they feed.

talloaks

Dec. 14, 2008, 08:39 AM

hedmbl

Dec. 14, 2008, 08:42 AM

It's snowing and 3 degrees here in Fort Collins, CO today, below zero with the windchill. Down from 50 (?!) degrees yesterday....perfect conditions for getting REALLY, REALLY sick and finals week starts tomorrow. YAY! </end sarcasm> Off to take my vitamins and drink some OJ.

FlashGordon

Dec. 14, 2008, 10:31 AM

Oh yeah, we have Timmy Ho's.... we are really close to the CA border so luckily there are plenty of them around here! Thank goodness. :lol:

Bugs-n-Frodo those pictures are gorgeous! The mountains are amazing.

I awoke this morning after dreaming of sunshine and swimming pools! Really where I am is not a bad place, and in fact the change of seasons is quite nice. But the bitter cold, I am just so done with it!

I was trying to think of fun things to do in the winter... as kids we used to throw on a western saddle, attach a rope to the horn and another to a sled way out behind... then go cantering across the pasture taking turns pulling each other in the sled. It was good times!!!

starlady

Dec. 14, 2008, 12:49 PM

In a desert country like there, what is your basic feed for the horses? I always wondered that for desert countries...we do have desert areas here in the USA but it's small areas of states and not entire countries so hay and/or bagged hay cubes can be shipped in from not too far away. Not too long ago my daughter was watching the movie Troy and she turned to me and asked, "Mom, they all have horses and they're in the desert. What are they feeding them? They can't grow hay or grain there, can they?" I was stumped...I had no idea what they feed.

Hi MistyBlue! Only the southern part of Israel is really desert; like sand and rock desert; the northern half has a Mediterranean climate--think southern California. So we get 15-20 inches rain in a normal year and can grow hay. (NORMAL year!! Please send us a NORMAL year!! sorry, getting a little overwrought here....)

Your daughter asked a good question. Remember most deserts are not totally bare, but have little bushes and shrubs that horses can browse on--picture the mustangs in the American West. Arabian horses in particular are able to get fat on little low gray scrubby things. (I think they also eat thorns. Seriously). As for Troy: I've heard that in the olden days riders crossing the 'real' desert would carry grain, especially barley, in their saddle bags. I don't know how far you can go like that. Any Trojan War re-enactors on the BB that can help out?

--s.